Intertwined Fates

~Four~

Jay

There was a custom in Indian household about the newly weds staying for three days at the bride's house. I didn't know the meaning behind it, but I've seen everyone following this tradition ever since I was a child. These three days usually come after spending the first night in the groom's household. 

I've always felt that it was some sort of weird tradition, that our own parents- who looked at sex as a taboo- would send us into the room, to a person who was practically a stranger, to have sex.

I was somehow saved from that odd tradition because the priest couldn't find an auspicious time for mine and Veena's first night together. What if we were lovers and already spent hundreds of nights together? What then? A question I wanted to throw at his face- a payback for all the godforsaken early mornings in the name of rituals- but one look at my mom, I reconsidered.

Veena, who prior to the announcement looked as if she was both ready to faint and also walk into a war zone, looked about to cry in relief. Did she think that I would force myself on her?

Good god. Did I look that horrible kind of monster?

Two things had happened that night, which as an Indian son, I've never dreamed would happen.

One: My father walked into my room, where I was alone and finally was able to rest my back. I was in no way out of shape, but two whole days of restless rituals where most of the time you spend standing, can do that to one's back.

"I thought you'd be with Veena. But again, your sister never leaves her alone." dad laughed and I joined.

It was true that Anvi adored Veena a lot. Especially after the wedding clothes incident, when I've learnt something very important about my wife.

"I thought I'd give her some rest. She must be exhausted and I didn't want to tire her with my useless attempts to talk."

I closed my eyes and stretched my neck, rolling around the stiff muscles.

Dad hummed as an answer.

"Jay?"

"Yes dad?"

"Umm...I know the wedding night has been cancelled and umm...I think that..um...that.."

I frowned but still didn't open my eyes. What was he getting at?

"I think that its long due we had this conversation about do and don'ts on your wedding night." he let out in a single whoosh sounding relived.

My eyes shot open at his words, embarrassment all over me. This was so not a conversation I wanted to have with my father. And I didn't need him to know that I had a lot of experience with the stuff he wanted to talk about.

Drunk nights, crazy friends and hormones does that anybody. It wasn't a phase I was proud of, but didn't regret it either.

"Well, first and foremost is about pleas-"

"Stop right there dad. One more word and I'll tell mom that you still smoke."

His eyes widened and he looked around, to check if someone had heard us.

He left after a grumble of complaints, but nevertheless looked relived.

Two: It was my mom's words.

"See Jay, us women we crave for so many little things. The things which cannot be bought by money, because we are capable of making our own damn money. What we crave from our partner are three main things. Your time, attention and care. To a wrong woman these may look trivial, but to a right woman, these are the things she ever wished for. We want you to notice little things, and remember. We want you to openly show us that you love us. We want you to see us as your equals and not as an inferior. We want romance. We want many things but are too shy and too proud to say it out loud. We want you to give us these things without us telling you.