PROMISE TO BE YOURS

CHAPTER 6

Gupta Gauri and JRS were thick as thieves. When JRS had feelings deeper than friendship Gupta was the messenger who brought them together. Meanwhile Gupta got married to his cousin Radhika. She lived in the village with her parents while Gupta travelled to visit her once a month. JRS and Gauri had a beautiful relationship. They decided to wait and save some money before getting married. JRS knew his father will never say yes to Gauri. She was a nurse, lower middle class and did not have inherited wealth. These were important deciding factors for SRS. JRS frankly explained who and what his father was and the possibility of them having to walk away from everything has father would eventually give him. Gauri was okay with it and said she did not want a grand rich life but a loving peaceful one with the man she loved.

SRS realized something was amiss when JRS avoided meeting the daughter of one of his very old friends and business associates. He was not very happy when he found out the reason and decided to take the bull by the horn. He knew his grandfather's equation would never work with JRS as he never cared for his money or position in society. He was never greedy. Whenever SRS threatened to write him off the will, his response was 'you have the right to do what you want with your wealth'. When SRS could not get his way with his son he started to trouble Gauri's family. First he approached her father when refused to meddle he lost his job on suspicion for bribery. He then went to her twin brother who laughed in his face. The price he paid was getting kicked out of his job with no recommendation.

When things continued to go wrong with Gauri and her family JRS suspected his father was the mastermind behind all the trouble. JRS knew how ruthless his father could be so he decided to leave the country with Gauri. JRS knew his father would do something bad so he insisted to leave with Gauri. Finally a friend helped them to move to the UK. JRS and Gauri decided to start life from scratch so once again they had to postpone their wedding. Gauri got a job first as she was a qualified nurse and supported JRS in all his endeavors. Finding a job in the construction field was not easy as the whole world was going through a crunch. This did not stop him from doing odd jobs which pained Gauri's heart knowing who he was back home. Her attempt to get him to wait at home till he found a suitable job fell on deaf years. He insisted he was not ashamed to wait tables or wash cars as long as it allowed him to be with her.

Once JRS got a job they moved from the single room they were living to a tiny studio apartment closer to work. Both made sure a part of their salary was saved so they could start a family and give the child a good life. Once they had a decent amount in savings they had a simple court marriage and started a their new life with so much love and laughter. Meanwhile back home SRS kicked Gupta out of the family quarters and gave this place to Matilta who was Padma's personal maid. JRS loved and adored his wife. People in their lives envied the type of relationship they had. JRS openly hugged and kissed and cuddled his wife. Gauri would playfully reprimand him for being touchy touchy all the time. They cooked and cleaned and did everything together.

JRS had seen how his father treated his mother and never forgave him. He made a promise that he will never do anything that would hurt his Gauri and live a sad life his mother endured. JRS never made an attempt to check on his father. He was happy in his simple love filled world with his Gauri. About 4 years after their wedding Gauri was found unconscious at work. JRS rushed to the hospital and insisted to do a complete check-up. The stork had decided to pay a visit. Gauri was 2 weeks pregnant. When the doctor confirmed the news JRS was overjoyed. He carried Gauri around the ward making all her colleagues and patients laugh. JRS took Gauri home and treated her like a fragile piece of glass. Being a nurse she wanted to lead a normal life but that was not possible as JRS took every opportunity to pamper and spoil her. He insisted she should resign from work until the baby was born and Gauri agreed.

One day 6 weeks into the pregnancy while holding her in his arms he asked what she wanted most in the world. Her answer did not make him happy 'I want to go home for delivery'. He could not deny her anything so he agreed to take her back with the promise to come back after child birth. She wanted to go alone and come back after child birth but he refused to let her go alone or stay alone in the UK. A decision he regretted all his life. Gauri's parents met them at the airport and took them to their house. They were quite surprised at the simple and humble JRS. They were even more surprised at his love and dedication towards their daughter. JRS contact Gupta on his return who came to see him with his wife and 3 kids. Like Gauri Radhika was pregnant with her fourth child. While they waited for their baby JRS approached his old company and got his job back. When Gauri went for her 6th month check-up she was told she was now having a issue with blood pressure and diabetes. JRS was quite disturbed and as per doctors agreed to put Gauri on bed rest. Being a nurse Gauri knew what precautions she had to take but JRS would not talk to her until she agreed.

Gauri was 7 months pregnant when SRS came to see her while JRS was at work. He made it a point to bring small gifts every time he visited her and kept insisting that they should move to the mansion where Gauri and the baby could have a better life. When JRS hesitated his father put the pressure on Gauri. SRS was always a sweet talker and tried to convince Gauri that he was not happy about their marriage but now that it was done he had no choice but accept it. He also mentioned that JRS was a proud man like his father but that should not stop her son getting his birth right. His constant visits and insistence pushed Gauri's parents to agree to send their daughter to the Singhania mansion as it was the unborn baby's birth right. They said it was in her hands to convince JRS and let bygones be bygones.

By the time SRS left he was convinced that he had brainwashed Gauri and her parents in style. Gauri waited for her husband to come home and related verbatim. All he said was his father did not have a single honest bone in his body so she should forget what he said and concentrate on getting his son out healthy. Garui never forced her husband to do anything he did not want to do and she said yes to everything his said. When he said ignore my father she did exactly that. SRS knew it was useless talking to her so he now plotted and planed to meet his son. JRS refusal became a matter of prestige and pride for SRS. The only person who refused to obey his orders or respect his words was his own son. So he wanted to teach his son a lesson he never forgot. In order to do that he had to step down from his thrown. He was a business man only interested in a profit and a win. How he reached his goal was not the point. Reaching the goal was.

A/N: Feeling sad and sorry for a venomous snake will always have a heavy price to pay.