Poonam woke up from her slumber and saw herself in bed, but her brows arched thinking that she was lying in bed but she clearly remembered sleeping on the floor after being exhausted from crying for hours. Her trance broke, when the bathroom door made a clicking sound and looking up, she saw him there, in loose trousers and water dripping from his hairs. He glanced at her for a second, before walking towards the door but his steps halted at the entrance and he turned to look at her before, informing her to come downstairs for dinner.
Her heart ached with his indifference towards her, looking at the time she realised it's past 11 and she was sleeping since afternoon. Fearing her mother-in-law’s heart wrenching, she quickly freshened herself and went downstairs. Reaching there she was welcomed with glare by her mother-in-law, while others invited her. not wanting to create a scene, Usha Devi let the matter go for now and again shifted her attention to Radha.
Poonam gave her sister-in-laws an apologetic look, who responded by playfully glare, before shaking their head in acknowledgement. Poonam quietly served herself and started having dinner, but her heart didn't desire to eat, her appetite was already gone after the afternoon encounter with Kaushal. Suddenly the whole family's centre attraction was Radha, no one even glanced at her. No one commented on why she only ate 1 Chapati. no paid attention when she was about to inform them about her semester exams, they all were just lost in Radha’s tales from her childhood. Poonam finished her dinner and left the table, while taking her plates to place in the basin. And yet no one paid attention to her. but unaware to her, Kaushal was looking at her all the time, sneakily glancing at her direction, jaw clenched after seeing the portion of food she decided to eat but his mind had controlled his heart, as if his heart is chained by the metal chains. He noticed the way her eyes dimmed seeing her own people prioritising someone else other than her.
She entered her room, she went to the biggest window of her room. The moon is visible from there, she remembers how before their marriage, he had come to their house to talk to her urgently.
Flashback starts…..
Kaushal was setting his hair and beard in the car glass, wanting to look presentable while meeting her father for the first time alone– without his family. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the main door of the house, his hands rubbing against the scratched and fallen part of wood, making the sharp edge scratch his finger. He hissed in pain but after sensing someone coming, he straightened his back, ready for the upcoming encounter.
Shanti Devi came there and her eyes widened after seeing him there, clad-ed in a formal blue shirt and black pants, seeing her there Kaushal touched her feet to seek blessing and show respect. Her voice shutters before she asked, “ k–kush r-raho, mera matlab rahiye
A-aap yahan mehmaan ji?? Idhar kyu?? Nhi nhi mera matlab achanak kese?? Nhi nhi aapka hi ghar hain aap kabhi bhi aaiye. Are, are aap amader aaiye, mein bhi kya aapko khada rakha h, aap khade kyu hai?? Darwaja toh khula hi tha, aapka hi ghar hai aap andar aa jate. Aap aise-”
Kaushal was flabbergasted by her reaction, and responded in between, trying to calm her racing heart, “are, are shant ho jaiye kaki. Mein thik hu, mujhe koi samasya nahi hain, mein toh bs, bs wo aap logo se milne aaya tha, haan, haan wo paas se guzara toh socha mil aau, suna h kaka ki tabiyat thodi kharab hain isliye baaki kuch nhi h. Mein aise aa gaya uske liye maaf kar dijiye, mein-
Shanti Devi’s eyes softens and she said, “yeh aapka hi ghar hai beta, aap kabhi bhi aa skte ho aur kripya maafi maang kr hume paap na chadaiye, aap toh mehmaan h humare, humari beti ke mangetar. Are aap andar aaiye, idhar khade nhi rahiye". With that she gave him space to enter inside and followed him inside. She called her younger daughter, who was shocked to see her sister's finances and quickly fetched a glass of water for him. Kaushal gave her a smile, and asked about Manohar. Shanti Devi sent her younger daughter to inform Manohar about the guest.
