-13-
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The sun was shining brightly in the sky while Jayasvi was looking at Raghav, waiting for him to understand the paragraph.
Though she had little hope for him to grasp it, seeing him frown and glare at the text left a small smile on her lips.
Her heart was telling her to kiss him, but the shy part inside her scolded her for even thinking that way.
"It's slightly complex. You don't have to think too much if you don't get it," she spoke, trying to take her textbook from him. He let it go as well, clearing his throat.
"I completed my studies in London. The things taught there are slightly different.
Also, I have a degree in business management, it's far off from politics," he spoke, blinking his eyes as he got up and sat on his chair behind the desk.
Jayasvi frowned at his words before smiling sneakily.
He was justifying himself; maybe he was embarrassed.
"I understand. It's not possible that every person knows every single thing," she spoke, trying to hold back her smile. But for Raghav, she knew she was teasing him. He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Why do I feel you are enjoying this so much?" he told her. She looked at him with wide eyes, shaking her head as if he had caught her mischief.
"You are a very naughty girl, Ms. Jayasvi," he spoke, his voice thicker than usual as he leaned back in his chair.
His eyes stared at her in a different way than usual.
Her face turned red as she thought about all the other times the protagonists in her books would say such statements.
If she didn't know him better, she would have thought he was talking dirty with her.
Only if she knew.
She clenched her thighs. She should probably stop reading so many eroticas. She couldn't even look up at him. Why was she reacting this way to just one of his statements?
Raghav stood up, walking around the desk to stand in front of her. "Jayasvi," he said softly, lifting her chin with his finger so she would look at him. "You don't have to be so shy around me."
Her heart pounded in her chest. "I'm not shy," she lied, her voice barely above a whisper.
He smirked, leaning in closer, his lips brushing against hers. "Then why are you blushing?"
Before she could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it and sighed. "I have a meeting in five minutes. But I want you to stay. We'll finish this later."
Jayasvi nodded, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment as he walked out of the room. She exhaled deeply, trying to calm her racing heart. This man was making her feel things she had never felt before, and it both excited and terrified her.
She wished to stay, but before he could return, her mother started calling her. Hence, she had to leave, not wanting her mother to know she was with him at the moment instead of being in college. Somehow, she felt guilty for not sharing this with her mother.
As she reached home, she quickly got changed. Her mother had already cooked the meal for her. She was putting her things in their place when her mother asked her to come and eat. Soon, she felt her mother hold her hand.
She looked back to find her mother staring at the ring on her left-hand ring finger.
"Where did you get this?" her mother questioned, looking at her.
"Mumma, actually..." She couldn't frame her words properly. Did she do something wrong? Of course, she did. She should have shared her meetings with Raghav with her mother.
Her mother's eyes softened as she gently guided Jayasvi to sit down. "Tell me everything, dear. I want to understand."
Jayasvi took a deep breath, recounting her interactions with Raghav. She mentioned how he had given her the ring as a symbol of their engagement. She did hide how he reacted after not seeing the ring on her hand since she didn't want her mother to think badly about him.
"I see," her mother said thoughtfully, her fingers tracing the delicate design of the ring. "Jayasvi, it's important to communicate with us about these things. We're here to support you."
"I know, Mumma. I'm sorry. I'll be more open with you," Jayasvi promised, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders.
Her mother smiled, patting her hand. "That's all I ask. Now, let's eat. You must be hungry."
The next few days passed with Jayasvi concentrating on her studies.
She felt sad not being able to contact Raghav more often since he was on a business trip to London.
She looked down at her wrists, adorned with a few bangles her mother insisted she wear since she was engaged.
The delicate clinking of the bangles was a constant reminder of Raghav and her new responsibilities.
Today, her mother asked her to accompany her to her parents' home.
It was a Sunday morning, and she didn't have any reason to deny her mother, so she went along.
Her nani was thrilled to see her after so long.
As the only child of her mother, Jayasvi always received all the love and attention from everyone.
She went inside to meet her cousin sisters. Nidhi and Ankita were talking about something when they saw Jayasvi.
"From where did the sun rise today?" Nidhi joked as Jayasvi sat beside her, laughing at her words.
"I had some assignments. Today I got time, so I thought to visit you guys," Jayasvi replied.
