#5 Devi and Tej Sabherwal
“Anokhi, tum khane mei tel bohot zyada dalti ho. Yeh tumhare pind ka dhaba nahi hai, Sabherwals ka kitchen hai.” Devi took a dig at her daughter-in-law as she stirred the gravy in the pot. “Tumhe pata hai na, Tej aur mai oily khana nahi khate.”
Anokhi opened her mouth to reply but her husband barged in at the same moment, “Anokhi! Come on, let's go… Meeting starts in forty-five minutes!”
“Shaurya, Anokhi is busy right now. You can go ahead, she will join you soon.”
Shaurya frowned at his Badi Maa and then at his wife, “Badi Maa, she has to be at this meeting before any of us. Professor Singh and Anokhi are heading this meeting on behalf of their department.”
“Shaurya, I understand that she is assisting Professor Singh, but I am sure he would understand that his T.A. is also a daughter-in-law of the Sabherwal family.”
“Badi Maa, I am a Sabherwal Bahu, but that does not give me a free pass to ignore my professional duties.”
“And what about your familial duties? If you leave the kitchen midway, do you wish for the entire family to go to work on an empty stomach?” Devi Sabherwal sneered.
Gayatri who was invisible until now, finally spoke up, “Parjai ji, she was up early and has done most of the work alone, let her get going. I will take care of whatever is left.”
But she was silenced by Devi’s angry glare.
“Badi Maa, do you realize this makes no sense! Ghar pe Anokhi ke hisse ka kaam karne ke liye inta bada staff ka team hai, lekin office mei uske hisse ka kaam Anokhi ko khud hi karna padega.”
“Shaurya, yeh ghar ki ladies ka mamla hai, tum nahi samjhoge. Kuch kaam ghar ki bahu ko hi karna padta hai.”
“Badi Maa, mai puri koshish kar rahi hu ghar ki zimmedariyan nibhane ki!” Anokhi tried to diffuse the situation. “Mai samajhti hu ki meri ek bahu hone ki kya responsibilities hai, par aap bhi toh samajhiye na… Agar mai thoda adjust kar rahi hu, toh aapko bhi toh thoda adjust karna chahiye na, please?”
“Badi Maa, aap Anokhi ki help toh kar nahi sakti hai toh kamse kam uske liye aur issues toh khadi mat kijiye...” Her son argued and pulled Anokhi away from the counter. “Anyways, we don’t have time for this discussion. Anokhi, your bags and files are already in the car, let’s leave, we are already late!”
“Bye, Badi Maa!” Anokhi turned slightly as Shaurya dragged her out of the room.
She fumed silently and watched Anokhi instruct the help to head for the kitchen from a distance.
The family always ate food cooked by the daughter-in-laws of the family, the staff rarely entered the kitchen unless there was a mass of guests to serve. And ever since this girl had married into the Sabherwal family, Kanchan had started slacking in the name of visiting Yash in Delhi while Anokhi herself rushed to college. The staff had started to grace the kitchen frequently. Too frequently for her liking.
And no matter how hard she tried to convince Anokhi to focus on her new family, she continued to remain wilful about her career.
** ** ** **
“Anokhi bhabhi, Kitty aur mai mall jaa rahe hai trip ke liye shopping karne. Do you need something?” Bebo stood at the end of the staircase while Anokhi and Kanchan brought out a tray of tea and snacks for everyone.
“Oh ha!” Anokhi exclaimed. “I need a grey jacket to match my formal skirt on the final day’s visit.”
“Anokhi, maine tumhe bataya tha na?” Tej interrupted. “Agle hafte Shaurya ke cousin ki shaadi hai, toh tum iss trip pe kaise jaa sakti ho? You have to come with us.”
“Haa. Mujhe bataya tha, Bade Papa, lekin apne kabhi mujhse pucha hi nahi ki chalungi ya nahi. Aur yeh college trip toh kafi pehle hi decide ho chuka tha.”
“Pucha nahi ka kya matlab hai? Ab hum bade ghar ke baccho se permission lenge kya?” He chuckled.
