But with her support came a long list of do’s and dont’s which included not partying till late—knowing fully well I despised going out, not getting any tattoos or piercings. “Your body is too precious to be carved in,” she said.
And most importantly, she said to not fall in love with anyGoraman.
“They don’t value their women,” she said, her superstitions overpowering her modern thoughts.
So, I went ahead and fell in love with a man who was not fullyGora. I was a little scared about introducing Rey as he was half british but she seemed to ignore that little detail once she got to know that his father—like us— was Punjabi.
I let go of the past memories with a yawn as I answer her call.
“Happy birthday, Aisha,” my mom cooes from the other side and a small smile graces my lips. At least, someone remembers.
“Thankyou, Maa,” I smile as I get up from the bed when a note on the side table catches my eye. “How are you?”
“What’s going to happen to me?” she says and I chuckle. “I am perfectly fine.”
“That’s good to hear,” I tell her. “Come see me once, now, please.”
I have asked her to visit me multiple times, but she always refuses, saying it’s not too nice to overstay at your married daughter’s house.
Typical indian mother excuse.
“Soon,bacha,” she says, the same thing she tells me every single time. “You tell me, how’s Reyansh?”
My heart stutters in my chest, not knowing what to tell her. While I can talk about anything and everything with my mother, I also know she will likely have a minor cardiac arrest knowing that our relationship is broken.
One of my fears is the backlash from our extended family. After my father’s demise, they helped us when we needed financial help which made us indebted to them for our entire lives. They ideally wanted me to get married to some man they found for me. A typical arranged marriage. But my mom stood by my side as I wanted to get married to the love of my life at the time.
They said love marriages don’t last long. I am afraid their stupid prediction might turn out to be true.
“He is fine,Maa,” I assure her. “He is out at the moment.”
“So early?”
“He is probably in the gym,” I shrug.
“Probably?Beta, you should know the whereabouts of your husband.”
I roll my eyes silently, not regarding her with anything.
After silence for a few minutes, she speaks up as I unfold the note in my hand, my eyebrows furrowed.
“Aisha, is everything okay between you and him?” she questions and my stomach dips
“Yes,” I lie easily. That’s what I have been saying to her for years now. “Everything is fine,Maa. Don’t worry.”
“Aisha, if there is anything tell me,” she urges but I know I won’t break. Not yet at least.
“If there’s anything wrong between you and him, talk it out. Relationships aren’t always a smooth road but what matters is if you are willing to walk through that road with the person you chose for the rest of your life. You tookseven pherasaround the holy fire, making you bound to him for seven lives. While we don’t know whether that sentiment is true or not, you have got to make it through this one life at least. Not with resentment or force, but with love. It can get difficult but all that matters is the person you love. Remember this, hm?”
Her words are not something new I am hearing. This is what she told me when we first got married. While I would never have any issue holding these words true, I doubt Reyansh took them seriously every.
For him seven lives is a myth and I am afraid, so was our love.
“I know,” I tell her. “Don’t worry, everything is fine between us.”
“That’s good,” she says. “Now, I will let you do your work. Happy Birthday,Beta. I am proud of you always.”
Now that makes me truly happy, calming me down.
