“But what happened? I thought things with you and Meghna were going well. Didn’t you just go to a wedding together or something?”
“We did. That’s actually where we decided to end things.”
“But why?”
Because Karthik was a fool. Because he’d accidentally fallen in love.
“We just wanted different things,” Karthik had said evenly.
“Well, I’m sorry, man. Really sorry.”
Karthik had told him not to worry about it, then done his best to put it all out of his mind so he could focus on the interview.
When he’d first joined the company straight out of school, he’d been so preoccupied, distracted by worries that his father had been right. That engineering was a mistake and he should have become a doctor. But after some time, he’d realized that going to medical school wouldn’t have made a difference. Nothing Karthik did would ever make his father happy.
So, he’d buckled down at his job. Marianne, and others, took notice and rewarded his hard work. He redoubled his efforts, really committed to his team and his clients, and then, he started moving up. With each move came more responsibility, but also recognition. Respect. Appreciation. And today, this final interview, was the culmination of all of it.
He should have been overjoyed. He should have been proud of his hard work and where it had taken him. But for some reason, he just felt…off.
His phone beeped. Karthik grimaced when he saw it was a text from his father.
Dad: I received a grant to conduct some research in India. Had to leave very quickly. I’ll be here for a while, but will travel back for your wedding.
Karthik resisted the urge to roll his eyes. There was nothing his father cared more about than his job and professional reputation. He wouldn’t have wanted anyone to know he’d been terminated.
Maybe he had received some kind of research grant, but that wasn’t the full story. There was more to it, but Karthik wasn’t sure if he was interested in finding out all of the details. His father had lost his job. He’d moved halfway around the world. And his mother was staying here and seemed to be taking it all in stride. There wasn’t really anything else for Karthik to be concerned about.
Of course, hecouldcall his father. He could demand answers. Ask his father how he could treat his mother this way. He could yell at him. Tell him how disgusted he was by his behavior. By his choices. But there was no answer his father could give that would change the way Karthik felt. No answer that would fix things. That would justify his behavior. There was no closure at the end of this. Maybe there was just…acceptance. This was who his father was. And he wasn’t going to change.
Karthik’s phone beeped again.
Dad: Also, heard about your promotion. Congratulations. Proud of you.
Karthik’s stomach rolled.Proud of you?At one time in his life, hearing these words from his father would have meant everything. Now they just made him want to throw up.
He didn’twantto be the kind of person his father would be proud of. Someone who kept secrets. Who yelled at the people they were supposed to love. Who chose their career over their own family. Who lied. He swallowed, his throat suddenly itchy and dry.
How different was he from his father, really? Hadn’t Karthik been lying to his mother for months? Even now, he still hadn’t told her the full truth about his engagement. He still hadn’t told her it had all been a trick to get out of his promise to her.
He’d been so afraid of hurting her again. Of reliving their past conversation about marriage. He’d thought pretending to go along with her plan would cause her the least amount of pain. But his good intentions didn’t cancel out his deception. They didn’t make it right.
And Meghna. He’d confronted her about Seth. He’d made her cry. And then, like his father, he’d just…left. Ended things and walked away. Like a coward. He should have done more than just say sorry. He should have been honest with her. He should have told her how he felt about her. What she meant to him. And that he didn’t want the engagement to end. He should have stayed and fought for her. Showed her how badly he wanted to make things right.
How badly hestillwanted to make things right. Karthik’s pulse jumped. Yes, his father had run. He’d literally fled the country to avoid facing his mistakes, but Karthik didn’t have to follow his example. He’d run once, but that didn’t mean he had to keep running. He could stop. He could go to Meghna and tell her the truth. Tell her that their engagement, their relationship, none of it had been fake to him. That he…he loved her. And that he never should have let her go. Maybe he’d already ruined any possibility of her feeling anything for him, but he had to at leasttry.
Karthik pulled out his phone, his hand slightly shaking. He had to book a flight. He had to see her. Talk to her. Before it was too late.
Jim walked out of the conference room, a large smile on his face. And Karthik froze. He was tempted to leave. To bolt again. To run. But he wasn’t his father. He would stay and face things. He would see things through.
He stood up, shaking Jim’s hand and following him. As he took a seat in front of the panel, Karthik made a split-second decision. He’dbeen so desperate to not be like his father that he’d held himself back from happiness. From Meghna. And from a job he could actually love.
He’d thought that his current job was fine. That he could work in HVAC design for the rest of his life. That he could be content doing something he wasn’t passionate about. But Meghna had shown him that he was wrong.
Meghna, who’d fought and fought against a school board so her kids would have the opportunity to perform. Meghna, who’d written for years, refining her craft, slowly but steadily working toward her dreams. Meghna, who took risks, even when it was hard. Even when there was no guarantee things would work out.
“Before we start the interview, I wanted to say something,” Karthik said. “If it’s all right with you, Jim.”
Jim waved a hand, gesturing for him to go ahead.
