Chapter 25 #2
The coffee shop was busy. She came here fairly often to write. She had chosen a booth where she couldn’t see out of the windows. She hated the idea of someone being able to read her draft over her shoulder. So when someone approached the table, she looked up, expecting to see Sampath.
It wasn’t him. It was her mother. Dressed for work.
‘Mum?’ she said. ‘What are you doing here?’
Her mother sat down in the seat opposite her, with her handbag clutched neatly on her lap. ‘I came to see you.’
‘How did you know I was here?’
‘Your brother said there was a chance you’d be here at around this time.’
How had Navin known? Oh. Right. He had overheard her telling Sampath she’d meet him there. Of course. He had reported straight to Mother, just like he’d threatened he would.
Mum didn’t waste any time. ‘What’s this I hear about a new man? What are you doing, Kalpana? How can you have moved on from Marcus so quickly?’
Normally, she would have sat there and taken this nonsense, but the last couple of months had changed her. She would introduce Sampath to them eventually, but only when she was ready.
‘Well, considering Marcus moved on before we’d even split up, I think that’s allowed,’ she said.
‘What?’
‘Marcus,’ she said. ‘He cheated on me. That’s why we split up. Remember?’ It wasn’t like she hadn’t told her mother this.
‘Are you sure that was—’
‘I’m sure he cheated on me,’ she said. ‘Isn’t that enough?’
Even her mother had to concede this. She inclined her head. ‘I suppose it’s hard to keep a genius engaged and stimulated.’
That stung too, but she let it pass.
Mum rallied. ‘But that doesn’t mean you should have a rebound relationship with some guy who is … flamboyant and frivolous. He was supposed to be your wedding planner for goodness’ sake. He clearly has no professional ethics. And he’s unemployed. He’ll be sponging off you in no time.’
Kalpana recoiled. ‘That’s a lot of assumptions you’ve just made. I can’t—’
Someone cleared their throat. Sampath stepped into view. He must have been coming up to the booth and had probably heard everything. Oh no. Kalpana felt her temperature rise. Belittling her was one thing. She hated that Sampath had just heard her mother being rude about him.
‘Just ignore her,’ she said. ‘She didn’t mean that.’
‘I did,’ Mum said, her eyes narrow.
‘She did,’ Sampath agreed. He held out his hand. ‘I’m Sampath Dahanayeka and you make a fair point about the flamboyance.’ He gestured to his jade suit. ‘I’ll take that, but not everything else.’
Amma didn’t shake his hand. She folded her arms. ‘Are you telling me you currently have a job?’
‘No.’ Sampath retracted his outstretched hand. ‘May I sit?’ When Kalpana made room for him, he sat down and resumed. ‘I’m not unemployed. I’m between contracts.’
‘Oh!’ said Kalpana. ‘You got the job!’
He beamed at her. ‘I did. I’ve only had the verbal offer at the moment, but yes. I’m really looking forward to working with them.’
Kalpana could see Mum’s curiosity getting the better of her. She had leaned forward.
‘What is this job?’ said Mum. ‘How much does it pay?’
‘It pays well enough that I can carry on paying my rent and put a little aside besides,’ said Sampath. ‘And it’s what I did before. Event planner, just for a different company. More interesting events.’
Kalpana could almost see the cogs whirring in her mother’s brain.
This had gone on long enough. She took Sampath’s hand and interlaced her fingers.
‘Mum,’ she said. ‘I don’t expect you to approve, but I like Sampath.
’ She gave him a fond smile. ‘I like him far more than I liked Marcus, because it turned out that the thing I liked the most about Marcus was that you approved of him. Which, I think we can all agree would be nice as a bonus but really can’t be the foundation of a relationship.
This one …’ She squeezed Sampath’s hand. ‘This one I like just for himself.’
Sampath raised their hands and kissed her knuckles.
The barista called Sampath’s name.
