There's Something About Sweetie(93)

Ashish couldn’t see this whole thing with Sweetie ending. He didn’t know if he was deeply in denial or what, but how could her parents not see how happy they were together? How could they stick stubbornly to their guns when Ashish turned on the full-throttle charm? Impossible.

He slid his phone out of his pocket and, sitting on the bench at the end of his bed, sent a text.

Whatever happens today …

Mein tumse pyaar karta hoon …

Pyaar karta tha …

Aur pyaar karta rahoonga.

Smiling, he put the phone away. The Hindi lines were cheesy movie dialogue that meant, “I love you, I’ve loved you, and I’ll always love you.” But he meant it. God, did he mean it.

There was a brief knock, and then Ma and Pappa stepped in. Ma smiled a little and Pappa put his arm around her shoulder.

“How are you, beta?” Ma asked, one hand at her chest.

“Fine. Just a little …” He shrugged, trying to downplay the nerves.

“Terrified?” Pappa asked. “Want some Pepto Bismol?”

Ashish glared at him. “No, thank you. I’m not terrified. Merely … anticipating.”

“Of course you’re not terrified,” Ma said at the same time that Pappa said, “You know, there’s no shame in admitting the fear that can grip the intestines! When I was on the way to ask for Ma’s hand in marriage, I almost had to jump off the bus to relieve—”

“Pappa, please.” Ashish tried not to grimace. “I mean, I really appreciate your, uh, sharing. But I think I’ll be okay. I mean, Sweetie’s parents have to like me. Everyone likes me when I’m charming. Ma always says that.”

Ma came to sit by him on the bench, her silk salwar swishing. “You’re right. When you’re charming and people see your smile … oof. Chanda-sooraj munh chhupa ke baith jaate hain.”

Ashish rolled his eyes. “I seriously doubt the moon and the sun hide their faces because of my smile. … Oh, wait. Is this one of those over-the-top Hindi things?”

Ma laughed. “Yes.” She kissed his cheek and then proceeded to rub off the lipstick. “Beta, I want you to know that Pappa and I think you’re perfect.”

Pappa grunted, which didn’t exactly sound like assent, but Ashish rolled with it. “Thank you. Not as perfect as Rishi, but good enough, right?” He smiled and adjusted his cuffs casually to show it was all a joke to him, even if that wasn’t strictly true.

Ma frowned. “Ashish …”

“It’s okay, Ma. I know I haven’t been the easiest kid.”

“Easy?” This time it was Pappa who spoke up. “No. You’re not easy.”

Ashish shrugged, like, Yeah, what’d I say?

“But,” Pappa continued. “You’re passionate. You’re brave. No one in this family has ever tried to do the things you’ve done, Ashish, because none of us have the fighting spirit you do.”

Ashish stared at Pappa, not able to think of a single word to say.

“Have you ever tried to eat curry that hasn’t been seasoned?” Pappa asked, almost aggressively. “It’s bland. It’s boring. No one likes it.” He cleared his throat. “That’s what our life would be like without you,” he finished gruffly, crossing and then uncrossing his arms.

Ma smiled at him and then at Ashish, tears in her eyes. “I couldn’t have put it better myself.”

“Wow,” Ashish said, looking down at his feet. “Um, thank you. Both of you.” He literally could not believe that those words, in that order, had come out of Pappa’s mouth. Could it be true? Did his parents really love him just as much as Rishi, even if he was such a pain in the ass? He’d have to think about it more later.

“Beta, but are you sure you don’t want us to come with you?” Ma asked, pulling him out of his mini reverie.

“You said I was perfect.” Ashish smiled. “So how could Sweetie’s parents not be won over in about three seconds?”

“True …,” Ma continued, putting a hand on his. “But sometimes people can’t see past their own—oh, kaise kehte hain—hang-ups. The things that make them feel a certain way, but they don’t know why. For Sweetie’s mother, that is Sweetie’s weight. I would hazard that the reason the weight bothers her is because she has some things that weigh on her mind, hmm? So in a way, it has nothing to do with Sweetie. Or you.”

Ashish hadn’t quite looked at it like that. What if Sweetie’s parents refused to be charmed by him because of what he represented? Something that bothered them and they couldn’t come to terms with that had nothing to do with him or Sweetie? He couldn’t control that.

“No, you can’t,” Pappa said, and Ashish realized he’d spoken that last part aloud. Pappa stepped closer and put a hand on Ashish’s shoulder for just a moment. “There are things in life beyond your control, Ashish. You’ll only make yourself mad trying to change them.”

He looked up into Pappa’s face, into those dark, almost-stormy eyes. “So what should I do?”

“Be honest. Own up to your feelings and your actions. Then step back. A man always knows when to step back.”

“Uh-uh,” Ma said, wagging her finger at Pappa. “A wise person always knows when to step back.”