Chapter 21
There was crying. Ishwari opened her eyes and looked over at the baby monitor that sat on the stand next to her. Ajay was up a lot sooner than she had wanted him to be. She turned her head to find the bed empty beside her. Pagan must have got up early to finish the paperwork from last night. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and stretching. She could hear voices coming from the office. Pagan and Yuma's voices were clear, but there was another.
She went to get up from bed and almost instantly felt the sickening feeling in her stomach. She barely made it to the toilet in the bathroom, kneeling down in front of it. She was growing tired of this feeling. She eventually finished up and cleaned off her face before remembering that Ajay was still crying on the monitor. She returned to the room to change into some appropriate clothes. She slowly opened the wooden doors leading into the office, not enjoying the fact that she was disturbing the meeting that Pagan was in. Instantly she caught a glimpse of Yuma, who like always, was giving her a dirty look. Ishwari looked past Yuma to see a tall, well dressed man standing next to her.
"Ishwari dear! Good morning!" Pagan smiled upon standing up and walking over to her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Did you sleep okay?"
"Yes." Ishwari replied, still looking over at the unfamiliar man in the room.
Pagan noticed Ishwari looking at his guest. "Ah, yes! Where are my manners? This is Willis Huntley. He's from America and he has access to better guns for royal soldiers."
Willis made his way to Ishwari, holding out his hand for her to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am."
Ishwari held out her hand, accepting the hand shake. "umm, same to you." She couldn't figure out why Pagan needed the help of an American, but she didn't bother to question it, especially since Yuma was in the room and would go on about how it wasn't any of her business. Unsure of what else she was supposed to say, she turned her attention to Pagan. "I was just going to get Ajay, so we can get some breakfast."
Pagan smiled back at her. "That sounds like a splendid idea. Mr. Huntley would you care to join us for some breakfast."
Willis answered almost immediately. "Breakfast sounds great right about now."
Ishwari looked over towards Yuma, who did not look the slightest bit pleased that their meeting was being cut short.
"Yuma, would you mind showing Mr. Huntley to the dinning hall? Breakfast should already be prepared and on the table. I'm going to walk and help Ishwari with Ajay. We'll meet you in there." Pagan stated as he placed his hand on Ishwari's back and urged her out of the office into the hallway. Yuma and Willis followed into the hall, walking in the opposite direction that Pagan and Ishwari were now headed.
Pagan let out a sigh. "I"m so glad you walked in when you did. I absolutely dread meetings, and Yuma has been making me attend a lot of them lately."
"What for?" Ishwari asked.
Pagan looked over at her. "She thinks we need additional help in the fight against the golden path." Pagan grabbed Ishwari's hand and stopped in the middle of the hall. He raised his hand and placed it on her cheek. "Ishwari, you look pale. Are you feeling okay."
Ishwari widened her eyes, surprised that Pagan had taken notice of her condition. She reached up and took his hand that he had placed on her cheek. "I'm fine. I just haven't been feeling well the past few days."
Pagan furrowed his brow. "I see. I'll have Shanna watch Ajay today then. I want you to rest."
Ishwari didn't bother to protest, knowing that to Pagan there was nothing more important than her and Ajay's health. Agreeing to Pagan's suggestion, they continued down the hall and entered into Ajay's room. Ajay still had tears running down his face, but gained a smile when he saw Pagan, whom he hadn't seen in a few days.
Ajay threw is tiny hands in the air. "Daddy!"
Pagan smiled at the small boy, he claimed to be his son. "There's the prince of Kyrat!" He reached in and picked Ajay up, hugging him tight. Pagan eventually pulled away from Ajay's embrace. "Are you ready for some food?"
Ajay looked at Pagan and giggled. "Yea!"
Pagan smiled at Ajay and then turned his attention to Ishwari. "Well, you heard the boy, lets go get some food."
They walked into the dinning area to find that Yuma and Huntley had already filled their plates and begun eating. Pagan walked over and sat Ajay in his high chair. "Ishwari, you go ahead and get your breakfast. I'll get Ajay's food."
Ishwari watched Pagan and couldn't help but smile. If she was pregnant, Pagan would make a great father. "Thank you."
"Your welcome dear." Pagan said, cutting up a waffle into tiny pieces for Ajay.
Once Pagan had Ajay's plate ready and set in front of him, he made himself a plate and sat down. Ishwari felt slightly out of place, because they decided to continue the meeting. They discussed about payment for the guns that Huntley had promised and expected delivery dates. Since Ishwari wasn't joined in on the conversation, she managed to finish her food before the others. She stood up and walked over to Ajay who was just finishing his meal as well.
Pagan looked over at Ishwari. "Just take him to Shanna and tell her I want her to watch him today. I want you to go and rest dear."
