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“Dad, what’s going on? You are resigning?” I blurt, unable to contain my shock.
He looks up, his expression a mix of anger and determination. “Meher, this is my decision. I know what I am doing,” he says firmly, dismissing our worry.
“But why, Dad? Why would you even consider resigning?” I ask, trying to understand his sudden decision.
He takes a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check. “It’s better than accepting Ayaan Shergill’s offer,” he says, his pride evident in his voice.
I can feel the tension in the room, and my mind races with a thousand thoughts. Ayaan’s proposal has evidently shaken my father to the core, and he seems adamant about his decision. The idea of Ayaan becoming his son-in-law must be a bitter pill for him to swallow, and I can sense his anger and control slipping away.
“Dad, you can’t let Ayaan dictate your decisions like this,” I assert, feeling the need to protect him from making an impulsive choice.
He looks at me, his angry eyes reflecting a tinge of vulnerability.
“Meher, I’m doing what I think is best for you and our family,” he says, his voice firm but wavering.
I take a step closer, determined to make him see reason.
“Dad, you’ve always been a strong and independent leader. Don’t let Ayaan’s proposal cloud your judgment. Think about what truly matters to you, to us,” I plead.
I can’t bear to see him sign those papers and make a decision that could shatter his entire political career. Without a second thought, I move swiftly to his desk and snatch the file from his hands. He’s taken aback, his eyes showing annoyance at my sudden intrusion. I don’t care. I can’t let him make this drastic mistake.
“Dad, you can’t do this,” I firmly declare, looking into his eyes.
“Stay out of this, Meher. It’s my decision, and I can do what I want,” he argues, his voice tense with frustration.
“This is madness,” I retort. “This party is your life, Dad. You’ve worked so hard for it, and you don’t deserve this kind of end to your political career.”
His anger flares up, and he angrily throws the pen on the floor. “Then what do you want me to do? Bow down before those Shergills?” he snaps, rising from his chair. “In the game of chess and power, a king never bows down to the other king, even if he is losing. He loses the game with pride. So, if I lose this game, I’ll lose it with my self-respect intact.”
My heart races as Dad’s fury takes over. His glare is intense, and his words feel like daggers piercing my resolve.
I take a step back. This is not the calm and composed father I know. This is Pratap Walia, the man who has skillfully navigated the intricate mazes of politics for decades, currently pushed to his limits, his emotions threatening to engulf him.
But I cannot give up. I cannot let him make a decision that will destroy everything he has tirelessly built throughout his life. I must stand strong for him, regardless of how angry he is.
I turn to his assistant Shuklaji and firmly ask him to leave us alone. He hesitates for a moment, then acquiesces, giving us the privacy we need to have this critical conversation. My heart pounds, and my mind races as I search for the right words to sway my father’s resolve.
“Dad, I want you to think about the consequences of your actions,” I say firmly, refusing to be intimidated by his anger. “Resigning from the party won’t solve anything. It will only give Ayaan and his family the satisfaction of knowing they had the power to make you step down. You’re stronger than that, Dad. You’ve faced tougher challenges in your political career, and you’ve always come out victorious.”
His anger seems to escalate, and I feel a sense of helplessness. But I cannot let that stop me. I need to make him see reason, even in the midst of his fury.
“I know you’re angry and I understand why,” I continue, finding my voice. “But taking such a huge decision in anger won’t lead to anything good. Resigning from the party won’t bring back the respect that was lost due to the scandal. It won’t change anything.”
His anger doesn’t subside, but there’s a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
“Don’t let Ayaan provoke you and cloud your judgment. Stand tall, Dad, and show them that you won’t be defeated so easily. Let’s fight this battle together as a family and prove to everyone that the Walias are not to be underestimated.”
I can tell that he’s torn between his emotions and his sense of responsibility.
“Meher, you don’t understand. It will change everything if I don’t resign now. Ayaan will never stop tarnishing my name, spilling dirt over the reputation I have built so far. I can’t stay in this party knowing they doubt my integrity. I won’t let them use this against me in the future.”
I take a deep breath and step closer to him, determined to bridge the gap between us. “I love you, Dad,” I say firmly, “and I don’t want to see you hurt yourself and our family because of this enmity. We can find a way to navigate through this without compromising our dignity.”
His expression softens a bit, but he still seems hesitant. “I can’t trust him, Meher. He’s just trying to have you by his side.”
His anger starts to waver, and I see a glimmer of the father I know and the love in his eyes. But his stubbornness remains intact.
“He wants to marry you, and I can’t let that happen. We don’t know his real motive at this point. What if he has a hidden agenda? It’s not about the family enmity anymore. And the present situation is not ideal for a life-changing decision like marriage,” he says, his voice still firm. “And above all, Meher, this battle is not yours. I cannot allow my daughter to enter a situation blindsided, based on the false notion that love is the only reason he agreed to such a deal. I don’t want you to repent later. Placing trust in Ayaan Shergill at this juncture and accepting his offer is a huge mistake. The only viable solution is my resignation. Ayaan is exploiting my career as a means of intimidation. I will strip him of that leverage by resigning from my position.”
