His Brown Bride

24

Rajiv's POV









"Mother," I whispered, embracing her tightly while she broke into tears in my arms.

"Please don't leave me alone and go," she beseeched, her voice trembling with sorrow.

I stroked her back gently, trying to comfort her. "If you really can't bear to be apart from us, come with us. We don't want to be away from you either."

She sniffled, her body shaking with sobs. "I can't leave. This city is my matrimonial home. If I leave, I'll be disrespecting the memories I shared with your father."

I held her at arm's length, looking into her tear-stained face. "Mother, Father is no longer with us. If he were here, it would be different. But he's not. There's nothing holding you back now."

"Your grandmother will never allow me to leave," she said, and she stepped away from me, dabbing at the tears on her face.

"I wish you all the luck and success in the world," she whispered, and her voice quivered as another tear escaped, but she quickly brushed it away.

"Since you've made up your mind, I won't try to stop you. But I'll send you money regularly and call you every day. I won't let you feel the absence of our love and support, no matter the distance between us."

She smiled sadly, her eyes welling up with tears again, as she placed her hand on my head. "May God bless you," she whispered.

Her gaze shifted to Rashi, who stood behind me, and her expression softened. "Won't you come and seek my blessings?" she asked, her voice gentle.

Rashi smiled and rushed to her, embracing her tightly. "I'll stay with you, Mother, if you promise me one thing," she told her, her voice muffled against her shoulder.

"Promise me you won't force me into a marriage I don't want. Please, Mother." She drew away from her, holding her hands.

"It's not me, Rashi. If I had a choice, I would have let you continue your studies. But..."

Rashi's eyes pleaded more with her. "Then please come with us, Mother. I don't want to be away from you, please!" she begged.

She smiled weakly and said, "I bless you, Rashi. May you get what you desire if it's truly good for you." she said, withdrawing her hand from hers; however, Rashi held on, her gaze staring into hers.

"Mother, please come with us. Let's not tell Grandmother we're leaving. Let's just disappear from Banaras and start afresh. Please, Mother. Come, let's live together happily, forever."

"Do you really think it's easy?" She exclaimed, her voice rising as she turned her back on us.

I replied, "It's easy if you want it to be. I see no reason why you should stay here alone when your children won't be present."

I gestured to Rashi with a nod, signalling for her to bring her bags.

I had changed my mind.

I'm not leaving her behind, all alone.

"You can leave," she said. "I'll vacate the house in an hour after I've packed."

"We're leaving together. We'll drop you off." I replied.

I know if I reveal that we will be leaving Banaras with her, she might refuse to come, so I lied.

She nodded, accepting it, and turned to fetch her bags.

But Rashi appeared, holding them ready.

"Let's go, then," I said, and together, the three of us walked out of the villa.

••••

"How could you deceive me like this and bring me to the station?" she yelled, refusing to disembark the car, like I expected.

I met her gaze calmly. "Because I won't let you stay here alone."

She rolled her eyes, exhaling a sigh of exasperation, then looked at me and said, "Didn't I tell you I couldn't leave? Your grandmother..."

"What about her?" I cut her off, my anger augmenting as I spoke with deep-seated pain.

"What will she do? Hit you like she did when we were children? Humiliate you, belittle you?"

Her eyes widened in shock, tears gathering in them because I opened up old wounds which I don't even care any longer.

"Yes, will she follow us to Mumbai to hit you? Is that why you're so scared? Scared to leave the past behind, scared to start afresh?" I added.

She tried to speak, but her lips only trembled, and instead, she broke into tears, facepalming her face.

I pulled her into a hug and spoke. "I brought you here because I won't accept no as an answer. If she wants to follow us to Mumbai, let her try. In the past, I was powerless to stop her. I was unable to protect you even when I wanted to, because Father was right there, watching it all happen. But this time, I promise to protect you. I won't let her lay a finger on you, not while I'm still breathing." I held her closer, letting her tears soak into my shoulder.

"'Let's go then!' she whispered, and my face lit up with a radiant smile, happiness bursting forth in it like a sunrise.







He's also going to Mumbai🤭💃. I'm very excited for the upcoming chapters.🥱. I can promise long and exciting chapters, but it depends on your response though 😀