Page 12 of Twisted Alliance

Ishani Gujjar.

Shivay couldn’t see his bride’s face as she wore a veil and her head was lowered to face the ground. She was led towards him by a group of similarly veiled women.

She sat beside him and a subtle scent of flowers swept over him. When the priests gave her instructions, she followed them obediently without lifting her head. All Shivay could see of his bride were her delicate hands adorned by heavy bangles and embellishments, performing the rituals in front of the deity.

When she was instructed to place her hand in his, there was a pause. Shivay tensed, wondering if his bride would ignore the instruction or maybe suddenly stand up, refusing to marry a stranger. It would lead to violence and further tension among the clans.

Just when he thought he would have to find a way to convince her, he saw her small hand being placed on his large palm. There was a faint trembling in her hand.

He felt a strange need to calm his bride.

He was surprised by his instinct to reassure her. All through his plans to form an alliance, he considered marriage and the wife he would temporarily acquire to be collateral damage. Although he had made plans to financially well-secure the woman’s life when the marriage was no longer required, he hadn’t thought of her as a living, breathing person with feelings.

But now, he was forced to acknowledge the fact.

He made a note to speak to his bride that night in privacy and reassure her safety and well-being. Through investigation, he discovered that Ishani Gujjar only had basic education via tutors and had never left the Singoor region in her life. A woman like that would not be ambitious or want to leave her homeland. This meant he would need to find her a good support system to live the rest of her life securely.

The elaborate rituals continued for the rest of the marriage ceremony. Soon it came to an end, and they were asked to stand up.

“Please apply the sindoor on the bride’s forehead,” the priest instructed.

Shivay watched as his bride’s veil was lifted just enough to expose the top of her head. Her head was bent so low he could only catch sight of the traditional attire and jewels.

He took a small pinch of vermillion powder that was placed in front of the god and applied it on the spot above her forehead on her hair right under her head jewelry. He felt her shake visibly at the brief touch. She seemed terrified, and just as the veil dropped over her face, he caught a glimpse of her cherry-red lips that trembled.

He recalled that the Gujjar clan women were conservative and wondered if any other man had caught a glimpse of her except for her family.

A strange curiosity to know how she looked grew inside him, which he brushed away. His focus had to be on the alliance and what it would help him achieve and nothing else.

CHAPTER 4

The wedding ceremony was followed by a celebration. There were several high-energy dances performed by the Thakvar and Gujjar clans. Shivay observed his surroundings keenly and made a note of the dynamics.

Although the atmosphere between the clans seemed tense at the beginning, the clans began to relax through the rituals and festivities. The rituals and entertainment were nearly similar for both clans.

Another observation Shivay made was that throughout the ceremonies and entertainment, his bride continued to sit still with her head bent downward, barely glancing at the performances or acknowledging him.

He could sense that she was tense throughout.

“It’s time,” an elderly woman announced. “We must all return before the sun sets and allow the newlywed couple to begin their life as man and wife with the blessings of Lord Shiva.”

The clans began shouting and cheering. The chants rose high in decibels before the crowd began to disperse.

Shivay’s father hugged him before placing his hand on the new bride. “May you both be happy always,” he blessed.

Shivay noticed that the bride’s brother and mother didn’t come to speak with the bride before dispersing with the rest of the wedding crowd.

Most of the clan members from the large wedding group dispersed. Only a select few, mostly elderly women, remained.

“Come with us,” one of the elderly women instructed.

They walked a good distance from the temple to a large tent. Surrounded by stretches of sand, Shivay could only see the shadowy outline of the temple in the distance.

“This is where you will spend the next three nights as husband and wife. It is considered auspicious to conceive a child in Sands of Singoor. The child born will be as strong and brave as our God Shiva or Goddess Parvati.”

Shivay didn’t say anything but could sense his bride tensing even more. Her hands crumpled the fabric of her wedding dress.

“This land is protected,” said one of the heavily wrinkled skin elderly women. “No clan will dare to take a life on the holy temple lands in Sands of Singoor.”

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