Page 118 of The Mismatch

‘But it’s over …’

She saw the tears well in Soraya’s eyes, and her heart broke for her. She had so much pent up inside. This time it was Neda’s turn to listen to her daughter, and she would make sure she was a good listener, as Soraya had been for her.

‘Tell me.’

And so, Soraya told her about Magnus. About the confidence he gave her, how he sympathised about Hossein because he was in a similar situation with his dad, about his writing, his positivity.

‘Poor boy,’ Neda said about his dad.

‘I mean yes, but he’s still a bastard,’ Soraya said with a small smile on her face.

Neda laughed.

‘I’ve taught you well, darling. Shall we go to Waterstones after this? My treat.’

CHAPTER 56

Soraya

Brighton, 2015

Soraya knocked on Parvin’s door. Her mum’s words fresh in her mind.

‘Come in,’ she called.

Soraya opened the door tentatively. When Parvin saw who it was her face hardened and her lip jutted out. She was sitting on the floor painting her toenails.

‘Hi,’ Soraya said.

Parvin continued painting her nails.

‘Can we not fight anymore?’ Soraya said quietly.

‘I never wanted to. You’re the one with the attitude.’

Parvin saw Soraya’s facial expression, pained as it was, drawn from lack of sleep, angular from lack of appetite. ‘Oh, God, who even cares? Let’s just forget about it,’ she said, patting the floor next to her. Soraya sat cross-legged whilst her sister took hold of her hand and began buffing her non-existent nails.

‘What’s happened?’

Soraya poured her heart out for the second time that day. It was freeing, letting it all out.

‘He’ll come back,’ Parvin said confidently.

‘Did you just hear what I said? Our relationship was all fake, and now he lives in Paris and has a new girlfriend.’

‘You broke up because you never speak about your feelings and he’s rebounding. Trust me.’

Soraya rolled her eyes. ‘It’s not that simple.’

‘If it will be it’ll be. Put your faith in higher beings and let it go.’

Soraya nodded slowly, considering her sister’s words.

‘I’m sorry I was a bit of a bitch before,’ Parvin said.

Soraya had never heard her sister apologise to her.

‘When I found out about Laleh, I freaked out a bit. I’m meant to be your big sister and I’d always told you to go after boys, but then to find out that she’d gotten herself pregnant, and Dad’s reaction to it … My mind was a bit messed up after that.’