His Brown Bride

38

Rajiv's POV











I accompanied my grandmother back home and forwarded Anita's message to her father, word for word.

My grandmother was present then, and to my surprise, she repeated the exact same idea I had expressed earlier. "We will summon the village representatives," she declared, her voice firm and authoritative.

"She can't escape our tradition. Many have tried to defy it in the past, but none have succeeded. She won't be the exception!" Her tone, venomous added, while her eyes flashed with wrath.

"Has she become too powerful for us to control?" her father questioned.

"It's not that she's too powerful," my grandmother clarified. "But what if she takes us to jail again? That's a terrifying and horrible place to end up. We have to be practical and think about the consequences. Moreover, she's not alone; that man is backing her up. But with the village representatives involved, she won't be able to harm them." Her eyes clouded with more fury.

"Fine," her father replied, his tone resigned. "I'll return to the village and explain the situation to them. Maybe we do need their support to handle this."

"I will go with you," I volunteered.

•••••

I was packing my clothes, my hands shaking with anger as my mind was still reeling over Anita's disrespect, asking me to leave her sight, when Divya entered my room.

I glared at her suspiciously.

She let out a deep sigh before speaking. "I overheard your conversation with your grandmother and Anita's father. If she doesn't want you back, don't force her. There are plenty of other girls out there in the world."

I cut her off, my voice rising in annoyance. "Just keep quiet! I didn't ask for your opinion." I snapped and continued packing.

She rolled her eyes then sneered, "You divorced her, remember? For another woman, sadly, me. If she even considers returning, I'll be the first to question her self-respect."

I slammed my hand on the dresser, my anger boiling over. "Stay within your limits, Divya! You don't want to see me angry. Believe me, you don't." I yelled, my eyes blazing with fury.

She chuckled mockingly, her eyes glinting with amusement. "What you're about to do will only lead to your downfall. So, to protect myself and my husband, who, thank God, doesn't buy into your archaic beliefs, I want my brother's entire property transferred back to me. Durga's no longer here to harm me, so..."

"Get out of my room because I'm not doing that." I responded.

There was no way I'd surrender everything I'd worked so hard for, everything I'd achieved, and return to a life of poverty and mediocrity.

I'd long surpassed that stage, and there was no going back.

"I'm not leaving until you sign these papers," she insisted, her voice rising.

"Our property is ancestral, and I won't let you squander it all like a fool." She thrust the file at me, and I caught it instinctively, my eyes widening as I saw the documents she'd prepared.

The papers would transfer everything—the company, the house, even my car—back into her name.

I laughed, the sound infused with hysteria. "You really think I'd ever agree to that?" I asked, incredulous.

"You have to," she replied in a relaxed tone. "Because the property never belonged to you in the first place."

"Your brother gave it to me..." I began, but she cut me off.

"In return for you to protect me, yes, but soon, you'll be too busy saving your own skin to care about mine."

"Where were you when the company was on the brink of collapse?" I retaliated harshly. "I was the one who poured my heart and soul into saving it, who spent countless sleepless nights reviving it. I've made it mine, so I won't let it go." I shot back.

"Fine," she whispered. "You'll be compensated for your efforts. But understand that I'm not asking you to leave your job. I just want the property back in my name to safeguard my future. Once this is all over, hopefully, without a war, you'll get it back." Her words clearly portrayed the mirror of deceit, and I knew I couldn't trust her.

I burst out laughing. "If necessary, I'll transfer it to my mother or Rashi, but honestly, I can't trust it to you or Rajesh," I replied.

Her face turned red with rage. "That property is mine, Rajiv! You have no right whatsoever over it!" she screamed, her voice shrill and venomous.

I glared at her angrily, my eyes shimmering with fury. "Lower your tone when you speak to me!" I thundered,

"I am not your mate!" I exclaimed, my teeth gritted in anger.

She flinched, her eyes wide with shock, and stared at me for a moment before shaking her head and muttering, "You were not like this before."

"Yes, I wasn't," I snapped, my tone cold and hard. "I won't tolerate any woman speaking back to me, including you."

I tore the papers in half, the sound reverberating through the room before I hurled the pieces at her face, and she closed her eyes, her anger and frustration perceptible as she fumed loudly.

