Part 63
Rakshabandhan is the festival which symbolizes the love and affection between a brother and a sister. On this day, every sister ties a rakhi on her brother's wrist and the brother promises to protect her from any little trouble and keep up her respect always. History is evident of this beautiful bond and how it united two people who were sometimes not even related by blood. The relationship of a brother and sister- sometimes naughty, sometimes pampering, sometimes intimidating, but always supporting, is one of the most beautiful relationships ever.
That day, the little alleys of the suburbs were decorated with shimmer. Little stalls selling different types of colourful rakhis were set up in every corner. Sweetmeats shops were also having a blast as people flocked to get different varieties of sweets. The markets were crowded, since it was a holiday, and people were busy enjoying with their families, shopping, entertaining themselves and basically making merry.
"Aai," said Manav as he rushed into the house. Savita was making 'kheer' in the kitchen. "Where is Baba?"
"Must be drinking somewhere." Shrugged Savita. "That is all he has been doing ever since you took the sane decision of leaving that girl. It is you who has been left alone, but it is he who has become a devdaas."
"Aai, I asked a simple question.. well.. forget it. What will we say when Atya will call today? She has sent a rakhi right?"
Savita nodded. "We'll say the truth what else. But does your Atya know about the whole matter?"
No she didn't, thought Manav. Ever since he had got a new phone number, he had not been in proper contact with many people. Plus a divorce was hardly the kind of thing which one would like to speak about. He would call Atya today, he decided. He needed mature, unbiased advice on many matters.
"What happened?" asked Savita waving a hand in front of him.
"Aai, actually.." Manav hesitated. "I met Mr. Farookh in the market today- he was my lawyer for the court case against Ajit."
"Yes, yes, I remember." Said Savita.
"Well, he was asking me if I wanted to reopen the case.. you know.. we lost the case last time cos I could not come for the court hearing.. maybe we could re-open the case and this time we could give them a tough fight.."
Savita immediately indicated Manav to stop. "No need to do anything of that sort."
"But Aai.."
"We have suffered enough." She said stoutly. "No need to go through all that mess again when things have stabilized somewhat.. you had promised me.."
"Aai.. please don't bring Archana into this issue now.. I know you dislike her but.."
"Did I take Archana's name?" asked Savita. "No na? Then why do you assume that I am refusing you to go ahead with the case cos I don't want Archana to come back into the house?"
Manav was confused. "Then why are you asking me not to go ahead with the case? I know I promised you not to get involved in those things again but Aai.. its not about Archana.." Manav spoke slowly. "I don't think things can be mended between us even if it is proved now that I wasn't guilty. Things have gone too far and it has left a bad taste in my mouth. I know that Archana and her family don't like me as an individual, and you also don't like her.. but I had other reasons for wanting to reopen the case.."
Savita crossed her arms. "Okay, why do you want to get the case reopened?"
"Cos we do need the money for the garage. If we fight the case against Ajit again in court then maybe we can prove he burnt my garage and either get compensation legally or through an out of court settlement.. you know na Aai we have financial problems at the moment.."
Savita was firm. "You will NOT REOPEN the case Manav.."
"But Aai.."
"Do you remember to what extent Ajit went last time when he found out that you had proofs against him? HE GOT YOU THRASHED BY GOONS!!! He BURNT your garage when he was in a rage and till date he has shown no remorse. He sent that girl Archana in a brothel just to take revenge from her. He got himself hit by a speeding car just out of spite so that he could lay more blames on you. Manav, that guy is not in the right frame of mind. He is mad, dangerous, crazy. We shouldn't get involved with him at all. No need to reopen the case against him. He might harm you again."
"But Aai.. we really need the money."
Savita motioned him to stop. "Yes Manav, we need the money, but I'm not so desperate for money that I will sacrifice my son bcos of that. End the matter now. No more discussion on it." She walked away from there as Manav stood disappointed.
*************
Finally it was time. Both Manav and Vedant sat on the diwan as Vandita, dressed in bright new clothes, came with a thali and did the aarti of each brother one by one and tied the rakhi. She fed a piece of sweet to both of them and touched their feet. Both the brothers blessed her affectionately.
Manav kept a 1000 rupee note on the Aarti plate. "See, we guys don't have knowledge of what a teenage girl would like, neither do we have an impeccable fashion sense like you do. So you buy whatever you want for yourself. We will go to the market in the evening."
