CHAPTER 45
Paro was too shocked to reply, she simply sat there. From
inside the house the gaiety was bubbling over. Everyone was beyond thrilled
even Rudra who was walking about with a smile on his face and contentment in
his eyes. They all felt their home was enriched by their new bahu. "I thought...
You like Sumer bhaisa, don't you," Paro asked trying to make sense. Her friend smiled,
"That's my silver lining in this nightmare. Let me rephrase, I can't go through
those rituals again." Paro was relieved to hear that. She knew from experience
that you needed the right man and not the perfect man by your side to have a
wonderful life. And Sumer bhaisa was a great fit for her new sister.
"You know everyone had such great plans for this wedding
ever since this match first came up. Rudra had told me to let things fall in
place but every day I prayed that Bholenath works a miracle and firmly place
you in our home. And Kakisa's has been planning for this probably since he
could walk. I'm sure that you had dreamt your wedding day too. Everyone just
wants a do-over, they just want to give your dream a second chance," Paro
explained.
Shatabdi looked away. Her friend wasn't wrong. The family
meant well, even her greedy mother-in-law. But the memory of the wedding in the
mantap of horrors was too fresh, too raw. She quietened her troubled heart and
the reasoning of her mind grew louder. "We are already wed, Paro. Even the
paperwork is complete. Just a grand reception should be enough to announce our
union to Rajasthan," she thought aloud. Paro heard her words and turned blank.
How could they convince the family? Inside, Kakisa was planning the menu and
Jeeja was checking the guest list. Sunheri was picking songs for the Sangeet with Samrat bhaisa. Bapusa and
Kakosa were sorting out bills and handling the accounting for what was to be an
extravagant affair.
"Shatabdi, how do we break it to them? Kakisa won't like it
if her plans are changed," Paro exclaimed. But her friend was adamant too, she
wasn't in the mood to relent. She knew Paro shouldn't be dragged into this but
it felt so good to speak her mind. "I'll sort it out Shatabdi," said a
masculine voice. She almost jumped out of her seat than relaxed seeing her
brother-in-law. "I'll talk to Maasa. But I want a gift from you," Sumer said to
her. She asked him what he wanted. "The next time your friend comes to you with
a problem advise her to talk to me than to mope around the house," he replied.
She nodded seriously as Shatabdi punched his shoulder, "She is just being a
good friend and listening to me. Stop being so possessive!" He laughed and replied
that he wasn't the possessive husband in this house. If she keeps hogging
Paro's time, he will get kicked all the way to Jaipur. Paro wanted to tell him
off for his accusations, her husband wasn't so awful. But she couldn't muster
the anger needed to fight as she saw Sumer placate and lead his wife inside.
Paro gave them a minute before following inside.
When she got inside, she noticed Rudra wasn't in the aangan with the rest of the family. She
went around the haveli looking for
him. She finally found him in their room standing by the window. She wrapped
her hands around him from the back. He turned her around and held her close and
continued to look at the moon. She followed his glance and asked, "Do you like
looking at the moon?" He shrugged and pointed out that there was nothing
special about the moon. It is just a huge white orb with a big black patch. Her
eyebrows knitted as she reasoned, "So it's not perfect. That doesn't mean it
doesn't deserve appreciation. You are not seeing how bright it is in spite of the
black patch."
He grew distant hearing the same wisdom he heard throughout
his childhood. It was quite possible that the same woman taught her that. He
never knew then that her love just a pale reflection of his own sentiments. "I
don't appreciate it because its light is faked, not real like the starlight.
They may appear tiny but their radiance is true," he explained softly. She
rubbed the hands surrounding her waist gently, glad that he found something he
liked in the beautiful night sky to appreciate. "Look at them twinkling so
brightly, they must be feeling very special," she teased knowing how he rarely
praised anything. She turned around in his arms when she didn't get response.
She cupped his cheeks and made him look into her eyes. "What's going on? Is
something bothering you?" she asked concerned.
He took a deep breathe knowing that he needed to unload his
heartache to his beloved wife. She was the brilliant sun in his life who would
eternally fill his life with warmth and light. He led her to their bed and
confessed, "I have hid something from you for a long time." She was taken aback
but didn't let go of his hands. A long time ago she had been rash to judge him.