Devi saw Anokhi’s eyes meet Shaurya’s across the room.
“Sorry, Bade Papa, agar koi normal vacation hota toh mai sab kuch chod ke aap sab ke saath shadi mei chalti… But this is a study tour. Itne bade bade economists aur business entities se milenge hum. Aap jante ho na, after all, apne khud arrange kiya hai yeh sab.”
When Tej gave a look to her, Devi knew he wanted her to step in.
“Anokhi, Shaurya ki shaadi mei uska cousin specially London se aya tha. Agar tum nahi chalogi toh, it won’t be right, haina?” Devi smiled.
“Badi Maa, mai samajhti hu. But aap bhi samajhiye, ek shadi miss karne pe mera koi nuksan nahi hoga. But, if I miss the trip, mera itna bada mauka chhut jayega.” Anokhi argued.
“Tayi ji, rehne do na.” Kitty butted in. “Hum bhi toh shadi miss karne wale hai.”
“Tumse kisi ne pucha, Kitty? Aur waise bhi, Anokhi humare ghar ki bahu hai. Log expect karte hai ki woh saath aayegi.” She shut them with a pointed look. “Aur Anokhi, you are not going on this trip. Tumhare har kaam ke liye humne tumhe permission di hai, itna ki tum ghar ke kaam chod kar college ka kaam karti ho. Hum bas itna chahte hai ki tum iss family function ko attend karo. Bohot zyada maang rahe hai kya?”
“Badi Maa, Anokhi nahi chalegi humare saath. She is going on this trip.” Shaurya finally spoke up. “Usne bohot pehle hi decide kiya tha ki usse trip pe jayegi, bohot excited hai woh ki pehli baar inte dur college trip pe jaa rahi hai. Mai usko upset nahi karna chahta.” He pressed his lips together.
“Aur vaise bhi, Anokhi jo chahe kar sakti hai. Yeh uska haqq hai.” His voice turned cold. “Anokhi ko kisi ke liye apni khushiyo ki kemat chukane ki zarurat nahi hai.”
When the kids left the elders to be, Devi’s nervous eyes caught the sight of her husband’s evident disapproval.
** ** **
“I must say, Mrs. Sabherwal, your daughter-in-law is a great cook!” Mrs. Vohra mumbled as she munched on a fancy snack Anokhi had prepared for her ladies club get-together.
That, I cannot deny. Devi Sabherwal thought to herself.
“Of course, Mrs. Vohra. Sabherwals choose nothing but the best.” She boasted.
“OMG! Is that Aastha Kashyap? Inside your house!?” Another lady gasped from beside her.
Devi stiffened and slowly turned around to see the butler escorting Aastha towards the pool side where Anokhi and Kanchan had headed.
“Devi, had you not kicked her out years ago?”
“Oh no, Dolly! It was Aastha Kashyap who had walked away from this house. Gutsy woman, I tell you!” Devi glared at the woman which effectively shut her up.
Her mood to keep up with appearances had vanished with Aastha’s appearance, so she got rid of her fellow social butterflies sooner than she planned. She could hear the three women giggling and having a gala time with Aastha Sabh- Kashyap, and she was tempted to step on their little party but eventually decided to make way to her own room.
It was nearly time for dinner but not a soul was seen in the house. Devi made her way to the pool side, knowing well that the woman had still not left and had probably held Anokhi and Kanchan with her senseless gossip.
The scene however made her halt at the otherside of the yard.
Shaurya, Shaan and Bebo had joined Anokhi, Aastha, and Kanchan in a game of cards, by the looks of it, Bebo and Aastha were winning the round.
Shaurya was clearly throwing a tantrum as he pettily slapped his cards on the table and came around the group and snatched Aastha’s cards from her hands. Everyone broke into laughter as he spoiled her game like a kid who could not bear to lose a game.
“Ek kaam tha tera,” She jumped in her place as her husband’s voice broke her reverie, “Aastha aur uski ut-patang soch ko iss ghar se aur Shaurya se dur rakhne ka. Woh bhi thik se nahi hua tumse, Devi.”
He shook his head and reproached her.
