Shruti :
She didn't know what to do. She was getting ready to meet her future sister-in-law and all she could think about was Anita Shah.
The entire situation seemed so flabbergasting! How could she possibly bear this domestic violence and not do anything against it?
Yes, Shruti understood that raising a daughter alone was not ideal but that didn't mean she couldn't do it. Shruti knew it would be very difficult but she planned to help Anita out.
She was lost in thoughts when Kartik entered her room.
She looked at him, puzzled
"Your housekeeper let me in." He shrugged and then walked towards her.
"Why do you look so serious and tensed?" He asked her.
Shruti stood up and let out a breath.
"Would you ever hit me?" She asked softly, looking at his pretty face.
"What the fuck?" He said, his eyes widening but feeling angry at the same time.
"Would you hit me when you come back home drunk?" She asked again.
"Of course not! It hurts me that this thought even occurred to you!" His entire body stiffened.
"There's a colleague of mine. Her husband hits her and she finds it perfectly alright." Shruti said and the entire situation made sense to Kartik.
He sighed and placed his arms on her shoulders, massaging them slowly.
"I get it, baby. That must be rough for you. But you don't have to ever question me about that."
She didn't know when the name endearments start but at this moment, it comforted her.
"Rough for me?! It is rough for me. It is taking a lot of time to wrap my head around this idea and Anita doesn't even question it!" Shruti shrugged Kartik's hands off.
"It's the way their brain is programmed. Maybe she is just scared." This time, he looked in her eyes. "Maybe she needs someone to show her how to be strong."
Shruti nodded. Still finding it difficult to wrap her head around it, she smiled and traced her fiance's cheek softly. "Let's go meet your sister."
Kartik nodded as both of them left the house.
"By the way, some tips: She might give you a hard time. She can be rash and aggressive. She'll question you and bring you to your knees. "
Shruti stopped in her tracks, looking at Kartik.
"Is she a dominatrix? And a descendant of Hitler?"
Kartik nodded. "Yes." He said in all seriousness. "But she does this out of love."
"Uhuh." Shruti said as the driver started driving.
"You are tensed again." Kartik said, rubbing her knuckles. They had started engaging in more physical activities than she had planned.
"Don't worry. Yashraj, her fiance, is there. He's the calm one." Kartik said, looking at the notifications on his phone.
"So this is like a double date?" Shruti asked, looking at Kartik concentrate on a certain message.
"Yeah. A double date. You can call it that." Kartik said, now typing out a reply to the message but he couldn't help but pray that Mahaya liked her.
In this short time, Kartik adjusted to the idea that Shruti was going to be in his life and somehow, it didn't frighten him.
He was 29. Having a longest relationship of two years, seven years ago, the idea of commitment didn't seem like it was meant for him. He had long left the idea of having a permanent someone in his space.
And now looking at the turn of events currently, Shruti seems like she was always meant to be here.
Now only if Mahaya liked her.
"So, any other pointers you can give me?" Shruti asked as she got down the car. Kartik initially used to rush out of the car to open the door for her, like a gentleman should, but she didn't pay any heed to that.
"Okay. Don't be sexist, racist, anti-feminist. Don't say that being a lawyer is a piece of cake. Or that you are marrying me for my money." Kartik said.
"Of course I'm marrying you for your money." Shruti said, winking. "But what am I supposed to say? I'm head over heels in love with you? Because I'm not." Shruti said, frowning.
Kartik smirked. "Yet." He said as he kissed her hand, leading her to the table.
"It's fine, baby. She knows it's an arrange marriage. We know it's an arranged marriage. It's okay to not be in love." He said, giving her a soft smile. "Yet." Smirking, again.
Mahaya and Yashraj were already seated there, and by looking at them one could say they were having an argument but Yashraj's hand was around Mahaya's shoulders and Mahaya was patting his knee.
"Hello sister. And you." Kartik said, pointing at Yashraj. "Keep your hands off her." It was mostly meant to be funny but Kartik couldn't help but take advantage of the fact that Yashraj felt a tinge of guilt of going after his sister.
"We are engaged!" Yashraj shouted, showing him the diamond ring on Mahaya's finger.
"Doesn't make a difference. Keep your hands off her when I'm there." Kartik said, glaring.
Yashraj smirked as he pulled Mahaya close and buried his face in the crook of her neck.
Mahaya laughed and then sat up straight.
"Oh good, we've caught you on a good day." Kartik said.
"What would make you say that?" Mahaya said, looking at Shruti.
"Hey, good morning." Shruti smiled at both of them and Yashraj got up to give her a hug.
"Oh, get in here. You're almost family now. Just like me." Shruti was visibly relieved, getting such a quick acceptance from Yashraj.
"Almost." Mahaya gave her a jeering smile.
Kartik coughed.
"So, I wanted you two to meet Shruti and get to know your future sister-in-law." Kartik said, putting a hand around Shruti's chair.
A waiter came along, serving them water and handed them a menu card.
Mahaya took the card, without leaving Kartik's gaze and said, "Thank you, we'll let you know."
The waiter nodded and left.
"So, uh..." Kartik said, struggling to come up with a topic to talk about.
"Shruti, what do you do?" Yashraj asked, trying to break the ice.
"Well, I'm a-" Shruti had just begun to answer when Mahaya leaned in, putting her palms on the table.
"Why am arrange marriage?" Mahaya asked.
"Excuse me?" Shruti didn't expect it to get so personal so soon.
"Why are you two having an arranged marriage? You can clearly get someone and I know for certain that Kartik has and can. So why are you two having an arranged marriage?" Mahaya asked.
"Remember a grilled chicken steak for me." Yashraj said, looking through the menu, completely immune to the stance Mahaya had put on.
"Of course love." Mahaya smiled at him, and then coming to the deadpanned expression, looking at Shruti.
"Well, uhhh." Kartik struggled to find an answer.
_______________________________________________
Hello everyone,
Sorry I've been MIA for so long.
Too many things going on at the moment.
This is a short chapter and hopefully I'll be able to update soon, albeit small chapters only.
Also, I would love to thank each and every one of you would has read my book, liked it, commented on it, and despite my absence for these past couple of months, still stuck with the book by messaging me.
Thank you so much.
