Page 26 of The Unwanted Husband
He raised an eye brow, part surprise and rest provocation. “My family situation?”
“Yes,” she managed to keep her voice steady.
“You have no idea what you’re signing up for. It’s best that you leave.”
She held his gaze in challenge. It was time she addressed her erratic behavior so he would not think, she would kiss him at the drop of a hat.
She slowly shook her head. “Listen, what happened yesterday was unfortunate. I should not have raised my hand and then…”What was she supposed to say?
“It won’t happen again,” she declared and saw something flicker in his eyes.
“What won’t happen again?”
If he was pressing her to apologize it was time. “I’m sorry, I slapped you and then kissed you. It was uncalled for but I was extremely upset about the plan.”
He kept his eyes trained on her but did not show any emotion nor did he accept her apology.
“I’m staying,” she said, refusing to budge.
She should be taking the option to go back. She was useless anyways but she could not get herself to leave.
When Ashok remained silent, she took the opportunity to get to the point. “Let’s talk about getting your family support.”
He did not respond but just looked at her, no readable expression.
“Where is your family?”
He pulled his hands together to steeple his fingers. “Do you know why my family is estranged?”
She shook her head. “I…didn’t realize you had a family. Ravi never mentioned anyone other than you for Sami.”
He took a deep breath. “Samikhya and I have three other siblings and my entire family all live together and not too far from here.”
His words made her eyes widen. “What?”Was he just making up things?
He stood up to walk toward a shelf and reached for something that was laid flat.A picture frame.
Ashok placed the picture in front of her. “This is my immediate family.”
Isha swore she saw over fifty people in the picture.
He placed his finger on the center of the picture. “My father is the Chieftain of Devendraseema. An island off the western shore of India and it’s a union territory.”
That kind of stuff still exist?
Ashok pointed to everyone and started talking about his sisters and their families. Isha gathered that Ashok had three older sisters and her sister-in-law, Sami was the youngest of the five children.
“Vish and Vaish need to be with their family. Not here with us who have no idea how to create a good environment for them.”
He was right and all she could do was nod in agreement. “Why didn’t they come to see Sami…” she choked on her sister-in-law’s name and added, “no one showed up for Ravi and Sami’s last rites.”
He looked up and she noticed how his Adam’s apple slid down his neck as he swallowed painfully. “Sami chose love over a promise she made to my father.”
Isha was sure she heard something incorrectly. “I don’t understand.”
“It is not customary for the women to leave the island for education. Samikhya was an exception and when she convinced our father to let her go out for education for a new experience, she promised him she would marry the man of his choice. My father didn’t ask her for it; she made that promise to him since both my sisters chose their husbands on their own and she knew how much he wanted to have the experience. And then,” he paused like he didn’t need to explain anything further.
Isha nodded. “I still remember the day Ravi met Sami. He told me she was the one.”
