With Love, from India

By Jodhaa Bali

This is a love story of two people who have been separated for lifetimes. They meet again in a synchronistic way. Is it fate or destiny? Once they meet they fall in love almost at first sight. They have a difficult time reconciling their reunion. They each intuit that they have known each other from a past life, perhaps many past lives.

The couple are professionals, one a doctor and the other a psychotherapist. He is Hindu and she is a blue eyed blonde, an American. Their union in the physical appears unlikely. Due to their past life connection, she is right in step with him and they are instantly attracted to each other. They both have strong intuitive faculties and they are mature enough to take things slowly and to seek out confirmation every step of the way. They also have guidance from higher powers than their own.

The universe has a plan for them. Once they learn what it is, it is unconventional and they must find the inner strength and faith to cooperate and fulfill their destiny as Twin Flames. The story unfolds as the two of them face the challenges, criticisms and judgements of others. The importance of family and faith are crucial to their success. Will they fulfill their divine plan and win their union in eternity is the question they must answer, not only for themselves but for the fate of others.

The reunion of this pair of Twin Flames is crucial to a legacy they will leave behind in this life paving the way for the Aquarian Age and a Golden Age of Enlightenment. Their union is a union of enlightened man and woman and what that looks like for the marriage made in heaven that all of us desire. Namaste.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jan 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9798350933925

Book preview

I

Marie

He said that when he first saw her in his office for an exam that he had an inner excitement, like seeing someone he had known a long, long time ago and now, here again, he is meeting her right here in his office! Of course, being a surgeon, he could not expose his emotions and show them to her—so, he kept silent and went on with the work of being a doctor. He would see her often enough until the operation. She did not have the same immediate recognition. She was a little nervous about the pending operation. She did select him as her surgeon intuiting as well as researching his expertise. Of course, upon meeting him she liked him. He is from India, very handsome, very steady, and quietly self-assured. She was a blonde, blue-eyed American with an extensive past life in Hinduism which she explored in this life for over ten years. She had learned how to meditate at a Hindu ashram in New York, chanting in Sanskrit which seemed familiar to her somehow and practicing Hatha Yoga. She created meditation and yoga classes in her town. She did not reveal her familiarity with Hinduism to her good doctor immediately. There’s time, she thought to herself. I’ll tell him at the right time, and, hmmm, I wonder if he is married, or gay?

And so, they had more visits in preparation for her knee replacement surgery in June. Both Dr. Rajeesh and Marie kept their doctor-patient relationship professional. Dr. Rajeesh could not shake his feelings, how do I know her? I feel such a strong connection. Immediately he would dismiss these thoughts he is a busy surgeon with his patients uppermost in his mind.

The day came for Marie’s surgery. Dr. Rajeesh marked her left knee as the surgical knee, as he usually does, with the Sanskrit word OM. When she got home to recover and discovered it, she could hardly believe her eyes. She decided that now she would tell him that she has a sincere devotion to the Hindu deities whom she prays to daily. How would she do this? On a soul level, she recognized him, again, meeting for the first time in this life.

Marie spent the summer recovering. There was physical therapy and she had to plan now for her next surgery on her right hip in December. Work resumed at the high school where she was a counselor in August. She would see Dr. Rajeesh sometime in the fall in preparation for the hip surgery.

In October, the day came to revisit Dr. Rajeesh for her exam for hip surgery. On her calendar she saw that in October and early November this year, was the time of celebration for Diwali, the festival of Lights in India. Marie always kept track of the Hindu festivals she attended while she toured in India. Here was an opportunity to open the subject. So, she asked him, Dr. Rajeesh, Happy Diwali! Do you celebrate? He was surprised and smiled, Well, no, I’m married to an American, so we don’t…but my parents do of course… and he trailed off. Marie interjected, I studied Hinduism for over ten years. I practice yoga and I pray, chant, to all your deities. He raised his eyebrows, comprehending and smiling. She continued, Well, thank you, Doctor, see you soon. The doctor replied yes, you have surgery scheduled in December for your right hip, so I look forward to seeing you again. My staff will be in touch with you for pre-surgery exams," Dr. Rajeesh acknowledged, and they parted for now.

