His Arranged Bride

Chapter 18

Nitya

With my hands clasped tightly in my lap, as I sit on the couch in the room, my mind races with anxious thoughts.

What must be happening downstairs? Will Prathamji really be able to convince everyone to let me stay in this house?

I feel nervous as well as helpless in my current situation. Such is my condition that I will have nowhere to go if instead of Prathamji convincing his family, Maaji, Chachiji, and Chachaji convinced him to throw me out of the house.

I stand up from the couch and walk to the door. Standing there, I could hear the voices coming from downstairs, but they were muffled, and I was only able to catch a few words. One of them being my name taken repeatedly.

Part of me wants to go downstairs, to listen to what they are discussing, but I know that will only make the matters worse.

Prathamji had said he would handle it. So, I will need to wait for him to do it.

But what if he is not able to convince the elders? Will they really throw me out of this house?

That thought causes my heart to race in the fear of returning to my village. Not only will that cause villagers there to taunt me and my upbringing, I will be constantly poked and relentlessly asked about what happened. And no matter what I will say, the conclusion they will come to will be me not being able to fulfill my duties of being a daughter-in-law and not being able to satisfy my husband.

I sigh as another thought rises in my mind.

Babuji will not let me stay there.

During my bidaai, Babuji had made it clear that he will not let me inside his house if I came running there after doing anything wrong in my in-laws' house.

When he will get to know what happened here, he will definitely think I am the one in the wrong. Actually, even if nothing had happened, even if I would have been thrown me out of the house without me doing anything, then too, he would have blamed me for it.

My heart clenches painfully at the thought. Fathers are supposed to protect their children. But I never got the protection from my father. Only his taunts and his disapproval just because I am a girl.

I am not sure if Yash bhaiyya is in the village or not. He often goes to the city, and if he is not here, only Maa definitely won't be able to convince Babuji to let me in the house.

Perhaps I can ask Prathamji to help me in getting to the city so I can meet Bhaiyya there.

Sighing, I shake my head, and will myself to not think about it. There is no use thinking about it because it will do nothing other than making me sad.

Suddenly, the door creaks open, and I look up, expecting Prathamji to enter the room. But it is not him. It's Dhritiji entering the room with a sympathetic smile on her face.

"Are you fine, Bhabhi?" She asks softly.

"What is happening downstairs, Dhritiji? Have they reached a decision?"

She sits on the edge of the bed and signals me to sit beside her. Once I sit, she holds my hand and squeezes it in reassurance.

"Pratham bhaiyya is standing up for you, Bhabhi. And the way he is doing it, I am sure he won't let you go anywhere."

Due to her words, I feel a surge of relief wash through me. Along with the relief, a small hope also flickers within me. "Is Prathamji really standing up for me?"

Dhritiji nods. "Haan, Bhabhi. Aap dekhiyega. Bhaiyya kisiko bhi aapko yahan se nikalne nahi denge."

("Yes, Bhabhi. I am sure Bhaiyya will not let anyone throw you out of this house.")