Part 2
She walked slowly from the bus-stop to house. It was only 4 pm but the sky was dark already, due to clouds, the wind was making a mess of her hairs that she didn't take notice. She was lost in her thoughts, thinking about the past, their marriage, smiling faces of her family as they took rounds around sacred fire promising life time of togetherness; and yet here she stood all alone in the long journey of life after he left her in mid.
Sometimes she wondered how different would life be if fate weren't that cruel to them. She too would have a happy family, filled with love and laughter, not like this where she dreaded to enter a silent house every evening returning from work.
Heavy downpour started as she took the turn in the street where their house was located, she was carrying her umbrella but the few seconds as she could open it she was fully drenched. The coldness of water was nothing compared to the chill she felt at her heart every moment in her presence.
She entered the silent house only to find her running up the steps, perhaps to rescue the dried clothes from the onslaught of rain. Before she could warn Geet that it was useless, that the clothes would be soaking wet by now, she had disappeared from her sight.
A deep pain, a sense of void filled her heart yet again. Her vision blurred with tears as similar images of Geet started to play as slide show in front of her eyes, except that time the house wasn't deathly silent like this, Geet's laughter and sound of her anklets always covered the silence that has drowned this house since last 2 years.
She walked around the house, not sure what she was looking for. Perhaps her smile, which she herself knew cannot be seen again. And soon even Geet will leave this house; it would never be the same again without her.
Anjali wiped her eyes immediately as she saw a toddler coming out of the room and running towards stairs.
"Karan ruko...
She ran after him, the little six year' old could fall running in the stairs.
"Maa... maa...
"Maa is coming, till then how wants to eat cookies?
She caught up with him and took him to kitchen trying to distract him from going behind Geet, he may as well learn to be without her now.
She has to talk to Geet, Khurranas gave their nod to marriage the next day of their visit. It's been 3 days now and they haven't replied. Truth is neither she nor her father could gather the courage to talk to Geet yet. Asking her mother was out of question. She sighed, she would have to do it soon, it is perfect alliance and they can't afford to lose it in their hesitation.
More than anything she wants to fill the void in Geet's life, the lack of colors and music was making her soul restless. Geet deserves her share of happiness and she will get them.
He loosened his tie as he entered the house it was a long day, that meeting with govt. officials turned out to be a total disaster. He has to figure out a way to pass his construction plans soon otherwise his dream project would again go on hiatus. He entered his room to change quickly and decided to join his dad and dadi for evening tea.
As he reached near them at tea table in garden he realized that they were having a heated argument.
"Maa I am telling you they are taking us for granted. It's been 3 days and still no reply. Do you think that is a decent behavior with the groom's family?
His dad showed his displeasure at the behavior of Kapoor's. His dadi was loss at words; he could read her expressions as she faced him. She was in thoughts, she knew it was a difficult decision for them but couldn't ignore his father's whims too.
"I say we call this proposal off; I have this good proposal from a business partner for Maan. His daughter has studied law at Harvard, and well... she's not a widow.
Maan stood still hearing this, he was still at a considerable distance, his hands turned into fist listening to his father's words. He couldn't believe that his father still held orthodox thoughts.
He hated such double standard rules of society, never thought he'd find his family supporting them. He left from there immediately not wanting to blast his father, but he was sure his dadi did that for him he could hear noises of their argument on his way back though couldn't make out the words.
He reached his study room to get immersed in work in order to avoid the chaos in his mind. Even he was restless regarding the reply from Kapoor's probably that's the reason of his last couple of days turning out to be a total disaster, even in the work front.
Now he realized that he's anxious about the outcome of this proposal ever since he'd given his nod at it listening to dadi's words that day, he couldn't help but get his hopes up, something that he'd forgotten in last 7 years. He has gone ahead and lowered that wall which protected his emotions all this while and now he's scared that his delicate heart will be crushed again by fate like the last time.
He wants to end this uncertainity but doesn't know how. He has no idea how to make Kapoor's hurry up with their reply nor does he know how to ask his father to wait for them before persuing Harvard graduate for him.
And that still is the simpler part, the hard part starts when they say yes. What if they say yes? Would he be able to keep Geet as happy as she was with her first husband?
Aditya Kapoor died 2 years back in an accident his family wants to marry off their young widow daughter-in-law Geet. She had to see such cruelty of life in such a small age. He could only gather that much information about her, he could now relate to her appearance that day. He wondered if he would be able to take care of her.
But more than that he also wondered if she'd be able to give him what he wanted from this marriage. He can't be just thinking about her, he has needs too, and expectations of his family to keep. Would he be able to live up to them? Definitely a girl need not be a Harvard graduate to be his wife, but will Geet with the baggage of her past be able to fulfill the expectations of all these people? He definitely doesn't want this relation to be burden on her.
He left his work after an hour due to frustration. With all these thoughts about Geet and their marriage he couldn't concentrate on it and kept making a lot of mistakes.
