CHAPTER 65
A few hours ago, Dilsher had woken up to the jangling of keys. "What... whose there?" he fumbled for the night lamp switch. He was surprised to find his son locking the liquor cabinet. "Rudraa...what's going on?" he asked observing his son check his asthma medicine. The young man kept wandering about in a methodical fashion checking about his things.
"Don't tell me now that you are going on a mission," Dilsher remarked as understanding dawned on him. Rudra stopped. Turned around, "Okay, I won't." His father grabbed his crutch and hobbled out of bed. "Paro betiya is..." he started.
Rudra's missions always brought out the worst of the usually grounded young woman. In her anxiety for him, she becomes distracted that even her regular chores turn into a hazard. That added with the lack of food and rest turns her into a wilted flower. Something no one wanted during her pregnancy.
"We have to stop pretending that she is the only pregnant woman with a husband I'm the military. I have already explained it to her," he replied coldly. He was tired of this. Paro was the one person who respected his dedication to BSD. Everyone else were using her as a weapon against him of all people. But this wasn't the time for that discussion. "Be on your best behavior Ranavat. And watch over Paro. I'll be back soon," he said and walked.
He didn't want to show up for breakfast. All he wanted was a locksmith so that he could drown his misery. "Ranavat don't turn into a drunken bum in my absence," a voice from the past warned him. Well it's his fault. He had a lovely wife who adored him. He shouldn't run at the first chance BSD offered. It'so time for him to focus on the blessing he had been granted.
He leafed through the newspaper at breakfast keeping his ear alert to his sister-in-law. She might attack Paro for Rudra's decisions. And the girl might just need a champion. Once that stubborn oaf decided something wild horses couldn't stop him. Luckily the woman kept her mouth shut.
Danveer appeared at the table with a weak smile. Paro moved to serve him breakfast returning his smile. "Maithili, bring Paro's breakfast," Mohini instructed. Dilsher kept the paper aside in shock. He expected the young woman to be chastised for forgetting. Paro was excused from chores which required her to stand up but waited for her Jeeja in the morning to finish hers so that they could have breakfast together.
"Babloo, shall I get you some rotis," he offered looking at his brother staring at his empty plate. Mohini tugged her pallu and remarked that his stomach was full with the news he hid from the rest of the family. Danveer gave her pleading glance. "What did you do?" Dilsher asked.
"Apparently, general saab had made arrangements to send Aman on a mission due to the conditions here. But your Rudradev swooped in the last minute and has gone off. Instead of stopping him, your dear brother thinks he has done something great," Mohini explained.
Paro felt bad for their uncle. She wanted to say how it wasn't a dangerous mission and there was nothing to worry about but she wasn't supposed to know anything. She would make it up to him by making his favorites for lunch.
"Here Paro, Ranavat special breakfast for you today," Maithili told her bringing in a closed plate. She frowned at the surprise. As much as she enjoyed being pampered, charred rotis and burnt potatoes triggered nausea. To her surprise the rotis were light brown with spots of black and the potatoes a dull shade of yellow.
"Not bad, my Rudradev has learnt to cook properly. Tell me is this to make up for escaping on a mission again without a word," Dilsher asked. Paro shook her head. He discussed it before leaving. "Are you sure? It's his habit to use work as an excuse to leave home," he spoke again hoping he wouldn't reply. It was his bitterness that chased him away. Paro had given his son something he never could, a home.
Paro looked about for a new topic. "Jeeja, where is Shanti?" She had gone with her father to the market, came the reply. "He was supposed to go to the godown today," Mohini commented. Her daughter-in-law fretted, "I know Maajisa. I told her that she could go some other day. But she insisted on waiting with him till he finishes his work."
Dilsher waited for the explosion from the matriarch. It never came. "That's good. She needs to understand how the business works. After all she will be carrying my legacy forward," came proud words instead. Dilsher's jaw dropped in shock. As much as Mohini loved the child, the fact that she was a girl meant she will be raised with love but not groomed to a position of power, like Sunheri.
