Unwanted

Chapter 14

Archit

Damn

I looked at the fish and rice on my plate. I dislike fish.
"Brishti, Deepanjan, don't feel shy. If you need anything then ask me." My Sasuri Ma said while serving them some rice.
"Ok Jethima." They both said in unison.
I cannot eat this much. I thought while looking at the food infront of me.

"Dida, he hates fish." Priyangshu said while pointing towards me.
Kids really have no filter.
"Oh." Sasuri ma said in an irritated tone while looking at me.
Priyodorshini glared at me while Brishti and Deepanjan stared at me. I bowed my head down due to embarrassment.
"No, no it's not like that. The food tastes really nice." I said while forcing the food into my mouth.
I was reminded exactly why I hate fish as soon as the food entered my mouth.
It's bitter. I thought to myself.

"I hate picky eaters." Priyodorshini said while I picked up the glass to drink some water.
"People should eat whatever is given to them." She continued.
I knew that she was scolding me.
"People really need to respect the hardwork and thoughtfulness put into cooking." She got up and left the room.
She could've said this in private.

●●●●●

I opened my eyes and wiped my tears off. I exited the balcony and walked towards Priyodorshini's room. Upon reaching, I saw that the door was closed. I knocked on the door.
After awhile Priyodorshini opened the door. She went inside after opening the door, I followed her. I saw that Brishti and Deepanjan had left and Priyangshu was sleeping. I sat on the bed beside his sleeping figure.

"Did you really need to do it?"
I turned towards Priyodorshini after hearing her question.
"Do what?" I asked.
"Did you really need to leave when my cousins were here?" Priyodorshini asked, her voice filled with anger.
"You came back after both of them left." She said making me feel guilty. I wanted to stay, but you ignored me.
"You all were enjoying yourselves. There was no need for me to be here." I said while getting off the bed.
I stood before her, face to face.
"Why did you leave like that?" Priyodorshini questioned me once again. I stayed silent.
"Don't stand there like a statue. Say something." She said in an irritated tone. "Archit!"
I sighed. "They are your cousins, they were here to meet you, not me. You all weren't even letting me talk." I said while a tear rolled down my cheek.
Priyodorshini stood there silent, instead of saying anything else she got up on the bed and lied down.

I sighed. I lied down on the floor and turned to other side. I didn't even take a pillow, just lied down on the floor. Nowadays, the floor had become my cold and hard yet comforting friend. The last time I slept on the bed was on my kalratri. After that I had been sleeping on the floor since the day of my fulsojja.
I tossed and turned around. The floor was quite hard. It was hard to fall asleep without a pillow.
I tossed and layed on my stomach in hopes that I will fall asleep.
But, it was of no use. I kept tossing and turning, the floor was uncomfortable to sleep on. I looked at the clock, it was 4pm. I tossed around once again. God, when will I fall asleep.
I closed my eyes in a desperate attempt to fall asleep.
"Take a pillow." I heard Priyodorshini say. I opened my eyes and looked at her. "No, it's ok." I said in an irritated tone. I don't need your pity. My self respect stopped me from taking a pillow. I turned around and closed my eyes. I let a tear slip and roll down my face. You should know that I am angry with you.

●●●●●●

"You need more?" My Sasuri Ma asked me while serving me some paneer and ruti.
"No." I answered back with a smile. She went inside the kitchen, leaving only me, Priyodorshini and Priyangshu. We were at the dinning table, it was 9:00 pm. Priyodorshini was feeding Priyangshu.

I looked at the paneer. Looks delicious. I was about to dig in when the doorbell rang.
I looked at the door. Who might it be at this hour?
Priyodorshini was about to get up to answer the door when I stopped her.
"You feed him, I'll go answer the door." I said getting up from my seat.
"Ok." She answered back.
I walked up to the door and opened it.
I was met with a woman who seemed to be in her 50's. The woman was wearing a light blue saree and had medium length hair, upto her shoulders. For some reason the woman rubbed me the wrong way. She had an unfriendly expression, one which suggested that she was pissed off. She looked irritated, annoyed.
"Where is Priyodorshini?" The woman asked me in an angry tone.
"Who are you?" I asked her, confused.
Who is she?
"I SAID WHERE IS PRIYODORSHINI?" The woman shouted, making me flinch.

"I-I sh-she-" I couldn't form a sentence even when I tried to. I felt nervous infront of her. Priyodorshini on the other hand got up and came towards me.
"Who-" she was about to ask me something when she stopped after seeing the woman.
"You sl*t!" The woman said to Priyodorshini. How dare she talk to my wife like that.
"You cannot talk to her like that." I said to the woman in a threatening tone.
"Oh really? Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do?" The woman said while Priyodorshini stood there like a statue.
"I am-"
"No one you should know about."
Before I could say anything Priyodorshini cut me off.
So you don't want her to know about me.
"Who I am doesn't matter. You cannot talk to her like that." I said.
"Who are you?" The woman asked me in an irritated tone.
"What is going on here?" Sasuri Ma came running towards us.
"Yo-you why are you here?" Sasuri Ma asked the woman. Do they know this woman?

"I have already told you before, please leave us alone." Sasuri Ma said to the woman in a pleading tone.
"No. I won't. Not until I sort out my business." The woman said.
The woman turned to Priyodorshini who already had tears rolling down her face.
"Don't cry you h*e. Don't try to garner sym-"
"Don't talk to her like that!" I cut the woman off before she could finish her sentence. The woman turned towards me.
"Who are you? Why are you defending her like that?" The woman questioned me. I stayed silent. The woman turned towards my Sasuri Ma, "Did your daughter lure another boy, Wow what a sl-"
"YOU CANNOT TALK ABOUT MY WIFE LIKE THAT." I shouted making everybody flinch.
The woman turned towards me and checked me out from head to toe.

"Oh, so you are the 'viral boy.' "
My eyes widened in shock, my stomach churned due to fear and disgust because I knew what she was talking about.