The Stars' Decree

Scene 17 & 18

Scene 17: A Heart-to-Heart with Maa
Later that evening, Priya sat on the edge of her bed, anxiety swirling in her chest. She had resolved to speak with Anil—her mother, now—about the gravity of their situation. She needed to bridge the gap that had formed between them, to make Anil understand the reality of their predicament.

Taking a deep breath, Priya pushed open the door to Anil’s room, the sight of her mother sitting quietly on the bed filling her with both dread and determination.

“Maa,” she said softly, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. Anil looked up, his expression weary but attentive.

“Priya,” Anil replied, his voice tinged with exhaustion. “What’s wrong?”

Priya walked over and sat down next to her. She hesitated, feeling the weight of everything she needed to say. “I want to talk to you about… about what Maa said earlier,” she began, searching for the right words.

Anil’s brow furrowed, and he leaned back slightly, bracing himself for the conversation. “I know it’s hard, Priya. I’m trying… but it’s just so much to handle.”

“I know,” Priya said, her heart aching for her husband’s struggles. “But you need to understand what’s at stake. If… if something happens to father, if he dies because you can’t be a proper wife, you won’t be able to go back to being my husband. You’ll be my father’s widow—forever.”

Anil’s face fell, a mixture of disbelief and horror crossing his features. “I know things are complicated, but…”

“No, Maa,” Priya interjected, her voice firm but gentle. “This isn’t just complicated. This is serious. You’ll be bound by this marriage, and you’ll never be able to leave it. The traditions in our family won’t allow it. You’ll live with that stigma, that shame, for the rest of your life. You’ll be stuck in a role you never wanted.”

Anil’s hands trembled slightly as he processed her words. “I didn’t choose this. I never wanted any of this. I didn’t ask to be your father’s wife.”

“I know,” Priya said, her voice softening. “None of us chose this. But now that we’re in it, we have to face the consequences of our actions. The stars are angry, and we need to appease them. You can’t keep holding back, Maa. It’s hurting everyone.”

Tears glistened in Anil’s eyes, and he looked away, staring into the distance as if searching for answers. “I feel lost, Priya. I never imagined I would be in this position. I don’t even know how to be a proper wife to your father. I feel like I’m losing myself.”

Priya reached out and placed a hand on Anil’s arm, her touch grounding him. “You’re not losing yourself, Maa. You’re just learning to adapt. You’re still my husband. You’ll always be my husband. But right now, you have to embrace this role. For father’s sake, for your sake, and for our family. Otherwise, we might lose everything.”

Anil took a deep, shuddering breath, his chest rising and falling as the reality of the situation settled over them. “What if I can’t do it?” he whispered, vulnerability etched in every line of his face. “What if I fail?”

“Then we’ll figure it out together,” Priya replied, her voice steady. “You don’t have to do this alone. I’ll help you, every step of the way. But you have to try. You have to give it your all. If you don’t, we might not have a family left to fight for.”

The weight of Priya’s words hung in the air, and Anil felt the tears spill over as he nodded, overwhelmed by the enormity of it all. “I… I’ll try. I promise I’ll try,” he said, his voice breaking.

Priya smiled softly, relief washing over her as she embraced her mother. “That’s all I ask, Maa. Just take it one day at a time.”

They held each other for a moment, both finding solace in their shared struggle. Priya knew the path ahead would be fraught with challenges, but she also knew that together, they could find a way to navigate the treacherous waters of their new reality.

Scene 18: A New Resolve

That night, as Anil lay in bed, thoughts racing through his mind, he felt a flicker of determination ignite within him. Priya’s words echoed in his ears—he had to embrace this new identity, this new role as Shankar’s wife, if only to ensure their family’s survival.

The memories of the past few days came rushing back, each accident a reminder of the stakes involved. Shankar’s injuries, the bruises, the pain—it all felt insurmountable, yet Anil knew he couldn’t allow fear to paralyze him any longer.

Anil sighed deeply, pulling the robe tighter around his body. He could feel the heaviness of the bandages against his skin, the weight of expectation pressing down on him. He closed his eyes, envisioning a future where they could find peace, where Shankar could live without the threat of death looming over him.

As the night wore on, Anil resolved to approach the day differently. He would take the plunge, break down the barriers that had kept him from fully embracing his role. There was no more time for hesitation. It was time to act.