Sweet 'n' Sour | ✔

forty-six

46. Pata bhi nahi chala aap kab itne zaroori huye ki baaki sab bekar lagta hai ab. (I didn't even realise when you became so important that everything else feels insignificant now.)

•°•
- priya -

Saturday morning I woke up early to help Aditya's mom in the kitchen. Lately, she had gone back to her initial behaviour towards me, sans the open disapproval. She just doesn't talk as much or smile at me. I knew it was because of her recent tiff with Aditya, and now to my unfortunate luck, there's one more thing added to the list, which if revealed means it is really all over between us. That's one of the reasons why I asked Avinash to keep it hidden that it's me he has feelings for.

If I hate something in life, then it is inconveniencing others, and something I hate even more than that? Being at an inconvenience because of someone else.

Even the thought of it frustrates me. Do I really have to be at the crossroads between two brothers? I used to wonder what caused so much tension between the siblings. Never in my wildest dreams did I think the reason will end up becoming me.

Aditya was right.

Had I known about Avinash's feelings before the wedding, I wouldn't have hesitated to call it off. I didn't need any more complexities in my life than the ones I already have.

But that still doesn't justify his behaviour towards me. The time Avinash brought me Jalebis, Aditya blew upon me. When Avinash brought me a necklace as a gift for the wedding, Aditya taunted me. And there are many other instances where I suffered the brunt of Aditya's jealousy towards his brother. That's not fair.

Oh, wait, that reminds me, I've to return the necklace to Avinash. Now that I know what he feels towards me, keeping the necklace feels even more awkward.

I halted close to the kitchen door, deciding to go back to the room. But then it's only seven am. Avinash must have gone to his morning jog. Maybe later.

With a nod, I turned back around, plastering a smile on my face to greet Aditya's mom good morning.

"Priya ke aane ke baad se hi ghar mein itne saare klesh shuru huye hai. (This has all started since Priya came.)" I heard her say, causing me to stop abruptly outside her sight.

"Vahi toh! Aap ek kaam kijiye, yeh dono jab shift ho jayenge na, toh Graha Shanti kara li lijiye. Dekhna sab thik ho jayega. (Exactly! Listen to me, Arpita Ji, once the two move out, do the Graha Shanti Puja.)" That was Mami, through the call on a loudspeaker.

I heard Aditya's mom let out a long sigh. "Mera dil nahi maanta, Ragini Ji. Pata nahi kya ho gaya hai Aditya ko. Shaadi ke baad se poora badal gaya hai. Pehle pata hai mere bina ek kaam nahi hota tha usse. Aur ab meri yaad sirf jhagda karne ke liya aati hai. (My heard doesn't agree, Ragini Ji. I don't know what's wrong with Aditya. Before marriage, he needed me for every single thing. And now, he only remembers me to argue.)" She lamented.

I bit the inside of my cheek, taking a short step back.

"Main keh rahi thi, Preeti hi acchi hai aapke Aditya ke liye. Gharelu ladki hai woh. Par aapne meri baat ansuni kar di. (I was telling you. Preeti is nice for your Aditya. She is homely. But you ignored my words.)"

"Maine kaha, Ragini Ji. (When did I, Ragini Ji?)" She scoffed. "Woh toh Aditya zid nahi chod raha tha. Warna meri pehli pasand Preeti hi thi. (Aditya was so stubborn. But my first choice was always Preeti.)"

I left before I heard anything that would make me want to burst out in tears.

The room was doused in darkness when I returned. Aditya was fast asleep on his side, looking at peace, not a frown on his face. I went to my side of the bed and climbed in, sitting against the headboard with my knees tucked under my chin.