His Arranged Bride

Chapter 19

Nitya

Standing in the kitchen, inhaling the aroma of freshly brewed tea, I hum softly to myself.

After a long time, I am feeling a semblance of peace. After everything that happened a week back, I had thought Maaji would throw me out of the house. But Prathamji handled everything as he had promised me.

A small smile curves my lips as I think about my husband.

Things have been better between us lately. He still seems stiff and stern whenever we talk, but he is not as aloof as before. He had said he would try, and I can see him trying.

With this happening, I have allowed tiny hope to flutter within me. The hope of perhaps our relationship, not only being limited to us being cordial, but also our bond getting stronger with time.

I won't deny being attracted to him because I am. I had been taken by him since I saw him on our wedding night. But recently, the way he supported me and the way he is trying to understand my struggles, I can feel my attraction for him deepening.

Perhaps, I have even started to fal—

Maaji's shrill voice interrupts me before I can complete that thought.

"Why are you taking so long to bring tea?" She asks, glaring at me.

"It's almost done, Maaji. I will bring it out soon."

"Do it fast. And are you done frying the fritters too? Everyone is waiting outside."

I nod at her. "Yes. I have already friend onion fritters. Only paneer fritters are left to be fried now."

She sighs loudly. "You cannot do even one thing in time." She shakes her head. "But then, we can't even say anything to you, can we? Otherwise, you will start disrespecting us by talking back to us."

I know she said that because she is still miffed about the way I talked with Chachiji a week back. I had thought they would let it go in a few days, but I have been hearing their taunts about it every day since then.

Although I want to tell Maaji that my intention behind saying that to Chachiji was not to disrespect her, it was to stand up for myself, but I keep quiet, knowing that, no matter what I say, she won't understand me and the taunts won't stop too.

"What are you staring at? Are you thinking of disrespecting me too?" She asks.

"Why do you behave this way with me, Maaji?" I counter, unable to stop myself. "Since the time I have stepped inside this house, I have obeyed you. I have never talked with you in a loud voice. Every day, I have only tried to do my best to fulfill all my responsibilities. But still, you keep finding faults in me. You keep taunting me. Why, Maaji?"

She seems stunned for a moment, but then her face contorts in anger.

"Bohot jubaan chalne lagi hai teri. Agar ho sake, toh jubaan nahi haath chalana seekh aur apna kaam kar. Jaldi chai aur pakode bahaar le aa. Sab intezaar kar rahe hain."

("You have started running your mouth too much. If you can, instead of your mouth, try to run your hands and do your works. Bring the fritters out soon. Everyone is waiting.")

Saying that, she turns and walks out of the kitchen without letting me say anything else.

Sighing, I am about to fry the paneer fritters, when Dhritiji enters the kitchen.

"Do you need any help, Bhabhi?" She offers, glancing at the boiling tea over the gas.

I smile at her. "No, Dhritiji. Everything is almost done."