Chapter 37

**Chapter 37: Reckoning**

The next morning, Pallavi woke up early, made breakfast for everyone, making sure to make Keerthi’s favorite payasam and set aside some for her after they came back from the Deshkmukhs. She had no idea how confronting Sulochana Kaku would go, but she knew that this was the only way to make sure that everyone knew that Kaku wasn’t acting in her best interests, let alone helping Mansi and Amruta be better. Keerthi also deserved an unconditional apology from Kaku, because what she had done could have destroyed Keerthi’s whole life, not to mention Amma’s.

When Raghav came down a little while later, noticing that Pallavi had already left the room, he tried to get Pallavi’s attention, “Breakfast smells amazing, I see you made payasam, you know that’s Keerthi’s—“

“I know it’s Keerthi’s favorite, Raghav, I know how to talk to my own sister-in-law.” Pallavi walked back into the kitchen and silently waited for Keerthi and Amma to come down. She knew she should forgive Raghav, but in the back of her mind, she couldn’t put aside the thought that Raghav didn’t really love her, that everything since their wedding, especially everything in the last few days, was just another plan for Raghav. She knew it didn’t make much sense, but what if he just wanted her trust to destroy her more. She just couldn’t understand how someone could think that she could do such horrible things, and then turn around and fall in love with her. Who could be that impulsive?

Little did Pallavi know that Raghav was indeed that impulsive. Raghav didn’t sleep at all the night before, he kept tossing and turning, his nightmare a loop of Pallavi leaving the house with her bag packed, telling Amma that she was going to Kohlapur. Raghav let out a sigh of relief when he saw that Pallavi’s clothes hadn’t been packed up somewhere this morning, and when he got downstairs, he tried to talk to Pallavi. But she went back into the kitchen without looking at him. When Amma and Keerthi came downstairs, Raghav looked at Amma, and then the kitchen, begging her with his eyes to convince Pallavi to forgive him. Even though Amma could clearly tell what he meant, as Pallavi walked out of the kitchen at that moment, she wasn’t going to bail out her son this time.

“Pallavi beta, should we call Sharda Ji or...well someone before we go to their house today.” Amma asked timidly, she wanted to scream every Telugu insult she knew at the Deshmukhs, but upon seeing how embarrassed her daughter-in-law was, she controlled herself. Pallavi was kind, understanding, and loyal, basically nothing like anyone in the Deshmukh family. Amma knew that she had forced Raghav and Pallavi into this marriage, but the Deshmukh’s reaction to Pallavi’s decision was incomprehensible. Especially now that it seemed Raghav and Pallavi seemed to be understanding each other. But this time, Jaya knew she couldn’t help Raghav clean up his mess. She had told him ages ago that Pallavi couldn’t have done this. Instead of listening to her, Raghav either kept on believing it, or forgot about it. And now Pallavi was angry, justifiably. 

An hour later, Pallavi knocked on the door of the Deshmukh house, standing in between Keerthi and Amma, with Raghav behind her. She could feel his anger grow as soon she knocked on the door, “Raghav, stay calm, please. Don’t overreact, let’s remember we’re here for Keerthi and Amma, not you.”

Pallavi glanced behind her and saw Raghav unclenched his fist, she hoped this would be the one time Raghav Rao could keep control of his anger.

Sharda opened the door, “Pallavi, what are you doing here? Jaya Ji?”

Pallavi smiled, “Aai, how are you, I’m sorry we didn’t call or anything, actually we have something important to discuss with Kaku, can we come inside?”

Aai nodded, confused.

Baba came into the main hall from his back room, “Pallavi, tum kyun yahaan aayi? If it’s something related to the store, we can discuss it there, I don’t think you should have—“
“Baba, it’s not about the shop, we’re here to talk to Kaku.”

Milind and Sulochana walked out as well, Milind came out to make Sulochana’s daily green tea with honey, and Sulochana came out criticize Milind as he made it.

“Kya baat hai, we have royalty in our house this early in the morning, Raghav Ji, aap kade kyun hain? Please, betiye.” Sulochana said, mockingly. Her grin confirming the complete of regret for yesterday’s events.

Raghav took a step forward and clenched his fist again, Pallavi held him back. “Raghav, hum shanti se baat kar sakte hain.”

“Kaku,” Pallavi started, making sure to keep her voice even and her head held high, “Do you know Jagdish’s son?”

Keerthi shifted in hr spot, and clasped Amma’s hand, she really wanted Kaku to apologize, but more than anything she wanted to take Pallavi away from this horrible family. Besides Nikhil and Sharda, and maybe Milind, no one seemed to care that Pallavi even existed. Keerthi had known Pallavi for a lot longer than Amma or Raghav, and she loved her like her own sister. What had happened to her was horribly, but she didn’t want Pallavi to suffer now because of it too.