"I was expecting to see you in a better dress after your engagement," Ankita joked, looking distastefully at Jayasvi's white T-shirt and skinny denim jeans, her hair tied in a simple braid without any makeup.
Jayasvi frowned, glancing at her outfit in confusion.
Ankita was wearing a long pink dress with her hair tied in a ponytail.
She wouldn't deny that Ankita was more stylish and possibly more beautiful.
"And why would my engagement change my dressing style?" Jayasvi couldn't help but ask. Even if her dressing style was bad for Ankita, it made her feel comfortable.
"No, I was just wondering what Raghav sees in you that he wouldn't see in anyone else," Ankita laughed as if it were a joke. Jayasvi arched her eyebrow, understanding the underlying insult.
"I don't see any reason to laugh at that statement," Jayasvi said, her eyes hardening at Ankita's words, who ignored her reaction altogether. Soon Ankita's eyes fell on the ring in her ring finger. It wasn't the same as on the engagement day.
"What happened to your ring", Ankita asked suddenly holding Jayasvi's hand looking at the detailing of the ring. The gold ring connected via a gold chain with the delicate pearl ring giving it an elegant look.
"It was too expensive to wear regularly", Jayasvi spoke feeling the discomfort.
"So you could just stop wearing it", Ankita spoke shaking her head. She was wearing the ring as if Raghav gifted this to her. She scoffed at the thought. She doesn't deserve that.
"Raghav wanted me to wear a ring. Seeing me travelling regularly, he got me this", Jayasvi spoke without thinking making Ankita more angry. Nidhi in the whole situation was feeling awkward yet a little part of her was jealous as well seeing how Jayasvi was literally cherished by her in-laws.
"Where did you guys meet, by the way? Or should I ask where this arranged marriage started?" Ankita continued. Jayasvi wanted to mention her internship but knew Ankita would twist it into a love marriage rumor.
"At my cousin sister's wedding," she answered with a shrug.
"Your father's side family is very influential. If I had known about all this, I would've attended that wedding as well," Ankita said, smiling smugly. Jayasvi gritted her teeth, feeling the tension rise.
"I don't see why you would want to be there.
The wedding cards were sent to you just as a formality.
It's not like you have to attend every single celebration you're invited to.
You didn't have any direct relation with her," Jayasvi snapped, which wiped the smile off Ankita's face as she glared at Jayasvi.
"This is what I'm talking about. If Raghav knew what kind of personality you have, he wouldn't even look your way. Not to mention, he can find better-looking girls than you at the drop of a hat," Ankita retorted. Jayasvi clenched her fists, gripping the bedsheet tightly.
"Seems like somebody is ready to be that better-looking girl," Jayasvi shot back, making Ankita gasp.
"What are you saying, Jayu?" Nidhi exclaimed, shocked.
"Why are you looking at me? Can't you see what she's implying?" Jayasvi responded, her anger evident.
"Yeah, but you know how she is. She didn't mean it like that. You're directly attacking her character," Nidhi tried to clarify, looking at Jayasvi with concern.
"Leave it, Nidhi. This is what she does.
She wants all the attention, no respect for others," Ankita cried, moving out of the room with tears in her eyes.
She was the same age as Jayasvi, and they had been close before, but things changed when she welcomed her younger brother.
Every piece of jewelry Ankita liked was claimed for her brother's future wife.
Whenever she argued that Jayasvi got whatever she asked for, she heard that Jayasvi was the only child and her family was wealthier.
This had sparked an inevitable jealousy within Ankita.
She had always said she'd marry a businessman because she was beautiful, but now Jayasvi was living her dream.
Tears trickled down Ankita's face as she left the room, only to come across her Bua (Jayasvi's mother) who was talking to the elders.
"What happened, Anku?" Anjali asked her niece, seeing the tears.
"Bua ji, I didn't know Jayu would think this way about me. I was just joking," she cried bitterly, narrating everything, how Jayasvi blamed her for trying to take her place as Raghav's wife, completely hiding the hurtful things she had said.
While this was going on, Jayasvi came out of the room with Nidhi to witness the drama unfolding.
"Don't lie like that, Anku. Nidhi, you tell them what really happened," Jayasvi urged, looking at Nidhi, but she said nothing.
"Anjali, I told you. Your daughter says whatever she wishes. She's spoiled from being an only child. No one will tolerate her behavior in their house," her nani scolded. Tears welled up in Jayasvi's eyes.
