Chapter 8 :

4:30 p.m.

Geetanjali's POV

"How're you Geet?", asked Ru from the other side of the call.

"I'm good. Tell me about you", I replied calmly, sipping onto my evening tea.

"It's as usual. Appointments are too much these days that I barely get time to even have s*x with Dev", she replied dramatically as usual, expressing her 'most common' reason for frustration.

I rolled my eyes and replied, "Can't you have any other reason for your frustration? S*x? Seriously? Is that all that roams inside your head all day?", I asked in disbelief. We were two people with totally opposite personalities. Whereas I'm calm, she's always hyped up about nonsense reasons. But that's what makes us perfect through our imperfections.

"What? Of course I'm sexually frustrated. Now that d!ck of your husband is hell bent to make you comfortable and have s*x after you both cut your fiftieth anniversary cake", she replied.

I had told her that Adhvik was just willing to get comfortable with me and let me adjust before we consummate our marriage. I couldn't muster up the courage to tell her the truth when she asked about my marriage. I knew no matter how cool minded and free woman she was, she'd definitely do something to get me out of this marriage and show him the consequences of hurting me.

Despite being a troublemaker, she was my bestfriend and having her as my bestfriend was actually a blessing to me. I consider myself really lucky.

Hearing her exaggerating everything made me roll my eyes for the upteenth time, "Whatever you say. Now I'll hang up. It's been almost an hour and I need to pack up too since we're leaving tomorrow morning."

There was silence from the other side for a while before she spoke up, her tone low, "Are you really going?"

I sighed, "I didn't want to but he can't leave his job like that right? Moreover, he'll take over his father's company very soon so he needs to give his best to his current job. There are a lot of factors you see Ru", I replied trying to make her believe her words. Yes about his work, it was true but about going away, I just didn't want my family and Ru to see the actual situation between me and Adhvik.

Marriage isn't a child's play. It's about a lifetime commitment and I can't just go and ask him for divorce. I might seem wrong to some people but giving this relationship a try and actually knowing the reason behind his nature of creating distance, I can't just give up. I've never been a giving up type person.

So let me try.

"Okay fine. Just call me right away if he dares to hurt you or do anything that disrespects you or insults you. Okay?", she asked, concerned. We both were upset because we couldn't even meet each other for that last time.

"Okay. Bye", with that I cut the call and wiped off the lone tear that had escaped my left eye.

Sniffing back my tears, I got up from the balcony swing, I walked inside the room to pack my bags.

I noticed two black suitcases packed near the vanity. So he's already ready to leave. Such a bastard.

Rolling my eyes, I put my cup down on the coffee table nearby, I walked inside the walk-in closet to get my luggage ready.

After almost an hour I was finally ready. It was past 5:30 so I decided to take a bath and go downstairs to do the evening pooja before I made tea for everyone. Adhvik was busy the whole day in his office room to my greatest relief. But till when?

I emerged from the bathroom, all fresh and new. After going on with my skincare routine, I wore a cotton light pink saree with a half sleeve blouse. I tied up my hair into a low bun and just applied some lip gloss, wore a bindi, the vermillion and the mangalsutra. I can't risk wearing it while taking a bath.

The way to the temple at the back was just like the path to heaven. Against the backdrop of the setting sun of summer, the white marble temple glowed with the sun's golden yellow and orange rays. The temple was surrounded by a narrow water body which had red lotuses and some colorful fishes. A small arched wooden bridge connected the ground to the lower step of the temple. The place was just so heavenly and serene that I can spend hours here and not even get bored.

I did the rituals before putting my wishes at the Gods' and Goddesses' feet.

Smiling at their statues, I got out of the temple before walking inside the kitchen to be greeted by chachi.

"Good evening chachi", I greeted her to which she smiled at me.

"Good evening Geetanjali. I saw you admiring the temple. Do you like it that much?", she asked with a small laughter.

I nodded with a smile, "I do. It's just that I find my inner peace there. I'll make the tea." She nodded in response before assisting me with what to make. This saree was actually irritating me because I wasn't used to wearing that all day long and that too during summers in Delhi.

After making everyone's favourite food, with a lot of effort and time, I took them inside the main hall with the help of maids and chachi. She went upstairs to call everyone and asked me to call Adhvik.

I didn't want to but he was my husband no matter what, so I agreed.

Till the first floor, my steps were normal and I wasn't at all feeling something weird. But as my steps slowly proceeded towards his study room's door, I started growing nervous. I didn't know why but I always felt nervous around him. Yeah, I was annoyed at him for his arrogance but nervousness always accompanied me. I couldn't simply shrug off the feeling.

Knocking on the door thrice, I waited for him to allow me in. A 'come in' echoed from the other side a while later so I opened the door and entered the room.

"I've prepared you tea. Come downstairs", I spoke calmly, waiting by the door frame for his response.

He shut the file in his hands before taking off his glasses and was about to speak when I spoke, "I'm not acting as your wife if you were going to say that. I don't want your family to know about your ultimatum towards his marriage so I just came to call you. Rest is your choice." After completing my words, I waited to see if he wanted to speak something else but I was right, he didn't have. What he had was already answered by me.

Scoffing under my breath, I walked away from there to have tea with his family.

He didn't even feel sorry for being so rude towards me. My eyes stung with tears. I wasn't a crybaby but it did hurt to go through such shits right after my marriage.

Blinking them away, I walked away from there.

•

6:30 p.m.

"Geetanjali, is your luggage ready?", maa asked placing her tea cup on the saucer.

