Shehnaaz Maniyar: The Twin Sissy Blessing Or Curse

Clauses Of Marriage

Shehnaaz called in sick at the library the next day in order to sort out childcare arrangements but her efforts were not encouraging. As she didn't have a car, she was limited to using a private centre whose fees were extortionate. She had no choice but to make the booking, hoping that her niece would cope with the change without too much fuss.

The next two days passed without any further contact from Sidharth. At times Shehnaaz wondered if she'd imagined the whole thing, so unreal it seemed, but on the third day a letter arrived, the first page of the thick document informing her that the marriage ceremony would be on July the fifteenth.

She felt her spine buckle in anxiety. It seemed there was no way out. She would have to marry Sidharth in order to keep Lily. She would have to continue to deceive him, even though in doing so she was going to be fuelling his hatred even more.

The thought of pretending to be her sister for months, maybe even years on end, terrified her but she couldn't see any alternative. It was incredible to think that a few simple words stood between her and her freedom. If she told him: I am not Lily's mother', the marriage would be called off.

Five words and she would be free.

Five simple words that would grant her instant freedom, but take away her niece permanently.

As she had more or less expected, there had been no further contact from Rida. Shehnaaz had tried her mobile repeatedly, but each time the message service informed her the phone was out of service, and the numerous text messages she'd sent went unanswered. As her sister hadn't given her a forwarding address it made it even more impossible for Shehnaaz to escape the tight net that was surrounding her minute by minute.

She tossed the letter from Sidharth aside to respond to Lily's cries for attention, doing her best to keep her mind away from the thought of being married to a man who hated her so much.

As she came back out to the living room with Lily tucked close to her, the phone rang and she reached to answer it.

"Shehnaaz" Sidharth's deep voice sounded in her ear. It's Sidharth

Stiffening for a moment she said, 'yeah.'

Shehnaaz said sadly. There was a brief but tense pause.You will get your allowance as soon as the marriage is conducted and not a second before,' he bit out at last.

Don't you trust me, Mr Ansari? Shehnaaz used her sister's tone with relish. Do you think I might try and dupe you?'

I would very much like to see you try, he challenged her darkly. I am sure I do not have to warn you of the consequences if there is any double-dealing on your part. Shehnaaz couldn't help an inward shiver at the irony of his coolly delivered statement. As far as double-dealing went, hadn't she already dug her own grave?

By the way, Sidharth said, since we are marrying in a matter of days it is hardly appropriate for you to continue to call me by my surname.

Sidharth Shehnaaz breathed his name in low whisper. 'What does it mean?'

'It means Lion' he said. My Ammi told me it means "Sher" in Urdu.' Do you speak Urdu?' Shehnaaz asked.

Yes, along with several other languages.
Shehnaaz was privately impressed but wasn't going to acknowledge it to him.
What about you?' Sidharth asked when she didn't immediately respond.

Me? Shehnaaz gave a quick snort. All that foreign rubbish? No way! English is the universal language, why anyone would bother chattering away in anything else is completely beyond me.

Shehnaaz was more or less fluent in both Urdu and English, but had decided to keep it to herself. She'd studied languages at both school and College and enjoyed a certain level of proficiency. But it suited her purpose to let him think her a complete airhead who had nothing better to do than primp and preen to fill the time.