No Reasons to Hate

Ch-14

Laya didn't know what happened all the time. She did what she was asked and what she was told to do. No one asked if she was fine with what they were doing to her or not. No one asked if her health was good or not. Even her brother Arjun was not seen around. She sighed at her situation pitifully.

She looked at her hands which were filled with mehndi. Seeing her mehndi dried, she decided to wash it off. After washing it off she realized this mehndi was pretty nice on her hands, she wondered if her life would be this pretty as her hands. She searched for the name of the groom in her hands. But she could only find the letter R as for the rest she didn't understand what was written on her hands.

She gave up looking deeper into it. In mehndi, the groom's name would be written on the hands of the bride. They say that the redder the shade of color turns, the brighter her married life will be. So, every bride wishes that her mehndi would dry into the darkest shade of red.

Laya's hands were in the darkest shade of red, but she wondered if the tales about leading a good life would come true or not.

No one knew the answer to it.

Only time can answer it.

She heard that… the groom likes destination weddings. To satisfy his likes... they arranged the wedding somewhere in the north of India. After bugging her sister-in-law, she got to know her wedding was being held in Delhi.

She needs to get ready for the journey tonight. Feeling tired for the day… she drifted into her sleep as the tiredness took over her. When she woke up, she found herself on the airplane. She doesn't need to say who carried her. She knew it would have been her big brother.

She sighed sadly. They no longer need her consent. All they need was her to be present like a doll. They will do the rest whether or not she likes it or not. It doesn't matter.

Well... when did it matter?

She closed her eyes and drifted into sleep again putting aside her thoughts.

This time when she woke up, she was in her room.

"Sis-in-law … When did we arrive here?" Laya asked Durga.

"An hour ago," she replied and started sorting out her clothes.

"I will do it, Sis-in-law. You go and take care of those two monkeys," Laya said with a weak smile trying her best to be her normal self.

"Okay, I will get food for you," Durga said and was about to leave before she stopped.

"Ahh… Laya! I almost forgot. Tomorrow the groom will come with his family," Durga said.

"Didn't his parents come along with us? From where another family popped out for him?" Laya asked as she frowned at her words.

"Ahh… his Atha (Father's sister) will come along with him." Durga clarified.

"Why was he late?" Laya asked.

"He was supposed to be here today with us but due to important work he stayed back and had to leave the Thamboolam segment," Durga said and left the room.

"A work more important than his marriage… heh…" she sneered at the thought of her future husband. He was such a…. never mind. She would just arrange her closet for the coming four days or whatever days her marriage would be there. Many main segments were done in their hometown… but there were a few things to be done. And the day after tomorrow was her marriage. And with her mother-in-law, she knew she wouldn't have any peace.

With all the rumors which were circulating about her by her relatives… she just hoped this marriage would be canceled. She was marked as a bad omen and was known as the daughter of Bad luck. With her mother-in-law's personality when she gets to know that she had an unlucky horoscope she just hoped this would be canceled.

Sighing…. She got up and started arranging the clothes. When she just started her mother Sharada came in with a tray filled with food.

"Maa…. Why are you here? Sis-in-law said she would get it for me," Laya said, pointing to the food tray in Sharada's hands.

"I said I will pass it on for you," Sharada answered.

"Now eat," she said as she handed the plate to Laya.

Laya nodded and took the plate as she went near her bed.

"I am arranging the clothes according to the days you should wear them. You know the same rules, right?" Sharada said as she picked her dresses.

"Yeah, Amma," she replied, eating her food.

Laya used to get confused about what to wear every time. Which always ended up in a bit of trouble for her. That was the time Sharada made a habit of her. That she would fold the clothes and arrange them in order and would write day names on the pair. This way she got used to it. As she grew up, she removed those day tags and kept them in order. Even though Laya knew the order.

"Laya, three dresses per day. Morning, afternoon, and night. Remember!" Sharada yelled as she submerged in her small closet.

"Got Itch, mophm," Laya said in her muffled food-filled voice making Sharada chuckle.

Sharada took more than an hour to sort out her things in the room. The make-up kit, her ornaments, clothes, and shoes were sorted out in place. Even when Laya offered a helping hand she was just shooed by her mother. Well... she should let her mother deal with it. She would mess up with it if she 'helped' her.

She and Sharada settled on the bed after they were done. There was complete silence between them as no one knew what to talk about. For the first time in her life, Sharada has no words to say to her daughter.

"He is a good guy. Cherish him," Sharada opened her mouth.

Laya nodded her head meekly but these were the exact words she didn't want to listen to right now.

"I know you don't like him yet. But in truth, he is a good guy. In the Thamboolam segment today… if not for his support his mother would have canceled the engagement. He protected you from all the relatives' taunts. Everyone called you bad luck and an ill-fated girl. But he replied even though he has bad luck and is ill-fated. His marrying you would change nothing. These words shocked me. Even though I didn't like this marriage at the start. With him being the groom, despite the situations and rushed things… he is doing his best to protect you.

"Do you know? Even now he missed the Thamboolam Segment because he has to get the nuptial chain. That was his grandmother's. It was said that his grandmother asked him to give her a nuptial chain if he felt she was one for him. And he took that with him to change the design to your liking. If he can't get that yesterday he couldn't get that for a month. So… he left.

"He is so sweet. I am assured with him as your husband," Sharada blabbered.

Laya said nothing but nodded her head mechanically. Sharada wanted to say something but stopped when she heard someone calling her. She bid her bye and left the room.

Laya doesn't know whether she has to laugh or cry. She was about to hate him but why didn't God give her any reason for her to hate him?

Hating was the easier option for her. But... sigh.... forget it.

Huffing and puffing she retired for the day.