He watched this pretty lady leave, staying behind to allow the impact of her confession about being part of the Hindu community impact him. A piece of the puzzle, he thought, is it possible? Are we meeting now because we possibly knew each other in a past life? And why? Why now? He had to stop this reverie about Marie. It would return to him in quiet moments, in stillness at night, and in bed before sleep. Who is she? And why have we met? These questions went out to the Universe to answer.

II

Past Lives

So, as he slept, the answers began to come. Ask and you shall receive, knock and the door will be opened, did not the Christ promise?

There is a dimension of reality that most of us are unaware. Marie knows this dimension very well, as she lives it daily during her meditation. As a psychotherapist she is an advanced intuitive and can stop on a dime, go into stillness, and receive the message and instruction she requires for herself and her patients. This is the fifth dimension that is accessible to all of us when we sleep and dream. Our spirits go here for instruction and guidance, even prophecy for our lives depending on our sensitivity and an open heart to receive this information from a higher realm. Faith in God and a Creator is essential. If you do not believe or trust in God or a Creator, remember to ask and you will receive, knock and the door will be opened.

And so, Dr. Rajeesh in his sleep was shown by his guardian angel, the past life he shared with Marie. They were of an ancient Hindu lineage and married young, he, age 14 and she, age 13. That was the custom at the time as people only lived into their forties or fifty’s. They had five children and all of them attained the highest degree of spirituality; all of them were now considered saints, Ascended Masters and angels. Dr. Rajeesh and Marie lived to an old age in that life, and they also were offered the opportunity to make their Ascension, meaning that they would never have to reincarnate on Earth or any planet and suffer embodiment again. The choice they made was to return to embodiment as Bodhisattvas, at the darkest time to planet Earth, now in the present, to enlighten humanity. As Bodhisattvas, they would serve as healers and teachers. Dr. Rajeesh chose healing as a doctor, and Marie as a teacher of the arts and later she studied Jungian depth psychology and became a psychotherapist, healing through spirituality and yoga in the 21st Century.

They came into embodiment in this modern world, Dr. Rajeesh in Delhi, India to his Hindu family, reincarnated. Marie was born into her Ukrainian family in Chicago, IL. Dr. Rajeesh got a scholarship to Northwestern University in Evanston, IL to become an engineer and studying robotics, he became an orthopedic surgeon using robotics to assist surgery. He was at the forefront of this inventive process in medicine practicing in Chicago.

Marie moved around as a child from Chicago at age seven living in Omaha, Nebraska where she went to high school, then moved to North Carolina where she graduated in Art Education and taught in the public schools. In North Carolina she found her Hindu path again. For over ten years she studied Siddha Yoga at an Ashram in New York. After, she married briefly, divorced then moved to a modern spiritual community in the West. She left the Catholic Church behind, intuiting that there was a higher path that the church did not offer. She was a yogini, an enlightened fully realized being, in her past life. She had attained enlightenment and knew the path of the Ascension which included reincarnation and the law of karma, the law of cause and effect. She knew one had to balance at least 51% of their karma to make their Ascension. She was at or near this when she met Dr. Rajeesh. She was close to Mother Mary and Jesus Christ due to her Catholic upbringing and accepted all saints of East and West.

Marie never had children. Marie was an incarnated angel of Mother Mary’s bands. Angels, like Marie do not possess discrimination and this was a problem with men. She fell in love too easily. If a man told her he loved her she felt an obligation to try to love him back and fiercely so, staying too long in the relationship, long suffering. This was the bane of her life. She had a few deep and long relationships, one very deep love, and one more failed marriage and no children. She swore that she was done with marriage.

Now Marie was thirty-nine and Dr. Sumeet Rajeesh age forty when they met again in a town near Chicago. Sumeet was married, as he said, to an American woman. He was by nature much more intelligent and conservative in his relationships with women. Not easily seduced, his relationships prior to marriage were primarily for companionship. He was in no hurry to settle down as his career was his overriding commitment. Careful and cautious to never mislead a woman or get too entangled, love and marriage was on the back burner.

Then, after medical school, he met his wife, Eve. Lovely, intelligent, mutual careers and she asked him to get married with the caveat that she did not want children as her career also as a physician, was her all-consuming interest in a life of service. At the time, Sumeet agreed. They had been married now ten years, when he met Marie.

