#3 Kanchan & Yash Sabherwal
"There is no place for arguments, beta. You are going to be the baby's only maasi… I command you to be here!"
"Of course, Maa. Ritu is my sister, no way I am going to miss her god-bharai!" Kanchan smiled at her mother through the phone screen as she stirred the gravy on the stove. "In fact, Mummy ji might also accompany me to Ludhiana… It has been a long time since she went anywhere."
“And damad ji?” Her mother asked eagerly. “Why don’t you ask him to join you? It has been over a year since we met him.”
Kanchan pinched her lips in a stiff smile, “He is busy at work, Maa. You know he recently got promoted right? He keeps moving between Chandigarh and Delhi a lot.”
“And here we were hoping that you two would come to the god-bharai and start thinking about having a golu-molu baby of your own!”
Kanchan laughed and shook her head at her mother’s ideas.
“Is everything alright there, Beta?”
“Of course. What could go wrong?”
“You and damad ji are going to celebrate your 3rd wedding anniversary soon, Kanchan. When are you planning to start your family? Look at Ritu, she got married barely a year ago! Everyone keeps asking us when will you give your good news...”
“Maa, do I need to have a baby because everyone else is having babies? Hume bache kab karne hai, kitne karne hai, karne hai bhi ya nahi, yeh sirf mera aur Yash ka decision hoga!” She explained calmly, even though it was getting tough to stay calm each time her mother asked her about baby planning.
“But it is better to start planning now, while you are young, let us and your in-laws experience the joy of our grandchildren.”
“Maa, I am not going to plan a baby because someone else wants us to have them. Yash and I are not ready for this responsibility, so have decided to wait. And nobody in my sasural seems to care about it. Can we change the topic?” Kanchan fumed.
“Fine. Vaise where is your jethani? It’s Sunday today, yet you are cooking alone. She should be here helping you!”
“Shaurya Bhaiyya planned a lunch date for her.” Kanchan smiled to herself. “So, she is not here today.”
“Kamal hai! Weekdays pe college aur weekend pe dates and then household work. Learn something from her… She makes her husband happy, studies hard and also takes responsibility for the household chores! And here you are, cooking in the kitchen while you should be making plans to spend time with your husband over the weekend.”
Though it was playful, Kanchan felt an unexpected pang of hurt at the comment. She quickly brushed it off and excused her mother to end the video call.
“Your mother wasn’t wrong, Kanchan.” She heard Gayatri from behind her, “You are both young, first few years of marriage are very crucial to the couple… If you get along now, you will have an easy life ahead. Spend some time with each other, beta. Talk to Yash and plan something...”
Aapko kaise batau Mummy ji, Yash does not seem to have any time or feelings for me…
But Kanchan only nodded to her Mummy ji.
** ** ** **
The same night, Kanchan lay next to her husband in the bed.
“Yash, I was thinking, maybe we should plan a vacation to some nice hill’s station. What do you think?” Kanchan casually asked him, a part of her was excited at the prospect of a vacation with her husband. But another was worried that he would decline her request.
When there came no reply, she craned to look at his face and saw her husband’s conflicted expression.
“Yash?” She asked impatiently.
“Yes, Kanchan, I heard you.” He responded but she knew that his answer would disappoint her, “But I don't think I will be able to make it with you. Why don’t you ask your college friends to join you?”
Kanchan’s mood immediately deflated at his answer.
“No thanks, I wanted to go with my husband but if he is not free, then I can’t help it. Not like Tayi Ji will let me go with them anyways.” She angrily adjusted her pillow and turned away from him.
Her husband finally seemed to catch on to her words so he tried to have her face him but she angrily pushed his hand away.
“Why the sudden plan, if I may ask?”
“Mujhe apne pati ke time spend karne ke liye reason chahiye, Yash? Kal ko tum kahoge, appoint leke aao, tabhi milenge…” Kanchan was agitated.
In the last two years, she had tried everything she could, tried to be the wife she was expected to be, but Yash didn’t seem to care enough.
She had been patient, god knows, she has… But else was she to do if she wanted to make some space in his heart. His life.
“Kanchan, you are overreacting.”
“Overreacting!? Yash, can you tell me, when was the last time we went on a vacation? Our honeymoon! Do you remember when was the last time we went on a date? Never! Because you just don't care! You spend Saturdays with your friends at the club, but you never have time for me!”
“That’s not fair, Kanchan. You know I have been working hard to meet Papa’s expectations. I am working hard so that my family gives you the respect you deserve. Mujhe pata hai, Tayi ji and Papa hamesha tumhe tana marte hai ki tum mujhe nahi sudhar payi… I don’t want you to hear that anymore.”
