chapter 3

Ruhi sat on the bed in Avanti's room. Avanti had gone to the washroom to freshen up. Ruhi couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling she had about Ryan. She knew she had to tell Avanti before anything happened. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Ruhi got up from the bed and opened the door to find Ryan standing there. He looked her up and down before walking in without a word. Avanti emerged from the washroom at that moment.

"Ryan bhai, you?" Avanti asked.

"Yes, Avanti, I needed to talk to you," Ryan replied.

"What is it?" Avanti inquired.

Ryan put his hand to his head, as if trying to remember something, and then suddenly said, "I can't remember. I'll be going now." He glanced sideways at Ruhi before leaving the room.

Ruhi sat back on the bed, her heart pounding. She couldn't even imagine what might have happened if Avanti hadn't come out just then. Seeing her, Avanti asked, "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing, sis," Ruhi replied, taking a pillow and lying down. Avanti lay down beside her.

In the middle of the night, Ruhi felt like someone was caressing her entire body. She clutched the pillow to her chest, her heart racing. As the hand moved from her stomach to her chest, she woke up and saw a shadowy figure leaving the room. Avanti was fast asleep. Ruhi drank some water and lay down again, clutching her scarf tightly around her chest.

The next morning, Ruhi woke up and saw that it was six o'clock. She went to the washroom to freshen up. After getting ready, she went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. She couldn't get the incident from last night out of her head. Who could it have been? Could it have been Ryan bhai? What should she do? Who could she tell? What if no one believed her?

Rowan was still asleep. His phone kept ringing with calls from his people. He groggily answered, "What's the problem?" he asked angrily.

"Sir, it's noon. Aren't you coming?"

"I'm sleeping! Don't call me again. I'll come when I'm ready."

"What about the body, sir?"

"Do I have to tell you everything? Get rid of it somewhere," Rowan said, cutting the call and going back to sleep.

Ruhi sat silently for a while. Avanti came and sat beside her. "What's wrong, Ruhi? What are you thinking about? You haven't seemed okay since yesterday. Did something happen?"

"No, sis, nothing happened."

"Are you sure, Ruhi?"

"Yes, sis."

"Okay, let's go shopping."

"Aunt will scold us," Ruhi said fearfully.

"Am I not here? Come on, get ready."

Ruhi got up, took her clothes, and went to the washroom. She and Avanti stood in front of the market. "Are we just going to stand here?" Ruhi asked.

"No, someone is coming," Avanti replied.

"Who?"

"Nuhash bhai," Avanti said with a smile.

"Hi, girls. Sorry I'm late," Nuhash said as he joined them.

"Hi, Ruhi."

"How are you, bhaiya?" Ruhi asked.

"I'm good. How are you?"

"Good."

"Let's go inside," Avanti said.

"Yes, let's go," Nuhash agreed. They forced Ruhi to buy several outfits for the event.

The next day was Avanti's turmeric ceremony, and two days later was her wedding. At night, Ryan came to Anila Begum. "Auntie!"

"What is it, Ryan?"

"I want to talk to you."

Anila Begum sat up. "What is it?"

"I want to marry Ruhi."

"Ruhi? Are you crazy? Your uncle will never agree."

"That's why I'm asking you. If you can convince uncle, you'll get fifty thousand taka."

"Fifty thousand?" Anila Begum's eyes widened.

"Yes, auntie. Think about it."

"Okay, don't worry. I'll convince him."

"That's my good auntie. I'll go now."

The next evening, everyone was getting ready. Ruhi finished her work and went to her room. She put on the yellow Jamdani sari that Avanti had bought for her. She braided her hair to one side, filled her arms with red bangles, put a red bindi on her forehead, and applied kohl to her eyes. She looked stunning. Avanti returned from the parlor and saw Ruhi. "Wow, my sister looks amazing," she said.

"Thanks, sis. You look beautiful too."

"Thanks."

Anila started again, "Your nephew doesn't have good character. I won't let Ruhi marry someone like him."

"Don't talk about him like that, Anila. I don't want to hear it," Afzal said.

"I don't care. If Ruhi doesn't marry Ryan, I'll leave."

"We'll discuss this later," Afzal said, leaving the room.

As the turmeric ceremony went on, Ruhi noticed Ryan trying to get close to her. She kept moving away until she couldn't take it anymore and locked herself in her room.

After the ceremony, Avanti came to the room. "Why did you leave early?"

"I wasn't feeling well," Ruhi pretended to be sick and lay down.

Avanti felt Ruhi's forehead. "You don't have a fever."

"No, sis, I just don't feel good."

"Okay, rest then."

That night, Ruhi again felt someone's hands on her body. She thought of screaming but a hand covered her mouth. She struggled and tried to bite, but the person ran away when Avanti stirred. Ruhi sat up, tears streaming down her face.

"Uh, please, Rowan, stop it, darling. You're going to kill me now. For God's sake, stop talking," a girl said.

Rowan got up. "Take your dress and get out." The girl grabbed her clothes and ran out. Rowan went to the bathroom to freshen up. He had a weakness for women, but it vanished with the morning light. He had taken many women to his bed, but only once each. After freshening up, he put on his white nightdress and checked his guns in the drawer.

Three days later, Avanti's wedding took place. Anila Begum had been nagging Afzal every day about Ryan and Ruhi's marriage. The stubborn man wouldn't agree. The next day, he decided to take Ruhi back to the orphanage. She cried, holding onto her uncle. Even he couldn't hold back his tears. He consoled her and left.

Ruhi went to her room, packed her clothes, and went to freshen up. Rowan was sitting in his room with his feet on the table, blowing cigarette smoke through his nose. One of his men came in. "Jamal (Rowan's uncle) is here."

"Let him in."

Jamal sat in the chair opposite Rowan. Rowan put his feet down, lit another cigarette, and asked, "What do you want?"

"I was thinking it's about time you got married."

"I've told you before and I'll tell you again, don't interfere in my personal life. Is that clear?"

"Okay, but don't you like anyone?"

"There's no one born who I'd love. Get out."

"Alright," Jamal said, leaving the room.

To be continued.