“All I have ever wanted was for you and your sister to be happy, Aahsod. Sanjay makes your sister, Vema happy and I see that Amaia truly makes you happy. I want my son to do what is in his heart.”
“But—“, Kasar began and she cut him off.
“No buts, Kasar. Would we have been together if I had listened to my parents? I sacrificed everything to prove to them that our love was everlasting. You became successful without their dowry. Our love withstood the test of time. We have two children and three grandchildren to prove it. Now our oldest is getting married again at his age and getting ready to give us another grandchild. You must be happy for him as much as I am.”
Kasar looked at the love within his wife’s eyes and knew that he could not go against anything that she had just said.
“You are right my love.” He looks back at Aahsod. “All I ask is that when the two of you work out this issue, that you have an American wedding as well as a traditional Hindu ceremony.”
Aahsod smile a his father. “I am sure that can be arranged as long as you tell me which phase. Will it be the Vara Satkaarah that Vema had?”
“No, because the bride’s mother is American. It will be the Saptapadi phase where the bride and the groom are symbolically brought together through the Marriage knot. The groom's scarf is tied to the bride's dress. Then they take seven steps, which represent nourishment, strength, prosperity, happiness, long life, harmony and understanding.” Behula stated.
“Once we work out our differences, I will let Amaia know.” Aahsod stood up to leave. His parents stood up as well.
“Never think that we don’t love you or Amaia. We are always looking out for what is best for you, Aahsod.” Kasar stated.
Aahsod nodded and hugged both of his parents before leaving.
Chapter 8Jovita was busy packing when there was a knock on her hotel door. She opened it to find Tahj standing there.
“Come in Tahj.”
“How did you decide on my name?” was the first thing he asked her as he closed the door.
“You were named Tahj because your father insisted that your first name be an Indian name. Jalil is Aahsod’s middle name and Santiago is my maiden name.”
“How could you just leave me like that?”
“Let’s sit down for this conversation.” Once seated, the conversation started again. “I was only sixteen when I met your father. He was eighteen at the time. We dated secretly until I turned eighteen and started college. We got married at the courthouse. You were a mistake that happened early in the marriage. Things were going great until my petite modeling career sky rocketed into success. A family just would not fit into my life at the beginning of my career. I had to choose between my career and my family. I selfishly chose my career. I told Aahsod that I would give him an uncontested divorce. My agent stated that it would be for the best if I sent back to my maiden name because Santiago would work better with my face than Patel would. Your father was very hurt by my decision. I told him he could tell you that I died in a car accident and I would never interfere in your lives again. You were ten months old when I left. I just assumed that he would eventually find happiness.”
“You assumed wrong. He has not had a stable relationship until now. He truly focused on raising me. I just cannot believe that you never once thought about me after you left.”
“I never said that. I had made a promise to your father. I don’t expect you to forgive me in such a brief period of time. I just hope that you can understand what I did. I don’t want you to think that I never thought about you all these years. I have always regretted my selfish decision because I never got a chance to get to know you. I really hope it isn’t too late for us even if you aren’t a donor match. I told my family about you. Joi and Juan would really like to meet you. Joi is eighteen and Juan is nineteen. Their full names are Joi Santana Beauford and Juan Santiago Beauford. Santana is my middle name. Joi resembles Norah Jones and Juan resembles Tahj Mowry. My husband Niles Luke Beauford resembles Derek Jeter.”
“My father is getting married on Christmas. If you can bring your family down at that time, I think I can work on building a relationship with you and have a decision for you at that time.” He stated hoping Amaia and his father would have a resolution to their issues before that day.
“Do you really mean that?” she asked on the verge of tears.
“Yes, do you think you can make the arrangements?”
“Yes, I can arrange things.”
Jovita did start crying when he pulled her into an embrace. “I love you, Tahj,” she said silently to herself.
Aahsod decided to give Amaia a call when he arrived home.
“Have you changed your mind?”
“No, I haven’t. Just give me some time. My mother is too ill for me to be selfish right now.”
“I can’t believe you are saying this.”
“I haven’t really heard what your family thinks since we never really had a conversation the night of the dinner. What exactly do your parents think?”
“It doesn’t matter. Like I said nothing matters but what we think.”
“That did not answer my question. What did you parents think?”
Aahsod sighed and relayed the conversation. “See there is too much going on right now for this marriage to happen. I have to go. Please give me some space.” Amaia stated hanging up on him.
Aahsod looked at the phone in shock before throwing it across the room to shatter after hitting the wall. When Tahj arrived home, he found his father sitting alone in the dark in the living room drinking. He saw the bottle of Courvoisier on the coffee table. He turn on the lights.
“Turn them off.” Aahsod stated.
“I don’t think so. What’s going on? Why aren’t you with Amaia?”
“The wedding is off.”
“Whoa, what do you mean the wedding is off?”
“She chose her family over me.”
“What are you talking about dad?”
“Her mother told her that if she married me she would never forgive Amaia. She chose to postpone the wedding so I took back the ring.”
“I might be only twenty four but I think the two of you are acting childish.”
