Just after lunch father’s car pulled up, Maya and I had already had our last embrace and she had discarded her western clothes for her traditional saree. She greeted my father in her traditional manner which was more respectful than loving. After spending the last four weeks together, Sunday’s separation was agony, several times I went to put my arms around her but stopped myself just in time.
Monday morning at work father called me into his office I assumed to report on the success of his trip.
“Come in Remi close the door behind you and take a seat.” His face was stern as I sat opposite him the other side of his desk. “Your mother told me what you two had been up to in my absence.”
“Do you mean taking her out to dinner at a restaurant?”
“Partly that, but mainly because you two have been sleeping together.”
His accusations took me by surprise, surely mother wouldn’t have volunteered a confession, informing him of our incestuous affair. Ashamed, but not because of my love for her, but because my father knew of his wife’s infidelity. Head bowed looking at the floor, I could only confirm his accusations.
“I’m sorry dad it wasn’t mom’s faults.”
“I know Remi, I never thought it was, you seduced her. When she told me last night about your affair, I was very angry. Most of the night I laid awake wondering what I should do about it, the problem being I didn’t really know how you felt, whether it was just a lustful episode or that you are really in love with her. So if you are in love with her, is it a deep love where you would want her for a wife and spend the rest of your life with her, or is just to get her into bed?”
“No dad I really love Maya, it’s the type where I would like to spend the rest of my life with her.”
“I suppose Remi, in a way I was relieved, over the years my main concern has been that your mother might run off with a younger man leaving us on our own. In a way she did run off with a younger man, you, at least it has been kept within the family, but after this, can we continue to live together? Tonight after dinner we need to talk about this, the three of us should try to resolve this matter. Remi, go home, spend the rest of the day with your mother, talk to her and prepare her for our meeting tonight. Now you can go.”
Maya met me at the front door surprised to see me home, throwing her arms around my neck she burst into tears. While trying to pacify her we walked to the sitting room where I sat her on the sofa and told her about my conversation with father. She was sitting on the sofa trembling terrified about her future, worried about her fate.
“Maya, what is the worst thing you think that father could do to you.”
“Throw me out onto the streets.”
“Well if he does, he will end up on his own, because I would come with you, then we could present ourselves as a married couple. Whatever happens we are not going to come out of this unscathed so let us apply a little pressure. Instead of wearing the traditional costume change into something you prefer to wear, how about that sexy sundress.”