Saving You

4.

The next morning, everyone was at the dining table for breakfast. Even the children dressed in their uniforms ready for school. Shradha helped the maids serve breakfast before she sat down to eat. She was sat next to her husband and on her other side was Aditya's cousin's seven year old daughter. She dug into her food before everyone started and normally, it would earn her a mouthful from her grandfather (Aditya's uncle) but this time the old man's gaze was too focused at Aditya to notice his grandchild's lack of manners.

The old man sat at the head of the table, scrutinising his gaze all around the table until they would again come back to Aditya. They contained anger and hate and Shradha gulped down her own saliva. She wondered how her husband sat as if he wasn't getting cold murderous looks from his uncle.

Something was up.

The man in his late fifteen spoke, "Aditya, I heard from Karan that you confiscated his estate and gave its ownership to Mrinal. Is that true?"

It was only then, Aditya put his fork down, resuming his chewing and looked up. Once he had swallowed down his food, he started, "Yes it is true."

Before his uncle could speak, he continued, passing a look at his cousin, Karan who sat opposite him. "That estate was our grandmother's. A place she loved the most. I found out that Karan has been using it for his..." Aditya cleared his throat passing a look at Karan's  barely five year old son who sat next to him, "For his indecent activities."

Karan hung his head down low, as his wife passed him a look of disgust. Mrinal and Karan were married for almost ten years now and everyone in the family knew about Karan having extramarital affairs. Mrinal never said a word, nor did she complain. Shradha didn't understand why she didn't just walk away from a cheater like him but she was reminded that Mrinal had two kids with Karan. They were her responsibility. From a woman to a woman, Shradha understood Mrinal.

The old man who began the questioning, immediately went silent before he fumed back at Aditya. "That was his property. He had the right to do whatever he wanted with it."

Shradha found out that everybody else at the table didn't give a damn about the conversation happening. Aditya's two brothers never even raised their heads up from their plates, too bored to even take part in the conversation.

It seemed like the only ones listening were the children, Karan, Mrinal, and her.

Shradha turned to her right to Karan's  daughter. She leaned down low and whispered in her ear, "Shh don't pay attention to them. Eat up, or you'll be late for school sweetheart."

The kid immediately obeyed passing down a forced smile at her and took hold of her fork with trembling hands. Shradha knew that the seven year old girl understood what was happening. About her father. She hated the men for having this conversation in front of kids. Though not mature at age, these children were forced to grow up early. Just looking at the little girl's trembling hands shattered Shradha's heart.

She would never give birth to a child who will have to undergo something like this in that house.

"Correction uncle. That was the family property that grandma wanted Karan to take over because she wanted him to spend time with his children and wife there. He clearly isn't using it for that purpose. I did what is to be done. Let's not speak about this more."

With that Aditya stood up, wiping his mouth with the tissue kept at the side. He did not finish his breakfast. Shradha  noted.

The old man spoke no more. Even though he was the senior most at the house, Aditya had the authority here. And everyone was bound to obey him.
As Aditya walked away, Shradha followed him, apologising to everyone for leaving the table early and following him behind.

By the time she reached their wing of the house, Aditya was busy talking to someone on his phone. He paced back and forth, but his eyes met her which conveyed a confused look. She waited quietly next to the stairs, waiting for him to finish his call, so that she could talk.

A few moments later, he stuffed his phone back to his pant pocket and faced her.

"Yes?"

"You left the table early without finishing your foo—"

He cut her off before she could finish, "And that means you have to come following me?"

Shradha shook her head negatively, and took a step forward closer to him. "What happened there wasn't right. You shouldn't have talked about it in front of everyone."

"I wasn't the one who brought up the conversation." he said as a matter of fact and moved to the fridge to fetch himself a bottle of cold water. Their part of the house had a kitchen, a small living room and their bedroom which led to a balcony that gave a spectacular view of the garden.

"Don't stay up tonight. I'm flying to Italy for some business. I'll be back only tomorrow night." With that giving her a last look, he descended down the stairs.