Page 83 of The Unwanted Husband
“Hi Isha, are you ready to go?” Sasikala looked up from a game she was playing with the kids.
“Yes. Ashok is meeting me at the courthouse.” She kept her eyes on the kids as they continued to play the game even after Sasikala walked over to stand by her. “Looks like they are enjoying the game.”
Sasikala laughed looking at them. “They are so much fun. Vish reminds me so much of Sami.”
Isha nodded. “Yeah, they both have traits of Ravi and Sami.”
Sasikala nodded looking at the little ones. “I’m so glad you and Ashok are back.” She smiled at Isha and stepped closer, taking her hand. “Thank you for bringing Ashok back home.”
Isha was taken aback. “Why are you thanking me? This is his home.”
Sasikala shook her head. “He swore he would never step foot on the island and knowing how adamant he is, he would not have come if someone had not convinced him. It had to be you.”
Isha felt uncomfortable. “Ashok gives family first priority. He just needed the time because he was upset that Sami and Ravi weren’t welcomed after they got married.” She could only speak to what she knew and somewhere she felt guilty about how the charade was what brought Ashok back.
Not wanting to prolong the conversation anymore, she hugged Sasikala and was about to step out of the room when she heard an unhappy cry. She turned to look behind her and the sight in front of her brought her to her knees.
The twins were running to her looking upset. They clung to her like they didn’t want her to leave, when only a few minutes ago they were engrossed in a game, laughing.
“I’ll see you in the evening. Sasiatheeis here.” Sasikala tried to take one of the twins into her arms but they wouldn’t let go of Isha.
“Guys, why are you so sad?” Isha found herself smiling at the kids looking unhappy about her leaving.
How psychotic was it that it gave her immense joy that they wanted her when all along she had been secretly jealous of how much time they were spending with their aunts and cousins?
The court summons, the awaiting plane, nothing mattered in that moment. She couldn’t leave when they were so upset. “Okay, why don’t you two come with me to the air strip?”
Sasikala laughed. “I could benefit from a little trip around town.”
With that Isha held one twin Sasikala handled the other and they hopped on the golf cart sized vehicle that would take them to the private air strip. Isha was glad to see the kids were distracted enough with the little cart ride and was sure they would not be as upset to see her leave.
As if to be on the safe side, Sasikala decided to distract them both with the fishes in an aquarium at the airport. Isha walked away, a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Why was she feeling so emotional?
She got on the plane and kept looking at the kids banging their tiny palms on the glass wall of the large aquarium. She was no longer nervous about the case and the court hearing. She didn’t want to go.
But she had to just like she would have to return to San Francisco. There was no other option. Her life, career and most of all her family was all in America. She suppressed the voice that told her she did have all of that where she was too but she was not ready to acknowledge it.
CHAPTER 28
The plane landed a short while later and as soon as she stepped out of the plane, she could tell the difference in the air. It was a bit warmer than it was on the island but that’s not what bothered her. It was the lack of ocean scent mixed with wild flowers that she missed. For a few minutes she felt suffocated as she walked to the car, escorted by the staff that accompanied her from the island.
Are they her security? Did Ashok also think she could be in danger?
Isha was led toward a row of awaiting black SUVs. She slipped into the one she was led to and suddenly her anticipation grew.
She took out her phone and texted Ashok. ‘Where are you?’
Minutes passed and no response from him. She stopped staring at the phone and looked out the window. She realized all the black SUVs she had seen at the airport were not ahead of them just like she had expected.
Something set off in her mind and she slowly turned to look behind her and there were no cars either. The vehicle she was in, it was only the driver and the staff member who accompanied her from the island.
“Are we going directly to the court?” she asked like she needed some distraction.
“Yes, ma’am.” The man kept his eyes facing forward.
“Where is Ashok?”
