Chapter 6
"Aarti! Aarti!"
"Hmm?"
"Wake up."
"No, I'm still tired."
"Baby, it's late. Ramdulare came to knock on the door. Everyone is waiting for you to do the morning rituals."
All of a sudden she was wide awake and jumped up. She grabbed her cell phone and looked at the time. She screamed in utter dismay.
"I set the alarm. Why didn't it go off?"
"It went off darling, you switched it off and went back to sleep."
"No, I didn't ... Oh no, I did. And you, you moron did not think to wake me." She hit him on his arm.
"I wanted to but you looked so peaceful and besides I was tired too, babe."
"I'm sure you were. I told you I had to get up early but no, you wouldn't leave me. You, Mr. Scindiya are in the dog box." she got up and he caught her.
"It's our first day of marriage how can you be mad at me."
"Leave me. I will deal with you later." she pulled away and ran to the bathroom.
"Bahu! Is this the time to get here? We are all waiting. And why is your head not covered. You have known this family for a long time yet you don't know how to behave here. I agreed to this marriage against my better judgement. And because Yash wouldn't have it any other way, but I will not accept your irresponsible behaviour in this house. This is not your parents' home. You will conform to the rules of this home. Do you hear me?"
Aarti was close to tears. She was surrounded by the few close family members that stayed behind. She could see how some of the aunts were relishing in her discomfort. She was not used to this kind of treatment. And normally she would have retaliated but in this instance she really wanted them to approve of her. She didn't want him to have to be caught in the middle of a battle between her and his parents. She was determined to keep the peace despite this humiliation she was suffering.
She completed her rituals adequately. She only learned to cook when she moved on her own, and only to prepare meals for them as they never really went out anywhere. They mostly enjoyed their romantic trysts in her flat. They sometimes went away together, but it was always abroad to a secluded and exclusive holidays resort where the staff was discreet.
There was really nothing to complain about but that did not stop her in laws to treat her condescendingly. She could see how agitated Yash was getting and she tried to calm him down with a smile and a look. She did not need him aggravating the situation.
Yash was working on his laptop when his tired wife came into the bedroom after dinner. He had retired to their bedroom when he couldn't tolerate his family's behaviour towards her. He was about to explode when she gently touched his hand and begged him not say anything with her eyes. He just turned around and walked away. Prateek was hot on his heels.
"Bhayia, how can you tolerate this. If I feel like this, it must be worse for the two of you."
"I am livid. I didn't expect them just to accept her but I didn't expect anything like this. I am only tolerating this today because I don't want to make a scene in front of everyone. Because of Aarti only. But make no mistake, my tolerance level is very close to its limit right now."
"Well good luck with that bhayia. I am going to meet up with Pari. I can't stay here any longer."
"Prateek."
"Yes, bhayia"
"Thank you for being such a good friend to her. I always knew she would be ok because you were there."
"I love her bhayia. She is my best friend. It was and will always be there for her. And for you."
The brothers shared a look of understanding and love before Prateek left.
Aarti sat down on the bed, absolutely drained. Yash got up and went the bathroom. He ran a bath for her and added some relaxing bath oils.
"Your bath is ready my love."
She did not even notice that he had gone to the bathroom she was so tired and she was caught up with her own thoughts. She looked up when she heard his voice.
"Oh Yash, you are the best." she said as she walked up and hugged him.
"It takes very little to make you happy doesn't it Mrs. Scindiya. So am I out of the dog box."
"It only takes you, baby and the answer is "yes", you are out of the dog box." she answered.
His breath caught at that statement. He still could hardly believe that they are together after all that they have been through. After everything that he had put her through. He was so blessed that she still loved him. And he would make sure that he makes and keeps her happy now. He was not going to lose her again. He hugged her tighter.
"I love you so much. Let me go give you your bath. You must be so tired."
"I am." She said and followed him meekly.
He undressed her and she got into the bath. He just wanted to wash her and let her sleep.
"Get in."
"You're tired, baby."
"I am but I want to relax in your arms."
He didn't know about the relaxing bit, but he got in none the less. They sat like that for a while. She was so relaxed. He could feel her nodding off.
"Baby, you are falling asleep."
He started washing her and by the end of it she was not tired at all.
"Yash, she moaned."
"You're tired." he said hoarsely.
"Not anymore."
She turned around and started kissing him.
"Are you sure, honey?" he asked. And she answered by mounting him, leaving no doubt about what she wanted right then.
The next morning they were awakened by a knock on the door again. Yash grabbed his robe and opened the door.
"What!" he said angrily.
