Page 108 of The Ex Factor

She put her fork down with a frown. “What do you mean?”

I told her about my conversations with Aakash and Mary Beth. “I don’t know how my father will take it. He hates everything associated with Sameer. Both my brother and my best friend warned me that Sujit is and will always be your ex. Is it shameful to fall for him? Aakash says it reeks of desperation or vengeance, you know, because you fucked my boyfriend, I fucked yours.”

She laughed a nervous laugh. “That thought never occurred to me, but tell me…” She dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “What does it matter what anyone thinks and says? If he makes you happy and you make him happy, isn’t that the only thing that matters?”

“Aakash says it might hurt our reputation, our standing in the business world and in society.”

“Does that bother you?” she asked.

I knew Sameer had declared he would put his and Tara’s happiness before the business, but it was his name at stake, not his father’s, not his family’s.

“I can’t believe I’m telling you this. I haven’t even told Ma, but I’m here to talk to my dad. I’m going to explain everything and beg him to give me and Sujit a chance at happiness.”

Tara reached out and grabbed my hand while my eyes remained downcast with everything that was weighing me down—the desire, the guilt, the shame, and the embarrassment about the shame.

“I don’t know your father, but Sameer speaks very highly of him. He also told me how much your father loves and respects you. So here’s my unsolicited advice. Don’t beg. Demand. You shouldn’t have to beg for your happiness from the people you love and who love you. You should expect it, and demand it.”

My eyes shot up to her, staring at her with incredulity. “Damn, girl! You’ve got your perspective all sorted out!”

There was strength and conviction in her voice when she said, “When you’ve grown up without much, your ambition and happiness are the only things you can unflinchingly stake a claim to.”

The words stabbed at my heart. Unlike me, she’d had to claw her way to the top. I’d grown up with privilege, and even though I worked hard, some doors were already held open for me. Not for someone like Tara.

“You know, we could have been best friends in another life.” I surprised myself with this honest confession.

“I don’t believe in other lives,” Tara responded, shaking her head and sticking a gentle fork in her breakfast potatoes. “Yes, if things were different, we could have been close friends, but nothing’s stopping us from being friends now.” She met my eye. “You are always welcome in our life, Aarti. Sameer has nothing but the highest regard for you. When you find it in your heart toforgive us both, we would love to have you as a part of our lives again. If that’s something you want too.”

I nodded. “I don’t make friends easily.”

“I know. All the more reason to keep us close, yeah?” Her warm smile enchanted me completely.

At that moment, I understood what Sameer saw in her. She completed him. She grounded him.

Sujit was right. Relationships are peculiar.

“I’d like that,” I said. “And I know we both will get along well. For one, I’ll be the perfect sounding board when Sameer annoys you. No one better to bash him than me.”

“Whoa, that’s definitely an unforeseen advantage,” she joked.

She reached across the table to pat my hand. “I’m genuinely happy for you and Sujit. Tell him the moment you’re back in New York. If I were the type, I’d be squealing and screeching with joy right now.”

Retracting her hand, she turned serious. “He’s a very good man, Aarti. Sona calls him a unicorn. Hurting him is something I’ll have to live with, but if you two make it work, please take very good care of him. Give him the love he deserved from the start. Did he tell you about Tejal?”

My eyes flickered in thought. “He didn’t mention her name, but he did share the story.”

“He had carried that hurt for a long time, and I turned around and crushed his heart. It doesn’t help that he has to keep seeing that bastard Manoj every so often.”

I sucked in a breath. “Tejal was married to Manoj?” I cried with a gaping mouth.

She put her fork down. “He didn’t tell you that part?”

I shook my head as it all made perfect sense suddenly. Manoj’s approaching me for the property, his interests in the same buildings I was showing Sujit, his asking me out. The puzzle was solved, the picture crystal clear before me.

“Thank you for telling me,” I said. “I suspected there was something off about that man. I just couldn’t figure out what.”

“Everything is off about that man,” she said and picked up the glass of orange juice before her. “Sujit must have a very good reason not to shove him out of his life. God knows, he should’ve years ago.”

Tara sipped her orange juice. Then she dabbed her mouth delicately and replaced her napkin by her plate.

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