Replacement

Chapter 19- Trouble in the paradise

Patralekha's heart raced as she dialed her mother's number, the familiar digits stirring a whirlwind of emotions within her. After a year of silence, she finally mustered the courage to reach out, hoping to bridge the gap that had formed between them.

The phone rang several times before her mother, Vaishnavi, answered, her voice filled with surprise and concern. "Patralekha, is that you?" she exclaimed, her tone a mixture of relief and apprehension.

Taking a deep breath, Patralekha braced herself for the inevitable backlash. "Yes, Mom, it's me," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I know it's been a long time, and I'm sorry for worrying you."

Vaishnavi's initial shock quickly turned to anger as she scolded her daughter for her prolonged absence. "Do you have any idea how worried we've been?" she admonished, her voice stern yet laced with concern. "You disappeared without a word, leaving us all in turmoil."

Tears welled up in Patralekha's eyes as she listened to her mother's words, her heart heavy with guilt and regret. "I'm sorry, Mom," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I didn't mean to cause you any pain."

Vaishnavi's scolding words pierced through the phone line, her disappointment palpable as she confronted Patralekha about her past actions. "Patralekha, do you realize what you've done?" she admonished, her voice tinged with anger and frustration. "You ran away from your own wedding with Samrat, humiliating both of our respected families in the process."

Patralekha winced at her mother's harsh words, the weight of her actions bearing down on her like a heavy burden. "I know, Mom," she whispered, her voice filled with regret. "I never meant to cause so much pain and embarrassment."

Patralekha hesitated for a moment before responding to her mother's scolding. "Mom, I know I made a mistake by running away, but I had a chance to pursue my dream career in Australia," she explained, her voice tinged with desperation. "I thought it was the right decision at the time."

Vaishnavi's scolding intensified at Patralekha's excuse, her disappointment turning into frustration. "Do you realize what you've done, Patralekha?" she exclaimed, her voice rising in anger. "You not only abandoned your responsibilities, but you also stole all the wedding jewelry for passage money. How could you be so irresponsible?"

Tears welled up in Patralekha's eyes as she listened to her mother's tirade, the weight of her actions hitting her like a ton of bricks. "I'm sorry, Mom," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know I messed up, and I regret it every day."

But Vaishnavi refused to let her daughter off the hook so easily, her frustration boiling over. "Your actions have consequences, Patralekha," she scolded, her voice stern. "You may have had your reasons, but that doesn't excuse the pain you've caused."

As Patralekha attempted to explain herself further, her mother cut her off with a startling revelation. "And do you know what happened after you ran away?" she demanded, her voice trembling with anger. "Your cousin Sai had to get married in the Chavan family to save our family's reputation on the same date your wedding was planned."

Patralekha's eyes widened in shock at her mother's words. "Sai got married to Samrat?" she asked, her mind reeling with disbelief. But Vaishnavi said negatively, "No, not Samrat," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Sai married Virat, Samrat's elder cousin."

Patralekha's lips curled into a sardonic smile, her words dripping with sarcasm as she remarked, "Ah, Sai made quite the sacrifice, didn't she? Marrying into the Chavan family, becoming the wife of a billionaire celebrity businessman, the heir of the Chavan empire."