"Lucky girl!!" Vedant commented. Vandita however was a little uncomfortable. "This is too much money Dada.."
"Its on behalf of 3 people na Vandu.." said Manav. It made everyone uncomfortable to be reminded that Sachin was not there. "And anyway, you have not brought any new clothes since a while now, and you might be needing more books as well. Get them now."
"But still.." Vandita said, but Manav gave her a strict glare. "Arey get the kheer. It looks yummy to me."
She smiled and got the kheer. At least today the family was in a slightly better mood than how it had been ever since Sachin had left. Manav had taken a half day leave and even Savita Aai had come out of her constant moping for Sachin and avoided saying anything that could make Manav feel guilty. Rather she had concentrated on making sweets for the festival.
"Sachin likes this kheer too." Savita commented softly as Vandu served it in bowls. "He didn't even come to get a rakhi tied from you. And all this because of Archana- she caused a split in this house."
Vandu ignored her. She went and served her brothers and sat silently for a while with Manav as he ate. "Dada did you talk to Aai regarding Shravani Tai?" she couldn't help asking.
Manav was taken aback. "Not yet." He said in a low voice. "I was a little busy in the morning and so was Aai. I may do it today since I have time for some detailed talks. Did anything else happen?"
"Yes yes, tell him if anything else has happened!" came a loud voice from the back. Vandu turned pale as Manav and she got up. Savita came forward angrily and shook Vandu's shoulder but Manav intervened. She seemed to be very angry.
"Is this what you have been taught?" she shouted angrily. "Telling tales to your brother about your mother!!! Sneaky girl!!!"
"Aai, I was just.."
"QUIET!!!" roared Savita. "You are passing on news to him about which I intended to speak at a later date for understandable reasons, since he hasn't got over his divorce right now. Now if Manav comes to know the same thing from you, won't he think his Aai is keeping things from him? Won't he think I'm conspiring? Do you have any idea that this is how misunderstandings begin in families???"
Vandu stood shamefaced and on the verge of tears. Manav tried to speak for her. "Aai, it is a small matter, leave it now.."
"It is not a small matter." She said. "She is not a kid now. She is quite grown up and should understand that it is not right to tell tales in the family and one needs to have basic trust and respect of family members. If there is something about which I'm not talking at present, its because I think right now is not the time to speak. Its not as if I'm doing something wrong or conspiring."
Vandu wrung her hands, trying her best not to cry. Savita noticed the money in her hands. "Go now, go and spend the money like the thoughtless girl you are and make merry. No need to cry after spoiling the day for all."
That was too much for the girl. She went inside and started sobbing.
"You were a bit harsh on her." Said Manav, annoyed. "Just cos she told me of Shravani."
"You stay out of this." She said, point blank. "I have seen the world. When people start sneaking to each other about the family members then misunderstandings increase in the family. She didn't give the benefit of doubt to me that I could not speak to you about Shravani since you wouldn't have listened to me now, you don't like her and you haven't gone through your divorce as well. Indirectly, she painted me as a villain."
"Well Aai, with due respect, I have to say that I too did not like what you did." Said Manav. "I told you I cannot tolerate Shravani in this house but still you called her and.."
"Is this not my house?" she said coolly. "Or was Sachin right when he said that I and Vandu-Vedant don't have any right over YOUR house?"
Manav was taken aback. He felt guilty remembering everything that had happened and how Sachin had left the house due to him. He softened immediately. "No no, I didn't mean it that way. But I don't like Shravani coming here cos on the basis of what Vandu told me I feel that you are encouraging Shravani towards me unnecessarily, when there is absolutely no chance from my side. It won't result in anything." He said in a slightly warning tone.
Savita understood what Manav wanted to say. "We will speak about this later." She said quietly. "You have not yet got over the hang of your first marriage and I can understand it. Your feelings for Archana have not yet died down.. and.."
Manav groaned. "Its not about her. I just don't want to get married." He said obstinately. "I don't think I'll ever marry now. And I don't like Shravani. I can't stand her."
Savita stood undeterred. "Expected reaction." She said blankly. "Anyone who goes through a failed relationship says the same thing. But feelings change with time when the reality sinks in that one cannot live alone for a lifetime."
"Whatever!" said Manav sullenly. "But you stop encouraging Shravani. She can never make a place in my heart now."