"G3 madam is calling Aarti Bhabhi to help with breakfast"
"Please tell my mother, that you and Naina can see to the breakfast. I am taking my wife out for breakfast. Later, when we get up." And he slammed the door.
"Yash, what was the need to be so rude to Ramdulare?" Aarti said as he came back to bed. "He was only doing what he was told."
"I didn't mean to but I am just so annoyed."
"I am going Yash."
"You are not. You will not be setting a precedent. You are not going to be my mother's doormat. You have a career and we have more servants than anyone I know so you don't have to do housework. The sooner Ma realises your place in this house the better. You are my wife first before anything else and best she realises it sooner rather than later."
She got out of bed.
"I'm going. She will be angry." she said a little angry at him herself now.
She went to the shower.
He followed her into the shower.
"You are not going" he said and grabbed her to him and kissed her passionately, almost punishingly. She was powerless to resist him and their lovemaking was passionate and wild.
Afterwards they walked downstairs hand in hand. His mother was waiting for them.
"Bahu, where are you going? There is work to be done at home."
"I am sure Ramdulare told you that we are going out for breakfast."
"What time with you be back."
"I don't know. I will let you know if we will be back for dinner. And I have made honeymoon plans so we will be leaving in a few days for a month."
He walked off and dragged her with him.
She didn't say anything this time. The very thing that she was trying to avoid was happening. She was causing a rift between him and his parents.
They went out for breakfast and then they went shopping and then back to her apartment. The clothes that she had at SM was all new and gifts from her in laws. And all traditional. She wanted to get some of her own things. And of course she needed undergarments as well. Besides the skimpy things that Pari got her she didn't have anything else at there home, not that her lack of underwear bothered her husband. He was lying on the bed watching her pack.
"Stop leering at me, Yash Scindiya."
"I am a newly wedded man, of course I will be leering at my wife. Especially since my wife is so sexy."
She rolled her eyes at him.
"Why are you rolling your eyes at me? Have you seen yourself in the mirror? Supper hot, Mrs. Scindiya. This is why I could never stay away from you."
"As much as you tried." she said a bit sadly.
He got up from the bed and stood next to her.
"I am so sorry baby. I should have known that I could never live with anyone else. That we were destined to be together. I should have married you two years ago. I should have protected you. And if I weren't so stubborn, perhaps ... Perhaps our baby would have survived."
"Yash, you can't blame yourself for that. It was an accident. It wasn't in anyone's control."
"Still ..."
She put her hand on her mouth.
"Shh. I love you. We are together now. We are happy. Had we gotten married then, I would not be as secure in my love as I am now. Now I know you chose me because you love me. That I am the one that you love most in the world and not because you wanted to do the honourable thing. I wanted our baby so much, but if there is a reason that he had to be sacrificed, it was for right now, this moment that I know, that I know, that I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that you love me, that you chose me as yours despite everything that was against us. You declared me to be yours in front of the whole nation. I know your love is unconditional. You accepted me flaws and all."
"Flaws? Those "flaws" as you call it, is what makes you, you. The woman that I love more than my own life. I love you baby, so much. I will never let you go again."
"Good" she said and the packing was forgotten for a while.
Much later as they lay naked in bed ...
"So what are you going to do with this apartment?'
"I haven't thought about it. I wasn't given time remember."
"Keep it"
"Why?"
"Being in a joint family has some drawbacks. We won't be able to do what we did here. There is a lot that can be said for spontaneity."
"So you want me to continue paying for a place for you be "spontaneous" in?"
"You can afford it" he said nuzzling in her neck.
"That's beside the point." she said and giggled.
"Ok, I'll pay." He said and she laughed but was silenced by his mouth as passion overtook them again.
They came home just before dinner. She was carrying the shopping bags and he had her suitcase.
His mother came out of the kitchen.
"Is the time to come home?"
"We went to collect some of my things at my flat. Ma." Said Aarti,
"The whole day"
"No, we also made ..." Yash started, very annoyed at the questioning.
"We made arrangements for the flat to be seen to as I won't be there anymore and we went shopping" she said hastily given her husband a looked pure anger.
"Good evening, Yashji" came a voice from the direction of the kitchen.
The both looked up and saw Arpita.
"Arpita? What are you doing here?" he asked.
"She is a guest Yash." said his mother. "You know she is like a daughter to me. She is helping me cook. It is not an issue for her even though she isn't even family." She looked at Aarti while she was talking.
"Ma. Please ..." started Yash.
"Maji, we are going to freshen up and then I will come help."
"No need" G3 said and walked back to the kitchen with Arpita in tow.
Yash was fuming.
"Come baby. Let's got our room."
He followed her.
