Would suggest you curl up your toes, and re-read the whole story from start to finish...
Hope you have enjoyed this journey of MriAra...and much as I have loved penning it...
Thank you once again from the bottom of my heart for all the love and appreciation from your likes, comments and No comments too...🤗
If Only I Could...
Chapter 1
Tara stood there facing her Father-in-law, Jairaj Shekhawat Singh. He was a nice man, and never spoke to her harshly but yet she found herself screaming at him for this mess.
He had kept his part of the promise and provided the financial security they all needed, the house, a dream come true fully paid for 3-year engineering program for Bunty, but this was unacceptable to her, going against all her values.
She heard herself say to him, "How do you expect me to live with a man who has raped another woman?"
"Tara my son is innocent."
"All I feel is contempt and disgust and would want him dead myself!"
"Calm down Tara my dear,...calm down...meri baat suno" said Jairaj softly. He goes and shuts the door of his study room.
And then an almost whisper of words, "aurat ka nahi admi ka balatkaar aur katal hua Tara bahu."
She squints her eyes quizzically, confused and wondering what he meant by that,"Matlab?"
"It was a man who was raped and murdered!.This should make you safe living with him."
"Haan! Kya? Aadmi?" unka bhi rape hota hai? Mera matlab aisa bhi hota hai?" holding her head she plonks herself on the settee in utter shock.
Thakurji raised his eyebrows and frowned at her quirky statement, innocent that she was.
"Hey bhagwan idhar kaise kaise log hain!"
"So now will you stay back?"
Tara thinks, gosh wasn't it enough to know he had murdered? But it was a man! I mean she had seen many of the guys in her galli acting a bit sissy...but this guy was all male! His voice, his built, his ..."
Calling out to her God, she mutters, "Hey bajrang bali...kahan phans gayi mein...why does this have to happen to me!" she shuts her eyes...smacking her cheeks. Thakurji looked at her and wanted to argue about his son's personal preferences...but he prefers to let her to jump to conclusions of her own. At least this way she would be willing to stay back.
"So Tara, what have you decided?"
"Sochne do hume" Still holding her head...confused, surprised with this weirdest of information...she gives it a lot of thought. This meant her personal safety wasn't a problem, and anyways he was soon going to go back behind bars. She could then ask for this marriage to end anyways.
"Theek hai...lekin...Meri Maa ko pata nahi lagna chahiye...she will die of shock ...if at all she does get some news about it, I will say it was to do with your business just like I had presumed. Nothing more, Is that clear?"
He nods, "Agree, you have my word Tara Bahu...and thank you."
"I need to go now...and think about it...pata nahi kab mera mind change ho jayega!"
And then takes leave of him and goes to their room. Now were she to back out of this marriage deal, Bunty would end up being the biggest loser. His education was what would get them out of their misery. He was a very bright boy. She had to think of his future. She sighed. And then Thakurji had promised she had nothing to worry about her safety.
She then looks around; nothing indicated that Mrityunjay liked anything feminine. This was a complete man's room. And yes she would now have to be very lady-like and not like a tomboy or else he might make his advances on her! It wouldn't be too hard would it? End of her carefree days it seems! No more pants and sneakers!
Mrityunjay enters his Father's room.
"Yes Baba."
"I had to tell her the truth, or else she wasn't willing to stay. I know it puts you in a very weird situation...but just bear with me...until this messy case is sorted out."
He shook his head. This was crazy, "But Baba why do I need to prove to anyone about myself. I mean I know what I am, who I am, where I come from?"
"I don't need another headache with this money-monger of a girl...just tell her to stay away from me."
"Don't worry she won't for sure now."
"And yes Baba, as soon as the appeal is rejected there is no point in continuing this relationship, ask the lawyer to keep the divorce papers ready. I don't want her ending up as a rich widow. You can pay her off for her services...but she does not have to continue to be a member of this family."
"Why are you so bitter and being negative...and what if we win the case?"
Mrityunjay thinks for a second , "Better still...I don't have to continue with this farce anymore."
His father shakes his heads ruefully. The boy had just given up on life...