Dinner was a silent affair he could notice a chill between his dad and dadi but chose not to comment. He ate from his plate silently not bothering to make a conversation.
"How was your meeting today?
His dadi asked.
"Things are not good dadi, they are not passing the plans for the mall?
"What did they say?
"They're not happy with the fire escape plan dad.
He replied though his tone was flat this time.
"Shall I talk to Mr. Choudhary? Perhaps he can help you with...
"I am not greasing palms of greedy ministers and put safety of public at stake. If there is a flaw in plan I will rather revise it.
He cut off his father's suggestion in middle. He was trying hard to avoid an argument today but his dad had different plans.
"You understand how much time it will take? We have to pay idle labour overheads too, and the material loss rate will increase on project. It's high time you start thinking like a businessman Maan.
Dadi closed her eyes listening her son reprimand his son, she was sure now there will be a fight. She was tired of this now, most of her life was spent solving arguments between her husband and son, and the moment she realized Maan was like his dadaji, she knew the remaining would go solving arguments of her son with his son.
"I do try to think like a businessman dad, I think today you have forgotten to think like a fellow human being.
Dadi stared at his back as Maan left the dinner table. She must've guessed that he heard her conversation with dad, he didn't care, this day was turning out to be worse. He was on the edge of his temper and left to take a shower.
As he entered his room, the sight just made him loose his mind. Soft toys scattered all around pen stand was lying on the study table and all the pens and color pencils scattered on the floor. He swore internally
"NAKUL. NAKUL. NAKUL...
He shouted for the servant at the top of his voice.
He turned as he felt tugs on his pant only to find a little girl in skirt and bunny covering her face. He lost it seeing her antics.
"What the hell is all this? Look what a mess you've made.
He shouted and pulled the bunny to make her face him.
"How many times I've told you to not play in my room? Now who will clean all this?
He held her little hand and pulled her to show her the scattered water colors.
"See this; you spilled water color it spoiled the carpet.
Then he pulled her to study table.
"I've told you not to touch my study table you know there are important files here. See now all these papers scattered over here.
He kept shouting at her not noticing big fat pearls coming out of her eyes. He stilled hearing loud sob come out of her mouth.
Realization hit him like a bucket of cold water in winter, he's been taking out his frustration on his little love.
"Antara...
This time his voice was soft but she was too little to understand the difference just yet, she got herself out of his grip and ran from there crying.
He sat there on the floor not caring if he sat on the paint or water color or "mess. He pushed his hair back not knowing how to make amends. He didn't even realize that the mess made by the little girl was now clean but the mess made by him cannot be fixed any sooner.
Geet came to kitchen only to find Anjali making tea.
"Di, why didn't you ask me to make tea? You go sit in the hall I will bring tea, you just returned from college.
"Geet... Geet relax. You take this and feed your little bunny, I will bring tea for both of us and I need to talk to you.
She handed her a bowl of corn flaked for Karan and send her off from kitchen.
By the time she entered the room she found Karan sleeping on Geet's lap after finishing his snack.
"Why did you let him sleep now, it's just 4:30 in the evening, then he'll be up all night, won't let you sleep,
Anjali scolded Geet, but she just smiled off.
"It's ok Di, he played a lot must be tired. You wanted to talk something?
"Ah, yes!
"Kahiye na.
Geet encouraged seeing her hesitating.
"Geet it's about that alliance...
She stopped letting Geet understand the rest, she knew it was difficult for Geet to move on even after 2 years of Aditya's death. Geet was still not saying anything so she continued.
"I know how difficult it is for you Geet, but I want you to know this we love you. You know Aditya loved you and he wouldn't want to see you like this just dragging off your life, he'd want you to move on, and so do I and papa too... "
"Aur maa...?
Anjali stopped listening to her question. She took a sharp breath in.
"Let me finish Geet. They've said yes, we want to know your opinion.
"And let papa take care of maa.
She spoke the last sentence with finality and left Geet alone to think.
Geet kept patting Karan's head as she thought what possibly could her opinion be? She didn't know what she wanted in her life since last 2 years. Well maybe she wanted to spend her life taking care of her family, but how far she can go if that's not what they want. It was clear with all those proposals since last couple of months that they want to get rid of her.
Somewhere deep she realizes that they want this to do good to her. But she chose not to acknowledge that and focus on anger, assume that they think of her as burden after their son left them, so that she can hold on to her crumbled world. The life of a widow isn't easy, especially a young widow when every other person in society takes care that she doesn't see a color again or they don't see a smile on her face ever again. But somehow that life didn't bother her, but this, the thought of parting with the memories did.
She was scared to take that big risk again; second chances were a taboo for women in India. Her family didn't give it importance in front of her happiness but she was sure one person wasn't much happy with all this. That was another thing that bothered her, she could move on with the guilt of cheating Aditya in her heart, but she couldn't move on if his mother felt the same.
A/N: Well there we go, so do tell em what you think, i feel like a novice again. 😳
Edited by Sundari. - 7 years ago
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