Kismat

Prologue

At The Singhania's Mansion:

Knock Knock Knock

"I'll get it!" shouts a girl wearing a light purple salwar kameez. She rushes towards the entrance, passing her mother. "Be careful, Riya." Her mother says, who smiles and shakes her head at her daughter's excitement.

"Bhai mera suit le aaye!"

(Brother has bought my dress)

Ready with her brightest smile to express her gratitude, she swings open the door. Only to see her chachu's son, Rohan, dressed in a light blue sherwani. Standing next to him is an unknown woman, dressed in a matching light blue lehenga, staring right at her. Confusion was written all over Riya's face.

"Rohan bhai, yeh. . . .?" Her question remains unfinished as she takes in the sight of the bright pink varmala hanging around their necks, the deep red sindoor adorning the woman's forehead. Trailing her eyes down, Riya glances at the small necklace with black beads and a huge diamond, her mangalsutra. Riya skims down the length of the woman taking in the beautiful embroidery on the lehenga, her eyes stopping at the bright pink chooda, also covered in crystals, and the two big, gold bangles. Riya knows those belong to her chachi.

(Rohan brother, this. . . . .?)

"This is my Priya. My wife."

Reality sets in for Riya as the woman named Priya takes a small, calculated step towards Riya. She folds her hands in a namaste, bringing her diamond ring into the light where it shines straight into Riya's eyes. Six carats at least. Priya trails her eyes down and says, "Namaste."

Silence. Complete silence. Just the small clitter clatter of Priya's jewellery as she shuffles around.

After a minute of silence, where Riya is looking at her supposed Bhabhi, she turns to her cousin.

"No. . . . . No, you can't do this!!"

"Riya, go call mum and tayiji. Hamara ghreh pravesh karvaien," Rohan says, his facial expressions ever so calm, not changing one bit when Riya glares at him.

(to come and welcome us)

"You can't do this bhai! You can't do that to her! She's waiting for you!"

"Oh ho, why are you shouting beta, don't tell me Shourya got the wrong suit again." Suman, Riya's mum, says as she approaches the door.

Her steps halter as she sees the spectacle at the door, and her soft smile falls as well as the glass in her hand. Neither Rohan nor Priya flinch as the glass shatters a few feet away from them. Riya rushes to her mother to ensure she doesn't hurt herself.

The commotion gains the attention of the housekeeper and some of the workers, who stand further away to watch.

Riya helps her mother to get to the door, away from shattered glass.

"Rohan, beta . . . . . .wha-. . . . . . who? Yeh kya hai, Rohan?"

(son. . . . . what is this, Rohan?)

"Namaste"

Priya addresses her husband's tayiji. Like a proper bahu. Hands folded together, eyes trailing down with a ghoongat covering her head.

"Na-Namaste betaji," came a whispered response from a startled Suman.

(Na-namaste child)

Turning to her daughter, Suman says, "Go get your chachu and chachi, and then why don't you tell the maharaji what you want to eat today."

Riya takes one last look at Rohan and Priya before walking away, face red with anger. How could he?