I Became His Replaced Bride

Chapter 3

A week later.

Hotel Grand Estates, 8:00 pm.

Aashna was sitting before a mirror. Her reflection looked dull and tired. But most pronouncedly sad. She knows nothing about her groom, not even his name. She didn't even meet him once. Bela and Brijesh have refused to give her any information regarding her marriage. She was wearing a creamy white lehenga and red choli with a red dupatta. The gold jewellery was name sake and minimal; one mangtika, a set of gold kundan necklace with earrings, a pair of gold bangles, and one pair of payal. She tried to believe that this is how a bride looks. Though she couldn't forget that she was all alone. In all the pre-wedding rituals, she was left on her own. She put haldi and mehendi by herself. There was nobody on any single day this week beside her. Her family and relatives were busy celebrating Ramya. She was not allowed to take part in any of the ceremonies held for Ramya. She was discarded as bad luck. It hurt and saddened her. In this hotel room, she has spent the days wallowing in self-pity, crying.

She doesn't care that her groom is a middle-class man, that he is just a manager, or her mother-in-law is a maid. Her heart only yearns for the love that she never had in life. All her childhood, she has been abused physically and verbally by her family and relatives. She never felt beautiful because of societal standards. She has been the ugly, bad luck. There were times that she has been really sad, like when her mother locked her in a dark room all night because she touched Ramya. Or when she had her first period, Bela refused to help her and called her disgusting. And when she had been beaten blue for accidentally pushing Ramya. Her parents and family never loved her, that was clear, they never wanted her. But, discarding her in the wedding festivities like a disease hurt her physically.

Bela and Brijesh forced her to resign from her school job. They forbade her from leaving the house. She only had her job and those underprivileged children to call her own. But that too, was snatched from her. It was the worst pain she ever felt. It was pitiful. The raw pain of the loss brought tears to her eyes. She silently watched the tears slip down her cheeks.

The wedding was rushed, she knows. The reason was unknown. She hoped that after marriage, her husband and in-laws would respect her and give her freedom. That's all she asks. It has been an hour since she was waiting to be escorted to the mandap. The muhurat would be over soon. What's the matter? Why did nobody come to fetch her? She could feel something was wrong. The Parekh's were no slackers. Did something happen? Baraat has arrived.  Should she go out and check?

Aashna walked along the long hallway. She remembered the room numbers of Bela and Brijesh, and Ramya. She avoided the people on the way. Their mocking and judgemental gaze again gave her discomfort. Nervousness seeped into her body. She felt anxious.

The door of the hotel room was opened. Aashna stopped beside the door. She could hear Bela and Brijesh arguing back and forth. They sounded nervous and tense. Her subconscious made her freeze. Neither she entered the room nor peeped inside. She remained outside.

"You have signed the agreement papers. Fulfil your end of the deal. I don't care how."

The voice was unknown. It was deep and authoritative. Aashna felt shivers running down her body. The threat was clear in the statement. What agreement? What kind of deal did her parents get into? Should she be worried?

"Please try to understand, we were not aware of the situation!"

Brijesh rushed. Aashna was surprised. Brijesh has always been confident and commanding. What happened that he is so troubled?

"We beg you. Let's attenuate the deal. "

It was Bela, pleading in a meek voice. Aashna felt her eyes widen. Bela has always been very supercilious and lofty. Aashna felt hard to believe that it was her parents. The same parents who tormented her.