CHAPTER
34
"What
happened to them after that?" Paro asked. They replied that Alina was reduced
to the maid of the house when she was actually the malkin. They noticed that
Paro's face fell and assured her that as long as her sister delivers a son, she
would be fine. "I feel so bad for Alina jeeja. Nandu jeeja has told me about
her. She seems to be a wonderful lady," Paro said. They nodded in agreement
having heard only nice things from the grapevine. "Baisa, I think you should
make sure that your life doesn't end up like hers. Men have certain
expectations which if you don't satisfy, they will stray," Manjiri advised. The
trio continued to gossip as Paro left to her office.
Paro
couldn't focus on her work anymore. She couldn't stop thinking of Alina jeeja.
She tried calling her sister but her cell phone was switched off. Manjiri's
words affected her deeply. Were men really selfish? Did they care only about
their future sons? Did they get married only to start a family? Didn't
companionship mean anything to them? But Rudra had never mentioned children.
She wanted to assume it was because of his miserable childhood. He seemed very
happy when they spend time with Shanti. Was he ready to be a father? She still
wanted two sons like Bholenath. But she hadn't become pregnant yet. She
remembered how Maithili jeeja was treated when she first stayed in the haveli.
Would Kakisa become mean to her again? Will Rudra still stand by her side?
Shantanu
had seen Paro disappear down the stairs. He had heard bits and pieces of their
conversation. Rudra was supposed to be her dewaana. "Here," he interrupted the
women handing over two bottles of liquor to them. They were hesitant, knowing
well what befalls them when they lose their senses. They didn't trust him
seeing the devil in his eyes. They continued to talk softening their voices.
"My name is Shantanu. I teach English here. I just want to know about the woman
who just left," he told them directly. They exchanged glances. "Why do you want
to know about her?" Vaishalli asked. He replied that her story sounds like it's
from a movie. And that he finds it fascinating. "She was lucky to be stopped
before she stepped into hell. Nothing more to say," Poonam said showing him to
the door.
Paro
stood at the window of the office she shared with Shatabdi and pondered what
her husband wanted. She wished her friend was with her. She would know what his
BSD heart of his wanted. As far she realised, she wasn't disappointing him in
any way. Then she remembered the Thakurain whom she had invited against Kakisa's
wish. "Hey Bholenath, just bring him home to me. So that I can explain myself,"
she prayed.
A
thick veil of dust was seen at the horizon. The roar of a jeep was heard. She
didn't wait to see who was driving. She raced down the stairs and the parking
lot. The other women in the campus all stopped their work to see what the
commotion was about. She leapt into his arms as soon as he pulled over. He
needed a minute to steady himself and another to inhale her perfume. It was his wife, his
Paro. His fingers wound up in her hair as his lips captured hers. To his
surprise, she deepened the kiss. It felt so good to hold her in his arms again.
Each hour felt like a decade away from her. And when she was with him, time
just stopped. But this wasn't his Paro. His wife was nervous to hold his hands
in public. He pulled out and just cupped her face. They both heard the teasing
laughter from the group closest to them. Paro was confused. She thought he
would like it if she sheds her inhibitions. He simply kissed her forehead and
reached over to take a bag out of the jeep. "What's going on?" she
asked noticing the strain on his face. "Let's go to your office," he
said putting his arm over her shoulder.
Meanwhile,
Mala combed the entire Haveli for Maithili. She seemed to be nicest of the lot.
Hence, was easy to manipulate. She found her cooing to her little girl. She
recognized the design on the baby's dress. Blue butterflies. Paro's Rukmini.
"Paro must have made this," she commented entering their room. Shanti
smiled as said Papo, papo as she called her aunt. Maithili just nodded
politely holding her daughter close. Mala saw a large shadow approach and
guessing it was her niece she asked, "Your daughter seems very sweet but
can I say something?" Maithili nodded and Sunheri stopped just outside.
"You should send her to your mother's place where she will be raised
properly. You don't want her to be spoilt like your sister-in-law here do
you?" she continued. The younger woman sternly replied out that Sunheri is
a very capable young woman who is beloved by the entire family. She wasn't
spoilt. Outside her door, Sunheri started to cry in silence. "Capable? Of
what, eating? That's the only thing she is good at," Mala scoffed. The
younger woman couldn't believe that this was the same lady whom Paro had spoken
so highly about. She still remembered how Paro had cheered up Sunheri quoting
her.
Mohini
was surprised to see her daughter run away in tears from Maithili's room. She
rushed to see if her son was teasing his poor sister. "Sunheri baisa has a
weakness for tasty treats but that doesn't change the fact that she has other
talents. If she relaxes here, it's because Paro and I are aware that she has
the rest of her life for household chores. She can just focus on her studies
and other interests for now. Maajisa has done a wonderful job raising her with
necessary domestic skills and she will be a great source of guidance for me as
my Shanti grows up," Maithili told her aunt off in soft but stern tones.
