Page 45 of The Unwanted Husband
“Oh, you weren’t kidding.” Her cousin almost choked.
“Well, it doesn’t mean anything. It’s just for paperwork.”
“Don’t say things like that,” Chandini whined.
Isha rolled her eyes. “It really doesn’t mean anything to me. I’m not getting married to some random guy and staying back in India,” she scoffed.
“That would make a good story I can tell my kids and your kids.” Chandini laughed.
“Very funny.” Isha rolled her eyes.
“So, when are you coming back?” Chandini asked and Isha was glad their conversation became casual. She told Chandini about Ashok’s estranged family, how the parents weren’t informed of the accident as the father was unwell. And that they were waiting to get the kids to move to the family island before she could head back.
“A chieftain you said?” Chandini asked about Ashok’s father.
“That’s what I’m told. The main island along with a few neighboring ones are all one union territory and his dad is like the leader I think.” Isha didn’t know much to share, either.
“How have I never heard of it?” It sounded like Chandini was searching online for the island’s name. “Ohh wow! Thisplace is like a country of its own and has its own culture. Are they some kind of royal family?”
Isha didn’t know because she wasn’t as curious as Chandini was about Ashok’s home. “I have no idea.”
“They are considered royalty on the islands and Ohh, I found a picture of a, Ashoka Veera Devendraseema, the sole male heir who relinquished his rights to be the chieftain, to his oldest sister.”
Isha listened, wondering in the back of her mind why she didn’t look him up on the internet.
“Is this the guy you’re married to? He is hotttttt!” Chandini was pregnant during Ravi’s wedding and did not travel for Ravi and Sami’s wedding.
Chandini’s words made Isha laugh. “Stop eyeing Ravi’s brother-in-law like that.”
“Are you jealous I’m eyeing your husband,” Chandini said laughing and Isha thought that was the most ridiculous thing for her cousin to say.
“Right.”
“Don’t worry I’m happily married and I’m not interested in anyone else. Now about you, are you blind to his charm? How come you didn’t say anything to me?”
“Really? Why would you and I even talk about him and why would we discuss his looks?” Isha shook her head.
“Now I’m curious. What is he like? Does he have the arrogance to go with the looks?”
Isha was convinced he was an asshole the first few weeks she was there but not anymore. “Yeah, I could not stand the very sight of him earlier but then, he has gotten a lot more bearable lately.”
“Tell me more.” It was like Chandini had no other job to do.
“Aren’t you at the hospital?” Isha teased.
Chandini chuckled, “I have time until I get paged. Tell me, tell me.”
Isha laughed. “What’s there to tell you? I do not know him well. We argued a few times but other than that, there is nothing else.” Lies because there was a lot more, him being there for her when she had nightmares, him caring for her when she broke her bone and that heated moment where she kissed him. No way she was talking about that to anyone, ever. Not even Chandini.
“Mom tells me he is very good with the twins.”
“Yes, he is.”Impressively good.
“With his looks and how he is with kids, how is the guy still single?” Chandini asked and quickly added, “Are you sure there isn’t a girlfriend tucked away in that island of his?”
“Does it look like I care? Once the adoption goes through, I’ll be on the first plane back home.”
“I miss you,Ishhu, come back soon. Bring the kids along if you can.”
