ACCEPTING 'US'

17.

The early morning felt like evening. There was a blanket of clouds covering the sky with occassional thundering. The slightly blowing wind was causing the air chilly making everyone shiver. The sun was hiding somewhere deep not wanting to tear apart the clouds to shine. As if it got tired of shining everyday and wanting a break today. Moreover clouds gathered in groups fighting dominancy over sun further increasing the chance of rain today.
In bedroom both shyam and sudha are cuddled up against eachother not wanting to leave the bed anytime soon. They are aware about the upcoming storm but the thunders in their heartbeats can be heard more than the weather outside. Both were holding eachother tightly not allowing thin air to enter between them.
" I think it will rain today " Sudha said leaning against Shyam's chest.
" Yeah. I don't want to go out. I just want to cuddle with you like this " shyam said holding sudha tightly.
" It's time. You should collect milk and go to work. Remember? " She said.
" Even if I forget you are here to remind me " he said and sudha chuckled and looked up at his face.
" Yes. I don't like when you stay home. That's why I always urge you to leave home " she said suppressing the smile.
" In that case, I have to teach you a lesson  about how to treat your husband " shyam said and came over sudha suddenly while sudha gasped.
" First go and collect milk. Don't waste time here " she said rolling her eyes.
Shyam was in no mood to leave her so he inched closer to her and kissed her cheeks making Sudha lose her sanity. His hands roamed and moved from her shoulders to her arms holding her firmly. He kept kissing her cheeks passionately and sudha closed her eyes with the intensity of the kiss. He then kissed her nose and kept looking at her.
" Shyama I collected the milk already. Should I go to deliver milk? " Devamma asked from outside the room.
Devamma got up on her usual time and found that shyam was still not awake. So she started by collecting milk from cows. She then wanted to ask shyam about delivery as he didn't like her going house to house to deliver milk. So she decided to ask him. She understood it was not right to disturb the couple but the work in hand was also important to her.
" I will be there in a minute ma " he replied back to her mother and left sudha.
" I will deal with you later " he said and went outside closing the door behind. Sudha got up and cleaned the room and went out to start her chores.
It was Friday and she decided to go to the temple. So she soon finished making breakfast, informed her maaji and stepped into the front yard to collect flowers. She took the basket and collected various flowers. She again came inside and loosely braided her hair and did some makeup to look presentable.
" I am leaving for the temple maaji. You both have breakfast. I will eat after I am back from the temple " she said while taking the basket with flowers.
" Okay dear. You don't forget to have breakfast after coming back " she said to which sudha smiled gratefully. She slowly moved towards the temple.
People passing by her kept chatting about her. Few ignored her presence while few kept staring at her. She controlled the emotions building up in her and went towards the temple.
Her heart relaxed as soon as she entered the temple. She offered the flowers to God and started praying by folding her hands in front of the deity.
Unfortunately Laxmi was also in the temple on the other side. She heard people whispering about something and her interest piqued when Shyam's name was mentioned.
" What is it about? " She asked a person whom she knows from the village.
" What to say Laxmi? Shyam's wife came to the temple and now that you are here I feel sorry for you " that lady said dramatically and left. Laxmi's anger increased and she stomped towards Sudha.
She was still offering her prayer. She turned after finishing and came face to face with Laxmi. Sudha was not aware who she was, so she calmly walked ahead of her and sat in an isolated place of the temple enjoying the weather which was cool rather than hot. She thought it would rain but to her disappointment it didn't rain, rather the weather became extremely cool making her skin alive due to coolness.
Laxmi went towards her and stood in front of her with her folded hands on her chest. Sudha was confused at her but thought it would be better to be silent.
" So sudha? " She started making Sudha surprise. She don't know this girl but she took her name with such ease that sudha had goosebumps. The way she was staring at her made her feel something bad was about to happen.
" How are you? How is my shyam treating you? " She asked smirking. Sudha's world spinned when she mentioned her husband as ' my ' and she was quite terrified with the look and the bold statement she made.
" Wh..what do you mean..mean? " Sudha asked trying to bottle up her emotions.
" You don't even know how to talk and you became his wife? What good deeds you have done to marry him huh? And I don't understand what bad deed shyam had done to get you as his wife " she snapped at sudha making tears fill her eyes.
" Why are you talking like that? " Sudha asked after sometime. She was waiting patiently to get an answer from her but she was just throwing daggers at her.
" Because I was the one going to marry him and I don't know how you suddenly appeared out of nowhere and destroyed our future " she said angrily making Sudha flinch.
" That can't be truth. You are lying " sudha said and got up to leave. She was damn sure that shyam was not planning to marry her. If at all it's a misunderstanding of the girl in front of her. The past few days with shyam proved how much he cared for her and how much he wanted her. This can't be true she thought and started leaving from there.
" Keep convincing yourself that but at the end he will leave you " she shouted while sudha kept walking although her feet were not allowing her to speed up.
She soon entered her home and sat with racing heart. Her leg was slightly aching due to her speed walk and she didn't care that much. All she cared is shyam is her husband and he will not leave her. Repeating the same thing repeatedly she calmed herself. After sometime she had breakfast not wanting to think about the situation earlier.
.......

Shyam went to his work but he missed sudha during breakfast.
" Shyama I need to tell you something " Devamma said.
" What is it ma? " he asked curiously.
" Yesterday zamindar sahab called me. He told me we need to clear the interest in the actual amount soon. And also we have very less time. I am not understanding how to handle to situation. If we couldn't finish the debt, we will lose what we have and the hardwork we had put all these years will be wasted " she said worry etching her features.
" I know ma. But what can I do? Every year the yield is less due to moderate rains. And also we are paying little profit we get to him for interest. I am sure this year rains will be enough to give us good profits. Then we will clear the debt. You don't worry I will think something " he said while deeply thinking about increasing the yield and profits.
As they are poor and need to pay the debt, the money they get through milk and the vegetables selling is enough to fulfil their daily needs. But the real problem is clearing the debt. And with each year the interest amount is increasing so they are under lot of pressure. Moreover if they pay the total amount at once they will get rid of interest. But they don't have such amount with them so they are working hard to make things work.
.......

In the evening shyam returned home but his mind was still stuck that zamindar sahab is asking for interest.
Sudha was not in mood to converse as well due to the morning incident. Both of them sat on bed but lost in their own world's. They didn't speak to eachother and kept their minds delve into deepest of secrets of life.
" Were you forced to marry me? " She asked finally breaking the ice between them.
" What happened Sudha? " He asked sighing.
" Just answer me. Were you forced to marry me in any way? " She asked again wanting to know his answer.
" No. I was not forced. I married you because I was completely fine marrying you " he said assuring her.
Sudha relaxed knowing that he was not compelled to marry her. Her heart which was thinking of various scenarios into which he might have thrown to marry her disappeared. She took a deep breath to calm her racing thoughts and signalled him to lay his head in her lap. He smiled and lay his head in her lap. She slowly caressed his head and her fingers worked like magic. His stress gradually ceased pulling him into a peaceful slumber.

According to schedule I should update next week but it's a surprise for you all guys. Because today is my ' Happy birthday ' and I am presenting this chapter as my gift.
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