marriage with beast

puppet

“Ma’am, boss has sent a message. He wants you to get ready for tonight’s party; he is coming to pick you up”

A servant came to Arunima and gave her this news. Arunima was sitting in the garden at that time, but she wasn’t very surprised after hearing him. She already knew about it. Today was her wedding anniversary. For other women this day might be special, but for Arunima, today meant nothing. No happiness, no excitement. She was only thinking about how much longer she would have to stay in this meaningless marriage.

Looking at the blooming flowers in front of her, Arunima said in her mind,

“Today it has been one whole year of my marriage with Aastik. For every wife this day is special, but not for me. This marriage was only a compromise for me, something I am carrying just to keep both families happy. I don’t want to stay in this marriage, and Aastik… he never wanted to stay in it from the first day.”

“Madam…”

The servant standing behind her broke her thoughts. Arunima quickly came out of her thoughts and gestured him to leave. The servant left. After walking in the garden for a while, Arunima made a beautiful bunch of flowers and kept walking with it. In the mild afternoon sun with cool breeze, she felt a little relieved. But even now her mind was filled with thoughts—thinking about the one year she had spent here and the people she had lived among, she said,

“What a fate I have! I am the daughter-in-law of the biggest underworld family in this city. The Raichand family—people think a hundred times before even taking their name. I am the wife of their elder son, Aastik Raichand, who is the sole owner of not just the family’s business but also the mafia’s dark empire across the country.

I have seen my father associated with the underworld and mafia since childhood. And for once, I had dreamt of entering this world and understanding it closely. But I had dreamt of stepping into this world with Dev. Aastik wasn’t even a shadow in my dreams. But look at my destiny! Aastik is the king of the mafia and I am the mafia’s lady queen. But looking at me, no one would say whether I even deserve to be here or not.

One year has passed and nothing has changed in my life. Aastik is distant from me as always. And as always, I know he is neither interested in the marriage nor in me. I too never wanted to stay in this marriage. But still, I expected at least a little respect and dignity from him. But he ruined that hope on the very first night of our marriage.”

She remembers how on the first night of their marriage Aastik had told her:

“Whether good or bad, you have to obey everything I say.”

And for the past one year, Arunima has been obeying everything he says, just like a puppet.

She had thought many times about separating from Aastik, but she had promised her father that she would stay in this marriage. And because of that promise she is still here today. But deep inside she hopes that if she doesn’t want this marriage, neither does Aastik. So why doesn’t he ask for a divorce himself? If he asks for it, she will happily leave him. Nothing could be a bigger gift for her.

In the beginning she thought Aastik would ask for a divorce soon. But nothing in his behaviour ever made her feel that way. She always wondered why he doesn’t divorce her if he isn’t happy. But she never had the courage to ask him this question.

Lost in her thoughts, Arunima finally walked back inside the bungalow with the bunch of flowers she had made. As soon as she entered the house, two maids were already standing there. These were Arunima’s personal maids—Rosy and Julie.

Julie was the one who had gone to inform Arunima about Aastik’s message in the garden. And Rosy took care of all of Arunima’s needs. As soon as Arunima entered the mansion, both the maids stood with their heads bowed. Arunima knew why they were standing there after receiving Aastik’s message. They were there to get her ready for the evening so she could go to her in-laws’ house. The wedding anniversary party was being held there.

Arunima placed the bunch of flowers she had made into a vase and stared at it lovingly. Apart from decorating the house, she barely had anything else to do.

As she climbed the stairs, the maids followed her. Reaching the upper floor, Arunima walked past Aastik’s room. Yes, that was Aastik’s room. She and Aastik had never shared a room. In the whole mansion, only Arunima had her own room where she found some peace. The rest of the house was ruled entirely by Aastik’s decisions.

When she entered her room, she saw a big gift box placed on her bed.

Coming near her, Rosy said, “Madam, shall I fill the bathtub for your bath?”

But Arunima’s attention was fixed on the gift box. She didn’t even hear Rosy properly.

Slowly she walked closer and opened it. As soon as she opened the box, her eyes narrowed slightly. Inside it was a black chiffon saree with diamond work.

As Arunima lifted the saree in her hands, Julie quickly said, “Madam, this is such a beautiful saree. You will look gorgeous in it.”

The saree was indeed beautiful. The diamond work on it was real. Money was never an issue for Aastik, and his family was the richest in the city. Giving a diamond saree to his wife was nothing big for him. Arunima already had many such expensive designer dresses. Some she had even gifted to the servants without wearing once.

