Aisha snorts. “It’s not like you didn’t have that back home, Chhavi. Besides, you’re on a scholarship. You should focus on your studies.”
“Don’t be a buzzkill,” she says, and I roll my eyes.
“She isn’t being a buzzkill,” I say, not able to take her attitude. If it were up to Aisha, she would have never taken her home. But because she values her mom’s opinions so much, we have to tolerate her annoying ass.
But I won’t tolerate this attitude. Especially towards my wife.
Chhavi crosses her arms and sinks further down in her seat as if that is going to affect me.
“You are here for a reason. Even Aisha came here to study, and look at how well she has done. She has made your entire family proud. You should listen to her.”
I try to soften my tone as much as I can, but I can’t help but think that this isn’t going to work on her anyway.
“Yes, I know how focused she was here.” Chhavi rolls her eyes.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Aisha asks, and I can tell she is annoyed now.
“Well, Aisha, it is no new news that your marriage was not so liked by everyone. Like, no offense, but nobody sent you here so that you could bag a British boy and get married within a year or so after graduating without having any set career in sight.”
Just as I am about to open my mouth to give her a piece of my mind, Aisha speaks up, and I can tell that she ismadmad. Like the level of mad that scares me.
“Well then maybe you don’t repeat that mistake. Focus on your studies and not on boys. After all, you had plenty of “fun” back home, didn’t you?”
I agree with whatever she said, but does she really think of me as a mistake? Or did I read the room wrong?
“It is not like I don’t know about your fun lifestyle back home, Chhavi. I am just maintaining both of our dignity. We are sisters, after all.”
She doesn’t argue further, and the tension that fills the car is suffocating. All the while only one word and question keep swirling in my head.
Does she really think I am a mistake?
Is that why she has a hard time thinking of us getting back together? I know I am responsible for our relationship notworking, but I also can’t help but think that maybe she has her doubts too.
Because I know she had doubts when we got in a relationship. I know she had doubts while telling her family about me for all the right reasons. I just never thought that she would count it as a mistake.
* * *
Chhavi gets out of the car as soon as I park in front of our house, leaving behind her luggage, and Aisha stares at me, but for the first time, I don’t have the courage to look at her. Because I have so many questions etched on my face that are going to make her go down that spiral, I don’t want her to ever visit again.
“I will go take her luggage,” she says before getting out of the car, and I take some time to calm myself down.
Maybe I am overthinking.
“Aw, Chhavi,” I hearMaagush over her as Aisha stands behind them with a frown on her face.
She looks done, and honestly, after her arrival, even I am.
“Thanks,Bua,” she says. “I am tired. Can I take a nap?”
“So welcoming,” I whisper more to myself, but obviously she hears.
“What?” she asks
“Nothing.”
Maaglares at me before turning to Chhavi with a smile.
“Of course, beta,” she says. “Go rest.”
