My Dream Marriage

“What is this? What has the paper got to do with anything?” I ask. “It has got everything to do with all that we are talking about right now,” he says angrily. I look at him and he looks at me back with resentment in his eyes. “Now pick it up and see for yourself,” he says.

Everyone else gives me the same look. I take it and the page is about solar energy and all that. “The other page,” he directs. I flip it and that is when I see a bold picture of, wait, that is me and Aniston. The picture is taken from an angle such that it looks like Aniston is holding me suggestively at a secluded place. That is a place I remember very well that it is a corner Aniston pulled me when he suspected that someone was following us. It is already in the media, a picture that was taken only yesterday. The heading reads, ‘honeymoon blunder.’ The article goes on to say how I got involved in an affair with a long time lover, leaving my new husband alone, probably because Edward could be sexually underperforming or something like that.

“Have you seen what you have caused? Now the whole city knows that you are having an affair behind my back. Now tell me, is it true?” He asks. “What do you mean by ‘is it true’?” “Neera, this is right in front of you. You are even holding it in your hands before your eyes. Tell me, are you having an affair behind my back because this is not the first time I have seen you with that man and now you have decided to go public about it?” Edward asks. “No, not at all Edward, I am not having an affair. Besides I told you what happened,” I say wondering why he could put such allegations knowing well he made me do that, even though it wasn’t a bad thing that I did.

“How would I know if you weren’t saying the truth and that you were lying to me. How did you even meet him? Did you call him? Because I don’t know how you would meet just when you knew I wasn’t there,” he says. “Edward, I didn’t call him, I don’t even have his contact. We met when I went to the beach and I was upset after you left me. I wanted something that could calm down my nerves. Why didn’t you even inform me when you were leaving? I wake up only to find out from your assistant that you had come back home. How did you think I was supposed to feel?” “Edward, is that true?” His father asks him. “Dad, that is not important right now. Anyway it is her fault that we are facing this,” Edward says.

“What I don’t understand is that couldn’t she find someone else besides him? How can you find another man to cool down your nerves when you are married?” Myra says and I feel like I could give her one slap to shut her down. She is making my blood boil. “Yes Neera, I also want to know. Couldn’t you just have self control?” Piper chimes in. “That is an amusement park for crying out loud. What kind of cooling down my nerves do you think I was having?” “We also want to know,” Myra says. “Probably not your kind of ‘cooling down’.” “Don’t be rude and answer the question. Why would you choose Aniston of all the people? If you didn’t know, Aniston is like a rival to this family and anything about him shouldn’t be discussed in this house,” Edward says. “I was only a stranger in Marina and it was coincidental that I met him there. Since I know him I couldn’t just pass him by.”

“Look, this has to stop and from now onwards, no more meetings with other men. One more thing, you wouldn’t leave this house unless Marcus is with you. Actually, you wouldn’t need to leave this house without my permission,” Edward says.

“What are you going to do about this now?” Dexter asks. “Even though it’s already in the papers, I will have to deal with the person behind this and the media entirely. It will have to go as soon as it came,” He says as he makes to leave through the front door. “Where are you going to Edward?” Eric asks. “Going to take care of some things,” he answers. “Alex is not yet back and Marcus will be leaving with me soon,” his father says. “Don’t worry I’ll be driving myself for the time being before Alex comes back. He is supposed to be back tomorrow evening,” he says. “Take care,” Piper says. “Bye mom, I’ll see you later.”

“I am leaving too, I have somewhere to go to,” Dexter announces. “Can you drop me off at my boutique, I need to check the stock, my manager said that it’s almost over,” Myra says. “It’s okay, let’s go.”

Marcus comes in with my suitcase that I had left in the car. He had told me to leave it and that he would help me bring it into the house. He places it next to me. “Marcus, we will be leaving soon,” Eric tells him as he turns to leave. “Okay sir.” He exits. “See you later,” Eric says and pecks his wife and leaves.

“Neera,” Piper starts talking the moment we are alone, when every one has left, “you have to know that Lawanson family is the most influential one in this city, and that our business is well known all over, not just Sura City. Bear in mind that whatever you do, you are carrying along the family name. We cannot afford to tarnish this name since you will be bringing down not only our family prestige but that of our respectable business. For the last time, be careful with what you do, and where you go. I don’t want my mates to think that my son married a whore. I don’t want our peaceful life that has been there for so long to be disrupted by you, a mere ordinary girl, you understand what I am saying?” “I do ma’am I am also not happy about this and it won’t happen again. I’m sorry,” I say since I couldn’t want to be the talk of town.

