His Arranged Bride

Chapter 27

Nitya

Nervously wringing the pallu of my saree, I stand mutely in the living room. The sight of Prathamji and Udayji greeting each other with such familiarity is unsettling to me.

Seeing them talking and laughing, it seems as if they are old friends meeting after a long time.

I do not know what to make of this and how to proceed in this situation.

Udayji's presence is jarring to me. I had never met him in person, only seen his photograph when his father had proposed the marriage alliance between us.

The photo was not that clear, but now, seeing him in front of me, I can notice the hardness to his features, a kind of sharpness to his face that is accentuated by the set of his jaw and the slight narrowing of his eyes as he glances at me.

Has Udayji already told Maaji that before Prathamji his marriage proposal had come to me?

I shake my head.

It does not seem like he has said anything. If he had, Maaji would have definitely said something about it.

Although I am not sure if this will do any damage to my relationship with Prathamji, I am also unsure of what they will think after finding out that Yash Bhaiyya broke off my marriage with Udayji and I also refused to marry him because we thought he was lying about his divorce from his first wife.

"Nitya." Prathamji turns to me. "He is Uday Rathi. My friend as well as a member of our family."

Folding his hand, Udayji says, "Namaste, Nityaji. It's a pleasure to finally meet my friend's wife."

His smile is polite, but it does not seem genuine.

My breath catches in my throat, and finding myself unable to utter a word, I also fold my hands in Namaste, giving him a small smile.

"You are not saying anything. Are you fine?" Udayji asks.

A shadow of animosity that I could see appearing in his eyes sends a chill down my spine. Swallowing hard, I manage to utter, "Yes. I am f-fine, Udayji."

"Why won't she be fine? She has returned after many days of gallivanting around the city, after all," Maaji says, and I am thankful for her interruption because it shifts Udayji's gaze from me to her. "It seems like she has gotten lazy after being in the city for ten days. That's why, even after seeing the guest in the house, she is still standing here and not going to the kitchen to make tea for everyone."

Nodding at her, I am about to go to the kitchen, but Prathamji stops me.

"Isn't Dhriti at home?" He asks Maaji. "Nitya and I have returned just now. She must also be tired after the long journey."

I am touched by his concern, and although I am tired, not only from the journey, but also from the hangover of the last night drinking, I really want to get away from here, even if it meant retreating to the kitchen and doing the works there. Being on my own for some time will allow me to think properly and find a way to handle this situation.

"It's okay, Prathamji. It's just making tea. I will do it."

"Your wife is not made of glass that she will shatter just by making three cups of tea. There is no need to be so protective about her every time," Maaji says to Prathamji, and I sigh, not really surprised because I had expected this.

When I see Prathamji about to open his mouth to argue, I quickly step in. "I'll go and make tea."

Saying that, as I turn to leave, I feel a prickling sensation o the back of my neck, as if someone's intent eyes were on me. I could hear Prathamji and Maaji talking with each other, so it must be Udayji's eyes following me. Must be his gaze causing uneasiness to rise within me. Yet, I neither stop, nor do I turn to confirm my doubt. Instead, I quicken my pace to get away from him as soon as possible.