Mala felt like she had been slapped. She wanted to retort when she saw her
sister at the door. Mohini just picked her granddaughter and said,
"Beendini, it's my time to play with this little princess. Why don't you
check on lunch." Maithili replied that Paro hadn't left her much to do.
And that everything is ready. "Fine. Then go and check on the
workers," she suggested. Maithili nodded and left.
Mohini
then turned to her sister, "Thakurainsa, I thought you were too hurt to
move and needed rest. How did you find the energy to stir trouble here?"
Her sister rolled her eyes. They both knew that she wasn't injured badly. But
for some reason everyone decided to go along with the act. "I just wanted
Paro's phone number," she said. Mohini smiled at her and asked, "I'm
sorry. You must be bored. We don't have elaborate entertainment here like your
Raja Thakursa provided in Birpur. We have other things to focus on. But you
seem fine stirring up little storms between Maithili and Sunheri. I don't
tolerate pointless bickering in my household. My daughters-in-law maybe gentle
but she not gullible. She will stand up for us in her own way. As for Paro, she
is at work. She doesn't have to be at your beck and call all the time. She has
her own life. Leave my children alone" Her sister scowled. She didn't need
to be told how to treat her own bahu.
"I
just wanted to know when my son will be home," Mala said. "I'll ask
Samrat ke Bapu! Oh don't worry I'm sure the BSD will make sure that Tejawat's
offspring is picked up and taken to their headquarters. I'm sure he is crook
too just like your husband," came the reply. The last statement made her
furious. Her Thakursa wasn't a crook. He just wanted to rule his land by his
rules like his ancestors. Just like Rudra wants to be a BSD officer like his
forefathers. "I was talking about my Rudra," she snapped back. Mohini
gave her a sad smile. She knew how it felt when the son doesn't give his mother
the primary importance once he grows up. But she had chosen to keep Rudra away.
"Mala
we were once sisters. So I'll be frank with you. Rudra is no longer yours. If
that's why you are here, just leave. His mind, heart and soul belong only to
Paro. He won't come here because he will seek her first. She is his home not
this Haveli," she said. Mala was a little disappointed to be told what she
already knew. But Paro was the girl she raised. She won't steal her son away.
She walked away without another word.
Rudra
took a good long look at his wife. She was dressed in a
blue silk
saree today. On her shell like ears dangled the
butterfly earrings he had gifted last
year. Along her swan like neck lay a simple gold chain with a
floral pendant. His bhabhisa had
given it on what was the anniversary of their mehendi. To her was the day
Bholenath had marked her little sister as her devarani too. The blue flower was
him and the red one was supposed to be her. These flowers are different yet
beautiful together. I want the same thing from you too. He remembered her
words as his hands reached out to touch it.
Paro
knew what he was thinking of as her hands found his. The chiming of her blue
glass bangles were calling for his attention. The other hand looked a little
bare with just a delicate watch
accompanying his rudraksh bracelet.
"Bapusa gave it to me yesterday. He said he gave you a watch when you
joined BSD," she said noticing how his glance lingered on her wrist. Rudra
nodded. He was presented with his grandfather's watch years ago. He still wore
it with pride. "So is there anything special going on today? You are
looking extra pretty," he asked. She put her arms around his neck and he
brought her closer holding her waist chain. "My entire family is together
after a long time. It's a very special day," she replied with a smile.
Rudra
could see that she had plenty on her mind and was trying hard not to bring it
up. "What's going on Paro? I can make out your mind is going a mile a
minute," he asked. She shook her head. She didn't want to discuss anything
so soon. He had just gotten back. He needed to relax for a while before she
brings up what the Birpur girls told her. But as usual he had known something
was bothering her and asked her directly. So she had to be straight forward
too. "It's not very important. Just something the other Birpur girls said.
We can talk about it later when we go home," she deflected. He sighed. He
knew those girls were capable of saying things that bothered his Paro. They had
seen too many hardships and dealt with them by drowning themselves in alcohol
and substance abuse. Geethanjali ma'am had said that they were rude to the
workers too. That's why it was decided to keep Paro away till they get their
act together. "Did they hurt you? Or say something rude? You shouldn't
take them too seriously. Think of them as female Jallad. They just want
to keep you away with harsh words so that they won't have to deal with
you," he advised. She laughed, glad that her Jallad didn't use
harsh words any more to keep her away like he used to. "No, they were nice
to me once they realised who I was. They remembered me as a little girl. It's
just that what they said about men bothered me," she confessed. Rudra
assured her that the kind if men they were associated with were nothing less
than animals who never valued them. He will spend the rest of his life making
sure such men keep their distance from her. She was touched by his words. "So, all men aren't like that?" she
asked. He shook his head in confirmation. "And you won't take another wife
like Rusheed jeejosa if I can't give you a son?" she asked what was
troubling her the most. The air left his lungs when he heard her words. How
could she compare him to that vile man? More importantly how much did he know
about that man?
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