Chapter 4 #3
How could she leave? Her son needed her.
Her mother-in-law depended on her. The course meant she’d be away for weeks in Singapore, multiple times in the year, not to mention the financial burden it would bring.
All these reasons were why she’d never applied in the first place.
Her throat worked, but nothing came out of her mouth. It was too much to process.
At Sabrina’s lack of response, Aisha arched a brow. Sabrina pushed the phone back to her, shaking her head.
Aisha raised a hand. “You’re going. Don’t even think of rejecting such a prestigious offer.”
“You are going,” Diya reiterated. “We won’t take no for an answer.”
“Are you girls mad?” Sabrina exhaled. “I have work and Ahaan and Ma. And this is expensive…”
“And we have a plan to take care of it all,” Aisha said.
“Yes, we do,” Diya concurred. “First things first, money. We know it’s expensive, but we also know you have some money saved for a rainy day. This is that day.”
“Have you both lost it?” Sabrina shook her head. “I’m saving that money for Ahaan… for his future.”
“And you will be doing this for his future,” Aisha argued. “You do this course now, and it will set you both up for the rest of your life. You can cover your tuition costs with your savings. You can do it Sabrina, or let me help you do this.”
“Absolutely not,” Sabrina said aghast. She was not a charity case for her rich friends.
“I knew you’d say that…” Aisha smiled. “So, let’s assume you are covering the costs for this course yourself.”
“Sure, and since we are dreaming, let’s even dream of a place for me to stay in Singapore,” Sabrina scoffed. “Let’s dream of something fancy with a gym and a pool. How about a penthouse with sweeping views of the city?”
“That can be arranged,” Diya declared.
Sabrina looked at her in horror and disbelief.
Diya raised her hands up. “Just kidding. I know how self-sufficient you prefer to be.”
“Let’s leave the stay aside for a bit,” Aisha said. “That won’t be a problem. We can find somewhere for you to stay. That’s easy.”
Sabrina glared at her, but Aisha continued unperturbed. “Next, work. You’ve told me on several occasions that your team is very capable of handling events on their own. So while you are in Singapore, you can coordinate with them remotely.”
“It’s not the same.”
“Of course, it won’t be the same without you,” Aisha said. “However, your team has been working with you for years now. Dilnaz can manage. I spoke to her, and she’s assured me that she can handle things.”
Sabrina’s jaw fell. “You spoke to her already?”
Aisha nodded. “She’s more than willing to step up.”
“See, that’s sorted too,” Diya said. “Now next—”
“—Ahaan,” Sabrina said.
Aisha grinned. “The course needs you to be there from next week, for six weeks. Rithwik and I are taking the kids to Delhi to be with his family for the weekend, post which we are going on a vacation, first to Dubai for a week, where we will spend time with Rajiv and Sheena, and then we’ll go to London for another four weeks. I’m taking Ahaan with us.”
“What?” Sabrina gasped. “He can’t miss school.”
“Ahaan’s already started his Diwali break, right?
” Aisha tilted her head. “He can be with us in Delhi and Dubai. And now here’s the best part.
Our trip to London aligns perfectly with that cricket program his school wants to send him for.
You weren’t sending him because you didn’t want him staying by himself with strangers, but now you can, because he will stay with Rithwik and me. ”
Sabrina blinked. She couldn’t believe what Aisha was offering.
“But…” she began.
Aisha waved a hand dismissively. “You don’t have to worry about a thing. In fact, I’m going to put Arnav in a playschool in London for a month. I’ve already discussed it with the principal of his school here.”
“See, she has it all sorted,” Diya said.
Sabrina stared between her friends, her mind unable to comprehend everything they were suggesting.
She gulped. “Aisha, Delhi is one thing, but you cannot just take Ahaan to Dubai and London. It’s expensive. I cannot afford it.”
Aisha waved a hand out. “But Rithwik and I can. We are anyway taking our private jet. I’ve asked you for years to join us on our vacations or to send Ahaan with us, and you’ve never agreed.
You got a passport made for the two of you, which you’ve never used even once.
This is the perfect opportunity for Ahaan to start seeing the world. ”
Sabrina thought through her words. She was well aware that Aisha’s family would stay with Sheena and Rajiv Mehra while in Dubai.
While in London, Aisha and Rithwik would stay with their friends Aaliya and Damien Talbot at their massive estate, Heaven’s Gate.
But just because she was familiar with all these people, it didn’t mean she was close friends with them.
