Page 8 of Since the Night We Met
‘The rumours had been circulating for a while about this partnership Gupta formed with Riaz. Dhruv made a huge deal about being friends with Al-hayat and how he won’t let it happen. Evidently, he failed, and your dad hates being disappointed.’
‘Tell me about it,’ Siya mumbled. Even as a twenty-eight-year-old woman, successful and revered as a lawyer, she hated the look of disapproval in her father’s eyes.
‘The meeting was a last-minute call, Siya. I was only able to attend because I was already here preparing the teaser graphics of the exhibition. Don’t beat yourself up over it,’ Gaurav tried to comfort her, but Siya knew better. She didn’t need to do that—her father would.
With each step she took, the knot in her gut grew tighter. By the time she reached the foggy glass door, she could feel her throat closing up.
‘I’ll be right here. Just breathe,’ Gaurav assured her, and stepped back with a nod. Siya gave him a grateful smile and turned around.
Time to face the dragon. Siya took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
At fifty-five, Kartik Kashyap was the epitome of generational privilege. His posture, his attire—all screamed of exuberant wealth. But it was his eyes that gave such a cold vibe that she shivered just being in the same room with him.
‘You’re finally here. I’ve been waiting for you. We have a lot to discuss,beta,’ he greeted her with a smile.
Siya faltered in her step. She had been expecting his classic icy glare, even a few curse words he had a tendency to hurl at the person who triggered his ire, but not the warmth he was showing her. She couldn’t remember the last time he’d called her “beta” and just hearing it made the little girl in her giddy with happiness.
Words felt stuck in her throat, so when she stayed quiet, Kartik went on. ‘How are you doing? You look tired. Are you not getting enough sleep?’
Siya furrowed her brows, surprised by his concern. A sliver of worry tightened around her neck.What’s the catch?she wondered.
She decided to just get it over with. If he was luring her into letting her guard down with pretence, she wouldn’t let him. ‘I’m sorry for missing out on the meeting, Dad. I—’
‘It’s no big deal. It happens. Why don’t you take a seat?’ Kartik gestured to the chair across from him.
Cautiously, Siya approached it. She was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. When the smile on Kartik’s face widened, she gulped down the bile rising in her throat.
‘You are a spitting image of Arohi. If she could see you now, she’d be so proud of everything you’ve already accomplished in your life,’ he said, holding her gaze.
It took every ounce of patience she’d learned over her lifetime to keep a straight face at his comment. She couldn’t recall the last time he had spoken of his late wife. He hadn’t even bothered to attend her funeral.
Siya crushed her knee-length black skirt in her fist as she replied through her teeth, ‘That’s all I’ve ever wanted.’
Kartik turned to look at a picture frame sitting at the edge of his desk. His eyes turned misty, and he cleared his throat. ‘I miss her.’
She didn’t know who he was talking about, but when he turned the frame around, her heart roared with anger.
Siya remembered that trip like it was yesterday. Beaches. Laughter. Love. All three of them had enjoyed the time, except her mother. Kashvi was too young to remember, but Siya had seen the signs of their mother’s misery even as a young girl. She refused to believe that her father had any good intentions behind bringing her up, nearly two decades after her death.
‘What’s going on, Dad?’
Kartik shook his head and kept the frame down. ‘Nothing, beta. Just getting mellow in my old age, I guess.’
This is a side of her father Siya had never seen before. She’d never even seen a hint of embarrassment, much less vulnerability. Worried, she asked, ‘Dad, are you okay?’
‘Yes. It’s just… today has been difficult. I wasn’t prepared for this competition at a time like this, and I guess I don’t have the energy to deal with it. But I must, because there is no one else I can ask for help.’
Help? Kartik Kashyap neededhelp? Siya couldn’t help but doubt his words. Her father is well-known for his cutthroat nature, so she didn't know how to trust this rare glimpse into his psyche. But when he wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, Siya couldn’t stop herself from reaching out to him.
She covered his weathered hand with hers and said with conviction, ‘I’m right here, Dad. You don’t need to ask. Just tell me what I can do to help our company.’
‘You know, your nana started this business with so much love and hope, and Arohi spent her life working towards making it a reality. After she passed away, you did such a good job of following in her footsteps.’
Siya’s aching heart soared to the sky and beyond at his praise. All she’d ever wanted was to make sure she stayed true to her mother’s vision, and this acknowledgement by him gave her a rare sense of satisfaction.
‘Now, I need you to step up once again, for our family’s sake. I don’t know what else we’d do if you are not fully dedicated to doing what it takes to get us through this tough time.’
This is it, Siya decided. This was her chance to prove to him that she’d do anything for their family, and she couldn’t mess this up. No matter what he asked, she’d do it.
