Chapter 28
Vidya put her elbows on the dining table and tried to zone out.
Her mother was still talking at top speed.
To be fair, most of it was aimed at Udeni now, who was arguing back.
Vidya sighed. This was meant to have been a nice evening.
Leo was going to take her out to dinner to celebrate being together for a month.
Her parents had turned up before she’d even had a chance to get ready.
So here she was, wearing a nice dress, but with hair that she hadn’t even had a chance to brush properly.
Thankfully, she had managed to text him that her parents had arrived.
Hopefully, he wasn’t too disappointed their date was cancelled.
Her mother turned back to her. ‘I can’t believe that you—’
‘I told you,’ said Udeni. ‘It had nothing to do with her. It was my mistake. She’s already told me off for it, and we’ve moved past it.’
‘But how can you ruin your life like this!’
‘My life isn’t ruined. Please. It’s not the 1950s anymore. Or the 1990s. Women can have children and still have careers. I work from home half the time anyway, and I’ll fit it around childcare.’
‘You’ll spend your entire salary on childcare and then what will you live on?’
‘Hang on,’ said Vidya, wearily. ‘She has a place to live already. And I’m here to babysit sometimes. Anyway, there’s no point crying over something we can’t change, is there?’ She put an arm around her sister’s shoulders. ‘How about we show her some support instead?’
‘But to raise a child. Without a father—’
‘I didn’t say that,’ said Udeni. ‘I said I wanted to raise the baby myself. The father … he’ll be around.’
‘Are you going to get married?’ This was from their father, who had been frowning the whole time.
‘God, no. We’re not together. But he wants to be there for the baby.’
‘He’s a good guy,’ said Vidya.
‘Can’t be that good.’ Her father glowered.
‘Oh, come on,’ said Vidya. ‘He doesn’t have to marry her. They aren’t even together … anymore. But he’ll be there for them. People do that, you know.’
‘The embarrassment!’ said Amma.
Udeni stood up suddenly and walked off.
Everyone looked at each other.
‘Where is she going?’ said Amma.
Vidya had no idea. So far, today, she had tried very hard to resist the urge to jump in and protect her sister, but now might be the time to help.
‘Look,’ she said. ‘I know it’s not what you wanted for her.
You always say that life is what happens while you’re making other plans.
So … this has happened. Maybe we should make the best of it.
You’ve always wanted grandchildren. Haven’t you? ’
‘Yes, but …’ Her mother sighed. ‘It’s hard, bringing up a baby. It was hard enough for us and there were two of us. How is she going to manage?’
‘I’m here for her. Caleb – that’s the baby’s father – will be too. So will Angie. And Udeni has you. She’s not alone. There’s never a good time to have a baby, is there? Maybe this is as bad a time as any.’
Both parents stared at Vidya. They weren’t arguing with her … so … that was a good thing.
‘You’ve met him? This Caleb?’ her father asked, cautiously.
‘Yes. I like him. He’s a good guy.’
‘Then why doesn’t Udeni want to marry him?’ Her mother shook her head.
‘Because she doesn’t love him and he doesn’t love her. They’re more like … friends.’
Before her parents could say anything more, Udeni came back and slapped something on the table. It was the ultrasound photo. She slid it across to Amma, who picked it up.
For a moment, no one spoke. Both parents stared at the grainy black-and-white image.
‘Your grandchild is due in October.’ Udeni had remained standing. She had her arms crossed over her chest. Vidya could see the tension in her fingers as she gripped her elbows.
This was a clever ploy. A pregnancy was difficult, but a baby … a baby was harder to be angry about. From the stunned silence, and the way her parents were both staring at the image, it seemed to be working. Vidya was impressed.
The doorbell rang, making everyone jump.
‘I’ll get it,’ Udeni said.
Who could that be?
‘Leo,’ said Udeni. ‘Come in.’
Oh, God. Leo hadn’t got her message in time.
Vidya’s blood ran cold. She wanted to introduce him to her parents, but not yet.
Oh, shit. Oh no, no, no. Vidya turned around to see Leo step in.
He was still in his work suit with a coat over it.
He looked, like he always did, neat and handsome.
Standing next to Udeni, here in the small living room, he seemed very tall.
His eyes went to her face, a small smile flashed at the corner of his mouth.
Now both parents were staring at him instead. ‘Who is this?’ said Thatha.
Vidya’s mind went blank.
Leo took a step forward. ‘I’m Leo,’ he said.
She had been hoping for a bit more time, but … oh, well. She stood up. ‘Erm. Leo, meet my parents. Amma and Thatha, meet Leo. He’s my boyfriend.’
Both parents turned to stare at her.
‘I’ve heard a lot about you,’ said Leo.
‘I wish we could say the same about you,’ said Amma.
As Thatha shook hands with Leo, Amma widened her eyes at her.
‘Well, it hasn’t been very long,’ Vidya said.
Leo nodded. ‘Only about a month. But we’ve known each other for longer. We work together.’
‘Oh. You’re a lawyer?’ said Amma.
‘One of the solicitors at the firm, yes.’
‘Aaah.’
Udeni, who had retreated to stand behind their parents, rolled her eyes at the note of approval. Perhaps they should have led with Caleb being a lawyer. That might have helped.