They had a shower before they left her apartment so she started unpacking. Yash was pacing the room anxiously.
"Yash, calm down please."
"Why aren't you angry? You are the one that she is insulting at every turn."
"Give her time Yash. You forced my on them, remember. And even you had trouble accepting me even when you loved me so show them a little tolerance. I am trying too, you know it is not in my nature to be this way and to accept what Maji is saying, but I am trying to be different. I want them to accept me Yash. So that we can be truly happy. So that there is not always strife and resentment in our home. You said you won't ever let me go right?"
"Yes, and I meant it."
"Well the same goes for me. And it means facing harsh words from your mother, for now I can deal with it. Ok, my love"
"Why have I never recognised this wise and mature side of you?" he smiled and hugged her.
"Because you only wanted one thing from me" she said and hit him on his chest.
"Mmm, I still want it now."
"After having it the whole afternoon, Yash? You are truly shameless."
"When it comes to you, yes." he said and the playfulness transitioned to passion again in no time.
They heard someone clear their throat and they jumped apart.
"Sorry," said Arpita. The door was open. Ma asked me to call you for dinner.
"We are coming." Yash said. His tone was harsh, again angry at the intrusion. He determined that he would speak to Arpita and his mother about her constant intrusion at his mother's encouragement.
The dinner was awkward. The conversation was specifically meant to exclude Aarti. His parents spoke mostly of times and events that included Arpita. Yash tried his best to include Aarti. Unfortunately Prateek was out so they were in the minority. Aarti ate very little. She practically just pushed her food around in her plate. She felt everything that was meant for her to feel.
Finally it was over, Aarti started to clear the table.
"Love, no need to do that. Remember Ma said so earlier. I think it's time for us to go to bed. And Ma, please don't let Ramdulare come and knock on our door early tomorrow. Aarti will not be helping with the meals from now on or any household chores. You have servants, my wife is not one of them. She has a very demanding career so she won't have time anyway."
"Yash, you know in our family the bahu's have never worked. I thought it was understood that Aarti bahu would stop working now." said his father.
"She is certainly not going to go out all hours of the night and travel around the world on her own. The people will talk." Said his mother.
"If we can travel together, we will. If she has to promote her clothing line abroad or in other cities in India and I can't go, of course she will go on her own. Just like I will travel on my own when she cannot accompany me. I trust my wife implicitly. And bauji, there is a first time for everything. My wife has a flourishing career that she worked hard at. She won't stop unless she decides to. If that is going to be a problem, we can move out."
"Now you want to move out. Ever since you got involved with this girl you have changed so much Yash. I knew it would happen. Her family gave her free reign to run around and do what she wanted. And look how she ended up. Pregnant. Because of her you have become disrespectful to your elders. Do you want us to be embarrassed even further. Already you made a spectacle with the proposal and now you want to move out. Are you going to allow her to lead you around by the nose for your entire life?'
"Bauji, respect is earned. You have treated my wife so badly since she came here. And I will not tolerate it. I don't care what people think. I have done that for too long and because of that I nearly lost Aarti and did lose my baby. I realised too late what I had. But thank God that she loves me so much that she could forgive what I did and took me back. I will not lose her again and I will not see her unhappy because of me anymore. So you accept her or we leave."
"Yash, Ma and bauji did not mean it like that. You know how they are. They are just expecting a traditional bahu. And Ma and Bauji, I know this is not what you expected but you just have to give Aarti a chance. She is not traditional but not all of us can be. But you want Yashji to be happy don't you?" Said Arpita.
"You see Yash, this is the type of woman that you should have married. This would have been the perfect bahu. You cheated on her and left her to marry this woman and she still defends you and her."
"Please Ma, don't say that. No one is perfect." Arpita said.
"Arpita is right Ma. No one is perfect. But someone is perfect for me. And that is Aarti. So treat her with respect or we leave. Come baby." he grabbed her by the hand and took her he to her room.
Aarti was quiet in all of this. She had her head down till Arpita spoke. She said the right words and her tone seemed sincere. She was speaking up for them but somehow something didn't seem right with Aarti. Firstly, she shouldn't be here. She is his ex-fiance. Why is she here cooking dinner like she lives here. Aarti felt undermined. And then the intrusion into their bedroom, was a little uncomfortable. Aarti looked back at Arpita as she was walking away. She had a cunning smile on her face. You could almost call it victorious. And it triggered something with Aarti. But she put it out of her mind immediately. No, it couldn't be. Arpita was a well-respected woman from a prominent family, it just couldn't be. She wouldn't think of it again. She would focus on her husband right now as he needed her. She could see that his parent's rejection of her hurt him badly. And he disguised his hurt as anger. He loved her so much and he wanted her to be happy and they did everything in their power to make feel unwanted. His whole life long he had done everything to their specifications. He was the perfect son. Now he did this one thing that they did not approve of, that fell out of line of their expectations and they changed so drastically towards him. He was not used to this, she knew. And she was at the centre of it all. She just wanted to make him feel better.
