Lightening the Sky (Sloth Updates)

Chapter 9

When he reached home, the house was already silent. His Bade Papa's car, who decided to stay in, probably to ponder over his son's sham marriage, wasn't in the parking lot. Pari Bhabhi was trying to calm down his Mom, "Didn't you see the way that boy talked with all of us? Jiji, was on the verge of tears and Bhaisa left home without having lunch, is that any mannerism. Yes, he ended up marrying someone he didn't love, but tradition and culture is something as well. It's a marriage, union for..."

She stopped when her eyes fell on him, Pari Bhabhi threw him a glance somewhere between relief and concern, "Let me reheat the food."

Mom walked over to him with a pout, "Your brother wants to get a divorce."

Sanskar hummed, understanding the objection his traditional conservative family had over it. His mother once mentioned something about her fortune that her husband loved her enough to not raise his hand on her while explaining, after Sanskar caught tail-end of a fight between his parents as his father left the room to sleep in the guest room that night. Gradually, Sanskar understood from the bits and pieces his Mom couldn't hold back at times, his grandmother was abused. The woman whose trauma taught both his Papa and Bade Papa respecting their better halves.

On an occasion, after a lesson on women's state in the country in school he had returned home and asked his mother why didn't his grandmother divorce his grandfather. That remark had got him an hour of arguing with his Mom, he had to stop because 'that's how things are' point got on his nerves. Though that conversation made him promise his new-born sister, years later, he wouldn't let his family dictate her life. Another promise Sanskar failed to keep, she was sent to Mom's maternal home after he left, due to her sporadic contentious comments over how wrong their behaviour towards him was on falling for a Bengali girl.

Sanskar couldn't help but sympathise with his brother, more so his poor Maa who would be subjected to mediate between them in the Cold War which was to hit home. His mother left him alone, only when distorted Maa walked towards them feebly asking her to let Sanskar eat first.

As his Mom left after Maa, Sanskar turned to the dining area where Pari Bhabhi was waiting for him with the promised lunch. He never exactly understood why families couldn't stay in joint families until he grew up and revolted himself. For his father's every silence before his brother on all the matters, his Maa kept up with Mom's complaints and indulged her with care and affection. In many senses, they became sisters who functioned in a joint manner like their spouses.

Thanking for the food, he took his place, "I am sorry, but Mom is a bit loquacious."

She shook her head, gently reminding her brother in law that she married into the family three years ago. It wasn't much, but Parineeta was strangely pleased with him, for his courtesy and respect. Lakshya was a good brother-in-law as well, but Sanskar cared, something she knew from Uttara's visits, and her tears over him in closed rooms but being receptive made it surreal. Lakshya you sure have a great competition in being my favourite.

Her thoughts turned to what sort of relationship Adarsh shared with Sanskar, they never conversed about him, partly because of how it saddened her husband when she informed him about her conversations with Uttara.

Sanskar turned to Pari Bhabhi with confusion, "Why are you standing?"

"If you need anything."

He hummed, "But you can sit, I will tell you if I want anything. Till then... How about you tell me about yourself? I wasn't around during your marriage."

Parineeta obliged, not having any problem in opening about her family in Jodhpur. By the time Sanskar finished eating, he knew too many of her childhood pranks to consider her demure and silent.