𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬

𝟎𝟒| 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠





After some time, her tears dried, but her scars remained, as always. Once she had bathed, she dressed in a deep green one-piece with a black belt. She emerged to find Yamika asleep on the bed, with toys scattered around. Gently, she removed her shoes, covered Yamika with a blanket, and kissed her forehead. “Just like Kush,” she chuckled softly. She tidied the room, applied some lip balm, and went downstairs for lunch. “Ma, what’s for lunch?” she asked, sitting down.

“There is no lunch,” Meera replied, carrying some bags into the living room.

“Why?” Yuvati followed her mother.

“It’s already quarter to twelve. We’ll reach the hotel by twelve-thirty and have lunch there. What’s my little one up to?”

“She’s sleeping,” Yuvati said, beginning to help her mother. “Tarush!”

“Yes, Ma?” he said, descending with his watch on.

“Go get Yami. I’ll take her with me.”

“Ma, I will go get her.”

“No. He will. Go and bring my daughter,” Meera insisted.

“But Ma—” Yuvati began to protest, but a single stern look from Meera silenced her. Tarush went upstairs and returned with Yamika a few minutes later.

“Give me my shona,” Meera said, taking Yamika from Tarush.

“Go get Ruhi. Her luggage needs to be collected as well. I’ll inform Hitu Uncle,” Meera instructed Yuvati before calling the man. She left. When she didn’t return for a while, Meera went to check and found Yuvati standing like a statue with a paper in her hand. She shook Yuvati’s shoulders but received no response. Taking the paper from her hand, Meera read it and collapsed, her knees going weak as tears streamed down her face. Tarush and Tarun, waiting downstairs with Yamika, were puzzled by the delay. “Meera! Ruhi! Yuvi!”

Getting no reply, they hurried upstairs and found Meera crying on the floor while Yuvati stood motionless. “Didi! Ma!” Meera looked up immediately, but Yuvati remained in her trance.

“Tarun!” Meera cried in anguish. “Our Ruhi has run away,” she said, rushing to her husband.

“What do you mean?” Tarun asked, bewildered. Meera showed him the letter:

Mumma, Papa, Yuvi, Tarush,

Please forgive me. I am breaking your trust, but I am in love, and so is the groom. I don’t want to leave my love. We’ve been together since college. We love each other deeply. We’ll come back soon. I hope you forgive me for this. Everything happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to think about right or wrong. I couldn’t discuss it with you either. I am truly sorry. Please forgive me. I will return soon.

Yours, Ruhi

“This can’t be happening. This can’t,” Yuvati said suddenly, shaking her head vigorously in denial.

“I had heard Didi talking to someone. I suspected something, but I dismissed it, believing she would never do something like this,” Yuvati said.

Meera was sobbing on Tarun's shoulder while Tarush tried to comfort Yuvati. “Yuvi, will you please marry him, for us?” Meera asked, approaching Yuvati.

“Will they accept my Yami?” the question slipped from Yuvati’s lips.

“They will. They’re good people.” With a heavy heart, Yuvati nodded.