"A little."
Divya said.
We kept our eyes fixed on him, waiting for a reaction that would finally clear our doubts.
"My apologies. I was looking for Kaveri."
I looked at Diyva as she turned her face half hiding with her hand, slowly, towards me.
Our eyes met and she slightly shook her head.
"I have been searching for you for hours now. Please get it cleaned by someone." Varun said to Kaveri.
They left the room, and their voices faded.
Once they were gone, a brief silence filled the room before we both burst into breathless laughter, struggling to control it. Tears streamed down our faces, and our stomachs hurt from laughing so hard.
"I should leave now,"
Divya said while holding her belly,
"I have some work."
I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, noticing how beautiful the room was—how large and carefully designed. The mirror work on the ceiling was exquisite; I could even see my reflection in it. Yet a question lingered in my mind. Would I ever find peace in this room? Would I find the strength to rise from this bed and face this unwanted world every day? Would it ever feel like home?
After dinner.
Divya stepped out to drink some water.
While walking back to her room, she noticed something that made her stop.
Light.
From Varun's room.
She looked at her watch.
"9:50 PM.
Ten minutes to 10."
Her eyes widened.
That time mattered in the Khano tribe.
She stared at the door. Divya was not someone who interfered in others' matters. But after that morning conversation with Kaveri, ignoring it suddenly felt impossible.
She stepped closer to the door. She squinted, her eyes narrowing with focus.
Slowly, she bent her knees slightly and leaned forward, pressing herself against the door.
Every sound on the other side suddenly felt amplified.
"Yeah… I'm leaving in ten minutes."
Varun's voice.
She strained to hear more.
Then —
"We'll have fun."
Her stomach dropped.
Fun?
Leaving?
At night?
Without thinking further, she backed away from the door. Within seconds, she was running toward my room.
Divya burst into my room, breathless, her nose scrunched as she struggled to speak. She looked as if she had been running from a bear in the wild.
"Your bag."
The words barely left her mouth.
"What?" I stared at her, confused.
"Hurry. Get up. Where is your bag of gifts?"
Her voice was sharp, urgent.
"Divya, what happened? Why do you need my bag?"
I was fully awake now.
"Aayna, it's an emergency. Don't ask questions. Just listen to me."
There had been moments like this before — the "I'll explain later" kind. In those moments, we didn't argue. We trusted.
"Okay." I nodded. "What do you want?"
"Wash your face. Put on some lipstick. Comb your hair. And first — where is your bag of gifts?"
I pointed toward the large bag from my wedding day, still filled with presents from relatives, then walked to the washroom.
I didn't think. I simply followed her instructions.
Divya moved quickly, searching through the bag.
She found the gift she had given me.
Within seconds, she tore it open.
Knock.
Knock.
The sound startled her. She hid the unwrapped item behind her back and turned.
"Oh… Kaveri. You scared me."
Kaveri stepped inside, concern written across her face.
"Is everything alright? I saw you running across the hall."
Divya swallowed before answering.
"I heard Varun is leaving."
Kaveri's expression shifted instantly.
Only then did I understand why Divya had insisted I freshen up.
"Seriously, Divya?" I said, my gaze dropping to her hands.
She was holding a tiny dress.
"I don't care if someone wants to go to that dirty place known as the Mansion."
Kaveri's tone hardened.
"Ma'am, the more men are seen at the Mansion, the less this tribe respects women."
I hated the fact that her words were very convincing. Plus, I remembered my father's words.
It didn't feel like a choice anymore.
Without hesitation, I stripped right there in front of Kaveri and Divya and slipped into the red dress.
For a second, Divya just stared at me.
Amazed.
Then, as if waking from a shock, she quickly grabbed a comb and began brushing my hair with urgent, hurried movements.
At the same time, I applied the matching lipstick, my hands moving faster than usual. Without thinking, I dabbed the same lipstick onto my cheeks.
When I was done, I looked into the mirror.
Divya's reflection looked back at me.
I raised my eyebrows.
"Well?"
She nodded instantly.
"Approved."
Kaveri stood near the door, holding two glasses of wine.
"Take this too."
I was impressed by how this teamwork was going on.
Just as I was about to step out, Divya moved closer and placed an earpiece into my ear and a heart-shaped necklace around my neck.
We had used it countless times during meetings.
