Page 15 of Twisted Sins

“Kabali vel! Kabali vel!”

“Damh mams Kabali vel vajji Thakvar janavari!”

She couldn’t understand what they were chanting. She was exhausted and simply wanted to sleep.

She was led towards a tent which was in the opposite direction of the other tents. When the group stopped, she felt relieved. But when they took her inside, she blinked in confusion.

It wasn’t similar to the tent where she had been kept before and prepared for the ceremony. This tent was huge. It was much larger, nearly four times the size, and it was furnished with several low tables, dark-patterned rugs, and a much bigger bedding covered with small flowers. The tent was lit up using several small oil lamps placed on the low tables. A pleasant, musky sandalwood scent permeated the air.

Shakti tham tharif kannam Kabali vel chapko,” one of the women said.

Once again, she understood only the words Goddess Shakti and Kabali. She didn’t know what they said. Before she could respond, they laughed and left the tent, closing the flap from outside.

She pulled off the veil covering her hair and threw it aside. She went to one of the low tables where a large tray with several tumblers and covered dishes was kept. Picking up one of the tall leather tumblers, she opened it and cautiously sipped the liquid. Thankfully, it was water and not the strong fermented drink. She drank deeply, feeling much better.

Hoping there was something for her to eat, she opened the covered dishes. The first one was a familiar meat and vegetable dish. She closed it immediately. She opened another dish, and her heart leaped when she saw nuts and dates. Feeling famished, she picked up a date and bit into it. Sweetness burst into her mouth.

While she finished the bowl of dates and nuts, she could hear the sounds of celebration continuing outside.

What are they celebrating?

Why was I a part of it?

And why did the savage leader join our hands and say something to his people?

Did my family agree to the ransom? Were they celebrating the riches they would soon receive?

A bolt of anger ran through her that her loved ones were forced to pay ransom to a savage in exchange for her safety. Sucking in a deep breath, she vowed to make the demon pay hundredfold when she was back home. She was not going to let him get away with kidnapping her and holding her ransom.

Angrily, she began to take off the heavy jewelry. It took a while since there were a lot of it. She got rid of the heavy necklaces and the bracelets on her upper arms and wrists. There was also a thick anklet on her leg. She frowned, looking at it. It held a distinct design that she recalled seeing on the demon’s jewelry. It was the Kabali clan insignia.

Why would they put jewelry on me with the Kabali clan insignia?

A strange thought occurred to her.

Joining hands was done in wedding ceremonies.

The thought jolted her completely out of her daze. Her heart started beating faster.

No. It can’t be a wedding ceremony.

It was held at midnight, and there was no priest blessing the ceremony. She would know if it was a wedding ceremony and if she were the bride. In fact, she had seen the pictures of her brothers’ weddings, and all of their Singoor brides had worn veils covering their faces and gotten married in the Singoor temple during the day.

But she also knew many cultures had different ways to marry. What if the Kabali clan's way was to marry in front of the goddess with some kind of blood-joining ceremony? Each of her brothers’ weddings were slightly different in customs as well.

The Kabali savage leader had dressed differently than before. He had worn elaborate thick arm bands, nose ring and ear rings along with those demonic horns headgear.

She also recalled a group of old men with matted hair and loin clothes. They didn’t look like the priests, but they had chanted something. The demon had even made her touch the ground in front of them, which was a form of blessing.

No. No. No.

Her heart raced at the implications.

If that was a wedding ceremony, then it would mean that she was now the savage demon’s wife.

Oh God. No!

She took a deep breath, only for her to inhale more of the musky sandalwood scent, the smell she associated with the savage leader. Another thought occurred to her.

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