The Marriage

2 - The Mother

She woke up to the sound of something crashing onto the plant outside of their bedroom. Neelam sat up, irritated, waiting for Mahesh to appear with her drunk husband. Mahesh knocked on the door and pushed it open. Neelam who was now standing next to the bed felt a fresh sense of loathe towards Hira.

This wasn't the Hira she had married. Hiralal Seth used to be a kind-hearted family man until one unfortunate night his father, Amarlal Seth killed himself. Everything changed that night. Hira was burdened with huge debt and a loss-ridden gems business. He left no stones unturned to change the fate of Seth Gems and Neelam stood by his side at every step. She became the woman behind the successful man, but she lost her husband to the success.

"Neelu!" he called out. It had been years he had addressed her by that name. She blinked in surprise, "Did he..." her thought was interrupted, "Our Anu is getting married to Jitendra Mehta's son, SGI is going to be huge". She felt weak in the knees as she plopped on the floor. What had he done. She remembered some women speaking about Mrs. Bhavna Mehta looking for a bride for her drug addict son. That was the topic of discussion at the last week's party. "What have you done Hira!, he's a drug addict!"

She pounced on to the bed and caught him by his collar, "I won't let this happen, I wont let you do this to our daughter!" But it was all in vain. Hira had slept. She looked at Mahesh, "Call Ayu", a tear trickled down her wrinkled cheek. Mahesh abided.

"Did you know about this?" Ayaan was tongue-tied. He nodded and looked away. He didn't have the guts to face his mother. "How did you let this happen?", she asked holding her son's face and turning it towards her. "I couldn't stop him, Ma. He wouldn't have listened to me."

"Did you even try? Or was your guilt bigger than your sister's life?"

Ayaan had nothing to say. "Ma, Anu knows about this." He uttered softly.

Ananya sat on her bed, waiting for her mother to come. She had heard everything that was happening in the next room. The knock on the door wasn't a surprise. Her eyes followed her mother and brother into her room. "I'm sorry Anu." Ayaan spoke.

"You knew Bhai, didn't you? You knew when you informed me about the appointment. Why?"

"He's his father's slave now, Anu." Her mother snapped. Ayaan lowered his glance and uttered "Run away, Anu!" Neelam agreed. "He will find me and eventually marry me off with Rehaan. Might as well marry him peacefully." Ananya replied calmly.

The composure scared Neelam. She had not raised her children to be cowards. But, they both acted like it. Ever since they had joined their father, Neelam had felt a change in them. They had become meek and submissive. The siblings were good at what they did, and yet they would follow their father blindly. Ayaan and Ananya had brought SGI to the notice of the new generations. Ayu had excelled in fashion and Anu in jewellery and yet they were just their father's puppet. "Where did I go wrong with you two?" Neelam thumped on the bed and cupped her face in her palms. "Why can't you both fight for yourselves."

Ayaan sat on the floor next to his mother and took her hands into his, "We were wrong, Ma. Not you. We did things we shouldn't have."

"What does Hira have against you two? Tell me. I'll sort things out for you." Neelam looked at them with hope. Hira was nothing without her. Had it not been her, Hiralal would have remained a gem dealer throughout his entire life. "Ma, he owns us", Ananya whispered.

"He's your father for God's sake!" The siblings kept quiet. "I can't let this happen to you, Anu. I'm going to speak with Bhavna tomorrow. She can't force her son upon you. He's a drug addict, involved with escorts and what not."

"No Ma, you won't", Ayaan spoke up.

"What?" Disbelief flooded her face.

"Ma, the accident... the other girl, she..."

"She, what?"

"Bhai!" Ananya exclaimed, "Stop. Don't"

"She was pregnant with my child."