CHAPTER 3:
Sneha’s POV:
The sun rays forced me to open my eyes. As soon as my vision became clear, I saw my condition and tears at once made their way in my eyes. Flashes of last night came in my mind and I looked beside me to see that beast Siddharth sleeping leisurely without having a trace of guilt of the crime he committed last night.
I wore my bridal attire once again with immense pain in my abdomen. With silent tears rolling my eyes, I made my way to my suitcase and took out the necessary things and rushed into the bathroom. The hot shower very much helped me to reduce my abdominal pain and also let me cry out my heart by letting my tears mix with the hot water.
I came out wiping my hair and saw Siddharth sprawled out on the bed. I made my way over to the dressing table and put on my jewellery. When the time came to wear my mangalsutra and put sindoor (vermillion), I hesitated. However, trying to overcome yesterday’s inhuman behaviour, I adorned those two accessories. Putting a fake smile on my face, I went downstairs.
As I descended the steps, I saw my in-laws sitting on the dining table. I walked over to my father in law and bend down to take his blessings.
“Good morning papa” I said with a smile on my face.
“Hmm” was his reply as he continued reading his newspaper. My smile instantly vanished away.
“Good morning maa” I said as I bend down to take her blessings.
“Ya ya its ok, don’t need to do all this” she replied in a disinterested tone.
“Good morning everybody” I heard someone’s voice and turned to see the same guy from yesterday.
“Good morning” I replied in a sweet voice seeing that nobody else replied to him.
He gave me small smile and sat on the table.
“Waise Sneha, breakfast is already prepared by the servants so as your first rasoi, prepare a sweet dish” maa told me.
“Ji” I replied and went to the kitchen.
Entering inside, I looked around the lavish kitchen. It had everything one would need but the problem was I did not know where anything was, I was feeling lost in this lavish kitchen.
“Umm” I instantly turned back when I heard someone clearing his throat. It was Him.
“Ji aapko kuch chahiye tha?” I asked in a small voice.
“No, wo I just came to help you. Wo I mean you must not be knowing where everything s kept so I thought ki I should help you” he said scratching the back of his neck.
He was feeling shy but I knew at that moment that he was kind soul.
“Thank you so much. I would really appreciate your help.” I gave him a genuine smile.
“Okay then what do you want to make?” he asked rubbing his palms in excitement.
“Kheer?” I suggested.
“Perfect. So lets start. You tell me what you need and I will give it to you because I don’t know cooking.” He said sheepishly.
“It’s ok” I said giggling.
With him passing the necessary ingredients, I started preparing the kheer.
“Waise hamara introduction theek say nahi hua. I am Manik Arora, Sidharth bhai ka chota bhai aur aapka devar.” He said forwarding his hands.
Yeh iss ghar ke chote bete hain? Inke behaviour se toh nahi lagta ki ye iss ghar ka hissa hai.
“Kya hua, aapko main pasand nahi?” his voice brought me out from my thoughts.
“Nahi aisi koi baat nahi hai. Aapko aisa kyu lagta hai?” I asked him, scared that he got offended.
“Toh phir Bhabhi apne devar se dosti karlijiye please. Vo actually mere haath mein pain ho raha hai” he said with a mischievous smile.
I shook his hand and his smile widened which made me also smile brightly.
“Par please aap mujhe Bhabhi mat kahiye, dost ek dusre ko naam se bulate hain. Call me Sneha.” I told him.
“Okay then Sneha aapki kheer ban gayi hai, let’s go and serve everyone.” He said excitedly.” Waise khushboo itni achi aa rahi hai ki man kara raha hai ki abhi sara ka sara kha loon”
I smiled at him while garnishing the kheer.
“Waise I forgot to thank you yesterday, for helping me” I said to him in a small voice. ”So thank you.”
“Arey Sneha it’s all right, I knew you would need help, the lehenga looked heavier than you” he joked which made me giggle too.
“Ok I shall take my leave and aap jaldi se aao taaki main yeh yummy sa kheer kha sakoon” he said before leaving me alone in the kitchen.
As soon as I kept the dish on the dinning table, I saw Siddharth coming down all decked up in his office attire.
“Good morning dad. Morning mom” he wished mummyji and dad.
“Good morning beta.” Mummyji replied in a sweet tone.
“Morning son. Come have breakfast and then we shall leave for office.” Dad too talked to him politely.
Yeh mummyji aur dad aise kyun behave kar rahe hai. Jab Manik ne wish kiya toh toh unhe ignore kiya aur jabe Siddharth ne wish kiya toh unpar bada pyaar aa raha hai. Aakhir masla kya hai.
I went over to dad to serve him but he stopped me.
“I don’t eat sweet. Mujhe mana hai” he replied in a stern tone. I felt sad but then health comes first. So, with a smile on my face I moved towards mummyji.
“No its ok I will not have it, it’s against my diet” she replied having a bite of her diet food. Tears were ready to spill out of my eyes but I thought to serve atleast my husband.
“Sneha please ya I don’t like all this sweet stuff ya. Look at it I mean it’s too desi, you could have made pannacotta or tiramassu or something man. What is all this shit.” He said rudely and my dam of tears broke.
Whatever he said all went over my head. I thought he will like it. If not like he will at least appreciate the fact that I made something but no he had to hurt me. Just like he did last night. The memories of last night flashed in my mind and more tears came out.
“Now what is there to cry. You need to understand that you are now a part of Arora’s, they have some standards that you need to match. blo*dy gawar” he said rudely and continued with his breakfast.
I just wanted to run away but then my eyes landed on Manik who eyed me to serve him. I hesitantly served him and he took a bite. His expressions changed and soon he gobbled the whole bowl and showed me the empty bowl.
“Aur milegi ?” he asked sheepishly. I just smiled at his innocence. I served him more and he enjoyed and relished every bite that he took.
“Agar tumahara naashta ho gaya ho toh come to the office and do some work” I heard dad saying after some time. The look of content I saw on his vanished immediately.
“Ji dad give me five minutes and I too will leave.” He said wiping his hands.
The other three left without even acknowledging him.
“By the way, the kheer was very tasty. Sorry I finished the whole thing” he said sheepishly.
“It’s ok, I am glad you liked it.” I replied with a small smile on my face.
“Um now I need to leave for work but see you in the evening, bye” he said before rushing to his room.
“Bye” I too replied back.
I started collecting the dishes but when my gaze landed on Siddharth’s plate, all his insults came back to me. He called me a gawar. I thought my family is orthodox which is why they ill reat women but know I know that modern families too are like this. But this is my life now and I have to deal with it. Wiping my tear stains I headed to the kitchen with the dirty dishes.