Rukmini

Chapter 18: Unexpected

'Oh, but darling, who said you were Abhimanyu's wife ?', Vikramaditya said holding something in his hand.

All of us turned our gazes towards Vikramaditya. I still held Abhimanyu's wrist with a tight grip.

'You are my wife, Rukmini.', he continued.

'WHAT ?', I asked him, getting tired of the continuous shocks.

As I said that, I left Abhimanyu's hand, leaving a red mark over his wrist where I had held it.

What does he mean ? I can't be his wife ... I'm NOT his wife, and will never be. I - I'm Abhimanyu's wife, isn't it ? But after all this, can one expect anything normal ? What is that in his hand ? Wait, Rukmini. Don't show him any signs of weakness. He wants you to break down completely. But, what if it's the truth ? I don't want anything to do with this man. Should I worry about all this so much ? He's probably fibbing, just to get his point proved. Maybe, I shouldn't keep myself confused and angered. I'll play along with the situation. Yes, that's much better. That's more like you, Rukmini. Play along, show weakness where necessary.

I took a deep breath and said, 'Praise the Lord ! How many more lies and shocks am I expected to take ? Your wife ? Is that the joke of the year ? Here, me and Abhimanyu are having a dispute over our façade of a marriage, and you just want to pitch in and add fuel to the fire ? What nonsense is this ?'

'It's the truth. Now, Rukmini come here, will you ? I don't appreciate you being so far away from me.', he said in an intimidating manner.

'I will not submit to you. You're not my husband. The only relation we share, is that I am your vahini and you are my chotte bhauji. Nothing else. So, please do your vahini a favor by keeping your lies stuffed in your pocket and your mouth shut.', I said sharply.

(Vahini = sister - in-law, chotte bhauji = younger brother - in-law)

'Rukmini ..', he said as I cut him off.

'And, one more thing, you better call me vahini and not Rukmini.', I said firmly.

'How can I address my wife as my vahini ? No one would do that.', he said in a sarcastic manner.

'Enough with it already ! I am just going to ignore you and get back to what I was at.', I said and turned to Abhimanyu, 'So Abhimanyu, care to explain ?'

'Rukmini, whatever Abhimanyu had to explain, has been explained by him. Now, I think you should come to me, your loving husband.', he said emphasizing the last three words.

'Deva, panduranga, ....', I took a deep breath and continued, '... I doubt whether you are completely sound in mind or not. I just told you, a few minutes ago, to call me VAHINI, and not Rukmini. And coming to the main point, YOU'RE NOT MY HUSBAND, I AM ALREADY MARRIED TO YOUR BROTHER, ABHIMANYU !'

(Deva = God, Panduranga = The name of God)

'I am your husband. Remember, back in college, I had told you that I would make you mine, I've done it. I don't need to repeat myself and tell you that I'm a man of my words. We're married.', he said patiently.

Does he have proof ? He's saying it so confidently ...

I looked at him questioningly.

'I even have proof.', he said giving me a casual look.

'What proof ?', I asked him, getting slightly tensed.

'This .....', he said, holding up some papers in his hands.

I went upto him, and took the papers in my hands, onlyto find something surprising.

'Can you read out what is written, Rukmini ?', Vikramaditya said.