Captured

Chapter 5

Everything was fixed. Dates were selected. Invites were made to draft. Gifts were exchanged. Priest matched their horoscopes and predicted that they were going to make a 'beautiful couple'. Some complex calculations of stars and the moon decided that they were fated. Matsyaa resisted an eye-roll, knowing it wasn't astrometric power but the money speaking. 

She ignorantly became a part of the event, tossing fake smiles, giving unmindful nods, patiently answering the questions of the elders and greatly eluded the probing eyes of her unwanted fiance. She noted him sitting between his younger brothers from the corner of her eyes and sipping refreshments. She raised her eyebrows in surprise, was that a tint of hue on his ears? 

What are they exactly talking about? 

Before she could read more, he smirked and muttered something to them and the guys shifted uncomfortably. She pursed her lips, playing with her bangles. That was his forte. Getting anyone uncomfortable with just one glance. The trio reminded her of her cousins and her smile wiped off. She never expected Ved to become evil. Perhaps Prem was also included but she didn't want to know. Arush was a different tale. He seemed to detest everyone. How could she get everything correct?

"Matsyaa!" She sat up alert, inching up her eyes and saw the old man smiling at her. Unconsciously touching the veil on her head, she bent to touch his feet. He lovingly grazed his palm over her head, "God bless you child!"

"Have you had lunch? Do you want me to get something for you?" She asked, gently and he shook his head, "No. I just want to talk." 

"I'm listening." She nodded, making him smile. He pointed at Ranvijay, "You see that boy? He is totally smitten by you. Now when I look at you, I can see why he is so whipped." 

She blushed and Lakshyadeep chuckled, "Padma has performed rites to accept you in the family. If my wife was here, she would follow some more but I know nothing about these. I feel you are already a part of our family since you both love each other and what can be stronger bond than that?"

Matsyaa raised her eyes to him. So, he was lying to everyone. They are lovers. Huh! 

"You are ours. This is why I'm showing this authority to tell you that from today onwards, I'm entrusting you with my grandson's care and his wellbeing. Give him all he desires. Keep him happy, bahurani. (daughter-in-law.)"

Matsyaa lost her smile in a blink. This wasn't an alliance; this was a sophisticated imprisonment. She was supposed to keep a man happy she didn't love. All of his family cared about him and her emotions didn't matter to them. She was so small and so invisible before him that everyone was crushing her, unknowingly planting surreal expectations. She glanced at her parents and they were chatting with her in-laws cheerfully.

She drank her unshed tears and forced a smile, nodding at Ranvijay's grandfather. "I will. Don't worry."

Rest of the ceremony passed in a blur. Her ability to collect memories of the event was awful. She wanted to curl up in a ball and cry her eyes out. Her head throbbed painfully as her in-laws pelted protocol guidelines at her. They had a very conservative and trite list of mandates. She knew some basic rules but these were like a compact treaty of bondage. 

Not allowed to attend parties and social gatherings without Ranvijay or his consent. No contacts with male counterparts or keep association minimal. Shutter down your social media or maintain them under shitty guidelines. Comport yourself by keeping up with your image. Appear in public only wearing Indian traditional dress. And, Kumar will loiter around you for your fucking security. 

She groaned inwardly, reiterating the rules. She rubbed her fingers on her temples in circles and planned to hide the anguish from her face. Only an idiot like her would want to marry after listening to these. She wanted to get out of there soon because it was getting claustrophobic for her and almost impossible to make through.