"See this is why I didn't want to talk about all this now." said Savita. "Foolish Vandu ruined everything. I knew it that you need to move on first. We won't talk over this now, until you move from the shambles of your past, wisen up a little, try and make a fresh start and start thinking practically."
With this, she walked away.
**********************
A similar function was going on at the Karanjkar house, as Archana and Vaishali tied the rakhis on Vinod's wrist and touched his feet.
Vinod handed them boxes of saris. "Especially picked for the two of you." He said, as Manjusha yawned standing in a corner. Such emotional talks bored her. She wanted to go to her home for the rakhi function soon.
"Dada, this time Varsha is not there, so we will tie it to you on her behalf." Vaishali said. Vinod nodded. "I'm really missing her today." He said.
"She doesn't seem to be missing you Vinod." Said Manju cattily. "I mean.. she calls so less these days. Her calls are always short and she doesn't even talk in detail about our conditions. She is simply not concerned about this house. She went from here promising that she would stay in touch and not forget us at all and send money to us as well- but sadly she hasn't done anything of that sort till now."
The family members were deeply embarrassed. Vinod tried to defend his sister. "She is alone there and handling everything on her own.. maybe that is why'"
Manju snorted. "The lifestyle there has consumed her. She is busy in her heaven with her friends who mean everything to her. She doesn't care about her family anymore."
"Stop it Manju, not today at least!" said Vinod irritatedly. "We will all go out together." He told Archana and Vaishali who looked very sad. He got up and went into his bedroom.
Manju followed him in. "Why did you have to create a scene today?" asked Vinod.
Manju was furious. "All your sisters have heaped on us. We spent so much for Varsha's education- she hasn't sent a single cheque trying to help this house. Archana refused for alimony. And now Vaishali's engagement and marriage when she hasn't even started a job. She will never be contributing to this house." She grumbled.
"Enough now Manju!" said Vinod.
"We are the only ones who are tolerating all these silly tamashas by your family. All these years I kept telling you to separate but you didn't listen. See what is happening now in this house. We are always taken for granted, Archana works and studies, Vaishali has still not recovered from her fracture completely and doesn't work so much, and Varsha has run away. I'm the one who has to help in the household work. Your Aai doesn't let me keep a bai also, saying that she will do all the work. But she gets tired and then I have to help."
Vinod was bugged up. He put money in his Kurta pocket and started walking out.
"Vinod, you will be coming with me to Aai right? I have to go with Rakhi for Ajit.." she reminded.
"No." said Vinod shortly. "I will come to pick you up in the evening and at that time I will meet both of them." He went away from there leaving Manjusha with her grumbling.
********************
Manav called his Atya later that day. She was in Delhi with one of her cousins, and had been worried about the sudden break of all communication. Now he told her the entire story of how he had got proofs against Ajit, then lost them, Archana hated him badly and now they were heading for divorce.
She listened silently for a while. "I wish I could have been at home this whole while. I could have talked to Archana.."
"It wouldn't have helped much." He replied softly. "Baba also tried to explain her. Vaishali-Tarun, everyone tried to convince her, but Ajit laid his trap just too well Atya. The only way things can turn round is if in some miraculous way, Varsha comes back from Delhi before the divorce and tells everything to Archana about why I couldn't attend the court hearing that day- that I was not with Shravani, and all Shravani had said was a lie. Varsha is the only one who can solve this mess."
"Hmm.." said Atya. "You won't believe this, but I saw Varsha the other day."
Manav was stunned. "Really? Where?"
"At the railway station. She was with a guy."
Manav was at a loss of words. "Did you speak to her?"
"Yes, I asked her what she was doing in Delhi and she told that she was here for some official work. I didn't prod more after that. She said she's living here alone, so I gave her my phone no. and asked her to remain in touch."
Manav grew excited. "So is she in touch with you?"
"Not really Manav. She did call me once asking me if things were alright between you and Archana , since she hadn't been able to call you cos your no. had changed. I said that in all probability everything is alright, cos at that time I myself did not know that things had gone wrong."
Manav's mind was working furiously. "Atya, can you contact her again? Can you tell her that things are not alright here and she needs to come back and help me out of this mess???"
"But Manav, how do I contact her? She didn't give me a no.!!!"
Manav was slumped. "That is the problem. She hasn't given anyone a contact no. Did she tell you where she lived or worked?"