Mrityunjay walks away thinking, why are his Dad and the lawyer working on a lost case? The way the evidence was framed against him in this crime, he knew it won't be long before he was back in to face death.
He had seen her in such stupid clothes. She really looked silly, those shoes...that oversized shirt...and she seemed pure trouble. He'd stay out of her way as much as he could.
But he had to talk to her...just to make sure how things are to be between them behind closed doors.
He knocks before he enters his own room. Gosh he had to do this just for her?
She calls out, "Come in" and rises from her sitting position on the bed as soon as she sees it was him.
Wearing a pretty pink flowing salwar...and pearl danglers from her ears...that long flowing hair.
Stop it...why the hell did he have to notice?
"I...I need to speak to you."
She opens her mouth and is about to call him baal ki factory, but stops herself, shuts her mouth, and says softly in her sweetest tone, "Boliye"
Strange, down there she was screeching, and now it sounded so...so...different!
He clears his throat, she keeps glancing at him from the corner of her eye; he turns so that he wasn't facing her.
"This is my room...and I like it in order. Make sure when you are around you don't mess around with anything."
"Hmm"
"You can use the wardrobe for your stuff. I will ask Daijaan to sort it out for you...but stay away from my things."
"Hmmm"
"And you can use the bed...I will take to the recliner...I am used to it after the hard cold floor of the prison."
"Nahi I can sleep on the floor...you d..."
"Just listen don't argue...I won't be around most of the time...so don't try to act nice to me..."
She nods.
"And yes...just stay out of my way as much as you can...it would be best for the both of us."
She speaks up, "I would like just one thing though!"
"What?" he barked in that thunderous tone.
She gulps hard, the monster of a man shouting for no reason, "I...I just want to place three idols of My Gods on your table."
He turns looks at her face which was turned to him and her large pleading eyes...
He turns his gaze away...gulps again, "God!...there is no God!...Fine"
But I don't want you to turn the table into a mandir with more stuff... Is that clear?"
She nods again, "Theek hai."
She calls out, "Rukiye...ek minute!"
"Now what!"
Who wants to be tied down to a monster? She goes on,"Baba said he has filed an appeal...win or lose...I don't need to continue with this naatak... I want a divorce...I don't want anything to do with you or your family except yes Baba who has been like a father to me."
He grits his teeth in anger, so the woman wanted to extract a better deal beforehand, "So how much do you want the deal closed at? Let me know the figure I will tell Baba to draw up a cheque..and think over it proplery...because there will be no bargaining later on" and walks away.
He could hear her "Kya! Deal? Samajhta kya hai aapne aap ko?"
So he thinks I am a gold-digger! Well let him think whatever he wants...who cares about a murderer!
She heaves a sigh of relief, Phew! She was tied down to a man who did not like women! 'Oh God just save me from this disaster...no no...I have to thank you Lord...this is a chamatkaar...but he is so damn rude...can't he at least speak nicely...what the hell have I done?"
"If nothing she was going to die of suffocation from wearing all these dreaded outfits."
"Asli lohe ka dukaan hai" aloud
The door opens he strides in accusing her, "What did you just call me?"
"Nuh... nuh...Nothing." she steps back. Such a bully.
He walks up to the coat stand that was placed near to the walk-in closet, pulls out his jacket and leaves. He heard her well. Fuming he hits the jacket against the railing and runs down the stairs.
That night he did not return. Tara made the most of her independence and slept blissfully.
To be continued/...
Your comments are most welcome...
Updated Chapter 2 - (Page 2)
Updated Chapter 3 (Page 3)
Updated Chapter 4 (Page 4)
Updated Chapter 5 & 6 (Page 5)
Updated Chapters 7-10 (Page 8)
Updated Chapter 11-13 (Page 10)
Updated Chapters 14-16 (Page 11)
updated Chapters 17-20 (Pge 13)
Updated Chapters 21-23 (pg 14)
Updated Chapter 24-25 (pg 16)
Updated Chapters 26-33 (page 17)
Updated Chapter 34 & 35 (Final) Page 18
Mangal Lakshmi
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
