[NO COPY]
#4 Gayatri and Alok Sabherwal
“Anokhi, waise toh tum bade bado ko chup kara deti ho, lekin aaj khud kaise chup ho? Apni Saas ke aage har man li?”
Gayatri tried to suppress her laughter as she watched Kanchan bully Anokhi relentlessly. It was one of those few moments when she felt the shackles of her misery had fallen off. Aastha Kashyap sat next to her and shook her head affectionately at the two daughter-in-laws of the Sabherwal family.
They were sitting on the lawn of the huge mansion and enjoying the evening tea with her favorite ladies.
“Maa!” Anokhi whined and gave her the puppy eyes.
“Don’t drag me in! I just won an argument against the debate champion, let me have my moment!” Aastha giggled.
“Aastha Parjai Ji, itna bhi mat chedo bichari ko…” Gayatri took pity on the girl.
“Kon kisko ched raha hai, Chachi?” She turned around to face her nephew who had just returned home from work.
“Shaurya bhaiyya, you would be pleased to know that your wife lost an argument against your mother!” Kanchan exclaimed.
“Woah! Congrats, Mom! Chalo koi toh hai jo Anokhi ko bhi jhagde mei hara sakta hai!” Shaurya hugged his mother from the back and winked at his wife mischievously and in response, Anokhi glowered at him.
“Haa! Honestly, it wasn’t easy at all! Your wife does not give up.”
“Mom, how else do you think I lose every time?” Aastha snickered at that.
“Tum kehna kya chahte ho? Mai har baar ladai karti hu?” Anokhi shot him THE wife look.
“No!” Shaurya raised his hands in surrender, “Not at all, wifey!”
The ladies laughed at the exchange.
“Shaurya, jao change kar lo.” Devi Sabherwal approached the group.
“Ji Badi Maa.” He nodded.
“Anokhi, jao help kardo, Shaurya ki…” She ordered Anokhi who had just picked a cup to pour tea for her Badi Maa.
Anokhi’s forehead creased, but Shaurya was quick to speak up, “Anokhi ki help kyu, Badi Maa? I can do my own work. And Anokhi had a tiring day at college, let her enjoy a cup of steaming coffee. In fact, I’ll join you pretty ladies soon, excuse me.”
Once Shaurya walked away, Devi gave the ladies a mean look and stomped off. And the group burst into a fit of giggles. Soon after, she spotted her own husband strolling by the driveway, head bent over his phone.
“Gayatri, kapde nikal do!” Unsurprisingly, Alok had not even bothered to spare her a look.
The women exchanged looks when Gayatri quietly placed her cup back on the table and dragged herself away from the fun they were having.
In the room, her husband was tossing his things randomly across the room.
“Tumse kitni baar kaha hai, uss Aastha Kashyap se zyada ghulne-milne ki zarurat nahi hai.” Alok grumbled as he dumped his pocket contents on the bed.
“Woh sirf thodi der ke liye hi toh aati hai…” Gayatri tried to pacify him, silently picking up his things and neatly placing them on his bed side.
“Yeh sab plan hai ji uska! She wants to sneak back into this house.”
Yeh ghar unke family ka bhi hai, Alok. Gayatri forced herself to hold her words back.
“This! This was exactly why none of us wanted Shaurya to marry that Anokhi Bhalla. Aastha Kashyap is a cunning woman! How swiftly she has planted her chamchi in our house.” He pulled his belt off the hooks and threw it on the sofa.
You mean, you didn’t want another Aastha Sabherwal who could crush your ego? But she didn’t say it out loud, instead she quietly handed him his clothes and went on to keep his belt in the closet.
The bathroom door clicked shut and she sagged in exhaustion.
The cup of hot tea and crispy pakoras long forgotten.
** ** ** **
His spoon played with his food, eyes burning holes in the plate while his attention was entirely focused on Tej, Shaan and Shaurya went on and on about the Patiala campus project. The entire family sat at the table but everyone was quietly having their own conversation.
“Shaurya, you have done a wonderful job at handling the education minister.” Tej commended his nephew, “We had expected him to create some more trouble for us, but I think you have shut him up for good.”
Alok’s fingers tightened around the spoon.
“Thank you, Bade Papa.” Shaurya accepted the praise, “It was a tricky situation… Mujhe laga tha woh manega hi nahi but thankfully humari legal team ne sab research karke rakha tha. I cannot imagine, agar woh minister scene create karta toh humare campus ka kaam ruk jata.”
“Shaurya puttar, agar tujhe koi help chahiye thi toh mujhse keh deta.” Alok gritted out without letting his jolly smile slip off.
“Of course, Chachu. Next time, I’ll keep that in mind.” Shaurya nodded stiffly.
