Chapter 25
The next evening, I called Sujit again, almost absently, like I had done for the past week. Only this time, he answered.
“Hey, darling,” he said, and I was totally unprepared.
“Hi,” I managed.
“Okay, before you get mad at me, let me say that although I’ve been busy, I’ve been thinking of you all the time. I couldn’t go see Aai either, but I call in every day to check on her. I also called Sona to make sure Aai doesn’t need anything.”
My breath hitched, my chest tightened, and my eyes stung at the thought that I had so ruthlessly cheated on this kind, generous man.
“Tara?” he said when I didn’t respond.
I swallowed my tears. “I’m here.”
“How mad are you?”
“Not one bit. I could never be mad at you. Tell me about your new project,” I said, stalling.
His voice sparkled with joy as he talked passionately about software that would change education for kids with learning disabilities. By the time he hung up to attend a conference call, I had lost my appetite. How could I break his heart over the phone? I would need to go to New York and speak with him in person.
I skipped dinner and called Sameer, but he didn’t answer. A few minutes later, I got his text, It’s busy in here. Anything important?
No.Talk to you tomorrow, I texted back.
Early the next morning, I went to Cups and Cookies and drowned myself in work. I didn’t call Sameer. Sujit’s kindness stood in sharp contrast to my resentment for Sameer as he hobnobbed with Aarti’s family. I stopped myself from going down that rabbit hole, but not soon enough. I had asked him to trust me, but did I trust him? He had been upfront about his ambitions and how he thought Aarti would help him regain his lost status. I possessed neither her looks nor her wealth. Was he ready to give all that up to settle into an average life with me? Could his feelings for me coexist with the loyalty he felt toward his mother? Or would he be willing to sacrifice me for the goal that had kept him going all these years?
That’s why, when he called me that morning, I responded with a text, At Cups, working. Half an hour later, he walked in, looking way too sexy for that early in the morning. I pretended I hadn’t seen him. He got his coffee and joined me at what had become my favorite booth.
“Hey.” Slipping an arm around my waist, he kissed my cheek. “You smell like flowers.”
“Hey,” I responded without looking up from my laptop.
“Uh-oh, what did I do now?”
I kept typing.
“Cold shoulder. That’s new.”
I blazed at him with a glare.
“What’s wrong, baby? What did I do?”
“Absolutely nothing. You didn’t call me when you returned home last night. Nothing this morning. Having too much fun with Aarti?”
Amusement flickered in his eyes as he grinned. “Yes, they had a full house last night, and you know how much I love making small talk. Then Aarti found a moment to sneak me up to her room, where we had rough, hot, sweaty sex. It was so satisfying.”
I gave him a stink eye. “You think you’re funny, but given your proclivities, I wouldn’t put it past you.”
“And you’re not remotely bothered.”
I scoffed.
“Okay, jaanu, I’m sorry. I returned very late. Thought you’d be asleep, and I didn’t want to disturb you. I called as soon as I woke up this morning. But that’s not why you are upset, is it?”
I hated that he knew me so well. “I spoke to Sujit last night.”
“And?” He sat upright.
“I couldn’t do it.”
“What do you mean? Are you having second thoughts?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’d love that, wouldn’t you? Then you can go running back to your pretty girlfriend.”
“Then why couldn’t you tell him?”
“I didn’t want to blurt it out over the phone. I need to look him in the eye when I tell him. Every time I talk with him, I feel like I didn’t deserve him in the first place.”
“Don’t say that. Apart from being blatantly wrong, it’s unkind to yourself. If you were unworthy of him, you wouldn’t be beating yourself up about it.”
I looked at him.
“I know you, Tara. You’ll run yourself down with guilt, but Sujit is just a boyfriend, isn’t he? You haven’t committed to him or promised him anything.”
“He’s more than a boyfriend, he’s my champion, a trusted confidant, and a close friend of my mother’s. I need to at least show him the respect of doing this in person.”
“We haven’t done anything wrong. We were impulsive, but not wrong.” But his conviction failed to persuade me as I stuffed the laptop into my bag. “Do you want to come over to my place? We can spend a little time before the party.”
“No,” I said. “I’ll go back to mine.”
“Can I come?”
“No, it’s best if we wait until after I’ve talked to Sujit and you’ve broken up with Aarti.”
“This is ridiculous.” He huffed and stood from the booth to let me out. “At least let me drop you back home. It’s hot already.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
We pulled up to my building, and I placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.
“I love you, Tara. Nothing’s going to change that. You know that, right?”
I nodded and managed a smile. “Can’t wait to see you in your sherwani. I bet you’ll look like a prince from a culturally appropriated children’s movie.” He laughed and blew me a kiss before he drove off.
I entered my apartment, consumed by a strong urge to paint. This had become a thing. Every time I saw Sameer, touched him, smelled him, my insides stirred, pushing me to create something new. Initially, I had chalked it up to the novelty of it, seeing him after all these years, and the unresolved emotions. But I soon realized it was more. He truly was my muse, although I would never tell him that, lest it go to his head. I smiled as I dipped my brush in paint and puttered on a fresh canvas.
It was early evening when Sameer called from his car on the way to Aarti’s place, and I decided to clear up the mess I had made and start grooming.
I had chosen a dark Byzantium full-skirt, off-the-shoulder gown with delicate ivory and gold embroidery. The event demanded elegance, but I wanted to remain as inconspicuous as I could. A bare neck balanced the look of my big kundan chaandbali earrings. I debated between highlighting my eyes and emphasizing my lips and finally decided to wear matching matte lipstick with subtle make-up on my big eyes. Muted gold heels and a matching clutch completed the look.
Mihir arrived looking every bit the upper-crust man he was, in a gorgeous, tailored suit and meticulously coiffed hair and beard.
