I picked up the phone, irritation still lingering in my voice. I had always hated mornings during my school days because of alarms, and today, after a long time, a call had disturbed my sleep.
"Are you still sleeping?"
It was my mother.
I immediately jumped off the bed.
"No… who sleeps till—"
I glanced at the screen.
"—9 a.m.? I'm having my tea."
A forced laugh followed.
"Did you receive any gifts for the ritual yesterday?"
The question caught me off guard.
She didn't ask how I was doing, how my in-laws were, or whether I had slept well — like a normal mother would.
"Yes, I did."
"In cash or something else?"
My eyebrows furrowed after hearing this.
"Why?
I snapped.
After pushing me into this marriage, you still want more control?"
"I'm asking because...."
The change in her tone was unmistakable. Her jaw tightened and her words escaping through barely moving lips.
"you'll have to give something back.
Your gifts shouldn't look cheap.
You are unbelievable, Aayna."
After living so many years with my parents, I hated every form of manipulation and authority.
I rolled my eyes.
"I haven't opened them yet."
"Open them and tell me the amount. Your dad will transfer the money."
She cut the call.
My parents don't want to give me their inheritance without conditions, yet they freely spend on three men they barely knew months ago.
A faint laugh escaped me.
Then a cold sensation crept through my feet.
Only then did I realize I was standing barefoot on the marble floor.
"I'm a thirty-year-old woman… why do I still react like this?"
Tears blurred my vision.
Why couldn't I just say I was tired, that I slept late?"
I sensed something wet moving on my face.
"She hadn't even asked how I was doing."
I covered my eyes. I didn't want to cry, but it wasn't in my control anymore.
"No, Aayna.
Don't think like that.
It's bad for your skin."
I longed for love.
I longed for affection.
Unfortunately, I had no source for either.
I began to console myself.
I'll get fine lines under my eyes because of her.
I rubbed my eyes.
Then, through my reddened vision, I noticed the gifts resting quietly on my table.
Oh… what could be inside them?
I wiped my face.
I was upset — but why was I even upset when nobody cared.
I didn't like myself in that state, but I had learned how to pull myself out of it.
I played my favorite song and forced a smile. Slowly, my eyes returned to their normal color.
Now I felt better.
Better… and unexpectedly excited to open the gifts.
I opened the first one.
A bottle of red wine.
"Oh wow."
I loved it instantly. I'll save this for both my best and worst days, I thought.
A card was attached:
I don't yet know what excites you or makes you happy, but I promise to learn your preferences. I'm gifting you one of my most treasured wines.
– Arun
I turned the bottle and checked the price.
My eyes widened.
It was expensive.
I unwrapped the second gift. It was a piece of jewelry.
The note read:
This necklace carries a royal legacy. A king once gifted it to his wife when she gave birth to his heir.
– Karan
Honestly, right now, I don't want anything that could bless me with a child.
The third gift was a book with an envelope.
The note read:
This book changed my life. If you haven't read it yet, give it a try. I've also included my card — use it anytime, anywhere, as much as you wish.
– Varun
I opened the envelope.
For a moment, I think I fell in love with Varun. I even forgot about that car scene.
My mother had taken my credit card the moment I turned rebellious, replacing it with a debit card.
But this card…
This felt like freedom.
"What are you doing?" a whisper brushed against my ear.
"Aahhhhhhggggghhhh!"
I screamed — loud enough to wake the entire house.
"Divya! Can't you knock?"
She burst into laughter.
"I asked Kaveri to bring breakfast."
She pulled a chair and sat beside me.
"I heard you slept late because of the ceremony."
I nodded.
"Good morning, ma'am. Here is your breakfast."
Kaveri entered and quietly placed the trays on the table.
As she turned to leave, I stopped her.
"Wait. I want to ask you a few questions."
I gestured for her to sit.
She hesitated. "Are you sure I can help you with something?"
"Yes."
I nodded multiple times.
"How does—"
"I mean…"
I tried to frame the question in the nicest way possible.
"How does this arrangement work with three husbands?"
Instead of answering, she asked calmly:
"How many husbands did your mother have?"
Something inside me snapped.
My palm struck the table before I could stop myself. The sharp sound echoed through the room. I wasn't a physically strong woman, yet the force of the movement startled even me.
Divya and Kaveri both moved back a little.
Had Kaveri been seated closer, the moment might have caused real harm.
Only then did I realize — I was in a completely different world.
"I'm sorry," I said quickly.
I closed my eyes and let my head fall onto the table.
Divya immediately understood.
"In Delhpur, this would be considered offensive," Divya said in the softest voice possible, turning toward Kaveri. "This is how people degrade each other there."
She poured a glass of water and handed it to me.
Kaveri, however, ignored the outburst entirely. She neither reacted nor acknowledged it, behaving as though nothing unusual had occurred.
"It's okay," she said.
My mother was not the kind who loved her child unconditionally. She had forced her own daughter to marry three strangers for the sake of a business deal. Still, when Kaveri said this, my blood boiled.
I lifted my head and apologized again.
She smiled, untouched by the tension.
Perhaps they were trained to handle such situations better.
I took a sip of water, steadied myself, and forced a small smile before continuing.
"She was married to two," I said. "One died before I was born."
Kaveri nodded slowly.
"Then this must be an entirely new world for you."
"Yes."
"But you are rich," she added calmly. "It will be easier."
Before I could ask what she meant, she continued.
"There are some rules all four of you must follow. Then it will be easy."
I looked at Divya, then back at her.
"What rules?" I asked.
"Rules like this: this is your room, and no man should ever come here. Only you should go to them. This is to avoid jealousy," Kaveri said.
The statement stunned both Divya and me.
It made me realize how ancient this system was — how carefully it accounted for human emotions.
"In Delhpur, if a man were told not to enter his wife's room, he would assume she was cheating on him," Divya joked.
"That place is different," Kaveri replied calmly. "Why would people need such rules there, when a wife belongs to only one man?"
No matter where I go, women always belong to someone.
The thought flashed through my mind.
"You were telling us about the rules," Divya reminded her.
"You may love one more than the others," Kaveri added quietly, "but it must never show. Each man must feel exclusive."
Kaveri continued.
"You must leave your slippers outside the room whenever you visit any of your husbands.
You are not permitted to have any physical relations with them until the honeymoon ceremony."
"What is the honeymoon ceremony?" I asked.
"Your husbands will play certain games. Whoever wins earns the right to be with you first."
Divya frowned. "What's the hidden meaning behind that? Why does it matter, if eventually all of them will go on a honeymoon with her?"
Kaveri smiled like this information would change my life.
"Ma'am."