ARJUN- The Monster [BOOK 1]

2. Nitya

Uncle Raj sat at the kitchen table, his presence dominating the room, a newspaper crinkling in his grip as he noisily devoured the breakfast my mother had prepared. It felt as though he claimed ownership of the place, casting my mother as his spouse and us as his offspring.

Breakfast, typically a boisterous affair in our household, now hung heavy with the absence of father. Silence enveloped us as all eyes gravitated towards Raj.

"Why are you here?" Nila's inquiry sliced through the tension.

"That's impolite, Nila. Apologize," Mom intervened, her tone firm. Nila was the antithesis of me – fierce, unyielding, never allowing anyone to trample over her.

"I'm not being rude. He appears out of nowhere after Dad's passing. He had no connection to this family before. So why now?" Nila's voice trembled with indignation.

"I'll be assuming the role of head of this family until Aksh reaches maturity," Uncle Raj declared, finally setting down the newspaper and taking a sip of his coffee.

"But why? I'm perfectly capable of leading," Aksh retorted.

Uncle Raj let out a mocking chuckle. "You're fifteen. Far too young to manage anything of consequence."

Aksh bristled, poised to retaliate, but Mom intervened, diffusing the tension with a plate of breakfast and a meaningful glance.

"That's reasonable. But why move in with us? Can't you stay in your own house?" Diya's question hung in the air, a testament to the
newfound courage within my siblings.

Raj's gaze hardened as he regarded Diya, his response dripping with condescension. "Because your father is no longer with us. You need a male presence in the house. Can't have you girls running wild. Hence, I've taken up residence in the master bedroom."

"But that's Ma's room," Nila protested.

"It was," Mom interjected, taking her place at the table opposite Raj. That used to be father's. It didn't feel right. "I've relocated to the guest room."

As I observed Mom closely, I noticed a slip in her saree, revealing a fresh burn mark on her shoulder blade. Anger simmered within me, but I concealed it. I needed to gather evidence before drawing conclusions.

"Are you hurt, Ma?" I ventured cautiously, alluding to the burn.

"I'm fine, Nitya. It's nothing," she replied, avoiding my gaze as she focused on her meal.

As I settled back into my seat, I noticed Uncle Raj watching us intently. "Your mother is resilient, Nitya," he remarked.

"She'll remain so even after your marriage. Speaking of which, I've arranged a meeting with Anand in a few days. It's time you met your future husband."

All eyes turned to me in astonishment.

"Your future husband?" Nila exclaimed.

I remained composed. "Yes, I will be married soon." But not to Anand. Despite knowing little about this guy from Mumbai, if aligning with him protects my family, I'll do it. I doubt Raj has our best interests at heart.

"Yes," Uncle Raj affirmed, casually savoring a piece of roti. "And what a splendid bride she'll make. So much like her mother."

My mother, still youthful and radiant, bore the weight of his gaze. She was merely in her forties, having birthed me at eighteen. His comments felt invasive and inappropriate.

Mom tensed beside me. "Well, it's time to start our day. Kids, get ready for school."

"But Dad just passed away," Aksh protested. "Shouldn't we have a day off?"

Mom glanced at Raj before addressing Aksh. "It's best for you to attend school. Especially with Nila and your board exams approaching. Trust me." She began clearing plates, preempting any further objections.

Raj remained seated as we dispersed.

While helping Mom with the dishes, she whispered discreetly, "Pack your bags. I received a call last night from Mumbai. Your flight is at 1 p.m."

I nearly dropped the plate in shock. It was too sudden. I hadn't even bid proper farewells to my siblings.

"You won't be present for the wedding?"

"There won't be a wedding. No elaborate dresses or religious ceremonies. He doesn't believe in any of that. You'll just need to sign some papers." Her words were stark, but I accepted them.

"But I believe in the sanctity of marriage. Weddings are meant to be sacred."

"I know, but not now. When tensions ease, we'll arrange a grand wedding for you, my dear. Now hurry. I don't want Raj to suspect anything and stop you from leaving." Mom urged, but I hesitated.

"I don't want to leave you alone with him, Ma." She understood my implication, and as I examined the scar more closely, it seemed like a cigarette burn.

"I'll manage. You need to go. Text me once you're there."

With that, she dismissed me, though I noticed a solitary tear escape her eye. How could I leave her alone with a man like him? It seemed impossible yet imperative.

I was torn between duty and my heart. But as always, I chose duty.

Promptly at 1 p.m., a car arrived, whisking me to the airport. From there, I boarded a flight to Mumbai. Another car awaited me at the airport, the driver withholding the name of his employer. Everyone referred to him as "Bhai," a title that commanded respect or fear, I couldn't decipher.

The driver pulled up to a large iron gate, which swung open upon presenting his ID to the security. A winding driveway led to a massive mansion, Victorian in style, imposing in its presence. It stood dark and brooding against the orange hues of the setting sun, casting an eerie ambiance.

"We've arrived, bhabhi ji," the driver announced, jolting me from my reverie. Stepping out, I was greeted by the cool Mumbai breeze. Would it rain? I couldn't tell.

People waited at the doorstep to assist with my luggage, while a woman, Remya, introduced herself as the caretaker of the mansion. She guided me through the labyrinthine corridors to a bedroom adorned in soft blues, a stark contrast to the mansion's grandeur.

"You can freshen up. Dinner will be served at eight. Chota Saheb wishes for you to sign the legal documents downstairs by then." With that, Remya departed, leaving me to process the whirlwind of information.

I collapsed onto the plush bed, its comfort lulling me into drowsiness. Though I attempted to text Mom, fatigue overtook me, and I drifted into slumber, the impending unknown awaiting me.