Chapter 7 THE BIG FAT WEDDING

-Wedding day-

Roshni was getting ready in her room with the hairstylist, beautician and their staff which were drooling over the fact that Roshni took the most eligible bachelor. Only if they knew the truth.

She was breathing heavily thinking about her new life with Abhishek. He has already made it clear he's doing this just to secure a business project and she was doing this because she has to treat him for his addiction.

She headed towards the Mandap (Aisle) where Abhishek was already waiting for her. The party was full of guests, many of them were business associates and some friends. She didn't have a family and neither Abhishek's family was seen anywhere. There were only Laksh and Abhishek's Dad, in the name of his family. The rituals started and panditji asked for Roshni's father to do the 'Kanyadan'. Ram came forward and proudly announced that he's her father and did the ritual.

***

All the rest of the function was the same and she saw many girls glaring daggers at her through their eyes. After it was done, Panditji announced them husband and wife and all the other people came and congratulated them.

"Take care of her Abhishek." Ram said like a real father.

They were meeting the guests when a girl came to them. She was gorgeous and was wearing a black, strapless, short dress with deep neck because of which her cleavage and toned legs were at display. Many men were staring at her and she seemed to be enjoying the attention. She hugged Abhishek seductively and brought her face close to his ear, "I totally understand Abhishek. ' Your business'. But don't worry call me when you need me. I'll be right there." She said and pulled away. Abhishek stayed in the same position. He was disgusted by her words.

Roshni didn't like her attitude at all. She glanced towards Roshni. "By the way, I'm Kaira. Kaira Mehta. Congratulations." She said and shook hands with Roshni and left.

Roshni turned towards Abhishek with questioning eyes. She wanted to ask him who was she but she was afraid.

"Was she your g... girlfriend?" She asked somehow.

"Not girlfriend. Girlfriend is a totally different thing. She was just... mistress."

Roshni felt a stab in her heart. How can he say it so easily to her?

After some more guests, Laksh came to them with a girl with him. She was wearing A beautiful golden chiffon Saree with her hair open and wavy curls falling over her shoulder. She greeted them and lightly hugged Roshni careful not to mess up with her dress or makeup.

"Roshni. Meet my wife, Ragini Laksh Verma." He said putting an arm around her shoulder and she smiled.

"Congrats Abhishek." She said smiling and Abhishek smiled back. They were good friends.

"Abhishek why don't you and Laksh go and have some drinks while me and Roshni have some talks." Ragini said.

They both left and Roshni and Ragini bonded like sisters.

Everything was done and all the guests had left and Roshni and Abhishek were ready to leave.

"Congratulations Abhishek." They heard a voice from back. Abhishek didn't even turn around to see who it was. As if he wanted to ignore it.

A man probably Abhishek's age came to them smiling.

Abhishek's jaw clenched and he tightened his hold around Roshni's shoulder.

"Hello." He said looking towards her. "I must say you have a beautiful wife, Abhishek." He said ignoring the cold glares Abhishek was giving him.

"We're leaving". Abhishek said harshly and walked past him.

"Who was that?" Roshni asked out of curiosity Because he never behaves like that with his business rivals.

"That's none of your business and stay out of this." He said in the same rude tone. And they headed for home.

Roshni sighed. This is going to be really difficult. How could she treat him if he doesn't even talk to her properly?

They reached his home or should say Villa. It was the most beautiful place Roshni had ever seen. Its classy decor, elegant furniture and Royal blue interior gave it a modern yet Royal look. It was like the home of some fairy-tale Prince, only in books and virtual.

"Hey, you're living here from now on. you have all your life to admire it." He said snapping her out of her thoughts.

"It's beautiful." She said completely fascinated.

"Ya it is." He said and went straight to his room, THEIR room.

It was more beautiful than the lounge. There was a large king-sized bed in the middle of the room and a large dressing table on which all sorts of cosmetics were placed. There was a glass wall that was separating the room from the balcony. The balcony was large and had a glass railing. She went there straightway and the mildly blowing, cold winds seemed to ease her tiredness and wash it off completely. The sky was moonlit and there were the tiny stars.

