Chapter 4
TANISHA
She smiled as she forced herself to concentrate on Jay’s mother’s long winded explanation about what they would be giving her as part of her wedding trousseau. By the time she’d gotten through the detailed description of the diamond waist belt, Tanisha had zoned out.
Until, she’d heard his voice.
She straightened in her chair, her smile getting more fixed as she heard the loud laughter and chatter that preceded the crowd coming towards the room they sat in. She saw Jay frown at the influx of noise but his mother only pitched her voice louder to be heard.
“So, the diamond for the engagement ring, the central one, will be three carats at least,” she said, her voice almost a scream now as Rehan said something and everyone burst into laughter.
She ached to be with them, in the middle of the laughter and chaos. She wanted with all her heart to be the first person to greet him when he came home. But she stayed in her seat, her back to the door and her gaze fixed on the man she was going to marry and his obnoxious parents.
The door opened and the horde entered, chaotic comments and loud laughter preceding them.
“Four diamond sets in all!” Jay’s mother shrieked.
The happy chatter cut out and silence descended on the room. Tani’s cheeks flushed a dull red as she stared determinedly at a point on the wall right above Jay’s head. She was not going to turn. She was not going to look at him. She was not going to break.
“Four diamond sets?” Her father’s amused voice cut through the startled quiet. “Are you giving or asking?”
Jay’s mother, Mahima beamed, completely missing his sarcasm. “We are not those kind of people Karamji. You give whatever you want. We are giving this for our ghar ki bahu.”
Jai’s father, Hasmukh, called for his wife’s attention and Jay’s family went into a little huddle in their corner of the room. Probably discussing the number of diamonds in those sets.
“Karamji.” Aayushi Maasi’s quiet murmur carried to where Tani sat. “Never thought I’d see the day you got ji’d Karam.”
“Ladki ka baap jo hai,” Ved laughed. “Sasur and all he is going to be.”
Tani didn’t need to look to know her father would be glaring at his best friend. But it wasn’t his gaze she could feel between her shoulder blades. She felt him staring at her, the weight of his gaze burning into her like a brand.
She would not break, she reminded herself as she sat there, her back straight and turned away from him.
“I have to admit,” her mother whispered now. “Karamji is giving me the ick. I’m sorry darling, but you’re just not sexy anymore.”
“Ugh mom,” Rehan moaned. “Don’t talk about sexy and dad in the same sentence! It’s enough to make me want to be celibate.”
“Hah! Better that than having your dick turn green from an STD.” Kimi’s chortle had the tips of Tani’s lips turning up even as tears pricked her eyes.
In the room. He was in the same room as her after all these months of silence…
Before she could lose all semblance of control, Jay’s parents turned back towards them, coming forward as a unit. “Actually, Karamji,” Kimi’s snicker was stifled quickly as Hasmukh Malhotra went on, “now that we are all together, maybe it’s a good time to talk?”
Tani met Jay’s eyes, wondering what this was about. He didn’t meet her gaze which was saying something, given he’d been smirking at her all day.
“Talk?” Her father’s silken tones were ones that would have had everyone in the vicinity running for cover. The Malhotras were a bit dumb though or maybe their survival instincts just hadn’t been honed enough.
Was this normal, she wondered? To dislike her in laws so much even before the wedding was over and done with? Panic sparked, breaking through the shroud of calm that got her through her days. That fake shroud and vodka were her constant companions.
“Yes, Ji.” Mahima sounded a little nervous but she continued, “We should discuss na. We have told you what all we are giving. Now, you should also tell us. After all,” she laughed, a fluttery sound, “transparency is best.”
“We are giving you the most precious part of our heart, our daughter,” Shikha said, her voice chilling. “What more could you want?”
“I thought I was the most precious part of your heart?” Rehan interjected before exclaiming ‘Ow!’ loudly. Kimi had probably jabbed her elbow into his side, Tani thought, fighting a smile.
“Yes, yes, of course.” Hasmukh didn’t seem very pleased with that. “But let’s be clear on what she brings with her, on what you will give along with your daughter. After all, after this, she will be our daughter, not yours.”
“She. Will. Always. Be. My. Daughter.” Her father’s rage was as legendary as was his love. For a brief moment, Tani worried for the Malhotras’ lives.
A brief silence and then Shikha murmured, “Karam.”
When he spoke next, his voice was tightly controlled.
“We do not give our daughters away in this family. They are ours, always. As far as the rest, Hasmukhji,” he sounded like he was choking on the Ji, “I don’t believe this is a conversation for us to have.
What is Tani’s will be given to her and her alone.
If she wishes to disclose the details of the same to your son or you, that will be her decision to make.
If that doesn’t work for you, I suggest we call this and all other discussions off. ”
Dead silence blanketed the room.
And then Jay spoke up, “Of course, Uncle. My parents are a little old school but I will get them to understand. Please don’t worry about it. What’s important is that Tanisha and I love each other and want to spend the rest of our lives together. Right Tani?”
She could feel Kabir’s gaze boring into the back of her head, heat rising through her body. She waited for him to say something, anything, but he didn’t. So, Tanisha straightened her shoulders and smiled, “Right.”
Jay gave his parents a look that told them to leave their thoughts unsaid. “Then why don’t we discuss fun things like the wedding. Where we’ll have it and when. Tani, where would you like to get married?”
A new voice entered the conversation, issuing from the doorway. “I don’t think that was ever a question. Everyone knows where Tani wants to get married.”
“Mamu!” Tani erupted out of her chair and ran into Aakash’s open arms. He laughed as he swung her off the ground and into a tight embrace. “Hello munchkin.” He pulled back and gave her a mock frown. “Who the hell said you were old enough to get married?”
She laughed, keeping her gaze away from where he stood. “I think the grey hair you’re sprouting off late says I can.”
Aakash pretended to think about it. “Yeah, you’re responsible for most of those anyway. So,” he said, turning her to face the room and slinging his arm around her shoulder. “It’s settled then.”
“What is?” Hasmukh groused. “We still don’t know anything.”
“That’s true,” Aakash agreed, his polite sarcasm flying completely over their head. And then he smiled down at Tani before saying, “Tani and Jay will get married at Il Cuore.”
The crystal vase on the marble console flew off and landed on the ground in a splintering crash.
They all turned to look at where Kabir stood in the corner, a dark, silent presence.
Glass littered the floor at his feet, water meandering through it in small rivulets, tiny drops of blood spilling into it, crimson splashes of pain.
Everyone rushed over to see what had happened, where he was hurt, and to shout out orders to have the mess cleaned up.
But Tani didn’t move. She couldn’t even breathe. Kabir wasn’t looking at any of them. He was looking only at her, everything unspoken between them shading the dark depths of his eyes, blood dripping from one hand, each drop feeling like it was torn from her shredded heart.
And as she met that gaze for the first time since he’d walked into the room, Tani broke.