The early morning in the Chauhan house was buzzing as the servants carried basket after basket containing gifts towards the main door and out to the lined-up cars. The helpers kept making rounds, filling the three car storages up to the brim as the matriarch oversaw the arrangements and the daughter-in-law of Chauhan's â Rashi Chauhan instructed and directed them to work.
"Dhwani, have you kept the jewelry securely?" Rashi asked impatiently to her eldest daughter-in-law, narrowed eyes following her like a hawk as Dhwani nodded and brought the thaal containing the pieces of jewelry for the Shagun ceremony in front for the final approval of the two ladies. "Good, bring this along with you."
"Yes, Mom." Dhwani nodded and carried the thaal toward her room as she decided to get ready.
It was the Shagun ceremony for Rakshit and Shreya, the two families were meeting today and exchanging gifts in order to decide a date for the Engagement and then the wedding.
She pushed the door open using her shoulder and huffed as her arms ached for carrying the bronze thaal all the way to the third floor. The lift was used by helpers who hurried as the instructions were shot at them and breathless, they run all around the place.
She pitied them and left the elevator at their disposal, something she was regretting now.
"Why are you carrying this alone?" A voice reached her before she would meet his eyes, Anirudh instantly was at her side and helped her place it down on their bed.
She rolled her eyes feeling the annoyance back as he showed that he cared, not that he meant it.
He was doing everything because of guilt, she knew he had heard her that day. He was pitying her, just like everyone else did.
Wordlessly, she passed him a small smile showing her gratitude and walked inside the door of the closet to change.
She decided on a navy-blue saree and draped it around a thin-strapped black blouse with was secured with a zip on the back.
Ditching any expensive jewelry, she settled on Oxidized silver earrings and some metal bangles in the same shade. The earrings chimed as she wore them and shook her head a little, genuinely smiling at her reflection. Taking a small Bindi, placed it in the middle of her eyebrows and the nuptial chain.
She was halfway done wearing it when her hair tangled with the hook, making her hiss loudly at the pull on her nape.
She fumbled with the chain, untying the thing to remove her hair but it worsened.
She sighed as her arms ached and there was no way she could look behind and untangle her hair. She needed help.
Begrudgingly, she called out the name of the person she shared this room with, knowing he was waiting for her outside. "Anirudh"
"Yes," He answered distractedly.
"Can you...um... call someone for help?" She fumbled with words.
"Is everything fine?"
"Yeah, just call someone. Do you mind?" She asked unsure.
"Of course not." He knocked on the door, before peaking inside a little. "May I help?"
"You can come in." She sighed in defeat "I need...help."
"Yes, what's wrong?" His intense brown eyes made her gulp and turn her back towards the mirror, facing him.
"My hair..." She trailed pointing "...It won't come out. Can you help or call someone? It is fine."
"Can I see?"
She nodded and turned her back to him, watching their reflection through the mirror.
"It is bad. Are there scissors somewhere here?" He assessed and her eyes widened.
"Just let it be, I'm not losing my hair because of this." She tried turning but his warm fingertips froze her action.
"Just stand still. Let me try." His touch was unintentional, yet raising goosebumps on her arms. He was so close to her, yet he was far from her reach.
"Don't move." He leaned down to watch and she clutched her Saree in her fists as his breath touched her nape, sending shivers down her spine. Eyes clutched shut, she could not look more at their reflection.
"Can you hurry? Mom is impatient." She urged him and he watched her through the mirror.
Her cheeks were flaming and her lips quivered, her eyes shut, and slow breathing, almost negligible. She stood in her heels reaching his chin, a little dip of his head and his nose would bury in her hair.
"She won't say anything. Don't worry." He assured in a whisper "It is almost done."
A hard tug on her hair strand and she winced, eyes shut in pain which she anticipated to come again.
"Open your eyes." He instructed and she felt him moving her hair to the side as he placed the cold chain on her neck, clasping it expertly. "All done."
"Thank you" She stuttered glancing at him through the mirror. He was wearing his Shirt and trousers, only today the blazer was replaced with an embroidered waistcoat, and the sleeves were rolled to his arms.
He hummed "You look good."
She smiled a little and turned, stepping back from him. "We should get going."
"We should."
As if it was something he was habitual to, Anirudh took her palm and guided her down the stairs. She could feel eyes on her yet she kept her head down, her curtain bangs covering her face. They came to a stop as she pressed into her heels, eyes clenched in regret as she forgot the thaal on the bed.
"I will come in a minute." She hurried out of his grip and rushed up the stairs leaving her curious husband behind.
"Dhwan..."
"You are ready? Where is your wife and brother?" Rashi walked out of the lift and looked at him quizzically "Is she late again?"
