Guilty Pleasures

41

"The mind replays what the heart cannot delete..."

The suns early rays had spilt against the horizon dipping into the room that now belonged to Raghav and Pallavi Rao disturbing the soul who had been bruised and burnt for more times than it should have been allowed; Pallavi found herself moving to turn away from the nuisance of the suns rays snuggling into the robe that Raghav must have placed her on in the early hours of the morning; the action hadn't caught her by surprise nor did she read any ulterior motive within his gesture  for he was prone to do such after vigorous rounds of sex when he knew she would be cold or suddenly feel conscious of her naked form in front of him; it didn't happen much now; but still this lay as an unspoken agreement between them: one that would never be breached. She held onto her pillow tightly, her hand shooting out slightly only to be greeted to a bitter chill next to her.

The sheets were cold and as she roused further into the depths of her consciousness her eyes had now caught his absence at her side.

She pulled the covers around her body hoping to find more comfort and escape from the chill within the air her eyes still hazy with grogginess.

A sharp knock to the door had pulled her from her state of confusion at his lack of presence and when Jaya Rao had stepped into the room accompanied by Keerti; she felt her heart stop; the clothes from the previous night still littered across the floor; her now marred white sari mere inches away from them.

Keerti and Pallavi had shared a look; one that seemed to resonate a disappointment but Jaya Rao had simply stepped over the clothes to walk over to sit besides her daughter-in-law a loving hand threading through her hair smoothing it down gently.

"How are you feeling?" She questioned. "You had given us quite a scare yesterday Pallavi."

"I am sorry Aunty for worrying you both, but please do not worry. I am feeling better."

"The doctor had said that your BP was low, and that's why you experienced a dizzy spell. You need to look after yourself Pallu." Keerti reprimanded; the two sharing a look for this wasn't a abnormal occurrence.

Keerti moved to the other side of the bed, taking a seat besides her and taking her Babhi's hand into her own.

"Krishna called as well. Vijay uncle has been discharged and remains in the clear as of now and had reached home late last night."

"Thank God." She answered; her eyes finally encapsulating the warmth she was used to expressing.

"But I am more worried about you right now Pallu."

"Keerti I am fine. I am feeling fine."

"You and I both know I am not talking about your health here. Pallavi look at me, the way this marriage has happened does not sit right with me, nor were you decked up as a bride and neither was your own family present. Are you sure this was off your own accord? There is no problem right?"

Jaya Rao having listened to her daughters words had also found something amiss, "Pallavi I also want to know. I know my son very well, his stubbornness, his anger. I know it all well. But when I had placed forth this condition of him marrying you then—"

"What!" Pallavi shot in, her eyes widening in disbelief as the last syllables resounded.

"You had placed forth a condition for Raghav to marry me?!" She questioned her tone mindful in front of the lady who had helped so selflessly.

"Yes, I did. Had Raghav not told you that?" The older lady questioned back, Pallavi's silence threading the answer within it.

"I am sorry Beta. When I had spoken to your mother she had spoke about wanting you to settle down; to get married and to finally live the life you had been denied with Mandaar's passing."