Anupamaa looked stupefied. Did he just actually said what she feared and the fear that caused all this ruckus? She waited for him to add something to it or take his words back and assure her he won't snatch her dream. But nothing as such came from his side.
"Anupamaa? Sun ri ho?"
She heard it but didn't know what to say. Her mind felt so blank.
"Tum college nahi jaaogi.", he repeated in case she missed it. She closed her eyes and the face of her late father flashed past her eyes. His words, her own hardwork to get into the college and get the scholarship to make the college affordable, her dreams, the dream her father had seen for her, her mother's words when she took permission for her college after marriage - all for what? For nothing? To drop out in the final year?
"Jaaungi.", she said almost fearlessly. He stared at her again and she gulped but didn't back off from her stance at all. "College nahi chhorungi main.", she said with a firm voice. "Degree poori karoongi apni."
"Maine kaha na nai jaaogi!!", he got out of the bed and all scared she took three frenzied steps backward till she hit the wall behind her.
"Maine bhi to kaha na main jaaungi...!!", she repeated. Her breaths were quaky but she managed to stare back somehow unwilling to let her cowardice choke her own dreams.
"You... Will not go!!", he said louder and her voice turned feeble yet she maintained some tempo.
"I... Will... Go."
His mind was not able to accept her voicing anything against his words. He clenched his fists tight and however little guilt he had of slapping her waned. The audacity was unacceptable. This is not how wives should behave with husbands. He gritted his teeth and his look was instilling fear in her heart. Her eyes moistened. "Pl..e..as..e...", she added.
He turned back and pursed his lips remembering Leela words urging him to stay calm.
"Pl...easjj...... Meri koi galti ni jo hua usme... Maine kuch ni kiya... K.isi Aur ki galti ki saza... Mujhe mat... Dijiye... Ple..ase... Mera... College band mat karvaaiye... Bahut mushkil se admission mila tha mujhe... Bahut mehnat ki thi maine a-", she was talking and he switched the lights off and slipped under the sheets leaving her stranded in the dark. There was no one to see her tears. She made her way to her side of the bed and laid down without taking the sheets.
'Maine kuch ni kiya tha... Vishal ki galti thi... Usne badtameezi ki... To... Main college jaana ni chhorungi... Aap meri padhaai ni chhurva sakte...", she told herself in her head while her mind was still fearful as she knew she won't be able to voice for long. She was never that strong. She stood today for herself but in less than a minute her voice had turned to a mere whisper and lost the entire energy to talk back. She wondered how long would she be able to sustain herself without succumbing to his demand if he's not convinced before that. She hadn't even hurt the air by being loud and that tho is her husband.
'Maine kiya kya hai... Jo sab mujhe galat bol re... Sory bhi bol diya na maine... Ab to maaf kar sakte na... College kyun chhurva re mera.....', she sobbed.
"Rona hai to baahar jaa kar ro!!", he said dryly and her body jerked.
She fell instantly silent. 'Agar Mukku ke bhaiyaa ko... Meri vajah se kuch ho gaya to?! Vo case me phans gaye to...?'
~°•~
"Manini se baat ho gayi hai meri...", Arunimaa said to Manik as they sat on the sofa sipping on morning tea.
"Vo to aayegi hi aur Anupamaa ke case ki bhi to date aani hai na... Aur gawaahi bhi...", GK kaaka added.
"She said she had talked but I don't think poori baat hui hai so.... Umm..."
YOU ARE READING
ANUGAAMINI- The Boundaries
FanfictionY E A R 1 9 9 5. ~ "Please fly off to London beta...", she almost pleaded. "I can't Maa...", Anuj sobbed. "She'll get married today...", she reminded him. " I know...", he supressed a sob. She found it difficult to remind him again knowing how ba...
