Rules of guilt
Tense silence hung over the dinner table that night.
"Let's come to an agreement shall we?" Neel said grimly
Nihar just tore up his rotis and rotated the pieces, Aadhya did the same, albeit sleepily
"Umm.. Suvechha... umm.. Aadhya's Aai will get you ready in the morning, depending on IF I am able to drop you off I will, otherwise she will walk you to the bus stop"
"Preet aunty can walk me" Nihar was sure
"Yep... I am sure she can, but she wont, you have your own..." Neel stopped stunned, he was about to say "mother" accidentally
Suvi coughed to distract Nihar's attention
Neel's spoon slipped from his plate and clattered to the floor
Aadhya picked it up and handed it cheerfully
""Umm.. so where were we?"
"I get it... no Preet aunty"
Neel exhaled audibly
"Aapko chinta kis baat ki hai? Kyon dukhi hain aap?"
"Neel?" Suvi stoppe dhim
"Ek min Suvechha"
He raised his hand
She wanted to leave, she knew he wouldnt answer honestly
"Nothing" Nihar mumbled and began to eat finally so he neednt talk
"Nihar?"
"Umm... I am fine... doing things by myself... I dont need her help Daddy"
"Umm... she is not helping you... she umm.." he was cautious this time, lest the word "Love" slipped out
Suvi used the opportunity to place more subzi on his plate
Everything was too spicy for Nihar
Suvi had tried to not spice things up, but was a 6 on a scale of 10 and Nihar was a 2 or a 1
His eyes watered, he acted like it was the mirchi that was causing it
Young, male pride
"Paani lenge?" Neel was kind
"Umm..mmm" Nihar shook his head, tears flying
Aadhya had finished both rotis
And sat up bravely not falling over
"Main sulaake laati hai" Suvi said cheerfully
Nihar found the horrible grammar funny, he actually let a smile slip
She spent the next 30 minutes in Aadhya's room
When she came out, Nihar was in bed too
Neel was storing leftovers in small containers in the frig
"Sorry, kal se koi mirchi nai haan?" she nodded apologetically
"Thanks" Neel smiled
"Neel usko daatne ka nei"
"Kidhar daate hum?" he was not happy
"Abhi.. tum"
"Koi to niyam chahiye? Preet ke ghar rahenge? Agle 8 saal?" he asked huffing
"Barobar hai" she whispered
"Aap itni udaas kyon hain?" he asked
"Tai ka phone aaya" She began... and spoke about the call
They sat out in the front patio there was no breeze but the air was moist and monsoon like
"I feel guilty" he mumbled
"U dont owe her anything" Neel was dismissive
"I dont think thats true..." she said
"Kya kiya unhoney?"
"She was the only one that was willing to accompany me to Delhi" she said crouching and staring out into the night
"I didnt always make the best choices Neel" she said softly not crying
"But it has nothing to do with your mother, your Tai insulting your parents?" he hissed
"Tai knows what gets to me... every time" she said
"And now she sees you like a con? Like herself?"
Suvi looked at him in the dark her eyes sparkling
"She is just trying to burn you out of this marriage Suvechha" he said angrily
"She is a contemptuous old lady" she said without emotion
"Aaur aapne itne saal kaise guzaaare?" he asked in awe
She smiled with gratitude
"she is a controlling woman who is licking her chops and plotting something to get back at you. You need to stop calling her, or answering her calls" he said
"Itna khatarnaak hei?" she giggled
"Itna nahi... ITNEE" he corrected her stroking her lower lip
Kumkum Bhagya
Debate Mansion