Kanchan shot up, “You want to do everything in the world, but you don’t want to work on our relationship! That shows how much you prioritize our marriage!”
“What ‘work on our marriage’? Everything is fine between us.” Yash sat up next to her.
“Is it really? It has been over two years since our marriage, Yash, do you know what my likes and dislikes are? Do you know how I spend my time when you are away from home? Do you take out time to spend with me?”
Yash looked away.
“Exactly! And forget about what you don’t know, what have you done about things that are known to you? You know I love watching movies, forget theaters, you never even thought of watching a movie on the home theater inside our bedroom!
You know how your sisters treat me, but have you ever spoken up for me? Same with Papa ji and Taya ji-Tayi ji… Have you ever stood up for my honor? You want me to put up with their taunts until you are convinced that you are good enough in their books?”
“What do you want me to do? Be like Shaurya Bhaiyya, fight with everyone for his wife? I am not him…”
“Don’t be Shaurya Bhaiyya, be Yash Sabherwal. Be my husband, dammit! You keep saying that you care for me and you respect me, but you never show me the same! Yash, your words mean nothing if you don’t prove it with your actions!”
Kanchan twisted around and fell flat on her bed, turning the night lamp off to hide the silent tears gathering in her eyes.
Agar pyaar nahi kar sakte, toh kam se kam humare rishte ki respect toh karo…
** ** ** **
Kanchan had woken up a bit late this morning and when she rushed her way into the kitchen, Anokhi was already getting the things ready for breakfast. However, Kanchan had noticed something strange about her. She could not exactly pinpoint, but she knew something was different.
“Sorry Anokhi, you had to do everything by yourself.” She said while kneading the dough..
“Not at all, Bhabhi! Chachi was here all the time, she left a few minutes ago to help Badi Maa with the grocery list. And my lectures start late today, so why not?” Anokhi smiled and walked around the cabinets to pick the rolling pin.
And Kanchan realized what was strange about her sister-in-law this morning.
“Anokhi, why don’t you sit and chop these for the salad while I roll the parathas!” She offered kindly.
Anokhi gave her a confused look, “It’s okay, Bhabhi. Like I said, I haven’t been cooking all alone.”
“I insist.” Kanchan held Anokhi by the shoulders and helped with the chair, “Resting always helps. You seem tired after a ‘loooong’ night.” She teased and watched her face turn red at the implication.
“No- nothing like that, Bhabhi!” She denied it too quickly and snatched the knife.
“Anokhi…” Kanchan said in a sing-song manner, “mai bhi married hu, yeh jo ajeeb dhang se chal rahi ho naa, woh kyu ho raha hai mujhe pata hai…”
“Bhabhi, please!” her sister-in-law whined, by now even her ears were warm.
“Okay, okay! Aur pareshan nahi karungi tumhe!” She laughed and walked back to the counter and continued working with a casual chit chat about each other’s mayka.
While they were both setting the table, Kanchan extended a glass of juice to Anokhi.
“Bhabhi, I am fine! Ab aap mujhe awkward kar rahi ho!”
“Awkward kyu? Hum dost bhi hai aur jethani-devrani bhi…! Hum ek dusre ke saath sab kuch toh share karte hai… So, I am allowed to take care of you when Shaurya Bhaiyya isn’t!”
“Uh-huh!” Anokhi sipped the juice, “Who said Shaurya doesn’t care?”
“Ha ha, defend toh karogi hi… After all, kafi intense pyaar mila hai kal raat..” Kanchan giggled.
“Bhabhi, Shaurya itne zyada loving hai, caring hai…” She smiled gently and the glow on her face reflected her sincerity, ending the discussion with finalty.
Unintentionally, Kanchan had felt pinched.
Being the cupid in their love story, she knew that Shaurya Bhaiyya and Anokhi were desperately, insanely and deeply in love with each other. Knowing that they had a happy and healthy married life made her admire their relationship even though they often disagreed with each other.
But Kanchan had an idea that these little differences made their relationship exciting for the couple. None of them could exactly predict what the other was thinking or expecting. And if the disagreement escalated, they had their own ways to patch up soon after. She could see the thrill it brought to their life.
And she was slightly envious of that.
Yash and her own relationship always lacked that kind of thrill and freshness.
Initially, she thought it was because they had an arranged marriage. They barely knew each other, so she assumed that slowly their relationship would flourish. But as time passed, they both became too predictable and used to each other’s presence in each other’s life that the excitement never came.
When they made love, it wasn’t the warm or gentle or loving kind. It was just plain s*x. Both would find their release and one of them would just roll over to the other side of the bed. It was like a chore.
She occasionally felt the need and longing in his touches, but was often left wondering if it was his bodily need or his emotional need. She never felt his need for her.