“Good, now that you are new here, you should make yourself familiar with this house. Martha!” She calls and Martha responds from wherever she is. “Ma’am, what can I do for you,” Martha asks the moment she comes before Piper. “Yes, you know Neera right?” “Yes ma’am,” she says.

“I need you to show her around but first show her Edward’s room.” “Okay ma’am,” she says.

She takes my bag and helps me carry it upstairs. This is a huge house. Does the whole family live here because this house is too huge I wouldn’t mind if my entire extended family lived with me.

Edward’s room is at the far end of the top floor. It is huge with a walk-in closet, a huge en-suite toilet and bathroom. There is also a study room and attached to it. Far from the bed is a three seater cream couch with a TV mounted on the wall. The wall is painted ash white while the curtains are all dark grey in colour with white sheets. The queen sized bed has navy blue covers. It looks like a house inside a house.

“This is huge,” I remark quietly. “You like it?” Martha asks who all the way has been observing me quietly. Did she really hear what I said? “Yes I do,” I say, “can we leave now?” “Of course, I have placed your suitcase in the closet,” she says. She could have placed it there when I was busy touring this room.

I have been shown all over the house and outside too. The swimming pool, the garden, the play area, you name it. “Do you take care of the house all by yourself?” I ask her because it could take an entire day to just clean maybe the ground floor alone.

“No, there are other helpers who usually come during the weekdays,” she says. “Oh I could imagine one person taking an entire month just to clean the whole house,” I say and she chuckles.

“I hope you have been shown around the house, so go and do whatever you are supposed to do for tonight we are having dinner together, something like a welcoming dinner for you,” Piper says when we get back into the house. ” I have, thank you,” I say and go upstairs, I have to know if my dad woke up.

“Mom, how is the going there?” I ask the moment my mom receives the call. “Neera, he woke up some moments after you had left. He is a bit better now,” she answers. “Can I talk to him?” “Of course you can,” she says and few seconds pass before his voice comes through from the other end. “Neera,” his voice croaks from the other end. “Hey dad, you woke up. I was there earlier,” I say excitedly. “Your mom told me, how are you?” He asks. “I am doing fine dad, and you? How are you?” “I am better now, if the doctor could allow me, I could be in the house right now,” he says in his usual humour. “I don’t like it here,” he adds. “I also don’t like it when you are there dad, I just pray that you have a quicker recovery,” I say and he starts coughing. “Oh, sorry you should rest more, I’ll get back to you later,” I say and my mom’s voice comes through, “Neera, give me a minute, just hold on.”

I just place my phone on loudspeaker and wait for a moment. “I just put your dad to rest. I am out of the ward and didn’t want to bother him with my noise. So Neera tell me, why did Edward call you in such haste, was there anything wrong?” “Yes mum. Something happened while I was still in Marina,” I say. “What happened?” She asks with concern etched in her voice. “I was upset and wanted to go out and forget about it. There, I met a friend of mine and we went to an amusement park unfortunately some paparazzi took a photo of us together.”

“How is that a problem? Wait. Was it a male friend? That is a real problem,” she says quickly adding the maths. “Yes mom, but Edward said that he is going to take care of it,” I say.

“Neera, but why did you decide to go out? Don’t be running away from your problems,” my mom says. “Mom, Edward was the one at fault and at that time he wasn’t at home that’s why,” I say. “Neera just be careful okay? This wasn’t a good start as a married woman.” “Alright mom, I hear you, I will be careful. I will be working as from Monday so I won’t have a lot of time to go out,” I tell her.

“Let me get back to your dad, he might be wondering where I went off to, I might as well tell him about this later. I don’t want him to get worked up now,” she says. “That is fine, if I get time tomorrow I will visit again. See you,” I say and she hungs up.

I know Azila might be wondering if I got here. I promised her that I would call her when I get back to Sura City but I didn’t. I was in a hurry to get to the hospital and then Edward called me before I could stay as I wanted then every plan fell apart. I had planned on calling her after checking on dad so that she could join me later but that’s over now. Tomorrow is another day.