Page 38 of The Ex Factor

“Hi Beta, kaisi ho?”

“I’m good. How are you?” Just a look at her radiant face and my heart flooded with warmth and calm.

“You look tired. Didn’t you sleep well?” she asked with a gentle frown.

I smiled. “I did, Ma.”

“Are you eating well? I hope you’re not eating too much junk. Try to eat healthy.”

“Yes, Ma, I’m eating healthy…ish.” I grinned.

“I knew there was an -ish at the end of that sentence.” She laughed. “How was your event last night?” she asked delicately.

“You mean, how was my date? Not good. He’s not my type.”

A look flashed across her face as if she wanted to say something, but she merely nodded.

“Say it, Ma. You know you can still tease me. I’m not so damaged that I can’t take a joke.”

“No, my darling. You’re not damaged. Just hurting. And it will pass. Let it pass. Don’t try to hold on to the hurt.”

I nodded.

“Okay, here’s what I was going to say. Is there any man who can live up to your standards?”

Well, there was one.

I quickly deflected. “How are things in Dallas?”

“Same old. The weather has been good. Looks like the winter won’t be as severe this year.”

“Ma, don’t use the word severe for Texas winter,” I chided lovingly.

She smiled. “Is it cold there?”

“Yes, but not severe yet. Andthatis the correct context of the word severe.”

She laughed heartily, giving me a full display of her teeth and open mouth. I loved watching her laugh like that. Dad peeked in.

“Hello, Puttar! Sab theek?”

“Yes, Papa, everything is fine. How are you? Hope you are not messing things up without me there.”

He waved his hand. “I miss you at the office. Your useless brother has a lot to learn,” he said with exasperation.

Mom hit his arm. “Don’t use such words for your child!” she chided him with a gasp.

“It’s the truth,” he tried to argue. “Have I ever used it for Aarti? No. Because she’s not.”

“Yes, yes, we all know she’s your pride, etc.,” Mom said. “Now leave. Let me talk to my daughter.”

He smiled at me and waved goodbye.

Dad and I talked almost every day, but it was always a work call. He called from his office and never once asked how I was. We got straight to business and hung up as soon as we took care of it. It worked for me just as well. I was cast in my dad’s image in many ways. I had my personal time and space and my professional time and space, and I didn’t like for them to overlap. Only now, I had transgressed the sanctity of that boundary by forming an emotional bond with a man who technically was a business relation.

But was he only a business relation?The unexpected thought rattled my composure.

“Did you get my email with the pictures, Beta?” Mom asked, and I was grateful for the distraction.

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