The Stars' Decree

Scene 7: Radha's Fury

Later that evening, after the household had calmed and Shankar had been tended to, Radha found Anil sitting alone in the bridal room, staring at his reflection in the mirror. He looked every bit the bride, dressed in a silk saree, his chest tightly confined in the embroidered blouse, the jewelry shining softly against his skin. But there was no life in his eyes.

Radha’s footsteps were heavy as she approached him, and when she spoke, her voice was a quiet storm.

“This is happening because of you,” she hissed, her anger barely contained.

Anil looked up, startled by the sudden accusation. “What? I’ve done everything you asked of me. I wear the sarees, I—”

Radha cut him off with a sharp glare. “You wear the sarees, yes. You sit by his side like a doll dressed up for show, but you haven’t truly taken on the role of his wife. You haven’t attracted him, haven’t excited him as you should.”

Anil’s face flushed with a mixture of anger and shame. “How can you expect me to do that? He’s my father-in-law! This whole thing is insane!”

But Radha’s fury wouldn’t be swayed. “The stars don’t care about your discomfort, Anil! They demand obedience. The rituals, the marriage—it’s not just for show. You have to fulfill your role as his wife, fully. The accidents will keep happening. You saw what happened today—Shankar could have been killed.”

Anil's hands shook, the weight of the accusation sinking into his chest. He had agreed to this madness out of love for Priya, out of guilt, but no one had prepared him for this level of expectation. “I can’t… I can’t do that. You’re asking for too much.”

Radha crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. “The stars are asking for this, Anil. If you don’t do what needs to be done, Shankar will die. It’s as simple as that. You think this is about your pride? It’s about life and death. You have a responsibility now, and if you don’t take it seriously, the blood will be on your hands.”

Her words struck deep. Anil knew she was right in her own way, bound by the beliefs and traditions they all lived under. But how could he take on this role fully, when every fiber of his being recoiled at the thought of intimacy with Shankar?

Still, Radha’s fury left no room for argument. “You need to find a way to attract him, Anil. Use what you have. Your body… it’s already changed enough. You’re no longer the man you used to be.”

Her gaze shifted pointedly to his chest. Anil flushed as he followed her eyes. His manboobs had swelled even more over the past week, the herbal treatments and special diet making his chest fuller and rounder. Every day, he felt the weight of them pressing against his blouses, the way they pushed forward and drew unwanted attention.

Radha stepped closer, her voice softening but losing none of its intensity. “Your chest… it’s already working in your favor. You need to embrace it. Use it. Shankar is a man, after all, and whether he likes it or not, he’ll respond to you if you… entice him.”

The idea made Anil’s skin crawl, but Radha wasn’t finished. “If you don’t, the stars will continue their wrath. And next time, Shankar might not survive.”