"Honey, please, calm down."
"Aarti, were you not there. Did you not feel al the insults directed at you. Did you not see how they were excluding you from the conversation? Was I supposed to just let it go?"
"You are just making matter worse. I am a big girl. I can put up with it. I asked you earlier to give them time to come to terms with me as your choice. Please Yash, try and control yourself. For me."
"Aarti ..."
She jumped on him and started kissing him. She wrapped her legs around him and he automatically held her up by her bottom.
"Aarti" he said, this time hoarsely.
"Every time, you behave yourself with your parents I will make it worth your while I promise." She said.
"Bribing me with sexual favours?' he said walking with her the bed.
"Yes, not any sexual favours. You know I know exactly what you like."
"I like this now."
"I know" she said and he threw her down on the bed and landed on top of her.
"May our honeymoon phase never end." he said and she giggled.
"I doubt it ever will. You my dear have an overactive libido. And if you stop wanting this with me I will know that you cheating on me and I will have to kill you."
"Same here, now stop talking or do you want me to misbehave with my parents again.'
"Under no circumstances" she said and pushed him off her and settled on top of him. "I always keep my promises. Mr. Scindiya." She said and she made him forget about everything that happened earlier.
Two days later, they were on a flight to South Africa. They spent two weeks at a beach resort in Cape Town. Their room had a spectacular view of the ocean. The first week they rested and spent time at the beach, in the pool and having spa treatments and made love to the soothing sound of the waves. They enjoyed taking long drives around the coast. They took a hike up Table Mountain, had lunch at the restaurant and took the cable car back. They took the City Hopper (topless Bus) around Cape Town. They took a steam train from Cape Town station to the coastal village of Simonstown, and also took a tour around the infamous wine route. The third week they spent at the Kruger National Park, going on game drives and enjoying the safari experience. And the last week they spent the Lost City hotel at Sun City. And finally they reluctantly made their way home. They were not unhappy to go home, they were not looking forward to the tension that would be greet them again the moment they stepped into SM. They held onto each other for most of the flight.
Prateek picked them up from the airport.
"Chote, please take us to the apartment and not home."
"We have to face them some time or other, baby."
"But not yet. Just one more week. Ok?"
"Ok.' She hugged him.
They relaxed for that week and caught up with work, even though they attended to urgent e-mails while they were on holiday.
A week later at SM.
They came home to no welcome. But his parents were waiting for them.
They tried to take their blessing but to no avail.
"A whole week you have been in India and you only come home now."
"We were just winding down from our holiday but we are here now."
"Maji, we brought some gifts for you." Aarti said.
She just got a disdainful look.
She got the bags and gave it to them.
Please excuse us. We have to go and unpack." Yash said and he walked past his parents.
"We made a mistake." Aarti said as he closed the door behind him.
"I realise that now. We should have come home immediately. Just more ammunition." he sighed.
"Yash."
"Yes."
"What I mean, is this marriage was a mistake."
"What are you saying Aarti?"
She was in tears.
"They will never approve of me and you will never be happy."
He grabbed and looked at her intensely.
"Aarti. Enough! I never want to hear you say that again. Never. You are my wife. You promised me your love and allegiance and now you just want to give up. I won't let you."
"But Yash ..."
"But nothing ... This marriage is not a mistake. Do you hear me?" He let her go abruptly and walked to the bathroom to take a shower. He was so angry. She stood alone crying for a long time. This time not following him to the bathroom. That night they lay quietly, each on their side of the bed. She was crying silently. The first day back and everything change. She had expected as much but it didn't stop the pain.
He knew she wasn't sleeping. He knew she must be in intense pain. But the thought of losing her again made him lose his cool. He just wanted her and he wanted her to be happy. He hated that their relationship was constantly under threat. And from his own no less. He was fiercely protective of her. He meant what he said, he would never let her go, even if it meant severing other relationships.
He turned around and moved close to her and gathered her into his arms.
"I'm sorry. I love you baby."
She started sobbing. She turned around in his arms and clung to him.
"I love you too." she said through her tears.
"Promise me you won't leave me."
"I promise."
They held onto each other, her face buried in his chest, his top was sopping wet from her tears. They finally fell asleep like that. Secure in their love for each other but very insecure about the future they have to face.
Edited by B-onesie - 8 years ago
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