I don’t hold it against him. I am sure they might have had their reasons. Plus, they are better as friends. No bad blood or anything, so I never had much trouble getting through with their separation.
“Happy?” I say, and he gives me a half smile. “Why the sudden visit?”
I check my watch. It is nearly past five. He usually naps during this time if he isn’t working.
“I had a talk with Margot,” he starts, his black eyes staring me down. My dad is the least intimidating man you will ever find. He is assertive, yes. But never intimidating. I had a healthy bond with my dad—which can be rare, so I always count myself lucky in this department. He came to London with big dreams, made them a reality, built a family for himself, and gave them an amazing life. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
“And?”
“And she told me that Aisha wants to give you a divorce.”
He glares at me, and I squirm under his gaze. I forgot just how much he adores her. Both of my parents are die-hard Aisha fans, and while I love that, it can be a little overbearing for me at times.
“Yes. I am aware.”
“That’s it? You have nothing more to add? You are going to let her go just like that?”
His words hit me deep within my chest, unlocking a level of fury that I had been keeping suppressed.
“You are one to talk?” I tilt my head. “Didn’t you divorce my mom saying something similar? That love had fizzled out and stuff?”
I know this is a low blow and that I shouldn’t be talking to my father like this, but whenever someone brings up the topic of Aisha leaving me or giving me a divorce, it unlocks an insecurity within me that I never knew existed until now.
“I am not taking criticism from you, Reyansh. Not after the shit you have pulled in your personal life by making your wife—the one you boasted about being way too lucky to have—determined to leave you.”
I shake my head, looking out of the window because if I look at his face, I might break down. And I need to have my shit together.
“Your mother and I divorced because we knew our love wasn’t meant to last. We got to know that soon into our life, and we are both way happier as co-parents than we would have been had we stayed together.”
I nod, because I have known that all along. I have seen them glow up after separating, and in any case, that’s a good sign.
“You and Aisha, however, love each other. You guys have just managed to fuck that up.”
My eyes widen hearing him curse like that, and he gets up to face me.
“Tell me, how will you survive if she is gone from your life?”
“I won’t.”
“Then why are you letting this happen?”
“I am trying, Dad,” I tell him, my voice breaking at the end, and his eyes soften around the edges, showing me how old he is getting slowly. “But she has her walls up, and I am not even blaming her for that. I am so lost sometimes. I just…I can’t let her go.”
He nods as I take a deep breath in. Talking about my feelings makes me feel as if all the air is taken out of my lungs.
“I won’t be able to live without her, Dad.” Tears slip out of my eyes, and he clutches my shoulder to support me. Because he knows how much she means to me. He knows what a great impact she has had on my life. I was barely alive before her, going through my life like a robot with no feelings.
Being with her made me aware of the fact that I have a heart whose sole purpose isn’t only keeping me alive. It is also made to make me feel things, make me cry, laugh, and most importantly, fall. Fall for her.
“I know, Rey.” He passes me his handkerchief, and that makes me laugh a little. “I know.”
“What do I do?”
“Chase her. Bring the old Reyansh back and make her fall in love with him.”
“You think that will work? That she will fall in love with me again?”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that. Because she never fell out of love with you in the first place.”
