The Accidental Wife (14 page)

Something’s Gotta Give

T
he weak afternoon sun wasn’t very successful in burning off the thick fog that surrounded the boat. It looked as if they were in a funeral procession rather than a sightseeing jaunt. But the captain was in a great mood.

“The met had forecast a frozen harbor today,” his gruff voice boomed over the loudspeaker echoing eerily throughout the dual decker ferry. “You guys lucked out.”

Naina caught Rima’s accusing glare and she mouthed a fervent apology. How could she have known? Having never ridden the Liberty Island ferry in the dead of winter before? Why hadn’t anyone warned her when Shobha had proposed the trip and Naina had raised her hand, virtually compelling everyone else to join in, reluctant or otherwise.

As the boat sped into the open waters, icy wind gusts soon dispersed the gloomy shroud giving way to murky grey skies, though it didn’t provide much solace. Naina withdrew her arms inside her jacket leaving the sleeves hanging loose and tried to rub some heat into her chilled bones.

She looked across at Shirin with concern. Her complexion had turned pasty grey. The poor girl was pregnant and sick and the rough weather wasn’t helping at all. Abruptly she stood up and lurched toward the restroom. Naina rushed before her, opening the door for Shirin.

After violently regurgitating her entire lunch, Shirin clung gratefully to Naina while she mopped her perspiring brow with a damp paper towel.

“Did you see Rudy anywhere? Where is he?” she demanded, aggrieved frustration clear on her little pixie face. “I know he doesn’t like me when I’m in this mood, but he contributed to it! He put me here! I can’t go on without his support. He’s my husband, isn’t he? Rihaan would never do it to you Naina.” Then she dry-heaved into the sink.

“He wouldn’t, believe me.” She repeated earnestly when she saw doubt in Naina’s eyes. “I know him well. He’s a reluctant husband, yes, but he’ll never abandon you when you need him the most. Trust me.”

Naina kept her silence. She wasn’t so sure about that.

Entrusting Shirin into Shobha’s motherly embrace, she hurried away, up the stairs toward the open deck, blinking away the tears that had pooled in her eyes.
Reluctant husband
. She couldn’t have come up with a better description. Shirin was wonderfully intuitive.
It was odd what fate dealt out to various people
, she thought, standing aside to give way to those climbing down.

“It doesn’t hurt to have another warm body in climes like these.” A plump middle-aged woman exclaimed cheerily, hanging tight to her burly companion. “I’m so glad to have mine.”

Naina’s lips contorted into the semblance of a smile before she continued upstairs. Outside, it was certainly brighter though not by much. Icy cold water sprayed the deck as the boat bucked and rolled on choppy waters. Finding a relatively sheltered spot, she let her vision pan around and found some consolation in that they weren’t alone. There were other foolish wretches out there, wandering like outlawed ghouls in a spooky cemetery.

Shaking the doldrums out of her head, Naina instead tried to concentrate on the view—the city skyline, even more magnificent from the bay. And out in the distance, growing more imposing as they approached closer was the Lady of Liberty, a symbol of eternal freedom; of dignity and independence that inspired millions all over the world.
But freedom is such a lonely word.

The boat hit a large swell making it totter to one side and Naina slid back on the deck. She grabbed for the railing, then smiled when a pair of strong arms wrapped around and held her up. Yes, this was exactly what she needed. Tenderness and support. The notion made her relax. As Shirin had said, she could trust him. She could trust
her
Rihaan
.

The grip got uncomfortably tighter. She wiggled, laughing. “Stop it, Rihaan. I’m fine. Anyway, no one’s around that needs to see us!”

Then a sudden fear gripped her chest.
No! What has got into me? It can’t be him! He is in Miami presenting a paper on some brand new surgical technique. He just left yesterday, beside himself with excitement!

Terrified, she clawed at the hands as they reached inside her coat, her nails digging into the flesh. The man let out a loud oath before releasing her. Wrenching around, she stared aghast at Rudy, Shirin’s errant husband.

“How…dare…you? What do you think you’re doing?”

“Sorry,” he muttered, not appearing so at all. “I thought you were Shirin.” He then stepped back and ambled away.

Naina remained rooted to the spot. She knew he was lying. Shirin was wearing a white jacket while Naina’s was charcoal grey. It was a deliberate act of vile mischief. But why?

She’d never felt this vulnerable before.

Rihaan, how I wish you were here.

***

It was 5 p.m. on New Year‘s Eve. Rihaan, done for the day, walked out of his office and was surprised to find Anna still there. But she wasn’t in her standard pink scrubs. Instead she wore a little black dress that accentuated her substantial curves, and she was busy texting on her phone.

He paused by her desk. “Expecting someone? By the way, you look stunning.”

She blushed, scrambling quickly to her feet. “Thank you. Yes, I’m waiting for my boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend? I didn’t know you had one.”

“I haven’t for a while, but I couldn’t go on living with a broken heart, could I?” she asked seriously. But when she saw his eyebrows scrunch together, she said, “Let’s just forget I said that. What plans do you have?”

“The usual. Drink a toast to the television and fall asleep well before midnight. I’m a pretty boring guy. Anyway, have a great night and watch out for the crazies.” He turned to walk away.

“Gosh doc! Flip out of it! You aren’t single anymore. You have a wife; a beautiful, loving wife. Take her out to dinner. Tell her how much you love her. Make it special.”

He gave her an odd look. “I’ll try Anna. Thanks for the idea.”

Later he stood at the bus stop (having opted for a different mode of transport that day) and hesitated.

Celebrations were already underway. Groups of revelers were cruising around, bright-eyed on dope and alcohol, and well underway to getting plastered. He spotted a couple of youngsters with pupils as wide as saucers. They’d be visiting the emergency room tonight and would play a deaf ear to all the advice because it was the New Year. It was another chapter in their lives with hope for change and happiness.

Anna was right. This year was different for him. He had a companion to share it with—his wife, Naina. She deserved a good time for all she had done for him. He observed the streams of customers drifting in and out of the gaily lit Amish Grocery store across the street. It was open late tonight.

The past few weeks in his life had gone rather smoothly. So smooth that it stunk! And it was all wrong, and so messed up!

He could see the change in Naina. Ever since he had returned from the conference she had been ignoring him. It was evident right away. She looked lost, absent in some other space. He missed her laugh, her smile, her witty repartees. Had it been something his mother had said, because when he’d inquired about the family jaunt, Naina had clammed up at once. He had picked up the phone intent on calling his ma and asking her to leave his wife alone. But on second thought, hadn’t. The move was bound to backfire. Naina would be condemned for something she hadn’t done.

The strain had begun to show, of living with a man like him who was so used to his own company. There’d been a few times he’d caught her looking at him with disappointment in her eyes.

And he felt it, too. The strain of spending each and every day with a beautiful and highly desirable woman in his house. He had consciously adopted a zero alcohol policy, for fear of losing control. But he was by no means an ascetic and the effort was draining.

One night, he thought he heard muffled sobs coming from the bedroom. He should have, like any normal husband, gone to her, consoled her, asked her what was wrong. But he hadn’t, afraid of what she might say—that he was the source of her troubles. That he was the problem.

No,
he thought.
Naina doesn’t deserve a man like me nor a life like this. She deserves a lot more. Much, much more.

***

Naina didn’t return into the building. She preferred to wait on the sidewalk, even though she couldn’t keep her extremities from going painfully numb, despite rubbing and fidgeting with her gloved hands and warm boot-clad feet. She was excited. On edge. Rihaan had asked her out on a date tonight. Well, not really. Yet he’d sort of made it appear so in his text:

Naina, let’s celebrate the first 6 weeks of our ‘marriage’ with dinner and talk about the future. Later perhaps welcome the New Year on Times Square?

It’d be the first time they would meet by design and in the absence of his family. Maybe it’d all come to nothing. Still, it was a beginning.

