Muskan...<br /> A name, which in itself was a beautiful feeling—but smiles had long been lost in her life.<br /> How could she, who hadn't been blessed with the love of her own since childhood, believe that someone could give her boundless love too?<... Muskan...<br /> A name, which in itself was a beautiful feeling—but smiles had long been lost in her life.<br /> How could she, who hadn't been blessed with the love of her own since childhood, believe that someone could give her boundless love too?<br /> She yearned from the heart for just a little peace... but fate gifted her with pain and loneliness every time.<br /> <br /> Then Siddharth came into her life—a stranger, who made her his own at first sight.<br /> He could read the pain in Muskan's silence, wanted to hold onto every breaking hope of hers.<br /> <br /> But was love alone enough for that girl, who had lost everyone she held dear?<br /> Could love fight against fate... or would Siddharth himself be snatched away from her world, while holding Muskan's hand?<br /> <br /> "Muskan: Love, Tears and Destiny"—<br /> A story that will touch the most tender corners of the heart...<br /> A tale of a girl trapped between the allure of love, the pang of tears, and the merciless trials of destiny.<br />
Page 1 of 12
Banaras
A house built in Ashok Nagar Colony. "Mishra Niwas" was written in paint on the gate outside. The decoration of the house suggested that a wedding or celebration had recently taken place. It was ten o'clock at night.
A boy was standing outside the room on the first floor of the same house. Siddharth... Siddharth Mishra, the only son of this house. He had been married about a week ago, but the house was still full of guests. Therefore, until now he used to sleep on the roof with the men, and today, after a full week, he was going to his room to sleep, where his newlywed bride was probably waiting for him.
Siddharth stood outside for a while, thinking, then he let out a deep sigh and gently pushed the door; the door opened. As soon as Siddharth stepped into the room, the girl on the bed, wearing a bridal outfit, whose name was Saanchi and whom everyone affectionately called Muskaan, clenched her fists on her lehenga. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she sat there silently, withdrawn into herself.
As Siddharth moved towards her, Saanchi shrank further into herself. The entire room was beautifully decorated for their wedding night. A faint fragrance of roses filled the room, enough to entice anyone's heart.
A faint smile spread across Siddharth's lips. After all, the girl he had dreamt of making his own from the first glance was sitting in his room as his bride, waiting for him; the thought alone sent a tickle through his heart.
It was the first time his heart had fallen for anyone, although he hadn't told anyone about it. Everything happened as per the family's wishes. The day he saw the girl chosen by them, whom he had left home intending to refuse, he couldn't believe his own luck after meeting her.
Perhaps his luck was being too kind to him, which was a matter of surprise and astonishment. They couldn't talk much during that meeting, but both said yes. After that, everything was good; their wedding took place very smoothly.
Only God knew now whether these happiness were temporary guests or if their union was destined for a lifetime. Siddharth was extremely happy today, completely unaware of what the future held for him, and fate probably had something else in store.
Siddharth brushed aside the strings of flowers hanging around the bed, which seemed to be guarding it, and gently sat down in front of Saanchi.
Saanchi's heart skipped a beat. She nervously squeezed her eyes shut. The next moment, she felt the touch of his warm fingers on her shoulder, making her entire body tremble.
This was precisely what had been making her heart tremble since then. She hadn't even accepted this relationship yet, and now all this felt repulsive to her. She jerked her eyes open and, shaking off his hand, stood up.
Siddharth stared at her, stunned, wondering what had suddenly happened. Saanchi was now standing before him, tears streaming down her face. Seeing her red eyes, Siddharth tried to move towards her, but Saanchi took two steps back. She extended her hand and shouted angrily, "Enough... don't come near me..."
"Saanch..." Siddharth tried to say something as he moved towards her, but Saanchi retreated again and screamed in anger,
"I said, stop where you are... If you even touch me without my consent, I will end myself."
"What are you saying? If you weren't ready for all this, you should have told us."
Siddharth, shocked by her words, tried to move towards her again, but now Saanchi erupted in anger and pain,
"What would I have told you?... When has anyone cared about my wishes, that you would now?... Tell me, what should I say to you? Weren't your wishes asked before the marriage?... I had said that I don't want to marry you, or anyone else... I don't believe in these relationships. You still did as you pleased, agreeing to the marriage even after I refused... Did you listen to me then?...
No one ever asked for my consent. When I refused, I was threatened and made to sit on the altar. Even against my will, I saw myself being forced into these chains called marriage...
Why did you do this to me? With great courage, I wrote you that letter hoping that even if my family didn't listen to me, you would refuse the marriage knowing my wishes, but you did the same thing you had to do... No one there cared about my wishes, nor did you care about my refusal... You married me, didn't you... That's what you wanted, right? Here, it's done. Possess me...
I know everything; you men are so eager to get married so that you can assert your dominance over the girl and she cannot even refuse... You men get a permit to do anything with her after filling her hairline, a means to fulfill your bodily needs. That's why I didn't want to get married... But you didn't listen to me either; you tied me in this forced relationship..."
Some secret lay hidden in Saanchi's heart, the pain of which she couldn't bear. Tears began to flow from her eyes. Siddharth stared at her in shock.
Saanchi wiped her tears and threw off her veil from her head. She pulled the veil set on her waist and shoulder away from herself and shouted angrily,
"Here, do as you please... That's what you wanted, right? That's why you married me even after I refused, so you could have my body? Then here I am, standing before you; fulfill your every desire... It's your right, I won't stop you.
This is what my mother told me, that from now on, keeping you happy is the purpose of my life... So here, make me yours... be happy... do whatever you want, because I am not even human; I have no desires, no will...
I was a burden to them, so they took the burden off their heads and threw me here... They did what they had to do; you also do what you did all this fanfare for. By marrying such an ugly girl like me, you have done me a great favor. Now I am your slave; do whatever you want with me. I promise I won't even say "uff." Fulfill your lust.
From now on, neither do I have any right over myself, nor is this body mine anymore. You have bought me, haven't you? So what are you waiting for? Here, start; I am right here before you, fulfill your desires."
She began to cry terribly as she spoke and, weeping, sat down heavily right there. Tears continued to stream from her eyes, and her tongue repeated the same words.
Siddharth seemed to have gone into shock; half of her words went over his head; he didn't understand what was happening and why.
The smile that had been on his lips until a short while ago had vanished. The eyes that had been filled with dreams of his future life now looked at Saanchi with vacant, indifferent gazes.
Saanchi cried for a long time. She had been crying constantly for the past few days; she neither ate nor drank. As a result, she fainted while crying and began to roll to one side.
It was then that Siddharth came out of his shock and, lunging forward, caught her in his arms before she could fall. Saanchi slumped into his arms.
Siddharth picked her up in his arms; as he gently laid her on the bed, his gaze fell on her body.
Saanchi had taken off her veil, and now she was only wearing her lehenga-choli, revealing her entire waist and stomach. Siddharth remembered some of her words; he averted his gaze from her. He covered her with her veil, then tucked her in properly with a sheet.
Deep sadness was etched on Siddharth's face at that moment. He removed all the decorations, then changed his clothes and went to the balcony. He sat on the chair there and leaned back, closing his eyes. Every word Saanchi had spoken echoed in his mind, and he began to try and solve this puzzle.
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What happened to Saanchi that she behaved like this with Siddharth?... Was this marriage against her will?... Are Saanchi's accusations against Siddharth true?... What secrets are buried in her heart that have made her think this way?... Why doesn't she believe in relationships?... Why does she see marriage merely as a means to fulfill bodily needs?... What pain is buried in her heart, which Siddharth is unaware of, and how will he manage Saanchi and this relationship connected to her?... Will Siddharth be able to erase the resentment from Saanchi's heart towards him?... Will Saanchi ever accept Siddharth and this relationship from her heart?... What happened in their past, and what will happen next in their lives; to know, keep reading "Muskaan" with me.
Delhi, Dwarka Sector 12
It was the month of November. It was around 11 PM. While most people were tucked away in their blankets, sleeping soundly, and the lights in their homes were off, the wedding hall was still dazzling with colorful lights.
There was silence all around, but the wedding hall was bustling with activity. Someone was getting married here. The baraat (wedding procession) had arrived some time ago. Their food and drinks had started. Behind the marquee, the confectioner was managing his work with his team.
The confectioner at the wedding was Manish Ji... Muskaan's father, who has five daughters and a youngest son named Gaurav. Gaurav is currently studying in tenth grade. Manish Ji's third daughter, the middle one, is Saanchi alias Muskaan, who is here with him today.
She often goes with her father to help him. Today too, she has come and after finishing all the work, she is standing near the marquee, watching the guests eat and drink. She is also sending for things if anything is running low.
Her attention was, as always, on her work, but there was someone whose gaze was meticulously observing Muskaan.
Her lips, colored in silent, light purple and pink hues, her large, deep brown eyes, which appeared as calm as they were deep; as if they held countless secrets.
There was a unique magic in her lake-like deep eyes, that once one fell into them, they would just keep sinking deeper. This exquisite combination of silent lips and expressive eyes is rarely seen.
An unspoken pain was spread across her large eyes, her magical eyes held a strange emptiness within them; a deep silence enveloped her lips, but her eyes seemed to convey a lot; all that was needed was someone to understand the language of those silent, speaking eyes.
Wheatish complexion, of average build, full of innocence, a face etched with pain; she wasn't overly beautiful, but her face had a distinct radiance, the allure of her innocence and sincerity was on her face, requiring special eyes to appreciate its beauty, eyes that could see the beauty of the heart rather than just the face. She looked ordinary, very simple, without any pretense or deception.
That slender girl, who seemed like a normal girl, but her eyes set her apart from others; those silent, speaking eyes, which were incredibly attractive.
On one side, as Sidharth's gaze, standing amidst some boys, met her eyes, he sank into the depths of those large brown eyes; he was unaware of his surroundings or the presence of people. He just kept staring intently at the girl with the brown eyes.
There was something in her, something special, something very special, that was drawing Sidharth towards her, and Sidharth, compelled by his heart, was being drawn towards her.
In a simple yellow Anarkali suit, that girl looked incredibly attractive; her lake-like eyes had mesmerized Sidharth, and the girl, meaning our Muskaan, whose name was Muskaan, but had no connection to smiles whatsoever; she wasn't even aware of this.
She was busy gathering her long, open hair that cascaded down to her waist, and tying it into a bun, which had just come undone and was flowing down her back.
Muskaan didn't even realize that someone's gaze had been fixed on her for so long. She tied her hair into a bun, and a few strands fell onto her cheeks. Muskaan tucked them behind her ear, then started giving instructions to the waiters standing there.