Ishwari nodded. "Okay I will." She picked Ajay up and left the room walking towards a lobby that Shanna should be cleaning around this time of day. Now being child free, Ishwari took advantage of the free time and returned to the room to relax and read more of her book.
She opened her eyes and looked around the room. She must have drifted off while reading. She looked over at the small clock that sat next to the bed stand. It was already two in the afternoon. She couldn't hear any noise coming from the office doors so she assumed that Pagan, Yuma, and Huntley weren't in there. Knowing that she wouldn't be disturbing them, she got out of bed and walked to the office doors, opening them up. Her assumption was right. They were no where in sight. She walked through the office and proceeded through the golden doors that lead into the hallway. Normally she would have gone in search of her son to take him off Shanna's hands, but she decided that another hour wouldn't hurt. She turned and began heading in the direction of the exit, wanting to go outside for some fresh air.
She stepped into the courtyard and took a deep breath. It was just what she needed after being cooped up inside all day. She looked over towards the path that lead up to the servant cabin. She had come along way since when she first got here. It was hard to believe that she went from walking down to the palace every morning and slave away cleaning to living in the palace, spoiled by the king of Kyrat. She walked over to a shady spot under a tree and sat down. She closed her eyes and took in all the sounds of nature, from water flowing in the near by creek to the sounds of birds chirping.
"You seem rather at peace for there being a war going on."
Ishwari opened her eyes to find Mr. Huntley standing in front of her. She couldn't figure out why he was there and not inside with Pagan and Yuma. "It's much more calm up here than it is in the rest of Kyrat. Shouldn't you be in a meeting?"
Willis let out a small chuckle. "Yes I should be in a meeting, but I told them I was going to the restroom, which I was, but I saw you walking down the hallway and I needed to talk to you about something in private."
Ishwari tilted her head to the side. "Why do you need to talk to me? You don't even know me."
Willis smiled at her. "Ah, but I do know you. You're the wife of Mohan Ghale. At least you used to be, doesn't really seem like your his wife anymore."
Ishwari's eyes widened. How does he know about her or her husband. Willis saw the surprise in her eyes and began speaking again. "Listen, I'm going to trust you and tell you my little secret. I'm helping the golden path as well as the royal army."
"Why?" Ishwari questioned.
"Because I don't care who's side I'm on, as long as I benefit from it." Willis explained.
"Is this the reason you needed to talk to me?" Ishwari asked confused.
Willis smiled once again. "Not entirely. I'm looking for something I can't get on my own and I think you can help me get it. In return I will give you anything you want."
"What are you looking for." Ishwari asked.
"Somewhere Pagan Min should have a list of names. Names of other CIA agents that have been helping him unauthorized. He's keeping it hid somewhere, because if those names get out, those people will be prosecuted and he will no longer have their help. It's like I said before, if you help me, I'll help you."
Ishwari shook her head. "Unfortunately for you I already have everything I need, so I'm sorry. I can't help you." She stood up. She was done talking to this two sided CIA agent. "I have to go get my son. You have a good day." As she went to walk past him, he grabbed her arm.
"I understand. I can't force you to help me, but would you at least take this." He held out a business card, giving it to Ishwari. "As long as you keep this little conversation confidential, my offer will remain on the table. And if you do happen to change your mind, my number is on the card. Now if you'd excuse me, I have a meeting to get back to." He turned and without looking back, walked back into the palace.
Ishwari stood there and looked down at the card. Should she tell Pagan about what Willis had said? If she did then the offer would be forever gone, not that she needed it. She sighed and stuck it into the pocket of the skirt she was wearing. Maybe she shouldn't tell him about it, just in case, by some off chance she would need it.
Ishwari met up with Shanna to take Ajay off her hands. She spent the most of the day in the library searching for new books that caught her eye and playing with her son. By the time seven rolled around they headed to the dinning room for dinner. Pagan had already moved his meeting back to his office so it was just her and Ajay eating. After dinner, Ishwari took Ajay to one of the spare bathrooms to give him a bath, so she wouldn't have to walk through the office anymore than she had to. She played with Ajay a little more before she put him to bed for the night.
By the time she made it back to the golden doors that lead into Pagan office it was quiet. She slowly opened the door to find Pagan by himself, reading some paperwork.
"Did your guest leave?" She asked him.
He looked up, his eyes heavy. "Yea, he left a little while ago."
"And Yuma?" Ishwari grumbled.
Pagan let out a small laugh. "She has already went to bed. Don't worry. She's leaving first thing in the morning."
That statement made Ishwari smile. "Good. I have something I need to talk to you about after she leaves. Until then, would you like to come to bed with me?"
Pagan smiled. "That sounds like a fantastic idea." He stood up from his chair and together they walked into the kings bedroom.