“Itne saal tak maine kisi chiz mei kami nahi ki, Tej. Shaurya ko sab kuch sikhaya, iss kabil banaya ke woh Sabherwals ka ruthba aasmano tak le jaye! Ek din Aastha ghar kya aa gayi, aap toh mujhe-”
“Ek din, ek din karke hi yeh aurat wapas har din ke liye vapas aa jayegi, Devi. What do you think, how long will Shaurya and Shaan let her visit?” He gave her a stink eye, “Soon, they will ask her to move in here.”
“Mai aisa nahi hone dungi!”
“Tum toh Anokhi ko iss ghar ki bahu bhi nahi banana chahti thi, ab dekho, kuch hi mahino mei woh apna 2nd wedding anniversary manane wali hai! Tum se yeh toh expected nahi tha, Devi.” Tej taunted, “Iss khandan ke niyyam aur parampara ko sambhal nahi payi tum.”
When he walked up the stairs, Devi stood there, transfixed in her position.
Kaha gadbad ho gayi mujhse?
** ** **
The ladies entered Shaan’s spacious cabin and the said man rose from his seat to greet them, “Bhabhi, aap thoda jaldi aa gayi. Function shuru hone mei time hai…”
Shaan helped her into a chair while Yash did the same for his mother and his wife. The family was attending SIAC’s annual fest on Anokhi’s insistence. Despite Tej and Devi’s refusal, Anokhi had participated in a performance that she heard would be a couple dance.
“Tej ne jaldi bulaya tha, Shaan. Woh chahte hai ki mai kuch naye sponsors se milu.” To which she was surprised too. Tej never included her in his professional matters.
“Haan, woh iss saal humare sponsors bhi apni wives ko saath laa rahe haina ma’am, shayad issi liye.” A man who Devi identified as a staff member spoke abruptly.
To say that Devi was disappointed would be an understatement.
Of course, I am the Sabherwal show piece. What good will I do in the office of SIAC?
“Taayi ji, chaliye naa.” Kanchan distracted her, sensing the discomfort, “Iss saal humne Britain ka Victorian Era theme rakha hai! Mai aapko sara decor aur props dikhati hu!!”
And she agreed begrudgingly.
They roamed the campus and for once, Devi heartily praised Kanchan’s creativity and resourcefulness.
“I know, iss baar kharcha zyada hua hai, but the sponsors loved the idea.” Kanchan babbled as she explained how she procured fancy lamps and candle stands to complete the set up, “Aur Anokhi bhi thi mere saath, uske ideas ne bhi humara budget kafi kam kar diya.”
Devi nodded in acknowledgement and Gayatri smiled at her daughter-in-law’s enthusiasm, but soon Kanchan got pulled into a group of students who demanded her attention, so Yash led them to the back stage of the auditorium and directed them towards the green room.
The program was about to start but Gayatri insisted on wishing Anokhi good luck for her welcome performance so they made their way inside a crowded green room.
They found Anokhi at another exit of the make up room, surprisingly, accompanied by Shaurya who hovered over his wife, making her giggle now and then.
“Shaurya, yeh mera pehla stage performance nahi hai.” She slapped his hand away which was trying to touch the hair curling machine, “And stop playing with my hair! You will end up spoiling all the hard work!”
“Wifey, mai help kar raha hu!” He sang innocently, which made Anokhi and her friend Reema giggle.
“Yaar… Anokhi, mujhe bhi Shaurya Sir jaisa koi pyaar karne wala husband dila de!”
Devi twisted her face in disapproval.
Girls nowadays have no shame! Talking about their professor as if he weren’t standing right there.
“Reema, mere jaisa kyu chahiye?” To Devi’s surprise, Shaurya teased back, “Tumhare paas toh woh Watchman, I mean, ACP hai naa…” Anokhi turned to him and they both shared a high-five.
“Shaurya ko kya ho gaya hai, aise behave karte hai students ke samne?” Devi snapped.
“Sirf student nahi hai, Parjayi ji. Reema toh Anokhi ki best friend hai, humare ghar aati-jaati rehti hai…” Gayatri justified it politely, “Aur apko pata nahi hai, Reema bhi Anokhi ko bohot chhedti hai.”