"The last time she met me, she said she worked in a shopping mall. She even gave me the address of the mall. I will go and see if she still works there now."
"Please do that Atya." Said Manav with a lump in his throat.
Atya was silent for a while. "But Manav, will it help now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Both you and Archana have gone as far as taking divorce. Your families hate each other. Now even if Archana comes to know via Varsha that you were not guilty, can everything be reversed to before."
Manav gulped. "Not really." He said sadly. "The crack on the glass will always be there now. Archana's family has already started thinking of plans for her re-marriage. If by some miracle the misunderstanding between us resolves, then we wont't really be getting together cos we wanted to, or cos we really loved each other, but bcos that was the original deal- get proof and save the marriage. Shravani was right- this marriage did become a deal." He laughed sarcastically at himself.
Atya was shocked. "Don't say like this Manav. Whatever Archana's decision might be, she atleast deserves to know the truth."
Manav nodded. "That I agree with. Atya, I know that our reunion is almost impossible now. But I just want one thing- unreveal Ajit's real self. I know him well by now, and I understand that he will wreck Archana and Satish's married life if they do end up getting married. Archana won't be able to bear it if this happens again."
Atya squirmed. "Manav I think you should not be involved with Ajit in any way now. He is dangerous.."
"Aai was saying the same thing.. but Archana.."
Atya sighed. "I will talk to Archana and try to convince her."
"Atya can you come home for a few days? The atmosphere at home is very bad. Everyone is very disappointed. Aai is in a terrible state, Baba is always lost in drinks, the children are facing the worst."
"I would have come Manav, but there has been a death here. I need to be there for my cousin."
Manav's heart softened. "This is bad." He said. "No one from the Deshmukh family attended.."
"Its okay." Said Atya. "I am there na, on behalf of all of you? Don't worry now. But yeah, I can't come home for a few more days. Be brave, my boy, and just hope for the best.."
She disconnected the call. Manav put the phone down. Everything was going wrong in the Deshmukh clan. He closed his eyes and prayed for the deceased aunt's soul to rest in peace. He opened his eyes again and looked at the wall clock. It was time for his visit to the doctor. The doctor had asked him to come for a follow up to check on his head injuries. He had also recommended an MRI and CT scan. All these days, he had been so busy handling multiple problems that he had forgotten about it. Now today he had a half day leave and he would surely go to the hospital.
He started walking out of the house and saw Vandu who was standing quietly outside the house. He went and stood behind her.
She did not say anything for a while. But suddenly she moved and saw him near her. "Are you going somewhere?"
"To the hospital for check-up."
She made a face. "You don't like hospitals, right?"
He nodded. "I hate them."
"Shall I come with you???"
He laughed at her. "No let it be. I shall tolerate it on my own and come back quickly. But you're very sweet to ask. You seem so grown up these days. I miss my little Vandu."
She tried to smile. "Nowadays I don't know if I'm grown up or not." She said sadly. "Sometimes Aai says I'm small and shouldn't speak in house matters, then she says I'm grown up and should behave more sensibly.. and.." she looked at Manav. "Dada, you keep this." She handed him the 1000 rupee note. "I know we have financial problems."
He was touched. "Don't worry Vandu." He said. "We are not in a such a bad state. Everything is okay. But I request you and Vedant to not get involved in the matters of this house. See, we elders will handle these things. Aai is somewhat angry and upset with me right now, but she will come round soon. She is grieving and upset due to Sachin. Once he comes back, she will become like before. Till then please tolerate her temper and don't take her words to heart. You please pay attention only on your studies. Enough harm has happened to this family cos of me and Archana. I don't want any more cracks."
Vedant came and stood next to both. "Can we help in any way?" he asked.
"Just study well. If you both do that, you can get admissions in good government colleges next year and you will save me a lot of money by not having to take admission in private colleges," he said, smiling. Both of them smiled back at him. "Dada, please get Sachin Dada back in the house in anyway." Pleaded Vandu. "Otherwise Aai shall keep giving guilt trips. I heard how she cleverly brought Sachin Dada's name and so you couldn't ask her not to let Shravani come into the house."
"You don't worry about all that." Said Manav quietly. "I shall meet Sachin today.
**************************
"Hello Varshu! Is that you?"
"Yes Aai, its me.."
"how are you? Why don't you call these days?? Haven't you got a number as yet???"
"Is Dada at home..?"