Sidharth was still staring at her intently.
Sidharth alias Sid Mishra... good height, meaning around five and a half to six feet. Fair complexion like milk, dark black eyes, thin pink lips, which looked more beautiful than any girl's. Even in a black three-piece suit, his body was visible; strong muscles emerged from beneath the shirt.
Although he didn't have a hero-like physique. He was a simple boy from a Brahmin family in Banaras, but he had a well-built body; neither thin nor fat. The silky hair flowing on his forehead made his handsome face even more attractive; and the smile that graced his lips, oh my, what a killer smile it was, that any girl who saw it would be smitten. He looked exactly like any girl's dream prince.
Sidharth was still gazing at Muskaan when someone called him from behind, "Sid."
Sidharth immediately turned and saw the boy sitting on the stage as the groom, who looked to be of his age. He was beckoning Sidharth to come closer.
Let's introduce him too. This is Alok Pandey, Sidharth's childhood friend, his best buddy, whose wedding is today, and Sidharth has come to Delhi from Banaras to attend this wedding.
Before going to Alok, Sidharth glanced back once towards where the girl, meaning Muskaan, had been standing a moment ago, but there was no one there now.
Sidharth frantically looked around, but he couldn't see Muskaan anywhere. Poor Sidharth had fallen in love at first sight with someone, and this was the first time something like this had happened to him, that his eyes were fixed on a girl, but he couldn't even know who she was or where she was from, the girl who had made an impression on his heart at first sight.
Disappointed by not seeing Muskaan anywhere, Sidharth went to Alok. Seeing his dejected face, Alok immediately asked,
"What happened, Babu, why the long face?... Did someone steal your buffalo?"
"Not a buffalo, my heart has been stolen." Sidharth blurted out absentmindedly. Hearing this, Alok's eyes widened in surprise. He asked startled, "What did you say?"
"Nothing..." Sidharth replied hastily, upon hearing which Alok narrowed his eyes and stared at him, saying, "Mr. Mishra, I don't like lies, so tell me the truth, who has stolen your heart?"
Sidharth turned back once again, but Muskaan was not visible to him. Sidharth's face fell, and he said dejectedly, "I don't know who she was... she just disappeared after a glimpse."
"You don't know anything about her and you've given her your heart?" Alok stared at him with wide eyes. Sidharth looked at him and said with a drooping face, "So, should I have seen her full biodata first, then fallen for her?... My eyes got fixed on her, I fell for the girl with the brown eyes at first sight, so what could I do?"
"Wow! Son, you come to my wedding and start flirting yourself; and you flirt with a stranger. Very good... Now go and search for your Laila like a heartbroken lover, before someone else snatches her away." Alok pushed Sidharth away and told him to find the girl.
Sidharth searched for Muskaan everywhere, but she wasn't there. She had also gone home with her father.
Poor Sidharth couldn't see Muskaan again. Alok's wedding was completed. The baraat returned with the new bride, and Sidharth returned with them, but the one who had captured his heart remained here; a stranger, an unsolved mystery, whose desire for Sidharth to solve remained suppressed in his heart.
Meanwhile, Muskaan was completely unaware of all this. For her, it was just another ordinary day, which was very difficult for her to get through. After all, life wasn't less than a burden for her; how many times had she tried to shed this burden, but each time she failed.
Sometimes, her family's worries would come in the way, thinking that if a young girl committed suicide, how would society accuse her, which her family would believe as true, and then she wouldn't find peace even after death; not to mention the taunts her family would have to endure.
Then she had two younger sisters; one wrong step taken by her could ruin the lives of both of them.
Besides this, there was another reason that stopped her from committing suicide, and that was her unwavering faith in God. Whenever she thought of dying, a thought would come to her mind that if God had given her this life, then He must have some purpose; she must have survived till today for some reason, and then the desire would awaken in her heart to see what God had destined for her, after living so many years.
Besides this, somewhere in her heart, there was also a fear that just as her family and people had shunned her and kept her away, perhaps God wouldn't accept her either; if she survived even after trying to die, then life would become worse than death. These were all the reasons why Saanchi, who wished for death every moment, was somehow passing her days carrying the burden of life.
Coming soon...
How did you like meeting Muskaan and Sidharth?... What exactly happened to Muskaan that she has lost the will to live and waits for death every moment?
It would be wrong to even call that meeting between Muskan and Siddharth a meeting, because Muskan hadn't even seen Siddharth, and Siddharth had only seen her from afar. He didn't know Muskan's name, nor who she was, nor where she was from; he had no information about her.
Muskan had vanished after a fleeting glimpse, stealing his heart, completely unaware of this fact.
However, however it was, a month had passed since their encounter. December had begun. Not a single day had gone by in this month when Siddharth hadn't thought of Muskan.
Muskan's face had become so ingrained in his heart as well as his eyes that now he only wished to see her.
Siddharth's father, Baldev Mishra, had a very old and famous saree shop in Banaras, which Siddharth had transformed into a large saree showroom, managing it together with Baldev ji.
It was eight in the morning. Siddharth, who had returned a little while ago after watching the Ganga Aarti, was getting ready in his room when his younger sister, Ravi, came running into the room and, seeing Siddharth, smiled and said,
"Brother, Mummy is calling you."
Hearing Ravi's voice, Siddharth turned and looked at her and asked in surprise, "Why didn't you go to school today?"
"Today is a holiday from school, brother," Ravi replied with a smile and, as she had come, ran back.
Siddharth nodded and walked out of the room, fixing his hair with his hands.
Four members now lived in the Mishra family: Baldev ji, his wife Asha ji, son Siddharth, and younger daughter Ravi, who was studying in the eleventh grade. They had another daughter, Ragini, who was the eldest of their children and had been married two years ago to Shekhar ji.
Shekhar ji was from Banaras, but worked in Bangalore. He had a good job, and Ragini ji was happy with him. She visited whenever she got the chance.
When Siddharth reached downstairs, Asha ji was standing in the courtyard, and Pandit Mahashay was sitting on a stool. Ravi was giving him water.
Siddharth came down and respectfully touched the Pandit ji's feet, "Namaste, Pandit ji."
"Live long, son, may Mahadev grant you great progress, may you have a long life."
"Yes, so that in old age all our teeth fall out, we can't eat or drink anything, and we lie on our cot... No, Pandit ji, we don't want such a blessing. Give us a good blessing, like finding a life partner of our choice, being able to take our father's work further, marrying our younger sister grandly into a good family, and making our parents proud."
This is the real Siddharth; a bit mischievous, a bit carefree, always laughing and smiling. He doesn't shy away from joking with anyone, but he is equally responsible.
Hearing Siddharth's words, Pandit ji smiled and, placing his hand on his head once more, said, "May Mahadev fulfill your every wish."
He then gave blessings to everyone. Muskan's face appeared before Siddharth's eyes. A smile spontaneously graced his lips. Now, sitting near them, he said,
"Pandit ji, what brings you here so early this morning?"
"Your father has called him," Asha ji replied, hearing which Siddharth's gaze turned towards her. He asked with some surprise, "Father has called?"
"Yes, brother, Father has called. He is looking for a girl for you, that's why; Pandit ji has brought a proposal for you, and now the search for our sister-in-law has begun, your freedom will be snatched away soon," the mischievous Ravi chattered away.
Her words were no less than a shock to Siddharth. He stared at Ravi, stunned, who burst into laughter after saying her piece. Then, looking at Asha ji in surprise, he said,
"Mom, what is this child Ravi saying?"
"She is telling the truth. Now you are of age, and you are responsible, so we are thinking of your marriage, and for that, we have called Pandit ji. So that we can find a suitable girl for you and get you married as soon as possible."
Hearing Baldev ji's voice, everyone turned in that direction. Wearing a white kurta on top and a dhoti below, Baldev ji was coming out of the room, twirling his mustache. His personality was strong; he still looked young and his physique was firm. Siddharth took after his father.
Siddharth looked at his father and said with helplessness, "Father, what is the hurry?... I don't want to get married yet."
"Then when will you get married?... You are 25; if you don't get married now, you won't find a good girl. This is the right time for you to get married. When a daughter-in-law comes into the house, your mother will also get some help. She is busy with all the work all day alone. With a daughter-in-law, she will get support and also a companion."
Having said this, he moved towards Pandit ji and said, "Tell me, Pandit ji, how are you?... Have you found a suitable girl for our son?... We want a simple girl, who can manage this household and family, and is also worthy of our son."
As Baldev ji came and sat down next to Pandit ji, Siddharth stood aside, his face sullen. Pandit ji joined his hands in greeting, then smiled and said,
"There are many girls, Yajman, but knowing your family for years, there is one girl in our sight who would be perfect for Siddharth and this house. The girl currently lives in Delhi with her family, but her father is from Banaras.
Manish ji's father went to Delhi, and ever since, their family has been living there. They are very good people. We have arranged the marriages of their two daughters, and now we have been entrusted with finding a match for their third daughter...
She is an educated girl but lives a very simple life. Among their five daughters, their middle daughter is our favorite. She has a calm nature and is very understanding; she respects elders and knows how to maintain relationships...
She has all the qualities to become the daughter-in-law of this house. Although the girl is accomplished in every way, she has one flaw... her complexion is a bit dusky."
Everyone standing there was listening intently to Pandit ji's words. Siddharth had no interest in hearing the girl's praises, yet he stood there sulking. As soon as Pandit ji mentioned the complexion, Asha ji immediately smiled and said,
"Lord Krishna's complexion was also dusky, Pandit ji. We have no problem with the complexion; the girl just needs to be good."
Pandit ji smiled at her words, then took an envelope from his bag and handed it to Baldev ji, saying, "We have brought the girl's picture. You all see it, and if you like her, we will proceed further, otherwise, we have seen other girls; we will show you their pictures."
Baldev ji took the envelope and, after looking at the photograph carefully, said thoughtfully, "The complexion is dusky, and her height also seems less than our Siddharth's, but it's difficult to say about other things from the face. It would be good if we could see the girl once."
"We will talk to them; first, show the girl to everyone in the household and decide, and then tell us whether you want to see the girl or not. It won't be right if we talk and then you refuse."
Baldev ji nodded, then handed the photograph to Asha ji and said,
"You see it, if you like her, we will go to see the girl."
Asha ji took the photo, and as soon as she saw it, a smile spread across her lips.
"From her face, the girl appears calm, graceful, and cultured. Her complexion is dusky, but her face is captivating; she seems pure of heart. If you ask us, we would say to go and see the girl once. However, Siddharth has to live his life with her, so show her to him once."
