Page 20 of Twisted Deceit
She had added that as the best-case scenario where Nakul’s grandmother’s surgery was a success, and they didn’t need to stay married. For her, she would spin off a story about how her husband left her, and she would move on with her life.
If only she knew, there was no grandmother and she was stuck in the marriage. A marriage she wanted but was left with an unwanted husband!
“Aadi, are you even listening to me?” Meenabai was unhappy. “It was your wedding night and you did not let your marriage be consummated and now your husband left in a hurry.”
Aadhya’s stiffened. She didn’t think she would be questioned about not spending the night with her fake husband. Unable to come up with a response to the older lady’s statement, she remained silent.
Meenabai glared at her for her silence. “Maybe you were a little tired last night but tonight, you must become his wife.” The older woman walked over to her and whispered, “Even if it means that you sleep naked all night, you need to get your husband to claim you.”
Aadhya swallowed. “Okay.” She had never seen the older woman look so intense and knew not to say anything to oppose her instructions.
“Now, we have a busy morning, and I want you to move fast. We have festivities planned for the evening, and after that, we will prepare you for your wedding night.” Meenabai gestured to the other staff, and two women approached her.
“Hang on, let me brush my teeth and shower alone.” Aadhya was not used to being readied by the staff and had opposed it since she was a child. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
She made a quick run to the bathroom. She shut the door and looked into the bathroom in the daylight. The night before she made a quick stop to grab a change of clothes placed in the closet and ignored the details.
The bathroom was nothing like she remembered when her parents used that wing as their private quarters. The bathroom was a lot bigger than she could remember when she was a child. She slowly took in the details and scrunched her nose. “Seriously?”
She walked around the massive marble bathroom, realizing it matched a model bathroom she had shared with her aunt a few years ago. She had a special appreciation for modern design bathrooms, and her aunt had gone above and beyond to remodel the space. It was as if her aunt was enticing her with the new bathroom and the complete remodel of what was once her parent’s private quarters.
Guilt gripped her when she realized her aunt was trying hard to get Aadhya to stay in the Singoor area. She sat on the platform built around the bathtub, overwhelmed by her emotions, and sat for a few minutes, her head in her hands. She felt her heart tug in response to her aunt’s love but still could not get herself to move back to Singoor.
She looked up at the large skylight. “I’m going to make the best of my time here in Singoor. Make Rajji happy,” her voice shook as she remembered how her aunt cared for her after her parents passed away, showering her with so much love and affection that she almost didn’t miss her parents.
“Aadi, are you playing with water in there?” Meenabai’s annoyed voice came through.
“No, Nani.” A small laugh followed her response. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.” The older woman was stern about her because she was convinced her aunt’s pampering spoiled her.
Hours later, Aadhya stretched her back slowly as she sat on a small wooden platform, performing a post-marriage ritual. Meenabai told her it was a prayer for her husband’s safe return. She knew the man was not going anywhere and it was a waste of time, but she was in no position to push back on the older woman.
After skipping breakfast as part of the ritual, she impatiently looked at the clock when her stomach grumbled. Some of her belongings were moved into the closet in what seemed to be the new private space she had to share with her husband. Even as she processed that information, she wondered if she could stay in the Kanwar mansion and avoid going to the Thakvar mansion.
What was the clause in the contract anyway? Was it to be where he chose to be?
She thought hard about what was in the contract about their living arrangements. She was so sure the marriage charade would be short-lived that she didn’t consider the residency. They had clauses about accompanying each other on required travel but nothing about where to live. She could not leave the Kanwar mansion if she needed to put any plans to drive him away into motion. She had no idea what they would be but knew she would benefit from having a home-field advantage. She made a mental note to talk to him about staying in the Kanwar mansion.
“Aadi, take the flower garland,” Meenabai whispered as Aadhya sat close to the priest, who held out the flowers, as she was lost in thought.
She was thankful for the veil covering her face as she no longer focused on the ritual. She nodded before taking the flower garland from the priest and placing it over the deity that was set up using a coconut. She followed the T's instructions not to upset Meenabai, who was now watching her every move like a hawk.
The moment she bowed to the deity and took blessings from the priest conducting the ceremony, Meenabai held Aadhya by her hand and rushed her toward their private mansion wing. “Nani, slow down.” The older woman was too fast for Aadhya to keep up in her traditional attire. “My skirt is heavy.”
“Don’t complain. If only your aunt had let me force you to wear traditional clothes when you came for the summer holidays.” Meenabai grumbled and issued orders to the staff as they walked toward what seemed like the dining area. She had either forgotten the layout of her parent’s quarters, or it was completely redone.
As they approached the dining table, Meenabai stopped her frenzy walking and turned to look at Aadhya. The older woman paused for a moment, looking at Aadhya’s attire. “What is going on, Nani?” Aadhya was almost out of breath.
Meenabai only hushed her as she adjusted the scarf of Aadhya’s dress. Rearranging it so the fabric covered Aadhya’s face, she tugged the loose fabric into the waistband of her skirt but, to her utter shock, left her entire back bare to be seen. “Let’s go,” she said and took Aadhya by her hand before she could object to how revealing her new adjustment was.
Before she could object, her eyes fell on the tall figure standing by the window in the living room adjacent to the dining area, his back to her. As expected, her unwanted husband was back and was on the phone, talking discretely. The region had no cell phone coverage, but he seemed equipped with a satellite phone.
Aadhya tried to listen to what he was saying. His tone was surprisingly soft and almost cajoling. He had to be talking to another woman.
Who was it? His mother? Or?
“Wait here.” Meenabai’s tone told Aadhya not to question what was going to happen. She signaled the staff, who stood to one side as if ready to do something. While people around her hustled to get their tasks done, Meenabai walked over to where her husband stood and waited for a long moment.
Aadhya was annoyed that Meenabai would wait until the man was done with his phone call, where he was indeed scheming on how to get the oil in the region.