"Why didn't you send a rakhi for your Dada..?"
"We don't get rakhis in London.."
"Stop lying!" said Sulochana angrily. "Don't take me to be a fool. I know there are many Indian shops in London. You could have got a rakhi if you had really made an attempt. And anyway, you know how to make a rakhi.. couldn't you make one yourself???"
"I didn't have time to make a rakhi.."
"You don't have time for anything these days." Said Sulochana. "You don't have time to call home, you don't have time to enquire about Archu or Vaishali, you don't send money, you don't celebrate our Indian festivals.."
"Aai.. will you let me speak..???"
"I don't want to listen. Today I will speak and you will listen. You will have to come home for vaishali's engagement."
Varsha was shocked. "Now..???"
"Yes. Tarun's parents want it to be done before Tarun goes for his business trip to New York."
"I can't come now. I will straightaway come for the wedding."
Sulochana stood shocked. "Varsha this is going too far." She said angrily. "You have been ignoring this house like hell ever since you went to London. The least you can do is attend your sister's sakharpuda.."
"Aai, I'm busy. I cannot come to Mumbai. If I keep coming for all these little little reasons then I my employers will kick me out. What's the big deal if I don't come in the engagement? I'll come in the wedding."
"You have changed Varsha. The culture there has consumed you. You have lost all your sanskars and respect for our culture and traiditions in that foreign land. You don't value our family functions and festive occasions. I knew this would happen."
Varsha lost her temper. "Aai please don't say anything like this. You have no right to be judgemental about London and its people. Don't apply your clich thinking of 'phoreign' here. People here are very good and they respect their traditions as well."
"But.."
"I cannot come and that is it. After so many days I called home today intending to talk, but I think now its of no use." She banged the phone down as Sulochana looked at the phone sadly.
**************************
They were in the market- Manav, Vandita and Vedant. While Vedant browsed through the books at a nearby bookstore, Manav strolled around here and there. He looked back at Vandita. She was standing at a bangle shop, checking out the accessories which would go with her clothes. He flashed a contented smile at her and looked about.
Vandita tried the bangles on her hands one by one. She hoped they would not be very expensive- she was going to buy them from her pocket money- the 1000 rupees that Manav had given her had been taken away by her Aai- her Aai felt she was a child and could not handle such a lot of money. Vandu sighed. Of course- she thought. When it suited the elders- she and Vedant were 'grown up' and supposed to behave maturely. When it was convenient for them- they were kids.
Suddenly someone bumped into her, disturbing her thoughts. She frowned. "I'm sorry." Said a woman. She seemed shocked for a moment, then smiled. "How are you Vandu?"
For a moment, Vandu did not know what to say. "I.. I am fine Vahini." She said. She looked outside to see whether Manav had seen them.
"Are you looking for Manav?" asked Archana suddenly. "Is he here?"
"Yes." Vandu said. She turned to the shopkeeper and asked the total amount. It exceeded her budget and she didn't want to ask Manav for more money.
"I'll give it." Said Archana, offering a 500 rupee note to the shopkeeper. Vandu turned away. "I don't want it."
Archana felt bad. "But Vandu.. I'm an elder, come on no need to feel shy.."
"I'm not shy, I just don't want it.. I request you to keep it.."
"I'm your Vahini and today is Rakhi na.."
"YOU ARE NOT MY VAHINI ANYMORE!" said Vandu suddenly. "I call you Vahini bcos you are elder to me and I can't call you by name. That is it. Listen, I don't want to be rude to you.. I don't want these things. If my Aai comes to know I got it through you, she will be very angry, and Dada will also feel sad."
"But.."
"I said na, I don't want anything from you. Lots of problems are occurring bcos of you in our house. Bcos of you my Dada remains gloomy nowadays. He has forgotten how to smile. You left my Dada that is why Shravani is harassing him.." She said, hesitated and walked off.
Archana looked on sadly as Vandu walked away. She pondered on Vandu's words.. what about Shravani? Her blood boiled as she remembered their last encounter when Shravani had told her about Manav and her relationship. She couldn't help wondering what was the matter now.
She spotted Manav in the distance. "Manav," she called out.
He turned and was surprised to see her. "What is it?" he asked in a small voice.
"Are Vedant-Vandu angry with me?"
He was stunned. "Did they say anything rude?"
"No they didn't." she said. "But they didn't talk much.."
He shrugged as if to say, "Can you blame them??" Instead he said, "There is nothing more to talk about. Anyhow, I don't understand why you need to be sad because of that." Saying so he started turning away.
"Manav.."
"Arey itna bhaav kyun kha raha hai??? If she is after you, you should be happy na!" came a voice from a corner. Manav and Archana turned.
"This is none of your business." He retorted.
"You are giving mental torture to a beautiful innocent girl and it is not my business???" asked the hooligan and laughed with his friends. "Let's go Manav." Said Archana. Manav turned to leave, but not before he caught the next few words of what the guy murmured to his friends.
He saw red. Suddenly he turned back and gave one punch to the guy, who fell down, his nose bleeding. The other guy did not get a moment to think as Manav gave him a punch as well.
"MANAV!" said Archana horrified, running to him. "What are you doing?"
"DON'T GET IN THE MIDDLE!" he shouted back angrily, as one of the guys rushed to attack him. He warded them off.
"DADA! DADA!" Archana shouted. Vinod came running with Punni and Vaishali and was shocked.
"What the hell is going on!" said Vinod as he tried to separate the two fighting guys with the help of the other men present there. Manav pushed them all back, struggling against their strong arms. Finally they succeeded. Manav was red with anger.
"MANAV!" said Vinod angrily. "What is the meaning of creating a scene here?"
Manav was shocked. "What are you shouting at me for? You should scold them! They are speaking all s*** about your sister!"
"Iski behen hai na, tereko kya problem hai???"
Manav lost it again, he lunged ahead and hit him hard once again. "I will break your face," he shouted.
Vinod rushed to control him. "Enough!!!" he shouted. "Come away!" he pulled Manav who looked very angry.
"What the hell is your problem???" said Vinod. "Are all of you of the same type? Your Aai fights in the same downmarket manner, and you are also like that.."
"Don't speak a word against my Aai!!!" said Manav angrily. "I won't tolerate it."
"No need to shout! Get rid of your herogiri!! If anything had happened to that guy, you would have been thrown in jail for taking the law in your hands!" said Vinod sternly.
"I DON'T CARE!!!" shouted Manav angrily. Vinod continued, "And no need to get all worked up for my sister. Her brother is there with her. I can handle the matter in more civilized, mature ways. You don't have to interfere." Manav looked at Archana who was standing in a corner, looking very subdued.
"Oh yes- her brother is there!" said Manav sarcastically. "Ask your sister how she comes back from night school. Ask her what type of people are there. Ask what type of area is that. Don't teach me."
With this he freed his collar from Vinod's hold and walked away, giving a hard stare to Archana, who too looked back at him, unable to blink, trying to decipher the feelings behind those angry eyes.
***************************
He tiptoed home quietly. All was dark. Apparently everyone was sleeping.
He removed his shoes and held them in his hands to avoid making a noise. He went into his room, took out the bottle of Dettol and started applying it on his hands with a cotton after cleaning them. All through, he looked into the darkness.
After the fight, he had stumbled into Vedant, and asked him to take Vandu home. He had himself gone into a quiet corner to think. He needed to think hard. He was aware that his decision to separate was not going down well. He had to stop thinking of Archana as his wife. But what could he do?- even today, on an impulse, his true feelings had lashed out. He did not know what happened to him whenever someone spoke badly about her. He was still worried about her future. Of course, her parents intended to get her married to Satish- but was he the right guy? Would he be able to combat Ajit when he tried to destroy their marriage? Would he be able to protect Archana? Would he be able to understand Archana's needs- since she was very quiet and never voiced them openly. Was he really the right person for her?
He had no idea. But the ball was no longer in his court. He could only pray to God to safeguard Archana. Although he knew his marriage was over, yet there was somewhere a desire in him to not only safeguard Archana in the future, but also to take revenge from Ajit for wrecking the life of Archana and his own family. He did not know how he would do it, when he would do it, but he really knew that.. and..
Someone switched on the lights suddenly. "Dada what are you doing?" asked Vandu, amazed to see him with a bottle of Dettol and a roll of cotton.
"Sshhhh.." whispered Manav. "Don't wake up Aai.."
"You are badly hurt.."
"Shhh.."
"VEDANT!!"
Manav slapped his forehead. "I told you not to wake anyone!!!" he grumbled. "you asked me not to wake up Aai," Vandu pointed out.
