The Forced Bride

Chapter 4 - Broken promises

I IDRIS I

Idris woke up to the sound of the birds chirping. It has been the norm ever since the sparrows built a nest on the branch of the pine tree protruding towards his window, a week ago. It was rather pleasant if you ignored the bird droppings on his desk, which was right next to his bed, every morning. Then again, he could always close the windows, but he'd rather have the bird droppings on his desk everyday than not hear the birds sing him awake every morning. He sat up on his bed wondering why he was unusually wearing a kurta to bed when he always slept in just his loose pants. It was then that he noticed the figure sleeping on the diwan cot, and the previous night's events came flooding into his mind, along with the image of a pair of piercing eyes.

He had seen her lay down on the cot last night. He had pretended to be fast asleep. Call him a coward, but he didn't want to interact with her any further and she most probably felt the same. He knew she wouldn't be comfortable sleeping next to him, so he didn't ask either.

He quietly got off of the bed before moving towards her. She was curled up on her side. She still wore that nose chain and earring on her left ear. He had seen her take every ornament off yesterday, in a way that made him doubt if the ornaments burnt her skin. She must have not taken the earring off because she might not know how to remove it. Otherwise, why would you wear one earring but take off the other?

He debated for a moment before kneeling down beside her. He saw her twitch, but she didn't wake up. He brought his hand to her face and she flinched when his fingertips made contact with her nose, but she was still fast asleep. So, he heaved a relieved sigh and gently twisted the screw on the chain, making sure not to touch her or wake her up. Then he gently pressed down on the little stud and the nose chain came off. He had seen his mother do it a million times. His mother loved wearing a lot of ornaments, until she didn't. He still had them kept safely in his office. The nose ring that Devaki was wearing reminded him of her.

Devaki stirred a little but didn't wake up, thankfully. She might think he was going to do something to her if she woke up and found him hovering over her sleeping figure.

He walked into the bathroom and commenced his morning routine of brushing his teeth and taking a shower. Thinking she'd still be asleep, he exited the bathroom in a towel and almost faltered when he saw her saw her sitting on the chair in front of the dresser. She was taking off the earring on her left ear.

He paused for half a second before walking towards the wardrobe. He could feel her wide eyes following him through the mirror in front of her. And he didn't miss the slight pink in her cheeks when he caught her looking as they made eye contact.

He took out a blue cotton kurta and white shalwar pants from his wardrobe before putting it on, not bothering to go to the bathroom to change. He felt the need to hide a small smile when Devaki looked away so fast that her hair whipped around and knocked down the earrings from the dresser.

He heard her mutter under her breath as she bent down to grab the earring. He wanted to ask her if she wanted anything, her circumstances made him feel a little guilty. But the thought that if it wasn't him, it would be someone else, someone worse, eased his guilt a little. He couldn't make any promises to her. The only thing he could give her was respect. The respect he'd give any woman. And the loyalty a wife deserved.

Even though he'd rather not have a wife, least of all, her, someone who faces the world with challenge in her eyes and fire burning in her heart, he'd still make sure she was safe beside him. He had decided long ago that he'd never let another woman in. The loss of his mother was more than he could ever bear. He couldn't lose someone else that he cared for. He had cousins that he cared for and adored. But a wife was different. A wife was for ever.