"She is ready, Mom." Anirudh answered sighing "Please go a little smooth on her. You do not have to act like the person you are not. She is not at fault here."
"Then who is? You?" She demanded.
"No, mom. We both are the victims of an arranged alliance here. She is more than me." He glanced behind to check for her sign. "I had an ulterior motive to marry, but she has been suffering the burn. I blamed her for things she had no knowledge about. I thought she was trapping me but in the past two years, she had never asked me a single thing, not even my time."
"Why are you realizing it now?" Rashi watched her eldest son confiding, his eyes flexing between her and the stairs. "Are you afraid she will leave you the same way Vandita did? Is that the reason you are making these changes in you and this non-existent marriage? You cannot fool me. I have observed you both and I can sense how cold you both are towards each other. I know how much she detests her presence here."
"If only I could change that for her." He smiled mirthlessly "I have made mistakes, Mom. A lot of them. but it is time I bring changes. I cannot let her leave me."
"You cannot hold someone who made their mind to leave. You are a businessman and you know how much willingness matters."
As if he could understand her cryptic words, he nodded leaning and kissing her forehead.
"I know, Ma." He smiled "Just don't be hard on her."
"I cannot promise." Rashi rolled her eyes.
"But you can try."
Rashi twisted her lips and stared back at the stairs as Dhwani walked down, carrying the same heavy plate huffing lowly.
She shook her head to push the hairs back that fell on her face and irritated her. Her focus kept shifting from the stairs and her hair.
"Dhwani, be careful." He called her and she snapped to look up, almost missing a step when he ran towards her. She held on to the railings using her elbows, wincing as the surface harshly brushed against her skin. "You could have fallen. Why do you not use the lift?"
"I am fine." She said as he took the plate away from her and called for a maid who came running towards him. "No, I can take it to the car."
Her protest died at his glare.
"Is your elbow hurt?" He asked watching her rub the skin unknowingly.
"No, nothing..." She trailed as he took her arm and inspected the area himself. "It is nothing, we are getting late."
He nodded and left her. "Where is Rakshit?"
"Here, here." Rakshit entered through the main door, his shirt ruffled and a coat hanging past his shoulder.
"Where are you coming from?" Rashi gritted assessing his sleep-deprived eyes and a jump in step. He was high on adrenaline, like all the race nights. "We are going to Shreya's place and look at you, are you even serious about this impromptu wedding you announced?"
"Of course, I am, Mom" He defended feeling offended. "I was out on the construction sight the last night. You remember, Bhai? You asked me to check on the Villa we are renovating. I went there. It is a three-hour drive."
"Anirudh." His mother looked at him demanding an explanation.
"I asked him to visit this weekend, not yesterday night." He rolled his eyes.
"Why don't you go and get ready?" Dhwani offered "We can wait 10 more minutes."
"Love you, Bhabhi" He chimed happily and neared her, eyes darting to her face and resting back, holding her gaze. "You look pretty. Shreya will be jealous."
Dhwani giggled "Hurry up, 9 minutes more."
"Fine, Ms. Clock" He grinned and threw a kiss at a laughing Dhwani. His eyes darted to Anirudh who had a single crack on his calm posture, eyes glaring at him. "I will be back soon."
It could be that Rakshit Chauhan was learning punctuality or his excitement that he joined the party in less than the allotted time. He came rushing back to the hall with his Kurta undone and hair flat from the shower.
"We cannot be late or Shreya would kill me." He announced his presence and Rashi shook her head sighing.
"Com'on." She spoke.
They are divided into two cars. Rashi, Gayatri Devi, and Harshvardhan in one. Dhwani, Anirudh, and Rakshit in another.
Anirudh opened the back door for her and she watched at him in surprise but settled without a word. He joined her at the back and Rakshit took the shotgun.
"Only if that irritating doctor and our superstar could have joined us today," Rakshit said twisting in his seat. "It could be the picture-perfect family."
"You should remember Paa too." Anirudh corrected.
"Paa is a busy man, he doesn't have time for us anymore but his other grandson." He scoffed "I understand he misses Aunt Jaahnvi but that doesn't mean he will not come home for this long. What is he even doing in Manwar for the past 5 weeks?"
"Is that how you talk about me?"
The voice had Rakshit sit straight, knocking his head on the roof. His wide eyes were comical.
"P-Paa?" He stuttered turning towards the driving seat and finding their old driver replaced with a man in his white uniform. "You are back!"
"He is driving." Anirudh pushed him back before he could jump on their grandfather. "And you, old man. What are you doing here? Like this."
Ajeeth Chaudhary shrugged playfully and glanced at Dhwani who watched the brothers and him in shock. "Hello, my sweet child. How are you?"
She snapped towards him, stuttering "Dadu, I am good."
