Page 113 of Twisted Sins

Some of the clan heads wore necklaces made of what appeared to be human teeth and other small bones. Had she encountered the group a few months ago, she would have been terrified, judging them as primitive savages. But now, she knew the dressing and accessories were part of their long-held traditions.

The guests looked at her curiously.

“There are whispers across the Singoor desert,” one of the male clan heads with a missing left eye said. “That the Thakvar heiress is gravely ill and is being tortured and abused by the Kabali heir.”

“As you can see, my wife is fine,” the demon replied.

“We are all looking forward to the Kabali-Thakvar heir that will strengthen our region,” a female clan head stated. “But the union has to be through true acceptance and not force. Only then will it bring back the blessings of Goddess Shakti.”

Nandini realized it was quite important for the Kabali clan and other northern clans to seek acceptance from the wife before consummating the marriage. Although they didn’t seem to mind the circumstances of the wedding, consent was required for the union to be considered blessed.

“I have accepted Rudra as my husband,” she replied. “Our union will bring peace to Singoor.”

There was a surprise on the clan heads’ faces that she could not only understand but also speak the Kabali language.

There were several nods of approval. But a few looked at her suspiciously.

“Your wife looks just like her late aunt,” one of the grey-haired female clan heads said. “She has the same beauty and intelligence and is called a Thakvar tigress, too. We hope she won’t betray us for power like her aunt did.”

Nandini sucked in a breath. She was about to burst out in defense of her aunt, but the demon spoke before her.

“My wife has accepted our marriage.”

“But her family don’t seem to accept your marriage. Her brothers are turning the rest of the Singoor clans against us. And she may choose her family over you.”

“Her family has no choice but to accept the marriage,” the demon stated. “They know the importance of having the fourth alliance.”

There were nods.

Soon, the demon led the clan heads away to a tent set up for the meeting.

Nandini wanted to follow the demon, but she was led away by the Kabali women who were excited about having visitors.

***

While the north clan meeting took place, Nandini had to play host to the women who had accompanied the clan heads.

She was too distracted to entertain them. She felt anxious and agitated to know what the demon and the other north clan leaders were discussing. She hoped they would not decide to confront her father and brothers during the meeting held in the holy land.

I have to convince the demon to take me.

“Nandini?”

Dragging her eyes away from the tent where the meeting was taking place, she turned to look at Rumi, who was calling her.

“Chaya wanted to know if you have hosted a feast for more than a hundred people.”

Chaya Tadvi was a north clan heiress who had accompanied her father. There were a couple more heiresses who had come because they were curious about the woman who Rudra Kabali had chosen as his wife.

“No, I haven’t hosted a feast of that scale,” Nandini replied.

Her brothers did host several cocktail parties in San Francisco and other cities for business purposes. The gatherings were often big, but she was never asked to play the role of the hostess. They ensured she was kept away and could only attend a few of the events, that too because she had insisted.

Even the large feasts they held for their factory workers across the world were only attended by her brothers and their mother.

Her brothers were too protective. Only a few close-knit people in their circle knew that the Thakvar brothers had a younger sister.

“I have hosted a feast for two hundred people,” Chaya Tadvi boasted. “I can host for a bigger group too. The Kabali clan was known to host at least a thousand people in the past. I doubt if you ever host a feast of such a scale. Rudra should have known to pick a better wife than a pampered heiress.”

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