In a distant marriage with her brooding husband, Ayan, Adira Khanna has resigned herself to a mundane life. However, fate has different plans when Ayan's childhood friends plan a week-long trip to Goa. Little did Adira know that this vacation would...
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Chapter 23
How you get the girl
Adira
"A smarter woman would have already divorced him and left him for good."
"Mom, I am thinking about the divorce, and I don't think it's the right time, especially because of the whole anniversary episode." I hesitated for a moment before finally mustering the courage to broach the topic with my mother.
My mom raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Oh, really? So, you want to delay the divorce because of the anniversary thing?"
I nodded. "Yes, I mean, it's a big event for them, and I don't want to add to the chaos. Did you receive the invitation?"
She chuckled. "Well, I have to agree with you on one thing. The wine was fancy, but those cookies were terrible! Your mother-in-law's taste is just awful."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Actually, Mom, I chose the cookies."
She looked surprised. "You did? Oh, dear, you really need to work on your degrading taste, honey."
"Tell me what's that bitch like?", she asked about the woman who had apparently wrecked my failing marriage.
"She's a …lot. She is just so rude and snobby. She never talks nicely to anyone. She acts like she's above everyone else and owns a fashion brand, that too a popular one. She's so Esha", I couldn't hold back my frustration any longer, and it just exploded from within me. It felt nice to finally talk about it.
Today, I came to visit my mom's house. As I sat with her, sipping tea, memories of our heart-to-heart conversations came rushing back. My mother was a woman blessed with stunning good looks and flawless skin. From her, I have inherited these hazel eyes.
I had always shared everything with her. My mom was also well aware of the affair between Ayan and Esha, but I spared her the sordid details. She gently suggested that divorce might be the right course of action, especially now that my father had passed away, and the agreements tying us together could be nullified.
My father had always praised Ayan for his responsible and introverted nature, believing him to be a trustworthy and dependable partner for me. But, the truth shattered that perception. Ayan's infidelity revealed a side of him that none of us had ever anticipated. The betrayal cut deep, making me doubt my ability to judge character.
"How's your sex life going?",she brought me back from my thoughts with a question no child wished to answer to his parents. My tea got choked and I coughed from shock at her openness.
She had always been refreshingly open-minded and understanding when it came to discussing topics that many other parents shied away from. From relationships and personal struggles to life choices and ambitions, she had created a safe space for me to confide in her without fear of judgment. But this was a path I didn't want to thread on.
