Part 6
The lawyer handed the Man in Blue the court papers and took his leave. There was a tense silence in the room as the papers got handed from person-to-person so that they may read and understand the conditions.
Ragini felt someone stand beside her and take a hold of her hands, which she then realized were trembling. One glance over confirmed her instinct, it was her mother, always gentle, always supportive.
She looked up at the older woman pleadingly. Please don't send me there. I don't want to be there. Not with him. Please keep me here. All she got in return was a look of immense pity and a tightening of the hands that held hers in comfort.
The Man in Blue scanned the court papers once more and slammed the file down on the table in irritation, making her jump. "This is ridiculous! When will I be free of her? You!" He pointed at her accusingly. "I know you did this somehow, but it won't change anything, samjhi tum? None of us are going to fall for your ploys anymore."
Ragini shirked under his accusing stance and had the intense desire to hide behind her mother so she could be out of his line of sight.
"Lakshya, be careful how you speak with her. She is still your wife." Her father-in-law spoke harshly with his son. "Don't for a moment think that this isn't your own doing. We told you not to be so hasty with the divorce process."
The Man in Blue scoffed at the insinuation. "Kuch bhi ho Papa, yeh ladki phir mere gale pad gayi hai."
Ragini felt the sting of tears in her eyes. She never wanted to be a burden on anyone. She never wanted to force her presence in anyone's life. She had never felt so hated.
"Enough Lakshya. You know what the court's ruling is and for once in your life you will follow through with something." He turned to her Baba and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Shekhar-ji, for the next 6 months, Ragini is our responsibility and we will take utmost care of her health."
"Durga Prasad-ji, we are sorry once again for his trouble. Please tell us if there are any... ah... complications and we will come and deal with them right away." He looked over her, impassive, and turned to Maa. "Mishty, please ask Ragini to pack her things and return to Maheshwari Bavan with Lakshya."
Ragini felt her heart breaking further. Her Baba didn't look saddened to see her go. He just looked sorry that she would be inconveniencing the members of the Man in Blue's family for the next half year.
She managed to hold her sobs until she was in the privacy of her own room.
"You are cruel Baba." Swara stated quietly. Her low voice still traveled easily over the silence of the room.
"Swara!" Her mother scolded. "That is no way to speak to your Baba."
"Why Maa? What else can I say about him? You've lived with Ragini and you know this is not the same Ragini that did all those horrible things. Then why is he still punishing her for the things that someone else did? Everyone in this room has contributed to the mess that we all just went through. No one is innocent. Everyone lied and manipulated and said and did mean things. And everyone is forgiven except for her. She, who doesn't even know what her fault is in all this." She looked around the room at some angry, some outraged, and yet some contrite and some sad faces. "You all have terrible double standards."
"I must agree with Swara." Bade Papa came to her defense and it made Swara smile. He would always be the voice of reason and righteousness. "While Ragini is recovering from her memory loss it is not correct to punish her. I will not allow anyone to treat Ragini differently until her memory has returned."
"Swara beta, will you be returning with us as well?" Badi Maa asked tentatively.
"Ji Badi Maa. I will go get my things also."
Swara rushed up the stairs and hurried to check on her sister. Their family had been particularly cruel to her recently and she knew it had hurt the younger girl more than she had ever let on.
She peeked into Ragini's room and found her sister curled up on a chair, her arms around her knees, head resting on her bent knees.
Ragini lifted her head when she heard Swara enter the room.
"Ragini..." Swara started, but was quickly cut off by the obviously distressed girl. "Apparently I never unpacked when I came back to the Baadi." She indicated to two untouched suitcases sitting in a corner of the room. "So I am ready to go."
"Ragini." She tried again, placing a hand on her sister's shoulder, but was cut off again. "Please tell me Swara." The younger girl pleaded with her. "Tell me why Baba hates me so much. What did I do?"
How could she? How could she tell her about all the atrocities that were committed in the past? She was certain that Ragini wouldn't be able to hear them.
"He doesn't hate you." She tried to soothe. "A lot had happened recently. The whole family is just under stress."
Ragini huffed at the deflection. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me. At this point, maybe I don't want to know what I have done. From everyone's reaction I can tell that it's pretty terrible."
