Chapter 38
She had never been so relieved to see this man, dressed in floral prints smiling at strangers with a goofy look on his face. She touched his shoulders gently, "Sumer bhaisa?" He turned around and smiled seeing her familiar face. Then he remembered facing Rudra's temper because of her. He backed away, "Sorry, bhabhisa...I mean Parvatiji. I can't get involved in between you and Rudra. Until you iron out your differences, I'm staying away from both of you. My back still hurts from yesterday's reaction." She didn't understand what he was talking about, but there was no time Tejawat's man was too close for comfort. "I'm really sorry for the trouble but Tejawat's man is chasing me. I just want to go home, I can't find my driver" she pleaded. Tejawat's man? Was he supposed to inform Rudra or did he mean it yesterday when he asked him to stay away? "Are you sure that the man worked for Tejawat?" he asked the frightened woman in front of him. She nodded and replied that she had seen him in the Haveli at Birpur. Sumer made a quick call to his associates and escorted her to his waiting car. "I don't know where you live, I'll need directions," he asked. She just wanted to go home to her Rudra, that's all she wanted. He was surprised to hear that in light of what his bhabhisa told them yesterday. But her tears didn't let him argue, he drove towards Chandangarh silently.
"Was he very upset yesterday?" she asked him after a few minutes elapsed. Sumer nodded and she felt bad. "I'm sorry you had to face his temper, he never said a word to me, not even a goodbye. I didn't think he would take it out on anyone else" she apologised. "He is in love with you, he won't say or do anything to hurt you. I'm his brother, the smallest reason is enough for us to fight. Don't worry about it so much, bhabhisa," he explained. She looked up when he called her bhabhisa this time. "Don't be surprised, no matter what your plans are, you will end up with Rudra as my bhabhisa. You know what they say, when you want something will your whole heart, the entire universe transpires to give it to you. And your heart wants Rudra, so nothing is going to stop you two from getting back together, even if he kidnaps you from the mantap," he told her confidently as her heart leapt at his encouraging words. She knew that she should go back to Mrs. Sisodia and stop her nephew from coming. But she needed to make sure that Rudra was alright first. She hated herself for causing him grief and would never forgive herself if he hurts his family because of her. "That's a nice thought, where did you hear it?" she asked trying to focus on the conversation. He told her its from a Deepika Padukone movie where star crossed lovers reunite even after death tears them apart. Paro felt uneasy, she didn't mind death after all that she had faced so far but the idea of Rudra being...she didn't want to think of it. She realised Sumer was still talking and tried to pay attention. "You both will get married and then have children. But I have a request as an uncle, I would prefer you have girls like my Shanti. A sweet little angel and not a mini volcano like Rudra. One of them is more than enough," he confided. She was surprised most people in these parts wanted sons not daughters and she herself wanted sons like Bholenath's. Her cheeks turned red at the thought of bearing Rudra's children. Her phone rang, it was Mrs. Sisodia wondering where she was. Paro apologised for leaving without informing her and briefly told her that there was an emergency and she was leaving with her brother-in-law. The phone call made Sumer realise that they should inform Rudra that Tejawat's men were after Paro. But he was hesitant not knowing what the reaction would be. He looked over at the smiling woman next to him, maybe he should just let her meet him first, then explain the circumstance. Paro smiled to herself she was going home, home to her Rudra and hopefully this time he will be reasonable enough to understand her predicament and help her out.
Meanwhile at the Ranavat Haveli, Dilsher was looking at the family jewellery in his possession with a bitter heart. He was supposed to hand this over to Rudra's bride. But if Parvati decides to marry someone else, he will be left alone for the rest of his life. "Beendini, bring me a cup of tea", came the voice of his sister-in-law as she walked past his door. He asked her to come in for a moment, she adjusted her pallu over her head and stepped in. He gave her the box and told her to keep some for Sumer's wife and Sunheri's wedding and give the rest to Maithili. She sifted through the different antique pieces handed down from one Ranavat bahu to the next. They had belonged to Mala when she lived with them. She picked up a pair of Kundan bangles and told him this will look lovely on Parvati beendini's wrists. "She will never become a beendini of this household. He has decided not to pursue her anymore," he told her morosely. She laughed and tells him not to underestimate his son, who always gets what he wants. She thought about the one thing the boy longed for all his adolescence and prayed that fate doesn't return his mother to him. "Should I keep his mother's jewellery for his wife then?" he asked. She shook her head, "No, if you hadn't presented them to Parvati and I hadn't made her wear them, she might have become Rudra's wife on Shivratri. Mala's jewels have held on to her ill-luck. I'll get them all remade in lovely new designs fit for the next Thakurain of the Ranavat Haveli" she informed him as she turned to leave.
