New Innings

Part 29

The drawing room of the Gupta house was vibrating! Forgive me for this metaphor, but that's the vibe of the room. Everyone silent, scowling, frowning! Riddhiman finally broke the silence, "I can't believe you work in the police department!"

Dhritiman glared at him. But before he could speak, his brother continued, "What?? You told Tiya about your dinner, you had no idea that she could go there! You were in relationship with her for so many years, but you had no clue about what sort of a girl she is! She tried to make a scene at the restaurant. Wow!"

"Ridhhi.. its okay. You don't need to be so harsh on him." Minerva interrupted, patting his shoulder. But Riddhi was too worked up to hear anything. "No Minu. Don't stop me. He needs to hear this. There were so many warning bells we all heard, but this idiot was just deaf, and blind. Basically dumb. You know, ma always invited her for the wedding shopping, she always denied, and then she would find faults and pass nasty comments about everything ma baba bought! I so wanted to shut her down, but since I am the youngest child of the house, I must not interfere in 'adult matters'! That's what ma, baba, dada everyone in the house used to tell me. It really doesn't matter that I am doing a post doc, I am old and mature enough to see through things and say. And of course, since it's dada's wedding, I can't have a say!"

Their parents turned to Ridhhiman as if he struck them! They had ignored his words every time he said, 'I am not liking it' or 'something is wrong' or ' Tiya di is not what we are thinking'! He was always shut down with 'concentrate on your work, what  doyou understand of marriage?' Suddenly they felt so sorry!

Dhritiman felt so ashamed of himself. He was the responsible one, the matured one, the reliable one! And what brought himself and his family into? And now, Minu who should have faced anything at all is into this mess too. All because of him! He clearly remembers his brother calling him briefing about the situation, and he used to quiet him down saying these were womanly things, and he ( Riddhi) must not think about it. He was just so busy trying to build a comfortable future life he hardly heard what he didn't want to! And look what his ignorance has brought his family into!

Minerva looked Dhritiman apologetically. She felt so sorry. Had she not told ma what transpired today, this would not take place.

"What led you to slit your wrist dada? Did you not think of us? What would happen to ma baba, if we couldn't save you? What were you thinking?"

Dhritiman's face went red.

This time their mother spoke, "Calm down Riddhi. This is not the time."

"When is the time ma? We can't speak of the matter when its so needed. You always praise about Minu in those kitty parties, and all they understand is you are covering for your son!"

"And how do you know that?" Asked their father.

Ridhhi looked at him and smirked. "You people forget what I research about! My job is to talk to people and understand their psychology. Yes, I admit I failed about Tiya di. But for the crowd, I am not wrong."

Everyone kept staring at him, and he continued...

"What? Why do you think I keep coming back here every now and then? Of course I love you guys and miss you but this is my research, my work! The people I have lived with all my life, how they have changed with time gradually. And yes, in case of Tiya di, I lay the blame partly at another door, because they didn't live in this neighbourhood previously. They shifted here around six-seven years back." Ridhhi took a pause.