When she opened her eyes again, they shone with anger, and she snarled, "I myself will tell Anita not to return to you. Just like you won't return this property, I promise you she won't come back to you either." She then turned and stormed out of the room, leaving me seething with anger.

It was the best thing she did, or I might have lost my temper completely and gotten violent at her.

****

We arrived at Anita's hometown village and reached her family's home, only to find it empty.

Her father's eyes scanned the room, his expression darkening as he spotted a piece of paper on the wall.

He ripped it off and read the contents aloud, his voice trembling with rage. "I am freeing myself from this toxic relationship. After years of suffering, I've finally found the courage to walk away from your abuse. I'm taking my children and myself to my daughter, the one you constantly belittled and ridiculed. The irony is, the daughter you claimed had no future is now the one with the brightest future among all your children!"

He crumpled the paper in his hand, his face red with fury, and bellowed, "Insolence!"

****

We stood before the village council, seeking their wisdom and intervention.

I explained Anita's refusal to return to me, and her father showed the paper her mother had left behind.

The council members' expression turned stern, and one of them spoke, "Both of them have strayed from our path, but that doesn't mean we won't bring them back to righteousness. A woman in this village is expected to devote herself completely to domestic duties, not pursue external endeavors. She belongs with her husband, at home."

The other members nodded in unison, their hum of agreement repeating in the chamber.

"We will intervene," the member continued, his voice firm and authoritative. "We will bring your wives back into your households. You know our promises are never broken."

****

"Where are you going?" a tall, imposing bodyguard asked gruffly, blocking my path with a stern expression.

His piercing eyes tightened as he scrutinised me.

We were back in Mumbai, and I was at the restaurant with the members and her father since we couldn't go directly to Akash's residence as we wouldn't be allowed entry.

"The restaurant, to eat," her father replied before I could even respond.

The bodyguard's gaze remained on me. "You, your family, and anyone associated with you are banned here," he growled, his broad shoulders squaring as he stood firm.

"What kind of business is this?" I asked, my voice rising slightly in surprise because, like everyone, we have freedom to go in.

"Leave now," he barked sternly.

We moved away, and the village council members erupted into angry chuckles. "So, she thinks she can ban you from entering too?" One of them sneered.

"But don't worry, she won't get off that easily. You'll have your wife back in your bed tonight, I guarantee it," the man said, keeping his hand on my shoulder, his voice filled with assurance.

I forced a hopeful smile, eager for his promise to come true.

"And you too," he said, turning to my father-in-law, who nodded in silent agreement.

"We'll wait until she closes and comes out herself. Then she'll have to face us," he added, his tone firm.

We got back into the car, and at exactly six, the restaurant closed.

Suddenly, the sound of sirens caught our attention.

Within minutes, the area was swarming with guards, and luxury cars began to arrive.

"What's going on? I thought they were supposed to close already." The man growled.

We waited a few minutes longer, and as more security personnel arrived, the council member turned to me and said, "You will have your wife tonight, son. We've already promised you that. I think they've realised we're here, which is why all the extra security. But it's pointless. Go home, find a priest to perform your remarriage, and make all the necessary arrangements. The bride will be brought to you."

I smiled, nodding. "Father-in-law, will you come along?" I asked him.

"No. You go; I'll stay here to bring the bride for you," he replied.

Both he and the council members then stepped out of the car, and I shrugged with happiness because I am about to have her back, this time, forever.

••••

I walked into the house, where I found Mother massaging Grandmother's hair.

As our eyes met, Grandmother's gaze turned stern. "You know that ungrateful girl left the house?" she said. "And Rajesh, like a puppet, followed her?"

My eyebrows furrowed, "Divya?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Who else?" Grandmother replied, her tone bitter.

"She said she won't live under the same roof as us." she added.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Well, I don't care. We're having a wedding," I announced, trying to sound calm and confident.

My gaze drifted to Rashi, who had just entered the room, and my expression softened. "What are you doing here instead of being in school?" I asked, my voice gentle.

She lowered her head, and Grandmother spoke up, "I'm arranging her marriage."

Next chapter. Tomorrow is my birthday 🎉 😌🎊.