Or had he conned her? She had been waiting fifteen minutes already…

Suddenly he was there, the handsome bastard, terrifying her out of her wits, holding a large bouquet of red carnations in his hand and saying, “Here, take these. The flowers are for you.”

“Oh.” She was stumped for words.

“Don’t you like them?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Of course I do! They are gorgeous! Thank you.”

“Well, it wasn’t any effort. I got them at a grocery store right across from work.”

She regarded him indulgently. Just like him to make it sound inconsequential. “But the idea was yours, wasn’t it?”

He shrugged and grinned boyishly. “Guess it was.” Then taking her arm, he steered her toward the crosswalk. “C’mon girl, let’s not waste any more time. I’m crazy hungry!”

But they were forced to step back when a long black limo drew to a halt right in front of them. A man in a black dinner jacket jumped out causing Rihaan to let out a loud curse. “I’m sorry, Naina, I’ve nothing to do with this.” He looked at her. “This man thrust himself on me.”

“Playing hooky with the very person who gave you a ride. Talk about gratitude!” The man in the dinner jacket swaggered over to them.

“Shut up, Rudy. Go and take care of your wife. Naina and I plan to have a cozy dinner together. It’s been awhile.”

“Has it? How terrible. Hey Naina. You look ill. Has our dear Rihaan been ignoring you?” Rudy sneered.

“Naina?” Rihaan examined her. Indeed, she had turned pale as a sheet.

Shirin emerged from the car pulling her stole tightly around her shoulders. “Rudy, do as Rihaan says. Leave them alone.”

“Hmm… Shirin don’t be cruel,” Rudy said, but his eyes were focused on Naina. “Rihaan’s poor wife is sick. Perhaps we can drop them somewhere?”

They got inside the limo but it was a quiet ride. Unfortunately, Rihaan’s tardy attempts in securing a table for two proved disastrous causing Rudy to magnanimously offer to share his own. Shirin squeezed Naina’s hand as she gazed morosely out of the window. They were dropped off at an exclusive Japanese restaurant.

“I feel horribly out of place, Rudy,” Rihaan said as he took in the elegantly turned out clientele. “Please do excuse us. Naina and I prefer something slightly more modest.”

“Oh you aren’t cramping my style at all. In fact, your beautiful wife is enhancing it considerably,” Rudy retorted, plucking Naina from Rihaan’s side much to his chagrin.

They all sat uncomfortably at a table while Rudy carried on a pompous monologue.

“How was your sightseeing tour, Shirin?” Rihaan asked her with a smile. She looked miserable.

“It was horrible! I hated it!” she cried.

“It was wonderful,” Rudy interjected with a broad grin. “And I can assure you bud, your wife had the time of her life. She didn’t miss you at all.”

Rihaan felt as if he’d been punched in the chest. He looked sharply at Naina, but found her staring steadfast at the sushi chef who stood near their table accomplishing the impossible—juggling an egg yolk.

The broad steel spatula flew high in the air. Shirin jumped and ran screaming out toward the door.

Rudy stood up and went after her. Rihaan and Naina followed. “Now what?” Rudy snapped when she refused to go back in.

“How could you, Rudy?” Shirin screamed. “When you know I am allergic to the very smell of the sea. And I bet you hired the man to murder me. Look at me while I’m speaking.”

“You aren’t worth looking at!”

“Really?” Shirin scowled at him. “What’s your problem?”

“My problem is that I married a girl who is pregnant. I can’t recognize her. She looks like a disgruntled hippo. And I don’t even know if it’s my child!”

“Rudy! How can you think that? You know very well I was an innocent when I met you!”

He rolled his eyes. “Sorry. A pregnant wife is overwhelming. I need to get drunk.”

Shirin suddenly clutched her belly and collapsed to the ground. “I think I need to go to the hospital!”

“For heaven’s sake! Give me a break!” Rudy yelled at her.

“I think this could be serious. She may be having contractions,” Naina said anxiously to Rihaan when she saw Shirin double up.