But when she picked up the blouse, her eyes widened and anger flashed on her face. It was the matching blouse of the saree, but it was backless. Or rather, it only had a thin string tied on the shoulders. And the neckline was so deep that her cleavage would be completely exposed.

Arunima felt angry but controlled herself. Even though her body was trembling with rage.

By then Rosy came back from the washroom and stood beside Julie. Arunima held the blouse tightly in her hands and said, “Both of you leave the room.”

“But madam, we have to get you ready…” Julie could barely say this when Arunima shouted loudly,

“I said go out!”

Both lowered their faces and left the room. Arunima tightened her grip on the blouse. If it was in her control, she would have torn it into pieces right now. She felt humiliated. Her whole life was being controlled. No one ever asked what she wanted to wear or how she wanted to look. Neither did Aastik ever respect her nor did he try to know her choices. He only ordered her around.

Arunima wanted to cry, but she couldn’t. Because she had to get ready. Aastik was about to reach home in half an hour, and she had to be ready before he arrived. He had already informed her beforehand. If she wasn’t ready, he would get furious. So she didn’t want to waste time. She picked up the saree and blouse and went to the washroom.

Rosy had already prepared everything for her bath. So she didn’t take much time. After bathing, when Arunima came out wearing just the blouse and body-shaper, the maids had returned to the room to help her get ready for the party.

Slowly Arunima draped the saree. Rosy was styling her hair and Julie was adjusting the pleats.

After everything was done, Julie took out a diamond jewelry set from a small box kept next to the big one. It matched perfectly with the saree. Julie made her wear the diamond necklace, and Rosy put diamond earrings on her ears. After that, Arunima picked up the vermillion box from the dressing table. Her hands were trembling as her eyes fixed on the sindoor.

Every time she filled her hairline, her heart beat faster. Aastik had never cared about her marital adornments. Whether she wore sindoor, mangalsutra, bangles or nothing at all—he never noticed her. But today, she had to. Without it, she couldn’t face the family. Otherwise, Arunima never used sindoor or any sign of marital status when alone.

After thinking for a long time and gathering courage, she finally picked a pinch of sindoor and filled her hairline. It felt like her incomplete look was now complete. Arunima was naturally beautiful, but the sindoor made her beauty glow even more. Yet she could feel the emptiness behind this beauty.

Julie straightened her hair with the press machine while Rosy helped her wear heels. Arunima looked at herself in the mirror. She looked perfect—exactly the way a Raichand daughter-in-law should look.

As she admired herself, she heard the sound of a car stopping. Her whole body stiffened. She knew whose car it was. The car honked three times. This wasn’t new. She always received this signal when Aastik arrived.

Aastik’s car entered the bungalow. The driver, Tiwari ji, honked three times to signal her. He was quite old and had worked for Aastik for years. Arunima was different from others. When she had called him “bhaiya” for the first time, he realised she wasn’t like other rich girls. Maybe that was why he gave her a signal by honking the car.

With Aastik’s arrival, the whole atmosphere of the bungalow suddenly became tense. Arunima immediately sent Julie and Rosy outside the room. Then she straightened the bedsheet, fixed the flowers, placed her phone in her bag and checked herself in the mirror again. When she felt she looked perfect, she began waiting.

Evening had fallen. The sun was setting and night slowly spreading. Her life had been the same for the past one year.

Arunima stood nervously near the bed when there was a knock at the door. She took a deep breath. A servant opened the door and said,

“Madam, you are being called downstairs.”

Scared, Arunima gathered herself and walked forward. She thought, “This is the moment I have to face.” Like an ideal wife, she presented herself and stepped out.

Reaching the stairs, Arunima lowered her eyes. She didn’t have the courage to look towards the hall. But when she lifted her head slightly, she saw Aastik standing near the sofa. The same man who had never cared for her. Arunima wondered, “Why did he even say yes to this marriage? I had a reason—my parents. But he had no reason. Then why did he marry me?”

Arunima slowly walked toward him. Aastik was wearing a black business suit. From behind, his personality looked extremely charming. As soon as she reached closer, Aastik turned and looked at her. Their eyes met.

Arunima’s face was glowing beautifully, but Aastik had no smile or expression. As always, his face was blank. Arunima remembered she had only seen him smile once—on their wedding day. And even that smile was only for relatives and media. After the wedding, he never smiled again.

Aastik checked the time on his watch and then looked at Arunima again. His brown eyes were fixed on her. In the black suit he looked no less than a black devil. Broad chest, biceps and a perfect body—his personality was extremely attractive. But his perfection never gave Arunima any feeling of belonging.

When Aastik looked at her, there was no smile, no reaction. His face was expressionless.