Page 36 of The Unwanted Husband
“Ashok tell me, please.”
“Why does it matter?” he sounded calm.
“It does,” she cried and covered her face in her hand as she could not control the sobs. “It’s him, Ashok.”
He pulled her hand away from her face and cupped her face in his hands. “Look at me.”
She sniffled before opening her eyes. “Just when I think…I found a way to heal my wounds, why does this happen?”
Ashok looked at her for a long moment. “It was an accident. And it was Ravi’s fault the accident happened.”
His words broke her heart. She swallowed her sob and said, “I’m so sorry.”
She felt his thumbs wipe away the moisture on her cheeks before he stood over his knees and slowly pulled her to him, as she sat on the end of the couch.
Isha ran her arm around him finding comfort in his hold. They stayed in that position for a few moments before he pulled back. She kept her eyes lowered. “I can’t seem to find a way out of this mess.”
He only patted on her back, and as if in response to that warm gesture, she looked up at him. “How can you stay so calm? I feel so ashamed to be like this and—”
She lost her words when he shook his head. “Don’t be.”
Their eyes locked and in that moment, something shifted. She went from being a mess to being aware of something else. A net new emotion. Her heart picked up pace and she was in a vacuum processing the novel feeling.
What is it?
Taking in a slow breath, while holding his gaze, she processed how she felt. Despite the somewhat desperate situation, she felt comforted. At ease.
How?
She focused the look in his eyes but it was hard to read. There was no judgement, maybe a bit of a concern and something else that she could not decipher.
“You good?” His words shook her out of what seemed like a spell.
She nodded, lowering her eyes yet again.
With those words, he stood up and left her seated on the couch. He wanted to give her space, but she wanted him to be close. She looked up, her eyes watching him walk away as she fought the urge to call him.
“Ashok,” she said, losing all control over her thoughts.
He stopped and turned to look at her.
“Thank you,” she managed to say and got a small smile in response.
Her breath hitched as if in response to the small joy on his handsome face. His expression told her she was not a pain in the neck and she felt relief in knowing that.
How the heck was the guy so perfect? And how did he not have a girlfriend or a wife?
At that thought, she chuckled to herself. He has a wife, it washer.
“Come join us, if you can.” He gestured toward the patio where the twins were playing.
It felt good to be part of anus. It had been a while since she had that sense. “In just a few minutes.”
She watched him walk away unable to avert her eyes, sheer admiration for the man who held the promise of solving all her problems, addressing all her concerns.
How?
How did he manage to give her that confidence when she could not stand the very sight of him just a while back.
