*ring* *ring*
"...Ma?"
It was 8pm. The Goenka family were sat in the living room, the men were discussing a new business deal whilst the women discussed the preparations to be made for Kartik and Vedhika's engagement.
Suddenly everyone's heads turned towards the door, having heard a car drive into the driveway.
Manish: "that must be Suwarna".
Suwarna had left a few days ago saying she wanted to visit her brother who was unwell.
As Suwarna entered, Surekha and Vedhika went up to her.
Surekha: "Finally you're here Didi, we've just started planning the engagement."
Vedhika: "Maa I was waiting for you, I want your opinion on the stage decor.."
Suwarna interrupted..
Suwarna: "There will be no engagement."
Everyone stood up in shock.
Suwarna walked past everyone and towards the stairs. Just as Manish was about to ask her what was wrong, Kartik went up to her.
Kartik: "Maa are you ok? How is mamaji now?"
Suwarna suddenly stopped. She paused for a second then turned around to face Kartik. Kartik was shocked at the amount of anger her eyes held looking at him.
In a split second, everything changed.
Kartik had been about to ask his mother what was wrong when he suddenly found himself on the floor and heard the family gasp. For a second, nothing made sense.
Dadi: "Kittu!"
Manish: "Kartik! Suwarna! What the hell!"
The family rushed to help Kartik up, while Manish went to Suwarna.
Manish: "Have you gone mad?! What the hell happened! Why did you slap him!"
Suwarna said nothing but continued to look at Kartik, now shaking with anger.
Kartik left his Dadi's embrace, reassuring her that he was fine and slowly walked up to his mother. He still couldn't believe what had just happened.
He looked at her for a moment trying to understand what he could have done to cause such a reaction.
Kartik: "..Maa? What did I do.."
Suwarna interrupted him.
Suwarna: "what happened that night?"
He understood immediately. He didn't know how she had found out but he completely understood her anger now.
He looked down, no longer able to face her.
Manish: "what are you talking about Suwarna!? Kartik..?"
Manish turned to look at Kartik but found him looking down. He became speechless as he saw tears start to develop in Kartik's eyes.
The tears were enough for Suwarna.
Suwarna: "how can I let you marry another girl when you've already ruined the life of a girl you claim to love more than anything!"
Kartik was numb. He couldn't care less about marrying Vedhika but that his mother now knew his shameful truth broke him and make him relive the guilt and horror of what he'd done.
Suwarna: "how could you! After all that happened! How dare you! How dare you make such claims about your love! We all thought you were special, that we would never see someone love and support his wife like you, we were so proud! But you proved us wrong. You proved there's nothing special about your love, it's as common and fickle as others. You were granted a second chance and this is what you did! All these years, we watched you mourn and wondered why God was punishing you, when in fact you deserved it!"
Dadi: "Suwarna! How dare you say that to him! Do you know what you're saying! Which mother speaks to her son like that!"
Suwarna: "A mother who is ashamed of her son Maa-ji! I have never been so ashamed of Kartik as I am right now!"
Manish: "What are you talking about Suwarna! Just tell us what happened, stop this nonsense!"
Suwarna: "Ask your son Manish-ji! Ask your son why Naira left this house that night!"
The family went silent. Manish looked at Suwarna in shock and confusion. He heard a noise and turned to see Kartik fall to his knees, silently crying, his hands balled into fists.
Suwarna: "Speak Kartik! Tell them! Tell them how you broke the heart of a girl who loved you more than her life! Do you remember that? Do you remember that she was ready to die, as long as she could hold onto the memory of you! That girl who was ready to suffer by giving you up so that you wouldn't feel the pain of losing her! That girl who has always forgiven your mistakes and taken you back with loving arms! Tell them how you accused that poor girl of cheating on you!"
Gasps were heard all around.
They couldn't believe it. Kartik's love for Naira has always been something of awe, someone that loved so purely, so obsessively and held his love above everything else, their Kartik would never even think such a thing, let alone destroy his life by acting on it.
Manish slowly shook his head. No, this couldn't be true.
He went and grabbed Kartik by the shoulders and lifted him up.
Manish: "Tell me none of its true? Tell me you didn't? Please?"
His voice broke at the end, internally begging his son to not admit to having done this.
Dadi suddenly grabbed Kartik's arm and turned him to face her.
Dadi: "Kittu,is Suwarna telling the truth? Did you really accuse Naira of cheating on you?"
Kartik couldn't bring himself to say it. He just looked down, unable to meet her eyes.
Dadi understood. She released her grip on him and turned away disgusted.
The family stood for a few moments in silence, unable to voice their thoughts. There was an undercurrent of anger running through everyone.
Manish suddenly turned to Suwarna.
Manish: "How did you find out what happened, how do you know what he said?"
Kartik looked up at them.
Suwarna stood for a few moments in silence, just looking at Kartik.
"She told me"
