The Enchantress

Chapter forty-nine

Mahamaya quickly urged Tara, "What are you doing there, child? Come sit in the front, on my lap preferably."

Tara's eyes widened with wonder as she climbed between the seats like a monkey and settled on Mahamaya's lap as Mahamaya giggled and Viraj chuckled. He knew they would just click together. Mahamaya rocked the girl softly as she asked Viraj, "Where was she throughout the wedding?"

Viraj answered, "Ayush uncle had sent her to a friend's house because her being in the wedding and saying something she wasn't supposed to say would be suspicious."

Mahamaya pouted, feeling sad that she didn't meet Tara earlier as Tara copied her and pouted too, making Mahamaya giggle again. Viraj smiled, before he remembered something important and asked her, "So, I had to talk about something important to you."

Mahamaya looked at him, giving him his full attention and little Tara did the same thing as Mahamaya asked, "What is it?"

Viraj answered, "We will need to get your name changed. You see, it is a family tradition and I know that you would feel offended or-"

Mahamaya said, "Shh, understood. I don't mind. I would have to eventually. If I keep my original name, my relatives can be traced back to your Mafia and their lives would be endangered too. I was going to suggest this myself."

Viraj smiled, looking relieved as he asked, "So, what should your name be?"

Mahamaya thought a little and asked him, "What is yours?"

Viraj said, "The one in my kundli (birth chart), Vishnuyashas."

Mahamaya thought a little as his name didn't give her any idea on what her name should be so she said a simple name because her classmates always teased her because she had a long name, "How does Sumati sound?"

Viraj smiled and said, "I like it. I like Sumati."

Mahamaya smiled and said, "Great, so I would be Sumati from today."

"Great, so I would be Tara from today," Tara mimicked Mahamaya, making Mahamaya laugh as she pecked the adorable girl's cheeks and asked her, "What would you call me, dear?"

Tara seemed to be thinking before she asked her, "What do you want me to call you?"

Mahamaya looked at Viraj and asked her, "What does she call you?"

Viraj looked at her and counter questioned her, "What do you think she calls me?"

Mahamaya narrowed her eyes at how she was getting questions in response to questions. Tara and Viraj made fun of her together of how her angry expression looked while Mahamaya kept whining and making faces, but liking how the father-daughter duo had teamed up against her. Then, she got an idea and she said to Tara, "Since you call him Aaba (father), you can call me Maayi (mother)."

Viraj felt like his heart would beat out of his ribcage with how good and nice Mahamaya was being with his step daughter. He felt grateful as they drove and Tara proved as a cheerful and ever energetic companion throughout the one hour ride. 

When Mahamaya noticed that they were about to arrive at their house, Mahamaya asked Viraj, "So, did anybody tell you what are the next rituals?"

Viraj nodded and replied, "Yes, thank God you reminded me. I was supposed to tell you this. We are going to leave for Pandharpur, Jejuri and Bijasni temples since tomorrow. After that, we were supposed to leave for our honeymoon but there are some work related works. I have to be announced as the Mafia Boss soon now that I am married and I am sure you can't take anymore leaves either."

Mahamaya nodded, agreeing with his plan. They would have fun later in life. Now was the time to carry out their responsibilities. The honeymoon could wait, life and its responsibilities can't. Soon, the car was pulled into the garage of the house of the Deshmukhs. The house or the huge bungalow was named as Vibhu, meaning power in sanskrit. Since the people in the house were hungry for power, that's why they had named their house this. 

As Viraj entered with Mahamaya and Tara, Mahamaya saw the busy movement in the house regarding how everybody did their work diligently, from the servants to the family members. Viraj told her, "Would you like to get a tour of the house?"

Mahamaya never really could get a tour of the house. So, she nodded as Viraj smiled and Mahamaya carried Tara in her arms as Viraj was being the tour guide for his wife. 

The server's quarters and their to be bedroom after he would become the King were on the ground floor. The first floor housed the other gang members. They had separate rooms with lots of space and multiple bedrooms. There were hundred such rooms like these there. The second floor had the family of the Deshmukhs, with many empty rooms too for any special guest or if there were too many children in any generation so they could use the separate rooms once they were all grown up. Along with all these, the second floor also had huge gyms, a big theatre and an inhouse swimming pool too. Mahamaya looked around as she wondered how easy it was to get lost in these rooms.

Just then, Aabha appeared from one of the rooms and said, "Are you tiring my daughter now, son? Didn't I tell you to let her rest? You two have long journeys from tomorrow, child."

Mahamaya went forward to touch Aabha's feet, carrying a sleeping Tara in her arms as Aabha blessed her and scolded her son again, "What are you doing? Why is she carrying Tara around? Take her now."

Viraj surrendered to his mother and took Tara from her arms as Mahamaya stifled a laugh at the faces he was making. Aabha held her hand and took her to where Viraj was staying for now and told her, "Adjust here for a few days and you can live in a better room later."

Mahamaya felt herself melt at Aabha's concern as she said, "Don't worry, Maayi. My room was smaller than this. I will have no problem adjusting here."

Aabha looked relieved as she said, "Good, now you two rest up. You have a long journey tomorrow."

Viraj and Mahamaya smiled, before nodding their heads and leaving to the room, as Viraj carefully kept Tara at the centre and asked Mahamaya, "Do you want me to take the couch?"

Mahamaya said dramatically, "You might have to, my dear husband, if you didn't have the dream. Now, since you think you have suffered so much since so many lives, how can I make you suffer more? Come, let's sleep together on the bed."

Mahamaya had not told him yet that she had seen the same dream but Viraj somehow had a doubt that she had. There would be no other reason why she would react that way that night if she had not. Besides, her behaviour towards him had changed drastically since that night and he considered the dream a big part of it. Viraj chuckled and settled himself to one side of Tara while Mahamaya changed herself from the saree to a nightgown and settled into another...