"Well, then it's better if I leave right now since I don't wish to stay under the roof of people who only know how to lie.
But if someone tells me I don't deserve him and he can find better options, I won't listen to it.
I admit I'm the most misbehaved girl and therefore, I'll not come here again.
I thought someone would speak up, maybe Nidhi, but seeing how people change, I don't wish to be here either," Jayasvi declared bitterly as tears streamed down her face.
"Jayu, this isn't the way to talk to elders," Anjali scolded her.
"You know what, Mumma? I shouldn't have come here. I'm better off at home," she replied.
"Then don't come here thinking we won't point out your mistakes," her nani snapped.
"Great, Nani. I won't come here. Don't expect me to apologize for something I didn't do," Jayasvi said, leaving the house and wiping her tears. Her mother tried to follow her, but the situation here was more difficult. She thought Jayasvi would come back after calming down.
Jayasvi walked home after an hour, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She wiped away the last of her tears before reaching her house, determined not to let her mother see how upset she was. As soon as she stepped inside, her mother, Anjali, confronted her.
"What happened back there, Jayasvi? Do you have any idea how much you embarrassed me in front of my family?" Anjali's voice was stern, her eyes filled with disappointment.
"I didn't do anything wrong, Mumma. They were the ones—" Jayasvi began, but her mother cut her off.
"Enough! You have no respect for your elders, no manners. You think just because you're engaged to a wealthy man, you can behave however you like?"
Jayasvi's frustration boiled over. "Mumma, you weren't there! You didn't hear what they said to me! They were insulting me, and you expect me to just stand there and take it?"
"Don't raise your voice at me, young lady!" Anjali shouted, her own anger rising.
"I won't stay silent when I'm being treated unfairly!" Jayasvi retorted, her voice louder than ever.
The argument escalated quickly, and before Jayasvi could react, her father entered the room, his face a mask of anger.
Without a word, he slapped her across the face.
The force of the blow sent her reeling, and she tasted blood as the corner of her lips split open.
She stood there, stunned, as the pain and shock washed over her.
Anjali gasped, her anger dissipating instantly. "What have you done?"
Jayasvi's eyes filled with tears as she clutched her bleeding lip. "Why do you always hurt me, Papa? Why don't you ever let me speak?" she screamed, her voice breaking with emotion.
Her grandmother, hearing the shouting, hurried into the room. She saw Jayasvi's bleeding lip and the tension in the air. "What is going on here?" she demanded, her voice firm.
Rajeev looked blank at the moment with no expression coming on his face. Anjali tried to reach out to Jayasvi, but Jayasvi stepped back, shaking her head.
"Don't, Mumma. Just don't," Jayasvi said, her voice trembling. "I'm tired of all this. I'm tired of being the one who always has to apologize, who always gets hurt."
Her grandmother stepped forward, her eyes filled with concern. "Jayasvi, come here. Let me see."
Jayasvi went to her grandmother, tears streaming down her face. Her grandmother gently examined her lip, then turned to her son and daughter-in-law. "This is unacceptable. How could you let things get to this point? She is your daughter, not some stranger."
Rajeev looked at Jayasvi for sometimes before going inside without saying anything.
"What was the need to scream so loud when you know your husband", her grandmother scolded her mother which made Anjali apologise looking at her daughter's condition.
"Sorry won't heal her wounds," her grandmother said sternly. "Anjali, you need to understand that Jayasvi is not a child anymore. She deserves to be heard, not just scolded."
Anjali nodded, tears in her own eyes. "I know, Maa. I just... I want her to be respectful and to understand the value of family."
"Respect is a two-way street, Anjali," her grandmother replied. "If you want her to respect you, you must also respect her."
Jayasvi, still holding her bleeding lip, felt a wave of relief at her grandmother's words. She had always been the one person in the family who truly understood her.
"Come, Jayasvi. Let's clean you up," her grandmother said softly, leading her to the bathroom.
As her grandmother gently cleaned her wound, Jayasvi felt a sense of calm wash over her. "Thank you, Dadi," she whispered.
"Shh, it's okay, beta," her grandmother replied. "You did nothing wrong. Just remember, sometimes people lash out because they're hurting inside. It doesn't excuse their behavior, but it helps to understand it."
Jayasvi nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope. Maybe things could change. Maybe her family could learn to listen, just as she had learned to speak up.
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