Parivara: Story of a Family

10 : Shedding Light on Love

Divya was strolling through the Diya Mahal (Palace of Lamps), her jewels tinkling in the quiet and empty halls. It was a small building in the back of the large palace that had been built in her honor for her marriage to Abhay. However, the construction hadn't been completed until after Divya had already left for her own palace to live in with her new husband. Divya had never seen the little palace, so she'd decided to take a tour of it before the dinner party. Another party where she had to smile and be polite to people who were only kind to her to bring themselves up. Where she had to listen to endless tales and nod her head in thanks every time someone asked her how wonderful it was to be the queen to such a wonderful king. Before all that, she could just be herself for a little bit, and enjoy all the hanging lanterns and pools of rose petals and lamps that decorated the halls.

The sound of more jewels tinkling made Divya turn around to see Aditi walking into the hall. Aditi jumped slightly at the sight of her sister and said, "Oh, Divya! I didn't know you were here."

"It's alright," Divya smiled warmly at her baby sister. "You look beautiful. The white looks nice on you."

"Thank you," Aditi blushed, admiring Divya's own white lehenga. "Not as beautiful as you in white, though. Any special reason you're here?"

"This place was built in my honor, but I never saw it." Divya answered, looking up at all the lights. The little flames danced merrily all around her, giving the whole place such romantic lighting. "I thought I should see it at least once."

"Oh, yes, I forgot." Aditi responded, taking a seat on a chaise by a pool of lamps. "Papa had it built for your marriage. Because you were the light of his life, now I remember."

"Yes, that's what he said." Divya remembered too.

"Sorry, I forgot this was your place. It's just that I always come here to think. It's so peaceful, with all the lamps, it's a good place to clear your mind. I guess I started thinking of it as my place in these last three years," Aditi giggled quietly. "But I'll leave now."

"No, no! If you love it so much, consider it yours. I prefer the gardens, anyway." Divya told her, blushing slightly at the thought of the kisses she'd shared with Rakesh in the gardens.

"Thank you," Aditi giggled again. "But I suppose if this place was yours and Abhay's for your marriage, I should also ask him if it's alright to be mine?"

At the mention of Abhay, Divya could feel her face instinctively drop. She tried to keep it from falling too much before she said, "I'm sure he'd be just as happy as I am to give it to you."

"Thank you," Aditi said again, bowing her head. She lifted it back up slowly, her face looking confused, and asked, "Would you mind answering some questions? About some things that I'm a bit... confused about?" Divya giggled and nodded her head gracefully. Aditi sighed quietly and slowly asked, "How did you know when you fell in love with Abhay?"

Divya's back muscles tightened and her jaw set. She had sucked in a breath and now found herself holding it in. How could she answer that? It would be a complete and utter lie. Unless she talked about loving Rakesh...

"Um, when he was kind to me." Divya replied slowly and unsurely. "He always thought of me first, made me feel special and cared for. I don't really know, I think I've always loved him."

"Always?" Aditi asked, confused. "But you only met him three years ago right before you married him. How could you always know you loved Abhay?"

Divya shrugged and responded quickly, "It's a figure of speech. When I met him I just knew he was the one for me."

"Oh," Aditi thought slowly. "So it was from the very first moment? You didn't have to think about it, or question it? You just knew?" When Divya nodded, Aditi continued, "But how did you know?"

"Again, there isn't an exact answer to this. I just found myself happier with him. Everything seems better with him," Divya blushed, her eyes downcast.

"I cannot believe Abhay is so romantic," Aditi giggled. "I just mean he seems so... cold? I suppose that's the right word."

"Oh, um, right." Divya shook her head, ridding thoughts of Rakesh. "Yes, he doesn't like to express his emotions to everyone." Or to anyone, is more like it, Divya thought.

"Well, I'm glad he keeps you happy." Aditi went over and hugged her older sister. "And don't worry, everything will work out. You will have a baby."

Divya could only nod in response.