Paradox

Absence, Tension, Anger & Ignorance

Chapter 1

The clattering of utensils can be heard in the kitchen where the four daughters-in-law of the Ranawat family are making dinner.

This was Mahi's third dinner in the family. She had no idea where her husband was. She wasn't stupid not to realise that her husband was clearly avoiding her.

She would be lying if she said his avoidance didn't hurt her. She knew she couldn't be attached to him so quickly. She had to be strong enough to support herself in this judgemental family. But that sweet, innocent girl was just thrown from one family to another.

She really had no choice. She was just an act of payment of the humoungous loan that her parents had taken from the Ranawat family.

Why do people take such huge loans when they know they can't pay back.

She knew her parents couldn't be that oblivious not knowing what their payment capacity and ability is.

She sighed and continued making the dal. She was about to add the salt, when somebody suddenly stopped her hand.

She heard a very tender voice. "Stop."

Mahi turned around to see the eldest daughter-in-law, Taranya Arjun Ranawat, married to the ruthless, emotionless, silent man who could care less about anybody's else's feelings.

"What happened Bhabhi?" Mahi couldn't help but ask her way too sweetly. Taranya seemed like such a sweetheart to her.

"Uh Mahi. You were about to add sugar."

"What! Oh no. I'm so sorry. I was about to ruin the dinner!" She was embarrassed to even accept the fact that she was about to ruin the dinner because she was lost in Aadit's thoughts.

"Ruin? Nah. It'll be so much fun seeing their faces eat that. Why'd you stop? Go ahead. Do it." Mahika chuckled.

Mahi was yet again shocked. Why did Mahika want to trouble them deliberately. Although, she knows that her in-laws aren't any good. They deserve much worse than adding sugar instead of salt to their food.

Seeing her perplexed expression Isha said, "You'll have to get used to two things here. One- life here isn't rainbows and unicorns. Two- Mahika like Taranya Bhabhi and I and soon you, most probably by the end of the dinner, hate our in-laws. Mahika is just the most vocal one out of all of us." Isha said with a sweet smile.

"Oh." She didn't know what to say.

Suddenly Mahi realised that she had completely forgotten about the dal. She turned around in a nano-second to see Taranya already pouring the dal in a serving bowl and putting it on the tray. She walked away and sweetly informed the servants to serve it.

Meanwhile Mahika said, "This is how she is. She is very vigilant. Even for the littlest things." And Isha agreed eagerly nodding her head at Mahika's statement.

Mahi couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. This was the first proper interaction she had with the three. She thought she'd be out of place. But from the few sentences and expressions, she realised, it's not how it looks like from the outside.

Mahi with the other three, went towards the dining hall. She raked her eyes upon the dining table and was utterly shocked to see her husband Aadit seated rigidly glaring at her with burning eyes. If looks could kill, she would be a hundred feet under.

She was irritated by his behaviour. It was clear that he was judging her. She stared into his eyes deeply as she settled down and raised her eyebrow.

Aadit couldn't believe the way his wife had reacted to his glare. He thought she'd cower away. But she stared at him as if challenging him to do something next.