"What have you done? Why did you ruin everything? Our story was a fairytale dream come true."
She kept thrashing her arms on the door with full force, only for her pleas to fall on deaf ears. Her wedding bangles broke and fell, her wrists bled and h...
Quite unwillingly, Kalyani accompanied Rudra for the Puja.
He had invited her stone heartedly to his home, where Mohini would be present. Despite well knowing about the pain raging inside of her.
Her entrails pushed back and she felt suffocated. She sat next to him in the car, but yet she felt the distance between them.
He didn't say a single word on the journey home. He got down swiftly without checking to see if she was coming.
Kalyani went inside, where Rudra's mother greeted her. They met after years, and it seemed like she hadn't aged a bit.
She had always been a graceful, elegant woman to her. Her long, flowing tresses were tied in bun, adorned with flowers. She seemed more glowing than the last time when she saw her, even in the absence of Rudra's father.
For a fact, she knew Rudra cared deeply about her and had kept her happy and safe. And her son mattered the most to her; he was the apple of her eye.
She wondered what kind of a mother-in-law she would make. Now that her position was taken away, she was replaced by a new woman in Rudra's life. She couldn't undo it even if she wanted to.
“Namaste, aunty”, she heard a squeaky voice. She looked at her right. Mohini had just entered and bent to touch her feet, seeking elderly blessings.
She blessed her and took her in a hug.
She is so warm and cordial to Mohini. She has more acceptance and love for her than for me. I have been replaced so cruelly.
She looked on, as they both interacted. Then they sat down together for the ceremony, with Rudra in between them.
“So beautiful”, she said as she looked around the decorations in the house.
“Kalyani,” she called out to her, “please join us.”
A few more important people and family friends had been invited. Kalyani felt awkward in between them, so she chose to stand at a distance despite being invited.
As the Puja started, she went outside in the gardens to get some fresh air.
Cool air was blowing, reminiscing of the upcoming spring season. She felt a bit cold and rubbed her hands together.
She was wearing a saree with a half sleeve blouson and forgot to carry her cardigan on such a windy day.
It was cloudy with no sunshine to make her feel the warmth. But she didn't want to walk back inside into the awkwardness.
Just then, she felt a pair of cold hands on her shoulders. She turned around, to face Rudra's mother.
“Please take some prasadam. I am glad you joined us today.”
She stretched her hand forward and accepted the food offering. His mother smiled warmly and went back inside, attending the other guests.
There were a few benches lined up in the garden. Beautiful flowers had bloomed in the trees, with new, green leaves.
She looked up at the sky, so beautiful, so much more peaceful than the world around her.
How she wished to be free, like the sky.
To be free from this pain.
To run away.
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“Sir, I…”
She was being silly in asking for a leave within a week of joining.
But she couldn't stand this torture. She was forced to go through all this.
Mohini visited him everyday and they would spend time together. She was truly convinced that they both were madly in love.
He would trust her more with his job than he did Kalyani. Often, she would offer to do his work, and left Kalyani empty handed.
I don't even have a proper job to do when she does everything. Does she not work anywhere?
Maybe she didn't need to work. Maybe she was rich enough. And maybe Rudra didn't want a working wife but a housewife.
He had changed and so did his priorities and choices.
She felt completely unwanted infront of him.
Although they didn't engage in public display of affection, she would try to get close to him and touch him softly.
Everytime she would keep her hand on his shoulder, a pinch of herself died inside. It was getting too toxic for her.
“Yes?” He looked at her, glaring behind his glasses. His cold demeanor made her swallow her words and she decided to not speak otherwise.
“Nothing, sir.” She walked away.
She still hadn't got the courage to speak up to him.
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“Don't you think you're a bit too much?”
She giggled and fell on him. He supported her, holding on tightly.
“Too much what?” She asked huskily.
“Too much drunk.” He said, trying to handle her. He held her hand and took her inside the house.
Mohini had been to a late night party and came at his doorstep, completely drunk and almost out of her senses.
He opened the door and let her in. He held her as they walked up the stairs to his room.
Kalyani was just in the hallway, making her way back to her room, trying to adjust a last minute errand. She had to pick up some files from the office.
Even as she made her way back from his office, her eyes fell on a particular hanging on the wall of the hallway, in a secluded corner she hadn't noticed before.
Rudra still keeps this dream catcher that I had made for him. He was afraid of nightmares.
Hearing the commotion, she stepped aside to have a look.
She saw them both, visibly and uncomfortably close to each other. Rudra was holding onto her. He was in his night wear while she wore a low cut, deep neck black dress, upto her knee length.
“Please, just once.” She said to him, almost tripping on the stairs.
“You know I am an occasional drinker and I don't drink such cheap labels.” He dragged her up the stairs.
She was fighting back with her strength, trying to get away from his clutches and run down the fleet of stairs. But his grip was too tight.
At this point, Kalyani didn't know if she should stay to watch the drama or leave.
What is she doing?
But before she could decide, he saw her standing in the hallway.
