37 Chapter 37

But something nagged at Sneha like a beckoning whisper from another room. She felt a fear beginning to itch beneath her skin. She wanted to stop it before it became a rash. Their life was about to change drastically for the better she thought. She didn't want anything as small as paperwork standing in their way.

"Sneha, I want to enjoy my new marriage with my new wife before I get dragged down by such a mundane thing as shuffling paperwork," he said.

"Mr. Gupta is a man of his word. If he says everything will be ready in fifteen days, it will. He has never failed to live up to a promise," Rohan reassured her. Sneha agreed with much reservation.

Just as Rohan promised, Langkawi was a dream. Every morning Rohan set about to discover some new part of Sneha's body with his lips. He wanted to learn how each part of her reacted to every one of his kisses and every flick of his tongue. And after she was fully rested from their morning adventure, they would set out into the country. Each day was filled with a new discovery of the archipelago as they explored the many islands.

On the fourth day of their honeymoon after Rohan discovered how ticklish the back of Sneha's knees were, she decided they would go out for brunch instead of ordering room service. Rohan sat up a bit surprised and asked why.

"Well," she said, "we should eat at a restaurant during daylight hours at some point!" They both laughed. Rohan reached for Sneha but she dodged his hand and ran off to the shower. He gave chase and before she could lock the door he pushed his way inside of the bathroom. Sneha giggled as she tried feebly to fend off Rohan's advances. She turned on the shower while kicking his legs from behind her. She managed to jump in with her nightie on but he came in right after her. Rohan snatched her up from behind and pulled her in close. She pulled her legs up and wriggled in his arms. As he whispered in her ear, "Let me love you, Sneha", her legs became limp and dropped slowly in front of his. She let down her guard and let him take control of her body.

"I'll have the nasi lemak, teh tarik and roti canai please," said Sneha.

"Hello Mrs. Nayar. This is the first time I've seen you out so early," the waiter chided.

Sneha blushed and suddenly felt a boost of confidence. It was the first time anyone besides Rohan had called her 'Mrs. Nayar'. No longer a 'miss' or a 'girl' but a married woman. And then, just as suddenly, she felt a mist of melancholy as she realized her days of selfish girlhood were over.

"And I'll have the American omelet, steak, hash browns and toast. With coffee," Rohan requested.

Sneha snaps back to the present. "Wow. Getting started early on that American acclimation, I see."

"Well," Rohan replied, "I might as well start getting used to it. There won't be a lot of good food where we're going."

"Of course there will," Sneha retorted. "There are so many of us that have migrated to America over the last several decades especially San Francisco.

"Yes," he chimed in as he poured the coffee. "My nephew just moved to Florida, America last year and said everything you can find here is over there in abundance."