an Indian immigrant

The darker features and hair made a huge difference, giving Sarah an exotic edge. He really liked her look and felt disappointed she didn't want to stay that way longer. 'She would be even hotter if she wasn't so much like her old self - so Western', he thought. 'I wish Sarah was a recent Indian imigrant rather than Indian-American, with the appropriate knowledge and traits.'

Sarah stiffened and looked back at him. "Tom?" she asked in accented English. "What did you do to me? I...I feel quite different."

Tom smiled. "I thought it would be more interested for you to be less 'American'."

She frowned. "Well, that is true now. My memories are no different but at the same time, I know different things. I can't recall how to do some things that I should - or at least they feel odd and unfamiliar. But I also know many other things. Hindi and Bengali, for example. Cooking... yes, many difference there." She scrunched her face in thought. "Too many changes to easily sort through right now."

Tom noted she was still dressed mostly the same, though she held herself a little differently. Pictures had chnaged - now there were fewer and those were much more recent, mostly being engagement and wedding photos. "I did wish 'recent immigrant'," he thought to himself.

They talked for awhile exploring the differences in Sarah. Tom was still not satisfied. She definitely felt a little more 'exotic' now, but she was still fundamentally the same. And while she was curious, she wasn't very interested in staying like that very long, preferring to try different changes.

Tom considered what to do. The problem was that Sarah looked more like what he envisioned, she still didn't act his image of an "Indian wife". 'That's it!' he thought, and made a silent wish. 'I wish Sarah was a stereotypical, traditional Indian wife.'

There was an instant visual change. Now Sarah looked very different - still an attractive, young Indian woman, but now dressed in a fine saree. She was giving him a big but shy smile.

"I hope you enjoy these gifts. They are simple - some momos, samosa, and pakoras. We wanted to offer something to our new neighbors to thank everyone for their kind welcome," she said, motioning toward a platter sitting on the counter.

Tom was taken aback. "Uh, Sarah...why are you talking like this?" he asked.

She looked confused for a moment, then her eyes widened in shock. "I...I do not understand. I am not married to you now." She looked around the room. Tom followed her gaze and realized all the pictures of the two of them together were gone, replaced by others now. "I am new to this country with my husband Madhan. We just moved next door..." she paused, then added "...but I know I was Sarah Saunders, wife of Tom Saunders, a white American woman."

Tom's shock slowly turned to laughter. How ironic! He had wished for Sarah to be a traditional Indian wife - he guess the coin interterpeted that to mean she would of course be married to an Indian man.

"This is not something to laugh at, Tom!" she said indignantly. "I am a foreign woman now married to another man. How is this not a problem?"

He reigned in his laughter. "Come on, can't you see how hilarious it is? And it could be fun - we could have an affair," he teased.

Sarah did not look pleased. "I think this needs to end. Now Tom!"

Tom sighed in frustration. 'Why couldn't she just go along with him?' he wondered. Then he looked at the coin still in his hand and smiled. He made another silent wish. 'I wish Sarah was very curious about her new life, and wanted to see what it was like to be someone so different.' He thought for a moment. She might still balk at the marriage thing, so he added another wish. 'I wish Sarah felt all the emotions and feelings appropriate to her new life, especially for her new husband....but that she still loved me and wanted to have a secret affair," he hastily added.

Sarah blinked several times as his wishes took effect. "Wait, Tom!" she exclaimed. "Please do not make any changes. I spoke too soon. You are right, we should take time to explore this new life. I...I am very curious to be someone from another culture. And to spend time with my new husband." She blushed at the end. "I am sorry. Does this bother you?"

"No, not at all," Tom replied. "I've been having fun with the coin. Maybe this is a chance for you to 'play around' on me. But I hope you still want to be with me too?"

Her blush deepened and she looked down at the floor. "I feel ashamed to say so, but yes, I want you as well."