Truly Madly Deeply

by Knox, Sara S.

  “I am aware of what it is. I just want to make sure my time with Daesha will be more focused if she is my date.” Rahjah stated.

  “You two need to stop it.” Vema Balin stated. “This is not a competition. Grow up.”

  “I could not have said it better, sis.” Aahsod stated.

  Kasar looked at the crowd of people in the room with pride. He whispered in his wife’s ear. She nodded with a soft smile.

  “We have an announcement make.” Behula stated as all eyes were on her.

  “What is it, mother?” Aahsod asked.

  “Your father and I have decided to go back to Andhra Pradesh, India to live. We will keep the house here to visit twice a year on Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

  “What made you decide this? You came here two years before I was born.” Vema stated.

  “We have raised you. Both of you chose paths of your parents. Aahsod became an attorney like me and you became a physician like your father. We miss India and think now that we are retired, it is time to go home.”

  “We will miss you both.” Aahsod stated hugging his parents. Vema does the same. “Amaia, I think the dinner should be a farewell dinner as well for my parents.” Aahsod stated.

  “I agree Aahsod.” Amaia replied with a smile.

  “Mom, does that mean I get to go spend summers with them in India?” Sitara inquired.

  “Have you decided what part of the medical field you desire?” Vema asked.

  “Wait, I am twenty two, why am I asking to go to India?” Sitara said.

  “Because we are paying for you tuition out of pocket?”

  “I guess I better answer the question. Let’s see dad is a plastic surgeon and Rahjah has made the same choice. I think it would be in my best interest to choose your path of choice which is pediatrics.”

  “You can visit your grandparents but you do not have to be a pediatrician just because I am. Follow your heart.”

  “In that case, I want to be an orthopedic surgeon.”

  “Tough field but it is your choice.” Vema stated with a smile.

  Amaia jumped into the conversation. “I really enjoyed this visit but I am getting tired as well as the babies. I think it is time for some sleep.” She stated with a smile.

  Aahsod agreed and slowly everyone took turns saying good bye and kissed the babies and Amaia before departing from the hospital room.

  Chapter 19The next day, Amaia and Aahsod were in route home with the babies when his cell phone rang.

  “Aahsod, it is Monica. I have to leave town for about three weeks. I left Aahmod at your house with Daesha to stay until I get back. Take care.” She stated hanging up.

  ‘What is it?” Amaia asked.

  “Monica, politely let me know Aahmod will be staying with us for about three weeks until she returns from wherever. What a way to spring him on everyone.”

  “Well, let’s make the most of it shall we. We want him to feel welcome.” Amaia stated.

  “You are right. He will get to meet a lot of family including the babies.” Aahsod responded.

  Amaia caressed his hand with a smile then her cell phone rang.

  “Hi, Daesha. Yes, we know about Aahmod. Just keep him busy until we get there.”

  “Mom, this kid is so mature. He doesn’t even want to play with the X-box that is here. Where the heck does Aahsod keep the chess board?”

  Amaia laughed. “It is in closet in the study in the box marked games.”

  “Mom, you know I haven’t played chess in a while. I am sure this kid is going to cream me.”

  “Just keep him entertained. Why don’t you call Rahjah over to give him some type of competition?”

  “Thanks, mom. I didn’t think of that. See you soon.”

  Amaia hung up with a soft laugh.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Aahmod is showing his maturity to Daesha by only wanting to play chess. She is calling Rahjah over for reinforcement as soon as she gets the chess game from your study.”

  “This visit with Aahmod may turn out to be more enjoyable than I thought.”

  “Let’s hope.” She said with a smile.

  After two weeks had gone by, Amaia was able to get around better and plan the dinner party. Aahmod was a joy to have around. Daesha and Rahjah were spending a lot of time together. Amaia was just glad her daughter was able to get her mind off of Tahj. Amaia was excited about having guests over at the house. She had dressed in a blueberry empire-waist knee length dress with mesh quarter length sleeves. It had a V-neck and back. Her pregnancy had added to her cleavage. She decided to wear her hair up in a light bun with ringlets dangling near her temples. Aahsod was clasping her diamond circle necklace around her neck.

