Anya is standing at the threshold of her married life. Nervous, excited but willing to accept her fate as a daughter in law of the Sharma’s household. Her estranged mother has sent her with the words to uphold the family honour and not create situations. She doesn’t know what type of a family she is marrying into and she has to conform to their rules, traditions and way of life. Forgetting the family she had before and the life she had led Anya embraces life in the new household.Taran and Anya’s alliance has been set by their families. Using the mantra of age old traditions, of parity, status, rituals this is a relationship where love before marriage does not feature. Conforming to the families’ wishes they embark on a journey of beginning to get to know each other not only as two individuals but as husband and wife. After the initial period of settling in Anya manages to raise the ire of her mother-in-law by making a stand on something she believes in. While life changes for Anya, Taran’s life is untouched. He adores his mother even when he knows when she is being unreasonable. But he wants to show that he can be a loving husband and a worthy life partner. He is aware, but chooses not to get involved in kitchen politics, knowing that his mother is a proud woman, society driven and runs the household from his father to the workers with a no nonsense approach.
Extract:
Taran lay in bed, processing the news he received today. He smiled to himself. He doubted if his life could get any better. He fluffed Anya’s pillow and smoothed the sheet. Anya lay beside him and he reached out to her, pulling her to him.
“I have missed you.” He placed his hand on her stomach. “I can’t believe that we are going to be parents. How far exactly are you?” Anya rolled over to face him.
“Eleven weeks.” She answered and hugged him. “I missed you too. But last night you were so late and you didn’t even stop long enough this morning, I felt lost.” He stroked her cheek.
“I had a few things to wrap up, but for the next week I am at your disposal. I want to spend as much time with you as I can.”
Anya finished dressing and waited for Taran. He was taking his own sweet time this morning and she was beginning to get impatient. The phone pinged with a text; she picked it up and read the message.
‘Hi hun. Thank you for a lovely birthday and evening. Can’t wait to see you again. XX.’ Anya frowned. Who was sending that text message to her? She looked at the table and realised that she picked up Taran’s phone by mistake. Because both phones were alike and side by side on the dresser, she did not realise her mistake straightaway. Curiously, she scrolled through the text messages and realised with a sinking heart that they were all from the same number. His texts were just as loving. Taran was seeing someone else. She glanced in the direction of the ensuite. Without hesitating, she called the number and waited for it to connect and listened silently as the other person answered. Feeling numb she cut the call and placed the phone back on the dresser. The phone immediately rang; she rejected the call and switched off the phone. She rushed out knowing that if she stayed she would not be able to control her emotions. She needed to be among people.
Radhika carried out the aarti as Sushma was not well enough. She presented the aarti to the family so that they may take their blessings. She viewed both daughters-in-law with disdain. Her sons had effectively stepped back from her and she blamed the girls. Most of all, she blamed Anya. Anya had been the most vocal in her condemnation of what had transpired in India.
Anya was quiet at the breakfast table. Taran had noticed it but assumed that it was because of his mother’s constant taunts. He did his best to reassure her and she said that she was alright, but wasn’t convinced. He was concerned enough to ask Juhi to keep an eye on her.
Juhi searched for her, finding her in the bedroom deep in thought.
“Anya? What is this?” She stepped into the room. “Now is not the time to be glum.” She placed a reassuring hand.