Threads of Love

41. Her home

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Finally it is my birthday. 

Guests were arriving for the ceremony. Mostly were the people related to the family only. Dada Hukum and Bhairav were sitting in the hall. " Very good Alok Pratap Singh. You are doing the same thing that happened 50 years ago." said a loud female voice.

Dada Hukum and Bhairav looked at the gate. A lady whose age was around the age of Dada Hukum was standing there. Dada Hukum got up in anger. " Nandani, what are you doing here? I ordered you not to come near my house ever." said Dada Hukum.

Nandani walked forward. " Namaste Maa." said Bhairav. Nandani gave Bhairav a cold look. " To hell with your Namaste. " said Nandani in anger. 

Akshita, Anita, Kashi and Naina came out of the room. " What is happening?" Naina asked. Akshita quickly held the hand of Naina, stopping her from saying anything else.

Nandani looked at them. " Akshita, wouldn't you touch the feet of your mother-in-law?" she asked. Dada Hukum looked at her. " You are no more her mother-in-law. We are divorced." said Dada Hukum.

Nandani smirked. " Don't you remember that I have taken care of Bhairav and Anita when their mother died. And I only told you to get Akshita as the wife of Bhairav. Otherwise who would have accepted an orphan?" said Nandani.

It felt like a taunt to Akshita. " How can you speak to my mother like this?" said Naina in anger. Nandani looked at Naina. " Oh looks like you don't know me. I am your grandmother." said Nandani.

" Step-grandmother. No need to give her respect." said Dada Hukum. Nandani looked at Dada Hukum. " Okay, I know that you all don't respect me. But at least let me meet the Hukum Rani Sa." said Nandani.

Everyone looked at Kashi. " Kashi, go beta. " said Akshita while tapping her shoulder. But Kashi didn't move even a bit. Nandani folded her arms. " Don't you have manners how to treat your elder?" said Nandani.

" I am sorry. But I don't think that those people deserve respect when they can't even respect the people who are younger to them." Kashi began, her voice steady and composed. The room fell into a hushed silence, all eyes on her.

Nandani's smirk deepened, a look of disdain flickering in her eyes. "Ah, so the little girl who couldn't keep her first marriage intact is now trying to teach me manners? It's no wonder your first marriage fell apart, Kashi. With such arrogance, how could any man tolerate you?" she sneered.

The words hung in the air like a poisonous cloud, intended to wound deeply. But Kashi, instead of shrinking back, lifted her chin slightly, her gaze locked onto Nandani's. Her response was immediate, sharp, and precise.

"You're right, Nandani Ji. My first marriage did end, but not because of arrogance. It ended because I realized my worth and refused to settle for less than I deserved. If that makes me arrogant in your eyes, then so be it. But I would rather be labeled as arrogant than live a life where I'm disrespected and undervalued." Kashi began, her tone deceptively sweet

Nandani's smirk faltered, her eyes widening in shock. Kashi's words had hit their mark, and the older woman found herself momentarily at a loss for words.

Kashi didn't stop there. She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a level that only Nandani could hear. "Respect isn't something that's given freely; it's earned. And from what I've seen, respect is the last thing you've earned here." she said.

Nandani's mouth opened as if to retort, but nothing came out. She stood there, visibly stunned by Kashi's boldness. For a moment, the air was thick with tension, the silence deafening as everyone processed what had just happened.