Village meets city love

chapter 35 :- Bridges of Understanding

Aarti was in the living room, the afternoon sun casting a warm glow through the windows. It was a quiet Friday, and the house felt unusually still. Everyone was out; Varun wouldn't return until 8 PM, and the rest of the family would be back around 4 PM. Aarti was alone, her thoughts wandering as she flipped through the channels on TV without really watching.

Last night, Aarti sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the soft glow of the bedside lamp. The events of the day replayed in her mind, each harsh word from her mother echoing louder with every passing moment. Her heart ached with a confusion she couldn't easily dismiss. How had things turned out this way? Was she really as naïve as her mother claimed?

when Arun asked her why she seemed so dull, she had forced a smile, brushing off his concern with a lie. "It's just the pregnancy hormones," she had said, waving away his worries. But deep down, she knew it was more than that. The conversation with her mother had struck a chord, leaving her questioning her choices, her future, and even her place in this family.

Aarti hadn’t told Arun the truth, hadn’t confessed how her mother’s cold rejection had shaken her to the core. Instead, she had kept it all inside, letting it fester, unsure of how to even begin sharing the pain she felt. She didn’t want to burden Arun with her turmoil, not when he had been so supportive and understanding. He had enough to deal with, and Aarti feared that her insecurities would only add to his worries.

Just as she settled back onto the couch, her phone rang. Startled, she glanced at the caller ID. It was a number she didn’t recognize, but something urged her to pick it up."Hello, Aarti speaking," she answered hesitantly.

"Mrs. Aarti Arun Raghavan, this is the administration office from your college," a formal voice on the other end responded.

Aarti's brow furrowed in confusion. "Yes, this is Aarti," she confirmed, wondering why they had addressed her with her married name.

"We were wondering when you plan to join the new semester. Your classes have already begun."

Aarti froze. "I'm sorry, there must be a mistake. I submitted a letter informing you that I wouldn’t be continuing this semester."

There was a brief pause before the administrator replied, "We received your letter, but your family has already paid the full fees for this semester. Could you confirm when you'll be rejoining us?"

Aarti's heart skipped a beat. "Excuse me? The fees were paid?"

"Yes, and as everything is settled, we just need to update your personal details since you're now married."

Aarti’s heart raced. Had her parents changed their minds? Had her brother somehow managed to pay the fees? But then, she realized the man had called her "Aarti Arun Raghavan," not "Aarti Muthu Swamy." Something wasn’t adding up.

"Excuse me, sir," she interrupted, trying to keep her voice steady. "Could you please tell me who paid the fees and who updated my name in your records?"

There was a brief pause on the other end before the officer replied, "The payment was made by Mrs. Meena Raghavan, your mother-in-law. She also submitted the request to update your name after your marriage."

Aarti’s mind raced. "I'll need to check with my family and get back to you," she managed to say before ending the call. She sat there for a moment, her thoughts spinning.

As the call ended, Aarti sat there, her phone still pressed against her ear, her mind spinning with questions. She felt a mix of emotions—confusion, gratitude, and a lingering suspicion. Why would Meena do this now? Was this her way of showing support, or was there something more to it? Aarti didn’t know what to feel or think.