As soon as Asha ji mentioned Siddharth's name, Siddharth immediately said as he walked away, "I don't want to get married, I've told you. Do whatever you want from now on, I won't stop you."
Siddharth left immediately, and everyone else just kept looking at him. Baldev ji shook his head helplessly and said sadly, "I don't understand this boy at all. If a girl refuses marriage, it is understandable, but this boy runs away from marriage, and this attitude of his has increased our worry."
"What decision have you made, Mishra ji?... Will you go to see the girl or not?... If you don't like the girl, we will show you another photo."
Baldev ji nodded. Some more pictures were looked at, and it was decided to inform the Pandit ji later about the response.
Two or three days passed. After the other girls, it was decided to meet Muskan, but Sidharth was still adamant about not getting married, so he hadn't seen the picture yet.
This evening, Mr. Mishra was scheduled to leave for Delhi by train with some male relatives. His elder daughter and son-in-law were also visiting. Both were going, and seeing Sidharth's attitude towards marriage, they were forcibly taking him along.
At this moment, Sidharth was getting ready with a sulky expression. Then Shekhar Ji came into his room and, sitting on the bed, said, "Brother-in-law, I hear you don't want to get married. You haven't even seen the girl's picture, and you're being taken to Delhi forcibly?"
"Everything you've heard is absolutely true. My family is trying to get me married off forcefully," Sidharth replied irritably and sat down next to him.
Hearing his answer, Shekhar Ji smiled and said,
"We've gathered that much. We've come here to know why you don't want to get married... The girl refuses to marry because after marriage she has to leave her home and family, but that won't be the case with you. She will come to live with you after marrying you, so why do you object to marriage?... And is there such displeasure that you haven't even seen the girl's picture?"
Sidharth turned his head to look at him and said with a downcast face, "Brother-in-law, please do something and save us from this calamity called marriage."
"If our brother-in-law wishes, we will certainly do so, but first, let's find out the real reason for your refusal. Tell us the truth, why are you refusing to marry? If the reason is valid, we will definitely help you."
Hearing Shekhar Ji's words, Sidharth fell into thought. After a while, he said seriously, "Brother-in-law, we have fallen in love."
These few words from Sidharth fell on Shekhar Ji's head like an atom bomb. He widened his eyes, looked at Sidharth, and questioned, "What?... You've fallen in love?... When?... How?... Why didn't you tell us before?... Who is that girl?... What kind of family is it?... If you already like a girl, why didn't you tell Papa Ji that you've already found a girl for yourself?"
Shekhar Ji asked him a barrage of questions non-stop with surprise, and in response, Sidharth said with a dejected face,
"Brother-in-law, who is the girl?... Where is she from?... What kind of family is it, we don't know anything. We went to Alok's wedding in Delhi, saw her there once; haven't seen her since. But we have fallen truly in love with her, we cannot marry anyone else."
Hearing Sidharth's words, Shekhar Ji was in a dilemma. He looked at his crestfallen face, then after thinking for a few moments, placed his hand on his shoulder and said,
"We will think of some way to navigate the ship of your love. But first, we must do something about this alliance."
"We are not going to see the girl, brother-in-law. Make some excuse and refuse," Sidharth looked at him with hopeful eyes. He himself seemed a little troubled and said thoughtfully,
"If we refuse now, the family's honor will be tarnished. Go and see the girl, and when they ask for your decision, refuse. After that, we will find a way to reach your love."
There was no other option, so Sidharth had to agree to his words and had decided that he would get rid of this entanglement by refusing the alliance, but he was unaware of the game of destiny and the decision of Mahadev.
A little later, everyone left for Delhi from here. They reached Delhi at eleven o'clock at night. They stayed at the house of an acquaintance of Baldev Ji that night, and the next day, at the appointed time, they went to see the girl.
Mr. Manish's brother and friends had also come to his house. The priest was also present. The groom's party was welcomed with respect. First, Sidharth was questioned, to which he responded reluctantly, as he just wanted to refuse and leave quickly.
After some time, the girl was called, but Sidharth had no interest in seeing her. He sat with his head bowed, when the jingling sound of anklets reached his ears, and his gaze involuntarily turned in the direction of the sound.
Muskan was walking in with two married girls. Today she was wearing a simple light pink sari. Her hair, which cascaded to her waist, was again open and flowing down her back. Some strands of hair were tucked over her shoulder. Short tendrils of hair dangled on her cheeks.
A small pink bindi on her forehead sparkled like stars. Perhaps she had applied kajal to her brown eyes today, but her eyelids were lowered.
Today her lips were again silent and colored pink. A locket around her neck, a watch on her left hand, bangles on her right hand, a thin anklet on her feet, and heels.
She looked quite different from that day, and her complexion also seemed clearer. There were no expressions on Muskan's face; it seemed as if she was there but not really there.
When Sidharth saw Muskan, he couldn't believe his eyes. Taking this reality for an illusion, he blinked several times and looked back at Muskan, but each time he saw only Muskan.
Sidharth's mind reeled; for a few moments, he stared at Muskan in shock, then leaning towards Shekhar Ji, who was sitting next to him, he whispered,
"Brother-in-law, do you have a photo of the girl we've come to see?"
Hearing Sidharth's question, Shekhar Ji was startled and, looking at him in surprise, said in a low voice, "Yes, I do, but why are you asking this now?..."
"Brother-in-law, I want to see that picture."
As soon as Sidharth said this, Shekhar Ji was even more surprised and said in astonishment, "The girl is standing right in front of us, and you want to see a picture?"
"Please, brother-in-law." Sidharth looked at him with anxious, troubled eyes. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Shekhar Ji took out his phone, pulled up the photo of Muskan on it, and handed it to him.
When Sidharth saw Muskan's photo on the screen, he was once again drawn to those empty brown eyes and, staring at the picture, said,
"We've come to see this girl?"
"Yes, her name is Sanchi, and we've come to see her," Shekhar Ji replied.
"Sanchi." Sidharth repeated the name in his mind, then looked at Muskan's photo and smiled faintly.
"So your name is Sanchi... a very beautiful name, just like you."
"Sidharth, what's going on in your mind?... You were sitting like a withered garden until now, and now you're smiling to yourself."
Sidharth was engrossed in gazing at Sanchi's picture. Hearing Shekhar Ji's question, he turned his head, looked at him, and with a gentle smile on his lips, said, "Brother-in-law, this is our unknown love."
As soon as Shekhar Ji heard this, his eyes widened in disbelief, but after seeing Sidharth's smile, there was no room for doubt. Seeing him happy, Shekhar Ji also smiled and, placing his hand on his shoulder, said,
"Congratulations, you didn't have to work hard to find your love. Mahadev himself has brought you to her."
Sidharth also smiled, hearing his words. Meanwhile, Sanchi had been brought and seated there.
Baldev Ji and Shekhar Ji began questioning her, to which Sanchi replied with downcast eyes and gentleness. Almost everyone was satisfied with her behavior and answers. Ragini Ji also liked Sanchi. She also asked some questions, then the proposal for Sidharth and Sanchi to meet alone was put forward, which brought lines of worry to Mr. Manish's forehead, but now they couldn't refuse the groom's party's request, so they gave their permission.
Sanchi's two elder sisters took her to a room downstairs. Sidharth also went there with Ragini Ji, but a storm was raging in his heart and mind. Muskan had suddenly appeared, so he couldn't understand what he would talk to her about.
Coming soon.........
What is the reason for Mr. Manish's nervousness?... What will Sidharth say to Sanchi; to find out, keep reading "Muskan."
Sanchi and Siddharth sat facing each other on the bed. Sanchi’s two elder sisters and Ragini ji stood outside. Ten minutes had passed since they arrived.
Sanchi’s lips were silent, as if she had no desire to say anything, while Siddharth had tried several times but couldn’t understand how to start the conversation? What to do? What to say?
He hadn't expected his love to suddenly stand before him like this, so he didn't know what to do. He didn't even know Sanchi, and perhaps Sanchi was the first person with whom Siddharth felt nervous speaking.
After a few moments of silence, Siddharth finally started, "My name is Siddharth, perhaps you have been told about me, yet I want to tell you that I am not from here, I am from Banaras. I have a small family there. Mom and Dad, two sisters, and me. My elder sister is married, so now there are four of us living at home. I manage the showroom business with my father."
Sanchi listened to him silently and nodded. Siddharth found her reaction a bit strange. He waited for Sanchi to say something for a few moments, but seeing her silent, he continued himself,
"Will you not look up at the boy whose proposal has come for you? Won't you say anything? You can ask if you want to ask?"
"I don't have any questions for you, ask if you have anything to ask," Sanchi said in a low voice, keeping her gaze down.
She had spoken only after such a long time. Siddharth looked at her perplexed for a moment after hearing her answer, then fixing his deep gaze on Sanchi's face, he said,
"Are you not happy with this relationship?..."
Here Siddharth asked this question and looked at Sanchi with a pounding heart, waiting for an answer, but she wasn't even given a chance to answer.
As soon as Siddharth finished speaking, Sanchi’s two sisters came inside and, smiling at Siddharth, said,
"It's quite late, everyone is calling downstairs, so you can talk the rest after the wedding."
Siddharth couldn't say anything among strangers. He glanced at Sanchi and left the room.
Sanchi finally looked up and her gaze fell on Siddharth's back. No one could see her eyes brimming with tears.
Present
Siddharth, lost in the past, suddenly came back to his senses. He had failed to understand Sanchi's silence that day, but today he was beginning to somewhat understand the meaning of her silence. He turned and looked at Sanchi lying on the bed and thought to himself,
"If only you had answered our question that day, you wouldn't be in this state today. That day, your silence gave us a hint that perhaps you did not consent to that relationship, because when we came to see you, we ourselves maintained such silence.
But you didn't answer then, or perhaps you weren't allowed to answer, and later, after our 'yes,' when there was haste from your side for the wedding, we assumed that you had agreed, hence the relationship moved forward.
If only everything hadn't happened so quickly, if only we had spoken to you once before getting married, tried to know your wishes, or if you yourself had told us that you didn't want this marriage, we would have refused for your happiness.
For your happiness, we would have created distance from you, having come so close to our love, we would not have felt as much pain from those distances as the pain your words have caused us today. We have loved you truly, but today you have insulted our love by calling it need and lust.
We don't know why your thinking is like this? We don't know what letter you were talking about? We don't know why you behaved like this with us, but believe us, we are not what you have made us out to be.
