The Chase – Chapter 1

I put on my favorite A-game white deep V-neck dress. It had a sexy transparent back. I got it from Paris last year at a fashion show. A prized possession and I loved how it fit my body like a second skin, showing my curves. I was proud of them. They passed the message that I was no longer a maniac for size zero, an obsessive fool who lived only on green smoothies.

I grimaced, just thinking about those days.

Just as I was about pin my hair up, my phone rang. I rolled my eyes, obviously guessing who the caller was. I didn’t have many friends, and Aisha was with me. So, it has to be only one person who would call me anytime. And I had to answer because if I didn’t, I would be transported back to Amritsar.

My lips spread into an easy smile as I won the mental game.

Gotcha! It was mom, and she must be worried because I was going to a party where there would be many public faces. I wish I could do something about her overworking brain. But dad and I both understood it was pointless to argue with mom.

Dad always nodded, and later when mom left the room, he would remove the earbuds. I would glare at him but end up laughing with him. I missed him.

Aisha raised an eyebrow at my triumphant face, and I showed her the name on the caller ID. She shook her head, almost shuddering, as she headed for the bathroom with her makeup kit, leaving me alone.

Yes, my mother wasn’t easy to deal with.

“Hey, mom,” I answered in a sing-song time, too cheery to hide.

“Tisha, I just saw you in the news.”

Oh, how could I forget my little stint and how it would amplify mom’s worry for me? Damn, I wasn’t prepared for this call. I thought I missed the bullet when I didn’t receive her call two nights back while the commercial launched and went live. But nothing ever missed my mother’s eyes.

Contd on page 4