Chapter 10: Chapter 10

The unceremonious silence wrapped them after their little fight until a knock on the door caught Yuvraaj's attention. Not making any attempt to get the door, he called out, "Yes?"

"Dada, Aai is calling you both downstairs. There's some rituals to be performed." His little sister, Gitika informed.

"You go. We're coming after getting fresh." Yuvraaj dismissed her stoically after a few seconds and glared at anahita who was sitting on the edge across the bed, looking away.

Being sure that his sister had strolled away, he ran a rough hand through his raven black hair and sighed. His manly ego compelling him to throw the girl out who had landed him in this dubious situation and the amenable part propelled him to deal with the situation sensibly.

Taking a few minutes to process on the scenario, he averred, "Listen anahita, I don't really care what you think or do but you will do what pleases my family till the day you're here. I won't stop you if you want to go tomorrow or today but I will not tolerate if you hurt my family by any means."

Anahita snapped her neck at him and rose to her feet. "What?"

"I agree that this marriage means nothing to you but for my family, you will abide by everything and this is not a request. It is an order." Yuvraaj punctuated his words fetching the depth of coldness.

Anahita opened her mouth to protest but Yuvraaj intervened, "Now go inside the bathroom. Get changed and go downstairs like a good sunbai. Understand?"

"What if..."

"I am not taking a no as an answer. You did what you thought was right and from now on, I will do what I find right. Get ready fast." Throwing the order, Yuvraaj resumed his work on his laptop.

Anahita remained rigid in her steps and crossed her arms over her chest, not making any attempts to get ready. Sensing her stubbornness, Yuvraaj sighed raking his fingers through his hair. He glared her but she challenged him with her stare. Lastly, Yuvraaj shut down his laptop and pranced to her. "You will go inside the bathroom or not?"

"I will not."

"Fine then." Yuvraaj gripped her arm and pulled her inside the bathroom. "I will hand you your clothes once you're done." He opened the tap and pushed her under the shower.

"Woah..Yuvraaj...leave my hand, you jerk!" Anahita struggled against his grip and Yuvraaj held her hands above her head, closing the distance between them. Water cascaded over both of them, paving path from their contours to their length. Anahita stammered under his predator gaze and grudgingly looked down at their feet. Yuvraaj seized her chin in a dense grip making her look at him. "Though for five weeks but I am your husband, so talk to me with respect. Now, don't force me to do something with you that we both regret since I am aware how much you hate me."

He stepped away from the shower and wiped his face, "I will hang your clothes right outside the door, you can take them once you're done."

Anahita twitched her lips, hugging herself. Yuvraaj was about to leave but he turned. "One more thing, if you're planning to not come out, you should know that it is my room and I know how to unlock the door. So think wisely before playing smart."

He said smoothly making her gape at him. Yuvraaj took the towel from the rod and padded out of the bathroom, drying his hair. He huffed, keeping his hands on his waist. He really had gotten a wife whom he had no idea how to deal with.

***

Exhausted with the ritual, Anahita was allowed to rest. She really had done everything that was demanded. Being a daughter in law wasn't an easy thing. Though Anahita had met Yuvraaj's relatives numerous times before the marriage, she was expected to greet them from the scratch with a veil over her face. She failed to understand what was the use of the veil when everyone had already seen her face. Few a times, she wanted to raise objections but she didn't. Not because she was afraid of Yuvraaj but only because she didn't want to hurt her mother in law who doted on her. The guilt was there in Anahita, after her parents now she was cheating her another parents.

"Vahini." Gitika knocked on the door, "Can we come in?"

Anahita quickly spruced up herself, sitting on the bed. "Yes. Come in, Gitika."

Gitika and a few ladies came inside giggling on a private joke. Anahita just smiled unable to understand how she should react to their teasing faces. She just blushed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "What happened?"

"Aai said we need to rush into getting you ready because guests will start appearing in a few hours." Gitika gave the saree to Anahita, "We will help you, Vahini."

Anahita looked at the navy blue silk saree in her hands. It was beaded with stones and heavy embroidery. Anahita immediately loved it. She nodded and went inside the bathroom.

"What's going on?" Yuvraaj asked seeing the whole ladies Mandali in her room. He unclasped his watch and put it on the side table. "Why are you all in here?"

