Page 28 of The Unwanted Husband
“Sure, ma’am,” they both said in unison before following her down the hallway.
Isha led them to the office and sat with the two young lawyers. “The case that I’m looking to revive is an old case and the last time it was filed was over twelve years ago.”
A strand of surprise passed through the young lawyers’ eyes but they remained silent.
She pulled up the file she had created on her laptop with the details she had created with the details she could remember. “I have the details of the lawsuit but no evidence that was submitted or the contracts.”
“We can start with the research ma’am,” Varun sounded enthusiastic and Isha was encouraged.
She smiled. “What would help immensely is if you can get in touch with the lawyer who worked on the case. He might have the evidence that was gathered for the case.”
They both nodded.
“I will send you the details via email.” She paused for a moment before adding, “This is my personal case and wanted you both to know that.”
“Thank you for letting us know ma’am.” They both stood up to leave. “Both Varun and I are part of Ashok sir’s legal team and will work from the office. Any time we need to meet, we can come here or meet in the office.”
“That sounds good.” She was excited and could not believe how thoughtful Ashok was in spite of the dynamic they’ve had the past few weeks.
Before the two young lawyers left, they asked as if they could not contain their excitement, “Who would we be filing the case against?”
The name of the man who was the reason for her father’s failure she would never forget. “Paramesh Saini.”
Isha could see them freeze visibly.
Nina was the first one to speak. “Paramesh Saini of Ayara Corporation?”
“Yes,” she replied in a heartbeat.
Varun and Nina exchanged looks before looking at Isha.
“Ma’am, are you sure you don’t need more experienced lawyers for this case?” Varun sounded a bit dejected.
Isha shook her head. “I think we have all the experience we need between the three of us.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” They both smiled.
Isha noted how much the two young lawyers reacted to the name of the man she was going up against. But she was not ready to budge this time and she was going to fight on her father’s behalf.
*****
Much later that afternoon, she left the office feeling accomplished. She was done reviewing the contract for her firm in San Francisco and her chances of making progress on her father’s case gave her a new relief.
Something she had not felt in the past few weeks.
On her way out of the office her eyes fell on the picture of her brother and his wife and for the first time she smiled at the picture. She stopped a foot from the picture, her finger going up to wipe off a speck of dust on the frame.
“Ravi, I miss you so much.” Her eyes shifted to her sister-in-law’s face. “You too, Sami.”
She slowly wiped away the moisture at the edge of her eye and added, “After such a long time I feel good. I don’t know why.”
As she stood lost in thought in front of the wall of pictures, she heard distant squeals. The twins’ voices were now ambient and didn’t bother her as much as they used to a few weeks back. She usually took a nap during that time so she could stay up to meet with her team in San Francisco but that day, she walked toward the joyous sounds.
When did this happen? Her walking toward the squeals and not running in the opposite direction?
The sun was setting over the trees as at a distance when she walked into the empty playroom where she thought the kiddos would be. It wasn’t like she interacted or played with them but she liked the feeling when the kids wandered over to her, offering her a toy or a snack they were eating. She didn’tknow how to communicate with them but didn’t mind being around them.
As she walked toward the patio doors to go into the garden where the sounds seem to be coming from, she felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders.
