Page 81 of One Hellish Desire

“Meera,” Vanraj uncle interrupts. “You are Maahi’s mother-in-law now. Technically, you have to arrange these things.”

“I will,” she snaps. “I have planned a grand reception party next weekend in the US.”

I clench my teeth. It’s high time I clear their misunderstanding. Though Vikram is not here and my conversation with him is still pending, I decide to talk to the rest of them first.

“I am not flying to the US with you all this time,” I declare.

The three of them stare at me with unreadable expressions.

“You are not coming with us?” Vanraj uncle queries. “But how is that possible? You and Vikram are married and—”

“I have some work here to finish, and until then, I cannot travel. I will stay back with Daadi.”

Meera aunty turns to her husband and nods sympathetically.

“You saw, Vanraj? It’s not even been two hours since she married our son, and she’s already denying to travel with him.”

Her mockery doesn’t affect me. I am more concerned about how Daadi is going to react.

“She is going with you all,” Daadi declares, holding my hand. “Please give her some time. She will be ready.”

Saying that, she drags me upstairs to my room.

“Daadi, I am not going anywhere,” I keep saying, but Daadi doesn’t respond until we are alone in my room. She locks the door and turns to me.

“You are going with them, Maahi. That place is your home now. Vikram has business to run there.”

“And I have my business here,” I debate.

Daadi is speechless. I don’t want to give her the wrong impression about my relationship with Vikram, so I quickly clutch her arms and explain.

“I have spoken to Vikram,” I lie. “He understands my commitments, and it’s not like I am going to stay here forever. Once I tackle my work here, we can go together.”

“Oh,” she sighs. “So that’s why you are denying to go? Because I am not coming along.”

I fight back my tears.

“No, Daadi.”

“Don’t lie to me,” she shrugs off my arm. “You cannot stay with me forever, Maahi. I am so happy that you are my grandson’s wife now, and even if you stay with them in the USA and not here, I will still be happy for you all. Only because I am not willing to go now, you don’t have to make excuses of work to stay back.”

I look away, unable to defend myself.

“And even if we both go to the USA after some days, I am not going to be there permanently. Once you and Vikram settle down in that house, once I am satisfied that Meera has accepted you, I will return back to Ratna Mahal. You know this is where my soul belongs. What will you do then? You cannot keep traveling back and forth with me every time. Your husband needs you. He should be your priority now, not me.”

“I am sorry, Daadi, but only because I am married now, it doesn’t change my responsibility towards you. If I have to keep traveling back and forth, I will. I don’t care who doesn’t like it or support my decision.”

Daadi looks at me, horrified.

“What kind of behavior is this? What will people say?”

“I don’t care about people.”

“And Vikram? Do you at least care for him, or have you both married for your own convenience?”

Now I am tongue-tied. If I keep dragging this conversation, Daadi will not take long to know the real reason behind my wedding to Vikram.

“Daadi, we will find a way to make this work.”

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