CHAPTER 48
Mala was a disappointed
woman as the new day didn't come with new hope. She had painstakingly made
breakfast for the entire family hoping to show her son that she could fit in
with his current lifestyle even if he said he didn't need her. After all,
Mohini treated her children like adults or at least her sons.
Sunheri however, was
still the pampered baby who was waited on hand and foot. Even the daughters-in-law
of the family preferred to pet her nanad than show her what will be expected
after the girl is wed. No matter, it wasn't her problem. Mohini can face the
consequences when the girl's mother-in-law complains how badly trained she is
in domestic matters.
Her own daughter-in-law
was no better. It was 8 in the morning and Parvati was in bed rather than
attend to her husband. Rudra had left an hour ago without breakfast. She had
called after him but her sister had laughed it off. Paro is the only one he will turn around for. But his beloved wife
obviously didn't care. She stopped making Pooris when she heard the chime of
ankles. She turned around with a glare ready to scold.
Maithili paused
mid-step, seeing their houseguest in the kitchen. Her glance shifted to the
Pooris in the bread basket. "I was just making breakfast. Come give me a
hand,"she was ordered. She hesitated as her mother-in-law was too agitated
today, "Maasa wouldn't like it if we serve Pooris in the morning. It makes
Bapusa feel satiated and sleepy when he has to go to work."
Mala remembered how
indifferent Danveer had been since she had come here. He was an ally she could
no longer trust. "Then make rotis for him. The children would like this better.
Especially your husband," she commanded.
Maithili didn't know
what to say. Everyone was too hungry to object last night, but today morning
they may not be so co-operative. Rudra was the only one who ignored the
sumptuous fare for plain rotis and dal. She better make plenty of rotis so that
the family doesn't go hungry. "Hey Bholenath, please inspire her to talk to him
rather than meddle in the household chores.
Shatabdi came in and
gurgled down half a litre of water. Mala snorted in digust at her running
outfit. "Shatabdi, did you over do your running today? Sit down for a while,"
Maithili instructed as she led her to a stool. Shatabdi explained that she ran
father than usual so that she could pick up another newspaper for their uncle.
"Because Rudra took the newspaper when he rushed out," completed Maithili smiling.
The father-son duo couldn't start the day without an update on the current
affairs.
"If you keep this up,
Rudra is going to have another grudge against you. First his Paro then his
father," Maithili pointed out. Shatabdi just shrugged it off saying if Rudra
owes her a doting uncle for stealing her father's affection. Maithili shook her
head at the new rivalry developing between the two.
"Speaking of Paro, is
she still asleep? What do you think happened last night in the terrace? Rudra
managed to be up very early today even for a soldier," Shatabdi asked. Mala dropped the skimmer in shock. Rudra did
seem eager to go back to his wife the previous night. Did something happen? Had
Paro done something to make him leave in haste?
"Why don't you check on
her?" Shatabdi was told being handed a tea tray. She nodded as she proceeded to
her friend's room. She knocked once before pushing the door open. She saw a
diamnd-shaped mirror throwing light into the room. There was an embroidery kit
placed next to a magazine on the coffee table. This must be the diwan were the
couple spent their evenings. She hoped Paro finds time to read too as much as
she loved to sew. It was a skill she was determined to master awhile back. She
needed a little encouragement to finish her course.
She placed the tea tray
on the night stand and nudged her friend. Paro woke up with a fright,
"Shatabdi? What are you doing here?" The family generally avoided coming here
as they can never tell what mood Rudra was in. Only Shanti was unmindful of his
temperament in the early hours of the day. The other brave soul, Bapusa
preferred to meet his son over breakfast so that he could start his day on a
better note.
"I came here to
investigate on what ailed the wife of Major Rudra Pratap Ranawat that she was
still in bed so late. What will people think," said Shatabdi sternly. Her
friend held her ears in apology and she burst out laughing. "I'm kidding. Why
is everyone so serious here?" she asked.
Because Thakurain Mala
Tejawat was suffocating their gay spirits, Paro thought to herself. She had to
change that. Her hand moved to Rudra's side of the bed which was still warm. He
must have come after she had dozed off. She wanted to talk to him before he
left for work. His revelation had been overwhelming last night. But in the
clear light of the morning, she knew what to do to make the people she loved,
happy.
"When did Rudra leave?"
she asked her friend as she sipped her tea. Shatabdi replied that he had left a
couple of hours ago. Paro sighed defeatedly. He would now bury himself with wok
till he feels at home in the haveli, just like he used to when she stayed here
as his witness. "I should get started. There is so much to do," she said tossing
he bed covers aside. Shatabdi asked if she needed a hand. Paro shook her head.
This was her mess, she would clean it up herself.
An hour later, a
constable entered the aangan looking for Mohini. The matriarch was annoyed. She
didn't object that BSD constables kept guard to their home but they had to stay
outside until her workers leave. Their guns made the simple-minded villagers
nervous and careless. It was bad for her business.
"There is a Dr. Agarwal
waiting outside. Did he have a prior appointment to be here?" the soldier
asked. Mohnini nodded. Dr. Agarwal was their family phycian who must have been
summoned by Paro. That meant Mala will be packed off. "Wait!" she called out to
the retreating man. She dismissed the workers for the day and told him to
invite his colleague for a tea break.
The man's eyes nearly
popped out of his head. The younger women in the Ranavat family were a nice
lot, the older beendini always made snacks for them when she cooked for the
family and the younger one, always made sure they had extra blankets and shawls
to brave the cold Rajasthan air. He almost laughed when he remembered how Rudra
sir had scolded her for making sure they would comfortable enough to sleep
during duty hours. She then started making sure they have a flask filled with
tea to keep them up. Sethanisa however, preferred to ignore their presence even
if her husband was one of their own. He observed her closely. She seemed
agitated, as if something was going to happen, something that would be smoother
if they were around. He hurried outside to discuss with his partner.