When we arrived at the ranch where the festivities were planned, Mihir offered me his arm. People mingled over drinks while soft music played in the background. As if to complement the sedate opulence of the evening, a gentle breeze whispered sweet songs of summer.
“Relax, it will be over soon,” Mihir said, patting my cold hand on his arm.
I saw Amar, and my heart eased a little. We approached him as he stood with Sameer’s mother, who held me in a luminous smile that reflected off the rich Banarasi saree she wore. When Mihir stepped away to greet a friend, she took my hands.
“I’m very happy for you and Sameer,” she said in a low voice, and my face dropped with shame and guilt. She patted my hand and said, “I understand this must be uncomfortable, but I’m proud of you both. There is no substitute for kindness, and I’m glad you chose to put Aarti first today.”
When a tear formed in my eye, she quickly grabbed a dinner napkin and swooped in. “The time for tears is gone, beta,” she consoled, and I gave her hand a grateful squeeze as Sameer walked over to greet us before returning to Aarti’s side.
Mihir introduced me to his friends, and I pretended to enjoy myself with an untouched cocktail in my hand. I was chatting with Sameer’s parents when Aarti walked over, looking like she had just walked out of a real-life fairy tale, and my heart clenched. She was by far the most glamorous woman at the party.
“I’m so glad you made it, Tara,” she said with a big, happy smile on her face, and hugged me. We had never hugged before. “I was starting to suspect you were going to renege.”
“No, you were very persuasive,” I teased to diffuse the clog in my chest.
She laughed, then leaned in. “I’m just a little nervous.”
“Why? The arrangements are fabulous, and you look beautiful.”
She nodded. “It’s just… such a big night. I hope everything goes well.”
When it was time for the Bollywood-themed, song-and-dance bonanza, I wanted to stay hidden in the shadows, but Aarti tugged me, Amar, Mihir, and a few of Mihir’s friends to a prime spot near the stage. The sequence of events began amid wild cheers with Aarti’s parents exchanging floral garlands as a way of renewing their vows. The music faded in gently, and the anniversary couple began their dance. Despite the fun I had poked at Sameer, the choreography was tasteful, not frivolous. Delicate, sensible steps for the older couples and graceful, romantic ones for the younger. It wasn’t as cheesy as Sameer had made it out to be.
Of course, I wouldn’t tell him that. No, I’d tease him for the rest of my life. This would be a story I’d tell our grandchildren, I thought with a smile, as I waited for Sameer and Aarti’s segment to begin. They came in last. I had imagined he would be awkward and stiff, but he swayed gracefully. Mihir chuckled in his urbane manner, while Amar and I tried very hard to suppress our laughter. As the music began to fade out, petals of roses showered down on the couple, and Aarti’s parents re-entered the spotlight. Someone produced a microphone for Mr. Bhatia. Sameer stood in the shadows with Aarti, both looking breathtakingly gorgeous. She held his hand, but his eyes never left my face.
“Ladies and gentlemen, friends,” Aarti’s father began when the sound of clapping died down. “Thank you for being here today. When we sent out the invitations, we thought we’d be celebrating our anniversary. But I have an announcement to make. This special day has become even more cherished as we also celebrate our daughter, Aarti, and her boyfriend, Sameer. Come here, you two.”
Loud claps resumed, and Aarti dragged Sameer into the spotlight. His smile had changed. Frozen. This was his Sameer Rehani smile, absolutely striking but full of pretense and false bravado.
Mr. Bhatia continued. “Sameer, I made a decision last week. I’ve decided to offer you a twenty-five per cent share in SB Real Estate.” Loud cheers and whistles interrupted him again. “That now makes you worth more than I am! I’m no longer the biggest baddie in this town.” He barked a loud laugh as people cheered. “But I’m more than happy to be replaced by a good, honest man. Someone better than me, for sure.
“But with great power comes great responsibility.” Mr. Bhatia paused for the groans and jeers that arose from the audience. “I know, I know, but I couldn’t resist.” He chuckled. “Well, this partnership comes with a responsibility, Sameer. Are you up for it?”
All eyes were on Sameer as he smiled and bowed graciously. “The responsibility I’m expecting from you is to keep our dear child Aarti very happy.”
And before he could react, before anyone could, Aarti went down on one knee.
Her father held the microphone near her lips as she cooed in her sweet voice. “My dearest Sameer, will you marry me?”
Sameer’s smile vanished, his face went blank, and he took a step back. His eyes darted to meet mine. I felt like someone had punched me in the gut and stopped me from breathing. I saw Sameer smiling with his frozen face at Aarti as I stumbled backward. An arm grabbed me, and I heard loud cheers and whistles. The last thing I saw was Aarti slipping the ring on Sameer’s finger before Mihir and Amar led me away from the crowd. Mihir settled me on a chair while Amar miraculously produced a glass of water and instructed me to sip it. I put my hand on my midriff, taking deep breaths.
Mihir crouched before me. “Everything will be okay, Tara.”
“How? He just hit the jackpot! He got everything he wanted.”
“He’s going to break it off, you know it,” he said in a voice that matched the confidence I saw on his face.
“Mihir, half the city is at this party. All of the important members of the community are here tonight. This will no longer be a simple breakup.”
“He’ll do it,” Mihir said. I looked at Amar. His face was a mask of complete ambivalence.
“Can you take me back?” I asked Mihir, my voice cracking. “I’m sorry to pull you away from the party like this, but…”
“Don’t worry.” He offered me his hand. “I don’t care about staying.”
As people thronged around the happy couple, offering smiles and felicitations, Mihir led me toward his car. This time, though, I didn’t shed a single tear. I was shaken, but not sad. As if I had already prepared myself to lose him again. The ranch faded in the rearview mirror as we left the bright lights behind and drove into the dark silence of the empty road.