The Accidental Wife (7 page)

“Hmm…very impressive and
interesting
at the same time.”

“Why?”

“I thought you were just another good-for-nothing frivolous chick who gets her thrills by making fools of suckers like me.”

“What? How dare you say such a thing?”

“Well, what did you expect me to think when you joined forces with your wonderful absconding friend!”

“I…I take offense to that.” She shot up from her seat and glared at him. “You come to my place, asking for my help and then derogate me!”

“After all the lies both of us have heard, don’t you think some honesty would be refreshing? I just stated what I felt when I saw you yesterday. I feel differently now. In fact, I’m having tremendous difficulty believing that you did what you did. You should have acted with more maturity!”

“Yes, I was immature and stupid. But how do you defend yourself—a brilliant doctor and that, too, of the brain no less?” Her eyes mocked him. “How could you have fallen so easily into a trap laid by a silly ordinary girl no less?!”

Rihaan’s gaze shifted to the grey-brown mosaic floor. “I have no excuse. It was a moment of folly. I should have been more careful.”

“Exactly! A moment of folly or weakness, or whatever you’d like to call it,” Naina retorted passionately. “And besides, I was persuaded by someone whom I thought was in genuine need. I made the mistake of trusting blindly. The matter has been preying on my mind ever since I met you and I wanted to make amends. But not now…not after the way you told me off! Please leave,” she said pointing to the door.

He got up and glowered at her for several moments, working hard to control his temper. The Khers had described her perfectly. Indeed, he could add a few more unflattering adjectives. “I’ve never come across a girl more defiantly impudent! Don’t you feel in the least responsible for the state I am in right now?”

Naina’s eyes blazed with indignant fury. Any lesser creature would have been incinerated on the spot. “I did, but I’ve changed my mind. Now I believe you need to suffer the consequences of your wrongdoing. Marriage is not something to be taken lightly. It’s not a one night stand or a football game. It is a partnership, a beautiful journey through the ups and downs of life. And yes, it is also the convergence of two hearts! You can’t find someone on a whim just to free yourself from the clutches of your controlling mother and then forget about her. Your wife is not a toy. She is a human being who has emotions and feelings just like you! Remember that for next time Dr. Rihaan Mehta! Now, will you please go!”

“I don’t have any desire to stay here a minute longer!” Rihaan shouted, marching to the exit in long, looping strides. Then, pausing briefly, he looked back. “I hope I never see you again.”

“Me, neither!” she echoed, turning away as he walked out, slamming the door shut behind him.

Captive

R
ihaan applied an ear to his door. He faintly perceived the rumble of chatter from the crowd gathered below. Propping the door slightly open, he strained harder, but couldn’t distinguish his mother’s distinctive voice from the others. He knew that she, along with the rest of his small family, had arrived with much fanfare ten minutes ago when Uncle Rajbir’s ancient
khattara
Mercedes had pulled up in the driveway. Had the main purpose of their visit bypassed their minds in the excitement of meeting the rest of the clan? He didn’t think so.

What should I do? I can’t just hide here in my room and wait for someone to break the door down! Naina is right. I have to face the music. And if my mother tries to twist my arm into getting hooked to her beloved Renu or somebody else, I will put my foot down and say I’ll remain loyal to my wife as long as I live, even if she doesn’t care for me!

The thought conjured up Naina’s impassioned face, and with it came a sense of emptiness immediately supplanted by fury at himself. How could he waste time thinking about her? Certainly she had no place in his life. None whatsoever.

He was jolted out of his musings by a couple of piercing, loud whistles. He rushed out onto the balcony. There, he saw standing right below him a slim girl dressed all in white who was shielding her face with a thick
dupatta.
She was also waving wildly at him.

“Who in hell are you?” he shouted irritably, in no mood for congeniality, particularly with a female of the species.

“Hush, you idiot!
Tum toh bilkul gadhe nikle!
(You’ve turned out to be a complete ass!)
It’s me, Naina!” she said, lifting her veil while casting a wary glance around. “Who else do you think would try to attract your attention like this? So don’t just stand there and stare. Give me a hand up!”

“What a weird woman you are,” Rihaan observed with a perplexed smile, noting an immediate dissipation of his anxieties.

“Jaldi!
Before I change my mind!”

Her words were enough to prompt him to propel his legs over the railing and jump down.

She inquired of him, “Don’t you know of the blanket trick?
Picture nahin dekhte kya?” (Don’t you watch movies?)

“No. I think lifting you up would be quicker and far more efficient. You are such a tiny thing anyway,” he said smiling at her. It had escaped him until now that she was indeed quite small and delicate. Her forceful personality made her appear larger than life.

She snorted and managed to look offended.

“C’mon, we have no time to waste!” he urged, cupping his hands together and going down on his haunches.