‘So, tell us about yourself, Leo,’ said Amma. ‘Sit down, sit down. Vidya, make the boy a cup of tea.’
‘Actually,’ Leo said. ‘I was meant to be taking Vidya out to dinner tonight …’ He looked at her, his eyes dancing. ‘I guess since your parents are here …’
‘Oh, you should go out,’ said Udeni. ‘I bet you’ve made a reservation somewhere nice and everything, knowing you.’ She mouthed run to Vidya.
Leo pulled out his phone. ‘I can cancel—’
‘Oh. No, no. You should go,’ said Amma. ‘Don’t mind us.’
Vidya looked at Udeni again, who mouthed, Go!
Fine. ‘Okay. If you’re sure. Just … let me brush my hair.
’ Vidya practically ran to her room and dragged a brush through her hair so that she could pull it into a hasty ponytail.
Through the open door, she could hear Leo being quizzed by her parents.
His answers were calm and measured. No charm offensive, no trying to impress.
He was coming across as the serious and solemn person that he was.
Her parents were going to love him. She smiled at herself in the mirror.
He was everything she had never known she’d wanted.
When Vidya came back into the living room, the atmosphere was more relaxed. Leo was answering a question about his family by telling them about his sisters. When he saw her, he stood. His gaze travelled from her feet to her face and his eyes lit up. She felt a little flush of pleasure.
‘I’m sorry to dash off like this,’ Vidya said. She felt terrible, but she wasn’t going to apologise for having her own life. Not anymore.
Both parents and Udeni said, ‘Go, go.’
‘It was lovely to meet you,’ Leo said, politely. ‘I’m sorry to leave so soon.’
‘You must come round for lunch one weekend,’ Amma said.
‘I’d like that.’ Leo’s voice was entirely sincere.
‘We will organise a date with Vidya.’
‘Okay.’ He held out his hand to her. ‘Shall we?’
To her surprise, from behind their parents, Udeni gave Leo a wink and a thumbs-up.
‘Oh,’ said Leo. ‘I nearly forgot.’ He dug into the pocket of his coat. ‘I was buying some stuff for my sister and she suggested I get this for you, Udeni.’ He pulled out a small parcel wrapped in pastel-green-and-yellow paper. ‘I know it’s early, but …’ He passed it to Udeni.
It seemed that Udeni had not been expecting this. Vidya glanced at him quizzically. He squeezed her hand.
Udeni ripped open the parcel and pulled out a tiny yellow-and-cream onesie. She let out a shaky breath. When she laid the onesie on the table, both parents stared at it, eyes wide. Udeni looked up, her eyes sparkling with tears. ‘Aw. It’s perfect. Thanks, Leo.’
‘You’re welcome,’ he said.
He gave Vidya’s hand a little tug, but she was too busy watching her parents. Amma was stroking the onesie with wonder. Thatha’s eyes had filled with tears. If they were only seeing a pregnancy before. They were definitely seeing a baby now.
As they walked towards the underground, Vidya said, ‘Did you not get my message?’
‘I did,’ said Leo. ‘But I also got this.’ He pulled out his phone and showed her the screen. It was a WhatsApp message forwarded from Caleb. From Udeni.
Caleb, pls forward on to Leo: Leo! Please come save Vidya. My parents have descended without warning and are making a fuss. I told V I would deal with them without hiding behind her and I will. I need you to come and take her away. Please. Udeni
‘Oh.’ Vidya didn’t know what to make of that. Her baby sister had definitely grown up.
‘Quite impressive, your sister,’ Leo said.
She was just beginning to realise that this was true. All these years she’d been so busy viewing everything Udeni said or did through the lens of her being irresponsible, that she hadn’t noticed how creative and brave Udeni was. Leo seemed to see things a lot more clearly than she did.
‘That onesie was a great idea,’ Vidya said.
‘That was Caleb’s suggestion,’ Leo said. ‘He told his mum last weekend and she’s wild with joy about being a grandma. Keeps trying to buy things for the baby. He thought something like that would be a good way to move the focus on to the future.’
‘And you just … came to meet my parents, just like that.’ This was the part that baffled her the most. Surely, meeting a girlfriend’s parents was a terrifying prospect. Especially for someone who thought people didn’t warm to him easily. ‘Weren’t you nervous?’
‘Terrified,’ he said, a little bashfully. ‘But they love you. And I love you. We have a lot in common. I figured the sooner we worked that out, the better.’
Vidya stopped walking. Leo stopped too, and turned to see why.
‘You love me?’ she said.
He gave her a patient look. ‘I thought that was obvious.’ When she didn’t respond, he said, ‘It’s okay. You don’t have to say it back. Just because I know doesn’t mean—’
She threw her arms around his neck. ‘I think,’ she said. ‘I think I love you too.’
He beamed at her and kissed her. When they pulled apart, he looked around above their heads.
‘What?’
‘I was just checking that there wasn’t a seagull waiting to interrupt.’
Vidya laughed. ‘Goddammit, Charlie,’ she muttered against his cheek.
‘We really should get to the restaurant,’ he said, regretfully.
Hand in hand, they walked down the steps to the underground station.
She was Vidya, the sensible one, who didn’t take risks and didn’t have adventures, but lived her life in her sensible groove.
Now she found someone who was willing to be sensible with her …
and she couldn’t imagine anything better.
The End