“What? Why are you asking?” Sulochana avoided the question, trying to keep her face even.

“Kaku, that wasn’t an answer to my question. Ok, I think to make sure everyone understands why we’re here, and so Raghav doesn’t blow a fuse…I’ll start the story from the beginning, and then ask you my questions Kaku.” Pallavi smiled serenely at Kaku, purposefully avoiding Baba’s glare.

“Pallavi, we don’t have time for your or Raghav’s nonsense this morning—“ Baba started.

“Baba, I know you don’t trust me right now, I know you haven’t forgiven me. And your anger is justified, but someone hurt a member of my family, and I have a duty to fight for them, so please, let me say what I need to say.” Pallavi started to tell the whole story. She began by telling everyone what happened to Keerthi at the photoshoot a couple months ago, why Raghav thought it was her, and then what Raghav had said in order to exact revenge on Pallavi. “Now, obviously, you all know I would never do this to Keerthi or Amma, and Keerthi knows this too. So when I had a chance, last night I decided to prove to Raghav, and to all of you, that it wasn’t me. Now we come back to my question Kaku, do you know Jagdish’s son?”

“No, I don’t know him, and this story that you and your new *family* is spinning, no one believes it.” Sulochana spat out.

“Bindi Wala Aunty, I am disappointed in you. You have known my Pallavi for much longer than I have, and still you don’t know not to lie to her?” Raghav smiled.

Pallavi responded to Kaku, avoiding Raghav’s taunt, “Kaku, that doesn’t make sense, because he has your number in his phone. In fact, he’s called you a lot of times, and when I saw his phone last night, it seemed that you had called him a lot too. Especially around the time I had a photoshoot at the house, and invited Keerthi to model. Can you explain that?”

Kaku stammered, and then composed herself, “I don’t have to explain myself to you, shameless girl.”
Milind stepped in, “Sulochana, answer her question, what the hell is going on?”

Sulochana put on her best shocked face, “I honestly have no idea why she’s talking about, she has no proof, and it sounds like she’s accusing me of purposefully sending Keerthi and her mother to jail, which—“

Baba added, “Sulochana, why are you getting worried? Pallavi, please, have some shame, you already destroyed my life with your relationship with this fool,” Baba pointed to Raghav, “Do not embarrass us further with this baseless accusations.”

“Aye Sanki Buddha, this is the opposite of baseless!” Raghav couldn’t control his anger anymore, instead of listening to his own daughter, this idiot was taking the side of his sister-in-law who was so clearly horrible, even Junior College probably figured it out. Pallavi tried to stop him from talking, as did Amma, but Raghav had had enough. “Bindi Wala Aunty, I can have you arrested if you would prefer, because not only did the scoundrel we have in jail give up your name, but his phone and I’m assuming your phone in your hand will prove that you did this. So apologize to my sister and mother now, or I’ll be forced to call my favorite corrupt police officer…as I’ve told Saree ka Dukaan multiple times, this city’s officers, live in my pocket. Ardhamaindha?”

Sulochana stepped back when Raghav approached her but stayed silent, she only spoke when Milind pushed her, “Sulochana, every day I grow more and more ashamed to have you as a wife, apologize now, or don’t expect me to help bail you out of jail.”

Sulochana stepped in front of Keerthi and Jaya, she whispered, “Sorry.”

“Aisa nahin, Bada Bindi…paer choo ke.” Raghav growled. Pallavi had to use her hand to cover up her smirk, she knew this wasn’t funny, but Kaku really did deserve much worse than this.

Sulochana’s face turned even redder, and she touched Keerthi’s and Amma’s feet and asked for forgiveness.

Finally Jaya spoke, “Sulochana, I was angry when I stepped into this house, because of what you did, but now, I just pity you and your family. Instead of giving your family happy memories, this is what you do for them, it’s legitimately pathetic.”

Vijay was livid, he didn’t understand why his own brother wasn’t defending his wife, what had gone wrong with Milind, “Wah, amazing speech Jaya Ji, it seems your son has hired an excellent dialogue writer for you as well.”

Raghav clenched his fist and stepped forward, but he stopped when he saw Pallavi shaking her head, indicating that Amma could take care of herself.

“I remember Jaya Ji, you once said you would never forgive your son if he pulled another shameless act like the one he’s done today, where is that resolve now? Or have you decided to accept your son for the goon that he is?”

