Broken Strings

C H A P T E R T E N

But he stopped and froze at his father's next words. Because so far he had done a good job at hiding his infidelity. Even his closest friends wouldn't even be able to guess that he was cheating on his wife. And where his father got that idea surprised him.

Because he and Anisha always knew how to act like they were still in love. And sometimes he wondered that maybe it was easy to do so because he really was still so deeply in love with her.

But he wasn't really sure what love even was anymore. Maybe they were just familiar with each other. Maybe it was the comfort in knowing that she had stayed when everyone else had left. And maybe it was the hope that she always would.

But he truly did care about her. He did love her, he always would.

His heart would always belong to the direct and persistent girl whose only goal during second semester of sophomore year was to score higher than him on every Microeconomics exam. His heart would always belong to the sweet and kind girl he kissed over and over under the California sky, just outside the ice cream shop, two blocks from the pier. His heart would always belong to the shy and adorable girl who showed him what it was like to enjoy a small coffee date, to be young and in love.

And he wanted to be that happy and carefree again. He wanted to fall in love again, fall in love with her again.

Because he hadn't ever stopped loving her.

And he just didn't want to be miserable anymore.

But every mistake and regret was tearing his heart apart. Because he was finally willing to admit his wrongs and try and work things out with her.

And he hoped he could keep the cheating and affair hidden, at least for a little longer. At least long enough to fix some of his mistakes.

"Is there something going on between you and your PA?" His father's voice hid an undertone of anger and disgust.

And when Andrew looked at his mother, he could see the disappointment in her eyes. And he wanted nothing more than to cry on her shoulder and tell her how badly he had fucked up. How he had made mistakes that had ruined him. And how the same mistakes had ruined his wife.

And about how everything was slowly starting to destroy him. Because he was really tired of all of it. And he wanted nothing more for his birthday than for his mother to make him a cup of green tea and tell him that everything would be okay. And he wanted nothing more for his birthday than to wake up in the same bed as his wife and tell her that he still loved her.

He awkwardly loosened his tie a little and looked everywhere but at his father. "No. She's a good worker and um Anisha invited her."

"Really? Because Anisha has never mentioned her before, especially when I asked her for a list of people to invite. And she could have told me. After all, I was the one that sent out all the invites." And this time it was his mother. And from the look she was giving him, he knew the fucked up truth about his marriage wouldn't be hidden for long.

Because his mother always knew when he was lying.

"Fucking hell. I'm not cheating on Anisha. Okay?" And his voice held a hint of regret. Because he was cheating on his wife. He was. And he hated it.

"No one ever said you were. And I certainly hope you aren't. Because we raised you better than that. And you wouldn't do that to Anisha, would you?" And again, the disappointment this time in his father's voice was painful. It seemed that all Andrew ever did was disappoint. It seemed that all he ever did was let down the people around him.

He shrugged, carelessly. He had fucked up. More than once. He already knew that.

"But why is your assistant here today? In the last two hours, I've already seen her overstep her boundaries as a mere employee. In the long run, she won't be good for your marriage. I know something is off between you and Anisha. But be careful, Andrew. Don't do something you will regret. Some mistakes are costly."