“Tahj, I know you aren’t talking about me being childish when you did what you did to Daesha. Stay out of this.”
Tahj took the glass from his father. “You are forty seven years old and about give me another brother or sister. I think I am qualified in calling you childish when you should be able to understand the hell she is going through with her mother right now. You two kept this relationship a secret for two years. Her mother had a light stroke from just being around the two of you. Don’t you think she has a right to worry about her mother’s decline in health right now? She didn’t say she wouldn’t marry you. She just wants to postpone things right now. This behavior isn’t like you dad.”
Aahsod sighed. “Tahj, I just love her so much. Never thought I would fall in love this hard. Now that I want to marry her, the only thing standing in our way is prejudice. That’s a hard pill to swallow.”
“Dad, she is hurting just as much I am sure.”
Aahsod nodded before getting up to go upstairs. He immediately called Amaia’s cell phone. Daesha answered the phone.
“Aahsod, I won’t let you hurt her anymore than you have.”
“I’m calling to apologize.”
“Hold on.”
Daesha looked over at her mother. “Aahsod is calling to apologize. Do you want to talk to him?”
“Not right now.” She whispered with a sigh.
“She doesn’t feel like talking right now.” Daesha told him.
“Daesha stop it and put her on the phone.”
“Aahsod, my mother really…” Amaia cut her off by taking the phone from her.
“Aahsod, your apology is a tad too late.” Amaia stated then pressed the off button before he could respond.
Daesha looked at her mother with her mouth gaped open. “What? Did
n’t think I had it in me?” Amaia asked.
“I knew you had it in you but I think you were wrong.” Daesha stated standing up.
Amaia sighed as she stood up from the bed. “Daesha, just go to bed. Good night.” She was saying as she pushed her daughter out of her room and closed the door.
The end of the week came in a rush. She knew she would see Aahsod at the stand up meeting in the boardroom. She decided to handle everything professionally. He was sitting in his usual spot when she entered. There was a stunning unfamiliar ebony skinned female seated beside him. She noticed that Aahsod was in deep conversation with her. She favored Naomi Campbell. Amaia ignored them and sat in her usual spot next to Elliot. Elliot stood up to speak.
“Everyone, I would like to introduce you to our current lead model. Her name is Eyon. She currently on loan to us for 5 years. Aahsod completed her contract and she signed with us this morning. I wanted to welcome her aboard with all the associates present.”
Eyon stood up. “I truly appreciate the welcoming meeting. I look forward to being a part of this team.” She stated before sitting back down. She then leaned over to whisper in Aahsod’s ear and he smiled and nodded. He leaned over to whisper back in her ear making Amaia frown at the scene before her. Sarai noticed but chose to remained silent.
Amaia kept her anger in check for the sake of her job. She tolerated the meeting completely and was the first to bolt out of the conference room back to her office.
When lunch time came, Daesha called her to let her know she way to have lunch with her. “Okay, see you soon.” She stated hanging up.
Amaia decided to go talk to Aahsod and see if he wanted to join her and Daesha for lunch. When she arrived at his office, Eyon was sitting on the left edge of his desk laughing at something he was saying. He looked up and saw her standing in the doorway.
“Can we help you?” Aahsod asked her.
“I guess not.” Amaia replied as she turned and left with anger.
Eyon looked at Aahsod. “Why did you let her leave like that?”
“It is between me and my fiancée.” Aahsod stated.
Eyon got down off his desk and shook her head. “Take care and thanks for the talk.”
“Anytime. Again, welcome aboard.”
She nodded and she smiled before departing from his office. Daesha was coming up the hall when she saw the beautiful ebony woman leaving his office. She made a point to stop at his door.
“Aahsod, what’s going on? Who was that?”
“Just a model, Daesha now mind your business.” He stated with irritation in his voice.
“Oh, its like that huh?” Daesha asked with an arched brow.
“Yea, it is just like that.” He stood up and walked over to her and closed the door in her face. He didn’t slam it, he just politely closed it.
“No, he didn’t.” she whispered in anger as she marched down to her mother’s office. “Mom, do you know----“ she started saying but her mother cut her off with her hand in the air and Daesha noticed she was on the phone. When she finally hung up. Daesha closed the door when she saw the play of emotions on her mother’s face. She walked over to her mother.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. What were you saying when you entered the office?”
“I saw some ebony skinned hootchie coming out of Aahsod’s office and when I asked him who it was he basically let me know to mind my own business and closed the door in my face. What the hell?”
“Watch your language. She is a new model here. She has been contracted to us for 5 years. Her name is Eyon.”
“Oh, okay. Well, do you want to invite him to lunch?”
Amaia sighed. “I’ll call him.” She stated lowering her pride and picking up the phone and dialing his extension.
“What can I do for you Amaia?”
“To see if you want to join me and Daesha for lunch?”
“Have you changed your mind about the wedding?”
“It has only been a week. That isn’t enough time.”
“Then I don’t have time to go to lunch with you.” He stated with slight anger in his voice before hanging up.
Amaia took the phone from her ear and looked at it as if it were foreign before hanging up.
“What did he say mom?”
