Parivara: Story of a Family

13 : Tensions Rise

While most guests resumed dancing, Maa and Papa came down into the crowd and Divya was forced to join them, as they were beckoning towards her and Abhay. Divya, being the obedient daughter, slowly left Rakesh's side the second Papa motioned her over. Rakesh understood, and went to join some other people filling their plates with food; Divya saw and felt grateful the man she loved was so understanding.

When Papa beckoned at Abhay, he had a little more trouble going over. His back stiffened and he didn't move for a long moment. Papa and Maa couldn't feel it, but tension immediately filled the air. Divya raised her eyebrows as Abhay continued to stand in one spot, and watched as Payal's eyes flicked from her older sister to Abhay. They flicked back and forth, and with every flick her smirk grew wider.

Finally, Abhay sighed and walked over to his wife and her parents. The four of them began greeting guests one by one, but both Abhay and Divya had to fake their smiles, as the tension continued to envelope them.

Meanwhile, Vishu and Aditi disappeared to a corner, and began sharing a plate of sweets. As Aditi bit into a sweet Vishu offered her, she smiled and her dimples created happy little dips in her cheeks. Vishu pinched her cheek and went back to feeding himself while she slapped at his shoulder.

"You didn't tell me Papa gave you a job," she said between chews.

"I didn't want to say anything until he decided to announce it," Vishu shrugged.

"Arre (hey), but we tell each other everything!"

Vishu chuckled as he swallowed the dessert, then looked back up at her, his face a little more serious than before. "Will you tell me something if I ask you?"

"Bilkul (Of course)," she responded, scrunching her eyebrows in confusion.

Vishu took a deep breath and asked, "So you wore the brooch... but what kind of relationship do you want with me?"

"I thought by wearing the brooch, I answered that question." Aditi looked confused.

"By wearing the brooch, I know you feel something more for me. More than the friendship we've shared all this time, but how much more?" He took another deep breath and said, "Aditi, I'm not afraid to admit that I love you. Do you love me the way I do you, or are you still confused about how much more?"

Aditi didn't know how to respond, so she just sat there, sighing and shrugging her shoulders. She wanted to give him an answer, wanted to tell him how his kisses haunted her every night, keeping her awake. Tell him that the hauntings were frightening, but they were also sweet and sent pleasurable tingles down her spine. But she didn't know how to put that into words, how best to tell him all this and still explain how scared she was to feel it all.

But Vishu had always been able to understand, even without words. He smiled his charming smile and told her, "Don't worry yourself over it now. Just breathe, Aditi. Breathe, think, and tell me later."

And with a wink, he was gone.

***

In the much later afternoon of that day, Abhay was in the bathing quarters of his bedchambers, washing away the colors of Holi from his skin. The room was dark, the only source of light being a little bit of sunlight streaming in through curtains, leaving the king peaceful. He heard a door open and close and turned to see a figure standing away in a dark corner, the only thing he could make out was a little flame of candlelight.

"Who is it?" He demanded sternly. His servants knew he did not like to be bothered during his bathing hours. He liked to groom and wash in peace and quiet.

"Payal," a clear, almost husky voice responded from the dark. After playing Holi a bit, she'd quickly run to her own chambers and washed up, then changed into a simple sari and ran to the kitchens before showing up unannounced in Abhay's rooms. She hadn't known he was taking a bath, and now felt a bit shy standing before him while he only wore a white shalwar (loose, baggy pants), his bare upper body gleaming from his bath. "I have handmade sweets from the kitchens for you to enjoy."