A marriage for revenge

Chapter 13

Anu kept her gaze fixed on the mirror in front of her. She was draped in a beautiful red satin saree. She didn't remember the last time she wore one. Perhaps, it was at Anjali's wedding and the thought made her eyes watery. She was dying to see her sister once again and heartfully prayed for her happiness. Fighting away the tears, she continued to get ready. She restricted her makeup with a moisturizer, mild lipstick, and kohl for her eyes. And to cover the snake bite on her neck she used a concealer that came with all the makeup necessities that Vinoth had got for her.

Once she was done, she tugged at the small knot in her hair. Her short-length hair did not go well with the saree but she was clueless as to what to do with her hairstyle. Her heart bled to see herself like that. She would add that she looked pretty ugly to her own eyes. She stood there staring at herself for the longest time until Missimma came inside the room.

The woman was a complete stranger to her yet she felt so close to her in mere few days of getting to know her. She was the only company she had in this house and she was beginning to enjoy her warmth and motherly affection.

Anu had no hope that she would see another day but Missimma told her that the snakes were non-venomous.

She had even got her some of her daughter's clothes to wear and took care of her like her own when she was dead sick as a result of the snake bite. And Anu had no works to thanks her.

Anu wasn't aware that Missimma had been standing behind her all this time until she spoke.

"Let me do something about it.." Her eyes held pity for her.

She wasn't a very tall woman so she made Anu sit down on the stool and started trimming her hair evenly. Then she began to comb her hair.

After a few strokes through her hair, Missimma tactfully pulled them up into a bun and decorated them with a garland of freshly bloomed jasmine flowers.

"You look so beautiful.." She remarked turning her around. "All the eyes are going to be on you tonight.."

"I hope not.." Anu refuted. She didn't know where she was being taken but all she wished was not to be noticed by anyone tonight.

Missimma smiled politely and gave her a gentle push out of the room, "Okay, as you wish. Let's not keep the devil waiting for too long. Come on.."

Anu wanted to say that the devil here was not him. However, she wasn't comfortable opening up about her past with Missimma yet. She let her be guided toward the living room.

This was the first time in days she was seeing the outside world. The sun was gradually setting yet the soft rays illuminated the whole house. Her eyes roamed around the luxurious space taking in the details of the house. As she had guessed, it was a penthouse and a very big one. And there seemed no existence of any other human being other than Vinoth who was perched on the couch with a magazine in his hand. He hadn't noticed her presence yet and looked calm and serene. In black formals, he looked dapper. For once, he reminded her of the man she used to admire from afar but only a little bit older with his features that had turned rugged over these five years.

As though he had sensed her presence, his gaze swept in her direction and the world halted for Anu when their eyes met. While she only had raw admiration for him, his eyes held coldness and abhorrence for her. And it was as clear as day.

"Let's go.." He said loudly, walking past her.

Anu said goodbye, thanked Missimma, and followed him to the elevator. The ride down the building was filled with uncomfortable silence. Anu felt suffocated by Vinoth's huge frame occupying the whole space that she had to hole herself in one corner of the closed space. She was glad when the doors of the elevator finally opened but it lasted only for a few minutes since she once again had to be in his company during the forty-five-minute car drive. There was a driver but yet that did not comfort her.

Throughout the drive, she kept pondering why he had to take her with him but found no valid reason. Finally, the car came to a stop in front of a posh restaurant. It was well decorated and lit for the evening. It looked like there was some ceremony being held but then, why was she in here?

What if somebody saw her?

How would she have to react?

What about media?

How was she going to face them?

She was lost in her worrying thoughts and it was a shove from Vinoth which pulled her back to the present. "Keep walking.." he grunted.

With a deep sigh, she tried to match his long strides but could hardly keep up with him. Vinoth kept walking into the hotel until they reached a huge banquet hall.

Anu got to know that it was an engagement ceremony from the banner that was put up, however, no names were mentioned to find out whose it was. She came to the conclusion that it was probably one of Vinoth's friends or colleagues but yet her question wasn't answered why she was here?

Walking inside, she came across people she had hardly seen or known.

She sighed in relief, maybe she was just being paranoid. It had been five years since then. Who would remember her or what she did? She tried to soothe herself.

The whole time Vinoth did not leave her side but didn't talk to her either. A few of the people from his business circle had come to have small conversations with him but other than that he pretty much kept to himself. Anu also noticed he had developed a serious drinking habit and she was instantly crushed by a wave of guilt. He even had dark circles and red-rimmed eyes, proof that he was an alcoholic.

When she looked at him, he was already staring at her, more like boring hateful glares.

"May I ask whose engagement it is?" Mustering up all the courage in her, she asked.

He simply smirked back at her, "You will get to know soon.."

She swallowed the ball of nerves that was threatening to choke her to death. Why was he giving get those cryptic looks? Whose engagement could it be?

Was it Vinoth's engagement?

Yes, she still loves him but this time she would be really happy for him. She wasn't that stupid selfish girl anymore. She was mature enough to know that love cannot be forced on someone. Letting go of your loved ones for their happiness was what love's all about.

While Vinoth went away to meet someone, she decided to keep herself hidden in one dark corner of the hall, away from people who might recognize her.

Her heart picked up its pace when she watched Vinoth coming back to her. He seemed really polite to her tonight and she couldn't fathom why?

"Come. let's go to the stage.." His face was painted with amusement and it was only making her warier of the situation.

"Vinoth, I-I don't want to. Please.." Her tone was begging and he was pleased about it.

