Iniquity: a tale of guilt and love || Completed

9. his repentence~a

~ No one can begin a new life, unless he repents the old~

Suman had been really busy the entire week. The orders had been flowing in like anything, and the praises of PCT towering the entire Delhi. Suman woke up at 6 am every day and prepared healthy breakfast for atleast Shravan if she would be late and for the entire family if she had time, and then leave for PCT. She came back late, usually after 10 pm, after preparing for the next day. Also, she had started looking for a bigger place and more staff, which was also almost on the verge of finalizing. A two storey broken building, that needed some furnishing and would be good to use was almost decided. Amidst all this, the only thing she regretted was not being able to give time to the family, especially Shravan. Atleast earlier they fought and somehow talked, but these days she left before he woke up and by the time she returned, she was too tired and usually slept off before he came back. Many a times she had slept on the couch waiting for him, and one time even on the dining table, but every morning she found herself on the bed, under warm quilt. She knew it was him, but she couldn't even get a chance to thank him.

It was a Saturday and somehow she got free a little early that day. Happy beyond limits, she returned home by 6 pm and was about to head upstairs when she heard Preeti talking to Pushkar.

"I don't know Pushkar. But something is off. Shravan does not even talk to bade papa. Its like he has gone mute or something", Preeti nervously bit her nails and Pushkar sighed.

" Even I noticed. Not only bade papa, bhayiya do not talk to anyone. Every morning he eats breakfast in his room, that too only when you stand on his head for him to finish it. He comes home really late for anyone of us to talk to him. Moreover since he had started his new firm, that too alone, and away it's difficult for me to even meet him at office. He is usually at court, with some work or the other", Pushkar shrugged, clearly worried for his brother.

Suman knitted her eyebrows as she walked upwards. What the hell was happening? To be true, Shravan's office was just in front of her PCT, and she made sure to check on him twice a day. Once, when she sent him lunch via preeta and secondly when she left the office. He was always busy in work, but she didn't notice anything odd. Why was everyone else so worried then? Sighing, she quickly changed her clothes, and went down to help with dinner. After a long time, both sisters gossiped as they cooked, and the family had a really nice time together, except Shravan of course.

It was close to 11 pm, when Suman heard the honk of his car. She stood up and quickly went down to heat his dinner. God knows how he managed on cold food for these many days. Shravan entered his room and when he didn't find Suman he knew she was awake. He knew he would have to face her anyway since he had seen her leave early that evening. He changed and washed his face, taking a few deep breaths, before coming out.

"Shravan, dinner!", He heard her voice and nodded, looking down.

A few minutes later, shravan was sitting on the dining table, as Suman served him before sitting beside him.

"If you have eaten, please go and sleep. I can eat by myself", she heard him speak, his eyes still stuck to his plate but her mind was already running years back.

"Sharavan yaar, I have eaten. Why shall I sit and waste time?", A 14 year old Sumo cried in frustration.

"Because I am eating. So sit down. I don't like eating alone.", Shravan answered laughing as he ate his sixth paratha.

" Who asks you to eat this gigantic amount? Bhukkad!", Sumo shouted before sitting down as he continued eating paying no attention to her rude remarks.
Only when he finished eight parathas and two cups of the sweet dish, halwa, he got up and let her get up too.

" Its alright. You eat, I will sit", Suman answered as if in a trance. How far had they come? For the first time in more than a week, she noticed his face. His once handsome face had dark circles, his cheeks seemed hollow. All in all, it looked like he had lost all colour. Instead of a day or two old stubble, he had thick beard. His hairs fell all over his forehead, as if not combed. Suman also saw how slowly he was eating, as if it was a tough task. Somehow he finished two chapatis and stood up.

"I am done", he spoke, without meeting her eyes and before she could react, he covered all the lids and put his plate in the sink.

"Shravan!", Suman called him as he was about to leave the kitchen. He turned to look at her, for the first time in the entire evening.

" Since when did you start eating alone Shravan?", She questioned only to get a humourless chuckle.

"There is no one to sit by in a dorm room of London Suman. Moreover, habits change with time", he spoke, but his voice came out very haorse.

" Are you okay? Is something wrong?", She asked again, but this time he removed his gaze from her.

" I am fine", he answered before rushing away to his room. Only if he could tell her!

Suman cleaned the table and returned to their room only to find him sleeping. Sighing she also slept off, tired with all the work.

Next day was sunday and defiantly a free day to her. She woke up late and was surprised to find Shravan already up. Lazily, she freshened up. This day was going to be her happiest ever. Because today, she was going to return her mamiji the entire amount. The fact elated her.

Suman Tiwari had only two dreams since she gof self independent. One two pay off the debt they had bestowed her mother with, and second two manofy Shravan. Well, the second dream had taken an entirely new dimension but atleast the first would be fulfilled today. Happily, she took her cheque book and her ambassador keys and resumed her journey to fulfill her first dream, unaware of the silent someone who had smoothened her way like a bed of roses.