Chapter 12
*****
Literally a day after that conversation Ashok knocked on the glass door of the office. She was surprised to see him back so early and unlike other times he didn’t appear to be his calm self.
She gestured to him to come in and he stepped in, only to stand by the door in silence.
“What’s wrong?” She knew it just from the way he showed up.
“I cannot adopt the kids.”
His words hit her like cold water. “What do you mean?”
He pulled his tie, as if to diffuse the frustration. “As a single man, I can only adopt Vish since he is a boy.”
“And you cannot adopt err…the girl?” She felt pathetic about not remembering the kids’ names.
“You can, as a single woman. But what purpose is that going to solve? Especially if you are going to be in San Francisco.”
Isha was new to family law in India. “Could you and I not file for a single adoption?”
“No. That’s only for married couples.”
Something flashed in her mind. A crazy problem-solving side of her. “Let’s get married.”
Ashok looked at her silently like he was trying to gauge the seriousness of her words.
“I’m not kidding. This is the best thing to do. We get married, of course on paper and once the adoption goes through, I can leave to go to San Francisco and you will have full custody of the kids.”
“Are you serious?” He looked visibly taken aback.
She nodded. “This is the only way.”
He stood looking at her, silently.
She shrugged. “If you’re expecting a marriage proposal, that was it.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I’ll see if that works.”
With those words, he was gone, leaving her wondering what the heck she had just proposed.
A marriage of convenience? When she never ever wanted to get married!