Chapter 11
Mayuri opened her eyes only to see the fields around. She knew she was in Malikapur. The drive was longer, than she expected. Or it must be the painkillers she took made her sleep for a longer time.
Her eyes fell on the cattle around and few people walking on the steep paths around the fields.
Only her family had cars in the whole village, rest of the people owned the carts, cycles or scooters.
The easiest way to reach the shops was rickshaw. Meena patted her shoulder "how do you feel now...we are almost home"
Mayuri smiled and looked at her mother who would have to listen to all the bad words in the world... Ever since Mayuri was five she saw her mother bearing all sorts of snags in the house because of her.
Her Grandmother and her Father blamed her for not giving the heir to the family. Her father even beat her mother in front of her eyes for silly things. He just made an excuse to start the fight.
Mayuri rarely spoke to her father, she was far more than petrified of the whole family. The only person whom she spoke a little was her mother.
The car entered the huge aluminum gates... Her heart beats started as she saw her grandmother sitting on a swing with a beetle leaves in a plate and a cutter in her hand...
She liked making pan herself and eating most of the day...
Mayuri tried to step out when Meena gave her a hand...
Kamlavati spit the pan from her mouth "came back from the holiday?"
Meena rushed to Kamlavati and touched her feet for the blessing but Kamlavati as usual started her oration "what do you want now? Already finished our family. Get lost now"
Meena quietly left to reach Mayuri and helped her towards the room...
Kamlavati saw Mayuri limping "did you lost your feet?"
Meena turned around "no Mata Ji, Mayuri slipped off and hurt her ankle"
Kamlavati raised her eyebrow and observed the plaster on the ankle "must be running around the whole wedding, told you not to take her along...but you don't listen"
Meena ignored the harsh words of her mother-in-law and took Mayuri to the room. She asked a girl servant to look after her.
Mayuri's room was large, but she never slept alone, her Grandmother slept with her. Only girl servants were allowed in the house.
Kamlavati had a very conservative thinking of not letting the girl sleep alone. Mayuri still recalled how her mother begged for her to let her study in one of the best design colleges in Delhi and even there her Father had sent his men who followed her from the hostel to the college to keep an eye on her all the time.
Mayuri wiped her small tear around her eyes. She was extremely helpless when it comes to her mother.
Soon she heard a noise outside. She peeked out of the window behind her and saw her father Surya Yadav beating a poor farmer with a stick... just because he may have done something wrong...
She was tired of watching the violence all the time. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep when she heard her phone buzzing...
Frightened she closed her fist...thank God, it was on silent. She somehow managed to pull her bag closer and took the phone out to switch it off.
She decided not to talk to him anymore otherwise her Father will simply kill her and other mother. She was more concerned about her mother.
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Rishab walked in and was about to go upstairs to his room when he heard his grandmother "Daadi..."
He rushed to her and hugged her tightly... Rishab was Durgeshwari's only weakness... "My Rishab...how are you my child"
Rishab smiled as he hugged his Daadi "not good...you went for a whole month"
She smiled at him, while Maya gaped looking at their relationship...
"Come dinner's ready"
Durgeshwari looked at Maya "have you made something sweet?"
"Sweet?"
"Yes, I have a good news for my Rishab"
Maya nodded her head, thinking it might be the same. She must have bought farm for him or purchased some land that she had been doing all these years...
Rishab smiled at her "what is it Daadi?"
"Come, sit I will tell you" Durgeshwari took the seat and Maya sat on her left as usual and Rishab on her right...
Dinner was served by the servants...
Maya was about to eat when Durgeshwari started...
"Rishab, you are big now. And I think this is the right time to get you married."
Rishab coughed a little... but didn't say anything...
"So I have found a nice girl for you"
Maya fumed in anger and closed her fist "but Mummy Ji...we must ask Rishab at least. He has to spend his whole life with that girl and..."
"Maya...I have seen the girl and the girl's family. So don't tell me all this. I know Rishab's happiness because that is the most important thing for me" Durgeshwari gawked at Maya who sat silently after that...
Maya knew now there was no point discussing with Durgeshwari as she will not understand.
"Fine, you can decide but at least let Rishab select the girl for himself" Maya added
Durgeshwari looked at Rishab "I will show you her photograph, but I am sure you will not say no"
Rishab started eating and went on thinking...his mind went back to her. The girl he has never seen and only spoke to her few times. He was in love with her and wanted to meet her once at least. But here Daadi was fixing his alliance with some random girl of her choice and he never wanted to lead her down.
He will talk to her today, he must meet her and tell her how much he admires her.
"Rishab, I am asking do you like someone." Durgeshwari asked Rishab who nodded his head saying he doesn't.
Maya observed Rishab who went quiet, she wasn't happy as she wanted Rishab to choose a girl for himself.
"Which family does this girl belong to?" Maya queried
Durgeshwari looked at her daughter-in-law "I told you my old friend, her Granddaughter. She belongs to the Yadav family of Malikapur"
Maya shook her head "you think a girl from a small town is fit for our Rishab?"
"Yes Maya...even you were from a small town. Don't forget my mother in law chose you" Durgeshwari frowned at Maya making her go silent...
Rishab finished his dinner "Daadi, goodnight"
"Goodnight...do you want to see her photo" Daadi smiled a little and gave him an envelope.
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Rishab looked at the envelope and kept it on the side... he quickly picked up his phone and dialled her number... every time he tried it was switched off...
He kept thinking about her. Why wasn't she picking up and where she was? She had hurt her ankle... was she sick...all sort of things came in his mind.
Again and again he picked up his phone expecting her call.
He can't say no to his Daadi for this marriage...he's never seen the girl, never met her and how will he spent his whole life with her. There won't be anything common in between them.
"I hope you're alright" he murmured
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Mayuri saw her Grandmother patting her head and asking the servants to look after her...
"Did you had dinner?"
"No...I am not hungry" Mayuri answered not looking at her...
Kamlavati smiled "you must eat. You're here only few days now."
Mayuri looked at her in surprise... "Few days..."
"Yes then you will go"
Mayuri expected Kamlavati talking about the studies
"To your in laws" she completed
Mayuri shivered a little in shock... "In-laws"
Kamlavati took some chillies in her hand and moved across her from top to bottom "this will save you from the evil eyes"
Mayuri wanted to cry loudly... She wanted to continue her studies and wanted to become a designer and here her family is getting her married...
A small tear occupied her eyes and fell off her cheeks
Kamlavati smiled "you are lucky that my friend liked you. She wants you to become her grandson's wife.
Just look after yourself and yes those people are coming next week to see you. So make sure you don't cry anymore. I don't want any dark circles around your eyes"
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