Now in the deep sleep of this life review in the fifth dimension, Sumeet Rajeesh became conscious of all that was about to change in his life and Marie’s life and his wife’s forever. He did not have the whole story yet, and he knew that all of this was in his and Marie’s life plan as well as his wife’s destiny. If he looked at each of their natal charts the astrology would confirm that now was a pivotal moment in each of their lives.

He received an overwhelming sense of peace and love all around him, reassuring him that all is well, not to be afraid of this relationship with Marie and their mutual destinies. He also knew this change of life was in the near future.

III

Dr. Rajeesh

His body stirred in the glow of sunrise peeking through his bedroom window. He awoke, showered, changed into scrubs to meet today’s patient for surgery at the hospital. Unusually quiet…, thought his wife. He said good-bye to Eve, …have a good day, and he left the house.

Marie was still at home recovering from surgery. She had to take medications, which she detested because they were opioids for pain in small doses and only for a month or so, yet she had to sleep so she took them out of necessity. It gave her much time to study, help her Aquarian age community build centers of Light in the United States, read, eat and sleep.

Thoughts of great gratitude for Dr. Rajeesh washed over her consciousness from time to time as she nursed her knee. She smiled as the permanent marker of the OM signature on her knee began to fade. In her innermost being she loved him – yes, she loved Dr. Rajeesh, period. She was beyond the need to date, co-habit, and marry again. It was enough that she met him. He was her brilliant, talented surgeon and she would see him again if not in this dimension, then certainly in the fifth. She was sure that they have been meeting in their spiritual bodies. Why? She would learn soon enough. She trusted in the process that their divine plans would work out.

August rolled around and Marie started back to work in the high school, counseling students in crisis. She had an assignment for Dr. Rajeesh. She would ask him to create a football helmet that would protect players from concussions. This was on her mind as she had counseled a teenager who got a concussion playing football recently. It truly upset her to see this youth suffer. Dr. Rajeesh was an engineer as well as an orthopedic surgeon. She would ask him to do this next time they met. She made a mental note.

Every thought of Dr. Rajeesh was filled with love, joy, and gratitude. She intuited without difficulty that they knew each other from a past life. She did not require knowing any more that that right now, as she had many encounters with people from past lives. She did not know if a destiny lay ahead for her and Dr. Rajeesh. Besides, he was married, and decorum insisted she leave it alone. No, their relationship was purely doctor-patient and professional.

Winter months were approaching, and Marie was healing nicely. She made an appointment with Dr. Rajeesh for her hip surgery in December as she could take almost six weeks off holiday time from work to heal. Dr. Rajeesh again experienced excitement and anxiousness as the appointment with Marie neared. Marie was a little tired and excited to see Dr. Rajeesh and looked forward to the miracle of hip surgery so she could walk, dance, swim and enjoy life again. Marie was a highly active teen and young adult participating in dance, ballet, skiing, golf, tennis, and as a result her left knee and right hip were basically worn out. Plus, she was experiencing arthritis pain, the surgeries were necessary to enjoy an active life again.

Dr. Rajeesh knocked and came in the exam room. Warm brown eyes and his engaging smile met her gaze. Hi, Dr. Rajeesh. How are you Marie, I was waiting to see you… where did that come from, he wondered, waiting? Oh, she replied a little surprised. Then Dr. Rajeesh went into doctor mode examining her, but he could not brush the butterflies away in his stomach. He arranged for an x-ray, talked to the nurse, and set the date for surgery a week before Christmas. One last glance at Marie, Do you have any questions for me? (He was hoping she wanted to talk to him some more, about anything.) No, I’m good, thanks doctor. I’ll see you in December. Too nervous to bring up football helmets she let it go. Call me anytime, he replied, wondering what he meant by that! Again, she was taken aback, her intuition telling her that the good doctor was hiding something, something he could not say right now. She smiled brightly at him as he nervously picked up her chart and left the room.