“Koi zarurat nahi hai.” Tej bit out loudly, grabbing everyone’s attention. “I think everyone in the city now knows all about your ‘help’. We all saw how helpful you can be… We don’t need that kind of reputation attached to the new campus.”
Humiliation flared through his body, anger was boiling hot in his blood but he knew all he could do was gulp it down with the food.
“Tej….” Devi tried to hold it back.
“What? He tried to extort a bribe from a student! Next thing we know, he will go ahead and bribe the ministers and MLAs to ‘help’ us out of trouble.” Tej boomed.
“Tej Bhaisaab, kam se kam mere baccho ke samne meri beizzati mat kijiye.” Alok groused.
“Beizzati bhi uski ki jati hai jiski koi izzat ho! Tumhe apne baccho ka khayal tab nahi aya jab uss student se ghoos maang rahe the? You are a Sabherwal! We have so much money that our next few generations won’t have to earn a penny, yet live life like royals, and here is our brother… Taking bribes from students!”
He could feel all eyes trained on him. The weight of embarrassment was getting unbearable and he couldn’t help but feel like everyone was seeking entertainment out of his misery. Even his own children.
He looked at his daughters who were already looking away, then his eyes trailed to his wife. She sat there, face devoid of expressions, but he knew she wasn’t remotely sorry or sympathetic for him either.
“Ab kaam ki baatein bas karo,” Devi Parjai ji’s saccharine voice rang in his ears, “khana enjoy karo. Aaj Anokhi aur Kanchan ne kuch nayi recipes try ki hai.”
He shoved a spoon full of rice and gravy into his mouth but everything had started to taste bland now.
No dish could dull the taste of dishonor.
** ** ** **
“What is this I hear about Kanchan and Yash!” Alok stormed through the door, face red with fury and completely ready to blow up on his wife.
“What?” Gayatri frowned.
“Why do I come home to complain about how insolent my daughter-in-law is?”
Oh.
So this morning’s events have been reported.
“I don’t see any reason why you have been dragged into this matter, Alok. It was between the women of this house, I think you should let it be.”
“Let it be? So that you ladies can continue to misbehave with Bhaisaab and Parjai ji? I know where Kanchan has been learning this from!”
Gayatri looked at him in confusion as he paced the room angrily.
“This is not our bahu, this is Anokhi Bhalla’s new disciple! That’s where she is learning all this impudence from! Ussi ne patti padhayi hai Kanchan ko.”
“Alok, Kanchan was unnecessarily targeted today, she was not at fault but Devi Parjayi ji kept pushing her. Any human is bound to snap after a point!”
“Not a Sabherwal bahu! Iss ghar ki bahuyein aisa bartav nahi kar sakti!” Alok gave his wife a pointed look, “Gayatri, Kanchan ko na acche se samjha do ki agar humare khandan ki bahu banke rehna hai toh aisi harkatein nahi bardasht karenge hum. Agar Sabherwal bahu hone ki zimmedariyaan nahi nibha sakti hai woh, toh usko mayke bhej denge!”
A string inside her seemed to snap.
“Sabherwalo ko Bahu nahi ek chalti phirti gudiya chahiye. Jo sab kuch unki sahuliyat ke hissab se kare, haina? Kanchan apne atma-samman ke liye kuch bol de toh aaj iss Sabherwal khandan se bardasht nahi ho raha, haina?”
Alok’s eyes went wide in shock. Over 25 years of marriage and this was the first time his wife had used that tone against him.
“Aur kya aap baar baar hume mayke bhejne ki dhamki dete rehte ho? Alok, agar ek din hum sach much mayke chale gaye na, toh yeh ghar bikhar jayega hum ‘Sabherwal Bahuo” ke bina…” Gayatri spat in anger.
“Yeh dekho… Iss Anokhi Bhalla ko iss ghar mei aaye ek saal bhi nahi hua, aur iss ghar ke hawa ka rukh hi badal gaya hai!”
“Sabherwal.” Alok looked at her stupefied. “Anokhi Bhalla Sabherwal. Aur Anokhi ke aane se kuch hai ya nahi pata nahi. Shayad humare hi sehen karne ki kshamta khatam ho chuki hai.”
She dumped his laundered clothing on the bed and strode out of the room.
** ** ** **
“Bebo se baat karta hu mai.” She heard Alok’s dejected voice.
“Iss mei baat kya karni hai? Tum pita ho uske, your decision will be final for us.” Gayatri could smell Devi Sabherwal’s sly manipulation from across the hall.
“What’s happening?” Her maternal instincts on high alert.
“Did anyone ask for you?” Tej Sabherwal asked monotonously.
“You mentioned my daughter, I think I have every right to be involved regardless of your permission.” She felt bolder after his jibe.
