He took a step toward her, and she quickly ran out of the room. After reaching her mother, who was still working, she asked her directly, "Mother, did you know about this?"
"About what?" her mother replied.
"Father fixed my marriage with some stranger from the city."
She could see the shock on her mother's face, realizing that even her mother hadn't been told. Her father hadn't even considered talking to her mother about it. After hearing this, her mother quickly tried to reach out, but there was no time. There was nothing her mother could do now. She had to get away from here—she didn't know where she was going, but she just had to leave.
Her mother called after her, but she didn't relent. She ran until Kalindi's house came into view. Without even knocking, she barged inside and began calling Kalindi's name, her voice strained.
Kalindi was on the second floor and came running down. When she reached her, she quickly hugged her.
"What's happened? Why are you crying?" Kalindi asked, holding her back.
She hadn't even realized she was crying until now. Maya could feel the dampness of her cheeks where her tears had fallen, the saltiness still lingering on her skin. The kitchen was warm, filled with the scent of cookies and cinnamon, but the tight knot in her stomach made it hard to enjoy anything. All she could think about was her father's anger and the suffocating sense of obligation.
"Father fixed my marriage with a stranger. I do not want to get married. Please, Kalindi, do something. I don't want to get married." She knew she was being desperate, but she couldn't help it. She just cried and continued telling Kalindi everything.
After listening to her, Kalindi said softly, "Maybe he's a great guy."
Kalindi knew her reply wasn't what Maya was expecting, but what could she say? It was a miracle that a man was willing to give a girl time before marriage. That's why she said that maybe he's a good guy. But Maya wasn't having it.
"He's not a great guy. He's just being nice by giving me some time. Who is he to give me some time? It's my life. It's my time. He has no right over me. He's just like every other man in my life," Maya snapped.
Kalindi paused before asking, "What do you want, then?"
She paused, taking in Kalindi's words. 'What do I want?' Maya whispered as if hearing the question for the first time. The weight of it sat heavily on her chest. She didn't have an answer, and that scared her more than anything else.
Maya's voice softened as she replied, "I don't know. I just know that I don't want to marry him or anyone else."
Kalindi's tone grew harsher. "You should know this is your life. If you don't know what you want, how are you going to make a decision?"
"Listen, if you do not decide your life, then someone is going to decide for you. You must know what you want. You cannot take a step if you do not know what you want to do next." Kalindi paused, her tone softening. "Do not cry. Try to relax. I made some cookies. Eat."
She clenched her fists in her lap, the nails digging into her palms as her thoughts swirled. 'I don't want to be told who to marry,' she whispered, her voice shaking, but she couldn't stop the words from tumbling out. 'Why do they think they know what's best for me?'
Maya let out a shaky breath. "I asked him why he wanted to marry me. Why not another girl? I was just so... so stupid. What if he gets angry?"
"Did he get angry?" Kalindi asked softly.
"No... he defended me in front of my father," Maya replied, her voice quiet with a hint of disbelief.
Kalindi's expression softened, her gaze turning inward as she thought about her own experiences. "My husband didn't even defend me when his brother started making moves on me…" she said with a sigh. Then, looking at Maya with a more serious expression, she added, "Maybe he is a good guy, Maya. I'm not saying you should just marry him, but I don't think he's anything like the other men you've known."
Maya's voice wavered as she spoke, her eyes distant as she replayed the moment in her mind. "You know, there was this strange feeling inside me when I was running away from him. It was like… I didn't want to run away from him. I just wanted to run towards him. Do you know what I mean? I don't even understand it myself. It was such a strange feeling. I've never felt this way towards any man before. And now, I'm feeling it towards this stranger, who is supposed to be my 'future husband.' I don't know what to do. I don't know him, Kalindi. You know, I just want to make my own choices in life. I want to spend my life the way I choose, not just go along with marriage and all that stuff."
The thought of tomorrow lingered in her mind, a strange mixture of dread and anticipation building inside her. She tried to push it away, but the way Damian had looked at her before leaving... it was like he saw right through her.
After spending the whole day with Kalindi, Maya decided to return to her home. She knew that she had to go back sometime because, well, it was her home, and she couldn't stay at Kalindi's forever. Her mother also hadn't come looking for her. Maybe she knew Maya was at Kalindi's, and that's why she didn't come.
When Maya reached home that night, she noticed the car parked outside. She had seen it when she was running away. That was Damien's car. Earlier, he had entered through the back door, but now, as the supposed son-in-law of the family, he had no problem parking his car in front of the house, publicly declaring to the whole village that he was now a part of the family.
