Chapter Fifteen

K-Shandra

@K-Shandra

Anurag checked his keys, phone and bag before crossing the living area and making his way to the door.

“Anu!” His mother’s voice beckoned him, causing him to pinch his lips and close his eyes momentarily. He then turned to face her,pasting a fake smile on his face. “Anu, come, you must sit, you have not eaten anything yet.”

“Mom, I have to get going, I’m running late.” Anurag excused himself but could by the expression on his mothers face deduce that she would not allow him to leave so easily.

“Come now, Anu, you must have something,” Mohini sweetly insisted.

Irritation started clawing at him, followed by a strengthened sense of disbelief that his mother would even try to stop him.  “Mom, I really have to go.” Anu said trying to keep the irritation out of his voice.

  Instantly Mohini’s stance and tone changed, it was less cajoling and more acerbic as she said, “You’re going to see that girl, aren’t you?”

Anurag took a deep breath knowing it would not get him anywhere if he chose to get into an argument with her, but at the same time he also had a point to make,  thus he questioned in reply, “What girl are you talking about?”

“You know very well which girl I am speaking of.” 

Being deliberate he replied, “Oh, you mean Prerna? I’m going to meet Prerna. You know mom she has a name, which given that she is my wife should be taken with respect.”

“Anu!” his mother chided him, “How dare you speak tome like that?”

Anurag only held up his hands in response then said,“You know what mom, I don’t have time for all this, as it is I am running late.”

Affronted, Mohini retorted, her tone cutting, “How dare you even try to tell me how I should speak, and that too about a servant’s daughter!”

“Mom,” Anurag said again holding up his hands to show that he’d had enough.

Mohini pointed her finger at him and said,“Understand this, Prerna is not the daughter in law of this house, and she never will be.”

“That is a bit difficult,” Anurag threw back, “…especially considering she’s my wife.”

“She is no such thing!” Mohini insisted, “You never got married!”

Anurag felt his ire rise, but knew that it was not the time to engage his mother in an argument. His morning was likely to be trying enough without starting it with an argument, much needed as it may be.He visibly checked himself before stating, “Mom, I have to go.”

“That girl can wait!” Mohini insisted.

Angry, Anurag replied, “That may be so, and she might even be willing to, but the Court won’t.”

“Court?” Mohini asked, she at first appeared startled then confused.

“Yes,” Anurag bit back, “…the Court. It’s Komolika’s formal hearing this morning and I’m attending it with my attorney.”

Just then Moloy approached them, he was also ready to leave. “Where are you off to?” He asked Anurag.

“The Court hearing is this morning,” Anurag automatically answered.

“Oh you should have told me, I would have accompanied you.” Moloy replied, causing Anurag to look at him questioningly.   

“Where are you going?”

“I thought I would go see the Sharma’s and apologize to them.”

Instantly Mohini appeared irritated. She declared outright, “That is not needed.”

Moloy simply looked at her and then said, “You may think so, but as Rajesh’s friend and grandfather of Sneha, I feel that it is not only needed, I’m outright embarrassed by your behaviour. I just hope they will accept my apology and allow me to see my granddaughter.”

“Dad knows where they are staying?” Anurag asked,hopeful.

“Of course I know where they’re staying, I’ve made it my business to ensure Rajesh’s widow and family is safe. Rajesh would have done the same for me.” Mohini made to say something but Moloy held up his hand to silence her, “Whatever we have today is due to the friendship we shared, and while Veena has been graceful in her understanding of this, some people –”  He looked pointedly at Mohini, “…should come to understand that.”

“Can I have their address? That way I can go see them once the Court has finished.”

“I’ll send it to you.” Moloy said, adding, “…but you had best get going.”

Anurag sat in the Court, it was fuller that he thought it would be. He could feel his ire rise as matters continued to dragon. He checked his phone again, having switched it to silent rather than switch it off entirely. Still there was no call or message form Prerna. He had tried to phone her several times before the court started, but each of them had gone unanswered. He had then opted for messages, but even they had gone unanswered.Having no other option he had tried Shivani’s number, but even she had not picked up the call.

Finally they brought Komolika in. He shook his head and felt disgusted by the fact that he’d not been able to recognize her earlier.

The prosecutor started reading the charges but before he could even proceed past the first, Komolika’s attorney stood up and addressed the court. He first proceeded to dismiss all the charges on the basis that the person before the court was not the person being charged. And when asked to substantiate the claim, the attorney produced official documents stating that the person before the court was Sonalika and thus she could not be charged. The magistrate checked the documents and then dismissed the case.

Komolika smugly looked at Anurag as fear crept along his spine. With Komolika in jail, Prerna, Sneha and his family would be safe,but he knew Komolika well enough to know that the moment she set foot outside the court, his entire family and Prerna’s would be in danger.

A sickening nauseous sensation overcame him, causing him to swallow several times. He breathed deeply several times and did his best to control the disquiet that filled him, at the very least retain some control over it.

Moloy stood before the door and visibly swallowed.Never in his life had he felt as subservient when approaching Rajesh’s widow.He looked up at the small modest house… it was not grand, but then Rajesh’s family had always remained modest, even their house had been that. But the warmth and love it contained certainly made up for anything anyone could have thought lacking.

He reached out and knocked on the door, hoping someone was home. He had not bothered to call before hand, for he had not wanted to forewarn them of his intent or arrival. 

Several long moments later Suman opened the door. She looked him over with distain and eventually demanded, “What can I help you with?”

Moloy placed his hands together in greeting and then said, “I was hoping to speak with your mother-in-law.”

Suman flatly stated in reply, “She does not want to speak to any of you.”  

