“How is this looking out for her? She’s miserable. All this will do is make her resent you in the future, when she’s on a career path she doesn’t want. Then it won’t matter how much you shame her, because she’ll remember this. This moment when you ruined her life and didn’t care about her feelings. This is your daughter, Hussain. Not some kind of servant to do your bidding. She’s a real human being and she’s trying so hard to always do right by you. When will you do right by her?”

“English, though?” Ma’s expression is doubtful. “What kind of success will she have with that?”

“Stop thinking about her future success and start thinking about her future happiness,” Dadu says darkly. “And do not doubt your daughter. She is an incredibly hard worker. She will be amazing at whatever it is she chooses to do. But it’s her choice. You don’t get to make that decision for her, do you understand?”

“Ammu...”

“Don’t ‘Ammu’ me,” she says to Baba. “Tell me you understand. If for some reason you don’t understand, I’ll pack my bags and come home with you and Farah so you can also live with a parent that shames you for your choices. Is that what you want? I can start packing now.”

“Ya Allah, Ammu,” my dad says, scrubbing a hand over his face. “No, you don’t have to do that.”

Dadu shakes her head. “Then ask Myra what she wants. Ask her and listen to her.”

My mom frowns deeply but doesn’t raise another argument. My dad looks exhausted. I know how much he values Dadu’s opinion. Maybe even more than he values my mother’s. It’s clear this denouncement is weighing on him. “What do you want, Myra?”

Stay as strong as you can. Ace’s words echo in my head.

I swallow the fear coating my throat. I can do this. I have to do this. My future is at stake. “I want to study English. I love reading about new worlds, and I love writing about them even more. It’s all I’ve ever dreamed about. English is everything to me.” I suck in a deep breath. “And I want to go to Columbia. Their program is incredible, and it’s an Ivy League school, and I know I would do amazing there. It’s the right choice for me and I can prove it. I have graphs, analyses, whatever you want. Just give me a chance.”

My parents are quiet as they stare at us and Dadu squeezes my shoulder again. My stomach swoops uncertainly as the silence stretches.

Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

“Please let me have this,” I say, my voice breaking. Please. “I promise you won’t regret it.”