"We are helping Vahini to get ready." Gitika replied excitingly. It was then Yuvraaj noticed a properly ducked up Anahita sitting before the vanity table. Her hair were undone and she was wearing the matching bangles without glancing at him.

Yuvraaj dashed inside the cupboard and came back with a packet in his hands. He swung it on Anahita, "Wear this!"

Catching the packet on time, Anahita peeked inside. It was a peach coloured custom made designer saree. Anahita knew that it was tastefully picked because of the delicate designs on it.

"But, Dada, she is ready." Gitika objected, looking at her handiwork on Anahita.

"Make her wear this, she is my wife and she will wear what I want." He said proudly before sprinting out.

Anahita groaned and muttered under her breath, "He thinks of me as a slave. I am not going to bear this torture."

Girls huffed in defeat and with that, Anahita got draped in the Saree and she had to done her make up according to the the new attire. Everyone admired her on the reception. Yuvraaj wore a Maroon sherwani that perfectly complemented her dress. She rolled her eyes when everyone praised their couple. Mr. Maurya and Mr. Prakash were the happiest person in the reception. Mr. Maurya still gave Anahita a cold shoulder and so did her mom. Anahita remained unaffected. She just continued flaunting fake smiles at the people and camera.

"Meet him, he's my friend Keshav. He works in HTC, we've read in convent together." Yuvraaj introduced his friend to a very disinterested Anahita.

"We've been best buddies." Keshav gloated fist pumping with Yuvraaj. Anahita nodded at him, pasting a smile on her lips. As soon as she received the bouquet, it was thrown at Gitika who was standing beside the couple to receive gifts.

"When I can be free?" Anahita asked in yuvraaj's ear surreptitiously, placing a tight smile at the photographers who had been eating her head to smile each and every second.

"When all the guests disperse. Even I am not having a great time here standing next to me, trust me it's one of this worst punishment I'd been subjected to in my school. So, just put up the play." Yuvraaj looked at her, gliding her arm around her waist and pulled her closer. Next moment, they were clicked.

"And what if I don't do that?" Anahita challenged, smiling at him. Yuvraaj tipped her chin and stroked her cheek. "I dare you. Do that and you'll see how worst I can be."

"You don't have to show me, I already know." She scoffed, shuffling away.

"Then stand here quietly." Yuvraaj said. All this while his smile never left his lips but his eyes depicted another tale and keeping her records, she didn't dare to object him.

"Finally, I'm so happy to have my daughter in law." Mrs. Prakash kissed Anahita's forehead, giving her presents after the party drew to a close and all the guests dispersed. They were in the hall, putting gifts in respective boxes.

"And I am so happy to be the part of it." Yuvraaj chirped, flopping on the sofa next to his dad. He rubbed his head and stretched, "God, I am so tired. I did this just because of you Aai."

"Shut up!" Mrs. Prakash slapped his arm.

Yuvraaj laughed before nodding. "Yeah."

"Alright. It's already late. You both should get some sleep." Mrs. Prakash said. Anahita gleamed, getting up. Her crying last night, her argument in the morning and the swarm of people that hovered her during reception prolonged her headache.

They both retired to their room. Yuvraaj was unbuttoning his sherwani when Anahita pushed past him and unloaded her jewellery on the vanity table.

Yuvraaj spared her a glance and watched her removing the bangles after undoing her hair. She looked exhausted, her face was tired. Yuvraaj shook his head and strolled inside the bathroom taking his clothes. When he came out, Anahita had dressed in loose T-shirt and pajamas. Yuvraaj threw the towel on the couch and sprawled on the bed, adjusting pillows under his head.

"On a side note, you were looking pretty tonight." He started, grabbing Anahita's attention. He looked at her. "I mean only because of the Saree. Of course, you had to look good. After all it was my choice and I'm pretty sure you would've made a spectacle out of you there."

Anahita made a face and rolled her eyes. "I would've given you a proper answer but I am too tired to start an argument. So do a favour on yourself and just sleep."

"Yeah, of course. Sleep as much as you want because your upcoming nights will be sleepless." Yuvraaj smirked and tossed another side making her huff. Having no energy to kick him off the bed, Anahita flopped beside him and covered herself with the blanket, welcoming the most desired sleep hoping for the new day to be less chaotic.