Maya entered the house and saw her mother in the kitchen. As soon as her mother sensed Maya was back, she looked up from the stove, quickly came over, and hugged her, saying, "Maya, we'll talk about it tonight, okay? There are some guests. Please help me with this."
Maya knew her mother wouldn't provide emotional support—she never had. She didn't expect it, but somehow, she still hoped for something from her mother. She helped her mother prepare the dishes and then asked, "Why is he still here?"
Her mother didn't answer. When Maya looked at her mother, she saw her gazing at the kitchen door. Maya turned to look, and there stood Damien.
She suddenly felt nervous, wondering how long he had been standing there. He looked at her mother and said, "Could you please give us some time alone? I want to talk to her."
Her mother looked at both of them and quickly exited the kitchen. Now, it was just Damien and Maya in the kitchen. He walked toward her, and she suddenly felt nervous but also strangely hot. It was the first time she was feeling like this. The kitchen suddenly felt so warm.
He stopped in front of her and asked, "Are you okay?"
Maya looked him directly in the eyes and replied, "Yes."
His height towered over her, and the closeness between them made her pulse quicken. She could smell his scent, something earthy and citrusy, and it made her breath hitch. She had to force herself to stay composed, but her body betrayed her. There was a strange mix of discomfort and something else she couldn't pinpoint—was it attraction? She couldn't allow herself to think that way.
"Maya."
This was the first time he had called her by her name, and it was doing strange things to her body. His voice was deeper than she remembered, more intimate, and it made her heart race. She fought the urge to pull back, to retreat from this growing tension.
He continued, "Maya, listen, I know it's sudden and fast. We haven't met before, but I don't want anything but your happiness. Please, don't hate me or something. I like you. That's why I want to marry you. I'm not a bad man. Well, I won't be a bad man to you, but just give me a chance."
His words barely made Maya feel better. How could she trust him when she didn't even know him properly? Her thoughts were a whirlwind, but one thing kept circling in her mind—he was a stranger, yet there was something about him that was starting to get under her skin. The heat rising in her chest made her even more unsure of her emotions.
"Give you a chance. I didn't even know you existed until today. How could I trust you? You say you like me, but when did you ever see me? Maybe you saw me and liked me, but that's not enough to get married. You must think I'm just a village girl that I'll just do whatever you want me to do, isn't it?"
Damien was not bothered by her reply. Even if he was bothered, he didn't show it on his face. He thought, She's feisty. That's good. She's not going to just do whatever someone else tells her to do in his pack.
This time, with a firmer yet softer voice, he said, "I was looking for a wife, and I saw you. You are perfect to be my wife." But Maya wasn't buying it. He's a city man. How could he want a wife from a village? Women in the city are educated, they work... I don't. I can't even read or write. What could he possibly want from me? I'd just be a burden to him. He should marry someone else.
But then, she felt an overwhelming sense of jealousy at the thought of another woman with him. She quickly pushed it away, trying to deny the feeling, but it lingered. She couldn't deny it was there.
Seeing the defiant expression on Maya's face, Damien quickly crossed the distance between them, took her hand, and gently kissed the palm. The intensity of heat in his eyes made Maya's breath catch. She tried to pull her hand away, but he held it firmly against his chest. Looking into her eyes, he said, "Maya, I'll come tomorrow. Let's spend the whole day together. I'll come in the morning."
Maya felt a rush of shyness as he stood so close, his breath warm against her face. Her skin flushed, feeling suddenly hot under his gaze, her heart hammering in her chest. Every part of her wanted to run, to break the tension, but she couldn't move. The magnetic pull between them felt like it was suffocating her.
She looked away from his intense gaze and, in a low voice, said, "Leave me. Do you not have any shame?"
This time, she felt a wave of embarrassment. She was a virgin, and how was she supposed to react every time he was this close to her? She couldn't even look him in the eyes. How would she ever manage to— She quickly pushed these thoughts away.
"No, I do not have any shame. I'm shameless," he replied. "Tell me that you will spend the time with me tomorrow, and I'll let you go."
Without feeling like she had any other choice, she said yes. But deep down, part of her mind and heart was looking forward to tomorrow.
Afterward, he kissed her palm again and left the kitchen. The spot where he kissed her felt like it was burning. There was a sudden warmth building inside her, a heat she couldn't ignore. It wasn't the first time she had felt this kind of heat, but it had never been this intense. She knew exactly what it was, and the thought of how it would fade away made her feel even more conflicted.