LOSING YOU

Chapter 92- California Time

Kabir's POV...

"Mum?" I whisper as my mother runs towards me. Her eyes glossy and her arms wide. I'm taken aback from how different her embrace is. Mum's scent fills my lungs as I clutch onto her blazer. I feel okay. I'm going to be okay. I know she senses that something is wrong, so she starts running her comforting hand through my hair, not speaking a word. I snuggle into her neck, she holds me tighter. My eyebrows draw together and the tears finally start to fall. I missed her.

I missed her so much.

"Hey," mum rubs my back, soon enough I'm shivering in her arms. "Kabir, look at me, what happened?" I feel like I'm seven all over again. I pull away from her, her eyes are shining so bright, so much pride in them, so much happiness. I'm afraid that I'm gonna snatch that from her. I'm Maansi Singhania's son. I'm supposed to be the wisest one. I'm supposed to be the best. And yet, here I am, fucked up, sad, hopeless. My eyes meet Myra's. She looks sad. She's seen me cry before. She doesn't mind it. "Did you have a bad day?" She says, Mum turns to look at her and then she quickly looks at me and then her eyes ping-pong between us father and daughter for a good five times before she cocks an eyebrow. "It's a long story... and yeah, it's exactly what you think." I tell her, her expression is blank. Absolutely blank. I could tell her that rainbow has seven colours and her expression wouldn't be any different than what it is now. "Yes... yes, I did. I'll tell you all about it." I tell Myra. "Okay, you talk to her and I'll go with Ruby and bring you chocolates. You'll feel better, okay? Don't worry." She tells me and quickly gets off the couch. I love her so much. She grabs Ruby's hand and drags her along. Ruby gives in after giving me a miserable look. Dad walks towards me, this is going to get awkward. Very awkward. "Hey, Kabir." He says, this is the first time that I've spoken to him after the ugly encounter we had in the bank months ago. I'm surprised by the way I'm able to look into his eyes. I'm not afraid, I'm not hyper even. I'm calm. I'm very calm. There's way too much going on in my life right now. I find myself forgiving him. I forgive him. "Hey, Dad." I see the surprise in his eyes when the word Dad leaves my mouth. "H-how are you?" I smile at his terrible attempt to make conversation. "I'll be fine." I whisper, he smiles at me and pulls me into a hug. A weird sense of awareness fills my whole body, I'm hugging my dad after twenty years. Twenty whole years. "I'm sorry, Kabir. I'm so so sorry." I listen to my dad's voice break, I hug him tighter. "It's okay, Dad. I forgive you. It's okay." It's so good to forgive someone, it's so liberating. I feel good. It feels like a weight has gotten off my chest. I feel happier, lighter.

"Where's Siya? Office?" Mum starts, "You annoying man! You sent her to office on a Sunday? Seriously Kabir?" She whines. My mouth opens but words don't make their way out. I have nothing to say, absolutely nothing. Mum looks at me, "Umm... Uh- about that, Si‐Siya and I... we-we broke up." My mouth feels sour as the words escape. I literally shake my head quickly, not sure how it would help. My parents stare at me- There's a blank expression in Dad's face because he doesn't know much about us and Mum... well, being an Indian kid, I wouldn't be surprised if she took off her heels and threw them at me. She's shocked. Flabbergasted actually.

"WHAT!?!? You did WHAT?!?!" She shouts on the top of her lungs. "How do you know I did something?" I shrug. "Well jackass, the only time I felt that the girl was an idiot was when she started dating you. So, either she's smart enough to break up with you or you are stupid enough to let her go. I'm betting on you to do me the honour though..." Mum responds sassily. I roll my eyes. "And what's with that teeny-tiny doppelgänger of your's, uh? My, my, that girl is a delight. She's so grumpy! I love her!" She chuckles, her eyes shining brightly. A chuckle leaves my lips as well. "I guess... I deserve a fill in." Dad says, "Of course." I smile at him and we settle on the sofa. I'm positive that the end of the story will not leave me in the best light. I begin anyway.