Anokhi spotted them standing behind her and rose from her seat. She was dressed in a beautiful blue and off-white color silk ball gown with a large fashionable flair. The couple quickly made their way to greet them. A little chit-chat later, Kanchan came inside and asked Devi and Gayatri to head for their seats in the auditorium.
Just as they were out the door, Devi turned to glance at Anokhi when she heard her complaining of not being able to bend due to the large circumferential gown she donned and watched Shaurya go down on his knees to fix her sandals.
And by the extended noise of “Awww” around the room, she was sure she wasn’t the only one watching them. When she met Gayatri at the other end of the corridor, Devi was observed with a bitter-sweet smile gracing her lips.
** ** **
When everybody assembled at the dining room, Tej noticed Shaurya’s absence immediately.
“Shaurya nahi aya?” Tej asked everyone.
“Bade papa, Shaurya kaha gaye hai pata nahi, but kaha hai late ghar aayenge.” Anokhi explained as she took her seat and lifted a plate to serve herself.
He gave her a distasteful look. Women of the Sabherwal house used to wait for their husbands to come home and would patiently wait until the men left from their place, and here was this girl.
Anokhi Bhalla Sabherwal.
Sitting along with the family, forcing them to let the other women sit along with her while they served themselves. Under normal circumstances, Tej Sabherwal would have gone off on her and put her in place. But, she had the entire family supporting her.
At least, the younger generation.
They were in the middle of the meal when Shaurya walked into the hall talking to someone. And as they got closer, Tej Sabherwal identified the voice of Aastha Kashyap.
“Hello everyone!” Shaurya entered the dining area and stood behind Anokhi’s chair.
“Namaste Bhaisaab, Devi Bhabhi.” Aastha greeted politely.
“Aastha Maa!” Anokhi beamed and hugged her at the waist, “You are right on time. Aapke liye khana serve karu?”
“Nahi Anokhi. Mai ek conference se aa rahi hu, maine aur Shaurya ne wahi pe dinner kar liya.” Shaurya pulled a chair for Aastha to sit next to her beloved daughter-in-law.
“Aastha Tayi ji, aap Chandigarh mei aayi hai aur kisko bataya bhi nahi?” Kanchan complained.
“Haina!” Shaurya interrupted Aastha’s response. “Mai uss conference mei nahi jata toh mujhe pata bhi nahi chalta ki Maa yaha aayi hai!” He sagged in his seat dramatically.
“Aisa kuch nahi hota!” Aastha smacked his arm. “I was going to surprise you tomorrow morning. Because I knew that tonight the event would go on way past dinner time.”
Tej Sabherwal frowned at the chatter disturbing his peaceful meal. His usually disciplined family would turn into an untamed animal shelter in Aastha Kashyap’s presence.
“Agar aane ka irada nahi tha toh kadam iss taraf kyu mud gaye?” Tej broke into their happy conversation.
“Woh,” Aastha shifted in her seat uncomfortably, “Bhaisaab mai toh hotel-”
“Bade Papa, mai leke aaya inko yaha. Can you believe she was going to stay at the accommodation provided by the conference committee?”
“Toh galat kya hai, Shaurya? Yeh yaha tumhari Maa banke nahi aayi hai, Professor banke aayi hai.” Devi jibbed at Aastha.
“Bhabhi, Aastha Shaurya ki Maa hai. Woh uski koi part time position nahi hai ki jab chahe switch kar sake.” Shaan defended.
“Maa hoti, toh aise chodke nahi jaati.” Tej butted in, “Aastha, mehmaan sirf tab tak acche lagte hai jab tak woh ek hadd tak aate jate rahe.”
The twins gasped at his rudeness but he didn’t seem to care. He was fed up with Aastha Kashyap’s interference in their life and he was sick of Anokhi Bhalla’s constant nari mukti morcha debates.
“Mehman nahi hai yeh!” Shaurya gritted out, clearly having enough of Tej’s humiliating words. “She is my mother. She is visiting her son after months, so, stop creating a scene every time she shows up because at least 25 saal baad woh meri Maa banne ki koshish kar rahi hai!”