Passion toh dur ki baat hai, kabhi kabhi toh apnapan bhi nahi lagta.
Habitually, Anokhi and Shaurya would be spotted sitting on the same love seat, with her almost sitting on his lap in the balcony behind her room, holding a magazine or some new journal Shaurya would bring home, and she could hear the two debate over researches and theorems and strategies published in them.
Very nerdy.
But at least the two had common interests. At least they bonded over trivial things and spent time with each other. Papa Ji would rant about his day to Mummy ji, even Taya ji would sit down and have some lonely tea time with Tayi Ji. Recently, small-small things always made her see the shortcomings in her own relationship.
Mata rani, how do I make my marriage work?
How do I bring children into such a marriage?
** ** ** **
“What is all this?” Devi Sabherwal questioned the butler who came in with his hands full with shopping bags.
“They are gifts, Tayi Ji.” Yash walked in with a few more bags, “Kanchan’s sister Ritu is having a baby shower next week, so I picked some clothes for us and gifts for her. After all, my only saali is having a baby.”
Kanchan’s heart warmed at his words. He had thought of her family and bothered to buy her clothes.
“Kanchan’s sister? Are you going to that function? You didn’t even ask me before sending him off for shopping.” Devi questioned Kanchan in an authoritative tone.
“Tayi ji…” Kanchan started slowly but decided to put a foot down, “It’s my only sister’s baby shower. There was no way I would miss it for anyone.”
With pleasure, she watched Tayi ji’s expression change to shock.
Haa, Tayi ji. Aapki manmarzi har bar nahi chalegi.
“Ghar ki bahu ho tum, Kanchan. Tumhari zimmedariyan hai iss ghar ki taraf. Yeh baat baat pe mayke jana sahi hai kya?” Yash frowned at his aunt.
“Parjayi ji, Kanchan ko mayke gaye kafi samay ho chuka hai.”
“Ek kaam karo na Gayatri, why don’t you ask her to stay at her mayka… Forever?”
“Like you said, Parjayi ji, she is my bahu. And if she wants to attend her sister’s function, she is free to do so.” Gayatri defended with conviction.
“Exactly, I don’t need anyone’s permission to visit my own mother.”
“Gayatri, you really need to control-”
“Kanchan meri patni hai, Tayi ji.” Yash gritted out, “Koi bhed-bakri nahi hai ki usey control kiya jaye. Agar woh apni Maa ke ghar jana chahti hai toh jaa sakti hai.”
Kanchan swung her head to look at him in surprise.
Her husband was taking a stand for her. Her heart was thumping so loud, she was sure even her mother-in-law could hear it next to her.
“Kaisi bahuein mili hai hume. Dono ne ghar ke beto ko muthi mei kar liya hai!” Devi screeched.
“Toh bura bhi kya hai iss mei, Tayi ji? Apni khud ki patni ke muthi mei hu… Kisi parayi aurat ke nahi.” Kanchan tried to hold back a smile at the sass.
That night, Kanchan slept admiring her husband’s sleeping form.
** ** ** **
Kanchan looked around the room to look for something she was missing. She ticked off everything she could think of but the nagging feeling wouldn’t go away.
Lights. Check.
DVD. Check.
Dinner. Check.
Flowers. Check.
What was missing?
She had returned from her sister’s baby shower after having a great time with her family and Yash.
Yes. Her husband had surprised her when he started packing his own clothing along with hers and simply announced that he was accompanying her to meet her family.
It had touched her heart deeply to see him bond with her family.
He cared.
A week after their return, she had continued to notice his changed behaviour and decided to do something for him as well. Being the clueless one, she had taken help from someone who had more experience in the department. Anokhi.
Anokhi had happily agreed to assist her plan a “date” for them, took her on a shopping spree and helped prepare Yash’s favorite food.
She was wearing a knee length mid-night blue color dress, because Yash liked to see her dressed in such outfits before marriage. She had decorated the room and Anokhi had assured her that it was very pleasing. So what was remaining?
Looking around once more, she spotted a shopping bag lying in the corner and picked it up to see scented candles. But before she could light them up, the door of the room opened and in walked her husband with his bag and coat in hand.
“Woah!” He admired the ambiance of the room.
“Welcome home!”
“This is a nice surprise!”
Kanchan smiled heartily. To her surprise, Yash brought his hand forward and she saw a large bouquet of pink and white roses appear from behind him.
“Looks like we both wanted to surprise each other…” He beamed at her.
He tossed his stuff aside and went on his knees, “For the most special woman in my life…”
His chest warmed at her giggle as she took the flowers and hugged them close to herself.
“I was very thoughtful of you, Yash. Thank you.”