Two weeks before Marie’s surgery Dr. Rajeesh started to get lucid dreams about her from the fifth dimension. He saw her beautiful, young, around eighteen, blonde, blue-eyed, tall and strong and lithe. She was a ballet dancer, a beautiful dancer on a stage. In another dream, she was older, a mother with a newborn child. He wondered who the father was. Wait, behind her was a man, her husband he assumed, but he could not see his face. He fell into a deeper reverie, then out of nowhere was an internal voice. Yes, Sumeet Rajeesh, it is you, you are the father. I represent God the Father and your Shakti Mother-God. We have come to tell you about your destiny with Marie. You and she are to create a child. Neither one of you has fulfilled this assignment in your present lifetime in your relationships on Earth. You have been chosen to do this at this time because the Earth requires the great Light that this child will bear. Then it was over, the Being stopped talking. He slept deep and hard until the alarm went off.

His wife had already left for work. He was alone. He got to his feet, went to the bathroom, and splashed cold water on his face. Checking the time, he saw today was a slow day, no appointments til 10:00 a.m. at the office. He showered and shaved, put on clean clothes, and went to the kitchen for hot tea and toast. He sat down at the table and contemplated the words he heard last night and Marie.

Somehow, it made sense, not to his logical mind of course, but to his heart. You and she are to create a child. How could he do this? He is married, what will his wife do, say? Will she divorce him for having an affair and a child?

He wondered if Marie got the same message, and how much did she know? He decided it was a wait and see situation. He would speak to no one about this. Meditate, pray ask for more guidance and trust it will come. He left for the office.

A few days before surgery he decided to call Marie, just call her out of the blue for no specific reason, a check-up, that’s all. She saw it was him calling on her cell phone. She picked up, Hello doctor. Hello Marie, how are you? I’m well, thank you. Good, good, he replied. Do you have any questions about surgery?

No, replied Marie, I understand the surgery will be manual, not robotic, whatever you think is best, I trust you. Okay, good, he replied. Is there anything else? he asked.

She knew there was something else on his mind. No, I will see you December 15 at the hospital, she confirmed. I’m ready to get this done, finally. He replied, Ok Marie, have a good day.

Marie wondered what he was hiding from her, an intimate secret concerning his feelings for her. He could not say them aloud, risking his reputation. She decided to meditate and tonight during sleep she would go to her guides on the fifth dimension for an explanation.

IV

The Fifth Dimension

She prayed and meditated, took a bath, and crawled into bed asking her angel, Michael, an Archangel, to escort her to the retreat of the Ascended Master Akbar in the Himalayas. She arrived in her spirit body. Akbar explained everything to her, the decree to have a child with Dr. Rajeesh. No matter his or her age, this was a fifth-dimension impregnation. It would not interfere with Dr. Rajeesh’s marriage unless his wife could not accept it. He need not ask for a divorce if he wanted to stay married. He was only under obligation to support, teach, guide, love and serve Marie and their child. His wife’s guides were preparing her at this time to hear and accept the news from Dr. Rajeesh without judgement. Akbar said, It is all a matter of free will choice. Marie understood completely. She wondered if Mrs. Rajeesh would understand.

She arose from sleep recalling the conversation with Akbar, her Guru. She was evolved enough to not start over thinking the situation with Dr. Rajeesh, his wife and the baby. She knew to work on her complete surrender to the will of God and to remain in a calm, meditative state. She knew that she would be prompted to speak in time. She simply prepared for surgery on the 15th of December.

One more pre-surgical exam with Dr. Rajeesh was scheduled. She thought it odd because they were so close to the 15th, and he just saw her. Nevertheless, she went to his office.

She was escorted to the exam room, waited, and waited, twenty minutes now passed, and she was getting really bored, so she went into meditation. A knock on the door and Dr. Rajeesh entered. Grinning ear to ear, flashing his great smile, he greeted her, Hi, Marie. So, we’re all set, I’ll do the manual surgery, it will be a faster healing with less scarring. Ok, doctor, good, replied Marie still wondering why she was here again. He sat on a little exam stool and wheeled over to her, looking intently into her eyes, Marie…, and he could not find the words. Marie intuited what he could not say, I know doctor. We are to be parents. In a past life we lived as husband and wife with five children together. Our destinies are entwined, now. Do not worry or be afraid. We are being guided and anytime you require guidance, just ask.