We were very happy today that we would talk a lot with you today. We would tell you that you are the love at first sight, but you have left us no room to say anything.
You think we married you to fulfill our needs, but that is not the case, and we will prove to you that we don't desire your body, we want to make a place for ourselves in your heart.
We will solve this tangled knot, and we will erase the accusations you have made against our love today and prove the purity of our love. You may hate us, but we love you truly, and for your happiness, even if we have to stay away from you while being close, we will stay away from you.
We will try our best to remove your misconceptions about us. We have desired you from the heart, and now we will try every possible way to make a place for ourselves in your heart. Our marriage may have happened, but until you accept me and my love from your heart, we will not try to come close to you. We will maintain a distance between you and us.
You may be bound in this relationship out of compulsion, but we have loved you, and we brought our beloved as our better half with great joy. Even if not you, we will fulfill this relationship with complete honesty until our last breath, and if it is written in our destiny, our incomplete love will surely be fulfilled."
Siddharth exhaled deeply and, wiping the moisture from his eyes, looked towards the ghat. The ghat had a good view from his balcony and terrace. A lot was going on in his mind.
Sanchi's words had made a boy like Siddharth, with his restless nature, steady and serious. His entire night was spent in a wakeful state.
At seven in the morning, after watching the Ganga Aarti, Siddharth returned to the room. Every morning he used to go to the ghat to watch the Ganga Aarti, but for the past few days, he hadn't had the chance to go to the ghat to watch the Aarti, so he would watch it from the terrace, and today he watched the Ganga Aarti from his room's balcony.
Earlier, whenever he watched the Ganga Aarti, a sweet smile used to be present on his lips, but today his lips were filled with deep silence and his face was covered with sadness.
There was a time when he had thought of going to watch the Ganga Aarti with Sanchi after marriage, but now that there was no love, the question of going anywhere with her did not arise.
Siddharth suppressed his desires in his heart and came inside. Sanchi was still sleeping. Siddharth glanced at her, then took his clothes from the cupboard and went to bathe.
As the bathroom door closed, Sanchi’s thoughts from yesterday started echoing in her mind, and she suddenly sat up with a start. She looked at herself in panic.
Perhaps she had a premonition that something wrong had happened to her, a fear that was reflected in her eyes, but when she looked at herself, her illusion was broken.
Seeing herself safe, she breathed a sigh of relief. After this, she looked around the entire room and was surprised. The room had seemed different last night, and now it looked completely different. All the decorations had been removed.
Sanchi looked around the entire room but couldn't find Siddharth anywhere. The door was still closed, so she began to wonder where he had disappeared from the closed room so early in the morning.
As she was thinking, she heard the sound of the door opening, and Sanchi's gaze turned in that direction. Just then, as Siddharth came out of the bathroom after bathing, his eyes fell directly on Sanchi sitting on the bed.
Their eyes met. Seeing Siddharth in front of her, Sanchi hastily started covering herself with the sheet. Seeing this, Siddharth felt something pierce his chest, and the pain surfaced on his face. He immediately averted his gaze from Sanchi and, moving towards the dressing table, said expressionlessly,
"Since you're awake, you can bathe. Let me know if you need anything. The cupboard on the right side is empty, set your belongings in it when you get time, and if you need help, tell Ravi, she will help you. I have to go out for some work, I might return tonight. It was my duty to inform you, so I did."
After saying this, Siddharth turned towards Sanchi and continued seriously, "And one more thing... I will never come close to you without your consent, so you don't need to be so scared or nervous of me. ......."
Siddharth said this much, then turning towards Sanchi, he said seriously, "And one more thing... we will never come close to you without your consent, so you don't need to be so scared or worried about us.
We know you won't believe us, but we truly didn't know this marriage was happening against your will. If we had known, we would never have let this marriage happen.
We don't know which letter you're talking about, but we never received any such letter. We thought your consent was given, that's why your family proceeded with the talks.
We married you because we liked you at first sight, but there is no force involved with you. You can live comfortably in this room and in this house. We will never claim any right over you, because we wanted to win your heart, we didn't desire your body.
We hope you won't misunderstand us now. We're leaving. Even if you don't, you don't need to wait for us if anyone else says so. We won't be a burden to you, nor do we have any desire to force you into any relationship. Forget that we are married, and live in this house as your own, just as you lived in that house.
Just do this much: don't hurt our family's feelings. They are very happy; don't say anything to them that would hurt them. Whatever is between us, it's better to keep it within this room. Now get ready quickly, you are the new bride, if you don't get ready even after so long, everyone outside will gossip."
Saying this, he put on his watch and left the room without looking at her even once. Sanchi, with wide eyes, remained looking at him, surprised and troubled.
When the room door closed, Sanchi draped her dupatta over both shoulders and got off the bed. Her bag was kept to one side; she moved towards it.
The bag was quite large and heavy, so she couldn't lift it. Every time she bent down, her dupatta would slip off her shoulder, and she would stop to fix it. As she was about to lift the bag and turn, the handle she was holding was grasped by another palm, causing their hands to touch.
Sanchi looked up in alarm. Siddharth was standing in front of her. Their eyes met. Seeing him, Sanchi's gaze fell to herself; her dupatta was still slipping off her shoulder. She nervously adjusted it with her other hand and stammered, "You... you here... so..."
In her nervousness, she couldn't even say anything properly. Seeing her panic, Siddharth released the bag and took two steps back, saying,
"We forgot our phone, we came to get it. When we came here, we saw you struggling, so we came in. We just came to help you, we had no other intention than that, and our hands touched by mistake. We apologize for that. But we weren't trying to get close to you or touch you."
"It's alright, it happens sometimes," the words that came out of Sanchi's mouth, when they fell on Siddharth's ears, made his surprised eyes turn towards her.
Sanchi lowered her gaze and said softly, "That last night..."
"Move aside, we'll put it down, it's heavy, you won't be able to lift it." Siddharth cut her off before she could finish and, without looking at her, picked up the bag and moved towards the bed.
Sanchi just kept watching him. Siddharth placed the bag on the bed, then turned towards her and said, "Will you open it, or do you need help?"
Sanchi averted her gaze from him and took out keys from her purse, saying, "I'll open it. Thank you for the help, but I believe in doing my own work. It's not necessary for someone to be there to help us all the time, so it's better to get used to managing everything alone. So, from now on, don't help me. I'm not used to accepting help from people; if I get used to it, I'll face difficulties later."
A sadness and pain were evident in her words. Siddharth looked at her for a moment, then picked up his phone from the table and said, "It's our compulsion to bear everything alone in life, not our wish. We don't know why so much bitterness is filled within you, but we would like to say that time is bad, not life. If you have received pain, you will surely receive happiness too.
It's not right to give up to sorrow and to kill your inner feelings and desires. If you were alone in the past, then it's fine, you had to learn to manage everything alone, but if luck is supporting someone, there's nothing wrong in holding their hand and making this journey beautiful.
It's a matter of perspective; you prefer to walk alone, and we prefer to move forward taking every relationship with us. If you don't need help, then so be it, but whenever we feel you need someone, we will be there for you, because it is our duty. We have promised to be with you in every sorrow and every happiness by taking the wedding vows.
Even if this marriage means nothing to you, it is the most beautiful reality of our life. You may not be close, but you are before my eyes, and that is enough for us. We have accepted you as our wife from our heart, so we will fulfill the duty of a husband with our whole heart. Perhaps a day will come when the dust of time settled on your heart can be cleaned, and we can meet that Sanchi, whom you have buried somewhere inside you."
After saying this, he left. Sanchi stood stunned, watching him. Siddharth's few words had touched her deeply. Perhaps for the first time, someone had recognized that this was not the real Sanchi; people and circumstances had made her this way.
For a while, Sanchi stood there, thinking about Siddharth's behavior the previous night and his words today. She was lost in her thoughts. Siddharth's few words that morning had made her ponder if she had misunderstood Siddharth. His words had presented a significant question before her: if her letter never reached Siddharth, then where did it go?
Sanchi remained lost in these thoughts for a while, then shook her head, took clothes from the bag, and went to bathe.
On the other side, Siddharth reached downstairs and as he stepped towards the outside, Baldev Ji's stern voice fell on his ears, "Siddharth, where are you going so early in the morning?"
Siddharth's advancing steps faltered. He let out a deep breath, turned back, looked at Baldev Ji, and said with a smile, "Papa, Alok called, so I was just..."
"There's no need to go anywhere right now. Today is the 'chulha pujan' ceremony for the new bride, so go wherever you need to go after breakfast."
Baldev Ji delivered his verdict before Siddharth could finish. Siddharth couldn't leave from there, even if he wanted to. Seeing his dejected face, Shekhar Ji began to suspect that something was wrong. He looked at Siddharth and said with a smile,
"Sid, come with us to the roof for a bit. We'll be leaving in a day or two, so let's have a chat. Who knows when we'll be able to come again."
Siddharth nodded upon hearing him, and both went up to the roof. Siddharth walked to the railing at the edge of the roof and stood there, silently watching the ghat and Mother Ganga.
Siddharth's being so lost in thought, quiet, dejected, and silent was a cause for concern, as this was not his nature. Shekhar Ji observed the expressions on his face very carefully for a while, then broke the silence, saying,
"Siddharth, is everything alright?"
"Yes, Jija Ji, everything is fine." Siddharth turned towards him, replied with a smile, and then looked back at the ghat. His silence and faint smile deepened Shekhar Ji's suspicion. He asked again,
"Siddharth, why do we feel that something is not right? Either something is causing you a lot of pain or bothering you, because if that weren't the case, your behavior wouldn't be so dull. Tell us what it is? Is everything alright between you and Sanchi?"
Finally, he mentioned the possibility he suspected. Even after his question, Siddharth kept looking at the ghat with vacant eyes and sighed with pain, saying,
"Jija Ji, look at Mother Ganga. Even being so close to her beloved Baba Vishwanath, she yearns to reach him and touch him."
Shekhar Ji was unable to understand the meaning of Siddharth's profound words. He listened to his words very attentively. Siddharth continued his speech, saying,
"Our condition is worse than Mother Ganga's right now, Jija Ji, because our love, though near us, is not only miles away but she also doubts our intentions. She misunderstands us and our love. She is afraid that we might do something wrong to her. She thinks this marriage with us is only to fulfill her physical needs.
When your beloved is far away, those distances are still bearable, and the pain is slightly less. But when your love is before you, yet distant, misunderstands you and your love, this causes unbearable pain, and this suffering is impossible to endure."
