"Am I hurting you Mishti? Does it hurt?"
He whispered against her lips and dug his nails deep into her waist by tightly clutching her close to him. She hissed in pain but her eyes never him thinking deeply about him and how a person change this much...
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Somehow, she freed herself from him and went to perform her remaining duties as Daughter-in-Law.
But now, . . . . . As she stood in the lobby outside the room of Advait, where all his younger siblings and Siya his wife were laughing over something, memories of happier times flooded her mind.
She couldn't help but reminisce about the moments they had shared in the past – the laughter, the camaraderie, the sense of belonging she had felt as part of their family.
But now, as she looked into their eyes, she saw only coldness and disdain reflected at her whenever she tried any interaction with them, though she never dared to do so but being family and also living together, it is a must to stay united.
As she entered the room, Siya gasped and widely smiled and heartily welcomed her by grabbing her both palms in her hands forcing her to go nearer to the couch where everyone was sitting.
"Jiji, aap yaha. Andar aaiye na aap darwaje par kyu khadi hai?" (Jiji: sister, you're here. Come in why are you standing at the door?)
she couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation wash over her. It had been months since she had last set foot in this room let alone this imposing estate, and the memories of her time here with Hriday still lingered fresh in her mind.
But now, as she stood before the imposing figure of her younger brother-in-law, the warmth and familiarity she had once felt seemed like a distant memory.
"Bhabhi ma"
Jay greeted her curtly, his tone laced with barely concealed contempt. Hearing him, Advait put his hand on his shoulder and sternly gave him a look. He then again looked at her and said,
"You know I gave you the name as my guardian angel called you 'ma' then what was left in our love and respect, that you have to crave from some mere notes. Anyways...I hope you're satisfied with yourself. You've certainly made a mess of things around here."
She felt a pang of guilt and frustration at his accusatory tone, the weight of his words like a knife to her heart. She tried to muster a response, to defend herself against his unfair judgment, but the words caught in her throat, choked off by the bitterness of his accusations.
Beside him, his sister, Gauri stood silent, her expression guarded and inscrutable.
