Sumellika Short Stories

1. Beautiful Revenge (part 13)

Hello ! Welcome to part 13...

Morning ;

Siya's family is at her uncle Vikram's house for few days... 

Vikram : At least today you remembered us... otherwise I thought that brother has forgotten that he has a younger brother too...

Mahesh shifted uncomfortably, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Oh no, Vikram, it's not like that... It was just because of work that I didn't get time."

Vikram's disappointment was palpable as he set down the teapot, his eyes meeting Mahesh's with a mix of hurt and confusion. "Kya bhaisahab, itna bhi kya kaam tha ki Siya beti ki shaadi mein bhi hume nahi bulane ka wakt mila ?"

The room fell silent, Siya's parents exchanging uneasy glances, their guilt and shame written on their faces. The air grew heavier as Amrita, Vikram's cunning wife, seized the moment to add her own sting.

"Yes... we only found out when we saw her reception on TV! I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw that Siya was married to Raghavendra Rao!" Amrita's tone was sharp, her eyes glinting with a mixture of curiosity and malice.

Vikram quickly tried to smooth over his wife's harsh words, though the concern in his voice was clear. "Um... actually, she means that... Well, you don't think that a true, good, innocent, and cultured girl like our Siya should be married to a man like Raghavendra Rao, do you? I mean, you both have arranged it, so there must be something good in him, but still..."

Amrita, however, was not to be silenced so easily. "Arey chup raho! Kya tum bhi bekar ki baat karte ho... Leave all this and think that apart from being handsome, Raghavendra Rao is also very rich! Aisa rishta bhaisahab aur bhabhi ko toh kya, kisi ko bhi milega woh na thodi bolega. Waise maana ki aap log Siya ko apni hi beti maante hain, lekin mai aap logo ki jagah hoti na toh Siya ke bajae Riya ki shaadi karwati. Waise aap dono ko aisa rishta mila kaise ?"

Vikram, sitting beside her, gently held her hand, trying to calm her down. "Stop it, Amrita! How much will you speak, and how many times have I told you? Before speaking, at least think once about when and what should be said?"

Amrita freed her hand from his grasp and looked away in anger, her frustration evident. Vikram, ever the peacemaker, turned back to Siya's parents with a reassuring smile.

Vikram : "Sister-in-law, Brother, Riya, you must be tired from traveling. Go to your rooms and take some rest. We will prepare food in the meantime, and then everyone will eat together. And by then, it is possible that your surprise will also arrive."

Everyone, including a still-fuming Amrita, looked at him in confusion, wondering what surprise he could be referring to. 

"Surprise?" they echoed.

Mahesh asked, "Kaisa surprise, Vikram?"

Vikram : You will come to know when that person will come, I can just tell that person is one of our own, seeing whom you will be very happy! And the special thing is that we came to know from him that you people are also going to come here today!

Rupal, puzzled, asked, "But... we didn't tell anyone we were coming. How could anyone else know? And who is this person?"

As Vikram was about to answer, the doorbell rang, capturing everyone's attention.

Vikram's face lit up. "Looks like they've arrived... Brother, Sister-in-law, please, go and see your surprise!"

They all looked at each other, curiosity piqued.

Rupal stepped forward. "Mai dekhti hun..." she said, making her way to the door. She opened it to reveal someone standing with their back turned, facing the other way, carrying luggage. Everyone else craned their necks to see who it was.