"Is my grandson taking good care of you?" Ajeeth asked and she nodded fervently, making him narrow his eyes at Anirudh but smiling. "You remember what I told you on your first day in this house? I promised to side with you whenever you and he is on two different teams. Always remember that."
"Ji, Dadu." Dhwani smiled immediately as a good memory returned. He gifted his support to her on her Peheli rasoi.
And having Ajeeth Chauhan on her side could have worked miraculously if she tried using his support.
"You always wanted a granddaughter, didn't you?" Rakshit playfully accused "You wished Vidyut was a girl."
"I wished you were a girl." He chimed "I had named you Akshita, but since you turned out to be a boy, I had to name you Rakshit."
"Ouch," Rakshit winced "You are still brutal."
"I never changed." Ajeeth chuckled earning Dhwani's sweet laughter and Anirudh's smile.
The cars came to a halt in front of the Thapar's and Rakshit jumped out almost immediately. Leaning against the car as Anirudh walked and opened the door for Dhwani, helping her out.
A tap on his shoulder and he turned towards his grandfather who stood beside him, now changed out of his driver's shirt.
"Are you sure you wanna marry her?" He asked, pressing on any crease he found in his shirt.
"How do you decide if you are unsure?" Rakshit questioned in reply.
Ajith Chauhan glances at his grandson with a smirk. "The same way you decide of jumping down the cliff. You will be nervous, your heart will beat louder than necessary, and each minute you walk closer to her, you will feel parched."
"Vidyut will term this as a disease." He remarked and earned a snort from his grandfather.
"Your brother is a robot. He hates people but your mother."
"Now, Uttara too," Rakshit added.
"Call her Bhabhi." Ajith chided.
"She is younger than me, and so is Vidyut." Rakshit defended.
"How do you know that?" He cocked a challenging brow.
"I cried first." He declared.
"That makes you older?"
"Yeah!" Rakshit started earning an eye roll from him.
"I know you are ready now. Come on."
The house was buzzing with a certain excitement as the families greeted each other. Dhwani Bhabhi stood smiling at Shreya's mother as Rashi and she talked and glanced at her every few seconds. Gayatri Devi sat on one couch but immediately stood up as her husband walked in.
"When did you come?" Her eyes widened.
"Hello to you too, Devi ji."
â â â â â
The sunlight burned her eyes, making her clutch her forehead harder as she snuggled into her pillow. Her legs stretched but they felt like dead weight as she felt a stinging cramp in her abdomen, then her legs and back.
Her palm moved towards her lower stomach and a groan left her lips.
Opening an eye, she adjusted to the light in the room which filtered through the thin curtains. She screamed silently into the pillow and rolled out to check for any stains left on the cream color sheets.
Holding onto the side table for support, she stood up as the room swayed and she fell back, a loud wince passed her lips.
The door unlocked and she heard a silent footstep.
"You are up." Her husband, the same one who left her alone and reminded her how much of a burden she was on him yesterday night, asked.
She gritted her teeth, holding back any reply.
"Painkillers are on your right. It will help." He instructed and made his way toward the washroom.
"Wait." She called after him, making him halt his steps. "Can I use the washroom first?"
He cocked a brow at her but nodded, gesturing her to continue.
She took a stealthy once over at the bed and made sure her mother nature didn't leave her to be embarrassed early morning.
After a quick shower and changing into loose clothes, she pressed into her temple as the headache blinded her.
She walked out and watched him talking on the phone, his eyes met hers and he hurried inside the washroom.
She glanced at the painkillers but ignored them and walked towards the kitchen for some tea which could help her.
She leaned against the cabinet, watching the tea boil. She felt embarrassed to come here drunk yesterday yet she didn't feel remorse in her actions. She needed alcohol to push down the ache in her heart which his words left in their awakening.
A deal.
A marriage of convenience.
That is what they agreed upon the past seven months, both parties getting benefitted in their way from a marriage that was a happy union in the eyes of the world.
An emerging actor who got winded up in a scandal that could eat up her career and herself and a doctor who got involved in the fire, unknowingly paving the way to an arrangement between the two parties.
It was supposed to be an act, an easy façade that soon involved them entirely that she fell for the man who kept showing her how much capabilities he held to hurt her.
She read once how a person who isn't offered love with a silver spoon starts scrapping it off from knives.
Is it what was happening to her?
Failing into love, she fell for his small act of care and kindness or is it her stupidity to see a happily ever after in a man like him who only lived for work and hated the mere existence of unnecessary conversations, no emotions made to him?
The slamming of the strip made her flinch.
Her eyes met his. The intense pair of eyes unfurled a variety of thoughts in her mind.
"Do you need a written invitation to take these?" He stood in front of her, separated by the slab. Dressed in a white shirt and navy suit jacket with dampened hair, he glared at her.