  “You are breathtaking.” He kissed her neck.

  “You are as well.”

  The babies start to cry. When she moved to go check on them, he stopped her. “Camille is watching them for the evening. This is your night, my love.”

  “I will try to remember.”

  Daesha was acting as hostess. She was greeting everyone as they arrived at the house. She was dressed in an emerald green sleeveless tiered satin dress with a straight neckline, padding at the bust for support, open upper back; button closure at back neck, and banded tier construction. It did not quite meet her knees. It matched her eyes. She kept her hair up and her mother loaned her some of her diamonds. She opened the door to find a handsome, smiling Rahjah. He looked very distinguished in his black suit. He gave her a soft lingering kiss when he entered. As soon as the kiss was over, the door bell chimed, and she opened it to see Tahj and his wife. The baby was at home with a sitter. Ambi was beautiful. The dress she was wearing clung to a figure that no one would believe had given birth to a baby a few months ago. It was black with velvet trim at the bust with a sweetheart neckline. It had black lace overlay with nude lining. Her black stiletto heels made her taller than Tahj. She had her long black hair loose down her back. Even Rahjah could not stop staring. Ambi wished Tahj stared at her the way Rahjah did. She did not miss the fact that he was almost drooling over Daesha as she stood back to allow them to enter the house. Once everyone had arrived, Amaia and Aahsod made their entrance. Everyone complemented Amaia on her dress and the dinner party began. Daesha was really enjoying herself when Tahj approached her.

  “Care to dance?”

  Before she could answer, Rahjah was intervening. “Her dance card is full for me.” He did not allow Tahj to respond as he escorted her to dance. He held her close.

  “You are so sexy tonight.” Rahjah stated with a bright smile.

  “Sexier than Ambi?”

  “Of course. And I will prove it to you.”

  “How do you plan to do that?”

  Rahjah had captured her mouth in a soft passionate kiss that she returned. Daesha had her arms twined around his neck enjoying the kiss when Tahj pulled her away.

  ‘What are you doing?” Tahj asked her.

  “I think you know the answer to that.” Daesha stated yanking out of his grasp.

  “Tahj, you need to go be with your wife who is looking a tad embarrassed right now.” Rahjah stated.

  “Stay out of this, Rahjah. You are just preying on her because she is vulnerable.”

  “Tahj, go back to your wife. I won’t let you ruin this party for everyone. You have no right to do this.” Daesha stated.

  “She’s right. She is here with me not you.” Rahjah stated with pride.

  Tahj was about to respond when Ambi walked over and grabbed his arm. “Don’t humiliate me anymore that you have right now. Stop this display of jealousy and be the man you chose to be when you married me. I will not allow this night to be ruined by your stupidity at this moment. Dance with me now.” Ambi stated in as calm of a voice as she could garner.

  Tahj looked at his wife and the other guests in the house and made the conscience decision to let the issue drop. He tenderly grabbed his wife by the waist and escorted to dance. He portrayed the loving husband for
the entire evening. Everyone welcomed Aahmod with open arms. He fitted in as if he had always been a part of the family.

  Joesi touched Amaia on the arm. “Amaia, something isn’t right with Daesha. Look closely at how she is acting.”

  Amaia noticed that her daughter was a tad too happy. She went to check what was in Daesha’s ‘tea goblet’. Amaia could smell the alcohol on her breath.

  “Daesha, what are you drinking?”

  “Tea.” She giggled.

  “I smell more Jim Bean than tea. Rahjah, why are you allowing my daughter to drink?”

  “Amaia, I have no clue where Daesha is getting it from. I haven’t had but one glass of cognac myself.”

  “Daesha, where did you get that glass?”

  “Tahj gave it to me as a truce.” Daesha said with a hiccup and giggle.

  Anger rose in Amaia’s eyes as she pried the glass out of Daesha’s hand then she went to find Tahj. “How dare you give my twenty year old daughter alcohol?”