Amaia burst out crying and Daesha ran over to the other side of the desk and comforted her mother. Sarai knocked and then entered as she always does and was shocked at the scene before her. She rushed over.
“Amaia?”
“Sarai, I’m sorry. Aahsod and I are going through something right now so I need to leave for the rest of the day.”
“No.”
Amaia looked at her with wet confused eyes. “What?”
“You and Aahsod need to resolve your problem and act like adults at the office. That’s why the by-laws were made.”
“It isn’t as simple as that.”
Sarai sighed. “You are stronger than this. Don’t let him whip you. Do you understand me?”
Amaia sighed and nodded. “Excuse me.” She said as she went to the bathroom in her office to fix her face.
Daesha looked at her mother’s boss. “Mrs. Karmikell, I think you need to go talk to Aahsod as well. My mother is acting professional yet excuse my language he is acting like the ass I always thought he was.”
Sarai smiled, nodded and departed from the office to go see Aahsod. He was deep into reading a contract when she entered. She closed the door behind her.
“Didn’t I warn you she was out of league two years ago?”
“My personal life is none of your concern, Sarai.”
“It is when it comes to the office.”
“I have control of things.”
“Oh, you call making her cry control.”
He looked up with a shocked face. “I didn’t mean to make her cry. I was just trying to prove a point.”
“Why?”
He sighed before relaying all the information of the past events to her. When he was finished, Sarai sighed.
“Daesha was right. You are an ass. That woman has been through way too much for you to act this way with her. Clean this mess up ASAP.” Sarai stated with calm anger.
Aahsod just nodded as his boss departed from his office. He decided that he would just wait until later in the evening to call Amaia at home to talk to her.
While they were at lunch, Daesha looked over at her mother. “Are you going to tell me about that phone call you received earlier?”
“Your grandfather informed me that he could not get mom to budge about me and Aahsod.”
“Mom, I really do not think you should let grandmother interfere with your plans with Aahsod. I want you to be happy like you were with dad. You found a way with him to be happy regardless of grandmother.”
“I will think about it . Let’s just enjoy our lunch okay.”
Daesha nodded and remained silent as she plotted silently to get her mother and Aahsod back together. She would call Tahj later.
When their lunch was over, Daesha walked her mother back to her office. On the way, they saw Kenneth.
“Hi, Daesha.” He said with enthusiasm as they embraced one another.
“Hi, Uncle Kenneth.” She called him that because he was so close with the family.
He pulled back to look at her. “You are still beautiful.”
“Thanks.” Daesha responded with a smile.
He looked at Amaia and noticed she had been crying. “What’s wrong?” he asked as she entered her office.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She responded as she walked to sit behind her desk.
“Which means it has something to do with Patel.” He stated matter-of-factly as he closed the door before looking back at Amaia.
“Did he dump you?”
“As I said, I do not care to discuss this.”
“Cayle told me about the engagement yet your ring finger is empty.”
Amaia looked down at her finger and the tears sta
rted again. Daesha embraced her mother.
“Uncle Kenneth, you are upsetting my mother so I think you need to leave.”
“Oh I am leaving but I’m not the one that has upset your mother. I will deal with him myself.”
“No! Don’t get involved!” Amaia stated angrily standing up from behind her desk as she wiped the tears away.
“Are you fucking serious?!” He asked her looking at her with anger.
“This has nothing to do with you!”
Kenneth marched back over to her and leaned in on her desk to talk.
“I have been almost like a brother to you and your siblings and you are going to tell me it has nothing to do with me. I can put aside my romantic feelings for you long enough to talk to that fool! He is a fool to treat you this way knowing what you have gone through! I’m man enough to lower my hurt pride from you choosing him over me and you are still protecting him! Why?!
Amaia sighed. “I just want peace at work.” She said looking into his eyes.
The sadness he saw there at that moment broke his resolve and he sighed before coming around the desk to embrace her like a brother. Daesha smiled and moved out of the way as Kenneth allowed her to cry on his shoulder. This is how Aahsod found them when he opened the door.
“Amaia,----“ He looked at them with angry eyes. “What the fuck?!” he asked as he entered the office and slammed the door.
“Don’t you think you have caused enough drama, Patel?” Kenneth asked.
“Let her go.” Aahsod stated with calm anger.
“It isn’t what you think.” Daesha stated.
Aahsod put his hand in Daesha’s face as if to tell her to shut up. Daesha pushed his hand out of her face and stood up.
“Who do you think you are tripping with?” Daesha asked in anger with her hands on her hips.
Aahsod turned to face her. “Seriously? Daesha, you know you really need to stay out of grown folks business and mind your own.”
This angered Daesha more. “You stupid motherf-----“ she didn’t finish her statement because Amaia spoke up as she moved out of Kenneth’s embrace.
“Everyone just stop it! This is a place of business and we need to act like it. Kenneth thanks for the shoulder to cry on you may leave as well as Daesha. Thanks for the lunch but it is time for me to get some work done. Aahsod, I have nothing to say to you here at work but you better believe that I have plenty to say when I get home so you might as well leave right now and go back to your office.”
Truly Madly Deeply Page 7