She eyed the painkillers and him once. "I cannot."
"Why?" His eyes squinted in questioning stance and blush coated her neck and ears.
"You don't need to know." She tried and started searching for a strainer. Before she could pick it up, he snatched it away.
"Again, why?" He cocked a brow and she gritted, glaring at him.
"I am allergic to them." She announced and tried taking the strainer back from him "Can I have this?"
"You are not." He stated "Do not lie to me. I heard you moaning in pain the entire night. I know hangover is bad and, in your case, it seems worst."
"Can you stop acting?" She demanded "You made yourself clear how we are into a deal. You do not have to care if I live or die. I can look after myself."
His jaw clenched as he threw the strainer back and yanked her to him harshly. "Talk to me like that again and you will forget how to walk for a week, Tara."
"How dare you threaten me?" Her face flamed, anger bubbling. "Lay a finger on me and you will see what I can make of you."
"Who said laying a finger on you without your consent?" He challenged, his breath fanning her face "You will beg me to touch you, and when I do, you will be bedridden for a week or more."
She breathed heavily as his words settled in her brain, eyes widened like saucers.
"Now, be a good girl, take medicines, and rest for the day." His finger curled at her chin, his lips touching her cheeks "I will be back in 4 hours and I should find you sleeping."
She gaped like a fish as he walked out and the front door locked. Leaning against the cabinet, she rubbed her face and tried making sense of what happened just minutes back.
Her tea was long forgotten.
Much to her irritation, she found herself curled in bed a few hours later, a pillow below her back and a heating pad on her abdomen as she nursed her period cramps.
Her phone rang and she sleepily answered the device.
"Hey, are you okay now?"
She recognized the voice and winced as the night came back to her.
"Yes." She grimaced at her tone, "Did I make things worse for you all?"
"Not much." Nitya answered "You left the party a little early but the media seemed to have noticed. Their interaction with your husband and the pictures together are trending as of now. The response is much better than what I expected. I have two emails for commercials. One is a watch brand and another is a cosmetic unicorn. I will be updating you on the same..."
Nitya briefed her about all the other offers and scripts she had to go through in the next week, with Sunday being free.
"Any date you wish to reserve in the coming month?" Her manager asked taping on her laptop.
Uttara frowned thinking "Can you put the 27th of this month off? It is Chauhan's Annual gala."
"Yes, that can be done. Anything else?"
"No. Thank you." She smiled and remembered something "Umm...Nitya?"
"Yes." Her manager caught on her worried tone.
"Please engage Farhan in anything else." She whispered her thoughts "I... I don't think I want to work with him anymore."
"What? Did something happen?" Nitya questioned immediately.
Uttara fisted the bedsheet tightly "Yes."
True to his words, Vidyut unlocked the main door in 4 hours and entered his apartment back.
Today had to be his off from the hospital but a call had made him visit there for a few hours. Something he minds for the first time.
Shrugging off his coat and placing his bag on the couch, his eyes searched for her in the kitchen, then the living room. A smirk erupted on his face as he tip-toed towards the room and peaked inside to watch her bundled in the comforter, breathing slowly as she slept away.
He checked the time and pulled out his phone to order take-out food and shrugged off his clothes to change into casuals. Today, he didn't feel like working. The mere sight of the file irked him so he shifted to the TV.
The food was delivered in a mere half an hour.
He placed it on the dining table and brought out the plates, setting the lunch for two.
"Uttara" He called her, taking tentative steps towards her sleeping form as he took in the position of the pillows and a discarded heat pad on the side table as she winced in her slumber.
His frown widened as he tried joining dots and closed his eyes in realization. He walked back to the area and piled two plates and enough food for them before carrying it to their room and placing it on the settee near the bed.
"Wake up, Tara. Have something." He lightly tapped her cheeks earning grumbles in protest. "You can rest later, eat first."
"Go away." She mumbled.
He pulled her up gently and placed two pillows behind her back to which she moaned. Her eyes blinked as she pushed sleep back.
"It is past lunch." He informed her and passed a plate. "Take this and then after you can rest as much as you want. "
"Why are you back?" She complained childishly "I prefer you working."
"Shut up and eat" He rolled his eyes.
Once she was done juggling with food and sleep, she kept the empty plate back and stared at him as he ate taking his own time.
"What?" He asked after a minute of her staring.
"Why are you being nice to me?" She questioned.
"You are still sleepy." He commented observing her, earning a scowl at his nonchalance.
"Can you never answer me straight?" She jested throwing her hands up in the air. "What do you want? Decide and clear it to me for once and all. Before you say it is all an arrangement, now you act as if you are my husband."
"I am your husband." He stated, "And, you or I, both cannot change the fact, Tara."
Any questions for ma'boys?
#Anirudh
#Vidyut
#Rakshit