Parivara: Story of a Family

15 : Stoking the Flames

Aditi and Vishu spent all of the next day in Diya Mahal, wrapped up in each other's arms, and not moving from their spots. The only time someone moved was when Vishu quickly dressed and went out to sneak a bowl of fruit back to the Mahal. While he was out, Aditi was finally able to nap for a little bit and stretch out her sore muscles. He came back quickly, but didn't wake her, only laid down next to her and held her as she slept peacefully. They woke up together shortly after and fed each other berries and grapes, still holding each other close.

"What time is it?" Aditi asked as she chewed.

"By now? Probably two hours before dinner time," Vishu responded nonchalantly.

"Dinner!" Aditi shrieked, sitting up. "We've really been here all day?"

"Yes," Vishu winked at her. "You didn't want to leave my arms."

"Besharam (shameless)," Aditi called him, slapping his face playfully, but also giggling.

"Arre, tu mere bivi hai (hey, you're my wife)." Vishu held her hand away after the slap and brought his face close to hers. "Now you're the only one I can be besharam with."

"And who else would you be besharam with?" Aditi asked, making her tone as jealous and accusatory as possible.

"No one!"

"And don't you forget it!" She told him, shoving him off of her. But they were both laughing as Aditi sat up and quickly grabbed her lehenga off the floor. Vishu helped her put it back on, and then she turned back around to face him and reminded him not to be late for dinner, before she gave him one last peck goodbye and dashed from the Mahal to get dressed for dinner.

Aditi skipped happily through the halls, hoping not to run into anyone while her hair was disheveled and she wore clothes from the night before. Her stomach felt like it was doing turns and flips on the inside, and she tried to tell herself it was pure joy, but she knew in her mind that there was a tad bit of anxiousness in there too.

***

Divya entered the dinner hall decked out in some of her finest clothes and jewels. She greeted guests and chatted with ladies, the same old boring routine.

During one particularly tiresome conversation with a much older woman, Divya looked across the hall and made eye contact with Rakesh. They smiled at each other coyly from the across the room, Rakesh even blushing a little. Divya turned to nod to the woman who was talking so she thought Divya was listening, but when she turned back to try and grab Rakesh's gaze again, she saw Abhay had stepped in front of Rakesh and was eyeing her with his usual cold stare. Divya quickly turned away and didn't bother to look again.

But soon after, she felt a hand grab her arm and pull on her. She turned to see Abhay had his hand on her, and was asking the people she'd been talking to to excuse them for a moment. Then, he dragged her to an empty corner of the room.

"What?" She demanded through her teeth and yanked her arm out of his grasp.

"Don't you find it odd that we haven't talked to each other in the past few days?" He spoke through his teeth as well, and he was a lot scarier than Divya was.

"No," she responded as coolly as possible. "You and I can go months without talking."

"Any news of a pregnancy?" He asked bluntly. The question stung Divya, but she kept herself in check of her emotions and only gave a slight shake of her head. "Perhaps I should visit you in your bedchambers soon."

His words sent a cold chill down her spine, as if he were threatening to kill her. He may as well have been; making love with Abhay was torture in and of itself. He didn't care to make the experience warm and pleasurable; it was just as cold and concise as he was. Not like Rakesh at all.

By instinct, Divya felt her eyes wander off to look for Rakesh. Abhay sensed her divided attention and practically growled, "I am talking to you. Lately, you've been too distracted for my taste. I do not like it."

"And your attentions have been what? On me?" Divya asked, knowing she shouldn't be so bold with her words, but they burst out of her anyway. "I've noticed you've been distracted as well, so don't lecture me when you have no right."

She knew she would regret it the minute all the words had left from her lips. Abhay's eyes flashed with an anger so icy, it froze Divya down to her bones. He quickly grabbed her arm again and began leading her out of the hall.

From one end of the hall, Rakesh, who'd had his eyes on Divya the whole time, saw Abhay dragging her out and began slowly following them right away.

From another end, Payal also noticed Abhay was with Divya, and her mind immediately began racing. She followed too.

Abhay and Divya were unaware of their followers, and both followers were unaware of each other, as Abhay led Divya to a dark area on the outside and to the side of the hall. No one was around, and the only source of light was the full moon. Abhay shoved Divya up against the wall of the hall, while Rakesh hid behind a tangle of bushes, and Payal hid in a hidden nook in the construction of the wall.

Abhay violently stood Divya up straight, despite her trying to fight him off. He used one of his hands hold both of her wrists and stretched her arms up above her head. Then he brought his face painfully close to hers and seethed, "I am your husband! I am the only one who has the right!"

He began ruffling with her skirts, trying to lift them up while still pinning her against the wall. "No, Abhay. No! Please," she begged, tears starting to run down her face.

Abhay stopped and closed his eyes, sighing deeply. Rakesh readied himself, waiting for Abhay to do something so he had the excuse to jump on him and fight him. But Abhay just kept breathing deeply and slowly, his eyes remaining closed.

They were still closed when he said, "This would be forced upon me as well. Even I don't want this."

From her hiding spot, Payal could tell he wasn't going to do anything. Her mind raced again, and came to a conclusion. She silently escaped from her hiding spot to go away and go through with the conclusion.

Divya swallowed and tried to stop her crying, but she couldn't hold the water in her eyes. She waited for what he was going to do next, or say next, but it was a long moment before he spoke again.

He released her from his grasp and stepped away. He looked at her with all the hate they felt for each other. Divya knew he wasn't really a bad person; they hated each other more than anything, and the way he looked at her now made her feel like a child being badly scolded. But even with all that hate for her, he couldn't hurt her, at least physically. He said one last thing before he left, "Neither of us ever wanted each other," and then he was gone.

The moment he was out of sight, Divya shrank to the ground. Rakesh ran out and placed his arms around her as she began to sob, heavy and frightened sobs. He held her close and let her cry her fill, letting her know he was there for her.

"I can't believe it," he whispered as she tried to reign in the last of her tears. "He's done this to you before?"

Divya shook her head against his chest and managed to finally speak. "He's right, neither of us ever wanted to make love with each other. He never forced himself on me, but it was a mutual sort of rape. No one wanted it, we just did it to try for a child. Abhay is cold and loveless, but I don't think he'd ever actually hurt me."

"Are you sure?" Rakesh put his hands on either side of her face so she could look directly into his eyes. She knew he was only waiting for the excuse to go and hurt Abhay.

"I'm sure," she whispered, putting her hands over his. "Please, don't do anything rash. Please. Just stay with me."

Rakesh nodded and held her close again. "I'll never let you go again."