  “I did not such thing.”

  “She said you gave her a drink as a truce.”

  “Ambi said she gave her a drink for a truce and told her it was from me. I thought it was tea because it was in a goblet.”

  Ambi started to walk off but Tahj stopped her. “Why would you do that?”

  “So she can be as embarrassed as you made me tonight.” Ambi declared to Tahj.

  “Ambi, you had no right to do that to my daughter. She has never had alcohol.”

  “She’ll survive. Do you think it is easy for me to be here and watch my husband look at her so lovingly? I had to do something.”

  “Tahj, take your wife home before I strangle her. You two need to work things out and keep my daughter out of it. Now I will try to pump my daughter full of coffee.” Amaia stated.

  “Come on let’s say goodnight and go home.” Tahj said with anger.

  When they arrive back in the living room, Daesha is nowhere to be found. Amaia went over to Aahsod. “Where is Daesha?”

  “I don’t know. I was in deep conversation with Dr. Sharpe.”

  Amaia inquired until she found out that Daesha left with Rahjah to go to his parents’ boathouse with her. Tahj looked at Amaia. “Still think he’s a good guy? I know where the boathouse is. I will drop Ambi off and bring her back here.” he said as he escorted Ambi out of the house not caring if she agreed or not.

  Rahjah was filling Daesha full of coffee to sober her up. “Jim Bean can be hard on the system.”

  Daesha was holding her head. “I believe you but the swaying of this boat isn’t going to help me any.” She stated standing up and the boat swayed causing her to fall in his arms. The next thing she knew, she was kissing him. She stuck her tongue in his mouth making him gasp and open up for her. “You taste good, Rahjah.”

  “So do you.” He stated as she grabbed her from behind to pull her closer to his body so she could feel how aroused he was. She moaned into his mouth. His hands went into her hair pulling it free of its restraints to flow down her back. The knock to the door cooled down the heated moment. Daesha broke free so he could answer the door. Rahjah opened the door to find Tahj standing there fuming with anger when he saw Daesha.

  “Come out of there!” Tahj commanded to Daesha.

  “No! Leave me alone!”

  “Your mother sent me to get you! Come with me right now before you regret this!”

  “I won’t go! Leave us alone!”

  “Tahj, dude you really need to leave us alone. I will take Daesha home.”

  “Liar!”

  “Dude, you have a wife.”

  “I love Daesha. You have no right to degrade her like this.”

  “You get out of here now! I want to be here with Rahjah. I don’t love you! Go home to your fucking wife!”

  Tahj was taken aback by her statement. He had never heard her swear like that.

  “Good bye, Daesha.” He walked away in anger.

  She slammed the door and pulled Rahjah back to her for a passionate kiss. He broke free. “I can’t Daesha. I want you sober and willing not drunk and angry. Let me take you home.”

  “I know what I want Rahjah.”

  “So do I and it isn’t like this. Get your shoes, I am taking you home.”

  She started to cry. When he attempted to pull her close, she pushed him away. “Just take me home. You allowed Tahj to ruin everything.”

  “That’s what you think now but you will see things differently in the morning. Let’s go.”

  When Tahj arrived back home, Ambi was waiting up for him. “I don’t want to argue, Ambi.”

  “There will not be any arguing. I called my brother Tandu and spoke with him and his wife Deva. Since they have two children Manoj and Raevyn, they are willing to keep Neela for a week for me. I need some me time to see if I want to continue in the farce of a marriage. If and when I return, I want you to secure me a modeling job with Karmikell’s Fashions. I want to make my own spending money so I won’t feel so tied down to you.”

  “Do you really think I am going to give you a divorce if you choose?”

  “I just want some space. You had no right to do what you did to me. All you had to do was acknowledge that Neela was your child without marrying me but you chose otherwise. Now we are both suffering.”

  “Take your week but you had better come back with my daughter and we will build a life for her together.”

  “You will not humiliate me anymore after today or I will make your life hell.”