Dr. Rajeesh was taken aback at how self-assured Marie was and how her story confirmed his account. His mind still not comprehending it all, he asked her, What should I do? My wife…. Marie put her hand on his arm. Doctor, you will know the right time. It is her decision what to do. You need not divorce; this is a onetime deal, and we can do artificial insemination, it need not be a physical encounter, however, the angels and Mother Mary prefer it be physical because it is more heartfelt; it’s more difficult by insemination and may take several tries, not to mention the expense.

Dr. Rajeesh digested this and was slightly relieved. Now, Doctor, say nothing until you feel moved to speak of this to Eve. You will be prompted to tell her at the right time.

Dr. Rajeesh thought that this was enough for now. He would do the surgery and then Marie would be home after the 15th and in recovery over the Christmas holiday and he would see her soon after again for a post-surgery exam. Maybe things will get clearer, he hoped.

The operation was successful, better than he expected. Marie was discharged home the same day in some pain yet happy to be able to be home. Her neighbor and friend Kitty helped her out at home with a few chores and errands. After a few weeks she returned to Dr. Rajeesh’s office for the post-surgical exam.

I’m happy to see you Marie, he smiled with his warm brown eyes. Good to see you too doctor, Marie replied. Please call me Sumeet that is my name. Marie was pleased, Sumeet, she repeated softly under her breath. He examined the surgical site and was pleased with the healing process. He looked at Marie intently, Marie, I have to talk to you about us. I want to take you to dinner, maybe after New Year’s Eve when you are moving around a little better? Marie answered, Yes, of course Sumeet.

He was pleased that Marie was receptive without too much discussion. This was not the place. In a couple of weeks, he would arrange to have a long discussion with her at dinner.

V

Breaking News

Right after New Year’s Eve, in the interval, before seeing Marie for dinner, Sumeet had an opportune moment to approach his wife. They had been estranged from each other for over a year. No one knew this, not even their parents or best friends. They were both very tight lipped about their private lives. Unfortunately, they were one of those couples who allow disputes and differences to slide by without addressing them until silence looms over a dysfunctional relationship. Time and time again, Marie as a psychotherapist, warned her clients to address the little things before they became destructive to intimacy. This is exactly what happened to Sumeet and his wife, Eve. Neither one was inclined to rock the boat, they lived in a lonely marriage. Each of them knew it was over, long before now. In the last few months, they hardly spoke, no intimacy, no sex, no communication.

Eve approached Sumeet over breakfast in the kitchen. She told Sumeet that she felt their marriage was at an end. He was surprised and then again, he was not. He said that he had something to tell her. He proceeded to tell her about meeting Marie, their past life together and the direction to have a child with her. His wife listened to him without interrupting. I understand, she said stoically. Then, we will divorce, the words finally coming out. I do not intend to be ‘aunty’ to your child. You need to be there for them, you are the father. It’s ok, she sighed. I’ll be fine. Congratulations Sumeet, she said graciously. Sumeet’s Thank you, stuck in his throat.

Now, that is over, he was so relieved, a ton of burden off his shoulders. Everything was falling into place, easily, just as Marie promised. He could not wait to see her.

For the first time in years, he felt his heartbeat, open, joyous looking forward to a new life again, like a young man, about to be a father! Overjoyed, he did not want to express this to his wife, so he left the kitchen and went to his study to call Marie.

He arranged to meet her for dinner at Antonio’s, a fine Italian restaurant where they could talk. Marie, still recovering and a bit stiff, she fretted over her dress and shoes until finally, with the help of Kitty, she was able to pull herself together. Not bad, she thought as she examined herself in the mirror. Kitty helped her to the car with her cane. Marie got settled and drove herself to the restaurant in town.

Sumeet arrived early, picking out a secluded table by the back wall. He ordered a drink and looked over the menu. Marie came in escorted by the host. Sumeet noticed how lovely she was and stood up, pulled out her chair and offered her a drink before dinner. She ordered a chardonnay. Sumeet, she noticed, had changed. Examining him she observed a lighter spirit, lighthearted, happy even. She had never seen him happy before! She commented, You’re happy!

Sumeet confirmed openly, Yes, yes, I am, Marie! You were so right, my wife, my wife and I have been estranged for over a year, no intimacy, no sex, nothing. She even brought it up first, then I told her about you and us, and the baby. Somehow she understood. We’re getting a divorce. Marie studied him intently using her clinical skills. She intuited that this was all true and he was free and happy about it.

