Throughout the car ride, Raghav kept looking at Kalpana from the rearview mirror. He could sense her hesitancy at his stare, as she turned her eyes away. Dammit, she was his wife and would look at her whenever he wanted. Pakhi felt as if she was not even needed in the car.
As they approached the chawl, Raghav started feeling a sense of loss in his heart, a restlessness for when he will be able to see his Kalpi again. He could not accept her condition of not seeing each other for 1 year. Kalpana stepped out of the car and Raghav followed her. "I cannot live without seeing you again," he muttered.
Kaplana kept walking ahead and did not answer. It irked him that she would not reply. "Stop Kalpi. I am not ready to accept your condition." He admitted forcefully.
"Raghav, you have to understand-
Before she could continue any further, Vitthal's voice boomed at Raghav. "How dare you try to meet my daughter and lead her astray?" He grabbed his collar with both his hands, fire spitting from his eyes. Kalpi was shocked to see her father man-handing Raghav. She did not know what to do. Pakhi was frozen at her spot in the car. Both men looked at each other, one with anger and the other with regret.
Just then Kalpi saw her father about to raise his hands on Raghav and she rushed to stop him. Instead of the hand hitting Raghav, it landed on kalpi's soft cheeks and she yelped in pain.
Immediate shock replaced a burning anger in Raghav's eyes. He took Vitthal's both hands in a tight grip and pushed him back, albeit gently.
"Don't hit her ever again, not even by accident", he hissed through his lips. Vitthal and Kalpi were both stunned at his ferocity. On the side, he saw Neetu smirking and it dawned on Raghav that she had something to do with Vitthals anger.
Without saying another word, he turned and walked away. Pakhi watched him as he got in the car. Sensing that silence would be golden, she kept quiet. Kalpi watched him drive away and Raghav did not look back at her.
Vitthal looked at Kalpi with shame. "How could you sit in the same car with that man! Did you not think of your parents self respect?" Kalpi was reduced to tears. She could not tell her father how much she loved Raghav. Will her parents ever understand her, she thought.
Arjun
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