“I know our mothers can be harsh, but we have to remember they just want the best for us,” he adds, and I nod, because I know. “They are probably hurt and disappointed in us and our relationship, and that’s fair. But we can’t let it get to us, hm.”
I nod. “Your mom is better at handling this than mine, though. She loves me.”
“Agree to disagree,” he says, and I chuckle. “But yes, she does love you. You are the daughter she never had. You don’t see me complaining about that, do you?”
“Oh, I do see you sulking in the corner when she is gushing over me,” I tease, and the atmosphere suddenly feels very light and breathable. “Plus I am very lovable.”
He laughs out loud at that, and that feels like a breath of fresh air. Like the warmth of sun on a cold London day.
“That you are. I agree.”
I open my mouth to say something and close it just as soon when I register his words. Did he just render me speechless? Yes. Yes, he did.
“Let’s do one thing,” he adds. “Every day from now on we are going to tell each other our feelings. No matter how hard. No hiding anything from each other.”
“No filter?”
He kisses my cheek, and I smile. “No filter, baby.”
* * *
I could never imagine that one conversation with Reyansh would make me feel so much better. For the past few days, I had been feeling as if I was a nobody, that maybe my mother didn’t care about me as much as I thought she did because from the day that she came here, she had been pushing me towards Reyansh, regardless of how I felt about it.
“Do you think I should go and talk toMaa?” I questioned Reyansh, who was now working on his phone.
I don’t know if he is going to go to work today or not because when I asked him about it, he said that he will think about it, and truth be told, I don’t want him to go out of the house today. For whatever selfish reason, I need him here. I promised myself that I would hold my ground and maintain distance from him, but with each passing day, that becomes near impossible.
With each passing day, I see him becoming more of who he was when we first met, the man I fell for head over heels, while I stay the shell of the woman I was before. And the scary part is, he might just bring that girl back. The one who forgot about the world when she was with him.
He looks at me, keeping his phone aside as if all his attention was meant for me.
“I think you should,” he says, after thinking for a while. “You guys fight all the time. This isn’t any different. Go hug your mom, talk it out, and get over with it.”
I roll my eyes at his tone. “Never knew you were a relationship therapist.”
“I am far from a therapist, but if you ever need any private lessons, let me know,” he chuckles with a wink, and I shake my head even though my whole body gets tingles from his words alone.
“You are gross,” I say, getting up, and his laughter follows me out of the room.
“Maa,” I call her name, only to find her sitting on the sofa, passing glares to Mom from time to time, who stands in the kitchen, cooking breakfast.
“What?” She bites out, and I just know she ismadmad.
While I think her anger is unreasonable, I remember what Reyansh said to me and calm myself down. I cannot solve things without being the patient one. Even if it is in contrast to my nature.
I sit down next to her, and she doesn’t look at me, choosing to stare ahead.
“I am sorry,” I say the words even if they are incredibly hard to say. I understand her point of view, but I don’t think I am wrong at expecting a little more kindness and compassion from my own mother. “I shouldn’t have talked to you like that. I was just overwhelmed and frustrated with how things have been going the past few days. I still shouldn’t have spoken to you that way. I’m sorry.”
She doesn’t say anything, but I see her demeanor soften, so I take it as a green sign to hug her, and then she completely relaxes in my arms.
“It’s okay,” she says, patting my arms holding her close to me. “I won’t apologize, but I know I was in the wrong too.”
I chuckle. “It’s okay.”
“Yes, I won’t push you to do something you don’t want to. Because it is wrong, and your husband surely doesn’t like you being talked to in that tone.”
“Yes,” Mom says from the kitchen. “I have not seen Reyansh put his foot down that way in front of his elders ever. He can silently disagree but never talks in that way. But he did for you.”
