Chapter 8:
Rishab heard the mangal sutra beads falling on the ground in sequence as soon as it was torn from her neck. The sound was soft, they were simple beads; there was hardly any gold on his mother's necklace, so it made no noise. But it was deafening for what it represented to him and his mother. She uttered a blood curdling scream that made Rishab still shiver in horror. He wiped at his 12 year old eyes feverishly, crying helplessly.
Ma: Maloyyyy pleaseee!
Maloy: It's over, Roop. Get off me (the man kicked at his heels as he dragged Rishab's mother along in the ground).
Rishab watched in horror has his mother begged Maloy Basu not to leave them and asked how she had wronged him to receive such treatment...
"What did I do wrong, Rishab? (She pleaded) Why don't you want me here anymore?"
Rishab startled awake, gasping for breath. He had broken into a cold sweat in his sleep. He kicked frantically at his sheets, drowning.
Oh god, what had he done!?
Prerna cried herself to sleep in her mother's arms. Veena brushed her fingers through her poor girl's hair. He sent me back, she wailed over and over. He took it back, he took it back! Ma, he took them like they meant nothing! Veena wiped her own tears and looked at Priyu's fretfully sleeping face.
Veena remembered again what Rishab told her and wondered how much of it she was at liberty to share with Priyu. Should Priyu know about the Basus? Why should that have any bearing on how she felt about Anurag? Poor Anurag does not deserve to take his father's shame.
Does Anurag deserve her after the aggression he had shown against her daughter? Was he in his right for having been betrayed as he saw it?
Veena rubbed her temples, she didn't have the slightest clue. When Rishab was the villain in this story it was easier to place blame on someone, but now that she knew his reasons, things only became more complicated. What did he mean by making the decision for his daughter again? She needed to have a stern word with him. But then, does Priyu know for sure what she wants, up until two days ago it seemed like this whole marriage was for Anurag's benefit, but now Veena saw that it meant a lot to her daughter. She was not surprised that the marriage meant something to Priyu, she raised her daughter. She could feel her pain, Rishab really made a mess this time.
The baby complicated things still further. Veena tried her utmost not to blame Priyu. The last thing Priyu needed was blame, she was after all getting married to Anurag. Her daughter was so naively self-sacrificing sometimes. Now look at the tangle she was in...
Veena knew what really made Rishab step back from the promises he made, he wasn't one to take responsibilities lightly given his life experience. His reasons were clear as day in his eyes. He could not keep her in the gilded cage that he thought their marriage had become, but could he have been a little more patient!?
Rishab was mature in the best sense; he had good intentions even if he did not have much insight into Prerna. Veena did see how much he took care of her little girl. Anurag too was dear to Veena from the start, she did not feel right taking sides. Veena resolved that Rishab was right about her duty being chiefly to support of whatever decision Prerna took, but Prerna hadn't taken this decision. Rishab had jumped the gun again. They were both self-sacrificing characters to their own detriment.
Rishab paced the length of his room over and over. What if the mangal sutra and sindoor had value for Prerna? But then, she had cried so hard with him about Anurag and how much he meant to her...Rishab was only trying to free her from what this marriage had been from the start, a noose around her neck. It wasn't the same as in his mother's case surely. That was a love marriage. But...why did Prerna say she would never forgive him for taking it off? What use were they to her if she and Anurag got together?
Rishab tried to get the image out of his head, he had no right to be upset. It was always Prerna and Anurag, not Prerna and Rishab. If he came to mean anything to her...no, they had only been married two months and he knew he wasn't as easily lovable as Prerna. His own father couldn't grow to love him in twelve years, what difference would two months make to a girl who said repeatedly she hated him?
He instinctively picked up a cigar and stopped himself midway. There it was again, her voice in his head. Damn it!
Prerna's reminders were everywhere stifling him in this empty house. He found that the she had left behind the full trousseau of clothes he had given her on her wedding day. She literally didn't even take a tissue paper that she did not bring with her. He sighed. She was so proud.
The staff in the house eyed him warily all day the next day too, their look accusatory. Though they dared now show it in their behavior, Rishab thought Chandu really used a little more force than usual to put his coffee on the table. Only Tanvi and Maasi seemed to like him the same at before. In fact, they were a little too cheerful and pleased with him.
Rishab called his 24 hour legal team and told them to get together the divorce papers. It had to be ripped like a band-aid, he needed to take it off while everything hurt and quickly - for the healing to begin. Then, she could move on. Maybe the break of a marriage is not easy, but she never wanted this marriage. This was the best solution, she just forgot about her old life because of all the responsibilities he put on her. She didn't like any hul-chul in her life, that's why she was upset with the change, but she will be okay as soon as she finds her footing with Mr. Basu again (Rishab told himself).
A few days later...
Anurag Basu burst into his office with Rishab's security detail dragging along behind. He threw a newspaper at Rishab's table.
"The Rumor Mills say that Mrs. Prerna Bajaj has left Businessman Mr. Rishab Bajaj," the headline stated on Page 3.
Rishab looked up at the triumphant Anurag.
Anurag: I TOLD you. I TOLD you she will come back to ME! I know her feelings toward me. What she feels for me she will never feel for you, Mr. Rishab Bajaj!
Those words hurt more than Rishab would let on; he stood up and looked Anurag up and down.
Rishab: Congrats. Are you only here to goad, Mr. Basu, or do you have an actual purpose in coming here?
Anurag laughed: Oh I only came to goad, Mr. Bajaj. You lose. Prerna is mine.
Rishab: Yes, that's great, many best wishes to you both. You may leave now.
Anurag stared at him in surprise.
Rishab coolly: I can have my security guards help you, if you want, Mr. Basu.
Anurag smirked: Whatever, Mr. Bajaj. I don't want to be here either. Don't ever come back into our lives again, if you know what's good for you, that's all I came to say. Stay out of our lives and you will never see me again. Deal?
Rishab: Get out.
Anurag shrugged off the security and left of his own accord.
Rishab slumped down on his chair as Anurag left.
Rishab's manager: Why did you plant the story, sir? That young man was so rude to you for no reason. You let him have his say.
Rishab sighed: Give me a few minutes, Mehra. I need a few minutes before the next meeting.
Mehra: Yes, sir (he left Rishab alone in the office).
Because Prerna was too proud to tell Anurag herself, Rishab thought. I will make it all right again, Prerna, I promise. I will make it all right.
Thoughts?
Chapter 9
Edited by Marybarton - 5 years ago
