I got this idea while reading a case and prosecution actually forgets to submit the CCTV footage against the accused and the judge wasn't very happy about. That clicked something in my brain. CAMERAS. There's no way Indian family events happen without a photographer. Especially if it's for the "favourites" in the house.
Final Decision
Janus, a god in Roman mythology is two-faced. Not metaphorically but literally. He is said to be the God of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, doorways and endings. He is used to symbolise change and transitions from past to future, from one condition to another and overall represents growth. One face of his, gazes towards the past and other towards the future.
Samrat just received the the pictures of the puja from his family photographer and decided to to go through them to divert himself from the happenings of his house. While his mind was still on the conversations he had with two of three people closest to his heart - Sai and Shiva, he had things to do and having a distraction for five minutes wouldn't hurt. He started looking through the photos with a fond look in his eyes.
His eyes stopped at a picture of his and Patralekha. They look like a handsome couple to the those looking on. "If only they knew the bitterness between them", thought Samrat with a humour less chuckle. He would've taken a break if not for his cowardly one-year stint. Samrat continued browsing through the photos, only to stop at the picture that followed. His WIFE was staring at his brother or that's what it looks like. He decided to ignore the picture and move ahead. It could've been camera trick on his eyes.
The next photo destroyed that assumption of his. It broke his heart all over again. It was his wife putting the cloth in fire with her own hands. It looks like she was putting Ghee in the fire but a careful observation can distinguish between the two. Together with the previous pictures, it was not that hard to decipher her intentions. She wanted to grab an extremely nonchalant Virat's attention. "It didn't work did it ? He saved her and she was disappointed", he thought bitterly. It's time for a talk with Patralekha.
He quickly got up and marched towards his room with pictures in his hands, gathering the broken pieces of his heart. Just because he was used to it, doesn't mean it'll not hurt right ? He saw his wife sitting on their bed, no, his bed with a book in her hands, but deep in her thoughts. " I am going to sort this out today. There's no use of a charade to put up in front of the family and it'll save both their self-respects that way", Samrat thought resolvedly.
He walked in and threw the pictures in front of her. He saw shock pass through her eyes and saw her composing herself.
"The pictures from the Puja are here Patralekha. I was going through them and found something really interesting. I thought you'll find that amusing as well. Imagine my shock when I saw it. Would you like to look at it ?", he questioned her, passing the said picture to Patralekha. She took the picture into and hands and started paling the minute her eyes fell on whatever was captured in it. She began to speak, only to be stopped by him.
"No Patralekha. We're already on very thin ice. I don't want any cover-ups or lies. I'm not Virat to favour twisted and confusing answers, denials or walk outs. Why did you do it? I won't judge you, scold you or expose you. It'll remain between us and the picture will be destroyed. This is a marital matter and it shall remain that. In return, I want the truth, truth and only the truth", he firmly told her, to see a defeated look enter her eyes. It hurt him. He loved this woman once, didn't he ? It still hurt him to see her like that.
"I did it to grab Virat's attention and maybe try to ignite any latent feelings that he has for me", she finally uttered the words. It didn't hurt any less than the previous time. Except this time, he was expecting it.
"So you lied to me. You lied to me, cried crocodile tears in front of me and convinced me to not divorce you, only to go after Virat again. I think he rejected you, multiple times. Why do you still do it ? Just because he's a man and you're a woman, doesn't invalidate his consent. If he said no, it's a NO. You gender doesn't change it into a yes, his doesn't too. Whatever you're doing is toxic. To you, Virat, me and Sai. It is destroying all of us and you're putting us in this spider's web", he stopped to take a breather. This is so physically painful for him but he had to do it. If not for himself and Virat, at least for Sai.
"I'll repeat this to you again. Virat is married. Yes both the idiots keep saying that it's a deal marriage, but that doesn't leave any place for a third. You're educated, grown up. I want to say mature but you keep proving me otherwise. What would you have done, had I not been Virat's brother?", he questioned, only to be met with downcast eyes and complete silence. The silence was louder than any of the discussions he had with her.
"Alright. I got it. Patralekha, I want to apologise to you. For leaving you one the very next day of our marriage. You didn't deserve that. I should've stayed back and sorted it out with. My heart turned into a coward and I ran away. My absence along with Sai's presence in Virat's life, turned you bitter. It turned you toxic. You deliver taunts upon taunts to Sai without any regard to her age or her condition. You turned into an indirect cause behind her accident!! You went against every single value that modern day woman expects from her fellow woman. What would you have done, if I locked you in a room? What would your parents have done? Are you so careless towards Sai because she doesn't have any parents?", he questioned her. "Answer me Patralekha", he urged her.
"I- I don't hate her. Sai. I don't know if I'm apologetic towards my behaviour to her though. She has everything I ever wanted, including the man I love", she answered in a whisper and he was glad for the truth.
"Thank you for being truthful. I appreciate it. But I'm here to give you an ultimatum today Patralekha. I'm not being hot headed. I thought this through. This ultimatum is the last chance and effort I'm giving to the status quo of our relationship. I want you to decide. Do you want to stay married or get divorced? Think wisely this time. If you were to choose to stay married, you'll be expected to stay away from Sai and Sai-Virat's marriage. Not even a single word about it. You are supposed to treat her with all due respect. I can't expect you to show care towards her. You seem incapable of it at the moment. You will be treated with all the respect that my wife will have. You can choose your life. You can study, do job, travel. Anything."
He saw her beginning to contemplate the choice in her brain. He continued speaking.
"If you were to choose a divorce, no one will force you to stay back. NO one will try to convince you to stay back. We'll separate on amicable terms. But that doesn't leave you with a scope to approach Virat independently. He's going on a transfer. Sai is my sister and that makes her wellness, my responsibility. Your presence in Virat's life in the duration of their marriage, however long it maybe, is not healthy for her. So keep away or I'll make sure Virat files for a restraining order against you. So choose carefully Patralekha. I'll assure you, your self-respect will be honoured in either of the cases.", he finished and quickly left her to her thoughts.
Samrat walked out of his room, without a burden on his shoulders. The burden to untangle the mess of their relationship. He untangled his end. It was Patralekha's turn. He wasn't going to put in any efforts until she makes a decision.
It's time for the Final Decision.
A/N
Hola..There you go Patralekha's confrontation. All these are related to the OS "A Brother". They are stories in their own rights and they'll always have an open ending like you've seen before. Sai will be the centre focus and Samrat's dynamics will be more often than not the protagonist. I don't want them to be a single story because each of these relationships, deserve their own plot. I hope you like it. And if you think I have too much free time, writing a shot everyday. I do. I'm jobless after one and a half year and university decided to go easy on us for the sake of our mental health. So I'll be writing a lot on Samrat. I need a help though. Can I request you guys to make Patralekha's decision for further shots? I have one in mind, but I would love some opinions on it.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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