Suresh and Ilakiya sat nervously in the living room as Mrs. Meera outlined the terms of their living arrangement.
"You must understand that both of you are not yet married," Mrs. Meera began. "While you may be husband and wife in the eyes of the law, your marriage has not been solemnized. I will not allow any inappropriate behavior in my house. Ilakiya, you must abide by my rules and curfews while you are under my roof."
Ilakiya nodded earnestly. "Of course, I understand. I am grateful for the opportunity to stay here and will do my best to respect your rules."
Mrs. Meera looked at her sternly. "I expect nothing less. And Suresh, you must remember that Ilakiya is only a guest in this house. You must treat her with the same respect and consideration as any other guest."
Suresh nodded, feeling guilty for not considering his mother's feelings. The situation Ilakiya was in at the hostel was not less dire. "I'm sorry, Mom. I should have discussed this with you before making any decisions."
Mrs. Meera's expression softened slightly. "I just want what is best for both of you. As long as you both understand and follow my rules, I am willing to allow this arrangement."
Ilakiya smiled gratefully at Mrs. Meera. "Thank you for understanding, aunty. I promise we will be on our best behavior."
Mrs. Meera gave a small smile in return. "I hope so. Now, I will leave you two to unpack and get settled. Remember, my rules are non-negotiable."
As Mrs. Meera left the room, Suresh turned to Ilakiya, relieved. "Thank you for understanding, Ilakiya. I know my mother can be strict, but at least you are in a safer place now."
Ilakiya squeezed Suresh's hand reassuringly. "I am just glad to have a place to stay. Without you, I would have been stranded on the street."
****
Time had indeed passed quickly. A few months had gone by since Ilakiya had moved in with Suresh.
Ilakiya sat at the kitchen table, staring at her phone as she scrolled through her messages. Suresh had been acting strange lately, becoming more controlling and possessive. She tried to brush off the small instances, convincing herself that it was just his way of showing love and concern. But as the weeks went on, the instances became more frequent and severe.
"Hey, who are you texting?" Suresh asked as he walked into the kitchen.
"Just my friend Kamlesh," Ilakiya replied, trying to keep her voice casual.
"Why do you need to text him all the time? Can't you just talk to him in person?" Suresh asked, frowning.
"We live in different countries, Suresh. We can only stay in touch via WhatsApp," Ilakiya explained, trying to stay calm.
"Well, I don't like it. I don't want you talking to other guys," Suresh said, his voice laced with jealousy.
"Suresh, Kamlesh is a girl. And even if she was a guy, it's not fair for you to dictate who I can and can't talk to. I'm my own person and I have the right to communicate with whomever I choose," Ilakiya said, standing up for herself.
"Fine, do whatever you want." Suresh said, storming out of the kitchen.
***
On another instance, Ilakiya stood in front of the mirror, admiring the saree she had just draped around herself. It was a beautiful shade of red, with gold embroidery around the border. She had paired it with a low neck blouse, one of her favorites.
Just as she was about to leave the home, Suresh walked in. His eyes narrowed as he looked her up and down.
"What are you wearing?" he asked, his tone disapproving.
"It's a saree," Ilakiya replied, confused. "I wear them all the time."
"I don't like it. Your blouse is too low and certain parts of your body are showing. It's inappropriate," Suresh said.
"Suresh, it's a traditional Indian garment. And the blouse is not that low, it's just a normal neckline. I'm not doing anything wrong," Ilakiya said, trying to stay calm.
"I don't want other men looking at you like that. You need to start dressing more modestly," Suresh said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I'm not going to change my clothing choices based on what you think is appropriate. I have the right to dress how I want, as long as it's not inappropriate for the occasion," Ilakiya said, her voice firm.
"Fine, do whatever you want. But don't be surprised if other men start showing interest in you," Suresh said, turning and walking to his room.
Ilakiya was frustrated with Suresh's controlling behavior. She knew she needed to stand up for herself and not let him dictate how she dressed or presented herself.
Ilakiya began to feel suffocated and trapped in the relationship. She was afraid to speak up and tell Suresh how she felt, fearing that it would only make him more angry and controlling. She didn't know what to do, and she began to feel like she was losing herself in the relationship.
Despite the fact that she loved him, she longed for freedom and independence.
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