Hearing Siddharth's words, Shekhar Ji looked at him in shock. He couldn't believe his ears. As soon as Siddharth finished, Shekhar Ji looked at him with disbelief and said,
"What are you saying, Siddharth?"
Siddharth turned towards him now and looked at him with moist eyes, saying, "I'm telling the truth, Jija Ji. This marriage did not happen with her consent. She was mentioning some letter she had written to us, and in it, she had written that she did not want to marry, and she thinks that even knowing her heart's desire that she didn't want to marry, we still married her, only to fulfill our physical needs."
Shekhar Ji was hit by another tremendous shock. At first, he just stared at him in shock, then understanding Siddharth's pain, he hugged him and stroked his back, saying,
"Don't be so weak, Siddharth. She doesn't know you yet. This marriage happened in such a hurry; you both couldn't even talk to each other properly, let alone know each other. You desire her, but she was against the marriage, so her reaction is natural.
You must not weaken now; you have to compose yourself and find out the truth of that letter. You have to dispel Sanchi's misconception. It will be difficult, but we have full faith in you that you will soon win Sanchi's heart, and just as Mother Ganga is filled with joy upon seeing Baba Vishwanath during the monsoon, so will your union with Sanchi be, filling both your lives with happiness."
Siddharth had composed himself by now. He moved away from Shekhar Ji and nodded in agreement. To lift his gloomy mood, Shekhar Ji began to tell him stories of himself and Ragini Ji.
Coming soon............
What is the secret of this letter? Why does Sanchi have such a perception about marriage? Will Siddharth be able to change her thinking? Will Siddharth be able to prove his innocence? Will he win Sanchi's heart?
As soon as Siddharth left the room, Sanchi relaxed and began to get ready at her leisure. Although she preferred a simple life, after getting married, she had to be dressed up and adorned twenty-four hours a day, otherwise Siddharth's grandmother would not miss an opportunity to taunt her. Sanchi was irritated by this, but now that life had taken a turn, she was trying her best to adapt herself to the circumstances.
After bathing and getting ready, Sanchi came downstairs. Being the new daughter-in-law, she had her head covered. As she came down, she met her grandmother-in-law right in front of her. Before Sanchi could understand anything, her grandmother-in-law suddenly flared up at her, "What are you staring at with your big eyes? Your grandmother-in-law is standing in front of you, do you have a duty to touch her feet or not?... Did your mother and father teach you anything, or will we have to teach you everything?"
Ever since Sanchi had come here after getting married, she had been hearing such sharp words from her. Hearing her words, Sanchi quickly stepped forward and touched her feet. The grandmother-in-law reluctantly placed her hand on her head, "May you bathe in milk and flourish with sons and daughters... Don't fill our house with a line of girls like your mother."
Once again, Sanchi received a taunt in the form of a blessing. But just as she had been silently listening and enduring everything for so many days, she silently endured this one too. However, the grandmother-in-law's behavior towards Sanchi and her bitter words did not sit well with Asha ji, and she looked at Baldev ji with displeasure, as she could not argue with her mother-in-law.
Baldev ji looked at his grandmother and said angrily, "Amma, why are you bothering the new daughter-in-law?"
"Am I bothering her, or have you all saddened us by bringing such a daughter-in-law?... Was this the only girl you found for our Lalla?... No looks, no charm, and on top of that, she came empty-handed, her parents didn't give any dowry, nor did they give her any sanskaras, we were disgraced in the entire community... What do you know, everyone came and told us what was lacking in our grandson that you married such a daughter-in-law... Our grandson is like the moon, we were looking for moonlight, but you brought the darkness of the new moon into the house."
Hearing the grandmother's bitter words, tears welled up in Sanchi's eyes. She lowered her head, but did not let the tears fall. The atmosphere suddenly became solemn.
Everyone else remained silent at the grandmother's words, but as Siddharth descended the stairs, her words reached his ears, and the veins in his arm tightened with anger. He could not tolerate this insult to Sanchi. He stood in front of his grandmother and said firmly, "We chose the girl for ourselves, not Papa, and our mother taught us that a person should be recognized by their character, not by their color or appearance, because color and beauty fade with age, but if a person's heart is clean and true, life prospers, and their beauty never diminishes... You may find a hundred flaws in Sanchi, but for us and our family, we could not have found a better girl, we know this very well, that's why we chose her... And one more thing... Whatever she may be, she is our wife now. Her respect is tied to ours, her honor is our honor. I am saying this today, do not insult her again, we will not tolerate it."
After this, Siddharth turned to Sanchi and said, "What are you standing here doing? It's your first cooking, isn't it? So stop wasting time on these useless talks and go make food, we are hungry."
Sanchi looked at him with tear-filled eyes. The tears in her large, brown eyes pierced Siddharth's heart. He turned his face away and walked straight out of the house. Silence descended upon the entire house.
Sanchi wiped her tears and walked slowly towards the kitchen. The grandmother glared at her, hissing with anger. After all, in all these years, no one in this house had spoken to her in this manner for the first time. For the first time, her beloved grandson had opposed her in any matter, and Siddharth's taking Sanchi's side, standing up for her, and behaving this way with her for her sake, felt like an insult to the grandmother. She saw the possibility of her authority crumbling before her eyes. Sanchi had become a thorn in her eyes. For her, staying here for even a minute longer would be compromising her honor, which she could not do at any cost.
She lived in Delhi with Baldev ji's younger brother. She had come for Siddharth's wedding, and after what had just happened, she was not willing to stay there for another minute. Considering the circumstances, Baldev ji did not try to stop her, and in a rush, the grandmother and her family were seen off with Baldev ji's brother. As she left, the grandmother hurled a hundred taunts at Sanchi, and Sanchi, standing in the kitchen, silently listened to everything. Now only Baldev ji's family remained in the house.
The grandmother was not only angry with Sanchi but also harbored resentment towards Baldev ji. They had all left here in anger. Asha ji had even tried to stop them by apologizing on Siddharth's behalf, but the grandmother was not willing to listen to anyone and eventually left. Baldev ji had accompanied them to the station.
After everyone had left, Asha ji came into the kitchen. Sanchi stood by the gas stove with her head bowed. Her face showed immense sadness and pain, and her eyes were still moist. Asha ji came to her and, stroking her head lovingly, said, "Daughter-in-law, don't take Amma ji's words to heart, her nature has always been like this. She says anything without thinking how much her bitter words will hurt the other person."
Perhaps it was the first time a loving hand had touched Sanchi's head, so she became a little emotional. The big tears in her eyes were eager to spill out, but Sanchi had gotten used to hiding her tears from everyone for years, so today too, she swallowed her tears, did not let them come out, and said with her head bowed like a criminal, "Mother-in-law, forgive me... Because of me, there was discord in the house so early in the morning, and grandmother left in anger."
"You are not at fault for what happened, Amma ji was wrong. She should not have said all those things. We were helpless, being her daughter-in-law, we could not point out her mistake even if we wanted to, but Siddharth did the right thing by making her realize her mistake. Even though she has left angry, she will soon come around, so don't worry about her and focus on your home and family."
Sanchi nodded and, joining her hands before the stove as instructed, began to cook.
Ravi, sitting in the courtyard outside, was complaining about the grandmother to Ragini ji. She did not like the grandmother at all, because whenever she visited, she would scold Ravi too, imposing restrictions on her, which she did not like at all. She repeatedly made her realize that she was a girl and would have to go to a stranger's house one day, so she should focus on household chores instead of studying. The grandmother had often told Baldev ji to start looking for matches after she completed her twelfth grade, and her in-laws would take care of her further education. But Baldev ji wanted his children to stand on their own feet, so he would nod in agreement to his grandmother's words in front of her, but in private, he would explain to Ravi to study diligently and not worry about anything; her marriage would only happen when she said so.
Ravi was overjoyed by her father's support and love. After all, every daughter desires such a father, but only a few are lucky enough to have fathers who love all their children equally, give their daughters wings to fly, understand them, and support them. Mishra ji's three children were very lucky because their father was their friend and always encouraged them to move forward. He had not burnt their future in the fire of the stove by involving his daughters in household chores, but had given them complete freedom. Household chores were not a restriction for them; their entire focus was on their studies, the result of which was that today Ragini ji walks shoulder-to-shoulder with her husband, sharing equal responsibility in household matters, and together they manage both work and home. Yes, Ragini ji's mother-in-law is a tyrant, so she often has to listen to her taunts, but Shekhar ji fully supports her.
While everyone here was engaged in their own tasks, Siddharth, in anger, went straight to his friend Alok's house, which was just two streets away from Siddharth's house.
At this moment, Siddharth and Alok were standing on the roof. Initially, Alok started talking, but Siddharth remained gloomy. He wasn't laughing or speaking as he used to. He was troubled by Sanchi's words and the argument he had with his grandmother, and the bitter words that had come out of his lips for Sanchi had left his mind restless.
Alok noticed that Siddharth seemed changed today. He knew that Sanchi was the girl Siddharth loved, and now her love had become a part of his life. By all accounts, Siddharth should be happy, but there was no sign of happiness on his face.
Alok observed his behavior for a while, then placed his hand on Siddharth's shoulder and said, "What's wrong, Siddharth? You seem troubled. Is everything okay?"
"Yes," Siddharth replied briefly and smiled at him. Alok wrapped his arm around Siddharth's neck, drawing him close, and asked with a curious gaze, "So, how was your first night with your new wife?"
"It was fine," Siddharth smiled again and looked down at the street, his mind feeling detached from everything today. Alok stood beside him.
"By the way, Siddharth, I want to say something. You won't be upset, will you?"
"Go ahead, say it," Siddharth replied.
As Alok got permission from Siddharth, he started speaking seriously, "Your wife is your choice, and you want her, but to me, she doesn't seem suitable for you... I mean, your skin is so fair, you're so handsome, and many girls in college were crazy about you. But there's nothing special about your wife that would make someone like her. Her skin is dark, and her eyes and nose aren't good enough to be considered beautiful. She's average, even below average, and doesn't match up to you. I don't understand how you fell in love with her."
Siddharth listened silently to Alok's words and remained calm. When Alok finished speaking, Siddharth turned his head towards him, adorned a faint smile on his lips, and spoke seriously, "You look for color and appearance in love, which is why you'll never understand. To you, she may not be beautiful, but to me, she's the most beautiful girl in the world, and I fell in love with her the moment I saw her. You said she's not worthy of me, but the truth is, I'm not worthy of her. Those girls you mentioned were infatuated with my face, looks, and personality, but I fell in love with Sanchi's expressive, silent eyes. There's something about her that no one else has, something that draws me to her. Others may say what they like, but to me, she's the only girl I want to spend my entire life with, the girl Mahadev created for me, who made me whole. And I won't tolerate anyone questioning my choice or saying anything bad about my wife."