The two soldiers
escorted the doctor in hoping that no one slips through when the gates were
unattented. Paro approached the trio with a small smile and brought them tea.
Mohini sat close by and exchanged pleasantries with the doctor as he finished
his tea. "Paro why don't you take Dr. Agarwal to see Thakurainsa now?" she
instructed with a brief glance at the soldiers. They understood finally. The
matriarch wanted them to be prepared in case their guest was un-coperative.
They followed the doctor at a distance.
When Paro entered the
room Mala was occupying, the older woman beamed. "Paro, you are so late today.
Your husband left for work without his breakfast. What will your in-laws
think?" she scolded. Paro replied that her husband wanted her to sleep in and
Kakisa also never complained. Mala's glance fell on the doctor. "Thakurainsa,
your healthcare was neglected while I was away. So Dr. Agarwal is here to make
sure you are well enough to go home," Paro politely said.
Go Home!
What was that supposed mean? This was her son's home. She had a right to stay
here as long as she pleased. Just because she is his wife doesn't give him the
right to kick her out! "Please take a seat," said the doctor guiding her to a
chair. She let the doctor check her vitals and examine her wounded knee which
had healed quite well. There was only a small scar left at the spot of impact. "She
is fine now beta. You have nothing to be worried about anymore. I'll let myself
out now," the doctor said. Mohini appeared at the door to escort him out.
"Paro, do I bother you
by staying here?" Mala asked. Paro didn't hear her, too focussed on the
constables moving closer to the door. The impending conversation didn't need
witnesses. They stopped when she slightly closed the door. They knew Tejawat's
wife was double. The major drilled it in their head this very morning how she
cannot be trusted and they had to be doubly alert when he was away. They were
sure that the matriarch wouldn't mince words either if something happens.
"You don't bother me
Thakurainsa. But I'm sure you will be more comfortable in your own home," Paro
said honestly. Thakurainsa held her chin and tried a different approach, "It's
because your in-laws won't accommodate your Maasa?" Paro shook her head, moving
slightly out of her reach, "My in-laws are very kind people but you are not my
Maasa."
Mala didn't follow.
Paro continued, "If you were my mother you would have been more careful with my
life. You would have forbidden me in taking part in that snake ceremony. You would
have spent months searching for a suitable groom who lived close by. No,
Thakiurainsa, I was just another Birpur girl whom you didn't mind never seeing
again just a means to an end."
Mala was blown away by
the accusations from the gentle-hearted Paro. Did she truly feel no bond
between them? "It's not true. That was our custom which we were all bound to
follow," she replied defensively. Paro looked away. Love gives you the courage
to challenge customs which are not meant for you. Not all girls in Birpur are
married this away only the unlucky ones. The rest are settled in homes on this
side of the border where they can come and go as they wished. Not estranged
from her mother like Nandhu Jeeja or broken away from their parents like the
other girls.
"At first I found it
strange to when I found out about this. But Thakursa explained it. It was a
chance for us to hold on to the relations that were torn by borders. And it allowed
one lucky girl to have a wedding the world talked about. And personally, it gave
us a chance to pretend that we were parents of a lovely lass for one day," Mala
added.
These words were not
addressed to the sweet Paro who trusted in the guileless voice of her elders.
But to Geethanjali's shrewd niece and Rudra's bold wife who understood how the
world worked. Not everyone in the world was kind and unselfish. Not everyone
put the other persons' needs before their own.
The custom was
initially conducted with good intent. But in the last 17 years they had
mutilated it. Those brides weren't lucky, they were accursed. A curse, she
struggled to break and now helped others to break. The Thakurainsa was wrong
and needed to accept it.
Mala saw the glint of
anger in Paro's eyes and she worried. Openly she admitted that she once had a
different groom in mind for her, someone who deserved to win your hand in
marriage. Paro looked at her in surprise, who was she taking about? "My Rudra, you were always what he needed,
even as a child," she said with longing. Paro remembered the heart-broken boy
in the bus who smiled back when she threw the doll. That boy was torn from his
home because of her his mother.
Paro tried to hold back
her anger but failed, "As a child he needed you but you weren't there." Mala
stepped back to her outburst. Rudra must have told her. "You have done so many
heartless things since I have known you, but I still have trouble believing
that you were so cruel to him," Paro raged on. Mala opened her mouth to point
out her own issues with Dilsher. "Don't bring Bapusa into this! What ever
issues you had with him, you should have sorted it out. You were an adult,
Rudra wasn't. He needed a loving home instead you abandoned him for Thakursa."
Mala shook her head that is not exactly how it happened. "You owed it to your
family and your son to make it work, no seek refuge elsewhere. I don't know
much about Rudra's grandparents but Kakosa would have helped. Bapusa was with
the BSD when all this happened, they would have helped. All you had to do was,
think about his pain and you would have found a solution instead you only
thought about how your world had changed," Paro fumed.
In the corridor, Mohini saw the soldiers
standing by uneasily. "Why are you here when Parvati beendini is alone with
Tejawat's wife?" she scolded them. They replied that she was the one who
indicated that she needed a private word with the older woman. Mohini tugged
her pallu annoyed and sent them back to theit stations. Somethings are best
when you do it yourself. She placed her ear to the door and her eyes popped
out. Gentle Paro whose voice was the gentle caress of the evening breeze
sounded like a hurricane brewing. Mala was finally getting the beating she
deserved.
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