Solace

|52|portent

Sorry again for not being able to update. From now on Updates would be available only on Sundays. And a little less frequent. Stuck in my personal life, and it demands attention.

I urge new readers to vote on previous chapters, before you start reading this one.

Portent– It means a sign that something bad is about to happen.

Happy Reading!!

***

It has been a week since Vaibhav left. He informed me about a sudden change in his plans, mentioning that he would also be visiting Dehradun.

However, this didn't affect his scheduled return home, which I was most delighted about. Throughout the week, our routine remained the same—we talked every night for about an hour before going to sleep, during which he shared everything about his day.

Last night, he mentioned that he was planning to buy a property near Agra. He explained that, with the current drop in property rates, it would be a good investment, as he predicted the prices would definitely rise next year.

It was Sunday evening, and I was strolling in the lawn. My mind had begun to adjust to his absence. The previous Wednesday, I had woken up feeling disoriented, momentarily forgetting that he wasn't home. But almost instantly, the reality of his departure came rushing back to me.

While I was strolling around, admiring the plants, my eyes caught sight of a car entering the porch, with Sumit, the driver, behind the wheel. The car came to a halt at the edge of the lawn, and one by one, its passengers stepped out—Revati, Vaibhav's Bua, followed by her son, her daughter, and finally Maa, who moved forward to greet them, she was standing under the porch.

A sudden wave of irritation swept over me. Of all times, she had to come when Vaibhav wasn't here. The last time I remember, her plans to visit were canceled due to her husband's health. Without a second thought, I rushed inside, wanting to avoid her gaze.

"Bhabhi," I heard Aadarsh's voice echoing through the lobby.

He entered the kitchen, where I had stepped just minutes earlier. His face was tense as he looked at me, and soon Shreya and Roshni followed him inside.

"Did you hear the bad news?" he asked, his tone serious.

What could be worse than Revati's presence? I had almost sensed it—she wouldn't let me live in peace. Memories of what happened on our reception day flashed before me, and I could still feel Vaibhav's rage, as though he would've torn his cousin in two.

"What bad news?" I asked, trying to suppress my irritation.

"Revati—uh, I mean Papa's sister—is here," he whisper-yelled. "And her son," he added with the same urgency. I sighed, reluctantly sharing his sentiment.

"Her daughter, too," Roshni chimed in.

"Oh, please, that's an exaggeration. How much trouble can a girl cause?" Aadarsh asked skeptically.

"You wouldn't understand, Bhaiya. If you heard her talks, you'd know," Roshni countered, rolling her eyes. Shreya and I remained silent spectators.

"Bhabhi, do you know, at your wedding, she used Bhaiya's card to buy all her stuff? And even got herself gold earrings!" Roshni said, her tone full of irritation.

"Who does that? Spending someone else's hard-earned money!" she added, exasperated.

Her response pulled me back to what she had said earlier about Vaibhav. I don't have any right over what my husband earns or how he chooses to spend it. But I couldn't shake the thought. Isn't he the one earning? And yet, Roshni seems to be enjoying the privileges that come with being his sister.