Link to all parts https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/suhani-si-ek-ladki/4518239/ssel-redone-sandis-birthday-links-to-all-parts
Part 8
It was boring to be back home. It was also irksome to be the 'child' of the house now that she'd been away and felt a lot more grown up. There were arguments when her parents told her what to do, and her frequent retort was: "I'm not a child, I'm a married woman," though she felt a bit of a fraud for that, but they weren't to know the marriage had been in name only. Only Bhavna knew that.
She thought of Yuvraj quite a lot--she 'heard' his comments on things, she 'saw' his reactions, and she missed his presence, though she'd get over that, she supposed. She even missed his ugly house and her too-nice sisters-in-law, her brothers-in-law, especially the wicked Saurabh, and all the fun they had, especially while watching cricket, and dadi, who'd always irritated her with her saintly advice on marriage and wifely duties.
Pratima aunty she missed least of all--she'd never much liked her, in spite of her always being on her, Suhani's, side. She felt a little contempt for a woman who put down her own son, treated him shabbily compared to his brothers, and who blindly stood up for a newcomer, regardless of what was right. She had understood that for her mother-in-law the marriage was a prestige issue. Selfish cow. Yuvraj would frown if she said that, but it was true.
What should she do with herself? Gym or dancerise didn't take up enough time. She thought of Yuvraj advising her to get more qualifications, study further, and it seemed a good idea now. What should she do? He had suggested Art History, since she had a discerning eye. But studies were so much work, too much commitment. She let the idea rest.
Her mother was already thinking about her second marriage, this time with someone of their status. She got irritated at her mother more and more. "What's the hurry, mom? I'm not divorced yet!"
"We'll get the papers drawn up," said her mother. "Why wait, get rid of that fool your father tied you to."
She felt enraged. "He's not a fool! He's very clever and very nice! You're not to talk like that about him! And stay out of this, mom. I'll do it my way."
But her mom would not give up. She slyly presented candidates for her, getting more and more angry as Suhani rejected each for varying reasons. As a trump card, Mrs. Srivastav finally presented Suhani's old boyfriend, Ankit, who'd been away, studying and working in the US. Ankit was getting divorced too. After he and Suhani had broken up, he had married another of Suhani's friends, Saumya, who had abandoned him and run off to live with their gardener in the States. Ankit was thrilled at the idea of taking up with Suhani again. Even when she refused him, he persisted in hanging around, following her wherever she went, certain she would eventually give in. She began to dread going anywhere, answering the phone, the sight of his car--or any like it--or the sound of his voice in her house. He was stalking her, with help from her mother! What the hell could she do to escape this moronic creep?
And the answer popped into her head like the answer to a prayer. Yuvraj. She was still married to him. Surely he would help her? She ignored the delight that welled up at having an excuse to be with him again and dialled his number.
At first, Yuvraj had gone through the days like an automaton. He refused to discuss what had happened, and tried not to show anyone the ravages of his heart. For a time he felt grief, resentment, bewilderment, loneliness. For a while he avoided Sharad, but it wasn't Sharad's fault he'd been Suhani's choice. And he did believe what she'd said about not feeling anything for Sharad now--he'd seen them together often enough, and she treated Sharad exactly like she treated Saurabh.
But, as the weeks passed, he recovered. What was done--or not done--was over. It had been puppy love, she had bedazzled him, her presence had fed his desires, he had fixated on her BECAUSE she was there and he thought she has chosen him too. Sure she was attractive, but she was by no means the ideal woman. Not that he wanted an ideal woman, he was a man looking to shower his love, that's all.
Why hadn't she sent him any divorce intimation yet? He thought she'd be in a tearing rush to undo their marriage. Maybe she thought he would do it. Should he call and ask? As he reached for his phone, it rang and like some supernatural coincidence the screen showed Suhani's name.
*******
Link to P 9 https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/suhani-si-ek-ladki/4521337/fiction-ssel-redone-p-9-sandis-birthday
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