“Gayatri,” Alok interrupted nervously, “A very suitable groom has asked for Bebo’s hand in marriage. The family is really good.”
“Good? You mean wealthy and famous?” Gayatri asked, point-blank.
“Yes, Gayatri.” Devi Parjayi ji drawled. “Good, wealthy and famous. Do you think we will marry our daughter off with a pauper?”
“No, Devi Parjai ji.” Gayatri smiled reassuringly, “I am aware that you would never tie my daughter with a man undeserving of ‘Sabherwal’ son-in-law status.”
Surely her words had left the trio agape.
“However, Bebo has plans for herself. She is planning to apply to some ranked universities for her masters, she won’t be marrying anyone, anytime soon.” She announced with finality.
“Gayatri, aise rishte baar baar nahi aate. If she gets married into this family, Bebo will never have to worry for a single penny.” Alok justified it for the senior Sabherwals.
“Aur padhai ka kya hai? Woh log kafi modern hai, mujhe pura yakeen hai ki woh Bebo ko aage padhne ki permission de denge.” Devi added sharply.
Gayatri shook her head in disapproval. “Jaise Anokhi ko padhne ki ‘permission’ di hai? Ya jaise aapne Aastha Bhabhi ko ‘permission’ di thi?”
She could feel Tej Sabherwal’s glare piercing her skin, but she didn’t seem to care.
Right at that moment, the twins walked in followed by their newly befriended sister-in-law and their brother.
“Lo! Bebo is here, why not ask her directly.” Making the group halt at the steps upon listening to Gayatri’s words.
“What’s up fam?” Bebo asked.
Gayatri waited for Alok to speak up but he only stayed mum.
She knew it!
“Beta, your Papa, Taya ji and Tayi ji believe that they found a suitable groom for you.”
“What!?” Bebo exclaimed. “No way! No shaadi for me!” She responded immediately.
“Bebo, ladka bohot accha hai, uss se milne mei kya problem hai, huh?” Alok tried his sweet talk to convince her.
“Milne mei koi problem nahi hai, Dad. Lekin milne ke baad bhi mera answer yahi hoga! No shaadi for me!! I am only 21, for god’s sake.” She argued and looked at her siblings for support, to which Shaurya nodded comfortingly.
“Bebo, tumhare peeche dekho.” Devi coaxed. “Tumhari Anokhi Bhabhi bhi toh tumhari age ki hi hai and she is doing so well in her married life.”
Anokhi, who was silent until now, finally spoke up.
“Par Badi Maa, shaadi karna mera aur Shaurya ka mutual faisla tha. Bebo ko mera example dena sahi nahi hoga. Mai khud shaadi karna chahti thi, Bebo nahi karna chahti.”
“Exactly, Badi Maa.” Shaurya joined in. “Agar hum saath mei khush hai, toh sirf iss liye kyuki hum saath rehna chahte the. Anokhi aur mai shaadi se related responsibilities nibhane ke liye ready the. Bebo ready nahi hai, toh usse majboor karna sahi nahi hoga.”
“Thanks Bhaiya, Bhabhi. Please, Dad, I am not ready for shaadi. In fact I won’t be marrying anyone until I turn 25, at least.” Bebo sighed.
“Don’t worry, Bebo. Nobody is going to marry you off until you say so.” Gayatri smiled coldly at her husband.
** ** ** **
“Gayatri!” Alok yelled her name as soon as he shut the door of their bedroom. “What was that downstairs? You have outright disrespected me in front of Bhaisaab and Parjai ji!”
“Since when did standing up for my daughters become disrespectful to my husband? In fact, you should have supported Bebo as well! I have proved to be a good parent, unlike you!”
“I get it! Ever since I have been fired from my position at SIAC, you think I have become worthless? Mujhe sab samajh aa raha hai, tum bhi sab ki tarah mujhe neecha dikhana chahti ho!”
“I think you have become worthless? No, Alok. You think you have become worthless. In fact, you have always seen yourself as someone lesser than your brothers. Isn’t that why you constantly use flattery to get ahead in life?”
“Gayatri!” Her husband thundered.
“That’s what you tried to do today as well, am I right? You tried to use our daughter to get back in their good books!”
“Tumhe pata hai maine kitni mehnat ki thi inn sab pe? SIAC Chandigarh na sahi, kamse kam Patiala campus ke board pe position mil jati mujhe.”
“Lekin sirf chamchagiri karke!” Gayatri exclaimed. “Apni mehnat se nahi. Jaise aaj sab kuch aapse chinn gaya hai na, ek din Patiala campus ki position bhi chinn jaati kyuki Bhaisaab aapko woh sab kuch ek karz ki tarah dete.”