Now she would understand the facts first. Hey
Bholenath! They heard Kakisa's
voice. Rudra stood up instantly wondering what was wrong. Paro held him for a
moment, "Sumer bhaisa must have told Kakisa what Shatabdi wanted." He scowled.
His cousin wasn't the best tactician when it came to his mother. And now it
looked like he was stuck between the two women in his life.
When Rudra and Paro got to the aangan, they found Sumer
sitting with their father and uncle with his hand on his head. Samarat and
Maithili were trying to pacify Shatabdi and Kakisa who were at each other
throats. "Sunheri, take Shanti to your room," Kakosa instructed seeing the
petrified look on his granddaughter's face. The poor child had never seen
voicing being raised in their household until now. "What did you do, Sumer?"
Rudra asked approaching his cousin. He explained that they decided to skip the
pre-wedding functions and just have a reception. But his mother thinks he wants
to save his father-in-law's money.
Paro exchanged looks with her husband. It was clear now why
Shatabdi was enraged. She drew near to the war zone. "Shatabdi calm down.
Kakisa doesn't know how you feel. She will understand you only when you talk to
her clearly," she told her friend first. Kakisa then started to rant and rave
that her new beendini has no idea how
to talk to elders and that her parents haven't been successful in instilling
the right decorum in the young lady. "Maajisa..." Maithili started to calm her
down when she was pushed aside by the angry matriarch. Luckily for her, Samrat
caught her before she hurt herself.
"Baas!" shouted Rudra, frustrated with the family drama.
"Kakisa, Shatadbi is Sisodia Sir's only daughter. Whatever he owns will be hers
eventually. So if she wants she can spend a fortune on a single day impressing
people she may never meet again or she can invest it and build a better future
with Sumer. You decide which is important, I'll talk to them both," Rudra
rationalized. This made more sense to the practical woman. "Money isn't the
issue," Paro muttered to her husband. He shook his head ever so slightly. Money
always was a big deal to his aunt. "Fine, but don't skimp on the arrangements.
If we are having only one function, then it should be so grand that people
remember it till Sunheri's wedding," she conceded. Shatabdi challenged that
people will remember until the day Shanti gets married. Kakosa shook his head, this beendini seemed hell bent on getting on
Mohini's bad side. However, Kakisa surprised everyone by not taking the bait.
She coolly ignored the remark and invited them to the dining table.
Paro was relieved that her friend's scars could now heal.
She held her husband back, "I know you want to talk about something, but can it
wait until dinner." He kissed her forehead in acquiescence. As they went hand
in hand to the dining room, they were surprised to find an awkward Sunheri with
a beaming Mala. "Maithili bhabhisa, Shanti was hungry so I fed her the Dal and
rice you had prepared. She didn't want the roti which Maasa made" she blurted
out. Rudra was confused, why was she was being so specific. His sister-in-law
just thanked her and enquired on the child's whereabouts.
"Today, I made dinner especially for you Rudra. I hope you
like it," Mala addressed him directly. Paro groaned softly remembering how
Kakisa hated it when the thakurain addressed him informally. The rest of the
family stood rooted in their place. Mala pulled out the chair at the head of
the table, "Why don't you have a seat right here?" He walked up to that end,
all eyes on him. He guided his father to the same chair saying, "This has
always been my father's place." Dilsher wanted to dance with his one good leg,
his Rudradev had acknowledged him as father. Some good had come out of Mala's
interference.
Paro could feel the tension in the air. She tried to diffuse
it by commenting how good everything smelt and that she couldn't wait to taste
it. The other Ranavats grew uneasy. "What's wrong? Why aren't you sitting
down?" she asked cheerily. They gave a small smile and sat down. "I didn't know
you can cook, Thakurainsa. I thought you had cooks in your haveli to prepare
your meals," Mohini asked casually remembering how her sister used to hate the
aroma that was prevalent in most kitchens. She replied with a smile that she
cooked on special occasions for her Thakursa. Her smile disappeared when she
saw Rudra still standing. Dilsher saw him too and invited, "Come, sit here."
Mala hated the idea of Rudra on his right but knew she had to shut up. She
quietly served curry on the empty plate.
