Ethan stared at the phone, unwilling to believe what his mother had just said.
“Divya’s mother specifically said Matt, Heather and the kids are included in the invitation to Divya’s record launch.”
Divya’s mother had called his? He rubbed his neck, looking out at the view of the Hudson River from his Upper West Side condo.
“The kids are really excited to go. They’ve been asking about Divya.”
“You can use my plane,” he said flatly.
“Hon, there’s got to be a way to patch things up,” his mother said.
No, there isn’t. He had changed his cell phone number and email address, closed all his social media accounts. He didn’t want to weaken and answer Divya’s call. Yet not an hour went by when he didn’t think about her, when he didn’t worry about her, when he didn’t miss her. He had consoled himself with the knowledge that she’d be happier without him in the long term.
“Mom, you weren’t there that night. You should’ve seen her face when I stood up to her parents. Her heart broke right in front of me. If we stayed together, our love would be a constant battle in her house. It would ruin the amazing relationship she has with her family. She’d feel like a part of her was missing. I don’t want that life for her. Marrying an Indian woman means marrying her family.”
“Mrs. Singh invited you too.”
“Are you sure?”
“I think it’s her way of reaching out to you.”
He still couldn’t believe that Divya’s mother had called to invite his family to her launch party. Six months had gone by. He was sure by now they’d have found her another Vivek to marry.
“If you ask me, I think she sounded incredibly sad. We talked for over an hour. She asked me a lot of questions about you and about our family. She sounded really nice.”
“That’s why I’m wondering if it was really her,” Ethan said.
Marilyn chuckled. “You know, Ethan, ever since middle school, I’ve watched you crush on one girl after another. You always cancel the relationship before it really begins, because you’re so afraid the girl will break up with you.”
He looked at the picture sitting on his kitchen counter. It was the only personal item in his otherwise sterile condo. A picture of him and Divya and Allie and Jake on a giant teddy bear. It was exactly what he wanted.
He remembered what Divya had told him the first day they met. She wanted to be independent; she didn’t want to get saddled down with a husband and children. Now that she was on the way to achieving her dream, he wouldn’t be the one to hold her back. She deserved to get everything she wanted in life.
Out of habit, he touched the little box in his pocket. It was the ring he’d bought for Divya when they’d arrived in Vegas on the day he was scheduled to meet her parents. He carried it with him everywhere he went, unable to let it go.
“You should all attend, but I won’t be coming,” he said to his mother, a note of finality in his voice. “Tell Divya I wish her well.”
It was her night. She looked amazing. She stood backstage, waiting for her cue to make a grand entrance. She should feel nervous, excited, maybe even scared, but all she felt was empty. What was the point of this success if she couldn’t share it with the people she loved? Maybe she had been too stubborn. She should have called her parents. She should have called Ethan.
“There she is.”
Divya turned to see Arjun making his way toward her with Karishma, Naina, Rani and Sameer right behind him. Sameer stretched out his arms to pull her into a hug, but Karishma slapped him away. “Do not ruin her makeup or hair right before she goes onstage. Look how perfect she looks.”
“You do clean up nice, sis,” Sameer quipped.
It had been four months since she’d left home and seen all her siblings together and her heart swelled. “Did Ma and—?”
“We came.”
Divya turned to see her parents step toward her from the shadows.
“How could we miss this?” her father said.
Divya didn’t hesitate. She ran into her father’s outstretched arms and buried her face in his chest, not caring whether her hair and makeup were ruined. He put his hand on her head. “Beti, we are not going to agree with all the decisions you make, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love you. And it does not give you the right to cut us out of your life.”
She turned to her mother, who looked brilliant in a royal blue saree with silver thread woven through it. Diamond solitaires glittered in her ears. She held out her hand and Divya took it, squeezing it tightly.
“Ma, our family means the world to me. But I don’t want the life you’ve chosen for me. It’s okay if you don’t accept Ethan. We aren’t together anyway. But I need you to support me in my career. You have to trust that you raised me right, and I wouldn’t do anything to embarrass myself and or my family.”
Her mother dabbed at her eyes. “You know, your father went directly to your grandfather and asked to marry me, and my father said yes. I was so angry that he made this decision without asking me that I ran away.”
Divya’s eyes widened. Her mother was always so proper; she’d never imagined her doing something so rebellious.
“Someone reminded me what it’s like to be forced to give up something you love to do.” Her mother’s voice cracked, and she pointed to her feet. Divya looked down and her mother lifted her saree. She was wearing the ghunghuru, the little bells Divya had bought her right before she’d moved to New York.
Tears prickled Divya’s eyes. “I never told you this, Ma, but my love of music started when I listened to the sounds of your ghunghuru. I used to watch you from the crack in the bedroom door and sing to the sounds of the bells on your feet.”
Her mother wiped a tear from her cheek. “I guess I’m to blame for this whole singing thing, then.”
Divya smiled. “And also the running-away thing.”
“If you guys are all done being sentimental, we should head out to the party and let Divya get ready for her big performance,” Sameer said.
They all wished her well. When her mother was out of earshot her father turned to her. “You know, Divya, there was someone I loved before I married your mother.”
She looked at her father. It wasn’t a secret, but he never talked about it. “Arjun’s mother,” she whispered.
He nodded. “I know what it’s like to fall in love with someone your parents don’t approve of, and I know how it can rip your heart into pieces. When Arjun wanted to marry Rani, we stood in his way because I thought she would tear this family apart. Instead, she’s helped us see that it isn’t the worst thing in the world to have an American son-in-law. The worst thing is losing you. You don’t have to give up your music, and you don’t have to give up Ethan.”
She smiled for her father’s benefit. She hadn’t given up Ethan. He’d given up on her.
Ethan stood outside the ballroom, listening to the sounds of the party inside, knowing that Divya was just beyond the doors. Allie texted him every few minutes, giving him a play-by-play of what was going on inside. They’d met Divya’s parents, whom Allie described as totally cool.
He hadn’t intended to come. Wasn’t even dressed for the occasion. But he hadn’t been able to resist. All he wanted was one look at her. A last look.
“Ethan!”
He looked up to see Rani emerge from the ballroom. “What’re you doing out here?”
He smiled, but his throat was so tight he couldn’t speak. She looked at him kindly, then motioned to the armchairs in the hallway. He took a seat and she sat next to him.
“You know, when Arjun and I first got together, his mother convinced me that our relationship was doomed to fail. I almost didn’t marry Arjun because of his parents.”
Ethan looked up in surprise. Rani seemed to fit in so well with the family.
“They’re not bad people, it just takes a while to open their minds. They’re like ice cream when you first take it out of the freezer, cold and hard and unyielding. But give it enough time, and they melt into sweetness.”
“Thank you, Rani. But it’s not about your in-laws. I don’t want to hold her back. She ran away from her wedding because she didn’t want to get saddled with marital obligations. She’s finally found her freedom and voice. It’s time for her to live her dream. I don’t fit into her plans.”
“But you fit with Divya, and that’s all that matters.” She put her hand on his. “I’m not saying it all works out, but when you love someone, it’s worth the sacrifices.”
“I don’t want to hold her back.”
She looked toward the ballroom doors where the CEO of the record company had just started speaking. “When Divya wants to do something, I’ve never known her to let anything stop her. Don’t you think you’re holding her back by making decisions for her?”
He sighed. What was the right answer here?
Rani put her hand on his and he looked up at her. “Do you love her?”
He didn’t hesitate. “More than anything.”
“Then, tell her.”
He smiled. “Would you help me with something?”