The Enchantress

22. It's a yes

There was absolute silence in the room as everyone tried to absorb what the older woman had said. Mahamaya paled but she knew where the elder woman was coming from.

Since no one was willing to say anything, she decided to break the silence, "I know that we are meeting for the first time and you are just trying to be sure for your son that I deserve him but I think the questions are a bit heavy for the first meeting. I'm trying to be as polite as possible but I never asked your son if he has made anyone else pregnant yet."

The woman was stunned. The girl was right. What had gotten inside her? She was never like this. She didn't want to act like a stuck up mother-in-law who only knew how to complain because she had gone through the same thing. Her mother-in-law did focus on only creating more unnecessary problems for her and it was a tough time for her.

But even before her son was married, she was tending to act with her potential daughter-in-law in a similar way. She bowed her head, hands joined as she apologized, "I get your point, daughter. I'm sorry for acting this way but, your father somehow wants this to be the last meeting, or one of the last at least and I can't help but feel that something is wrong."

Mahamaya got up and held the lady's joined hands, pleading, smiling, "Please aunty, don't join your hands in front of me. I'm younger than you. Please don't embarrass yourself like that. I don't know why Pappa (father) wants it to happen this way but if you are not comfortable with this, you can reject me or you can stay with us for a few days when we go through rituals. It would help the two families bond."

Madhavi felt herself melt. Her son was enchanted by Mahamaya and she herself was admiring her. Mahamaya was handling everything so well, very practically, diplomatically, respectfully and empathetically. Madhavi could tell that there was not much space in the house but the fact that Mahamaya offered it was enough to let her know that they didn't have any ulterior motives. She calmed down slowly.

She couldn't make this decision without her family, especially her son. She couldn't give any commitment and tie him down to the wrong girl for the rest of his life and the fact that this girl understood her restlessness and concerns resonated somewhere deep inside her.

Earlier, the girl seemed perfect, too perfect to be true but now, she just seemed perfect because it seemed true now. She tested her, even though she did it without even knowing that she was testing her and the girl passed with flying colours.

She turned to her husband and tilted her head to the outside, signalling to him that she wanted to leave. Getting up, he joined his hands and declared, "I think we should leave now. We will let you know on what we think later on. I once again apologize on my wife's behalf."

Mahamaya's family got up too, joining their hands. Aarav and his mother stood up, as the family showed them the way outside.

Even though the car belonged to Aarav, his father slid in the driver's seat and his mother on the passenger seat, and Aarav, like he always respectfully did when his parents were present, slid in the back seat.

The car was started as they were bid goodbye by the huge family. Aarav wanted to say many things, but decided not to, out of sheer respect, but his father didn't feel the need to continue to maintain the peace and silence in the car as he asked, "Why? Why Madhavi? You have never acted this way. Why would you suddenly do that?"

She lowered her head and said lowly, like she was embarrassed, "I felt some threat from the girl. I don't know what. It felt endangering and despite her actions and everything, I couldn't shake off that she will destroy us forever if we have any relationship with her."

The father son duo softened as Aarav hugged her and lied to assure her, "I liked her, mom but if you don't want me to marry her, I won't. Whatever you wish."

She shook off her head, murmuring, "When you agreed to this setting of arranged marriage, our only role, as parents is to pick out girls for you which we think would suit you but the final decision is in your hands. If you like her, we are no one to stop you, only she can, by saying no."

Aarav's face was etched with a frown as he mumbled, "No, she won't say no and your wish is my wish, Mom. Let's not talk about rejecting now. I don't want you reject her. I really liked her."

His mother pursed her lips, feeling slightly ashamed of her behaviour so far. Never in the girl's actions did she sense anything dangerous. The only thing which seemed wrong was that her father wanted to marry her off soon but her own father was like that. She had gotten married to Aarav's father in the same way.

Maybe he was just a person with primitive thinking? Maybe like many others, he thought that the more time the kids her to know each other, the more they would fight and then stop the marriage?

She remembered how the women of the house were bundled up together in the kitchen, sneakily peeking at them from that square hole on the wall between the living room and the kitchen. They seemed backward but the girl, she spoke confidently. That meant that either she was defiant or her father was not like that. So, what was the reason behind his demand?

Closing her eyes, placing the back of her head in the seat, she wondered if she was overthinking and she concluded that she definitely was and therefore, she opened her eyes and told her opinion, "I liked the girl. She was good looking and was looking quite cultured and well mannered. She was also confident enough to put forth her thoughts. I think she's the right girl for Aarav."

Aarav visibly relaxed, blushing a little. Yes, he liked her and he was happy his mother approved of her too. Aarav's father, Om, gave his opinion too, "I think she's perfect for Aarav too. I have never seen a girl like her and I would like to have her as my daughter too."

His wife smiled a little, remembering how they had planned to treat their daughter-in-law like a daughter. They always craved for a daughter and she thought that her wish would be fulfilled after her son married and she got lost in her thoughts again, remembering the dreams she had woven about her son's marriage...