His Unwilling Bride | COMPLETED ✓

✿ REASON TO MARRY ✿

RABYA

"The daughter-in-law is very pretty." An old woman take a good look at my face then pulls down the veil.

She handed me some money and then another woman came to sit infront of me. She did the same with me.

I've been sitting here since past three hours and every single woman of the village has come to see my face and give me gifts. I'm tired and disgusted. I don't want to do this. They're laughing among themselves and whispering things about me— both good and bad.

"Chauhan sahab, must've been rough on her, last night. Poor soul looks so tired." Someone from the crowd said making everyone laugh.

"She's blushing already. Newly wedded life is indeed exciting." Another one said.

I'm not blushing. There's nothing to blush about. Plus my face is hidden behind the veil, how can she see it even if I blushed?

"I don't know who are the women who enjoy their first time. I bleed heavily and my husband didn't care about it." A girl in her thirties laughed as if this is the most normal thing in the world.

"Exactly it's been six years to my marriage yet my husband doesn't likes if I say no to him."

"My husband hits me when I say that I'm tired."

And everyone laughed sharing details of their intimate lives. They were laughing not complaining which made me sick to my stomach. How can they be cracking jokes about such a serious issue? Or are they even aware that it's an issue? I have high hopes with our country that someday Marital rape will be criminalised. I believe in the higher judiciary and the judgements they deliver.

I was part of NGO during my graduation days where I had met several women survivors of both domestic violence and marital rape. I remember this one young girl who was merely nineteen and was married to the man who was in his late fourties'. The man had the daughter of the same age as that of the girl he was married to. She was rescued when she ran away from her home. Her husband used to sexually assault her. She had multiple stitches and her body was full of bruises.

I shivered in pain and wondered what if Adhrit Chauhan was one of those men? Asking for consent is bare minimum and in today's world when people are fighting over social media that marriage equals to consent, I doubt if it's bare minimum anymore.

"Chauhan sahab, didn't take dowry." Someone said snapping me out of my trance.

"I heard that daughter-in-law's father died few weeks back. People also said that Chauhan sahab agreed to this marriage because....."

"Shut up, Madhu. Don't talk unnecessarily."

I furrowed my brows. What are they talking about? What do I not know about my marriage?

I sat in the same position for the next few hours until I was free to go back to my room when all the women of the village left. I rushed back inside and changed my clothes into what Adhrit Chauhan offered me last night; his kurta. I sat on the bed, pulling comforter over my naked thighs. I hate wearing traditional clothing. It's not that I hate them completely but I prefer something comfortable. I'd be okay to even wear cotton salwar kameez but not these heavy sarees and jewelleries.