Marie had to resist the temptation to overwhelm him with their future, so she just smiled at him, touched his hand, and held up her glass in a toast. They clinked glasses and drank. They ordered dinner and shared stories about their lives avoiding any serious plans about the future the where and when they would consummate their relationship to have a child or use artificial insemination.

Marie drove home, thankful that Sumeet was free to become a father; that his wife accepted the divorce, and that she, Marie was now able to heal her body and prepare for motherhood. How? When? Her mind began to over think. She reined it in, took a few deep breaths and repeated her mantra all the way home. She got out of the car, went inside, made chamomile tea, and meditated before bed.

Dr. Rajeesh drove home. He checked to see if his wife was home. She was not home, probably at the hospital—yes, he checked his messages, Eve was at the hospital with patients. She texted, Use the guest room and he did. Where should I live? It occurred to him that he should move out soon. He and his wife would be cordial, civil. Eve is a decent person, he reasoned. She can have the house or sell it and we can split the profit. She has always kept and invested her own money. His money was separate from hers as well. They shared a roof, little else. They both knew this marriage was over.

Excited, yet tired, Dr. Rajeesh showered and tucked himself into bed. Alone, finally blissfully alone. I can now design a whole new life – a father, a husband, he asked himself. Should I marry her? It would be the right thing to do; he could hear his father’s voice. I am not ready to commit, not until I know Marie better, past lives don’t count. I already blew it with Eve, I do not want to rush into marriage with Marie and she doesn’t expect it. Wait and see, he told himself, wait and see and he drifted off to sleep.

VI

Divine Guidance

One night Marie went in her spirit body to the fifth dimension, this time to the retreat of Mother Mary at Fatima, France. Archangel Gabriel, Archangel Raphael, and Mother Mary greeted her and began to instruct her on her preparation for birth. Mother Mary said it would be a son, … a reincarnation of your middle, second child from your past life with Sumeet; brilliant, creative, a loving soul. He will do great things, said Mother Mary. Sumeet is key. You as his mother will nurture and sustain his spiritual life. Marie asked when they should consummate this. Gabriel studied the astrology of the three of them and said in less than a month’s time, February 5th. The child will be born in November, a Scorpio Sun, highly spiritual, mystical. Raphael smiled and said, We will be with him always as his tutors and on the inner he will be guided all the days of his life. Bless you and Sumeet Rajeesh.

That is all Marie needed to know. She would talk to Sumeet, give him the date so he would prepare and now all would be set. Sumeet texted her the very next day. I have to buy a condo or something. I need to move out. How are you? Any news? Marie texted back, We should meet, are you available? He looked over his schedule, Yes, Saturday afternoon, ok? Marie answered, Come over to my house, here is the address and directions. Ok, Sumeet signed off.

Each of them breezed through the work week. Marie was still working full time, busy at the high school, even though she was still recovering from surgery. Saturday arrived; Sumeet dressed casually. He drove out to the country about twenty-five miles from the city to a village where Marie lived. This was a lovely little rural village in the middle of the cornfields of Illinois, noticeably quiet, and very safe and peaceful. Where else would a woman like Marie live, quiet, and meditative, with beauty and nature all around her. She radiated these qualities. His heart skipped a beat. It’s like coming home, his inner voice said. Smiling, he rang the doorbell and knocked. She opened the door and leaned into him for a quick hug and pat on the shoulder, we’re family after all, she thought. He stepped in and she escorted him to her dining table laden with tea, cakes, a salad of lentils and buttered chapatis, an Indian bread she made fresh for him this morning. She had coffee as she preferred. She poured his tea and gave him a plate to serve himself as he wished.

How was your week? Marie inquired. He briefly described it. Are you healing, any pain? Sumeet asked. I’m doing really well with physical therapy. Good, great! he replied. He sipped his tea, took a chapati and salad, and began to enjoy this repast. As he ate, he could hardly believe what she said, Archangels, Mother Mary. He knew in his soul that Marie was true and this, no matter how strange to a scientific man like himself, was the truth. He repeated back to her, … so February 5th is the day we are to conceive? Yes, Marie affirmed, that is, if you agree to a physical conception rather than insemination. Alright, said Sumeet, I will clear my day. Where… and he trailed off embarrassed, stopped and looked at Marie. She finished his thought, Here, if you don’t mind. Sumeet agreed, Yes, of course, perfect."