“Please, just a few minutes, tell her I bear no ill will.”

Just then Veena stepped into the doorway and said to Suman, “Go finish your chores, I will deal with this.” Suman nodded and left, leaving Moloy to face a visibly annoyed Veena. 

“Mrs. Sharma…” but before he could continue, Veena cut him short, “Whatever you are about to say, it is unneeded.” Moloy for a moment looked at her and was about to continue Veena again cut him short. “You know, Mr. Moloy, for many years my family has borne the brunt of your wife’s conceit. My children have been insulted. The morals with which we have raised them were questioned, insulted and belittled. But because Rajesh was your friend and because you have always treated us as your family, even though your wife opposed any association with us and went out of her way to insult my husband as well, we tolerated it. But let me tell you Mr. Basu a woman who can cast out her daughter in law and her own grandchild does not deserve inclusion in their lives. And with that, those who support her, whether vocally or by remaining silent, need not be considered either.” Veena placed her hands together as she said, “So please spare me the apologies, explanations or plights of regret. I will not allow any of you to question or insult my grandchild. Your son may have given her his name, but he has not done anything else for either her or her mother. He has also failed to protect either of them from his mother’s taunts and barbs. So please Mr. Moloy don’t come here with your sweet words and empty promises. We both know Mrs Mohini well enough to know that even were you to reprimand her, she will only watch her words and actions for a few days before once again unleashing her tongue once again. Soit would be best of you to leave.”

“Please, Veena just hear me out, I ask for only a few moments of your time.”

Veena took a long and deep breath and then moved her head in a gesture he assumed meant he could continue.

“I fully understand your stance on this, and would even have supported it were it not my grandchild we were discussing. Ever since Anurag and Prerna were old enough, I tried to convince Rajesh that we should get them married to one another. I have dreamt of this grandchild ever since then, which is why I am even willing to beg you to allow me to see her.” Veena visibly squared her shoulders, while her brow knit. Moloy however continued.“Please do not deprive this child of both her grandfathers. Please.”

Veena shook her head before replying, “And when this child grows older, how will we explain to her that by birth she should have received all the status recognition and wealth your family enjoys, but because of your wife’s views, she was denied it. No. It is far better for this child togrow up between us, within the class her mother was born into. Here she will beloved. Were she to grow up and have contact with you she will resent us for supposedly keeping her form her rights, rather than the truth of the matter.Neither Prerna nor I need that.”

“Then at least allow us to support the child, help with the expenses.”

“And how do you think Mohini is going to perceive that?” Veena outright demanded, “That our family is once again accepting alms from you? Or that it was once again some deliberate plan on our side to gain access to your wealth. She cannot accept Anurag and Prerna’s love for what it is, and we are tired of suffering her insults. Trust me, Mr. Moloy, things are better this way for everyone involved, but mostly for Prerna and the baby. So please respect her decision and leave from here, we suffered enough at the hands of your family.”  

Moloy had no idea what to say in reply, however asked, “Could I just make one request?”

Veena nodded her head.

“Can I speak with Prerna?” 

“Prerna and Sneha are not here, they are at the anti-natal clinic.”

Immediately concerned, Moloy asked, “Is everything okay with Sneha?”

“It’s just a check up, it’s perfectly normal.” 

“Please tell her I would like to speak with her.”

“I will do so, but I cannot assure you that she would want to speak with you.”

Moloy nodded and thanked her for her time then left,feeling more dejected than he had on arrival.

 Afrustrated, concerned, yet chest-fallen Anurag returned home. Both Nividita and Anupam descended on him the moment he entered.

“So tell us what happened?” Anupam gleefully asked.

“They let her go,” Anurag flatly replied.

A shocked Nividita exclaimed, “What? You cannot be serious!”

“I think her father used his connections and had documents drawn up claiming she is someone else entirely, so she cannot be charged. According to the records, Komolika is dead and Sonalika is someone else entirely.”

“How does she manage to do this time and again? This means that she will not even be held accountable for what she did Vikram, Mr.Sharma or dad.”

Anurag shook his head, “I don’t know.”

“What about the charges of her claiming to be your wife?”

“The attorney explained to me that even though the prosecution could have progressed with the charge. My condition will count against it, as they will twist I that I misunderstood her concern and as not to distress me she went along with it.”

Nividita angrily said, “That is so Komolika.”

“What do we do now?” Anupam asked.

“First we need to tighten security. Komolika is free again so everyone needs to be careful. She will seek vengeance.”

“Especially against Prerna and father in law,”Anupam reasoned.

“Speaking of father, has he returned? He said he was going to meet the Sharmas.” Anupam immediately became hesitant, causing Anurag to add, “I guess it did not go well.”

“Mrs. Veena would not even allow him into the house.”

Anurag hopefully asked, “Did he at least see Prerna and the baby?”

“They were not there.”

Immediately concerned, bordering on petrified Anurag demanded, “What?! Where are they?” he reached for his phone and automatically hit Prerna’s speed-dial.

“Relax,” Anupam insisted, “Father in law said she’d taken Sneha for a routine checkup.” 

Anurag’s call was rejected, which caused him to dial it again. Again it was rejected. “You don’t understand Anupam,” Anurag said in frustration, “Komolika is free and Prerna is not talking to me, she won’t even answer my call. I have to warn them.”

Anurag tried Shivani’s number but the call again was rejected. He looked at Nividita and Anupam but then shook is head. “If they are rejecting my calls they will reject yours as well.”  

“Where are you going?” Anupam demanded as Anurag turned form them.

“To go see Prerna, and to warn them.”