Somewhere in midnight, Anahita stirred in sleep and sat up straight on the bed, holding her stomach. She glanced at Yuvraaj, he was sleeping lying on his stomach. Silently, she got out of bed and made her way to the kitchen. She could've easily woken up the butler and asked him to make something light for her because she hadn't had much of a dinner. Nonetheless, she scanned the fridge looking for any edibles. Refrigerator was packed with gourmet food and meat supplies. Sighing, Anahita took out two eggs and started preparing sunny side ups for her. The moment she was done tossing it on plate and spun to grab seasoning, Yuvraaj called out. "If you were making one, you could've asked me. I actually didn't have food tonight."

Anahita jumped on her feet, astonished and turned to find him near the gas stove. Yuvraaj picked her plate and gulped down both of the fry in one time.

"What the..I made that for myself." Anahita stomped her foot irritatedly.

"I told you I was hungry."

"But..." before she could complete, Yuvraaj brought his hand before and made her bite the Cadbury silk. Anahita took the chocolate from him and glared while chewing it.

Yuvraaj slid the plate in sink and washed his hands, "Btw, your cooking is still awful. Why don't you start taking classes? It would be good for your future marital life."

"I didn't ask your advice." Anahita snorted, extracting water bottle from the refrigerator.

"But I intend to give you one that," Yuvraaj leaned against the refrigerator, "though for five weeks but you've done a huge mistake getting married to me."

Anahita choked on the water and Yuvraaj brushed past her, leaving her alone to her notions.

***

Morning crept in silently in their adobe. Two days post their marriage flew away early than expected. After the poached egg incident in the kitchen two days ago, Yuvraaj didn't bother Anahita coming in her way. He clearly made sure what he expected from her and as far as she dutifully abide by her in laws, he was letting her stay in the Prakash Villa, as long as she wanted.

For Anahita, it was smooth. She had spent her childhood in Prakash Villa and her in laws loved her anyway, she loved them back. Hence, she also didn't want to hurt them. Their wedding night a day before was uneventful, Yuvraaj silently laid on his side and somehow, magically didn't bother her. This morning was peaceful until...

Anahita was brushing her hair to make them fluff up and shine, glancing at the mirror when Yuvraaj walked out of the bathroom, ruffling his hair with the towel to dry. Anahita casted an uninterested glance at him and her eyes went wide in disbelief, she clenched her jaw and plunked the brush on the vanity table before turning to him.

Unaware of her glaring, Yuvraaj continued drying his hair and walked into his wardrobe to take out the clothes. Anahita said nothing and waited for him to notice her. On cue, Yuvraaj looked at her and found her staring at him. He smirked, shutting the wardrobe in a very amused way and pretended to be negligent of her hawking. Swiveling the shirt around his frame, he started buttoning his shirt.

"You realise it's not decent to drool on a man openly?" He teased Anahita without glancing her. "Specially when the stared person is unaware of it. I hope you've not forgotten about your boyfriend." He walked near the mirror and combed his hair.

Anahita looked murderous at his taunting, she pointed at his waist, feigning calmness. "What's this?"

Yuvraaj looked down confused, "A towel?"

"Exactly! You came out in a towel wrapped around your waist when there's a bathrobe hanging in the bathroom." She snapped.

"What's this whole rant is about?" Yuvraaj lurched his shoulders, spraying his perfume.

"This is not rant." Anahita said on a frustatee exhale. "Yuvraaj do you realise I am living in the sane room with you? How can you just roam around with a towel hanging down your waist when you've a girl living under the same roof? Have some shame!"

"As if you were doing a remarkable job by staring at me, right?" Yuvraaj mocked her, "You could've looked away."

"I wasn't staring at you. I was glaring. There's a difference between glaring and staring."

"Whatever!" Yuvraaj clicked his tongue, "But your dees were on me when I was wearing a towel which is so unsettling with you."

"What do you expect me to do then?" Anahita greeted her teeth.

"You could've looked away instead of eyeing me hungrily."

"Eyeing you hungrily? What nonsense!" Anahita rolled her eyes, "Puhlease. This must be joke if the era."

Yuvraaj just had learnt wisely how to piss her off and it was like a paranormal force pulling both of them together to have a fight. For Anahita, she was aware that it was another trick of him to get her annoyed. She had handled a lot of them in childhood. Though Yuvraaj was grown up but she knew it was only physical growth, mentally he was same fifteen year kid who loved teasing and troubling her.

"There's nothing in you." She scoffed, shaking her head and adjusted her Saree.