Vedant came rubbing his eyes. "What happened to you?" he said. He saw blood on Manav's hands. "AAIIII !!!!"
"Shhh'" both Manav and Vandu said, with finger on their lips. But it was too late. Savita woke up and was horrified to see her son. "Did you fight with Ajit again???" she asked angrily.
Manav shook his head. "Someone was troubling a girl on the road, so that is why.."
"No need to be a hero to other girls." Said Savita. "You will be the knight in shining armour to them and then they will fall for you. Everyone takes advantage of you. Wait, I'll get something to eat and some medicine as well."
"I don't want to eat.." said Manav, but Savita had gone. Vandu came and sat near him. "Why did you have to sneak??" he said in an irritated voice. "And you..!!" he kicked Vedant on his butt. Vedant squealed.
"I noticed the brawl in the market- but I didn't know you would hurt him, and yourself, so badly. It was Vahini na??" said Vandu quietly. Manav looked below and nodded.
Both brother 'sister were silent for a while. "Shravani Tai is going to meet Sachin tomorrow." Said Vandu. "She came today and she was talking about it with Aai."
Manav was horrified. "Are you sure???"
"Yes." Said Vandu. "She said she will convince him to come back home in any way- even by offering him money for the business. She sounded very sure."
Manav's insides were on fire. Savita was already under Shravani's influence, but Sachin siding with Shravani was not good.
"Sachin Dada called on a neighbour's phone today. He said he will be coming tomorrow for rakhi in the morning when you will not be there at home."
Manav thought about it. "Call me also when Sachin comes. I want to talk to him before Shravani does."
******************************
Archana came and offered Vinod his glass of milk. "I have talked to the police Archana. They will not release the hooligans so easily."
Archana tried to smile. She sat down quietly. Vinod took off his specs.
"You are looking disturbed." He said.
"Nothing like that."
Vinod took in a deep breath. "Every encounter with Manav ends up depressing you more."
"Every encounter with Manav makes me feel my decision is wrong."
"Its not so Archu. He only tries to make you guilty each time and you fall for it."
"Its not like that."
"It IS like that."
Archana turned to face him. "Even today he cares about me and my respect and what people say about me."
"If he cared so much about your respect Archana, he wouldn't have tried to malign you by directing you to a brothel."
Archana sat up suddenly. Vinod was shocked at the change in her stance. He looked at her for a while, wondering what had gone wrong.
"For weeks I have been hearing this." She said finally. "Weeks, months have passed, but it seems this one accusation can never be erased. Yes, Manav tried to frame me as a prostitute so that my marriage with Satish would break. But you know what Dada-if he wanted, he could have LEFT me there and NOT SAVED ME when the police raid took place a little later after I entered that place. He actually hammered his foot by coming out from wherever he was hiding to save me from getting caught in the police raid- cos he became the prime suspect in our eyes due to that action of his. If he had not taken me out in time, I would have ended up getting caught, my name would have come up in the papers, my life would have been spoilt, hai na? Then forget Satish, even a chapraasi wouldn't have wanted to get married to me. It would have made Manav's route so much more easier- Aai Baba would have themselves fallen at his feet if he agreed to accept me, he would not have to go through the humiliating way in which he was rejected by Aai. He would not have had to compete with Varun, who came after Satish to marry me. He would not have had to compete with anyone- simply cos there would have been no one who would have wanted to marry me, had the story came up in the papers."
Vinod sat in shock.
"He only wanted to marry me." Said Archana, looking in the distance. "He had no other intention. He loved me and knew he had no chance, cos of his education, his job, his dysfunctional family and his past- so he chose this wrong route. His intention was never to destroy my life and he didn't really want to malign me. Even at my engagement with Varun, he tried to make Varun think that both of us had an affair going on, but when it came in front of everyone rather than staying behind closed doors, he told everyone this was a one sided affair and I was blameless. He only came into my life to enrich it- he made me a different person than what I was. He never demanded anything from me at all. And then when I wanted to move ahead, he took his steps back. His WAY of trying to get his love has been wrong, but HIS LOVE was never wrong."
With these words, she got up and walked away, even as Vinod stood staring at her, utterly confused.
****************XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX*****************
Okay people! This was part 63, and this was certainly not one of my best parts, but I really didn't want to delay it anymore, so posted it.
Comments and feedback are welcome as always.
Edited by nikitagmc - 14 years ago
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