!! Shraman Short Stories !!

TERA SATH HAI TOH KYA GAM HAI

Nirmala had cornered Shravan in the garden, her face etched with worry and determination. Shravan, however, was seething with anger, his hands clenched into fists.

Nirmala: "Shravan, please listen to me."

Shravan: (cutting her off) "I have nothing to say to you."

Nirmala: "Shravan, just stay away from Suman and Aditya, please."

Shravan: (defiantly) "I won't. What will you do about it? I absolutely will not stay away from her."

Nirmala: "Look, Shravan, I don't want to create a scene at Adi's wedding. He's happy, and so is Suman."

Shravan: (sarcastically) "How? How can you do this? Wow! I mean, Mrs. Nirmala Ahuja deserves applause for this!"

Nirmala: "I don't know anything else. Just stay away from Suman. She loves Aditya. Admit that."

Before Shravan could respond, Suman walked in, her face a mask of controlled fury.

Suman: (angrily) "Nirmala Aunty, who told you that I love Aditya? Who the hell said that?"

Nirmala turned to face Suman, trying to calm her down by caressing her face.

Nirmala: "Why are you saying this, dear? You don't love Aditya? Adi told me you love him. Then why—"

Suman: (interrupting, in a rage) "Aditya, Aditya, Aditya! Everywhere it's Aditya! Can't you see anything beyond him? Not your husband, not your own son Shravan?"

Nirmala: "It's not like that, Suman."

Suman: (bursting out) "It is exactly like that! You know what, you're not even worthy of being called a woman. What kind of woman leaves her family, her own husband, her own son, to live with someone else?"

Shravan stood there, stunned by Suman's outburst, while Nirmala tried to regain her composure.

Suman: "I considered you my mother, but you never once asked me if I wanted to marry Aditya. You just came, arranged the marriage, and left. Why? Because Aditya said so? And here I couldn't even make my own choice because Mamiji had to go to the US to be with Anuj Bhaiya. I'm a burden, right? So, I should adjust with anyone. I'm not Preeti, who gets everything according to her wishes."

Tears welled up in Suman's eyes, her voice breaking with emotion.

Suman: "And then there's Nanu, whom I love more than my own life. But what did he do? He imposed his decision on me. He said he wouldn't take his medicine until I agreed to this marriage." (Shravan looked at her in shock.)

Suman: "So, I said yes. None of you ever thought about my choice because all that mattered was your happiness, not mine. None of you thought to ask Suman once if she was happy with this relationship."

She paused, looking around at everyone who had gathered, her voice firm and resolute.

Suman: "And now, today, at this very moment, I want to say that no, I am not happy. I am not happy at all."

There was a stunned silence. Shravan's heart was pounding, his mind reeling from Suman's confession. He stepped closer to her, his eyes filled with concern and determination.

Shravan: "Sumo..."

Suman: (turning to face him, her eyes blazing) "Yes, Shravan, I'm not happy. And I won't be forced into a life that isn't my choice."

Nirmala: (trying to intervene) "Suman, please try to understand—"

Suman: (cutting her off) "No, Nirmala Aunty. You try to understand. This is my life. I get to decide who I want to spend it with."