Chapter 14: chapter 14

CHAPTER -6GOWRI“Gowri, this is my wedding gift for you,” tells Swetha placing a jewel box but I am busy playing with her little son Arun.Babies. Oh, I love them. Right now, he is the best remedy for me to forget about his irritable uncle. He is cute and his eyes look familiar. “It is rare for him to get attached to someone but I think you have a natural affinity for babies,” says Swetha picking her son up from my lap and motioning to the jewel box and saying, “Now, open the box.”I open it to find a stunning gold necklace embedded with red and green stones on it. It dazzles in the light.I smile at her, “You don’t need to do this.”She shakes her head, “This is the custom. The sisters of the groom must gift something to their sister-in-law.”“Yes,” tells Nithya.  In her gold half saree, she looks like a woman rather than a girl. She is having a gift wrapped in red gift paper. “Since I am still living on my mother’s earnings, I can’t give you an expensive gift like Shweta,” she tells handing me over the gift.“Open it,” tells Swetha adjusting her silk saree with one hand while balancing Arun on the other hand. Arun glances at me and I hide my face using my palm and then peek from the side and tell 'Boo'. He cackles and the sound of his laughter cheers me.“Oh my God, Anni, you are making me jealous. It took three months for Arun to connect with me but it is not even three hours and he is already playing that peek-a-boo with you,” complains Nithya in a light-hearted tone. “Okay, open my gift.”I slowly remove the tape. Not wanting to tear the gift wrapper out.“Come on Anni, open faster,” Nithya tells getting impatient.“I don’t want to spoil the paper,” I tell peeling the tape slowly.“You have some patience,” comments Swetha.“Sorry ladies but I will take my son,” tells Bharat knocking on the door. Swetha gives him a relieved smile and hands Arun over to her husband. I open the gift wrapper. I already know the box contains a watch. But what surprises me is that it has two digital watches.  One is small and I know right away the watch would look good on my hand. The other is bigger and it is more apt for a male.“Couple watch pair? So this was your big surprise for Gowri and Shiva?” asks Swetha.“Don’t look down on the watch,” warns Nithya. “It is a special edition. It has a lot of features-”“Thank you, Nithya. It was so thoughtful of you,” I tell looking at the watch and interrupting them.“Anni, there is a reason why I choose the couple's watch. Shiva doesn’t talk with us like he once used to. He always had a fascination for watches. I remember him collecting them. I have always wanted to gift him one for being a wonderful brother to me. Two years ago, I did buy him a watch for his birthday but I didn’t dare to give him one. He was upset that day. I was afraid that he wouldn’t accept it. So, I am giving you these couple watches. One for you and one for him. Will you see to that he wears the watch and tell me if he likes it,” tells Nithya giving an understanding look to Swetha.I nod but I am not sure if I heard her right. Shiva was a wonderful brother?I haven't been in this room for ten minutes and his sisters have mentioned him more than ten times. They love their brother so dearly and I think these three had a close relationship before Shiva got heartbroken.“It had been nearly five years since Shiva had a proper conversation with us. After he finished his college he was always cold and aloof towards us,” says Swetha and she looks sad.I can see that both the sister care for Shiva and misses him. I like my sisters-in-law but for the life of me, I couldn't understand why they love their brother so much. Maybe I have witnessed only one side of Shiva. Maybe I would have liked the pre-breakup Shiva.Heck, Gowri. Why are you suddenly thinking about liking that man? “Yeah, it was all because of the girl and the break-up,” Nithya lets out and then she realizes she had confessed something that she shouldn’t have.“I didn’t mean-” she tells in an attempt to undo her words thinking that I don't know about his breakup. Well, sorry, Nithya. His breakup was the first thing I learned about him. I wave her off, “Don’t worry. I already know about his love failure. He told me about it.”“So, you know the story? What happened to them?” asks Swetha with curiosity in her voice.“No, he didn’t tell me the full story. He just told me that he was in love with someone and then they had a break-up.”But I assume he must have shown his self centred behaviour to the girl and the girl must have left him realizing what an arrogant jerk he was.“He didn’t tell you too,” tells Nithya in a tired voice. “I don’t why he is being tightly lipped about the girl or the break-up. I miss the old Shiva who used to be friendly. He changed after that damn breakup. He stopped speaking to us altogether. Only one-worded answer for every question we ask him.”Ah! So he is not only arrogant to strangers but also to his very own sisters who love him dearly.“Does he converse  with you in full sentences  or only one-worded answers?” Shweta asks.Oh no!I contemplate telling them the truth that the only conversations we have ever had were about how to stop this marriage and stay away from each other. But, obviously, I can't. Since that man thinks I can't keep a promise, I am going to follow his conditions and prove him wrong.But won't it seem awkward if I lie to them that their brother who gives one-word answers to them, has conversations with me?OH, GOD! It is not even two hours since the marriage but I am already finding it difficult to keep up the charade.“Gowri,” my mother comes in at the right moment to save me from answering. “I need to have a word with you in private,” she tells looking apologetically at Swetha.“We will leave her to you aunty,” Swetha tells with a smile and walks out of the room followed by Nithya.“So, were your sisters-in-law harassing you?” my mother asks in a whisper.“No, they are sweet.”“Sweeter than your sister?”“Ma,” I groan. “Will you stop comparing? Aishu is my sister. They are my in-laws. There is a difference.”“Ok, whatever,” my mother tells spotting the jewel box. “I don’t think this jewel box belongs to us,” she tells opening it.“That is a gift for me from Swetha,” I reply.“Wow, Gowri, this is stunning. Your sisters-in-law are the best.”“Ma, tell me what you wanted to say,” I tell getting irritated that she can change her opinion so easily.  “Gowri, as per both your horoscopes, it seems Shiva and you must not have the wedding night today and you must sleep in separate rooms. I believe you will follow that,” she responds keeping the jewel box on the table. “Savitri will inform about this to Shiva.”By now if you haven’t guessed then I will tell you, that my mother is obsessed with astrology. She believes everything that the astrologer says though on many occasions he had been wrong. But I am happy now because I don’t have to sleep in the same room as that man.“If in case, he forces you for it,” my mother continues to my utter horror, “don’t give in. Tell him that you have periods or something of that sort.”I have to keep my face straight when I hear those words. As if Shiva is waiting for it! That man can’t even stand my sight and how in the name of heaven do you think he will touch me? I wanted to tell but all I do is nod.🍀🍀🍀🍀