To anyone else, this arrangement would seem odd if not completely untenable. Marie and Sumeet were clinicians, as well as highly evolved spiritually. Creating a child, even though it involved the intimacy of sexual union, was for each of them an opportunity to serve God and a higher mystical purpose. They were clinicians, and they could do this as mature consenting adults. It was only a one-time deal and then they could move on with their individual lives, or so they thought for the time being. They knew in their hearts that they were one, even if right now it was hard to admit. This was a union of heart and soul and admittedly, they were attracted to each other.

Sumeet turned to a lighter subject. I need to move, so I’m looking for a condo, a house, it has to be close to the hospital. Marie offered, Need any help? Sumeet continued, I’d like you to see it, you know, approve it for the safety of our child, our son…. He suddenly realized that this was the first time he said, …our son, my son. Marie felt his overwhelm and they fell silent together. Tears in both their eyes, Marie wiped one from her eyes, I have two words for you, No Stairs! She giggled and Sumeet laughed out loud, releasing the tension of the moment. Slapping the table, he said, Ok, no, no, no stairs, of course! I’m glad you said that I will look for a one level, single family home, a ranch? Yes, that would be great! replied Marie. She gave him a flirtatious wink and a thumb’s up. In her heart she loved this man. It was the better part of wisdom not to tell him until he was ready to hear it. Not now, not now, she calmed herself.

They discussed their living arrangements. Sumeet would have Marie and the baby when he was free to be home, most weekends and holidays. Marie with the baby would remain living in her townhome in the country the rest of the week.

Sumeet enjoyed the desserts and more tea. He asked her who her ob-gyn was, and he knew her doctor. He said she was excellent. Anything you want or need, I will get for you, I hope you know that. I will hire a nurse to relieve you and me during work hours – if you plan on working…. Marie shook her head, No, I plan to be with our son. Sumeet said, I will support you then financially, just give me your expenses and I’ll give it to my accountant who will make auto deposits to your account. Marie replied, Sumeet, I will work up until my delivery and use ten or so days off using my sick days prior to the delivery date; that way I keep my insurance to pay for the birth and I will get two months paid maternity leave, then I will resign. Sumeet said, Only if you want to work. I can pay for everything including the hospital bills out of pocket. I am a very wealthy doctor, Marie – My family and I have over a few million dollars in assets, cash, gold and investments. We will never lack for anything. I am very blessed. My parents will be thrilled. They have no idea. And, your parents, where are they? Marie replied, O, they’ve passed on years ago, no immediate family, everyone has passed on, my oldest sister and a younger brother. I have cousins scattered around the world; I am mostly estranged from anyone in my family. I moved around all my life and had very little contact with relatives, so it goes, I guess, expressed Marie. I have my spiritual family who support me in every way here and in the fifth dimension. I am never alone or lonely.

Sumeet took all this in. Well, you know us Indians, I have a brother here who is married with three children, two sisters, cousins, grandparents, aunties, uncles--most are in India. They will all want to meet you and our son. Soon enough! Sumeet gathered himself, stood up and gave Marie a big hug, this time, no shyness anymore. Marie embraced him warmly in return. Sumeet left, running their conversation through his head as he drove home.

VII

Home Sweet Home

In January and the weeks that followed, Sumeet’s wife filed for divorce. They agreed to sell their house and split any profits. Sumeet found a lovely four-bedroom, five full bath home, 6,136 square feet, around two million dollars. It is an elegant home, a glamorous Mid-Century Modern with a long private drive and a private backyard with a pool, a large guesthouse and a spa and sauna. It sits back on the cobblestone drive hidden from the street, gorgeous, coffered walnut ceilings, softly honed limestone floors and white onyx and Carrera marble in the kitchen, subzero and Miele appliances, and beautiful walnut cabinetry. There was a private office for Sumeet, and another private office or study for Marie, should she need it. There were floor to ceiling windows, indoor/outdoor living and Fleetwood doors opening to the lush yard and an eight-foot cedar wood fenced in pool with a locked gate. Sumeet made sure he had a large, romantic master bedroom surrounded by exterior lush foliage. There was