Parivara: Story of a Family

2 : Family Time

Aditi glanced quickly toward Payal, noting her stiff posture, before running forward towards Divya. "Welcome back!" She chirped, giving Divya a light hug. She never felt like she could give her older sister a very tight hug, she felt the elegant beauty was too delicate.

"Thank you, Aditi. My, you've grown so much!" Divya held Aditi's round face in her hands, eyeing her up and down. She had grown taller since the last time Divya had seen her. Her hair was longer, silkier, and her face had lost its babyish features. She looked womanly, but she still had a youthful charm sparkling in her dark eyes. "You're not the baby anymore, huh?"

Aditi simply giggled again and stepped away. Aditi was definitely beautiful, but Divya was an otherworldly beauty and standing next to her was always bad for one's self esteem.

Divya glanced over at Payal and slowly said, "Hello, sister."

Payal only nodded, biting back whatever she was thinking. The two older sisters stared each other down, feeling all of their mutual uneasy feelings come rushing back to them.

"I've asked servants to set up chai and sweets in the pavilion," their mother told them, smiling at her firstborn. Divya nodded and began to follow them towards the lounging area.

"I'll show the servants to the rooms and then join you," Vishu whispered to Aditi before she had to follow behind her family.

They reached the pavilion and took their seats, servants already pouring chai into their cups.

"So," Papa began. "Where's your king?" He asked, meaning Divya's husband.

"He's well. He'll be here tomorrow, he had business to take care of tonight." Divya answered, taking a sip of her chai.

"So we shall have a small dinner party tonight in your honor, and a grander one tomorrow for both of you." Papa clapped his hands once, with finality, before taking a sweet and biting into it.

Payal rolled her eyes and sighed to herself, but her mother caught the gesture. "Payal," she said as if warning her. "You haven't said much to your sister."

Payal sighed again and said, "What business did your husband have?"

"Oh, um," Divya muttered quietly. "I'm not sure. He has so much to do, it's hard to keep track." Divya smiled her radiant smile.

"Doesn't he tell you everything?" Payal questioned. She could tell the topic of her husband was not something Divya felt comfortable with. "Papa tells Maa everything."

"Not everything, I'm sure." Divya giggled nervously, her radiant smile a little wilted now.

Payal dug deep into her thoughts, trying to remember something more she could say to really push her perfect sister to her end. And then she had it! "And what about news of pregnancy? Will I have a little nephew or niece soon?"

That did it. Divya's face dropped immediately, no trace of a smile left behind. Her father looked at Divya, sort of expectantly. Maa looked at Divya, then at Payal, then back to Divya and figured out what was happening.

"I'm sure we'll hear some news soon," Maa smiled reassuringly then continued, "Now Payal and Aditi need to go to their singing lesson. And your father has a meeting soon. Go on, all of you."

The three of the mentioned people rose and went on to their duties, reluctantly, kissing Maa goodbye. After they had gone, her mother looked at Divya as she sipped her chai, her eyes downcast.

"How are you, beti? (daughter/sweetheart?)" Maa asked, placing a hand over one Divya had resting on the cushions.

Divya put her teacup down, but did not look up. Her mother could tell she was breathing heavily and struggling with something. Finally, Divya looked up. Her eyes looked almost teary as she asked, "Maa, when you married Papa, did you love him?"

"What kind of question is that?" Maa retorted, genuinely confused.

"I just- I don't know. I'm just wondering."

"When I married your father, I hardly knew him." Maa began, a sweet grin forming on her timelessly pretty face. "I was sixteen years of age, he was a king of this small province and about nine years my elder. He had just become king, a very eligible bachelor. My father met with him and set up the arrangement, but I didn't see him until the wedding. Even then, my face was covered with my dupatta, his with jasmine garlands. I didn't see his face until our wedding night. We hardly spoke to each other, just lived together quietly. He was so stressed about running his province, he was so new and inexperienced. He had no one to help him since his father passed. He stressed himself so much he became sick with fever. I sat by his bedside and nursed him until he could stand again. After that, love came to us."

Divya smiled at the story, watching her mother's eyes twinkle as she related the sweet love story. Then her eyes began to tear again as she said, "Love hasn't come to us, Maa."

"What do you mean?" Maa asked, her eyes squinting up.

"I mean," Divya said, shaking her head. "Payal is right. We have no news of a child. We keep trying, for three years, Maa. But nothing. I don't know what I can do anymore. I'm supposed to give him children, heirs for his kingdom, but I can't do it!" Divya put her head in her mother's lap and let the tears silently flow.

"Shhh, beti, shhh. It'll happen. Do not worry yourself about it, and it'll happen." Maa stroked her daughter's hair, having full faith in her words. "Who knows? Maybe having a vacation here for sometime, back in your old home, will give you good fortune."

Divya nodded, but she couldn't bring herself to have as much confidence as her mother did.

***

"That wasn't nice, Payal." Aditi muttered as they made their way to the study room to practice their music.

"Oh, please. Don't you think you're all a little too enamored with our sister?" Payal sneered.

"We haven't seen her in three years! When you get married and leave for years, we'll be happy to see you again, as well." Aditi patted her sister's shoulder before going into the room.

Payal sighed, gritting her teeth. Aditi couldn't be right. Yes, Payal had always been jealous and bitter towards Divya, but she had reason to be. Divya always got everything; all the gifts, all the love from their parents, all the attention from suitors. But Divya was all beauty and no substance; Payal had so much more to offer. When their parents died, Divya and her husband would inherit control over their province. But Payal could run this province on her own! She was smart and resourceful; she would make a great queen. But she would never have the opportunity.

She should've married instead of Divya. She would be a better leader, a better queen. Probably even a better wife. She was younger, she could probably have the child Divya couldn't.

Payal stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening as realization dawned on her. She had done it; she had come up with the perfect plan, and it only took a moment. The plan that could destroy Divya, and raise Payal to the top.

Payal's lips curved up in a sly grin. She had done it.