The Unwanted Royal Marriage

60. Proof?

Meera's pov

Adhyay sat beside me, his face attentive yet curious as he leaned closer.

"Biwi, I'll act along with you, but I need to know something—what exactly happened between you and your Bua? Why is she trying so hard to turn me against you?" he asked, his voice gentle but insistent.

I sighed, leaning back into the couch as my mind traveled to the past. "Vahi ghar ghar ka kalesh," I said, making a face.

Adhyay's brow furrowed. "This doesn't seem like a petty family feud, Meera. There's more to it."

"There is," I admitted. "Let me explain."

Flashback

I was barely a year old when Bua sa got married. She used to live with us before that, and honestly, it felt like she was just waiting for an excuse to leave. When I was born, Chachi—my dad's sister-in-law—was overjoyed. Her first child, a daughter, had passed away shortly after birth, and she saw my arrival as a blessing, calling me her late daughter's rebirth.

The entire family celebrated my birth—except Bua. She had wanted me to be a boy, someone who could carry forward the family legacy. But she hid her disappointment well, or so we thought.

A year later, when Bua sa got married to Fufaji, life seemed to move on. Fufaji was a kind man, always smiling and treating me like his own daughter. A year into her marriage, Bua came back home, pregnant, to spend time with the family.

One day, I was playing with Abhimaan Bhai sa when Fufaji leaned down and asked me, "Meera beta, do you want your new cousin to be a boy or a girl?"

Without a thought, I smiled and said, "A girl!"

The reaction was instant. Bua's face darkened as she raged, "It will not be a girl! It's going to be a boy!"

The room fell silent, and I remember hiding behind Chachi, scared of the sudden outburst. The elders tried to calm her, saying it was just a child's innocent wish. But Bua seemed to hold onto that moment.

When Tia was born—a beautiful, bubbly baby girl—Fufaji was ecstatic. But Bua? She couldn't even fake happiness. In her mind, my words had cursed her, and she blamed me for her "misfortune."

Years passed, and Tia grew up idolizing me. She adored me, clung to me whenever I visited, and treated me more like an older sister than just a cousin. Bua didn't like that. She thought I was stealing her daughter's love and loyalty.

Tia was a bright child, and as she grew older, her passion for business became evident. She would often sit beside me during family gatherings, asking questions about the industry, discussing books, and sharing ideas. I encouraged her because I saw so much potential in her.

But Bua had other plans. She wanted Tia to become a doctor, something Tia had no interest in. One evening, during dinner, Tia announced her decision to enroll in business studies.

"I've decided to follow in Meera Di's footsteps," she said proudly, her eyes gleaming with determination.

Bua's fork clattered against her plate. "What nonsense is this, Tia? We discussed this. You're going to med school."

Tia didn't back down. "I've already enrolled for business studies. This is my choice, Maa."

Bua's gaze snapped to me, her eyes blazing. "This is your doing, isn't it? You've filled her head with these ideas, turned her against me!"

I was stunned. "Bua sa, I didn't—"

"Don't lie to me, Meera! You've been poisoning her against me for years!" she spat before storming out.