There was a couch placed in the balcony. She felt like sitting there and enjoying the beauty of this night till eternity She turned around to see he had changed his dress and was lying on the bed with his elbow supporting his head. And realization hit her. What would she do if he wanted her? If she protested or said no, he would realise something was fishy. What answer would she give him if he asked 'why did you marry me then?' But she couldn't just let him steal her virtue when she knew his nature and how worthless this marriage was to him.

The situation felt inescapable. Making Love isn't as easy as some people believe. Intimacy requires courage, a lot of it, to give your soul and the body wrapped over it both to someone trusting them they'll never betray you. She didn't know the future of this relationship and how it will affect her.

She didn't know if she could heal him or get broken herself.

The one thing she knew was that if she let him fully claim her today, for good or bad, she will not come out unaffected. It would scar her, forever.

She was in deep thoughts but a strong, intimidating voice reached her ears, "change and come here fast." She turned around to see he had changed his dress and was lying on the bed with his elbow supporting his head.

After hearing those words, she felt an unknown fear in her heart. The way his eyes were gazing her body in a lustful way, made her uncomfortable. She just stood there frozen and didn't move.

"Didn't you hear?" He asked roughly.

Roshni mustered all the courage and said, "Mr. Malhotra, I... can't do it now. I need some time." In a low voice.

"Time for what? I'm your husband." he said, his eyes and voice growing a shade darker.

"Y... Yes but a few hours ago, I heard about your mistress. It is not easy for me to accept you after all that." She said in a low voice but it hurt his make ego in the worst manner. she was rejecting him, again.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Mr. Malhotra, I can bear anything but not anyone hurting my self-respect. I can't give myself to you right now. because I don't trust you. if she was so confident to come in our wedding day and greet you, how can I believe that she wouldn't come again."

He couldn't take this. She had insulted him, rejected him and most of all hurt that ego which he worshipped. He moved closer and Roshni kept moving back in fear. she kept moving until her back hit the wardrobe. She was panicking because of the closeness and tried to move but he kept both his arms on either side of her shoulders blocking her way out. She felt weak and vulnerable at this moment. she was just looking into his brown eyes when he held her neck and started kissing her roughly. Roshni was taken aback by his deed. Her mind couldn't register anything. She tried to resist but she couldn't push him, he was stronger. Her knees felt brittle like she could collapse any moment but Abhishek held her tightly pinning her hands on the sides.

He moved back to catch his breaths while Roshni had tears in her eyes. She just wanted to go away from him, from all this at this moment but Abhishek had other plans. before she could say a word, he pulled her dupatta off her body revealing the deep neck blouse. It showed most of her cleavage because of its deep neck and ended just below her breasts leaving her perfectly toned, fair abdomen raising the desires of the beast in him.

He threw her on the bed and undid the knots tying the blouse together at the back. Roshni was constantly asking him to stop but he was so driven by lust that he kept sliding the blouse off her shoulders. She clutched it over her chest while crying before he removes that too.

"No! please stop! Mr. Malhotra what you're doing is called RAPE!" she shouted with all the energy she had left. He had ignored her screams all the way but the word 'rape' brought him out of his trance.

He moved back to look at her broken expression, tear-stained face, her hands clutching the blouse to her chest, he moved back from her shivering self.

"Now don't you dare ask me if I have girlfriends or mistresses or I go to call girls." After saying those words, He left her with a jerk and stormed out of the door slamming it shut while Roshni sat on the bed crying. Suddenly his activities didn't hurt as much as his last words did.

After she was done crying, she took a shower, wore a simple, long satin nightie and scooted to her side of the bed patiently waiting for where destiny would take her. This nightmare would haunt her until the end of her life.

Kanyadaan : A ritual in Hindu marriage in which the father of the bride hands over her to the groom.