What if - Rishmi FF

Part 4

Next morning Lakshmi wakes up at 4.30 and sees the time and hurriedly gets ready. She goes down and by that time Shalu and Bani have come with her Sargi. She takes them to the dining table but Neelam sees her and makes a face. She quietly goes and sits beside dadi.
Neelam: Logo ko Pooja paath me bhi jhoothe dikhawe karne hote hai. Aise ashubh log pata nai Pooja ko bhi ashubh na kar de.
Dadi: Neelam. Ye kya tareeka hai baat karne ka. Kyu aise bol rhi ho tum? Kya kia hai Lakshmi ne aisa jo tum use suna rhi ho
Neelam: Seriously mummy ji aap humse ye puch rhi hai. Itna kuch bura to kar chuki hai ye hamare bete ke saath ab aur pata nai kya kar ke maanegi
Just then she hears a voice
Rishi: Nai mom. Lakshmi ne mere saath kuch bhi galat nai kia hai. Infact usne to hamesha meri raksha ki hai, mera saath dia hai, mujhe bachaya hai. Aap use aisa kaise bol sakti hai. Aur Lakshmi ashubh nai hai. Please aap use ye mat bola kariye. Mujhe bilkul acha nai lagta.
Neelam: Tumhe na isne apne pallu se baandh rakha hai..islie tum humse iske lie iss tarike se baat kar rhe ho. Isse nai maante hum apni bahu aur na hi tumhari patni. Koi jaroorat nai hai ye dikhawe ke lie vrat karne ki
Dadi: Neelam tum maano ya na maano Rishi ki patni to hai Lakshmi aur iss ghar ki bahu bhi. Uska poora haq hai Rishi ke lie ye vrat karna aur agar wo karna chahti hai to poori aastha aur shraddha se kar sakti hai.
Rishi: Haan mom. Lakshmi abhi bhi legally hai meri wife aur uska man hai to aap aisa kyu keh rhe ho
Neelam: (looking at Lakshmi) Dekh rhi ho tumhari wajah se sab Hume suna rhe hai. Khair chhoro tumhe jo karna hai Karo. Tumhari wajah se hum apna mood kharab nai karna chahte.
With that everyone keeps quiet and the ladies eat their sargi. Rishi goes and sits opposite Lakshmi and sees her eyes filled with tears. Once Neelam and Dadi have left shalu and Bani also leave after saying bye. They are sad too because of all Lakshmi had to bear but they think of giving time to Rishi to make Lakshmi feel better.
After everyone is gone Rishi goes and sits beside Lakshmi
Rishi: Waise ye sargi wala khana sirf wives ko khana allowed hota hai kya? I mean dekh ke to bahot tasty lag rha. Main try kar sakta hu kya? Wo kya hai na maine to sirf ek apple khaya hai abhi aur tum itna kuch acha acha kha rhi. Mere saath share nai karogi?
Lakshmi: (trying to stop her tears) arre nai tum kha sakte ho. Lo na Jo khana chahte ho. ( She doesn't look at him lest he see her tears)
Rishi: Main to tumhare haathon se hi khaunga. Ab itna bada aur difficult vrat rakh Rahi ho mere lie, to itna to tum kar hi sakti ho
Lakshmi takes a morsel and keeps infront of his mouth. He eats the bite slowly grazing her fingers with his lips. And then says: wow this is so yum. Mujhe nai pata tha shalu itna acha khana banati hai.
Lakshmi just nods her head with her eyes down and takes another morsel to feed him.
He lifts her face by putting his hand under her chin and wipes her tears with his other hand.
Rishi: I am sorry Lakshmi mom ne tumhe subah subah itna kuch suna dia. Pata nai unhe kya ho gya hai. Wo kabhi aisi nai thi.
Lakshmi: Nai nai Rishi mujhe unki baaton ka bura nai laga. Wo maa hai wo mujhe kabhi bhi daant sakti hai but jab unhone kaha main tumhe apne pallu se baandh ke rakhna chahti hoon aur fir wo ashubh wali baat. Dukhta hai Rishi bahot bura lagta hai..Main sach me tumhe koi nuksan nai pahochana chahti hoon aur na hi tumhe parivaar ke khilaf karna chahti hoon. ( With this she starts crying bitterly)
Rishi: I know  I know Lakshmi tum kabhi bhi aisa kuch kar hi nai sakti. Tum to meri aur meri parivaar ki kitna care karti ho.. kitna kuch karti ho hamare lie. Pata nai mom ko sab negative hi kyu dikh raha hai. Ye sab wo pandit ke tumhare kundali ke baare me bolne ke baad hi hua hai. Pehle to mom chahti thi ki tum meri life me raho.
Acha chhoro abhi ye baatein jaldi se sargi khatam karte hai aur fir so jaate hai. Mujhe bahot neend aa rhi hai.
Both of them eat the sargi and go upstairs.
Lakshmi again goes to the couch but Rishi goes there holds her hand and brings her to the bed.
Rishi: Maine kaha tha na tum yaha so-gi. Ab chupchap so jao.
He goes to his side and both of them sleep.