She looked unconvinced, but without saying another word removed her flip-flops and placed a dainty foot in his hands. Then using his shoulders as a step ladder, reached up for the iron railing and attempted to haul herself up.

Without a fraction’s hesitation, Rihaan positioned both his hands on her backside and pushed hard, hoisting her upward. Then ignoring her appalled gasp, he followed immediately behind.

“How dare you handle me so intimately?” she exclaimed, her fair complexion hot and flushed.

“There is no place for modesty right now. Besides, feminine anatomy doesn’t affect me,” he retorted promptly, though he experienced quite the contrary.

But he wouldn’t admit that to her, or even to himself. Instead he snapped brusquely, “Why did you come here? Did you suddenly take a liking to honesty?”

She burst into a loud laugh, not appearing in the least affronted. “I felt bad for you. At first I thought I would let your mother make a
bharta
of you, then…” She shrugged her shoulders. “…I felt remorseful and chose to come to your aid. Besides, I was curious to meet your tyrant mama.” She smiled with a cheeky grin.

“I don’t know what to say,” Rihaan muttered. She had managed to upset his rhythm and it annoyed him.

“Don’t say anything, then. Let’s proceed,” she smiled, as if well aware of the effect she was having on him and ambled over to the door.

“Hey, you can’t go down like that!” Rihaan said, suddenly remembering the red box his aunt had given him. It was still lying on the floor at the exact spot where he’d flung it earlier that morning. He thrust it into her hands. “Wear whatever is in this and come down.”

She took it reluctantly.

“Till then I will try to hold the fort. People might be getting restless,” Rihaan said and turned toward the door.

And they were…

As he stood at the head of the stairs, Rihaan could sense a distinct undercurrent of unease. Anxiety was clearly written on many faces, while on others there was obvious bemusement. It was just a matter of time before all hell broke loose. He closed his eyes and sent up a fervent wish to be miraculously whisked away.

But his prayer remained unanswered.

“Rihaan!”
a male voice called to him.

Schooling a pleasant smile on his face, Rihaan let himself be encased in a series of hugs.

“A married man at last!” his father exclaimed.

Rihaan couldn’t believe it, either.

“My son!”

“Mom!” Grudgingly he accepted a loud smack on each cheek. His fingers rose automatically to erase the smudges left by the deep pink lipstick she wore.

“You look utterly nerve-wracked and upset!
Kya hua beta?” (What happened, son?)
Shobha asked, her discerning eyes sweeping over him.

“Ah…it’s nothing, mom.”

“Mama!” His sister, Rima, pitched in with a knowing wink, and in splendid time. “My diehard bachelor brother has just gotten married. He’s still in a state of shock. What else did you expect?”

Rihaan smiled gratefully at her. Rima had always acted as his shield, protecting him from the brunt of his parents’ wrath that he frequently appeared to kindle with his rebellious and unconventional attitude. It was fortunate for him the passage of years had watered it down into a grudging tolerance.

But Shobha wasn’t convinced. Experience had fine-tuned her instincts to near perfection. She could smell a rat a mile away. “Where is my
bahu?
Or is she planning to remain incognito forever,” she demanded, managing to shove her son aside despite her slight stature, and prepared to proceed up the stairs.

“Mom, please…she’s getting ready.”

“I don’t care,” Shobha said. “If I don’t see her now, then I won’t ever!”

At that moment a sudden hush descended over the entire room. Rihaan saw everybody’s eyes, including those of his mother’s, focus on the staircase behind him. He followed their gaze and identified the cause. An ethereal vision in jewel-encrusted gossamer was floating down to the accompaniment of the rhythmic tinkle of glass bangles, her identity concealed behind a veil of teal netting.

He wasn’t sure if his heart stopped or his breath or both, but he was feeling oddly light-headed as she came to a standstill next to him.

A hard nudge in the ribs revived him, along with an urgent whisper,
“Ghoonghat!”

“Wha…at…? Oh!” With rigid hands, he followed the implied instruction and stood gaping blankly, as apparently did everyone else. Even his toddler nephew’s constant whimpering had died down.

Her glorious eyes bordered by shimmering lids stared meaningfully at him. He blinked.

His mother was the first to recover. “Rihaan, introduce us.”

“Uh Mom, Dad…meet my wife, Naina…umm Rathod.”

“No. Naina Rihaan Mehta. I wouldn’t want to be addressed by any other name,” Naina said demurely, her flamboyant eyelashes fluttering coyly downward.

“Waah
Shobha
waah!
It appears that your
bahu
not only looks like an angel, but also knows how to ensnare your son’s heart,” roared Uncle Rajbir, breaking the silence and sending everybody into merry laughter.