Rudra couldn't pretend to be civil to her anymore. He needed
to cut her off for his own sanity. He took another plate and piled it with some
rice and rotis. "Devarjisa, that dal was made of Shanti. It will be too bland,"
Maithili said as he filled two katoris with it. He paused and asked for pickles.
She rushed to the kitchen to get it. "Sorry Maajisa, I didn't notice it wasn't
placed on the table," she apologised when scolded for her carelessness. He ignored her plight and pulled his wife by
the wrist. "Rudra, stop it! Where are you taking Parvati?" his father shouted
at him. He replied that they would dine in the terrace.
"Why?" Mala asked softly. Sumer sniggered, "Rudra banna must
be dying to have some alone time with his wife. My wife has become a permanent
Kabab mein haddi for them." Rudra stopped in his tracks. Shatabdi smacked him
before turning to her brother-in-law, "Its cold outside. I'll get a shawl."
Samrat commented that she seems to know how to stay on their cousin's good side
and so they needn't worry. Paro was glad to see the good spirits return but
wondered what Rudra wanted to tell her. His grip around her wrist still hadn't
loosened.
"Banna, I think you should be ready to share her attention
at least at meal times. Who knows how long we will all dine together? Maybe she
might run away too," Mohini remarked. The wind went out of Dilsher. He had
thought his sister-in-law had gotten over past hurts. How could she be so cruel
to insinuate that Paro might repeat Mala's misdeeds?
"Mohini!" Danveer roared for once furious with her behaviour.
But she ignored the collective ire and retorted, "I didn't say anything wrong.
Tomorrow is Tejawat Thakur's sentencing. After that Rudra will be transferred
for his next mission. Now he may be kind enough to leave Dilsher bhaisa with us
considering his age. But I doubt if he can go even an hour apart from his
Paro."
Mala looked away, wondering what fate had in store for her
Thakursa. Will he come home to her? Can they start afresh somewhere far away,
just the two of them if Rudra won't give up the BSD? She would never accept the
BSD in their lives after they came after her Thakursa.
Dilsher looked his brother, was Mohini right? Will be packed
off with Rudra's other luggage or could he stay behind with his brother's
family. But then how will Paro manage alone when Rudra has to be away? Or God
forbid if Rudra is hurt on field and he is too far to reach him?
Mathili exchanged looks with her husband. Will her little
sister have to move away? Their family felt complete. She had looked forward to
so many tomorrows with Paro by her side. And someday when Sumer baisa had his
fill of Jaipur he would return home too. They would be together forever.
Sumer looked at his plate dejectedly. Rudra was never his
favourite playmate as a child. But now things were different. They had been
through so much together. He couldn't imagine a life where Rudra and Paro were
far away from them. He wanted them to stay, raise the next generation together.
Danveer felt close to tears. His wife had mentioned that she
sensed the change in the wind. But this was not the change he wanted. He wanted
to grow old with his brother by his side, in the home they grew up with. But he
couldn't keep him away from his only son and daughter-in-law, his greatest
pride and joy. Would their family fall apart once more?
Paro looked at her husband completely torn. This was first
place she felt at peace after her father's death. Bapusa, Jeeja, Sunheri, Shanti and everyone
else all made up her world. Was all this temporary? She had been removed from
them all once because of Rudra's anger. Her aunt and uncle had been very good
to her and made a place for themselves in her heart. But the part of her which
the Ranavats owned made her yearn for their presence. Could she leave them
behind? Could she leave Bapusa behind?
"It will be okay," said Shatabdi wrapping her with the shawl
she brought. She had experienced her father going off on long missions as a
child but seeing an army wife's turmoil as an adult was something else. "So
what if you don't live here, your place in this family is forever. Sumer has
been in Jaipur for more than a year but Saasuma loves him just as much as she
did the day he was born," she pointed out. Maithili walked up to them, "Pagli, it's not like you can't visit or
we won't. We can talk on the phone every day. It will be fine." Paro hugged
both of them with tears threatening to spill out of her eyes. "It's best if you
go with them otherwise neither will you eat or sleep in peace nor let us.
Walking around like a bhoothini
before dawn," Mohini added. Samrat pinched her mother's cheeks, "You are so
affectionate towards your beendinis."
Shatabdi met Rudra's eyes and told him to take her friend
away. No matter what they all say, he is the only person who can reassure her,
the ruler of her heart.
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