Chapter 42

The next day at breakfast his father told him that Akash had died.

"No," Rohan objected. "Absolutely not. Just give us the regular massage." Sneha looked at Rohan in dismay.

"Well I want it. Especially considering…" She trailed off as she glared at Rohan.

He was oblivious to her glare. "Sneha, I'm telling you this stuff doesn't work. From my own experience it will probably make life worse. You as a doctor should know that. I'm surprised you would even consider it."

"And I as a doctor must admit that some of these age old remedies are still in use today because they actually work. Whether or not they ward off evil spirits I don't know but I am willing to try." She turned towards the sari masseuse and said, "Please give me the Malay massage. Thank you." Then Sneha re-positioned herself face down on the massage table. She tried to return to her sleepy state but remembered how Rohan and Stella had plotted to kill her.

Rohan sighed and stared in disappointment at his new wife.

He avoided the sari masseuse standing before him and addressed the pink scarf masseuse. "Just regular, plain massage," then lay on the table.

After the masseuses began to rub in a blend of oils on their backs, Rohan called out to Sneha and reached out to hold her hand. He felt nothing. So, he called again and asked for her hand. Sneha ignored him as she focused on the image of a woman woven into the carpet design that one of her tears had just landed on.

Silence walked arm-in-arm with Rohan and Sneha as they made their way back to the front of the hotel.

The concierge appeared from around the corner and walked alongside them.

"How was your couples' massage today?" he asked.

Rohan and Sneha paused as their eyes darted around the foyer.

"It was really good. Thank you for suggesting it," she said while trying her best to smile and keep eye contact with the concierge.

Rohan pulled out his wallet unable to focus and accidentally grabbed two 20-dollar bills instead of the two 5 dollar bills he intended and tipped the concierge. The concierge perked up as if a king were in his presence. He snapped and barked for a cycle rickshaw.

"Please allow us to drive you back in comfort," he said as he gestured for them to get in.

"Oh no, that's okay. We don't mind walking." Rohan tried to grab Sneha's arm and walk away.

"I would love a nice ride back to the dock," Sneha said as she gets inside. Rohan smiled sheepishly at the concierge then sat inside of the covered rickshaw. The concierge tapped the rooftop twice and the cyclist started pedaling.

Rohan instructed the driver to take them to the pier. Rohan twisted and pulled the loose threads from the embroidery of Sneha's tote bag that he held. He bit at his lip as his stared out at the scenery completely unaware of the beauty passing him by. He mulled over whether or not his previous cowardly plot was what was bothering Sneha or if it was something new he did to anger her. He didn't want to mention it and have it cloud the rest of their honeymoon if she actually wasn't thinking about it. But if she was thinking about it he wanted to apologize and beg her forgiveness again.

He knew he would have to do this many times during the beginning of their marriage but he was prepared and willing to do so to keep the only woman he ever truly loved and that truly loved him. He took a deep breath to ask her but Sneha broke the silence first.