Swara was unsure of how to comfort the younger girl. Her urge to tell the truth and her urge to protect her sister were battling intensely in her mind.
Ragini stood up and mopped her face with her dupatta. "Are we ready to go? I hope you are coming along too. I hated that you had to stay away from Sanskaar because of me." She said contritely, a hopeful look on her face.
"I wanted to stay with you Ragini, and Sanskaar understood that. Yes, I will be coming along as well. Will you help me pack?"
The goodbye was cold at best. Ragini had never been away from her family. She had never gone away on school trips, had never done sleepovers with friends, and they had never taken vacations. This would be her first time away from home and her family. She tried desperately to keep her emotions in check when she got cold blessings from all her family members (except Maa).
She followed Swara quietly out the door as she felt an emotional numbness spread through her. Probably, when she had been married, she had gotten a warm farewell from her loved ones, and maybe it was punishment for whatever she had done that the send-away that she actually remembered was this cold one.
She absentmindedly followed Swara and Sanskaar to their car. She didn't even think to travel instead with her husband and his parents. Thankfully, no one said anything about this arrangement.
The journey was silent as she tried to ready herself for the experience of a new house with a whole slew of people she didn't know and that didn't seem very fond of her. Did they all hate her as much as the Man in Blue?
She was lucky to have Swara there, she reminded herself. Else she might have been facing this situation all alone.
Sanskaar pulled up to a grand house and her nervousness went up a few notches. Upon entering the house Ragini was faced with more opulence and the same crowd of people from the other day. Not all looked unhappy to see her but the mood was certainly somber.
Swara patiently introduced her to and explained who each family member was. Somehow, she was not surprised to learn that Sanskaar and Lakshya were cousins, not brothers. They were too different. Here was Sanskaar, watching his wife devotedly, the smile on his face a slight indication of his joy at having her back. And on the other side was Lakshya who had been curiously missing since she entered (or technically, re-entered) his home.
Once the introductions were done there was a heavy silence in the house. No one seemed sure what to say in this situation. Finally it was Lakshya's Maa that broke the silence. "Swara, why don't you show Ragini her room? She can rest a little before dinner. I will have both your bags sent up." Her mother-in-law suggested and everyone else readily agreed.
Her sister led her up the stairs and led her to a room she assumed was supposed to hers'. "This is Lakshya's room." Swara announced. Ragini looked around and saw evidence of his things everywhere.
"Is it possible for me to stay in a different room? Please Swara?" She asked in hesitance, unsure of how this suggestion would be perceived. Surely, they would understand? She knew the Man in Blue probably wouldn't object.
Ragini was expecting some resistance but Swara complied easily and took her to the other side of the house to a different room. "This is the guest room. And I am just down the hall from here in case you need anything." She assured. "You can stay here comfortably, there won't be a problem. I will speak with Badi Mom and Bade Papa."
Swara left Ragini in the room to freshen up and made her way to Bade Papa's room to inform them of Ragini's request for a separate room. Lakshya had stormed off somewhere the moment they had gotten home and his behaviour was of obvious concern to them.
She felt a twinge of guilt of not having thought of a separate room for Ragini herself. Thinking back to her own situation with Sanskaar and initially having to share a room with someone who, though was not entirely a stranger, was not someone she knew well and felt comfortable around. Ragini was in just a different boat altogether.
Swara explained the situation and Ragini's request to Badi Mom and Bade Papa and they too readily agreed with the request.
"It's good that you're here beta, I was going to come speak with you anyway." Badi Maa sat her down beside her on the small settee and Swara watched her curiously. "Beta, are you only back to support your sister? Or...?" Badi Maa trailed off hesitantly, clearing her throat uncomfortably.
Swara smiled and laid a reassuring hand on top of the older woman's. "Ragini isn't the only reason I am here Badi Mom. Sanskaar and I have spoken and we are going to give this marriage another try." She felt her cheeks heat as Badi Mom and Badi Papa smiled at this news.
After a few more exchanged words she took her leave.
She had very boldly told Sanskaar that she wanted to give an honest chance to their relationship, but what did that mean? What did that look like? Here she was back in this house, but now what? How would they move forward? What were his expectations of her?
She pondered all this fiddling with her mangalsutra and making her way back to Sanskaar's room. Correction: their room.
***
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin
