Chapter 23: chapter 23

Arnab,and Mowri, stood amongst some relatives at the reception. And Mowri, found her gaze going back to Arnab,again and again. He had changed for the function just as she had. And he looked dashing in his Jodhpuri maroon brocade kurta with stone buttons and patch border work with a black dupion silk pajama. There was not one man in the entire who could hold a candle to him. He looked royal and his height and build added that extra charisma to the outfit.Not that she looked any less in her intricately styled detailed...crimson red faux georgette sari embellished with resham, sequins, zari, beads, stone, cutdana and patch work. With itshe wore a beautiful green, white and maroonpolki studded gold necklace set. Her long hair had been styled with lots of long curls and it had been left open. Everyone who saw her complimented her on how she looked and shehad given the credit to her mother in law after all the sari and the jewelry was her selection. Mowri, had lost the nervousness she had felt earlier. After the marriage ceremony she had left with Arnab,for the hotel that had been booked by the Malhotra's. She hadn't cried at all even though her mother, Nimmi chachi and Simrit had cried enough for the etire clan. It had felt strange that now she was not Mowri, Vij but Mowri, Malhotra. Would take some time to getting used to the new name but her confidence hadslowly returned. She had been asked to rest once they had reached the hotel and Sarla had stayed with her throughout. Later she had been sent to the salon to get ready for the evening function that had been arranged in a farmhouse. Arnab  had introduced her to most of his relatives and friends, some were even his colleagues. And shehad realized that she had worried unnecessarily.As she had watched Arnab,interact with hisfriends and colleagues she had seen how warmhe was and how much his friends respected him.It was not possible if something was wrong withthe man. And she had felt her unease slowly ebb away. Though she was dreading how she would be able to adjust once they would be alone. She knew there were a lot of challenges that would come her way. Some because of her own nature and habits and she was sure Arnab,had his habits too and to adjust would not be as easy and being married needed some getting used to, she hoped she would be able to give this relationship her all. She would have gone on thinking had an overly sweet voice notinterrupted her."How are you feeling?" Simrit said from behind her, "Now that you are finally married,"' she said. Mowri, had been smiling before but at Simrit's voice her smile froze and she turned to face her sister with a chilling expression. She found Simrit was smiling but as usual her smile did not reach her eyes. She was wearing a strange sea green colored sequin salwar kameez and her hair was tied in a bouffant bun on her head. With her face white as a pastry frost and bright red lipstick she looked as loud as she could possibly look. Mowri, didn't respond to her question or Comment."That is if you are capable of feeling anything." Simrit said with a tongue in cheek expression."If feelings makes one into something like you thenl am happy without them Mowri, said sarcastically as she gave her sister a half smile. She watched Simrit's smugness fade as her eyes flashed with fire. Simrit tried to keep her expression pleasant but she failed miserably."You will never change" Simrit tried to make a dent in her sister's confidence, "wonder what your in laws would say if they saw you like this," she said, "What did yours say when they found out whatyou were really like?" Mowri, asked keeping herexpression superior."Don't worry about me dear sister," Simrit said, "I   have always had my good luck and good looks to get away with things. You have neither," she said smugly, "besides I have been married five years with a son to boast of no matter what I do or what l say they will always look up to me" shesaid proudly."Really' Mowri, said as if in disbelief, "is this how it is or is it what you think?" she said."What is that supposed to mean?" Simrit askednarrowing her gaze."As far as you bearing a son goes," she said making a clucking sound with her tongue, "it just proves why one needs to be a bit educated" she told her with a cold smile, "you were just a carrier it was your husband who decided what the sex of the child is going to be not you'' she informed her sweetly. "It is good to have illusionssometimes Mrs. Simrit Khullar" Mowri, said withfull sarcastic force, "but to permanently start living in them is not so good," Mowri, said shaking her head in a mocking way, "what you have is right there," she said and pointed her finger atthe table where her in laws sat gobbling awayat everything that came their way, "and what I have is here," Mowri, said opening her arms to point in almost all directions where her in laws and husband stood, "l will grant you one thing Mrs. Khullar and one thing alone you did me a huge favor and I hope I will be able to repay you some day. But that day is not today" Mowri, said her tone sharp, "now get out of my sight before I embarrass you so much you will never show your face in any party again," she said her anger rising. Simrit was disgusted at how shamelessly her in laws were behaving while Mowri,'s in laws were polished as hell. They never said anything out of turn, always spoke well, never belched in full public view nor were they interested in the neighbor's daughter and what she was doing.They had perfect manners and were so warm and loving Simrit was burning with jealousy. So what if they had a son who was divorced everything else compensated for that little hiccup. Besides he was so good looking too. But she couldn't let Mowri, get away with what she had just said."At leastI had an unmarried man to myself butyou." Simrit started and then paused as she watched the tall man approach Mowri, from behind she suddenly smiled, "all l wish for you my dear sister is to be happy and I hope for your sake that you change your shrewish ways. They won't always come to your rescue," she said.Mowri, frowned. How dare Simrit come and talk to her? She hadn't done so in all of five years, not even during the engagement yesterday or her wedding today and now at her reception she stood before her talking nonsense. Why was she here? She had everything and yet she couldn't leave Mowri, alone. What was her problem? But Mowri, knew it was Simrit's self-absorption andnarcissism that was the problem. Her pride in her beauty and her manipulations were the causes. She was so selfish that she could barely see beyond herself. She had just tried to ruin her evening and she had almost succeeded but Mowri, knew how to keep her in her place. Only that last comment about Arnab,had made her see red and she was ready to give her a fitting response when she heard her change her tune.She was suddenly smiling again and wishing her luck. Something was wrong. Had she lost her mind? But then she suddenly knew why she had changed her tone or left that commentin the middle. Mowri, could smell the familiar musk fragrance Arnab,wore. He was around her somewhere or probably coming towards her. And Simrit had just done this to annoy herso she could say something rude and he could hear. Trust her sister to cause trouble. Only Simrit didn't know her as well now as she had known her before, knowing what buttons to push or what words to use to do maximum damage to her self-esteem. Mowri, had changed and Simrit didn't understand the changes. Mowri, smiled tooand saw Simrit's eyes narrow a little."You have a lot to learn Mrs. Khullar" Mowri, said with a cold smile, "adversaries constantly change and if you dont keep up you are bound to lose. Thanks for your concerns and wishes but I don't need either," she said and crossed her arms Over her bosom. Just then she felt Arnab  's presence behind her. Simrit just smiled and nodding at Arnab,left."Everything okay?" Mowri, heard him ask. She sighed and turned."Yes," she replied a little loudly, "why would you think otherwise?" she asked."No reason" Arnab,said watching her intently,"just that your sister didn't seem happy about something" he said."She rarely is,' Mowri, replied.Arnab,didn't comment further."Did you eat something?" he asked.And Mowri, shook her head negatively."Come, dinner is served and ma is looking for you," he said and moved to the side to let her pass.Mowri, took in a deep breath and released it as she let her anger and emotions settle down. She didn't know if Arnab,had heard something or had just casually commented on Simrit's behavior.But she hoped he hadn't caught on to the tension between the two sisters. It would be difficult not to mention awkward to explain him the reasons. But this was just the beginning of all she had to learn about her husband and soon she was to realize nothing ever missed his notice and he was rarely wrong about his deductions.************