BOUND-IN-LAW

CHAPTER 4

I gave my mum a wide-eyed look. She took me to the living room, where my father and Rohan's parents were waiting. As I set down my coffee cup, I was overwhelmed with confusion and anticipation.

On the crimson couches, they were all sat, looking up at me with sad faces and glimmers of hope in their eyes.

As we all sat there, we discussed everything that had occurred. I found it difficult to accept Rohan's passing, especially after seeing them.

It didn't feel authentic.

It was too agonizing to accept as reality.

Please hold back from crying.

My father grudgingly started talking after I took a long breath to calm myself down.

"Priyanka?" I turned to look at him with a curious expression. "We called you over here to give you some important news,"

I nodded, suppressing my dread, but it was with a sorrowful heart.

"We–"

My mother interrupted him and touched his hand.

She faltered, "Sweetheart, you know that if this doesn't happen then your future is ruined," and I worriedly brought my eyebrows together.

When asked, "What do you mean?" With uncertainty in my voice, I questioned.

She sighed as my father rubbed his temples with his eyes shut.

She looked at Rohan's parents, who were grinning at me with a sad expression, and added, "We've been talking about this for a week or two already.

He filled in for her when she began to falter, They held hands and looked at one other before saying, "And after talking it over with Rohan's parents, we think it's best if you decide to marry Jai."

My respiration also halted, and my eyes enlarged as a result.

"D-dad?" Before turning to Rohan's parents, I cast a doubtful glance in their direction. To wed Jai? Why? I hardly even know him, and I'm no longer prepared to get hitched.

"I realize, honey. However, we must consider the future. Even if you haven't gotten any offers, our family is still anticipating a wedding. This is your only and best choice.

They offered me the response, which I rejected, and I shook my head.

We're not, though.I don't know, I can't.

"Honey, I realize this is strange, but"

"I'm sorry, Geena aunty, but no. It's wrong for me to do that, so I can't.

Priyanka said, "You can." Ma appeared enraged. "Why is it wrong, huh? What else could we do? Do you realize the gossip that has been going around this place about you? Hearing untrue things about you as your mother pains me. A wedding will take place because everyone is anticipating one.

I shook my head in despair and turned to gaze at my father, who was sighing.

"It's best, Priyanka," I said.

I sighed in defeat since there was nothing I could do. I may possibly flee.

I couldn't do that though since I'm too cowardly. Furthermore, where would I go?

I didn't want to ignore my parents' orders. There was no way I could do it because I loved them too much.

They merely wanted what was best for me.

That's what I'll do. Jai and I will be wed. in their behalf. in the case of Rohan.

My marriage was then restored. Not Rohan, but his younger brother, who I had never even met.

***

As he stood across from me at the altar, I turned to face him. Being highly devout, we planned to have a typical Indian reception, but the wedding would take place in a church.

However, a very wonderful moment was entirely hijacked by something terrible. Jai drew his eyebrows together and formed a tight line with his lips.

Both he and I expressed a desire to avoid the situation.

As the priest spoke, I could see that his jaw was tightened, and he was attempting to look at everything but me in an apparent attempt to avoid being reminded of what we were going to do.

I was genuinely afraid.

I tried not to glance up at the audience, who I could tell were all staring, while I fiddled with my white saree while looking down.

"Jai, do you accept Priyanka as your legally wed wife? Do you swear to love and honor her for the rest of your life, to be faithful to her through good times and bad, through illness and health?

We all waited with bated breath during a tentative, unsettling silence.

Despite the fact that I was equally unwilling as him, I had never felt more ashamed as I did at that precise time. Jai eventually forced his eyes from the priest and carefully turned them toward me. His eyes had flecks of dark brown and umber that blended together to give me the impression of light caramel.

He spat through clenched teeth, "Do I have a choice?"

The priest stumbled a little bit, and we could all tell that he was feeling angry and disgusted.

It's a "I do," son.

Jai struggled to speak as his eyes flared darkly. "I do."

He then turned to look at me.

"Priyanka, do you consider Jai to be your legitimate husband? Do you pledge to be devoted to him throughout good and bad times, in health and infirmity, and for the rest of your life?

I hesitantly nodded and muttered, "I do," with a heavy heart.

With a trembling hand, I took up the ring that I was meant to present to Jai as one of my other cousins, Haina, approached us with the rings.

When I looked up, I was shocked and upset by how much hatred and annoyance he was expressing toward me.

We exchanged rings carefully, and once the priest pronounced us husband and wife, we were to clasp hands and proceed down the aisle slowly.

We moved down slowly, and I noticed that he had almost forcibly grasped my hand as if he had been forced to.

I refused to become Rohan's wife.

Now, I was Jai's wife.

That was painful.

I'll make an effort to make this marriage work.

My gaze moved gradually in the direction of my parents as I passed the seats. My mother was sobbing, and my father's eyes were red.

As everyone stood up, I forced myself not to look in case I started crying myself, but instead I looked ahead.

My existence would now revolve around this.

No words were exchanged between us as we climbed into the car and sped out to prepare for our reception.

It appeared as though our marriage had never taken place.

Just two strangers, we were.

#VOTE#