Page 96 of Twisted Sins

Nandini’s heart jerked. “When?”

“He will take you to your family in the third month of your marriage as per the tradition,” the seer replied. “By then, you should accept your husband and fully embrace your destiny.”

Nandini knew it had been a little over six weeks since the demon kidnapped and forcibly married her. The third month would be another six weeks away.

I can’t stay with the demon for that long!

“Three months is a long time,” she said. “If you can convince Rudra to take me earlier, I will—”

“Don’t fight your destiny,” the seer scolded. “Embrace it, and enjoy the attentions of your husband. He will give you strong children who will unify the Thakvar and Kabali clans, which has been a long-held dream.”

Nandini’s face burned. She didn’t want the attention of the demon even though her body craved him. And she definitely didn’t want the demon’s children.

“What do you mean by long-held dream?” she asked the seer.

The seer had a faraway look. “Everyone expected the Kabali heir to marry the Thakvar heiress as they belonged to the most powerful clans in Singoor. But that didn’t happen. The older Kabali heir became the Singoor temple protector, giving up all family ties and worldly desires. The younger Kabali heir became the clan head but fell in love with an outsider. Meanwhile, the Thakvar heiress vowed not to marry until there was peace in Singoor. But now, with your and Rudra’s marriage, the long-held dream has come true, and also with your brothers’ marriages, Singoor will become strong from all directions. Goddess Shakti will return once again, blessing us all.”

Nandini was shocked that her aunt was expected to marry the demon’s father.

Would my aunt have married the demon’s father if he hadn’t fallen in love with an outsider?

She recalled her father proudly telling her that her aunt was the most sought-after heiress and that she had received several marriage proposals from both inside and outside of Singoor. However, her aunt and her father’s older brother remained unmarried due to unrest in Singoor.

“Is that why Rudra married me?” she asked. “To fulfill that long-held dream?”

She thought the demon married her for her inheritance since the Kabali clan wasn’t as prosperous as the Thakvar clan.

The seer shook her head. “No,” the old woman replied. “Rudra married you for Goddess Shakti.”

“What has Goddess Shakti to do with my marriage?”

“Has your family not told you about the significance of the Goddess Shakti statue and the commissioning ceremony at the Singoor temple?”

Her parents and brothers had only told her about the unrest and violence in Singoor due to the infighting between various clans.

“No,” she said. “I came here to attend a temple ceremony, but I was told the ceremony was to attain peace in Singoor.”

The seer looked at her disapprovingly. “No wonder you keep trying to escape your destiny. Your family has hidden the truth from you.”

Nandini did want to escape the demon, and didn’t think of him as her destiny. However, she wanted to know more about the Goddess statue and the details of the temple ceremony held in the Singoor temple.

“Please tell me everything, Skandamai. I want to know the truth. The entire truth.”

The seer fell silent for a long moment. And then, she spoke.

“It all began two hundred years ago when Goddess Shakti’s statue was commissioned by the clans in Singoor…”

***

It was nearly sunset when Nandini returned to the tent after bathing in the pond.

“Nandini?”

Nandini looked at Uma and Rumi, who were setting up dinner.

“Are you all right?” Uma asked. “You have been quiet since evening.”

Nandini forced a smile. “Yes, I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

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