Parivara: Story of a Family

27 : Confrontation

In the next two days, Payal was nowhere to be seen. She would not be present at any meals, nor go to any of her lessons. Abhay had his men watching her and telling him of her every move, so he knew she was locked away in her room, and sometimes she would sneak out and go to the marketplace. He knew she was planning something, but he decided not to stop her until there was something to be worried about, so he just kept watch on her.

Divya was locked away in her room, resting and eating only in there. Rakesh hadn't visited her since the news of her pregnancy, and she worried about how he was doing. She knew it killed him inside to have to live with the situation at hand, and all she wanted to do was hold him. But she figured he hated her now; even she hated herself.

Aditi and Vishu would spend their nights in the Diya Mahal, because Aditi was afraid someone would catch them if they were in her room. Their future together was unclear, but Aditi was finally beginning to see Vishu's point. Whatever was meant to happen in the future would happen, but they had to live for the present. This meant she should not be afraid to be with him, because he would take care of her no matter what. However, they were still cautious if only to appease the small part of Aditi that still worried.

Rakesh kept himself busy day and night. He would work tirelessly, never stopping to eat or sleep. As he was writing some numbers into a chart, the King knocked on his door and came into the room.

"I hope I am not disturbing you, Rakesh?"

"No, sir." Rakesh said, standing up and bowing his head. "Is there something you needed?"

"I cannot imagine giving you any more work than you're already doing," the King gestured at Rakesh's table. "I think you are doing too much. Please, come for a walk with me and then join us for lunch."

"Mujhe maaf karo (Forgive me), but I have to refuse." Rakesh told him. "And, I actually wanted to talk to you about my work. Sir, with your permission, I want to build myself a house in the new province and live there. I could be a sort of governor for you there, and keep an eye on things. It would be easier on me to be there for my work, anyway, and since we just ended their warring they may need someone to watch over them for the first few years."

"Rakesh, what are you saying?" The King asked, raising his arms in question. "I need you here, you are my right-hand man. Who will help me here?"

"I've been training Vishu, and he is capable. And you trust him as much as you trust me." Rakesh stopped and then said, "And the new province needs my help more than you do, sir."

The King sighed, and looked down, pondering Rakesh's request. He was shaking his head, but he said, "If you really feel you should be there, I have no right to stop you. You've helped me for so many years, I am obligated to give you what you want."

"Thank you, sir. If you don't mind, I would like to start preparations to leave as soon as possible."

The King shook his head and patted Rakesh's shoulder. "You will be missed here. Now, stop work for now and come eat lunch. I'm sure we'd all like to spend as much time with you as possible before you leave."

***

Since Divya's announcement, Abhay had been accepting congratulations and gifts on both his and her behalf. He would sit in a meeting room and watch as one after another, people came in to wish him and his future child well. It was tiresome and would drag on all day, but at least it was pleasant.

Abhay became surprised when his next guest was announced and Divya walked in, looking radiant in her lehenga and jewels. Abhay sat up straight and waited as she came up to his podium and bowed.

"You should be resting," He said before she spoke.

"I only have to say something, and then I'll go." Divya told him quietly. Her eyes were downcast, and her tone was calm. Abhay sighed as she continued, "I came here to apologize."

"Apologize?" Abhay asked.

"Yes," Divya said, still not looking up. "I wanted to apologize for our last three years of marriage. I'm sorry we both had to live through hell, because we were both convinced it was the right thing to do. Now that I am with child, I've been thinking about what it means to bring this child into the world. My Maa once told me that people had children because they had so much love to give each other that they had to let some of it out in the form of a child. And then they give their child all their extra love. But you and I have no love between us, so what can we possibly give this child? I'm here to apologize to both you and this child because when we bring it into this world, it will have to grow up in a loveless world and that is the worst punishment."

"Why?" Abhay asked, leaning forward. "Why come here and say all this?"

"Because I am tired of doing what everyone else convinces me is right to do," Divya told him, finally looking up. "We married each other, because others told us it was right. We stayed together, because others told us it was right. And I will bring this child into the world and raise it with you because that's what they tell me is right. But what we're doing... is not right. We are wrong, and we are wronging this child before it is even born."

With that, Divya turned and gracefully walked out of the room. Abhay sat back and sighed. That was the most Divya had ever said to him, and it was the very first time someone said something to Abhay that completely jarred him. A world without love... he'd never heard a greater truth.