Gayatri covered the gap between them and held his arms gently, “Aap kab samjhoge? Tej Bhaisaab aur Devi Parjai ji ka har ek karz aapko kabhi na kabhi chukana hi padega. Woh bhi with interest,”
“Patiala campus banana mera sapna tha.”
“Sapna toh Shaurya ka tha, mehnat bhi uski thi. Aapki toh zidd hai. Aapko Patiala campus banane ka sirf credit chahiye.” Gayatri shook her head in dejection. “Aapko Bhaisaab aur Parjai ji ke saath yeh karz ka khel khelna hai, toh kheliye. Par ghar ke baccho ko aur mujhe iss mei mat ghaseetiye. Kyuki ab ghar ki bahuein chup-chap bardasht nahi karengi.”
- - - - - - - - - -
A/N: Tried to give Gayatri the strength she always wished she had... I wished she had! I tried to keep Alok same as the show, as much as I could but many wanted me to not make him a molester. So, I took care of that. This one is probably a little shorter than the previous one, but I don't like dramatic concepts so didn't try to extend it unnecessarily by adding too much masala. 😆 Niche ke surprise hai... 😃
I am touched by the response you guys give me. Thank you so so so much ❤️
Bonus:
#4.5 Ramesh Bhalla
The hot summer wind blew inside the small living room of his humble abode. Ramesh Bhalla used his handkerchief to wipe the beads of sweat forming on his forehead and sat on the sofa.
His son has been after him to buy an AC or at least an air cooler. But he had strictly refused to spend another penny for Raja's comfort.
The father inside him was torn apart for his son. One part of him wanted to protect him from the mess Raja had created. But the other part of him knew that his son would never learn unless he went out himself. His 'investment' had failed him miserably by dropping out of his engineering course and now he would be lucky if Raja ever landed a decent job for himself.
Kya galati ho gayi thi mujhse, Rabba.
He sighed and grabbed the magazine lying on the table to fan himself some cool air when his eyes landed on the shiny cover.
LEARNING HAS NO LIMITS: SHAURYA SABHERWAL.
The full cover page had his son-in-law plastered over it. Dressed to the nines, holding an award in his hand.
Ramesh flipped it open to the pages where his interview was published, surprisingly it was dominated by a picture of his daughter sitting on a fancy lounge chair while his jawai was leaning against it's back, resting his thigh on the armrest with Anokhi’s elbow resting on his thigh.
Shaurya had proudly given credit for a new education scheme introduced in SIAC to Anokhi for helping him formulate the plan. The article went on to explain how female students would reap unconditional benefits owing to the new scheme and the writer went on to sing praises of the couple for setting a milestone in the country's education system.
His eyes lingered on his daughter's image. Ramesh would never accept it, but her mere mention made his chest swell with pride. She had barely started her master's degree but Anokhi Bhalla Sabherwal had achieved more than what his ancestors all put together had achieved in their lifetime. Last month his neighbor had barged inside his house to show him another TV interview of Tej Sabherwal and Shaan Sabherwal where his samdhi hadn't hesitated to say that "Anokhi hamare institute mei chaar chand lagayegi. We cannot wait to have her on board!"
Looking at her attain heights he never thought she could, make his shoulders weigh heavy with guilt. She was making a place for herself in the world and he was nowhere a part of it. He, Anokhi BHALLA Sabherwal's father, was not a part of her success.
At least from the bits he heard from her conversations he heard from Rama, he knew she was happy with her husband. He frequently heard his wife singing praises of her son-in-law to her friends.
Shaurya ji aise hai… Damad ji vaise hai…
He still remembered the day Shaurya Sabherwal had shown at his doorstep, asking for his daughter’s hand in marriage. He remembered the anger soaring in the back of his mind.
Is this why his daughter eloped? How long had they known each other? Had Anokhi run off to unite with her lover? What sort of outrageous behavior was this?
Shaurya’s composure reeked of self-assurance. He had been unafraid and confident, had unashamedly admitted his love for Anokhi and given him the respect of Anokhi’s father, not knowing that Ramesh had truly not deserved it.
However, Ramesh knew it right then and there, Shaurya would marry his daughter even without his blessings. He wasn't joking about that.
He had agreed with everything Shaurya had said that day. After all, his daughter had proved him wrong.
The couple had visited them a few months back, Anokhi’s cousin was getting married and in the mehndi function, he had witnessed Shaurya patiently feed morsels of food as Anokhi sat idle with her hands covered in henna. It made him realize that he could have sold his soul but not have been able to find a husband so caring, so loving for his daughter. Vineet Bhatia could affirm that, and unsurprisingly, he had almost forced Anokhi to meet the same fate.
He could not complain of her distant behavior. She had made a life for herself, away from all the misery he brought to her, devoid of all the struggles he created for her.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
A/N 2.0: Surprise me back with your comments and likes!
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