YOU AND ME

Aisha's

I felt like no one cared about me anymore. No one listened to me. I was losing control of my family. Desperate for some semblance of balance, I went to visit Vishal in jail.

“Amina got your bail canceled,” I said, frustration evident in my voice. “I’m trying my best to get you out of here, but she’s making it impossible.”

Vishal’s eyes darkened. “Then we have to get rid of her. I’ve tried everything, and there’s only one way left.”

I stared at him, horrified. “What do you mean, Vishal?”

He leaned closer, his voice a harsh whisper. “Killing her. It’s the only way.”

“No! I don’t want to kill anyone. I don’t want any blood on my hands,” I protested, my heart pounding.

“This is the only way. If you want to keep your family, your son, and me out of here, you have to do this,” he insisted.

I shook my head, my resolve hardening. “No, Vishal. We just want her out of our lives, not dead. That’s too much.”

He scoffed. “You think you can get rid of her any other way? Can’t you see what she’s doing? Before you lose control of our whole family, you need to think about this. Come back tomorrow with a decision, and I’ll help you with the plan to execute it.”

Back home, I felt the weight of my decision pressing down on me. I watched as everyone gathered for dinner. “Preeta and Ramesh would also like to have the food that Amina cooks,” I said, trying to assert some control.

The father-in-law smiled warmly. “Me too, my daughter. I love the food Amina prepares.”

I felt a pang of isolation as everyone enjoyed Amina’s cooking. She had prepared five different dishes from Africa and five from India. The aromas filled the house, a blend of spices and flavors that made my mouth water. But I couldn’t bring myself to eat. Instead, I had the helpers serve me separately.

African Dishes:

Jollof Rice - A vibrant one-pot rice dish with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and spices.
Kuku Paka - An African-Indian coconut chicken curry with a rich, spiced tomato sauce.
Egusi Soup - A hearty West African soup made with ground melon seeds, leafy greens, and meat.
Fufu - A starchy side made from cassava, yams, or plantains, perfect for dipping into soups.
Bunny Chow - A South African dish of hollowed-out bread filled with spicy curry.
Indian Dishes:

Butter Chicken - Tender chicken in a creamy tomato sauce.
Paneer Tikka - Grilled paneer cubes marinated in spices.
Biryani - A fragrant rice dish with layers of spiced meat and saffron.
Samosas - Crispy pastry filled with spiced potatoes and peas.
Gulab Jamun - Sweet, deep-fried dough balls soaked in syrup.
That night, as I lay in bed, I couldn’t sleep. My husband and I had a heated argument.

“Why are you always defending her?” I snapped.

“Because she’s part of this family now, and she’s done nothing but good for us,” he replied, his voice firm.

“You’ve never talked against me like this in all these years. Now, just because of this girl, you’re voicing out,” I said, feeling betrayed.

“Maybe it’s time someone did. You’re losing control, Aisha. You need to see that,” he said, his words cutting deep.

The next morning, I went back to the jail to see Vishal. “I’m ready. I want to get rid of the girl right away. Just help me do it so that no one finds out.”

Vishal nodded, a sinister smile spreading across his face. “Here’s the plan. We’ll kidnap her and take her to the old bridge. We’ll tie a rope around her legs with a heavy metal ball attached. When we push her off, she’ll fall into the river and won’t be able to swim to the surface.”