CHAPTER 21

I was sitting at the café waiting for my sister, who was fashionably late. 'Don't mess this up' was lingering in my mind. I was eager to get some help at this point, but my sister didn't think she would; she didn't even give us a call at least once after the incident. My dad had voluntarily called her, and this one-on-one meeting was not sitting well with me. I am not going to like this conversation again; my senses were giving me hints.

My sister came to the café 20 minutes late; no complaints. I wanted to end this meeting as early as possible and get the hell out of there. Not that I hate her that much; I do, but I could tolerate her for a few minutes. This one-on-one meeting had created some strange feelings like 'fear'; my mind was already a mess and had taken so much that I didn't want to add more to it.

My sister took a seat opposite me with a sweet smile on her face. "Hey, sweet brother, how is life tasting now?" How the hell could I forget she was so good with her bitchy words. "You know, like poor, which I have accepted, not your parents." "Eventually they have to accept reality; sooner or later, they were planning to visit my place seeking help; please see to it they won't. After the incident, if I didn't have kids, my husband would have kicked me out. I can't help you guys; sorry, my life is barely floating over there, so it's your responsibility to stop them; at least take this one seriously." As expected, except for the later part, her husband was phobic of 'status' his hatred was so great that he wouldn't think twice before showing his displeasure openly. Hence, the one-on-one meeting was to discuss something else.

"You could have informed them over the phone right away why you wanted to meet me?" "Common so much happened I can't help; at least I could talk, and also I needed to share a few things with you." Here we go for another set of revelations. Can't I get a fucking break like it doesn't need to be back-to-back?" "You know, from the beginning, I knew your 'Ex' was up to something when he was playing both of us." "I didn't get you; will you be clearer?" "Geez, don't tell me you never thought we didn't had anything in the past." Of course, I did as you were fucking constantly flirting with him more than that. I don't think these two had more. Don't fucking tell me I was wrong. I don't want to hear this. Uneasiness was increasing. Should I walk out of here? The best option at this moment but if I didn't hear it now, it would always bug me, whether I liked it or not. I need to know this. By clearing my throat. I spoke, "Like, what?" "I knew you didn't know; always captured in your dreamy world. We slept together like so many times. When you introduced Joshua, I knew then and there, in between you both, there was something more than a friendship. I so badly wanted to get back to you. I thought casual flirting would be enough, and one thing led to another. That bastard was a charmer. We ended up having sex. Don't tell me you didn't notice his disappearance in the middle of the night. Again, you are naïve after hearing my 'yelp' at the dining table, which didn't have any effect on your relationship status, like not even a few days' break. Gosh, I can't believe how much he has brainwashed you. 'Love is fucking blind' and he was exploring my 'womanhood' for your information to thrust your curiosity."

Hmmm, why exactly did I want to escape from this place? Fear of hearing the exact thing, he had indeed wrapped everyone in his fist and was a good player. Everyone in my family was blind for their own set of reasons, and I was curious about my sister and why exactly she wanted to get back to me. "Why do you hate me so much? What did I ever do to you?" You didn't do a fucking thing; that was the problem; you didn't support me; you didn't dare go against Dad; you didn't dare say a word against him. How can anyone be so cowardly?" "You know I was better than you, promising in every aspect; I had every quality to run the company; and I was preparing to do my best in every academic. You knew everything I had shared with you: I wanted to run and become CEO, and you were weak, didn't have any knowledge, didn't want to learn anything, and were not interested in running the company, but you didn't say anything. You were always following Dad's orders like a bloody puppet. How many times I had pleaded in front of you, how many times I had tried to convince him every damn thing was happening in front of you, but you didn't even once think to support me at least once; you could have tried to talk with him and convince him. Something you could have done rather than fucking shutting the whole way."

What the hell was she making sense? Every fucking thing was happening in front of her; he would rarely listen to what I had to say, but he would never consider it; his decision was final; she knew everything was still fucking blaming me, and the way she picked to get back to me was bloody hilarious. "You know very well that he never listens to anyone. What's the point?" "That was not your bloody decision to make. If you had spoken for me, I would be happy. I had poured so much into everything to become like him. Why didn't you speak for me? We were close. I needed your support. Whether he was considering your words or not, it wouldn't matter to me." Tears started flowing from her eyes. "I just thought my involvement would only make the situation worse, would anger him more, and would end up pointing out my sexuality, so I didn't speak until today. I never thought it would have hurt you this badly, and in return, you would get back to me through Joshua. At this point in time, I don't know whether to be sorry or angry at you." "Well, suit yourself; I don't care about either. I need you to know this. There was no point, as he had already left you and taken everything. I sympathize with you guys more than this. I can't do anything. Again, sorry for your state; see to it that they don't visit my place. I am leaving now, and I will take care of the payment. Goodbye, brother."

I was watching her retreating figure. Once again, I was in a daze about who was right and who was wrong. My cowardice led me to this state, but she would have spoken with me rather than distancing herself. I would have given moral support. Whenever I was approaching, other than ignoring me, if we had talked, we would have come up with something better than this whole scenario, which maybe could have changed why she held strong grudges against me and found a perfect way to get me back to me.

After a few minutes, I made my way to my flat. Both my parents were eager to receive some good news. Disappointment is inevitable, and I am neither sorry for them nor disappointed in myself. It was like I was getting used to this. Not only have I accepted my 'state' but I've also taken a step by welcoming everything with open arms. How the hell should I react after these many revelations? For which one should I give preference? And the most important question: what was my fault—being a son, being mute, being naïve?

"How did it go, what did she say? Is she going to help us? My desperate dad is eager to escape the current situation. "She sympathizes with our current situation, but she can't help us in any way", "What? How can she say that after whatever we had done to her, gave her a bloody luxury life this was her time to fulfill her duty as our daughter." Yeah, right if they try to figure out what they have given us other than luxury, they didn't have face to ask anything from either of us, "You know how your son-in-law is exactly like you, money and status means everything to him. He kept her because of kids or else he would have kicked her out. So don't interfere in her life please don't ask any help from your son-in-law he won't help us so don't lose your face in front of him."

Disappointment on their faces; like me, they will get used to this if it is sooner, which would be better for them. "What about your friends? They are from an affluent family; they can help us, right? Have you tried to contact them?" Again, my dad. "Dad, I am reminding you, once again accept the fact we are left with nothing; we are poor; no one is going to help us, including my friends and yours; don't stress me more; I got enough already." With that, I stormed to my room, and I could hear my mom sobbing. What the hell is wrong with this woman?