Rihaan looked pleasantly confused, while Naina colored deeply as she was overcome with apparent shy pleasure.

“Chalo,
take the blessings of your elders. Now that my little brother’s beautiful mystery has been unveiled,” Rima said, gazing with admiration at Naina, then enclosed her in a warm hug.

Rihaan stooped down, letting out an inward sigh of relief.

“No. First I have to satisfy myself that she is indeed worthy of being
my daughter-in-law,” Shobha said sternly.

“Aww, c’mon Mom! I took her as my wife in front of everyone!” Rihaan blurted out in an incensed tone, causing Naina to throw him a startled look. She gave him a reassuring smile before mutely allowing herself to be led away.

My wife?! What the hell did I just say?
Rihaan thought, glaring at Naina’s receding back.
She is certainly not my wife. At least not in the real sense. Or is she? Damnit!

***

Oh God, now what does she expect of me?
Naina mused fretfully as Shobha sat her down by her side on the settee and subjected her to a minute perusal.
Sasuma seems to have been watching a lot of TV soaps in anticipation of today.

“Okay, my dear, let’s have a look at you! You seem to like the natural look and that’s good. I’m not fond of face paint. Makes girls look like
bhoots and daayans!”
Shobha said. “I also see that you can talk and talk well. But can you cook?”

Naina shook her head. “Not much…”

“Mom, your daughter-in-law’s being modest,” Rihaan volunteered. “She’s actually a very good cook. She made superb
upma
today.”

“What? When? In your dreams, Rihaan? As far as I’m aware,
bahu
hasn’t stepped out of your room until just now!” his mother retorted aloud, prompting a general burst of merriment that made Naina turn and direct a withering glare at him.

“It was a good try to save your wife, but you failed,
beta
,” Shobha declared with a smug smile. Then she turned back to Naina, “It is a tradition in our family that every new bride has to make dessert for all of us without any assistance whatsoever!”

“But Mom! Naina…”

“Shut up, Rihaan! You’ve had your
manmaani.
Now it’s my turn. What say,
bahu?”
Shobha said, inflicting Naina with her steely gaze. She received a dumb nod in reply.

“Good, then let’s move on. Do you know any crafts?” Shobha said.

Naina shook her head again, thinking she was turning out to be a really lousy daughter-in-law.

***

“Mom, she’s a photo journalist,” Rihaan spoke up. “I’ve seen her work. It’s fabulous!”

“Wow, seems like my bro is completely
lattu
over his wife. Nothing you do can change that, Ma. You lose!” Rima said with a giggle.

“As if I care! Get lost, Rihaan! You have no place among us women,” Shobha said, banishing her son.

He left in a huff, leaving his wife looking utterly flustered. He took position in a secluded alcove, where he could monitor the goings on undisturbed. He watched silently as she was put through a thorough grilling.

“My parents? Uh…um I’m an orphan. I was brought up by my maternal uncle and his wife who were sort of obligated to adopt me. I’ve been on my own for the past four years. My
mami
hates me. She was happy to wash her hands of me. They were here for the wedding, and thereafter promptly departed for Malaysia which is where they reside now. If you contact them, you’ll probably get a very poor report of me.”

That came as news to Rihaan. But then he knew nothing about her at all. Naina was very much a mystery to him, and that included her odd behavior—one instant soft and genteel and in the next, aggressive and belligerent. He could tell she detested all the attention being heaped upon her, though she was trying very hard to appear cool. The fire in her eyes could burn the entire house down. Yet he felt no inkling of empathy. Rather, in his opinion, she deserved it. A sardonic grin flickered across his lips when her eyes flashed in his direction. She quickly looked away.

“Hey dude!” A familiar voice blared in his ear making Rihaan jump. “What’s up? You can’t take your eyes off her. They seem stuck as if by industrial quality duct tape!”

Rihaan was taken by surprise. “Rudy? You’re here?”

“After I heard that you’d found someone, I couldn’t control my curiosity. I had to see her,” Rudy replied. “And let me tell you this. You’ve made an excellent choice.
Kya cheez hai yaar!
(What a chick!)
If only I didn’t have Shirin on my back…” He looked longingly at Naina.

“Watch it now,” Rihaan spluttered with anger. “She’s not like Renu, nor is she for sale. She’s off bounds!”

His friend appraised him in wonder. “I’ll be damned. You are smitten, absolutely besotted. Must say she is
some
eye candy. Girls like her can be really distracting. They aren’t for the likes of you. Whatever made you choose her?”

“What the hell do you mean?” Rihaan countered. “She doesn’t affect me at all. I…she just happened to fit my requirements to the T.”

“If you say so,” Rudy said, with a knowing smile in his hooded eyes. “But a girl like that needs attention. If you go about your business as usual, she may get bored and start looking elsewhere.”