I nodded, "Yes maa it is."

"Adhvik", dadiji called him out, who was scrolling through his phone.

Keeping it down, he looked up at his grandma and replied, "Yes dadi?"

Everyone was done with their evening tea so I, Adhvik, maa and dadiji were sitting inside dadiji and dadaji's room. Dadiji said that there was something important to talk about with him and me. So here we are now.

"Listen to me carefully. You're now married and marriage isn't a child's play. It's about a lifetime commitment towards your wife. It's about a scared bond tied up between a couple. One needs to put a lot of effort into making the relationship work. Nothing in the world is easy, remember that. Geetanjali's parents have entrusted her with you and that's why they have married her to you. You can't just marry someone and ruin her life by saying you don't want her. She's your wife and it's your duty to protect her dignity. If you don't, then no one would. Remember that. We wouldn't have asked you to get married if we knew that you'd do something like this. Now since the marriage has already happened, we want you to change and give this marriage a chance. An arranged marriage might look scary but it's beautiful when you go through the process. It's a whole new experience. Yes, you might be scared at first but gradually, you both will get comfortable and even fall in love. Just don't disappoint us and make your parents doubt their upbringing. Just promise me that Adhvik", spoke dadi with a tone of plea. She was so kind that my heart clenched seeing her feeling guilty for my state. She wasn't even at fault and the one at fault didn't even care how I was.

As she mentioned that we might fall in love, was it even possible? Was it even possible to fall for someone who was so distant from his own wife and neglected her? Working out of this relationship was the biggest thing now and I don't know what will happen. We'll be living like strangers under the same roof. We'll be like roommates in his mansion there in Mumbai. I sighed internally.

"I promise dadi", he replied slowly, giving her a small smile before taking his leave from there.

We three women remained silent so I just looked at maa who just gave me a small smile and patted my head.

This was going to be hard.

•

3 September, Tuesday, 2024

10:15 a.m.

"Not my son but you, I will miss you a lot Geetanjali", spoke maa while pulling me into a warm hug to which I hugged her back.

"I'll miss you too maa", I replied letting go of her as I bent down to touch papa's feet.

"Sada khush, safal aru suhagan raho beta", he blessed me before I stood up.

"I'll miss your handmade malai chum chum. It was so tasty", he spoke with a warm smile. I smiled back in response.

"I've given maa the recipe. She'll make it for you with her love", I replied with some mischievousness because I noticed how maa was blushing. So we all burst into a fit of laughter.

"Geetanjali we'll gate late", I heard Adhvik calling me. So without wasting more time, I bid everyone goodbye and climbed up the stairs of the plane. His family was very rich and owned three jets but he chose public flight because he wasn't allowed too much privileges before he took over the CEO position of his father's company.

But we had our seats in the business class.

As I settled down, I saw his seat was next to mine. But thanks to the engineer who designed the plane because it had a privacy screen. But I don't know what had gotten onto me that I didn't roll it up.

I noticed how he took out his laptop and engrossed himself in his work. He could've married his work instead of me. I might someday end up regretting marrying him, finding out that he had considered his work as his wife instead of considering me as one.

Not giving any heed to him, I took out my phone and plucked my Airpods to my ears. I opened the Spotify app before playing a random song from my playlist while being offline since I had the premium version.

I was feeling restless and annoyed unexpectedly. I couldn't understand why.

So turning off my Airpods, I put them inside the box and kept it inside my purse. The plane was completely silent so I just looked around me. As my gaze travelled around the room, it unwillingly fell on his laptop.

Contract Finalization

Partners: Adhvik Raichand and Raina Goenka

The file open in his laptop read. I frowned.

As much as I knew she was a model and he was an engineer then what contract were they even signing?

But I had no will to ask because of his arrogance.

"You want to ask something?", I heard him speak not knowing he had noticed me peeking at his laptop.

"Why are you both working together when both of you own different professions?", I asked straightforwardly because I didn't have the guts to act innocent.

His fingers stopped typing as he looked at me, "She owns fashion brands and my father owns a diamond business. That'll be handed over to me soon so she'll be my very first partner in helping my business reach greater heights." I didn't expect him to explain everything without saying 'you're not my wife', I mimicked his words internally.

"Let me tell you that I've got a job as a zoology lecturer in University of Mumbai", I spoke, reopening my phone and scrolling through my gallery randomly.

"You didn't ask me for once", he spoke.

"Did you turn deaf when I said 'let me tell you'?", I asked with a taunting tone, staring at him in disbelief.

His expressions hardened, "I wouldn't have stopped you. I'd have helped you with it."

I raised my brows in a mocking surprise, "Oh really? Was it you who had given me the ultimatum of you not considering me your wife? Or was it your neighbour?"

His jaw muscles twitched but he kept silent for a while before he replied, "Don't speak too much and test my patience. You are already too much to bear." And with that he resumed his work.

I stared at him in disbelief for a few seconds before I looked away, tears stinging my eyes. I was already going through too much and his even slightly harsh words affected me a lot.  I wasn't an overly sensitive person but at times when I'm hurt, harsh behaviours or words affect me.

It was fine if he didn't want to accept me as his wife so soon but spitting harsh words on me everyday to remind me that I was just a burden to him. He had to stay with me, bear me despite his will.

Maybe I was born with a cursed fate,

especially in the case of love.

Whenever I seeked for love, I always got pain in return.

I wiped off my tears and just stared out of the window mindlessly.