I never imagined it would be needed for something like this.
I walked down the corridor and stood outside Varun's room.
My intention wasn't to enter his room. Not yet. I only wanted to prevent him from leaving.
Then the lights went off.
My heart started racing. Fear crept in.
I remembered that car scene when he retreated his hand. I didn't know much about these men. Should I even try this?
What if he is abusive or short-tempered?
Is this safe for me?
As I was lost in my thoughts, the door started to open.
"I am scared,"
I said.
"Don't worry, we are here."
Divya's voice entered my ears.
And when I looked up, Varun stepped out, fully dressed, clearly ready to leave the house.
He was confused to see me.
"Are you going somewhere?" I asked quietly.
"I am," he replied immediately.
I assumed he wouldn't ask me to enter his room, so I did what a shameless person would do.
I stepped inside without an invitation.
"Who is the woman that you are visiting?" I asked as I handed him one glass of wine and sat on his bed.
Divya and Kaveri slapped their heads.
"Hey! Don't be too straightforward."
Divya's voice warned me.
I immediately realized what I had asked.
That was stupid of me.
Varun stepped back and looked at the time.
That look at the clock changed his expression.
His shoulders suddenly slouched, as if the time changed something in him.
Maybe the 10:00 PM rule clicked in his mind too.
"Not a woman," he replied. "I was just meeting my friends."
I couldn't tell whether he was lying.
Then he stunned me by saying,
"If you want to stop your husband from going to the Mansion, you're in the wrong husband's room. The man you should meet today is Karan."
Why Karan?
I thought.
The way Karan and Arun behaved in the car, I would never assume them to be interested in a place like the Mansion. But never say never.
"Karan?
I thought he was the sweetest person."
Divya was shocked too.
My mission was accomplished.
I got up and took my wine glass back. According to the rules, he can't go to the Mansion today after my visit.
As I grabbed the wine glass, he smiled.
"So you came just to check that."
I froze.
"Oh shit!"
Divya whispered.
"Obviously not,"
I said.
"Liar,"
he said with a straight face and picked up the car keys.
And as he was about to leave, the robe that I was wearing slipped from my shoulder.
He looked first at the robe and then at my face.
"Are you here to seduce me?"
"No!"
I immediately denied.
But if anyone were to measure the size of my sleeveless dress and my height, the answer would be yes.
He stepped forward,
closer,
too close.
My face started to turn red.
My heart started to beat faster.
He touched my robe.
I wished I could disappear at that moment.
He adjusted it, bent forward, and whispered,
"Ta... ta, then."
I could feel his breath on my neck.
I wasn't sure whether he would kill me or kiss me.
As he left the room, I could finally breathe.
Divya and Kaveri came running into his room.
"Are you okay, madam?"
Kaveri asked.
"I don't think so."
I started fanning myself with my hands.
"That was very intense,"
Divya said.
"Why are you sweating? It's not that big of a deal."
I gave her a look.
"He knew why I was here. It was super embarrassing."
Knock.
Knock.
All three of us froze.
"Was it teamwork?"
Varun came back.
"I forgot my phone somewhere."
It was on the table.
Without saying a word, Divya picked it up and passed it to Varun.
There was pin-drop silence in the room.
"One more thing — I prefer black."
All three of us stood there for ten minutes without lifting our heads, even after his departure.
I looked at Divya.
"Why are you sweating? It's not that big of a deal."
I mocked her.
"I have never been this scared in my entire life,"
Divya said, fear still evident in her voice.
"Me too, madam,"
Kaveri added.
It wasn't emberessing for just me now. All three of us were equally embarassed now. It gave me a sense of relief.
"Guys, we forgot what he said."
Divya suddenly remembered something.
"We totally forgot about Karan Sir."
Kaveri added.
"Is he still in his room or not?"
"Aayna, hurry up. You should go to his room."
"Yes, you are right,"
I said.
I left for Karan's room but I couldn't stop thinking how Varun directed me towards Karan's room. In Delhpur, a man would never send his wife to someone else's room at this hour.
I laughed at myself,
what was I even expecting from a tribe where three brothers can happily marry to the same woman at the same time.
I reached Karan's room and once again I adjusted my dress, and took a deep breath.
"I hope you are still inside your room."
I said in a low voice.
I raised my hand and knocked on the door.
Knock.
Knock.
"Karan."