“Papa knew him before that night haina ? Par ........ How?”
“He was out celebrating one evening with some coworkers at a bar after work. Your Papa met him there.”
I nod.
“You need to talk to him, Preeta. I hate this tension between you two,” Maa says, worry lacing her words.
“maine koshish kiya tha maa.”
Opening the silverware
drawer, I pull out a butter knife.
“He won’t listen.”
“He’s just worried about you. We both are.”
“If he were worried, then he would hear what I have to
say. He doesn’t care.”
The toaster pops, and I pinch the
very edge of both pieces and quickly drop them onto my
plate. A slow breath leaves my lips, and I turn to face Maa.
“I know y he’s upset. I don’t blame him for that. What I
can’t get over is him not listening to my side of the story. I
don’t know if what I feel for Karan is love, but vo .. vo sach hai vo feelings ..maa what I have for his vo sach hai,and I’m old enough to make real decisions about my love
life maa.”(if it was my mom sure my cheek were turned red by now)
Maa cups my cheek, her expression turning earnest.
“Muje patha hai that you are, Preeta. And so does your Papa.” I snort and roll my eyes.
“He does,” she insists.
“But, beta ,vo karan vo teri teacher hai , teri guru hai and vo tumse kafi zyada bada hai . He should have never touched you in that way.”
“But he did, Maa, and I wanted him to.” I lean a hip
against the counter.
“It was me who came on to him the first time.”
Mom’s hand falls from my cheek and her brows pull down into a frown.
“And you know what else? He saved me from a boy at school who was touching me when I
didn’t want him to.”
Her eyes open wide and a look of
horror flashes across her face. I continue before she can
freak out.
“He stopped it before it could really begin. I asked him not to report it because I didn’t want trouble at school, and I didn’t want you guys to find out because I know papa would go ballistic.”
“Ithna Sab Hua ,” Maa says heatedly, anger at someone hurting her daughter peeking out.
“You should have told us, Preeta.”she continues
“Maybe, but I chose not to.”
“This needs to be reported immediately.”
Her eyes dart around the room like she’s looking for something. I grab her hand and make her look at me again.
“Nahi ,maa. I don’t want to report it. The boy hasn’t messed with me since then. I would prefer to just forget it happened.”
“Par Preeta” she starts.
“Stop, okay?” I say firmly.
“This is my decision.”
She opens her mouth to protest further, but the back door opens, interrupting her. I squeeze her hand, silently begging her to not tell Papa. Her eyes search mine for a moment before she plasters on a smile and walks over to
him. I know she’ll tell him. Maa and Papa don’t keep secrets
from each other, something I’ve always admired about their
relationship.
I just don’t want to be in the room when she does. I need more time to prepare for his reaction.
I turn back to my bagel and slather cream cheese on the two pieces. I feel Papa walk up behind me a moment later. I stiffen when he wraps his arms around me, trapping my arms at my sides. His hug is tight, and it makes my heart hurt. I hate the strain that this has put on our normally
close relationship. Tears prick the back of my eyes, but I force them away. I won’t give in on this. He has to understand this isn’t
something I’m willing to let slide.
“I’m sorry that I can’t be sorry for what I did that night.”
His breath fans across the top of my head as he talks.
“That man deserves a lot more than the two punches I gave him.
I’m also sorry that you can’t understand how I feel. As a father, it’s my job to protect you and your mother, and I feel like I failed you.”
I can’t stop the tears sliding down my cheeks now. I can’t even wipe them away because my arms are still trapped.
“Pa... paa,” I whisper, my voice breaking on the one word.
“There is nothing you can say to make me feel otherwise, Preeta. Nothing excuses his actions. I know you were a willing participant, but I still blame him. He’s a grown man, damn near old enough to be your father.(not really) He’s sick and perverted and should have never put his hands on you, let alone thought about doing it.”
I tense and I reach my hands back to dig my nails into
his thighs. Getting my message, Papa lets me go. He takes a
step back when I turn around.
“He’s not a pervert, Papa. He’s a man who’s attracted to a woman he feels is beautiful.”
“A child,” he barks.
I grind my molars together and push back the anger
forming inside me. I need to make him see reason.
“I’m..... not .....a ....child.... anymore.” I hold my hand up to stop him from interrupting me and his eyes narrow.
“I’m an adult now. Yes, I agree that it’s not conventional for an eighteen year-old to be with a man of his age, but there’s nothing wrong with it, no matter how much you may think so.”
“He’s your fucking teacher, Preeta. He’s supposed to
protect you from predators like him, not prey on you himself.”
He closes his eyes and works his jaw back and forth. Like he’s trying his best to rein in his temper. When he opens them again, something in them catches my attention. Papa is the typical hard-ass male. Always coming across as someone in control, and never showing any vulnerability.
Behind the anger blazing in his eyes is sadness.
It twists my stomach into knots seeing that look. I grab his hand and bring it up to my face. His fingers flex against my cheek.
“I like him, Papa. I like him a lot. He never, not once, made me feel like he was taking something I wasn’t willing to give. Before we….”
I pause, trying to find the right words without setting him off again.
“He explicitly asked me if it was what I wanted. He gave me plenty of time to say no. I didn’t, because I didn’t want to. He was what I wanted.”
I look at him, imploring him to understand.
“I still do.” I complete
His jaw tics, and I know right then, Papa was right. No
matter what I say or how I feel, he won’t change his mind.
I drop my eyes from him and look down at the floor.
“I’m sorry, Preeta. You’re wrong,”he says, anger edging
his voice.
“Nothing makes what he did okay. You’ll understand one day when you have kids of your own.”
I turn away from him, his deep sigh filling the room.
.
.
.
Freeze
Ok that was a long chap
Target is still incomplete but I update it coz its been long since I update anything
For next 35 + vote 165 followers plz
1800+ words
With lots of love
Sruthy 😘
YOU ARE READING
At That Moment ✔
Fan FiktionCOMPLETED ✔ Previously known as KYA LAGE TU MERI Studentx teacher love Karan 's pov : "Teach me something dirty." That's what my student, preeta whispered to me the night I rescued her from a handsy boy from school. Despite her filthy words and...
