Twilight Trauma
Evening came before she knew it, dealing with an irate upset Chandu was wearing her down. He returned from school at 3 and cried for a good 20 minutes that someone tore his horse picture he made in class
The two other DILs and the lady of the house, Lakshmi tried in vain to calm him down. "Can we go back to Delhi? Chandu insisted
An answer that was almost instantaneous a few weeks ago was impossible now
"Yahan Gauri Garima hai, Yashu hain, nahi beta Lakshmi hugged the tiny body in her cotton saree clad embrace
"Hum khana khilakar sula lein? she offered to her MIL
"Dekh lein beta, teen din se kuch khaaye bhi nahi, inki pasand ka khaana bhi aaya raha, Gauri Garima ne kabhi humko itna pareshaan nahi kiya Lakshmi was sad
It stung Teeku for some reason as if it were her own child Lakshmi was talking about
She nodded tearfully
"Hum inko ache bartaav mein jaise dekhe hi na ho she lamented
"Dilli mein kabhi nahi roye who do saal mein. Srishti ke baad bhi Teeku teared up
"Itna bahadur bacha hai... abhi inka man kaahe na lage hai? Lakshmi wondered
Alka brought him some cream biscuits and a glass of bournvita
"Avantika aap inke pasand ka kuch bana lein she urged
"Arey abhi nahi pooja hogi pehle. Rasoi mein kahan gayin abhi Lakshmi was firm as a guilty flush covered Teeku's face
She had steamed up milk for Harit last night
She was going to be dead if they found out
"Ma hum kuch bana lein? Suman asked worried
"Maggi? " Teeku asked a whimpering Chandu
He sat up his eyes sparkling
"Umm.. ghar par koi khaaye hi nahi
"Hum le aayen?
"Nahi nahi... Bahut log hain Lakshmi sat her down
Teeku had no idea where the stores were nearby
Maggi was bought, Alka made a soupy version
Chandu whined over it some more and finally ate the whole bowl, holding Teeku's hand in his left hand
"Hum kahin nahi jaayenge she whispered
"That's what u said before he mumbled
"This time... Scout's honor she giggled
Lakshmi looked at Alka and Suman
"Itna lagaav dekh lein aap
The women were baffled
"Harit subah jaldi chale gaye, 7 baje, aane waale hongey Lakshmi told her as they wrapped up the toasting jars of pickles in the courtyard
She was elated to hear that
"Aap kuch kahen match ko lekar. Subah shaam TV par ya khelne Lakshmi sighed
"Umm
"Aap nahi kahengi man maani karenge "Bhabhiyon se teerayning le lewen Lakshmi giggled happily "Harshu Rishu kabze mein hain bhabhiyon ke she said happily
"Uh
"Jee kahen beta. Aap kuch kahti nahi
"Umm.. unko cricket pasand hai she mumbled
"KAHE AAPKO? Lakshmi was overjoyed
Teeku was embarrassed and self conscious
"Hum apna phone kahin rakh diye raat ko, do baje uthe to who nahakar nikle she mumbled
"DEKHO Lakshmi was not happy
Teeku didn't say her darling son wears clothes on a wet body
"Sunte nahi kisi ki
"Uh
"Aap pyaar se kahen unko. Mahiney mein ek match. Ya TEEN MAHINEY MEIN Lakshmi cracked up hysterically
Teeku smiled mischievously
"Who kahenge humne rachi saazish
"TO RACHI... Patni hain aap Lakshmi was smug
"Aap kahen Teeku said weakly
"Hamari koi baat nahi sunte kabhi. Gareebon ki sewa mein lage hai. UK mein padhe hain. Hamesha waha ki jeans aur patli si teeshirt Lakshmi waved a finger
Teeku nodded
"Ek din, saare kapde hamare kamre mein rakh dein, aur aapke bauji ne shaadi mein jo kapde diye who lagayen
Teeku laughed
"Jaayen beta tayyar ho jaayen, kabhi vahar chalna hua to
Teeku had showered late, she didn't know why she had to change, she did anyway choosing a blue cotsilk kurta with a yellow embroidery on the trim
And a yellow chudidar... she hated dupattas, but had to wear one
It was almost 9 PM and Chandu was asleep after dinner
She went down!! No sign of Rishu or Harshu or Sita Ramji. The red ceremonial attired doorman was gone too
The chamber was almost empty except for a few clerks and defendents? Plaintiffs? She wasn't sure
She asked a clerk
"Harit aa gaye?
The clerk shook his head
The ladies of the house never talked with him
A man approached her
"Yeh faram bhar dengi? he asked
She looked at his scruffy unkempt form and felt compassion
Took it, and stood in the reception/lobby room where she had waited 3 months ago
A wall had a five feet tall slim writing marble desk between the two doors
She bend down and began to fill out a longish district court form
"Bahu hain, chhotey ki?
She nodded
"Hamara case unke le jaane ki koshish mein hain, kahengi aap? he begged
She nodded tentatively
"Who gusse mein hain
"Kyon? she asked shocked
"JV sahib ke jaise hain. JV sahib ne 2016 mein hamare bhanje ke qatl mein the man's eyes glinted with pent up resentment
Teeku was a little intimidated.
"6 mahiney ki sazaa bhi nahi hui batao the man raised his voice
Teeku stopped filling out the form
"Dikhayen aapko... JV sahib ne The man fished into his soiled pockets
Teeku took a nervous step back
"Avantika? Harit's deep voice rescued her
She turned to him in gratitude...
"what are u doing here?
"Umm... aap aaye nahi... hum neeche dhoondne aaye
"Umm.. u could TEXT me he was not happy
"Nayi biwi intezaar kar rahin hai. Mere bhanje ki saadi ko 6 mahina hua. GAYA NA WOH TO? The man began to cry loudly
Harit panicked looking for the doorman
Waved a clerk inside the office room
"Sharmaji
"Sir?
"Kidhar gaye, Aslamjee?
"Duty khatam, 9 baje taq rehti hai na
"Avantika please go up
"Apni biwiyon ko hifaajat se rakhte hain, hamare bhanje ki patni the man yelled and pulled Avantika's hand. Harit accosted him and pushed him angrily "Haath na lagayen
Avantika sprinted up
Harit appeared after 30 or so minutes... she had already been scolded by Lakshmi
Sita Ram had shushed Lakshmi
Teeku was crying in Harit's office
"Avantikaa? he was furious
