‘Yes,’ I said.
‘Shocking. The son of an army officer has disciplinary issues. All the reputation I have
built, you’ll destroy it.’
‘Those issues are history now.’
‘Then why does he have a problem? Does your mother know about this?’
‘Yes,’ I said.
‘Why hasn’t she told me? Kavita!’ my father screamed.
My mother came to the room, woken from a deep sleep. ‘What happened?’
‘Why was I not informed about this girl earlier?’ my father screamed.
‘He told me only a few weeks ago,’ my mother said.
‘And you hid it from me, bitch,’ my father said.
‘Don’t talk to mom like that,’ I said in reflex. I would have said more, but I need him
today.
My mother broke into tears. This wasn’t going well at all.
‘Dad, please. I want your cooperation. If you meet her father, he may reconsider.’
‘Why should I meet anyone?’ he said.
‘Because I love her. And I don’t want her to go away.’
‘You are distracted, not in love.’
‘Leave it, Krish, he won’t listen. See how he talks to me. You don’t know how I lived
when you were in hostel.’
My father lunged menacingly towards my mother. He raised a hand to hit her. I
pulled my mother behind me. ‘Don’t,’ I said.
‘Who do you think you are?’ he slapped me hard on my right cheek. I sat down on the
dining room chair.
‘Leave us and go. Why do you even come back?’ My mother folded her hands at him.
‘Don’t beg, mom,’ I said, fighting a lump in my throat. My father had made fun of me
earlier for crying. To him, only weak men cried.
nora
(Nora)
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