two stories of marriage

chapter 30

Purvi was just realising the lie behind the phase "morning sickness", apparently hers persisted till evening, and it had to pay the visit after dinner.

'why is this called a good news, again!' she thought, as she wished somebody had told her about how much this was going to suck.

'purvi! Beta bahar niklo, aa gaye woh log!' yelled her mother as she knocked on the door continuously, and purvi realised how by now, she had lost the will to yell back.

                                                        ***

After a few moments of composing herself whilst convincing herself that she is fine, purvi entered the living room to her mother, kavin, dushyant, ishita and the one who scared her the most, the mother-in-law-to-be.

She sat next to her sister, probably to get this through just like she did school PTMs, by squeezing ishita's hand through it all, waiting for it to end. Except, this time, it wasn't enough to help.

'toh, aap dono batayenge ki yeh sab hua kaise?' asked mrs khanna, trying to keep her calm, scaring kavin more..

'uhh, woh...' fumbled kavin, who was caught off-guard.

Now 's gaze moved to purvi, who was looking at kavin, because even she had no idea what to say.

'acha, chalo, itna hi batado, humein kab batane wale the?' asked mrs khanna.

'hum, batane waale the aapko...bahaut jald..' said kavin, mustering up all the courage he could.

'mom, woh, inn dono ko hi bas kuch din pehle hi pata chala tha toh, batane waale the, bas, kal, parso...' said dushyant, looking at his brother, who could really use some support in the chaos of a day he had today.

'tumhe pata tha yeh?' asked mrs khanna, her tone getting stricter now.

'maine bataya tha inhe...' said ishita reflexively protecting her husband.

'ishu tumhe pata tha yeh!' exclaimed her mother, not at all happy.

'maa, yeh dar gayi thi, jab isse pata chala, toh isne mujhe bata diya...' explained ishita, as she looked at her mother-in-law, whose stoic face was scaring her way more.

'toh tumne kya kaha isse? Kyunki yeh toh abhi shaadi bhi nahi karna chahti thi na...' asked mrs khanna, as ishita was getting more scared now.

'uhh, woh...uhh...' fumbled ishita.

'yeh isse doctor ke paas lekar gayi thi...confirm karne ke liye...uhh, uske baad hi phone kiya tha inhone mujhe...' said kavin in their defense, he was starting to take control of the situation now.

'aur dushyant ko phir kyun bataya tumne?' asked mrs khanna, knowing very well her sons were lying.

'kavin mere saath hi tha uss waqt...toh hum dono ko hi, pata chala...' said dushyant, protecting his wife and brother.

'maa, hum jaante hain humse galti ho gayi, aur haan abhi nahi tha humare plan mein shaadi ya bacha, par, kiske saath sab kuch plan ke hisaab se hota hai...and, it won't be easy, but, we are ready with whatever comes our way...' explained kavin, as it was mostly for purvi, who was getting really scared right now, and somehow that helped him muster up the courage and responsibility that he never knew he could.

Mrs khanna gazed at her son, who she was mad for his irresponsibility in the situation, but seeing the earnestness of his words, she realised that he might not be so irresponsible after all.

'haan, bas, shaadi thode dhoom-dhaam se nahi karenge...' added purvi, who was getting her faith in herself restored.

'gurudware mein karwadenge..kuch close hi logon ko bulayenge, baaki phir ek reception party throw kardenge..' suggested dushyant.

'haan, kisiko zayda ajeeb bhi nahi lagega, keh dungi ki yeh shaadi hum shaanti se bas parivaar ke saath karna chahte the...' said mrs khanna, as she gave a light smile to kavin, as if assuring him that don't worry son, i'm supporting you.

Support can be a great thing to come for help in times of need, all of them learnt that lesson today.

                                                ***

On insistence of ishita's mother, ishyant, kavin and stayed for dinner. While it was being prepared, ishita decided to stop by her room once, secretly. It was time to take out all those paintings hidden in these books resting on the shelf. But when her gaze fell on the bookshelf, it wasn't caught by any of the books that had a painting hidden, but something that had a bitter reminder of a life she could have had.

It was the copy of sense and sensibility that had the letter of acceptance of California Institute of Arts, and nobody ever knew about it except for her. But today opening it was different, she didn't brush her fingers across it, repenting a loss of opportunity, but a smile in acceptance of what that was, a fantasy of a life she could have had, but today she knew she didn't want it.

'ishita..'

She turned to look at the owner of the voice.

'arre aap hain...' she sighed in relief.

'kyun? Kya hua?' asked dushyant, but his gaze fell on the letter she had.

'yeh...' he said pointing towards it.

'yeh woh hai joh uss din dekhne ke liye bahaut utawle ho rakhe the aap.' Replied ishita, as she also picked up the copy of the book.

'aur aap dekhane se darr rahi thi...' remarked dushyant.

She chuckled lightly, as she remembered how much importance this used to carry for her.

'hmm, actually, kuch saal pehle, i got in here.' She said pointing towards the logo of the institute.

'par tab mere parents ka divorce ho gaya, mann hi nahi maana maa aur purvi ko chodne ka, toh nahi gayi...' she continued, as she paused with a sigh.

'aur tumne ab tak rakha hua hai..' remarked dushyant.

'haan, sometimes i used imagine what if i did go, maybe because i really did want to go at the time, just like i really wanted to be an artist..' she replied.

'wanted?' asked dushyant.

'past tense, mere liye meri paintings meri feelings thi, how could i ever put them out there for the world to talk about and get the money from the price that people put on it? and even in an exciting fantasy, i didn't make me as happy as i was with my boring, normal life here with purvi and maa..' said ishita, as she looked at him and realised she does now what she wants now, and it might not have been her first dream, but it might be the second one...