As Siddharth finished speaking, he became serious. Alok noticed Siddharth's expression and tried to lighten the mood by placing his hand on Siddharth's shoulder and smiling, "You got serious, I just said what I thought. If you're happy with her, I have no problem with her."
"I'll go now, we'll catch up later," Siddharth said, removing Alok's hand from his shoulder. As he turned to leave, Alok stopped him, "Hey, you're going without eating. Come on."
"No, she's making food for the first time today, and I want to taste what she's made," Siddharth replied, smiling, and walked away. Alok shook his head in helplessness and went downstairs.
Siddharth didn't go home; he headed straight to Baba Vishwanath's temple. He bowed to him, thanked him for bringing Sanchi into his life, and promised to bring her soon to seek his blessings.
He sat on the ghat for a while, then when Shankar called, he left for home. When he arrived, everyone was seated for a meal. After washing his hands and face, he sat down. Sanchi and Ragini served food to everyone, and Sanchi went to the kitchen to fry hot puris.
The household rule was that men ate first, followed by women, not out of any old mindset but out of respect for tradition. However, Ravee was sitting with the men, eating. When asked, Ragini said she would eat with Asha and Sanchi later. Sanchi was in the kitchen, keeping an eye on things outside, serving what was needed.
After the meal, Baldev called Sanchi and gave her some money as a gift, along with his blessings. Shankar also gave her a gift, praising her cooking. Ravee kissed her hand, laughing and praising her food. Sanchi smiled lightly at her innocence and mischief.
Siddharth, standing aside, smiled as he saw Sanchi smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Shankar noticed and asked, "Sale Sahab, aren't you going to give your better half a special gift?"
The question caught Siddharth's attention. Everyone looked at him. Sanchi's eyes met his for a moment before she looked down.
Siddharth looked at Shankar, then at Sanchi, before saying, "I'll give it when the time is right."
Ravee chimed in, "Oh, a special gift for Bhabi from Bhaiya, and that's a secret. Tell us, Bhaiya, what gift are you giving Bhabi that you can't share with us?"
Ravee teased Siddharth, giggling. Her words made Sanchi anxious and uncomfortable, her fingers intertwining. Siddharth noticed her every move, understanding her unease.
Siddharth's heart ached at Sanchi's fear and anxiety. He took a deep, painful breath and smiled at Ravee, saying, "The gift is special, and yes, it's a secret, but you can ask Bhabi later. I'm sure she'll tell you."
Siddharth replied smoothly, then told Asha, "Mom, I'm going to the store. I'll send Chhoti with lunch later. Please have it sent with her."
"You shouldn't go alone. We'll come with you," Baldev said, and Siddharth agreed. With a glance at Sanchi, he left. Sanchi didn't look up at him.
Siddharth's words indicated he wouldn't give a gift that would make Sanchi uncomfortable if shared or shown. Sanchi's anxiety lessened, but she still didn't look up.
The sound of the bike starting caught her attention. When she looked up, Siddharth's bike passed by the gate. Though she'd never seen his bike before and his face was hidden by a helmet, she recognized him by his clothes.
Shankar and Baldev left. The house was now empty except for the women. Ragini and Asha told Sanchi about the household, their preferences, and dislikes. Ravee sat in her room, reading.
To be continued........
What do you think? What special gift will Siddharth give to Sanchi? How will their love story progress?
Shekhar ji returned from the showroom in the afternoon. By then, Muskan had prepared lunch and packed it as per Asha ji's instructions. Chotu had also come with Shekhar ji. He took the lunch and left.
After Shekhar ji, everyone else ate, and then Muskan started working in the kitchen, with Ravi helping her and their conversation also picking up speed.
Asha ji had gone to her room to rest. Amidst the wedding and then a house full of guests, she didn't get a chance to rest, so she was resting today. Ragini ji was in her room with Shekhar ji.
When Ragini ji came into the room after washing her hands and face, Shekhar ji was sitting on the bed, lost in some thoughts. His face showed serious, confused expressions. Ragini ji came and sat beside him and said with a smile,
"What's the matter? Your wife is sitting in front of you, but you're lost somewhere else?"
Shekhar ji's ears caught Ragini ji's voice, and only then did he come out of his thoughts and look at Ragini ji. Ragini ji's smile had faded. Seeing his troubled face, Ragini ji asked seriously,
"What happened? Is there any problem? You look very worried. Is everything okay at home?"
Seeing Ragini ji so worried, Shekhar ji let out a deep sigh and, holding her palm, said, "Everything is fine there, and the thing that is bothering us is not from home, but is related to here and Sid."
Hearing Shekhar ji's words, Ragini ji's face showed confusion. She looked at him with questioning eyes and asked, "What happened to Siddharth?"
"Nothing has happened to Sid, but his life and relationship are very complicated right now."
"What do you mean? Tell me clearly. I don't understand anything. Everything is fine, so what happened to Sid's life and which relationship of his is entangled?"
Ragini ji looked at him with a troubled, confused gaze. Hearing her, Shekhar ji told her everything Siddharth had said and said with concern,
"We don't understand what Sanchi was talking about regarding the letter, and if Sid didn't receive the letter, where did it go? We have never seen Sid so sad, dejected, and disappointed before. We feel very sorry for him. He was so happy about the wedding, but after Sanchi's behavior last night, he is broken from within. Sanchi misunderstands Sid. We don't know what will happen in their lives next.
We are very worried about Sid. This relationship will be no less than a war for him, and he will have to struggle a lot to win Sanchi's trust, to remove her suspicion towards him, to make a place for himself in her heart. This journey will not be easy for him.
We have full faith in Sid that he will win Sanchi's heart, and as Sanchi spends more time with him, she will start understanding him, she will realize that Siddharth is not what she thinks he is, the misunderstanding between them will clear up. But until then, Siddharth will have to endure a lot of pain and suffering, and the most pain will be caused by Sanchi's words, her lack of trust."
Shekhar ji had revealed everything to Ragini ji. He had told her the reason for his worry. Ragini ji listened to everything he said silently with a serious expression on her face, and after he finished, thinking about Muskan, she said in an uncertain tone,
"Muskan was very comfortable with everyone. Seeing her, we never got any inkling that she had so much on her mind. Sid also appeared normal. Seeing both of them, we had no idea that something like this would happen between them."
"Perhaps her displeasure is with Sid only, that's why she is behaving normally with everyone. And now that the wedding is over, she must be trying to blend into this family and accept these relationships. As for showing their relationship as normal in front of everyone, that is Sid's decision. He doesn't want everyone to be unnecessarily worried, so you shouldn't tell anyone about this either."
Ragini ji nodded. Who knows what was going on in her mind at that moment? But her face still held a serious expression.
Meanwhile, in the course of their conversation, Ravi turned to Muskan and asked, "Bhabhi, what did you think of Bhaiya?"
Muskan, who was washing dishes, stopped her work upon hearing Ravi's question, and Siddharth's face flashed before her eyes. She couldn't answer because she didn't know Siddharth yet and was herself in a dilemma, unable to understand if he was good or bad.
Seeing Muskan's silence, Ravi smiled and continued, "I know, what kind of question did I ask you? You must not know Bhaiya well yet, right? Your wedding happened in such a hurry. You didn't get a chance to meet or talk before the wedding, nor did you get a chance to spend time together after the wedding. There were so many people in the house that you probably couldn't even talk to Bhaiya. After all, you were with Bhaiya last night, how much can one get to know a person in one night?
By the way, if you want, I can tell you a lot about Bhaiya that will help you know and understand him. Tell me, would you like to know Mr. Siddharth Mishra, your husband, alias the pride of Mishra Niwas?"
Once again, Muskan found herself in a dilemma. She could neither refuse nor agree. If she refused, Ravi might think something about her, and if she agreed, she would seem impatient, and knowing Ravi's nature, she wouldn't refrain from teasing her. Muskan once again chose silence. Seeing her quiet, Ravi continued,
No response from Groq.
The whole day had passed. Here, Muskan had become somewhat comfortable with Ravi. Meanwhile, Siddharth had completely immersed himself in work so that he wouldn't even think of Muskan. At this moment, Shekhar ji had gone out.
Muskan had done all the work in the morning and afternoon, so Asha ji had sent her to rest and started preparing dinner herself, with Ravi helping her.
Muskan was currently standing in her room in front of the dressing table, staring at herself in the mirror. Standing before the mirror, Muskan, while looking at herself, started thinking about what Ravi had said. After much thought and observing herself closely, she couldn't understand what Siddharth had seen in her that day that the boy who had refused marriage before leaving, insisted on marrying her after returning.
Muskan, looking at herself very carefully, thought to herself, "There's nothing special about me. I always felt that no boy in the world could ever like me, and if anyone ever said yes to marriage, they would demand a lot of dowry to marry a girl like me. Then what did you see in me that you agreed to marry me without taking any dowry? ... When you didn't want to get married, why did you insist on marrying me after seeing me and returning? ...
In the morning, you said you liked me, but there's no quality in me that you would like. Boys look for beautiful girls, no less than actresses. Even the blind search for a wife with four eyes. Boys who themselves are not good-looking demand girls like Aishwarya Rai.
You yourself are quite good-looking. Ravi was saying that the girls here are crazy about you. Then why did you choose a girl like me to be your wife? ... I must have said a lot of things to you last night, then why did you argue with your grandmother for me this morning? ..."
Muskan had many questions in her mind, but the questions were not for just one person. Perhaps if she had asked these questions to Siddharth, there was a possibility of getting answers, but in return for these questions asked to herself, she only got confusion.
Muskan was still thinking about all these things while looking at her reflection in the mirror when Ravi's voice reached her ears.
"Bhabhi"
Muskan, startled by the voice, came back to her senses and immediately turned towards the door and said, "Yes."
Ravi, standing at the door, saw her and smiled, saying, "Bhabhi, Di is calling you."
"Where is Di?"
"She's in her room and has called you there too." Ravi gave the message and left. Muskan became confused as to why Ragini had called her like this. Then, shaking her head, she proceeded towards their room.
"Di, you called?" Muskan hesitantly asked from the doorway, to which Ragini ji, present in the room, agreed and said,
"Yes, Sanchi, we called you. Come and sit here with me."
Muskan shyly came and sat near them but didn't know what to say. Ragini ji initiated the conversation and, with serious eyes fixed on Muskan's face, said gravely,
"Sanchi, is everything alright between you and Siddharth?"