“Maaf kijiyega Bhaisaab, aapke parivar ko iss baat se dikkat nahi thi ki mai Shaurya ki Maa nahi ban payi. Aap ko iss baat ki dikkat hai ki mai SIRF Maa banke nahi reh payi.” Aastha bit back.
“Maa…” Shaurya consoled his mother, angering Tej even more.
“Nahi Shaurya.” Aastha rose from her seat, “Aaj toh yeh baat saaf kar hi dete hai. Have you not seen, they always try to emphasise on how they are ‘allowing’ Anokhi to study? How they ‘allow’ Kanchan to visit Yash and her own mother? Yeh bhi koi allow karne ki cheez hai?”
“Let me be clear, Tej Bhaisaab... Mujhe naukri karne ke liye apki permission ki zarurat nahi thi, naa aaj hai. Mujhe Shaurya ki Maa banne ke liye aapki permission ki zarurat nahi thi, aur aaj bhi nahi hai.” She looked straight into his eyes, like she had done all those years ago. “Aastha ko Aastha bane rehne ke liye Sabherwals ke permission ki zarurat nahi hai! Na hi Gayatri, Kanchan aur meri bahu Anokhi ko hai!”
Tej could feel the humiliation rise up his throat. He looked around and saw all of them, especially the women, even his wife, looking at Aastha in silent admiration.
Devi sensed his gaze and straightened up, “Yeh roz roz ka dining table pe tamasha karna zaruri nahi hai. Shanti se khana khayiye sab.”
He gave up and stalked away leaving the remaining food on his plate.
** ** **
That night Devi prepared the bed to sleep while Tej kept pacing the floor in anger. Anokhi and Shaurya had convinced Aastha to stay with them tonight and despite not being in favor of their suggestion, Devi kept quiet to avoid another round of words.
“Aaj Shaurya ke samne hote hue, uss Aastha ne mujhe beizzat kiya hai, Devi.” Tej’s ice cold voice put a break on her thoughts.
“Aastha bohot kareeb aa gayi hai uske.” She gave him a sad smile.
“Aastha ko iss ghar se door karne ke liye kuch karna padega.” Tej stopped at the open window and stood gazing into the dark sky. “Kapurthala wale college se baat karke, uska transfer kahi door karvana padega.”
“Koi fayida nahi hoga.” Devi stated calmly, making her husband whirl around in surprise. “Shaurya and Anokhi apni Maa ko apne aap se itna door hone hi nahi denge, Tej. Ya toh usse yaha job lene pe majboor kar denge ya phir Shaurya usko SIAC Patiala mei permanent post de dega.”
“Toh kuch aur socho!” he boomed. “Vaise bhi, aaj kal tum bhi Anokhi ki taraf narmi dikha rahi ho. Khana cook banane laga hai, Anokhi der se ghar aati hai aur ab toh uske Master’s ke padhai ke liye Delhi jane ki baat kar rahi hai! Aur tumne kya kiya?”
Tej towered over her, “Tumne usse kuch bhi nahi kaha. Sabherwal khandan ki bahu-”
“Ab chup chap bardash karne walo mei se nahi hai. Woh zamana gaya jab bahuyien sab kuch seh leti thi, aaj kal ki ladkiya nahi sehti hai aur naa hi sunti hai.Mere kehne se woh rukegi kya, Tej? Mai Anokhi pe zor dalungi toh Shaurya shor machayega.” Devi stepped closer with her eyes blazing. “Shaurya aur Shaan baap-bete hai, par woh dono ek jaise nahi hai Tej. Shaurya ki biwi ke saath koi nainsaafi hogi toh woh chup nahi baithega. Maine yeh baat man liya hai, aap bhi man lenge toh behtar hoga.”
- - - - - - - - -
Sorry for the late update! This was a little tough one to write 😃
Also, I have been a little occupied but I managed to type this out!! Please do leave your comments, I promise, I will read each one of them!!
Love.
Akshu 😊
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