‘Ah, that’s my coffee,’ said Sampath. He let go of Kalpana’s hand and stood up. ‘I’ll just go get my coffee, Mrs Jayathilake. Can I get you anything while I’m there?’
Mum looked surprised and shook her head.
Sampath smiled. ‘When I come back, I will answer whatever questions you have for me.’
Kalpana twisted in her seat to watch him leave.
‘Well,’ said Mum. ‘He seems very … confident.’ She spat the word out like an insult.
‘He knows who he is,’ said Kalpana. ‘There’s nothing wrong with that. Is there?’
‘I suppose. How do you think—’
Kalpana shook her head. ‘Let me stop you there. I don’t actually care what you think this time. I’ve spent my whole life worrying about what you think and feeling like I’m not good enough for you. I’m not doing that anymore. I don’t need you to approve of Sampath. I love him and that’s that.’
Her mum stared at her for a moment. Her eyes flicked across to Sampath and back to Kalpana. ‘I never said you weren’t good enough,’ she said, her voice a little less firm now.
‘You didn’t have to say it. You showed it to me in hundreds of little ways. You always treat me as though my job isn’t something that’s worth doing. I don’t have to put up with it anymore.’ She swallowed. Her throat was dry. ‘I won’t put up with it anymore.’
Her mother was staring at her. ‘I’m only trying to protect you.’
‘I really like this man, Mum. You can talk to him and get to know him like a civil human being. Or we will leave.’ She crossed her arms and lifted her chin. Had she gone too far this time? Her palms were starting to feel clammy.
Mum frowned. She looked at Kalpana, at Sampath and then back to Kalpana again. Her eyes softened. ‘I didn’t mean to make you feel like you’re not enough.’ She shook her head. ‘But this man. What do you really know about him?’
‘I know that he’s read all my books. I know that he listens to me when I talk and remembers things I say. I know that he’s thoughtful and kind. I know that when I’m with him, I’m enough. What else is there to know? He’s just a regular guy and I’m not stupid.’
‘I know you’re not stupid. I just worry.’ Mum sighed. ‘I didn’t realise we made you feel like that.’
Kalpana said, ‘You don’t have to worry. Anyway, I’m not going to change my mind just because you disapprove.’
Her mother studied her, thoughtfully, for a moment. ‘You’re very serious about this … Sampath. Aren’t you?’
‘I am.’
‘Well, in that case, I suppose I should stay and talk to him.’ Mum tucked her handbag beside her and waved to get Sampath’s attention.
‘What are you doing?’ Kalpana had been expecting Mum to march off about now.
‘Taking him up on his offer of a drink,’ said her mother. She mouthed ‘black coffee’ to Sampath and shrugged off her coat.
‘What?’
‘You said I should get to know him,’ Mum said.
Kalpana looked over at Sampath, who was coming back now with the coffees in one hand and a slice of cheesecake in the other. Oh dear. Mum was going to be horrible to him, wasn’t she?
But she need not have worried. Mum could be very polite and affable, when she put her mind to it. Kalpana slowly relaxed as Sampath answered her mother’s questions. He was his usual charming and friendly self and she could see Mum’s guard slowly retracting. At one point, she actually laughed!
It was all going well, when Sampath’s phone rang. He excused himself and stepped away to take the call.
Mum looked at her watch. ‘Well. I should get back. I have a meeting soon.’ She gathered her things and stood up. ‘Will you be bringing Sampath with you when you come for dinner next month?’
Kalpana recognised an olive branch when it was offered. ‘If you don’t mind, yes. I think he’d like that.’
Mum nodded. ‘Good.’ She checked she had everything. When she looked at Kalpana again, her eyes were soft. ‘You’re different with him than you were with Marcus,’ she said.
She didn’t know how to respond to that. Yes, that was true. The way she felt now was nothing at all like Marcus had made her feel.
Kalpana looked across where Sampath was speaking earnestly on the phone and smiled. ‘He makes me happy,’ she said. ‘And in this life, if there isn’t joy, what even is the point?’
THE END