The morning air was crisp, filled with the quiet hum of hospital activity. The dim hospital lights cast a pale glow over the waiting area, where Jaya and Chaya sat, their hands clasped together tightly. Neither of them had spoken much since the nurses came in earlier to take their mother to the operating room.
Jaya's heart pounded in her chest as she replayed the moment over and over in her head. The sight of their mother being wheeled away, her fragile body almost disappearing under the white sheets, had left her feeling hollow inside.
"She'll be fine," Chaya murmured beside her, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jaya nodded, but her throat was too tight to form words. All she could do now was wait and pray.
Hours passed.
The surgery was scheduled to last several hours, and with every passing minute, the weight on Jaya's chest grew heavier.
At one point, Chaya rested her head on Jaya's shoulder, exhausted from the tension. But Jaya couldn't bring herself to rest. Her eyes remained fixed on the operating room doors, as if sheer willpower alone could make the outcome favorable.
She clenched her fists in her lap, whispering silent prayers over and over. Please, let her be okay. Please, let her survive this.
---
The End of the Surgery
By the time the clock struck 1 PM, the double doors of the operating room finally swung open.
Jaya and Chaya shot to their feet.
A team of nurses rolled their mother out, her face still pale and her body unmoving, but the beeping of the machines attached to her told them she was still alive. Relief washed over Jaya like a tidal wave.
"The surgery went as scheduled," the surgeon informed them, pulling off his gloves. "There were some minor complications, but nothing we couldn't handle. She will need time to recover, but things are looking positive."
Jaya felt her knees weaken, and she had to steady herself against the wall.
"Thank you, doctor," she managed, her voice shaky with emotion.
The nurses wheeled her mother back to the private ward, and Jaya and Chaya followed closely behind, still overwhelmed by the weight of the morning's events.
Back in the private ward, the doctor handed Jaya a set of documents and began explaining the next steps.
"She will remain unconscious for a while due to the anesthesia," he said. "But once she wakes up, she might be disoriented. Keep talking to her. Let her know she's not alone."
Jaya nodded numbly.
"The next forty-eight hours are crucial," the doctor continued. "Her body needs time to heal. The nurses will monitor her closely, but if you notice anything unusual—shortness of breath, fever, or extreme pain—call for assistance immediately."
Jaya clutched the papers tightly, nodding again. "I understand."
The doctor gave her a reassuring look. "She's strong. Now, all we can do is wait."
Jaya let out a shaky breath as the doctor left. She turned to Chaya, who sat at their mother's bedside, holding her hand.
"She'll be okay," Jaya murmured, more to herself than anyone else.
Chaya didn't reply, but the slight nod of her head told Jaya that she was clinging to the same fragile hope.
---
The Unexpected Call
By the time the clock hit 3 PM, Jaya's exhaustion was beginning to catch up with her. She had barely eaten, barely slept, and yet the weight of responsibility kept her moving.
Then, her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw the name flashing across it.
Ajay.
Her fingers hesitated before she finally answered. "Hello?"
"I'm outside the hospital," Ajay's deep voice came through the line. "Come down."
Jaya frowned, glancing at her mother before quietly stepping out into the hallway. "Now? Why?"
Ajay's voice was calm, yet firm. "We need to register our marriage."
Jaya's breath caught in her throat. "What?"
"You heard me."
Her fingers tightened around the phone. "Why now?"
Ajay's tone remained unbothered, as if they were discussing nothing more than a business transaction. "Because we agreed. Whether it's signed on paper or not, a deal is still a deal, Jaya."
Jaya's stomach twisted uncomfortably.
Yes, she had agreed. But she hadn't expected it to happen this soon.
"I—" she started, but Ajay cut her off.
"Come down," he repeated. "We don't have all day."
Jaya's grip on her phone tightened. She had no choice.
"Fine," she muttered.
---
Gathering the Documents
Jaya didn't bother explaining anything to Chaya as she grabbed her bag and hurried out of the hospital.
The moment she stepped outside, she spotted Ajay leaning against his sleek black car, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit. His dark eyes met hers the second she approached.
"You didn't waste any time," she muttered.
Ajay smirked. "I never do."
Jaya exhaled sharply. "I need to go home and get my documents first."
Ajay nodded, opening the passenger door for her. "Let's go."
The car ride was tense, filled with an unsettling silence. Jaya's fingers curled in her lap as she stared out of the window.
Soon, they arrived at her small home, a stark contrast to the luxury Ajay was accustomed to. Jaya quickly stepped inside, grabbing the necessary documents—her birth certificate, identification card, and other official papers.
As she moved to leave, her eyes briefly landed on the framed photo of her family—her mother, Chaya, and herself, taken years ago when life was simpler.
A lump formed in her throat.
She was about to do something that could change everything.
Taking a deep breath, she turned and walked back to Ajay's car.
---
The Marriage Registration
The drive to the marriage bureau was even quieter than before. Jaya's mind raced with thoughts, doubts, and unspoken fears.
Was she really doing this?
As much as she wanted to convince herself that this was just an agreement, something about this felt irreversible.
Once they arrived, Ajay led her inside, his grip firm on her wrist as if ensuring she wouldn't run.
The clerk at the counter barely looked up as she handed them the forms. "Fill these out."
Jaya's hands shook slightly as she wrote down her details, her name, her address, her parents' names—each word feeling heavier than the last.
Ajay filled out his form with ease, his expression unreadable.
Finally, they reached the signature line.
Jaya stared at it, her pen hovering above the paper.
This was it.
Ajay's voice was calm beside her. "Sign it, Jaya."
She swallowed hard.
And then, with a deep breath, she pressed the pen to the paper, signing her name in ink.
The moment she lifted her hand, a strange sense of finality settled over her.
The clerk glanced at the documents, stamped them, and nodded. "It's done. Congratulations."
Jaya's breath hitched.
Just like that, she was married.
She turned to Ajay, but he was already watching her, his gaze unreadable.
"You're mine now," he murmured.
Jaya's heart pounded.
She had just sold herself to the devil.
--