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Ifrowned at the unexpected turn of conversation.Weweren’t close enough for me to know the nitty-gritty details of his life, butJay’sfather was a legacy in our community.Iwould have heard about it if it was serious.Istill asked. “Isit something serious?”
Mybelated concern wasn’t the reason he had brought up the topic.Jaynodded absentmindedly. “It’sthe reasonIhad to leaveMilan’swedding.Babatook a turn for the worse.”
Howis that possible? “ButIhaven’t heard anything about your father being sick.”
“That’sbecause most people didn’t know.Wewanted it that way.”Hewatched me intently before glancing at the paperwork again. “Afew years ago,Babawas diagnosed with a rare genetic illness.It’scalled familialALS.It’sa genetic condition.”
Ididn’t know how to react.Ihad heard ofALSbefore, andIknew it was terminal.Itwas jarring to hear this news, especially with my limited encounters with death.However, something more disturbing niggled at the back of my mind. “Waita second.Ifyour dad was diagnosed with a genetic disorder, does that mean you’re also at risk?”
Henodded. “Luckyme.Imight carry on the family legacy.”
Mymouth fell open, taken aback.Thoughtsof my family, unexpected pregnancy, and honey pecan pie all but vanished.Myproblems were trivial in comparison to his revelations.
“Jay,I’mso sorry.That’shorrible.”Unsurehow to phrase the question,Iasked softly, “A-are you sure you’ll be affected the same way—”
Hecut me off beforeIcould finish, “No.FamilialALSmeans you have a fifty-fifty genetic predisposition to developALS.IfIdo, then yes, it’s terminal.”
Myheart sank.Iwanted to prod more but bit my tongue.Jayread into my tentative nature and explained.
“AfterBabawas diagnosed, they did a test to find out if there was a risk of him passing it on to his children.Turnsout that there is a risk, but no way of determining whetherI’lldevelopALSin the future.”Jayshook his head. “Maybeit’s better ifIdon’t know.IfIwere positive,I’dhave nothing to look forward to but an awful death.Alternately, it’d be a relief not to look over my shoulder for a disease that might catch up to me.Iconstantly tell myself thatIfeel the healthiest in my life and that everything is fine.Livingin denial is turning into a daily battle.”
Inodded in understanding.Fuck, this was heavy.
“Noone knows about his condition,” he added pointedly.
Iquickly nodded, assuring himI’dnever reveal his secret.
“Ifthe shareholders or board members of my company found out about a genetic disorder, they’d consider me an at-riskCEOand try to have me removed,”Jayexplained. “Itook over afterBabagot sick.Ihad been with the company my whole life and was an easy shoo-in afterBabaannounced his retirement.Weplan to announceBaba’sALS, but if they find out it’s genetic and can be passed down to me… well, you know.”
Inodded in understanding.
Jay’sfather,AriAmbani, had two affluent sisters and a brother.Jayhad six to eight cousins—maybe more—through his uncles and aunts.Myencounters with them at variousPujasleft unremarkable impressions.Itshocked me to learn they came from the same stock as the likes ofJay, whose work ethic knew no bounds.Noneof his cousins wanted to put in a long day’s work and split their time between partying and other entitled pursuits.
Despitetheir incompetency, their ambitions were limitless.Ifthey spotted any vulnerability inJay, they’d attempt to have him removed so they could climb the ranks and seize the position for themselves.Evenif it was ultimately detrimental to the company, everyone wanted to be king.Nomatter how much their lack of qualifications affected the kingdom, people were inherently self-serving, selfish, and self-absorbed.Ididn’t blameJayfor not wanting to hand over the keys to the kingdom to people like that.
Preexistingwealth had crippled his cousins’ personal growths, andIhad no doubt they’d runAmbaniCorpto the ground withoutJay’soversight.Itmust be disheartening that vultures were prepared to squander away your life’s work instead of honoring your legacy.
Jaytook a relented breath, probably thinking the same. “Mygrandfather built this company.Babamanaged to go public with it, andItook it to the next level.Weare entirely family-based, and the company is meant to remain in my family for generations.That’swhyBabaused to encourage me to get married and have kids so that the company would remain with us.”
Isaid nothing.
“AfterIfound outIhave a fifty-fifty chance of living a long life—”Jaytook a sip of his drink, “IrealizedIhad poured my entire life into something thatImight not be able to pass on to my kids.”
“Youcan still have kids,”Isaid automatically.
“So,Ican pass on this nightmare to an innocent?I’deither be sentencing a kid to death or a life worrying about death.No, thank you.”Ididn’t miss the bitterness in his voice nor his unprecedented fear of harming children.
“Butit isn’t a guaranteed death sentence,”Icouldn’t help mumbling. “Youmentioned there is a fifty-fifty chance.Nothingmight happen to you at all, and you can still achieve all the things you set out to do.Mostpeople who developALSdon’t do so until later in life.”
“I’mnot exactly young,Piya,” he pointed out.
“Thirty-eight isn’t exactly old either,”Ishot back. “Thereis no way to predict how life will turn out.Forall we know, you’ll never be affected and have missed out on your entire life based on fear.”
“OrI’llbe screwing up someone else’s life by starting somethingIcan’t follow through.”Jayshook his head. “Mybiggest regret is realizing this companyIworked so hard to build might be torn into pieces by fucking wolves.”Itwas the first timeIheardJayspeak passionately.Thiswasn’t just a company for him; it was his family’s legacy. “Ialways assumedI’dhave kidsIcould groom to take over, the wayBabahad done with me.WhenIfound out about his prognosis—”
Isighed heavily. “Youlied about his illness to buy yourself more time until you figured it out.”
Acurt nod.