“Well, you worked harder than I did. I mean, this is all beautiful, Kanchan. And I can smell the food! Have you made lemon chicken?” His excitement made her smile even more and she nodded.
“Why don’t you freshen-up? I’ll get everything ready.”
He came back quickly and spotted his flowers neatly placed in a vase and the small table set with a couple of candles set with lights of the room dimmed. Kanchan was surprised to see Yash present a bottle of white wine on the table, something he had learnt from Ritu, that she loved sipping on white wine on special occasions but stopped doing so after she became a Sabherwal bahu.
The ambiance set, moods lifted and wine flutes clinking, the couple started with their dinner. For the first time, Kanchan enjoyed herself inside the walls of the Sabherwal mansion. She quickly realized that Yash was a very laid back and chill kind of a person, much like herself and both shared their hilarious college memories. Their usual 30 minutes dinner went on for over an hour!
“I really enjoyed myself, Kanchan. Thank you for this. And I am sorry that I have failed you until today.” His palm reached to hold hers.
“Yash, please don’t say that. Yes, there were tough days, but there were happy days as well. We hardly got along, but I know we never hated each other either. It just took us longer to get where we are today… I should be thanking you, Yash. Thank you for standing up for me.”
“Still, I know that until today, you have single handedly made efforts to fit in with me and my family… You were right, I neglected and ignored you for too long…” Yash gave a sad smile.
“It’s my fault too, Yash. Maine kabhi kuch kaha hi nahi. Hum shaadi se pehle ek dusre ko thik se jante bhi nahi the but mai expect karne lagi thi ki tum sab kuch apne aap samajh jaoge. It wasn’t fair. In fact, thank you….” Her husband frowned, “For putting up with my sudden outburst in the past few months… I know I haven’t been the easiest person to live with. I have been nagging you a lot.” Kanchan said sheepishly.
“It was necessary.” Yash nodded, “You were right, we have problems in our marriage and I have been too ignorant to see them. I used to think this is how a normal marriage is… But you were right, we were both not happy together and just because I wasn't unhappy either, I thought everything was alright between us. You think you were nagging? I think it was just you reaching your limits of tolerance.”
“I am glad that finally we are able to communicate, Yash. That was all I wanted! And I am sure, rest will just work out as we progress.” She smiled reassuringly.
He nodded and rose to collect the dishes for her, “So, what next?”
“How about a movie?”
“Your wish, my command, Ma’am.” He smiled.
Aaj aapki aankho mei mere liye izzat bhi dikh rahi hai aur shayad thoda pyaar bhi, Yash...
** ** ** **
Kanchan was sitting with Kitty and Bebo in a quiet corner of the party hall. They were yet again attending a high society party swarming with businessmen and Page3 reporters. However, Kanchan was randomly drawing patterns on the table cloths with her finger while nursing a glass of mocktail and the sisters were sitting across her with their head buried into their screen phones.
On the dance floor, she could see Shaurya and Anokhi dancing to the slow music. And her mind went back to an office party she attended in Delhi with Yash two months ago. They danced too. It was special because her husband had taken an effort to learn the salsa form only for her.
With the passing time, she had learnt that Yash was actually a very cheesy guy and though they had been married now, he still used those silly pick up lines and innuendos to make her blush. He loved the outdoors and that was something she had to adjust with because she was a homey person. He loved parties while she loved movies. He liked scotch and she liked wine. He liked continental while she enjoyed ghee wale parathe.
But they had both learnt to balance each other’s choices in the past year.
Her eyes darted back to the couple on the dance floor and smiled as she saw Shaurya Bhaiyya lower his head to whisper something to his wife while she blushed and later playfully smacked his shoulder. He pulled her into his embrace and Anokhi rested her head on his shoulder.
The media was gonna love this. Shaurya and Anokhi would be on the front page of every newspaper and magazine again…
However, watching them being their usual lovey-dovey moments didn’t pinch Kanchan’s heart.
For this time, Kanchan had her own little moments to cherish.
“May I have this dance with my beautiful wife?” A familiar hand appeared in front of her.
Forever. My dear husband.
- - - - - - - - - - -
A/N: Last chapter got less readership. I wonder where everyone went.
This chapter is a little different. More mature angle to it (non 18+) but I hope you guys like it. Looking forward to know what did you guys like or dislike about Kanchan and Yash in my version of the couple's marriage.
I always found KaYa marriage issues very real, I tried to stick to it as much as possible.
NO SILENT READING ALLOWED!
PLEASE HIT THE LIKE BUTTON AND GIVE ME LONG A** COMMENTS 😈
DO NOT COPY THIS POST AS THIS IS EXCLUSIVE TO INDIA FORUMS