"Is that spoiling your weather bhaisa? Be honest do you see Rudra's sons being anything but BSD officers? For all you they may come out of Parvati's womb with a pistol in their hands. And Sumer's beendini is too conscious of her figure to plan kids," she defended her statement.
Danveer shook his head disappointingly. In this eyes, the three women whom their sons married were no less than goddesses. Maithili, with the wealth of compassion, Parvati, with the strength of her faithful heart and Shatabdi, with the knowledge of the world, were the force which was rebuilding this family.
Dilsher smiled at his brother agreeing with him completely. "These boys have done better than us when it comes to partners," he said. Mohini got up from her seat annoyed. She hated to be clubbed with her sister. "Beendini, I'm making the provision list. Send it to Samrat so that he can make the purchases when he is at the market," she shouted over her shoulder.
A few hours later at the Ranavat godown, Samrat went called his daughter. She came out with a dupatta wrapped around her, "Do I look like Mamma?" He laughed at the sight. She looked nice but Maasa won't like it if she is playing with the material to be stored. He readjusted her clothes, "Your Mamma has sent a long list let's go to the market now." She clapped with glee.
The minute they got to the market square, Shanti pulled her father towards the toy shop. "First we will buys gifts for new baby then go buy Mama's things," she said sternly. Samrat obeyed wordlessly.
He watched as she picked a dozen toys from the different shelves. He recognized the man, the major's brother the one who took the parcel. Samarth or something. So Shanti was his daughter. Spotting something higher up, she instructed her father to carry her so that she can inspect them better. The shopkeeper asked if it is was her birthday. She shook her head and told they were brother. Her father covered her mouth. News of the next Ranavat heir was still kept under wraps. He whispered something to her making her face glow with pride.
He knew that look. That was Varun's look when he had a secret. It appeared just before his birthday when his father used to take him to buy the present. He used to look so important until the cake was cut and he got to hand the parcel over. This girl was just like him. Thinking of the sibling that was even born yet.
He could never hurt her. It would be like hurting Varun bhaisa. He turned away and kept walking. He needed a new plan. One that wouldn't involve the kid. He started to run as fast as he could. He had to escape.
"Are you blind," said an angry voice as he crashed into a big fuzzy ball of colors. He helped her up and fumbled an apology. Before he could get a word out, she
spoke up, "It's you. Parvati bhabhisa'so tutor. Right? I recognized you from Sumer bhaisa and Shatabdi bhabhisa's reception. How have you been?"
He needed a moment to compose himself. So this must be the major's sister. The voice matched what he had overheard on the transmitter. She was the one helping his bhabhi study. "Yes, I was her tutor for awhile. She is very bright but easily distracted by the things..." he paused wondering how much he could tell her without revealing anything.
It wasn't his fault. After her wedding it is hard for women to go after their dreams. That's why her parents want her to finish her degree. Rudra bhaisa doesn't stop bhabhisa from studying but she has so many responsibilities around the haveli. She bit her lip. He was a stranger, she shouldn't be telling him this.
He smiled encouragingly. This was information he could use. He ran his fingers through his gelled hair. "I wish there was something I could do," he told her sweetly. Those deep dimples and sweet eyes, Sunheri couldn't resist, "Why don't you...um... come. I mean why don't you come home and teach her there. Maasa won't let her go out, but you can come in. That why her exams will go smoothly.
That would be perfect. He gave her his phone number and told her that he would come over in the evening. He quickly said bye and went to make arrangements. This would be perfect. An invite into the Ranavat fortress. Even the gods must want him to avenge his brother's death.
"Wait!" Sunheri called after him as he vanished into the crowd. She hadn't give him the haveli's address. How would he be able to come? Then she hit her head. Of course! He had shared his cell phone number. She could just text him. She took a deep breathe to relax. That's when she smelt them. Hot jalebis! Maasa's favorite. She had to buy some before going home.
Cricket
Bhabhi Ji Ghar Pe Hain?