After hearing the news, his mehmaan arrived at his house. Manohar quickly wore a kurta before walking out of the room. Kaushal stood up from the chair after seeing Manohar there and as Manohar reached near him, he touched his feet to show respect, shocking the man and backing off slightly in reflex. “Ab aap hume ashirvad bhi nahi denge, kakaji” realising his actions, he quickly replied, “khush rahiye mehmaan ji, hum bas wo apne achanak hi, toh bs wahi-”
Kaushal interpreted in between, not wanting him to apologize, “ hume pata hai kaka, hum majak kar rahe the” Manohar gave her a smile before they both settled themselves on chairs. Shanti devi went inside to prepare snacks while her younger daughter went to her sister, informing her about his arrival. Poonam's heartbeats quickened, her hands turned cold and body started shaking, her mind started blocking her senses with thoughts, “what if he asks for dowry? But hasn't he denied? Why is he here? Is he here to cancel this alliance?? After all the shopping??? Ahhhh what the heck is happening Shambu”
[Imagine she said all these in Hindi]
While on the other side, Kaushal and Manohar talked about the wedding preparations and all, Kaushal denied any gifts or gold for him or his family, “Poonam aapki beti hain, aapki marzi aap unhe jo de kapde latte ya jewar aur agar wo bhi na de tabhi hume chalega kyuki hume bs aapki beti chaiye, aap ki daulat nahi. Aur kripya humare ya hamare parivaar ke liye koi jevar ya kuch ki jarurat nhi h, aapko khud pr itna bojh nhi lijiye, galat nahi samjhayega kaka magar aapke abhi do aur bacche hai, aap un dono ko padhiye, likhaiye aur kabil banaiye. Hum toh aapke hi hain. aap kuch de ya na de, hum fir bhi aapke dusre bete rahenge aur wo aapko beti, aap khud ko tension dekar khud ki takleef mat badhaiye aur jaha baat hain humare parivaar ki toh hum ne papa se baat kr li thi, wo bhi aap ko sab bata denge shaam tk, magar humne socha ki hum aapko khud btaye aakar, hume galat nhi samjhayega aur na hi hum aapki aarthik stithi ka majak bana rhe h, bs aap bhi humare bau ji jese h aur hum nhi chahenge ki aap khud ko takleef de kisi bhi chij ke liye. Baaki aage aapki marzi h kaka.
Manohar's eyes shines with tears not with humiliation but with gratitude and happiness that her daughter has gotten so lucky to have a man like him. Happiness is not because he saved dowry money or something, it's because her daughter got someone, who'll choose her always, who is ready to accept them as his family without even asking for something. His love and care for their family was with conditions, it was so pure that it made his eyes teary. He just joined his hands in gratitude but Kaushal cupped his hand and put it down, before shaking his head in denial.
Poonam who got to know about the conversation of his father and her fiance, her heart swells with gratitude and her eyes filled with tears. For the first time since the alliance was fixed, she joined her eyes and thanked Shambu, the almighty from whom she turned her face away; he has never left her side. Shanti Devi called Poonam outside, After fixing her appearance she entered the baranda. Kaushal who was speaking with her father, looked up hearing the jingle of the anklet, the very anklet he had chosen for her to give at roka.
His eyes went to her, clad-ed in blue kurti and white salwar, dupatta pinned on both shoulders. His heart swelled realising that they were matching coincidentally. He moved his gaze back to her father, not wanting to look like a creep. Poonam's cheeks turned red, thinking how she deliberately matched her dress with his after being forced by her sister.
Manohar called Poonam to sit with them, as Kaushal wanted to show something. Her steps halted before she sat on the chair beside her father, Kaushal who wanted her to sit beside him, his lips twitched in annoyance but he changed his expression in a second but Poonam caught his expression, her lips stretched for a second. Kaushal showed the room design to them, as his family wants them to customise their room. They together selected some designs, she was hesitant at first but then joined the discussion and they together planned a big window on the wall which faces directly the moon and a balcony with little swing on it, the walls should have light shade of green as it's her favourite colour. And that's how they together planned their room and since then, the uncertainty of his character started fading from her mind.
….Flashback ends
Poonam slept, recalling the past and crying over the present and the distance he made between them.
......................... To be continued
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Gajra:- A Love Tale
Non-FictionDON'T JUDGE MY CHARACTERS JUST BY READING THIS SYNOPSIS, THERE'S MORE THAN THIS IN MY STORY AND REMEMBER WHILE YOU ARE READING THAT MY CHARACTERS HAVE FLAWS BUT THEY HAVE A SOLID REASON OR TRAUMA FOR THAT. GIVE IT A TRY IF YOU WANT TO TRUST ON ME, Y...