"Mohini!" he called out and she stopped in her tracks. "How much do you know about why she left?" he asked. She replied evenly that she knew that her sister was unhappy with her marriage and decided to elope with her lover. He was shocked, if she knew about this, why didn't she stop her sister. Mohini was taken aback, "Why would I stop her? I knew it from the moment you stepped into our home that it will not be a good match. She loved to be lost in her own pretty dreams why would she want to come out of them and run your home? She wanted to live in the lap of luxury why would she work to make your life comfortable? But at that point you were just happy to wed a pretty girl and she just got a rich husband who would provide for her. My father was ecstatic, his pretty princess would live like a queen for the rest of their lives. The hard reality is not the same as our fantasies hit her later as she realised being Thakurain is not cake walk. My father then decided to marry me to your brother. Shrewd Mohini will take care of practical matters and Mala can go back to her dream world. It never occurred to my own father that I might have dreams too which may not include my sister. Don't get me wrong, your brother is a good man, a devoted husband and a doting father to my children. Inspite of his lack of gumption, I have no regrets in marrying him. But that didn't help Mala, she wasn't my little sister anymore she had become my Jethani. I was bound by duty not to interfere in her affairs. But I was still aware of it, I knew how your arrogance and indifference hurt her. I did nothing, why should I poke my nose in her marriage, it was between the two of you. Things took a worse turn when you lost your leg. It made her look into the practical side of life and take up responsibility for the finances. She started to work with me and I was happy that she was finally growing up. She wanted to go out and expand the business, I let her. She was a partner, after all she invested your money. You didn't like her success, it made you feel like you were a failure. She didn't have the wisdom to help you through your struggles, she just avoided it and sought refuge elsewhere. She basked in the admiration of another nobleman who found his muse in her and wrote several odes of her beauty and grace. You never did anything like that, did you Bhaisa. Your anger kept her at a distance as always. Anyway it appealed to her romantic nature and she started to plan a life away from you with him. You know the rest, there is no point in me bringing up how exactly she ran away." She ended her monologue and saw his eyes burn with anger.
Dilsher knew all this but nothing explained why Mohini let her Jethani do as she pleased. She had repeatedly blamed him for years for the disgrace that followed, didn't it occur that she could have stopped this. "Don't look so disappointed, bhaisa. I didn't fail either of you. You both reaped the consequences of your own greed. Hers for the fortune that a wealthy husband brought and yours for the fame a beautiful wife brought. You both deserved the insults and the snickers that followed. The only person whom I have failed is Rudra. I should have stepped in along with your brother and protected that little child. He needed emotional support being ignored while you two fought. But whenever I looked at his hurt face only Mala's eyes stood out. I stepped away then, but not anymore. The peace and happiness that he was robbed off will be returned to him with interest. This time even Bholenath wills it, his parents will not ruin his life anymore." She left to the kitchen to chastise her daughter-in-law for not bringing her tea yet.
Dilsher thought over what Mohini had said. None of them had spared a thought for Rudra. He had stopped smiling and laughing like regular boys. He had become a loner who felt that he didn't deserve joy, love or companionship when his own mother deserted him. And he didn't help matters as he heaped his own hatred and bitterness on his innocent son. That loneliness is probably what lead him to Laila. It was never more than a physical relationship, but he still didn't like. It wasn't healthy. Even though he and Mala had their differences, there was some amount of care that made them watch out for each other. But this girl never cared that the boy was filled with so much darkness and she just fed on it. She knew he won't care about her in the light of day. Why would he, what he really needed was a girl like Paro. But he had decided to stay away from her and made him promise that he won't interfere as he thought he wasn't good enough for her. Hadn't Paro told them all by her decision to marry another man that he wasn't worthy of her affections? He didn't want to believe it, he had seen the way the girl looked at his son. All they needed was to get over this Laila issue. But his son didn't want her to know of his shenanigans which would rob her innocence. And at this inopportune time, Mala is posed to re-enter their lives. Mohini is right, even if Bholenath wills it, he had to ensure that his son doesn't loose what little peace and happiness that still remains in his life. And if Sumer's is correct in his findings, he will meet his mother again soon as Tejawat's wife. Something had to be done to stop that. Maybe he could talk to the general, the man truly cared about Rudra. The Tejawat case was in capable hands, being assigned to Aman currently. Maybe Rudra can be sent away on another long term mission far away from here, Delhi, Kashmir or even Assam. His son could take on any enemy, he just may not be upto to seeing his mother as his enemy's wife. He looked around for his phone to place the call, when he heard Mohini shriek, "Hey bholenath! What happened to you?" He rushed to the hall as fast as he could. Mohini was instructing everyone, "Maithili, go bring water she looks terrible. Paro beendani sit here, tell me did anyone hurt you? You look terrible." She replied that she was at the tourist centre in Jaipur visiting her aunt's friend when Tejawat's man spotted her. He had then chased her and she was scared until she ran into Sumer bhaisa. "I asked him to bring me here, I couldn't think of anywhere else to go. I hope you don't mind," she asked the stern woman in front of her. Mohini smiled and pushed a stray lock from her face, "This is your sister's house. No matter what happens you will always be welcome here." Dilsher realised at that instant Rudra will not agree to come away. He never leave Paro behind to face Tejawat alone. He was her rakshak and the young woman who almost married his son meant the world to him. It was because of her that Rudra's stone heart had started to love again. He will always choose to stand between her and any danger posed to her, no matter how hard it is. Hopefully she will be standing with his Rudradev as his Shakti when Mala re-enters their lives.
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