Seven Vows Part 3 -Part 259 Page 147 - Page 82

Chapter 233- Search for Answers

Sreedhar was in pensive mood. He had tried to enjoy the wedding festivities. Had roamed around chatting, helping, participating in turban tying and also teasing the ladies. But as he sat among the ladies who were looking through sarees, lehengas and ornaments to be worn for the wedding, his thoughts travelled back to Suman. Then he was unable to enjoy those colors, those designs. He suddenly felt he was betraying her. Enjoying something which was denied to her.

If the thoughts of Suman were not enough Sourabh was there to irritate him. He knew Jaideep Mamu would have wanted to keep him away, but then what could he tell to the relatives and neighbor hood. So Saurabh had come and was irritating with his blabbering on Suman. Sreedhar wanted to slap him the way he was talking about her calling her Suman Bhabi.

He was so lost in thoughts he didn't see Maheswari entering his room.

" Sreedhar what is the issue with you and Sourabh" asked Maheswari and Sreedhar came out of this thoughts and looked at his mother.

" What issue Maa. You know me and Sourabh never get along. I just avoid him as much as possible, but then he prefers to tag along. Now he is just teasing me about the reforms and all we have done" told Sreedhar.

" Beta if you want to lie to your Maa there are better ways to do it. From the time Sourabh has come I can see Jaideep Bhaiyya is not happy. Latika Bhabi is not telling me anything. She says it is usual skirmish between him and Bhaiyya. Then I see you and him in almost a war of words. You were giving him stares as if you will murder him Sreedhar and you want me to believe there is nothing more to it. Do you want me to go and ask any of the kids" asked Maheswari.

Sreedhar was silent for a moment. He knew when his mother had decided to know the truth she will go all the way to find it. There was no point hiding from her. He gently told what all Sourabh did with Suman when they had come to Jodhpur last time and the fact that currently he was degrading Suman's character in his talks.

" Sourabh behaved that way with Suman. He tried to touch my bahu inappropriately. He tried to insult his bhabhi. Why none of you told me anything when you came back" Maheswari was angry.

" Maa no need to make unnecessary issue with Shobha Mausi. Sumanji has forgotten everything" told Sreedhar.

" It is not something that needs to forgotten Sreedhar. It needs to be spoken. Yes it is the marriage atmosphere. I wont go and make an issue with her now. But if she tells something to irritate me, Shobha is not going to escape from me for this. I will ensure Sourabh pays for the humiliation he meted out to Suman." told Maheswari as she patted Sreedhar on his cheeks and walked out. Before Sreedhar could go back to his thoughts, his other cousins burst into the room and Sreedhar was forced to sit and chat with them.

Vindhya was in Maheswari's room. She had all the keys all the house with her. Suman had told she is going to visit her Sulakshna Taiji who had come for Diwali and then Meenakshi will drop her back post dinner. Vindhya thought it was the best time to snoop around Maheswari's room to check if she gets something to corroborate Sudhir's suspicions.

She was hesitant to open Maheswari's almirah. She had never done that. But Sudhir was giving her no option. He wanted to be absolutely sure Maa has no other intention. Vindhya had no clue what she will find. So she opened the almirah and began searching. She searched through all files. She saw all kundali's and kundali milan books. She didn't bother to open and read any kundali milan book. What was there in it to read. She didn't find anything else apart from dresses and ornaments. She closed the almirah. It was then her eyes fell on the calendar. Certain dates were marked in the calendar. She went and looked at the dates. All dates had one thing in common. It had Rohini star. Sreedhar's birth star. In the side it was written Mahamrintujay homa. So Maa was doing Mritunjaya homa on Sreedhar's star. Well it was not surprising given the things were happening in his life. But then why had Maa not told anyone. She had never asked anyone to go to temple and collect Prasad or attend pooja also. Maybe she didn't wanted to frighten anyone, thought Vindhya as she heard Suman's voice downstairs.