Page 41 of The Unwanted Husband
“Good, let’s go sit in the living room,” Ashok led them to the larger living room like he needed Aravinda out of the kitchen. “I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
Isha led his sister into the living room. As if it was part of the plan, she pointed to the wall of memories and said, “This is my favorite part of the house.”
Isha and Aravinda were talking about some pictures when she heard the voices of the twins. Ashok seemed to be away freshening up and she wasn’t sure how to handle them even withthe care takers. The kids might throw a fit if they don’t see Ashok which was usually the case.
She was starting to panic as their babbling got louder. At least they didn’t sound upset as they made their way down the stairs on their own.
“The twins are up, looks like.” Isha was getting nervous but to her relief, Aravinda walked toward the hallway and stood to one side looking at the little ones. She did not approach them nor attempt to get close.
What was amazing was the kids looked at their aunt and fell silent. Like they felt the familiarity but were still unsure.
“That’s your aunt, Aravinda.”
Isha let out a sigh of relief when she heard Ashok’s voice. The kids rushed to him, each clutching each leg as they looked at their aunt.
“Go, say hi. It’s okay, she doesn’t bite.” He laughed.
The twins did not move, nor did Aravinda. Isha found that strange.
Was Aravinda having the same experience she had when she first saw the twins? A sad reminder of their loss.
Isha didn’t want Ashok to pressure the kids to do anything. They probably saw similarities between their mother and Aravinda too and the very thought tore at her heart. Unsure of what would follow, she walked over to where Ashok stood with the twins clinging to his legs looking at their aunt.
“Pick him up, Ashok,” she whispered as she reached down to pick up Vaish into her arms. Dad’s little girl was more predictable for Isha.
“Good morning,” she whispered to the little girl as she pressed a kiss into her chubby cheek. “This is your aunt, Aravinda. She came all the way from Devendraseema to see you. Can you say hi?”
Isha did not fail to catch the surprise in Aravinda’s eyes when Vaish waved at her.
“Good girl,” Isha encouraged and looked at Vish who was now held in Ashok’s arms. “Vish, your turn, baby.”
The boy looked at her for an extended moment before looking at his aunt to wave. And in that moment, Isha saw his sister’s expression soften a bit. She cleared her throat and took a few steps toward the four of them.
“Ashoka, I assumed the position of leading the island as our father has been ill the past few months.” She paused like it was painful to talk and Isha knew she had to be emotional in spite of how indestructible the woman looked on the outside. “None of us wanted to see Sami the way she was when she left us and that’s why we decided not to come.”
The woman paused and slowly lifted her hand up to run her fingers over the little boy’s hand as Ashok held him in his arms. “I want to believe what I see with my eyes today but knowing you, Ashoka,” she said and added turning to look at Isha, “And what I found out about you, I find it hard to believethisto be true.”
“Aara—” Ashok started to say but his sister interjected.
Her eyes were intense and they reminded Isha of the way Ashok looked when she told him she was heading back to San Francisco. “I get it, but I’m sharing my opinion and want to make sure. And you will need to be married in the presence of our Gods for this marriage to be accepted.”
“We love each other and our marriage will stand up to anything life throws at us,” Isha didn’t even sound like herself and she had no reason why she said what she did. It was as if she was living a character that needed to speak that way to convince Aravinda.
“I wish you the best. We will be in touch.”
With those words, she left. Isha, who wasn’t big on gestures of affection was taken aback that there was no warmth from the woman as she walked away from her brother. She would hug her family but she stood frozen watching the woman walk away with no expression of the sibling bond.
How could anyone be worse than her at expressing herself?
A moment later, she felt Ashok’s arm wrap around her shoulder as he pulled her closer. “You did so well. Thank you.”
With the last two words came a gentle kiss on the top of her head and that did something to her. She felt a warmth from within, a new found confidence. She leaned in and added, “I’m so glad you came back and what was amazing was how you said everything I had said to her when she arrived.”
He chuckled, looking at Isha. “Isha, I have cameras all around the house and as soon as I got notification that Aravinda was at home, I listened to every word you said.” He paused his eyes, lighting up with a glorious smile before he looked at the little girl Isha held in her arms, “Isha has some wonderful acting and scriptwriting talent.”
Isha felt heat creep up her cheeks and it surprised her.Why was she shy around him?
She was thankful for Ashok’s foresight and found his diligence impressive.Attractive too, a voice resonated.
