Chapter 8 #2
Siya could hear them bickering, but her mind was numb. It was the second day in a row that the breaking news had changed the course of her life. Was she on a reality show and no one had bothered to inform her?
‘I could go for a drink. It’s not every day you’re accused of being pregnant on national television,’ Siya grumbled.
‘To be honest, the meme they’ve created of Abhay holding a baby above his head like in Bahubali 2 was a bold, artistic choice. Can I take a picture like that with your baby? I’d like to be in a meme too.’
Kashvi made a choked sound and facepalmed herself.
‘There will be no baby and we’re not married!’ Siya snapped at him.
Swayam clutched at his chest and dramatically sighed. ‘You mean you and Abhay aren’t secretly raising a dynasty in the shadows? I’m devastated.’
‘Shut up, idiot,’ Kashvi scolded, and punched him hard on the shoulder. It might have left an impact if she weren’t a dwarf against his muscular, caveman build.
He simply laughed and made a tsk sound. ‘Baby’s maasi is so touchy.’
Meera patted Siya’s knees. ‘Yaar, this was bound to happen. Your families aren’t exactly low profile. It’s not just about you two being married, it’s two rival powerhouses suddenly coming together. People need a story to make sense of it, and if they can’t find one, they’ll invent it.’
Siya nodded, even as her teeth bit into her bottom lip. One look at Kashvi and she could see the overwhelming fear of being left behind simmering beneath her anger.
She swallowed against the guilt rising up in her throat and patted the empty space next to her. Kashvi plopped down but wouldn’t meet her gaze.
Siya caressed her tousled hair and patted her head gently. She could see Kashvi was close to tears, so she wrapped her arms around her in a hug.
‘How could you make a decision like this without even talking to me?’ Kashvi asked in a trembling voice.
‘If I had told you, you wouldn’t have let me do it.’
Her voice rose. ‘Of course, I wouldn’t have! Because this doesn’t make any sense. Why are you doing this?’
‘Baby, I know you have questions, and believe me, if I could talk to you about it, I would. I promise I’ll answer them in time, but not now. Please just trust me.’
‘Is Dad behind this? Is he forcing you to do this?’
Siya gripped the armrest so tightly her knuckles went bloodless. Her father’s threat on their call rang loud in her mind, then settled in her gut like a stone.
‘If anyone finds out the truth about this marriage, you know things will be out of my hands then. Ravindra Bhatt is still interested in Kashvi, and he’s more determined than ever. You don’t know how generous his new proposal is, and you do know how easily I can be persuaded.’
She wanted to say something to her sister that would make this easier, but her throat ached from all the jagged edges of the bitter truth.
How could she tell her that their father was ready to essentially marry off his daughters to the highest bidders for his benefit? And even though Siya was doing all she could to protect her, that didn’t mean the reality wouldn’t hurt her baby sister.
And if she did tell her, Kashvi would fight. She would scream, rage, and throw herself into the fire for Siya’s sake without hesitation. And their father would laugh as they burned to ashes.
Blinking back tears, Siya looked up—but at Meera. She clenched her jaw and hoped her best friend would understand her silence. Meera’s expression softened, and she placed a hand on Kashvi’s shoulder. ‘Kashu, look at me.’
Meeting her gaze, Meera asked, ‘You know Siya the best. We’ve seen her scroll through menus a hundred times over before ordering food from a restaurant. Before every trip, she makes multiple checklists and a complete itinerary. She isn’t an impulsive person, is she?’
Kashvi shook her head, but her chin wobbled as she failed to hold back tears. Meera rubbed her arm gently and went on, ‘How many times have you known your sister to make a decision that didn’t have a reason behind it?’
‘Oh please, she took a week to decide the topic for our group presentation in college and then wouldn’t let us contribute because she had a certain “vision,”’ Swayam commented.
Siya rolled her eyes at his exaggeration. ‘Are you complaining about the A grade we received?’
‘Not at all,’ Swayam announced with a grin.
Meera gave a soft chuckle and brushed Kashvi’s hair back from her face. ‘Exactly. Your control freak of a sister doesn’t do anything without a purpose. We might not understand it now, but she does. Let’s give her space to figure out the rest.’
Kashvi turned to Siya, tears streaming down her face. ‘Is this your choice then? Do you really feel something for Abhay?’
Her heart ached at the question, and a sizzling pain burst through her veins. Did she have feelings for Abhay? Is the sky blue? His betrayal would hurt less if she didn’t. But that was their story, and she didn’t want Kashvi to worry, so she gave her a half-truth.
‘Yes,’ she mumbled. Technically, it was true. At the core of it, getting married to save Kashvi was the only choice she could live with.
Kashvi held her gaze for a long moment, and it’s good that Siya was an expert at keeping a smile on her face, or else Kashvi would have caught the cracks in her facade. Her sister nodded and hugged her.
Excusing herself, she went to wash her face, and finally, the splintered armour Siya held on to shattered. Meera took a seat beside her and said, ‘I don’t need details. I meant what I said. We’ll respect your decision, but I want you to know that you’re not in this alone.’
Siya shook her head, and a bitter scoff escaped her lips. ‘I spent years trying to forget Abhay, and now in a week, I’ll be married to him. The universe really has a crappy sense of humour.’
Meera nodded. ‘I’ve known him for nearly a year now. He may not be perfect, but he is not heartless either. And I’ve known you all my life. If anyone can handle this, it’s you.’
‘And honestly, I’ve been looking for an excuse to punch Abhay ever since he kicked my ass in our first tennis match. He makes you cry even once, and the countdown will begin,’ Swayam remarked.
Her lips twitched in a smile, despite the tears.
Meera said, ‘Just remember, no matter what this is about, no matter how complicated, we’re with you.’
Swayam pushed off the couch and offered her a tissue. In a serious tone, which they rarely heard from him, Swayam echoed Meera’s words. ‘Yes, we are. Always.’
Siya held out her hand, and he squeezed it in assurance. She sent a silent prayer, thanking the universe for blessing her with friends like them, who were like family.
Kashvi came back, dabbing her face dry with a towel. Siya noticed she seemed much calmer now, and sighed in relief. ‘What’s going on?’
Siya cleared her throat to dislodge the emotions choking her, and said, ‘Swayam being Swayam.’
‘Hey! I’ll be the first to admit that I’m relieved you’re not expecting a baby. I’m not ready to become a godfather,’ he said, dramatically gesturing as if he were wiping sweat off his forehead.
‘You’re such an idiot,’ Kashvi said.
Swayam moved to stand beside her and nudged her shoulder with his index finger. Kashvi turned toward him, and he gave her a crooked, silly smile.
Kashvi huffed a breath that was almost a laugh. Without a word, Swayam wrapped his arm around her shoulders, hoping to comfort her as much as he could.
He stilled for a moment when she leaned into him, but then shifted to engulf her in his arms. She exhaled a breath she’d been holding, and Swayam felt a pang of pride when her body relaxed in his hold.
The peace of the moment shattered when the doorbell rang loudly and persistently. Siya hated how her heart jumped at the thought that it could be Abhay.
Oh, I’m in so much trouble, she thought.