"Rudra wait! You can't go. It will break his heart," Paro said chasing after her husband. He kept walking then suddenly instead of pushing the door open, he dragged her aside. He took her to the store room and pulled down some sheets. She looked around covering her face from the dust. She saw an old wedding photo in a gilded frame. She rubbed off the cob webs when he banged open a cupboard. She watched in horror as he dumped sarees upon sarees. "What's are you doing?" she asked placing her hand on his shoulder.
He pushed it off and said, "This is like Ranavat's mind. He pretends that she isn't important. That she is a beautiful woman who doesn't belong to anyone. But the truth is, he is waiting for her return. He thinks she left because she is upset with him. That she will come back when she is ready. Come back when she misses me. But he was wrong. She left not because she was upset, but because she cheated on him. The promises she made, the life she built, the child she raised didn't matter."
He asked her to bring the things to the aangan. She stood there confused what he was upto. He picked up a bunch of sarees and dumped it on her arms, "That was an order. You don't have to think about it just follow the instructions." She quickly took them and ran before he yelled at her again.
In the aangan, the entire family was gathered. "Beendini, if you have decided to wash your mother-in-law's old clothes take it to the backyard," Mohini said. Rudra brought some more boxes. He put them all down. "Bring me a matchbox," he told her. She knew what he was upto and waited for someone to stop him. "I will get it myself," he said and went to the kitchen.
Bapusa came out of his room, "What's new madness is this? Parvati why is taking his mother's things?" he watched in horror and a sudden blaze lept in the middle of the aangan. "Tejawat will make sure she has clothes. We don't have to keep her things anymore. He will take care of her needs. It is the least he can do after all the years she has given him" he said.
Bapusa slapped him hard, "Don't you dare talk about your mother like that." He reeled back in anger, "She isn't my mother or even your wife. She is just Tejawat's" he couldn't say it. Not as he watched his father's eyes dilate. He placed his hand on his father's shoulder, "She isn't coming back. I will kill her if she even thinks of coming here."
Bapusa held his heart lest it shaters. He watched his wife, former wife's face burn. Instinctively he reached to save it. The smoke was too much. He started to cough. Paro pulled him back, "Let me take you inside Bapusa. There is nothing to watch here." Rudra stopped them, "Paro! Wait! He needs this." Paro shook her head. Life had already been cruel enough to him. He didn't need this.
Kakosa told Samrat bhaisa and Sumer bhaisa to get water and put the fire out. "Kakisa I hope you haven't squirreled away some of your sister's things," Rudra asked. She shook her head. "Some of your grandmother's things are there which I was asked to keep for her. But now they belong to Parvati Beendini. She will take her place in this house."
Later that evening, Paro went back to her room after making sure that Bapusa was feeling better. She saw his silhouette in the dark and walked towards him. "How could you do that? How could you break your father like that. Jallad!" she scolded. He didn't respond. It infuriated her. She needed explanations. She was the enemy he married. What was Bapusa's fault.
The ground beneath her feet rolled. She slipped and braced for impact. His arms held her tight, steadying her. He switched on the light. She gasped at the destruction in his side of the room. Torn papers littered the floor. Broken glass with smelly alcohol placed at the table by his bed. "You were drinking?" she asked shocked to see his dishevelled appearance.
"I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't mean to startle you. My life has taken another unexpected turn and I just needed a few drinks. I will try not to bother you," he said guiding her safely to bed. She watched the polite stranger tuck her into bed and switch off the light. She watched him go slump back into the darkness. She saw him pour liquor into a glass and got up. "Go back to sleep," he growled. She complied unwillingly. He wasn't the gentle Bapusa who would open up with his grief. He was Rudra, the one who had built walls around his heart to keep it safe.
The next day morning, he stretched on his bed. The alcohol had drowned his memories and made the night bearable. He looked around and realised that Paro wasn't there. He scanned the room wondering vaguely if another beautiful woman had left him. Maybe it was for the best. She left before he grew attached to her.
Moments later, there was a knock at his door. He got up to open it. The bathroom door opened first and his wife stepped out. "What were you doing in there?" he asked walking past her. She frowned but didn't answer. Maithili Jeeja appeared at the door with a tea tray, "I hope I didn't wake you too early. But there is plenty to do today." Paro felt guilty at not helping around the house.
"Maajisa said we will be having a puja in the morning followed by Mukh dikhaee and other rituals. Just get ready quickly," she said. Rudra was annoyed. He didn't want to perform anymore rituals where he had to act like the doting husband. "I know it isn't easy for you both but these things follow all weddings and with your wedding being the talk of town, we will have to make sure people realise that there is nothing strange about this union," she explained. Paro replied, "Don't worry Jeeja. We will do as required." Jeeja smiled and took her along, "Come with me and I will show what you have to wear."
While the puja was going on, the calling bell rang. Sunheri got up to answer it. "Rudra bhaisa, someone named Dr. Bakshi has come to see you," she told them all. Bapusa asked her to call him inside. "What's the matter Rudradev? Did you miss an appointment that the good doctor has come home looking for you?" he asked. Rudra replied that he was fine. And that the doctor was probably there to check his health.
Next to him, Paro tensed. She remembered the bout of wheezing Bapusa went through yesterday. Rudra must be right. He needed extra care. She wondered how she could make his life better. "Actually I'm here to meet the new Mrs. Ranavat. I have heard several things about her," a middle aged man said coming in. Instinctively Paro reached for her husband's hand. She watched him take a seat next to Bapusa. "Theek hai?" Rudra asked observing the pale fingers on his arm. She nodded slowly pulling her hand away. Panditji smiled at them and finished the rituals.
"Khani khama, doctor saab," Paro greeted the man who was waiting in their room. She was followed by Rudra who was annoyed by the prospect of having a doctor examine him. "I'm fine. You should just clear me for work," he suggested. The doctor looked at him keenly, "You have a bullet injury that needs attention. Don't bother lying he said. Rudra scowled, "You are worrying my wife unnecessarily." The doctor replied that her fate is to worry everytime he wears his uniform.
He guided Rudra to a chair and instructed him to take of his kurta. Rudra looked at Paro pointedly. She turned to leave when the doctor stopped her. "Someday this boy might have the good sense to get a proper dressing and come to you," he said peeling off the shoddy bandage that covered his biceps. Paro gasped seeing the scars on his body. "Don't glare at her. You look like an animal with so many scars," the doctor scolded.
Paro's eyes were fixed on his battle worn torso. Why would anyone put themselves through constant pain like this? She remembered how he felt about protecting the country. It was an obsession for him to go after those who threatened the nation. Whether he had proof or not he didn't wait to stop what he thought was wrong. This was a noble line of work wasn't it? Why did Thakursa think of BSD as the enemy then? They put their lives on the line for him too.
"There. That is done," the doctor said helping Rudra wear his kurta again. Paro quickly discarded the old bandages. "Is he going to be alright?"she asked. He nodded, "He is fine. In fact, he is just the excuse. I wanted to talk to you."
Sports
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Members Lounge
Cricket
