YOU AND ME

Aisha

I sit in my study, fuming with frustration. The fake marriage documents I sent to Amina were supposed to be my trump card, but she refused them, saying she had already made arrangements with her lawyer. Everything legally needed for the wedding had been done. I feel my control slipping away, and it infuriates me.

Vishal, my brother and partner in crime, enters the room. He can see the anger etched on my face.

“What are we going to do about this girl, Aisha?” he asks, his voice low and conspiratorial.

I slam my hand on the desk. “We couldn’t get rid of her using the fake marriage documents. We need to find another way to end this marriage and get back our property and the company.”

Vishal nods, his expression mirroring my frustration. “She’s a tough one. But we can’t let her win. We have to find a way to regain control.”

I lean back in my chair, feeling the weight of the situation. “I feel like I’ve lost everything, Vishal. My control over the family, the respect I commanded. No one answers me back. Whatever I said used to go. It’s like I ruled this house.”

Vishal places a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We’ll figure it out, Aisha. No daughter-in-law of the Sharma family gets to work. They are supposed to be housewives. Amina broke that tradition, and it makes me furious.”

Just then, my husband, Rajesh, walks in. He looks at us with a knowing expression. “I guess you’re making more evil plans, you two. I’m sure this won’t end well.”

I glare at him, my frustration boiling over. “Stay out of this, Rajesh. You have no idea what we’re dealing with.”

Rajesh shakes his head, a hint of sadness in his eyes. “Aisha, this constant scheming will only bring more trouble. You need to let go of this control.”

I feel a pang of anger and helplessness. Rajesh has always been weak, unable to stand up to me because of the secrets I hold over him. He leaves the room, and I turn back to Vishal.

“We need a new plan,” I say, my voice determined. “We have to find a way to break this marriage and take back what’s ours.”

Vishal nods, his eyes gleaming with a new idea. “We’ll find a way, Aisha. We always do.”

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. “Let’s call Ayush and tell him to come home early. We’ll say there’s a prayer ceremony they need to attend. We can use that time to figure out our next move.”

Vishal agrees, and I pick up the phone to call Ayush. “Ayush, you and Amina need to come home early today. We have a prayer ceremony to attend. It’s important.”

When Ayush and Amina arrive home, I watch as Amina prepares for the ceremony. She wears a traditional Gujarati attire, a vibrant lehenga choli that complements her caramel African skin beautifully. The deep red and gold embroidery glistens against her complexion, and the intricate patterns highlight her curves elegantly. Her hair is styled in loose waves, cascading down her back, adorned with delicate jasmine flowers.

As they come downstairs, I feel a mix of anticipation and unease. The family is gathered, and the atmosphere is tense. We begin the prayers, but Amina suddenly steps back.

“No, I’m not going to perform the prayers. I’m not going to worship idols,” she says firmly.

My eyes widen in shock. “What are you saying, Amina? Why didn’t you tell your family that I cannot worship idols? I’m a Christian, and I will not allow this. I will not step inside the temple.”

Ayush looks at her, his face a mix of confusion and concern. “Amina, please, let’s just get through this.”

She shakes her head, standing her ground. “No, Ayush. I told you from the beginning. I cannot and will not worship idols.”

I feel my face turn red with anger. “Oh my God, what am I seeing right now? This girl will not only refuse our traditions, but she will not pray to our gods. This is not right. This is why you should never have married this girl!”

Raj, always eager to stir up trouble, chimes in. “Mom, she’s a Christian. That means she cannot enter the temple. What are we going to do now?”

The room erupts into chaos. I am furious, my voice rising above the others. “This is unacceptable! No daughter-in-law of the Sharma family gets to work, and now she won’t even follow our religious practices!”

Ayush tries to calm everyone down, but it’s no use. “Please, everyone, let’s just talk about this calmly.”

Amina can’t stand the tension any longer. “I’m going back to my room. I can’t deal with this right now,” she says, turning on her heel and walking away.

As she leaves, I feel a surge of frustration. “This is why you should never have married her, Ayush! She’s tearing this family apart!”

Rajesh, my husband, tries to intervene. “Aisha, calm down. We need to find a way to make this work.”

But I am relentless. “No, Rajesh. This is not how things are done in our family. She needs to understand that.”