They were all nice people, but she wasn’t comfortable with her son going to live with any of them.
Aisha, of course, spoke casually about this.
Rithwik and she were wealthy. Rithwik was the scion of the Fortuna empire.
But just because her sister-in-law had married a rich man, Sabrina couldn’t take advantage of their generosity and kindness or that of their friends.
No. She never wanted Ahaan to grow up in that environment.
She wanted him to learn to live within his means, always.
“I can’t expect Rithwik and you to pay for him everywhere,” Sabrina said quietly.
Aisha took her hands. “I get that you don’t want him to grow up in the privileged environment I now live in.
Trust me, there are days when it’s still hard for me to come to terms with the fact that I fell in love with and married my boss and that he’s put the world at my feet.
That’s why I respect your decisions, always.
But Ahaan is my nephew, and I am allowed to spoil him a bit.
Besides, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you.
You have to take it, Sabrina. Your career will skyrocket after this course.
That means more money. Don’t you want that for Ahaan? ”
“I do. But Ma will never agree for Ahaan to leave her. You know she hardly lets him out of her sight. She’s constantly following up on where he is and what he is doing, and insists on dropping and picking him from his classes even if I am nearby and able to do it.”
“The first six weeks are the longest you will be away from him,” Diya continued, ignoring her. “Post that, the rest of the year involves only one week stretches in Singapore every other month. That will be easy to manage. Plus, the school program in London will be good for Ahaan too.”
Sabrina looked at Aisha. “Ma will never agree to let him go for six weeks. She won’t let me go either.”
“That’s why we aren’t giving her a choice…” Aisha paused to check the time. “I’m taking Ahaan with me right now. Rithwik must be enroute to the airport with our kids. I will take Ahaan and meet him there.”
“W…What?” Sabrina stared at her in stunned silence, her head spinning from the speed at which things were moving.
“Wait, what about visas?” Sabrina asked.
“I’ve already got an e-visa for Dubai for Ahaan…” Aisha suddenly looked at her sheepishly. “And remember last week, I’d asked for Ahaan and your passports? As the ID proof for that new insurance plan I was asking you to invest in?”
Sabrina’s eyes widened. “You cheeky woman! You took the passports from me to organize visas?”
Aisha grinned. “And the insurance as well.”
Aisha opened her purse and handed Sabrina her passport back. “I’ve got a Singapore e-visa for you as well. I’ll email it. Oh, and I spoke to Ahaan’s school as well.”
God, Aisha had thought of everything. Sabrina was still processing it all when, from behind them, the main door opened and she heard the patter of her son’s feet as he hurried into the kitchen. He caught the stunned look on her face and faced Aisha, a silent question in his eyes.
Aisha gave him a beaming smile. “Go pack your bags, sweetheart. You’re coming on a trip with Rithwik, me, and the kids.”
“W…what?” Her son looked as shocked as she did. He faced her. “M…mom?”
Sabrina swallowed. Before she could reply, Aisha said, “Go on. Start picking some clothes you want to take. We are going to Delhi for a few weeks, then to Dubai, and finally to London, where you can go for your school’s program.”
“What?” Ahaan’s eyes widened.
Sabrina saw the hope shining in his eyes as he turned to her again.
She’d never gotten an opportunity to fly him out of the country.
She’d only taken him for a few holidays to Goa and Kerala, that too with her mother-in-law in tow, always.
But Delhi… She’d deliberately steered away from all places in North India, especially Delhi.
Her heart clenched. But she wouldn’t be going to Delhi; Ahaan would. And no one from her past knew of Ahaan.
Her son would be safe with Rithwik and Aisha.
They would protect him like their very own.
What if she took a chance and sent him with them?
What if he went for that program he desperately wanted to go for?
What if, for the first time, she did something solely for herself and actually took this opportunity that had landed in her lap?
She could go to Singapore and do the course.
Her business would benefit from it; Ahaan and she would benefit from it.
And Ahaan would love the chance to study and play cricket in London for a month.
Ahaan clasped her hand, squeezing it silently, seeking permission from her. She was so proud of him for not jumping in joy, but waiting for her response. She knew in her bones that if she refused, he’d be disappointed, but he wouldn’t throw a tantrum.
She gave him a slow nod. His eyes brightened, and he squealed, “I’m going to Delhi?”
“Yes.”
“And to Dubai, and to London?”
“Yes, baba.”
His expression faltered. “What about Ma? Will she be okay with this?”