"Fine. But don't go anywhere.."

She nodded, surprised that he had agreed to her request so easily. Leaving her where she was standing, he began to stride towards the stage.

She looked around to find out a clue about whose engagement it was but except for the party organizers, there wasn't anybody else on the stage but then suddenly her eyes caught the attention of someone she recognized.

Vinoth's mother!

And she was in a wheelchair.

Why was she in a wheelchair?

She was wheeled onto the stage by someone. For a fraction of a second, she thought it was Vinoth but her eyes widened when she got a better view. It was Vikram and he was closely followed by a gorgeous woman next to him.

Before she could make sense of it, the party organizer began to make the announcement on the mic. "A very good evening to one and all present here. It takes immense pleasure to welcome you all to the engagement ceremony of Mr. Vikram Sethupathi and Ms. Neetu Paul.."

Hearing the words Anu felt the ground beneath her pulled off.

"No!!" She didn't realize she had exclaimed it out loud, making a few heads around her turn and stare at her. Her eyes were transfixed on Vikram and the woman who were exchanging rings. She agitatedly looked around for her sister.

Where was she?

Why was she not around?

And what is all this madness that was taking place in front of her?

Her eyes moved and landed on Vinoth's who was already staring at her with hilarity. He was standing next to his mother and was enjoying this thoroughly. The look on Anu's face was priceless for him.

"Why don't you kiss your fiance now, Mr. Sethupathi?" The party organizer suggested, making Anu pull her eyes back to the couple. Vikram hesitated initially but leaned into the woman's cheek.

However, before he could place that kiss, a loud noise of glass shattering pulled him back. Her hold around the glass of juice loosened, making a shrill noise. Many eyes turned on Anu and she trembled under the scrutinizing gaze of so many people. The people who were oblivious to her presence all of a sudden seemed to recognize her. She could hear people whispering around her and felt like she was under the spotlight.

"She's the woman who accused Vinoth of raping her, right?"

"Did he rape her? I thought she said he only abused her.."

"Rape. Abuse. It's all the same.." Another added.

What haunted her most were the looks that Vinoth and his family were throwing at her. They looked at her with utmost disgust, as if she was a filthy worm who had no place here among them, and maybe she really was.

"What is she doing here, Vinoth?" Vaiga's voice boomed through the silence of the hall.

"She's with me.." She heard Vinoth answer her with a smirk.

"What do you mean by she's with you?" Vikram asked him, stepping in front of him.

"Consider her one of my whores.."

The guests gasped at the crudeness of his confession and Anu's eyes snapped at him. She couldn't believe the words tumbling out of his mouth. Is this why he brought her here? To insult her in front of so many people?

However, she couldn't care about herself right now. She had to know where Anjali was and why was her brother-in-law betrothed to this woman.

Taking no notice of the hateful glares she was receiving, she collected the will to walk to the stage. She needed answers about her sister.

"Aren't you ashamed of being here?" Vaiga swiped her gaze up and down on her before stopping her on the stage but ignoring her, Anu made her way toward Vikram.

"Where's Akka?" She questioned maintaining eye contact

She watched how his face paled at the mention of her but he quickly recollected himself.

"She's dead.." He spoke nonchalantly as if it didn't bother him.

Dead? No that can't be. Anu's wold began to spin.

"She's dead to me the moment she decided to believe you.." He added impassively.

She sighed in relief when she understood his underlying motive.

"Please. Tell me, where is she.." Tears had already started making their way down her cheeks. "Where is my akka?"

With taut jaw muscles and an angry gaze, Vikram turned around and left the party hall. His fiance rushed behind him to bring him back. This was a big day for her and she had been dreaming about this since the moment she met Vikram.

However, Vikram was in no mood to stay no matter how much she coaxed and she was greatly annoyed by this woman who came from nowhere and ruined the day for her.

Anu ran to Vinoth's mother and kneeled in front of her. "Amma, please forgive me.." She sobbed. She was aware of all the eyes and the cameras on her. She was sure her face was going to be printed in all the tabloids the next morning but she was least bothered. She begged for her apology.

"I made a big mistake. Please forgive me.." The old woman averted her face away. She had no strength to look at the girl who destructed both her sons' lives. She wasn't a saint to forgive her just like that.

"Please leave. Your apology is not what I need.." She said unaffectedly. "If you want to know about your elder sister, then this is not the right place because we ourselves don't know where she lives after the divorce.."

"Divorce?" Anu asked unbelievably.

"Yes, another one of your faults.." Vaiga taunted, "Now get out of here. You have already done enough to ruin the evening.."

Tears blinded her sight as she was hauled out of the hall and towards the car parking. The hold around her elbow was harsh that she could feel it in her bones and she didn't have to look who it was.

"Now do you understand what you have done to this family?" She was harshly slammed against the car but she didn't wince or cry. The agony inside her was so much that it made her body numb.

Never in her life, had she thought she could do this to her own sister. She was not just a sister to her but a mother, friend, and her angel but she had crushed her sister's life with her own hands.

An uncontrollable sob escaped her lips and she didn't want to hold it.

"Don't cry.. " Vinoth growled at her by squeezing her elbow painfully. "Don't. You. f*****g. Cry. You have no right to cry for her, after ruining her life like this.."

Vinoth was right.

She had no other to grieve when she was the cause of all this. Anjali would have been living a happy life today if not for the lies Anu had spewed years ago and made her sister believe her.

This was all because of her.

And she couldn't put into words how much she disgusted herself.