Page 19 of The Unwanted Husband
Her breathing started to come fast. What could have happened for him and his sister to cut ties with his family to the point where they don’t even show up to bid goodbye to someone who passed away tragically.
“I need you to be around until I reconnect with my family.” It wasn’t a request.
Reconnect? What would that take?
CHAPTER 9
“Ishuu, how are you sweetheart?” her aunt asked on the phone. “It’s been a few days since we talked.”
“I’m doing well, mom.” She was happy to see her aunt had fully recovered from her illness.
“I can’t believe it’s been a month since you went to India. I’ve never been away from you for that long. Even when you went on vacation.” She was used to clingy parents but not clingy kids.
“I miss you too, mom.”
“How are the kids doing? I can’t believe they will be a year old in a month.”
Isha fell silent. She couldn’t believe it either.
“Ravi and Samikhya were going to bring the kids to California to celebrate their birthday.” Her aunt’s words sent chills down her spine.
Isha had planned to take the entire time they were in America off from work just so they could travel together. Something she had not done with her brother. Ever.
“Isha, are you there?” her aunt asked after a moment.
She could not respond for a long moment and next thing she saw, her aunt was switching their call to be on video. She accepted it, swallowing the deep pain in her throat.
“I’m here mom,” she said sitting up in bed.
“Isha, listen. I’m one of the few people who can tell you I know what it is to lose a sibling. I lost one too. And just like you I also had my responsibility. Life has to go on.” One of the reasons her aunt would always be her role model for how strongthe woman was. It had shaken her up to see her fall ill after the news of her brother’s accident a month back.
“Yes, mom. I know.” She looked away from the phone screen.
“Listen to me Isha.” Her aunt paused until she looked at the phone. “Let’s celebrate their first birthday. Bring them to San Francisco. They belong here with us. It is too much to expect Ashok to take care of them by himself. They have all the paperwork needed for the trip anyways.”
“No.” It was the only response that came out as a whisper.
“What? Why not?” Her aunt seemed taken aback.
“I don’t know if—” her voice was lost when the door to her room opened slowly. She looked away from the screen and let out a laugh.
“What is it, Isha?” her aunt asked, curious.
Isha could only laugh. “See for yourself.”
She adjusted the camera to show her aunt the little one who stood tentatively by the door. Her aunt let out a sound of endearment and that seemed to encourage the kid.
Isha didn’t know which of the twins was at the door. “C’mon in,” she said suddenly feeling joyful about seeing the kid.
“Hi Vaishu, come to grandma.” Isha felt crappy that her aunt could recognize the kid over a video call and she could not.
“Mom, how did you know that was the girl?” she asked as she kept her eyes on the baby who was now crawling around the bed toward her.
“Thegirlhas a name and I know it’s her because she has my sister’s eyes.” Her aunt laughed.
Familiarity struck her at that point. It was the reason she thought the baby girl’s eyes reminded her of her brother.
Like the kid was amused by the attention, she came closer to the phone as Isha held it up in front of her. She didn’t know if the kids could interact with people on a video call but the little girl seemed to be responding.
