Parivara: Story of a Family

11 : Satisfaction

The two sisters made their way to the dining hall, both with uncertain smiles on their faces. Divya felt uneasy because of the lies she'd weaved for Aditi. It almost sickened her how easily she could tell loving tales about a man she despised. She had to remind herself she'd been thinking of Rakesh, but that seemed to make the lies worse. It made her resentment for her husband seem all the more potent.

Aditi's uneasy smile was a result of her racing mind. She kept thinking about what Divya had told her and comparing it to what she knew. She knew that Vishu had been her best friend since the moment they met. She spent all her time with him, and he did make her happy. So happy.

Aditi also knew that the way she'd felt about the kisses they shared... it was nothing she'd ever felt before. Her body tingled in ways she hadn't known before, and it was all she could think about.

But a relationship between the two of them would be impossible. He was a bastard, a poor man. She was a princess whose job in life was to marry a king. How could she give in to her passions and still follow her duties?

They made it to the hall and separated, Divya going to Maa and a group of ladies, and Aditi trying to go to Vishu who was at a corner of the hall. But as she made her way over, she bumped into Papa and had to stop to greet him.

"Were you in a hurry?" Papa chuckled, throwing an arm around her. Aditi smiled and shook her head. She could see Vishu trying to go around people to see her. She stood up straighter and angled her body toward him a little. Vishu looked her up and down and a smile slowly formed on his lips. She was wearing the brooch. "This brooch..."

"What?" Aditi asked, turning back to Papa, her face a little flushed.

"I was just saying that this brooch you're wearing looks familiar." Papa answered, looking at the brooch she had put on last minute.

"Oh, perhaps it's Maa's? I'm not really sure, I've had it in my jewelry box for a while." She smiled and quickly excused herself. She met with Vishu and they both stood awkwardly in front of each other, shuffling their feet and thinking of what to say.

"So you wore the brooch?" Vishu grinned, ruffling his hair.

"You have eyes, can't you see?" Aditi stuck her chin up and asked saucily. Vishu chuckled and gave Aditi a light punch on her shoulder. Aditi giggled and attempted to push him back, but Vishu caught her hands before she could.

"Let's not fight today, Aditi." Vishu whispered to her. "Mein bahut khush hoon (I'm so happy)."

"Arre (hey), just don't forget. Fighting makes us who we are." Aditi giggled, blushing.

"That's true," Vishu chuckled, pinching her cheek.

As the two lovebirds flitted about on one end of the hall, Payal was making her entrance on the other end. She entered the hall in a simple dress and dupatta (scarf), wearing hardly any jewelry. As soon as she entered, she made eye contact with Abhay who was seated at the head of the hall on a throne.

Payal slowly walked around the hall, greeting people and drinking wine, but never once breaking eye contact with him. She had purposely let her long tresses down so Abhay couldn't see her ears. He watched her closely, his chin resting in his hand, his face stern and unchanging.

Payal made it to the center of the hall and paused for moment. She slowly lifted her hand up and lightly brushed some hair back from her face. In the slow brush, Abhay was able to catch sight of the little gold earring he'd bought her. He sat up and a grin formed on his face as her hair fell back down and she gave him a smirk back.

She kept smiling slyly at him as she slowly sauntered up to the throne. She went up to touch his feet (a form of blessing, younger people touch older people's feet as a sign of respect), but as she bent down with her arm outstretched, he caught her hand and held it.

"First you tease me, then ask for my respect?" Abhay asked, his eyes ablaze.

"No teasing," Payal cocked her head to the side. "Did I please you by wearing your gift?"

"It satisfies me greatly to see you wearing something I've given to you." Abhay told her. They were still holding hands. "I wish you'd walk around wearing only things I've given you."

"But your majesty," Payal retorted, snapping her hand out of his. "Then I'd only have these earrings on, and I'd be walking around naked."

She smiled again at his raised eyebrows, and stood up straight. She bowed her head and sauntered away, knowing full well he had his eyes on her retreating back. She swung her hips and then disappeared into the crowd.

Payal ran over to a dark section of the hall and hid there, out of anyone's eyesight. She was breathing heavily, her heart aflutter. This game of teasing and flirting exhilarated her, it gave her a high she'd never experienced before.

As she steadied her breathing, reality seemed to fill her up along with the oxygen. She realized as she continued this game, she'd have to start giving Abhay more than just saucy looks and words. She was playing to get she wanted, power above her sister, the power she deserved.

But how long would it be before she had to give Abhay what he wanted?