“Vijay Ji,” Jaya was calm, she wasn’t about to let this egotistical man shake her, “You seem to be the one that is mistaken. Not only about my son, but about your own daughter. So  regardless of what you think about my dialogues, I hope now you will at least apologize to Pallavi. You know that Raghav only said what he said about her because—“

Vijay interrupted her, “Do not give me advice on how to talk to anyone or who to ask forgiveness from!” He then turned to Pallavi, “I’ve told you once already, now I’ll have to tell you a second time, do not show your face here ever again, you are truly the most shameless and deceitful girl in this world. I feel only disgust when I look at you. Do not make the mistake of speaking to me or anyone in this family again.”

“Baba, please, just listen to me, I’m sorry—“ Pallavi started but Baba didn’t let her finish, he turned to leave the room. Pallavi ran to him and took his arm lightly, trying to get him to face her. It was quick, so quick that no one in the room, not even Raghav saw it coming. Baba turned and slapped Pallavi, hard. She staggered backwards, tears in her eyes. The tears were not from the slap, but from the fact that she finally realized she had lost the respect of the family she had spent years gathering, slowly and carefully.

Raghav reacted quickly, he strode to Vijay, and grabbed his collar, “How dare you? How dare you raise a hand on my wife?!”

“Raghav, no! Calm down, It—“ Pallavi said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Raghav paid no attention, “Vijay Deshmukh, you have said, multiple times now, to my face and to Pallavi’s, that she is no longer your daughter, so with which right did you raise a hand?”

Vijay didn’t stay silent, “She’s not my daughter, she never was, now get the hell out of my house.”

Raghav let go of his collar, and raised a finger, “Agar tum meri patni par phir se haath utgaya, agar tumne usse unchi awaz mein bhi bat kar diya na, toh main tumhe chodunga nahin, tumhare per ke niche zameen nahin rahega, ardhamaindha.”

Raghav turned to look at Pallavi, and took her hand, “Amma, Keerthi, let’s go. Mujhe iss ghar mein aakar mera sir phoot raha hai.”

Pallavi looked at her hand in Raghav’s, and then at her family behind her, Aai, Nikhil, and Kaka were clearly shocked at Baba’s slap, but they didn’t dare say anything. Pallavi couldn’t catch Baba’s eyes, but the disgust she had seen on his face moments before was enough. No family, no amount of love was worth this, no matter how much it tore her heart apart.

Back at the Rao house, Amma was about to suggest to Pallavi that she put some ice on her face, but without a word, Raghav took Pallavi’s hand to the kitchen and took ice out of the freezer. He pulled Pallavi to face him, and placed the ice on her cheek, his concern turned to anger, “I knew something like this would happen. I knew I shouldn’t have let you come with us. Why the hell did you have to beg for that Sanki’s forgiveness? Where is your self-respect?”

Pallavi’s eyes started to well up again, partially with anger, “Do not call my father crazy,” she pushed his hand and the ice away, “I’m fine, no need to pretend you actually care—“ She turned away from him.

Raghav pulled her back to him, “How many times will I have to say it? How many times will you ask me to tell you I’m sorry? I love you, Pallavi. I love you more than I have ever loved anything in my life. And I don’t give a damn if you believe me, because that’s the truth.”

Pallavi tried to pull her wrist out of Raghav’s grasp, but he held on tighter, “Agar yeh tumhara sach hai, toh tumne kaisa soch liya ki main aisa kar sakti hoon? Jawab hai—“

Raghav interrupted her, “Mujhse galti ho gaya tha, main bhi ek insaan hun. Can’t I make mistakes? I got angry, I shouldn’t have, but it was a mistake—“

“Insaan. Lekin tum khud ko bhagavaan maante ho, right?” Pallavi spat out at him, she was releasing months of anger he had given her all at once. She knew it was wrong, her heart screamed at her to believe Raghav, to forgive him, to hug him and cry into his arms about what she had lost. But her stubbornness wouldn’t let her.

“Tumne mujhe insaan banaa diya, Pallavi, aur main woh ehsaan kabhi nahin bhulunga. Please.” Raghav took both her hands and pulled her close, he rested her head on her forehead, “Please, mujhe maaf kardo.”

Pallavi stopped trying to pull away, “Agar tum abhi bhi joot bol rahe ho…” She gave him a weak smile.

Raghav laughed, “No, no, maa kasam.” He let go of her hands and hugged her.

The peace, the safeness Pallavi felt in his arms was like a warm blanket being wrapped around her on a cold night. It was exactly what she needed after this morning. It was everything. She hugged him back, wrapping her arms under his, holding him tight. So what if Baba could not forgive her today, she had, for the first time in her life, found the support from a husband that she never thought she would ever get to have.