The Queen of Heart

Episode 6

Sarah’s POV

    I am so happy that all the rituals have been finished, but still they have not served me food and I am feeling hungry. They said I will get food after my marriage, and I am not able to see Chhavi anywhere near me. I think she is with dad. I took care that she doesn't participate in any of the rituals and exactly the same happened. She didn’t show up in any of the rituals, not even during the Henna and her hands are simple now. I don’t want her to spoil my marriage day as she spoiled many other days of my life.

    I was roaming here and there in my room, when Chhavi came there wearing a beautiful green dress and she was wearing a new golden chain as well. I went near her and asked, “Did dad gifted you this?” and she nodded her head as yes.

    I didn’t understand what was so special about gifting her a golden chain on the day of my marriage and I asked the same to her and she just smiled and said, “today is my birthday.”

    s**t, I forgot about her birthday, but nevermind, I never really was a part of her birthday celebration and she knew that, so she also didn’t expect anything from me.

    Suddenly my mobile started ringing and I looked at the caller ID confused and thought, “why is he calling me now?” and turned towards Chhavi and said, “I want privacy,” and she walked out of the room.

    I answered the call and asked, “what is an emergency Kumar?” and he said, “I came to know that he was away from his wife for the past three years as he was impotent,” and I felt as though the ground beneath my feet had slipped.

    “I asked, are you sure about the news?” and he said, “yes,” and that’s it, I have decided that I am not going to marry an impotent person and spend the rest of my life like a barren.

    I disconnected the call and thought about how to escape the marriage and suddenly Chhavi came inside and said, “Dad is going somewhere and won’t be available for about half an hour and he is asking if you want anything?”

    I nodded my head as no and she ran away from there. I have only one hour to run away from here, otherwise, my life will get spoiled beyond repair. I had to think of something fast and suddenly I remembered about Chhavi’s birthday and waited for her to show up.

    After nearly 15 minutes, Chhavi came into my room and asked, “Dad asked me to check if everything is ready or not?” and I smiled looking at her and said, “everything is ready, but I want to celebrate your birthday before I leave this house,” and she looked at me shocked and it was obvious, who never cared about her existence wants to celebrate her birthday means the person will get in shock only.

    I went near her and asked, “which flavor do you want?” and she looked at me confused and I hit my forehead and said, “I am talking about the cake,” and she as usual said that she doesn't have a liking for any special flavors.

    I tried to contact the bakery, obviously with the wrong number and who will pick up the call when one digit is missing?

    I went near Chhavi and said, “I think their phone has a problem, they are not picking the calls, you do one thing, you wear my dress and wait till I return,” and this blew her mind and her eyes widened.

    “Chhavi, you know about the rituals and I am getting tired with all those rituals and it will take nearly one hour for him to tie nuptial chain in my neck and I will return in 45 minutes and say sorry to them,” I said and her eyes started blinking and I smiled looking at her.

    She agreed to wear my dress and I ran into the washroom and changed my dress and brought the dress and gave it to her and helped her to wear it, but as she was shorter and thinner than me, the fitting was somewhat loose, but not that visible as it is a heavy dress and made her wear all the jewelry as well, so that no one can doubt and covered her face with the veil.

    When I was about to leave, she held my hand and said, “is it necessary? We can cut the cake any other time.”

    “Chhavi, we have to cut the cake today, and don’t worry, I will return on time,” and I walked towards the table and took one paper and pen and wrote something and gave it to her and said, “if anybody gets doubt, then you give it to them,” and she looked at me confused.

    “I am saying sorry to them, you don’t have to read it,” I said and she nodded her head as okay and I know once she said it means she will never go against it.

    I hugged my scapegoat for one last time and walked out of the room and saw everybody was busy with their work, I slowly came out of the bungalow hiding my face and that’s it. I saw my freedom standing in front of the gate in the form of a cab.

Chhavi’s POV

    I am 17 years old and going to turn 18 next week, and who am I. I am an orphan whom my dad had adopted when I was small and Sarah always reminds me that I should be thankful to them for giving me food and shelter.

    Last week, Sarah came to me and said that she had broken the headlight of the car and reminded me of the favors she has done on me as an elder sister and it is my duty to cover up the mistakes of my elder sister and I agreed to take the punishment.

    When dad called us and asked about the headlight being broken, I had to lie to him saying that I tried to drive the car though Sarah had warned me and he became angry and gave me more than 10 blows and threw the stick and went away from there. Sarah came near me and said, “go and take rest, till tomorrow morning it will heal,” and walked towards her room.

I slowly walked towards my room and tried to open the door, but when I touched the knob of the door the pain got aggravated and I cried holding my hand and Survi, our maid came and opened the door for me and took me inside and asked, “I think you are mad? Who takes punishment for others?” and brought wet cloth and cleaned my hand and applied some cream and looked at my hand and said, “I think your dad was really angry today, he hit really hard and the skin has raised here and there. It will take some time to heal only if you give them rest.”

“How can I give them rest when I have to do so many things?” I asked.

“I think we are there to do work for your sister as well, but she makes you do all her work, don’t you think she treats you as her personal maid?” She asked, but I was not able to reply, as I am still confused as to why she makes me do all her personal work.

Survi smiled and made me lay on the bed and covered me with the sheet and said, “I will bring milk and pain killer,” and went away from there.

After some time she returned with the milk and pain killer and made me drink the milk and said, “I think you are having a fever, don’t stress yourself and sleep now,”  and turned off the light and walked out of the room.