  “Just take your week and we will go from there.”

  “Apparently, Daesha wasn’t thrilled to see you because you returned a tad too quickly.”

  “Ambi don’t test me. Just pack your bags and do whatever it is you need to do for a week and return with my daughter. No, leave her here with me. She is my daughter and I want to guarantee that you actually return.”

  “I don’t think you are capable of taking care of her for a week.”

  “Just leave us and find out.”

  “I will just call my brother back and then I am off for some relaxation alone.”

  “Have fun.” He stated as he mounted the stairs.

  When Rahjah pulled up to her house, Daesha exited the vehicle without saying good bye. When she entered the house, her mother and Aahsod were waiting for her.

  “You have some explaining to do, Daesha.” Amaia stated.

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Tahj, told us how ugly you were to him. And that tousled look confirmed my worse thoughts.” Aahsod stated.

  “Aahsod, you aren’t my father. You have no say about what I do.”

  “I never said I did but as long as I am married to your mother and you live under our roof, you will respect both of us.”

  “I just want to go upstairs. I had a long tiring night.”

  “Go, we will talk about this in the morning.” Amaia stated with a sigh.

  Chapter 20The next morning Amaia and Aahsod were having breakfast with Aahmod when the doorbell rang. Aahsod answered the door to find Monica standing there.

  “Came back a week early didn’t you?”

  “Just go get my son.”

  “Don’t you mean our son?”

  “Aahsod, just go get him.”

  “Come have a sit. I’ll go get him from the dining room.”

  Monica entered and stood near the door waiting for him to return with Aahmod. She was looking around admiring the beauty of Aahsod’s home when Aahmod entered the room.

  “Are you ready?” She asked him with a smile.

  “Mom, you said I would be here for three weeks. I still have another week.”

  “I think you have spent enough time with these people. I want you at home with me.”

  “You have introduced me to a father I haven’t known for eleven years. I think it is only fair that I continue to get to know him and my new family more. I want to start spending half the summer, Thanksgiving day and Christmas day with them.”

  “Di
d Aahsod put you up to this?”

  “No, I didn’t.” Aahsod stated as he reentered the room.

  “I just don’t want to be alone, Aahmod.”

  “Mom, you are around me all the time. I am really not asking for much. Please do this for me.”

  “Okay, son. I’ll be back next weekend.” She departed after hugging him.

  When Daesha came downstairs, she was greeted by the nauseating smell of breakfast. She held her head and groaned as she sat down at the dining room table pouring just a glass of juice.

  “Aahmod, go up to your room while we talk to Daesha.” Aahsod stated.

  “Sure, Dad.” He departed from the dining room.

  “Aahsod, please don’t start.”

  “He won’t but I will. Why did you act the way you did last night?” Amaia asked.

  “Mom, can you at least let me get over this headache?”

  “Hangover you meant. And the answer is no. You need to suffer for your actions last night. You are spiraling in a way that does not look good.”

  “So it is alright for Tahj to just trample over my heart and I shouldn’t react in any type of way?”

  “You are a bright, strong young woman. I know you are hurting but you did not have to immediately go for his cousin.”

  “I had to do something. It is only fair to make him hurt too.”

  “Two wrongs do not make this right, Daesha.”

  “Mom, please stop with the clichés.”

  “Then stop acting like a cliché.”

  “Why are you being so hard on me? I loved him.” Daesha broke down crying and Amaia immediately went to her daughter pulling her into a protective loving embrace.

  “Honey, I know you loved him and that’s why I want you to do the right thing. I don’t want something bad to come out of your rash decisions. You deserve to be happy, baby.”

  Daesha looked at her mother. “Nothing happened with Rahjah. He was a perfect gentleman. I got angry because he brought me home. He only took me to the boathouse to talk and attempt to fill me with coffee. Tahj showed up and I got angry again.”

  “It eases my mind to know that nothing happened. In the future, you have to stay away from alcohol when you are angry.”

  “I didn’t even realize it had alcohol. I just knew the tea tasted good that Ambi brought me.”