*** Shanthi ***
"Do you have the receipt for this," Vinod asked as he noted down the first entry to claim back the expenditure spent on the Brindavanam community as he was helping me finish the form.
"We need a receipt?" I asked confused.
"Yes, sweetheart," Vinod nodded, "If not, what is the proof that this money was spent on the community and not elsewhere."
"We...." I hesitated, "Vinnu....we did not keep the receipt."
"Ahh," he exclaimed, "That's a problem then."
"Are we in trouble?" I asked concerned.
"No not really," he shook his head, "Pritham and I are in trouble. We were the ones who didn't explain the rules properly."
"Perks of being a woman I guess," he commented to himself.
"But what if..." I started but fell silent.
"What if?" Vinod prompted me to continue.
I remained silent.
"Sweetheart, I am your husband," he reminded, "You can tell me anything."
"Hypothetically," I continued remembering the general's words, "If I were educated and know the rules then....then you don't have to take responsibility for me, right?"
"But I do want to take responsibility for you," he immediately answered, "Any given time, if it comes to punishments, I would rather it be me than you."
I didn't know how to respond to that.
On one hand, his words melted my heart, but on the other hand, I still want to study.
"But there are other benefits to me being educated, don't you think?" I asked, "Maybe I could fill this form myself and only give it to you for review? That would save time, right?"
"I mean..." he thought to himself, "There are advantages for sure....but the disadvantages far over weigh."
"What disadvantages?" I asked confused.
"People around us are going to have a lot of things to say," he commented.
"So society is more important than your wife's happiness?" I questioned.
"Are they really mutually exclusive?" he asked and I remained silent.
Vinod moved a little closer and held my hand.
"I am just a soldier sweetheart," he explained, "People won't think twice before pointing a finger at me. The intellectuals will use this chance to drag me into a debate. People will question my ability as a husband. They will question you on your duties as a wife. We are simple people with simple lives. Going against the society is not something we can afford."
I remained silent thinking as my heart broke into pieces at the shattered dream.
Vinod immediately kissed me on the cheek.
"Why so sad?" he commented, "It's all hypothetical right? Because I am not letting my Queen get into the ugly and stressful school environment." "One of us having to go through the torture is enough," he said pointing at his books.
I smiled back.
"Yes, all hypothetical," I lied.
*** Yashoda ***
"Yashu!! Yashu!!" the general entered the home yelling, "I found a solution to our problem."
"Really?" I asked surprised.
YOU ARE READING
ENCHANTED - BY INNOCENCE (ongoing)
Любовные романы"The only promise I can make is to not be the reason for her tears, with the presumption that she is righteous," was what he said when my father asked him to promise my happiness. "The women who could never bear a son," is how people described me. T...
