Page 37 of The Unwanted Husband
CHAPTER 14
The next day, she was in the office working when she heard an aggressive knock on the door. Isha looked up to find Sarita holding her phone. Surprised she was interrupted she asked her to come in.
“Ma’am, it’s Ashok sir.” Sarita gave Isha her phone and left the office.
Confused why Ashok was trying to reach her on a different phone, she said, “Hi Ashok.”
“Isha, your cousin Chandini has been trying to get a hold of you.” Her eyes fell on her phone and she realized she had turned it off hours ago to restart it and had forgotten to turn it back on.
“Is everything okay?” Isha turned on her phone as she spoke to Ashok and saw Chandini had called nineteen times.
“She said she had to talk to you immediately and she mentioned Aman a few times but nothing more when I asked her if he was fine, she said he was okay but she had to talk to you.”
“I’ll call her right now. Thanks!”
Isha wondered what it was that was so urgent that her cousin could not wait until it was morning time in California.
She called her cousin and it barely rang once before she heard her cousin, sounding rather desperate when she said her name.
“Chandini, what’s wrong?” Isha was concerned.
“It’s Aman, that guy…” Chandini paused and Isha could tell her cousin was angry. “He showed up with that chick from work atourcousin’s engagement party.”
Isha gave a silent sigh of relief. She knew why Chandini was getting worked up. “Is this Denise you are talking about?”
“Some sleaze ball I didn’t care to catch her name but why the heck would he show up with her?” Chandini was angry. If only she could explain the arrangement she and Aman had.
“Chill it, girl. He probably thought he would be bored at our family event so brought someone to keep him company.”
“That is okay.” Chandini paused like she needed to calm herself down. “They were acting like they were a couple. Like openly flirting with each other.”
“Chandini aunty…do you mind dialing back the gossip a bit.” Isha laughed. “There is no way you had time to sit and watch them flirt even if they were. Who told you all this gossip?”
Chandini cleared her throat. “My source is very credible. I was even told they were very handsy with each other on the dance floor.”
“Hey, Denise and Aman are good friends. I know what you mean by flirtatious, I’ve witnessed the banter myself.”
“And you are okay with all of this?” Chandini was upset.
“If the flirting meant anything then maybe, but you know Aman and I are in a mature relationship. An independent one. Neither of us feel possessive about each other or feel jealous if any of us give others attention.”
“Is that an open relationship? You’re telling me, you’ll be okay if he sleeps around with anyone while you are away?” her cousin’s voice was worked up.
“Chandini, that’s not what I said. It’s a different dynamic that we have. To your point, if Aman decides that he cannot be in a long-distance relationship with me because I decided to extend my stay in India, then he can be with someone else. My only rule is that he cannot see anyone else while we are dating.”
Isha could hear her cousin huffing before she said, “What if he cheats on you and doesn’t tell you.”
Isha shrugged. “Then we know whatever we had is over. It’s simple.”
Her cousin let out a growl. “What the heck, Isha? Isn’t that a slap in your face? You should be angry and sad.”
Isha thought for a moment. “Maybe sad but not angry. Sad because we made a pact that if we get to thirty-five and neither of us are married, then we would get married.”
“I just don’t get it. You two are so detached from each other, how are you even a couple?” It was hard for Chandini to comprehend the kind of situationship Aman and she were in. It was like any other relationship sans the drama.
Aman and Isha were very clear on their first date that there would be no drama in their situationship. There would be no arguments. They defined boundaries and that’s how they have been able to be a couple for all those years while working on demanding careers.
“I get it. It’s a bit different. That’s what sets us apart. Any one of us could call it when they are done and have no expectations and no questions asked.”