Hearing this question, Sanchi became flustered and looked at them in panic. Not a word could escape her lips, but the color drained from her face said it all.
Ragini ji let out a deep sigh and took out a paper from under a pillow at the back, handing it over to Sanchi, and said,
"This letter was in the auspicious clothes that came for Siddharth. Did you write it?"
Seeing the paper and hearing Ragini ji's words, Sanchi's face turned pale, and she started sweating out of nervousness. Her trembling lips uttered in a low voice,
"How... how did this come into your possession?"
Ragini placed the letter on Sanchi's palm and said seriously, "When Siddharth's auspicious items arrived with his clothes, we gave him the clothes to change, so this letter written by you came into my hands, not Siddharth's.
At that time, there was no time, so we didn't pay much attention, but later we read this letter, and you don't need to be scared of us at all because we haven't told anyone about it yet, nor will we tell them in the future.
We haven't called you here to question you, but rather to break the wall of misunderstanding that has formed between you and Siddharth because of this letter."
Muskan lowered her gaze and started looking at the letter in her palm, which she had written with great courage and managed to place among the clothes meant for Siddharth after a lot of effort, hoping he would read it and refuse the marriage. But today, she was present in this house as his wife.
Ragini continued, "Sanchi, we know you wrote this letter for Siddharth so that he would read it and refuse the marriage, and you think that even after reading your letter, he married you... But the truth is, this letter never reached him. He didn't know that you didn't want to get married and that you had written him a letter. We didn't read this letter before, and even after tampering with it, we didn't give this letter to Siddharth. We had our reasons for that."
Hearing Ragini ji’s words, Muskan looked up at her. Ragini ji continued, seeing her,
"The first reason was you yourself. In your letter, you wrote that you don't believe in relationships. You don't trust men, so you don't want to marry Siddharth, or any boy… After reading your words, we realized that perhaps you haven't had relationships in your life so far that could win your trust. Perhaps all the men you've met until now have been wrong…
At that moment, we thought about giving the letter to Siddharth and breaking off this relationship, but then it occurred to us that even if your relationship with Siddharth broke, your parents would find another boy. No matter how much you tried, they would get you married, because after you, there are two more sisters to think about. So, we thought that since your marriage has to happen today or tomorrow, it’s better that you get married to Siddharth than become a daughter-in-law in a wrong family, bound in a wrong relationship…
Please don’t think for a moment that we are taking sides with our brother or family. We are revealing the truth to you. After reading your letter, we sincerely felt that your coming into this house as a daughter-in-law was the best decision because this family can restore your lost faith in relationships and family.
Whatever complaints you have against men will end after getting to know Siddharth, we say this with certainty. We are also married, and no one knows better than us what a true in-laws' home is, and the in-laws you have found will love and respect you like a daughter…
Saanhchi, you have just gotten married, and that too against your wishes, so you cannot understand the importance of a husband or the husband-wife relationship yet. But we are telling you from our experience that if your husband is wrong and bad, your entire life is ruined. But if your companion, your life partner turns out to be good, then even with a hundred problems in life, life can be lived happily.
No matter how your in-laws are, if your husband loves you, values you, stands by you as your strength, and respects you, then with his support, you can conquer the entire world. And very few girls in the world get both a good husband and good in-laws. You are among those few lucky girls, and you will realize this yourself very soon.
We have given one reason that after reading your letter, we felt that your connection with Siddharth and coming into this house was best for you. And the second reason is Siddharth… Actually, Siddharth was not ready for marriage. He wasn't even going to see you. But when he returned after seeing you, he agreed to the marriage because he liked you.
Siddharth had made up his mind that if he got married, it would be to you, otherwise, he would remain a bachelor his entire life. He was very happy about getting connected with you, and we didn't want to cast a shadow on his happiness by giving him this letter. We saw our brother’s happiness with you, so we let this relationship happen peacefully, and we thought that you would also accept this relationship by the time of the wedding…
We had no idea that a letter would cause such a big misunderstanding between you and Siddharth, and that you would misunderstand him so much… If we had known, we would have spoken to you earlier and explained that he is not like you think him to be.
Our parents never gave him such values; he respects girls a lot, and you are his wife. It is his responsibility to protect your honor. He can never do anything wrong to you… We are telling you all this only so that you can remove the wrong thoughts you have in your mind about Siddharth and try to understand him.
Do not hurt his feelings by making baseless accusations against him again, do not wound his heart, and try to fulfill this relationship with all your heart. You will see, as you understand Siddharth more, you will yourself realize that whatever we did, we did it thinking of your well-being.
Muskan sat silently, listening to her words. Once again, she had nothing to say. She was ashamed of her behavior with Siddharth last night. A lot was going on in her heart and mind, but she couldn't say anything.
She just looked at her fate, how her parents had imposed their decision on her, and here Ragini ji had done as she pleased, the result of which was her marriage to Siddharth and the shattering of everything.
Ragini ji looked at Muskan silently for a while, then holding Muskan's palm, she said affectionately, "Saanhchi, we are older than you, and we are explaining to you like your younger sister that this relationship is now established. No matter in what circumstances it happened, you are now married to Siddharth and you are his Ardhangini (better half).
Your pair was destined from above, which is why you two are bound in the sacred bond of marriage here. So, remove the bitterness from your heart and try to understand Siddharth with your heart and fulfill this relationship… Perhaps with time, your distrust towards relationships will end, and you will realize that this alliance was good for you because Mahadev never makes wrong decisions."
Muskan remained silent once again. Perhaps she had nothing to say. Siddharth occupied her heart and mind. After Ragini ji revealed the truth of the letter, after listening to Rhavi and Ragini ji, Muskan was forced to think, had she misunderstood Siddharth?
Coming soon…
So, the secret of the letter is out, but is that enough to fix Siddharth and Saanchi’s relationship?… Will Saanchi be able to trust Siddharth now?… Will there be any improvement in their relationship?
"Are you here alone, Ji?... Didn't Siddharth come with you?" As soon as she stepped into Baldev Ji's house, Asha Ji asked, looking towards the back door. Ravi ran and brought water for them. Baldev Ji took the water, drank it, and then, seeing Asha Ji's worried face, said calmly, "Since I couldn't pay attention to the shop during the wedding preparations, some accounting work has piled up, and there's an order to be dispatched, so Siddharth is busy with that. He'll be here shortly."
Hearing Baldev Ji's words, Asha Ji said in a worried tone, "It hasn't even been four days since the wedding, and he's immersed himself in work. Why didn't you tell him to come home early? The order could have been sent in the morning, and the rest of the work could have been done tomorrow. What was the need to stay at the shop so late?"
"We did try to explain to him, but do your sons ever listen to anyone? They do what they want, so he stayed there. He'll be here soon."
Asha Ji muttered to herself. If Siddharth were in front of her right now, she would have definitely grabbed his ears and pulled them, and given him a good thrashing, but he wasn't there to hear her scolding, so she grumbled to herself. Baldev Ji came after washing his hands and face and soon sat down for dinner. After the men ate, the women of the house also ate, but Sanchi and Asha Ji did not. After a little more time, everyone went to their respective rooms.
Sanchi finished all the kitchen work, brought food on a plate, and placed it in front of Asha Ji, saying, "Mummy Ji, it's so late. Please eat. Didi mentioned that you have a gas problem. If you don't eat on time, you'll get gas, and then you'll be in trouble."
"Siddharth isn't used to eating alone, so we won't eat yet," Asha Ji said. Hearing this, Muskaan fell silent for a moment, then hesitantly said, "I'll wait for him. You please eat."
With Muskaan's persuasion and explanation, Asha Ji finally ate. She sat with Muskaan and waited for Siddharth for a while longer, then got up and said, "Bah, my head is hurting a bit. I'm going to rest. When Siddharth comes, you feed him and eat yourself too, and call him to ask how much more time it will take."
"Yes, Mummy Ji," Muskaan nodded. Asha Ji gently patted her head, smiled, and left. Muskaan looked at her phone, then put it back. In reality, she didn't have Siddharth's number, so how could she call him?
The clock was striking eleven at night. She was tired from the whole day and was feeling sleepy. But she couldn't sleep because she had to wait for Siddharth. She played a song on her phone and kept it aside, staring intently at the gate. A song was playing on the phone:
"In the world of the heart, the heart, such a state also occurs.
Someone smiles outside, someone cries inside."
Listening to the song, Muskaan's eyes grew heavy, and some scenes started playing before her closed eyelids, along with some voices echoing in her ears:
"I will not get married."
"Why won't you get married?"
"Because I don't want to get married."
"That's not an answer. Everyone has to get married one day. We both got married, so you will too, and if you don't get married, what will you do? Will you sit in this house your whole life? Will you be a burden on your parents?"
"If I'm such a burden to them, then I'll leave this house, do anything, go anywhere, even die, but I will never come back here or get married."
"These are all just words. Grand pronouncements sound good, but reality is completely different. You are safe in this house now; Mom and Dad fulfill all your needs, and they bear all your expenses, which is why you're saying all this. But once you step outside the threshold of this house, you'll meet the real world, where no one lets a lonely girl live in peace... Wolves in human form in this society will tear you apart. It's better to quietly obey your parents, get married, and go to your own home with respect."
"Go to my own home, Didi?... Which own home should I go to?... If the house where I was born, where I grew up, couldn't be my own, then what other home will be my own?"
"A girl's marital home is her own home. Every girl has to leave her maternal home after getting married one day. Nothing different is being done to you, so stop this drama and quietly do as you are told."
"And if I don't, what will you all do?... Will you beat me or force me into marriage and throw the burden off your shoulders onto someone else's?... You are scaring me with the wolves in society, so what about the wolf who will become my husband and claim his right over me?... Won't his coercion also be coercion?"
"Look, Muskaan, I don't want to hear all this nonsense. This happens to every girl. If it happens to you, it's not new, and it's common after marriage. Endure it a little; we endure it too."
"I can't endure it... I won't get married, I won't let anyone force me, I'd rather die..."
"If you wanted to die, why haven't you died yet?... Die earlier, what are you waiting for?... Come on, die now and end this story here. Along with you, our headache will also end, and the trouble will be lifted from our heads."
