Devon & I met in Fresno, CA, at a college party through a mutual friend in 2008. A few months later, we ran into each other again with a group of friends and ended up exchanging numbers. We dated throughout college, and while I was new to the dating scene, I knew Devon not being Indian would be a problem with my family. I was torn. I ended up living a double life for six-plus years.
Between doing long distance and then living together when I moved to LA, I knew this wasn't fair to Devon. He was patient with me. When I felt the time had come, I called my mom to let her know. The conversation went horribly. The typical Indian response of "what did I do to deserve this" was at the forefront of the conversation.
After a few attempts to get me to move back home and "forget" this ever happened, I decided to take control of my life and chose what made me happy. I stayed in LA and chose Devon. This came at the expense of my father disowning me and forbidding my mom to talk/see me ever again. Although my mother did her best to be involved, she was left picking sides, and our relationship as mother and daughter has broken into pieces.
Fast forward to today, 12 years later, where I can create a new mother/daughter bond. Devon and I have a brilliant and amazing daughter, Kashe. From the day she was born, we knew something was special about her (as any parent thinks!) Today at two years old, Kashe joined the high IQ society of the top 1% and is the youngest US Mensa member with an IQ of 146.
As parents, we all want the best for our kids and know that her soul and presence are making an impact on the world. We know Kashe will do great things, and to think this was all done through one decision.
My family's response may not have been ideal to what most of us want to go through, but that one leap of faith followed with love—changed our world forever, and that alone is something worth fighting. We would do it 1000x again.
📖: @itsmejit