These were the words being exchanged between Muskaan and her two elder sisters. Hearing the last sentence, Muskaan, stunned, just kept looking at her sister. One of her two elder sisters came to her and said coaxingly, "Look, Muskaan, stop all these useless talks. You can neither leave this house nor die, so give up your stubbornness and accept reality. Such a good proposal has come. We didn't think they would agree, but even after seeing you, they agreed to the proposal, and they aren't asking for any dowry... You yourself said that if a boy agreed to marry you without any dowry after seeing you, then you would get married. So don't go back on your word now... The boy's family has said yes, and there's no demand for dowry, so get married. If this proposal falls through, who knows how many people Papa will have to beg in front of for you and how many lakhs of dowry he will have to pay for you... Think about it yourself; we both are beautiful, yet we had to give so much dowry, so what will be the demand for you, and where will Papa get so much money?... If you don't get married, what will happen to the other two, and how will Mom and Dad show their faces to society?... How many things will they have to hear because of you?... Is this what you want, that because of your useless stubbornness, your family will be humiliated, your parents' heads will bow down in shame? Will your father suffocate worrying about dowry and your marriage?... If something happens to them because of you, who will be responsible, and who will manage this household and family?... Stop being selfish, Muskaan, and think about Mom and Dad, about your family. If your marriage happens with this boy, how big a burden will be lifted from Papa's shoulders. The money that has been saved for you will be useful for the other two. And from what I've heard, that family is also good, and you yourself saw how good the boy looks; he also earns. He is millions of times better than you, and yet he chose you; consider it your good fortune, otherwise, no boy will be ready to marry you soon, and if one is, he will demand a good sum as dowry..."
No response from Groq.
When Muskan came into the room after washing the dishes, she was shocked to see it empty. She glanced around, then took her clothes from the cupboard and went into the bathroom.
After a while, she came out dressed and sat on the bed, waiting for Siddharth for some time. But when he didn't come, Muskan got up and hesitantly walked towards the balcony.
The door was slightly ajar. Muskan peeked in and saw Siddharth standing near the railing. Muskan wanted to say something, but couldn't. There was some hesitation, some embarrassment, and some nervousness.
She stood there for a few moments, looking at Siddharth with confused eyes, then returned to the bed and sat down. She was yawning, and her eyelids felt heavy, but she couldn't sleep. But when sleep overcomes you, how long can you resist it? Leaning against the headboard of the bed, she drifted off to sleep.
A while later, Siddharth entered the room, his gaze immediately falling on the bed. Muskan was asleep, tucked under the blanket, leaning against the headboard. Her face was turned away, and a few strands of hair lay casually on her cheek. Siddharth's eyes were red.
He couldn't forget Muskan's words from the previous night, the accusations she had leveled against him. Muskan's words were hurting him, and he couldn't behave normally with her no matter how hard he tried.
Seeing Muskan asleep, a strange sadness washed over Siddharth's face. He went ahead, made sure Muskan was sleeping comfortably, and then, wrapping himself in a shawl, returned to the balcony.
In fact, there was no arrangement for sleeping in the room other than the bed, and there was only one blanket. Siddharth was hesitant to sleep with Muskan on the bed, fearing she might misunderstand him.
Once again, Siddharth spent the whole night awake.
The next day
Muskan was getting ready when Siddharth entered the room. He had just returned from watching the Ganga Aarti. He glanced at Muskan, who was standing in front of the dressing table, and then moved towards the cupboard, saying,
"Mom said to get ready properly. Your brother is coming to pick you up in a little while. Today you have to go to your home."
Hearing Siddharth's words, a sarcastic smile spread across Muskan's lips. She thought to herself,
"Home... Family... Wow! How nice these words sound. Perhaps they mean a lot in the lives of some people, but how could fate be so kind to me?...
For me, these words are nothing more than hollow phrases. Words that, the more I hear them, the more pain I feel, the more I realize how unfortunate I am, to have people in the name of family, but never any importance in their eyes...
To them, I was just a servant, whom they first used to their heart's content, and now, by the name of worldly affairs and the realities of life, they have thrown me here, so that I can spend my entire life living the same life I was living before...
What kind of home, what kind of family, that could never understand my pain, my silence, what kind of family is that? Those who mistook my helplessness, my despair, for arrogance, what kind of family are they? For whom I did everything, just on the hope that they would love me someday, but I could never find a place in their hearts...
What kind of home and family is that? What kind of parents are they, who differentiated so much between their own children, just because I was not beautiful, they not only snatched away my rights but also deprived me of their love... Those who never even had time to listen to me, what kind of family is that? They have a brother and a sister, but who is mine? No one. Every relationship connected to me there was for the fulfillment of their selfish desires...
I didn't matter to them before, and I don't have any existence in their eyes today. I don't consider them my family, I have no home, I have no one of my own. I was alone until today, and I am still alone, and I don't need anyone anymore. I have learned to take care of myself, now I need no one, nor do I desire anyone.
If you maintain relationships for the sake of name, then you will get the same from me from now on. Even after enduring everything so far, I have fulfilled my responsibilities because you brought me into this world, and I will continue to do so, but I will never be your daughter again, because you yourself killed her with your own hands years ago, you just haven't realized it until today.
It's okay, someday you will realize your mistake, but I won't be with you then. I will never return now, never."
Siddharth, standing near the cupboard, silently watched Muskan, on whose face emotions like strange pain, bitterness, anger, and sorrow had appeared, and she was lost in her own thoughts. Muskan, with a pained smile on her lips, wiped the moisture from her eyes and began to get ready again.
Watching her, Siddharth wondered why Muskan looked so sad instead of happy at the prospect of returning to her home after marriage. Siddharth couldn't understand the language of Muskan's silent gaze and muted lips.
He watched Muskan for a few moments, trying to solve this tangled puzzle, then took his clothes and went into the bathroom. When he came out after bathing, Muskan was nowhere in the room. Siddharth, after getting ready, reached downstairs, and Muskan's brother Gaurav had arrived. Everyone was there and talking to him, but Muskan was nowhere to be seen.
When Siddharth came downstairs, Gaurav came forward and touched his feet. Siddharth placed his hand on his head and sat down next to Baldev Ji.
After a while, Muskan arrived with tea for everyone, but she didn't look up at her brother, nor did any happiness show on her face.
Seeing her, Siddharth was reminded of Raginiji's wedding. When he had gone to pick her up for the first time, Raginiji was overjoyed, but seeing Muskan, it didn't seem like she was happy at all about her brother's arrival.
Muskan served tea to everyone, and then Ravi brought biscuits, snacks, etc. Muskan went back to the kitchen. They chatted a bit over tea, then everyone gathered for breakfast. Gaurav had breakfast with everyone, then all the women ate lunch, after which Asha Ji sent Muskan to pack her belongings. Muskan nodded and left.
A little later, Siddharth entered the room, and Muskan was zipping up her bag. At this moment, there were no emotions on her face.
"Have you finished packing?... It's time for you to leave, Mom is calling you." Hearing Siddharth's words, Muskan nodded in agreement, and as she was about to pick up the bag, Siddharth stepped forward and took the bag from her hand.
"We'll take it. It will be difficult for you to climb the stairs carrying the bag in a sari."
It was strange. Today, Muskan didn't say anything back and quietly left the bag and moved forward. Siddharth also followed her, carrying the bag. The new bride was bid farewell with rituals, lots of sweets, and gifts. Muskan touched everyone's feet for blessings and got into the car waiting outside.
Siddharth also placed the luggage, but Muskan didn't look at him, nor did they speak. Siddharth looked at the departing Muskan one last time; even then, she was sadly looking out the window.
Gaurav also touched everyone's feet and took his leave, for which he received money, then he too got into the car, and the car moved forward.
The Mishra family was left behind, and Muskan once again set off towards her home. Towards that same home, with which her life's bitter, painful memories were attached. Towards that same family, whose words and behavior had broken her so badly that now she hesitates to trust anyone and form relationships, she is terrified of connecting with anyone.
A little while after Muskan left, Raginiji also left with Shekhar Ji. Her mother-in-law had been harassing her by constantly calling. It had been many days since the wedding, and both their holidays had ended, so now they had to go back, but they were still worried about Siddharth and Muskan's relationship. Shekhar Ji had advised Siddharth, but the relationship was between Muskan and Siddharth, so they themselves had to manage it.
Anyway, now only those people remained in the Mishra family who lived there. Baldev Ji left for the shop with Siddharth, and only Asha Ji and Ravi were left in the house.
Muskan was going home by road. On the way, Gaurav tried to talk to her several times, asked her to stop for food and drink, but she refused and silently watched the receding roads with vacant eyes.
Around ten o'clock at night, the car stopped outside her house, and Muskan got out of the car and took her bag. Gaurav paid the driver and went inside.
Muskan, carrying her bag, reached the threshold of the house and looked at that door. Her home, with which so many memories were associated with its walls.
Muskan reached the doorstep of her house, bag in hand, and gazed at the door. Her home, a place where so many memories were attached to its walls.
In reality, for her, home was never about the people living there, because those people were never truly with her. All she had inherited were the walls and furnishings of this house, to which Muskan felt a deep attachment. Even in parting, her eyes had welled up with the thought of leaving her home, these walls behind, and today, returning here once again brought moisture to her eyes.
With a trembling hand, she touched the door, and a tear escaped her eye. Just as she was absorbing this comfort, she heard the voice of Sarita ji (Muskan's mother), "Muskan."
Hearing the voice, Muskan turned her gaze, and in that moment, Sarita ji came and embraced her. Muskan neither held her back in return nor reacted much. Standing like a statue, she looked at her father, who stood a few steps behind, and thought to herself,
They say that the person whom a human loves the most, it is their words that hurt the most. When there is hatred, it is the most towards them, and their indifference causes the most pain, because we are most connected to them. We tie our expectations and hopes to them, and when they break, they break us along with themselves.
There was a time when I loved you the most, but you forced me to hate myself. I embraced the relationship with you in my heart, and you shattered that very heart into pieces. I gave you the highest place in my eyes, honored you after God, but you lowered me so much in my own eyes that I started to feel disgusted even looking at myself.
I had heard that no matter how many flaws a child has, to their parents, their offspring is the best in the world. But for you people, I was the worst daughter in the world, the worst human, and the most ugly girl, who, no matter how hard she tried, could never be worthy of even a little of your love.
You completely dismissed all my good qualities. All you saw was my plain face, my short height, my habit of not laughing and talking as much as your other children. My silence was always labeled as my arrogance, but why was it never understood why I chose to wear the cloak of silence? You never gave me love.
A person who receives no respect in their own home, how can they expect respect from strangers? One whom their own parents cannot give even a drop of love, how can they trust in the love of others? One whose own parents saw only flaws in them, how can they aspire for others to see their qualities? You people have no idea what you have made of me. Today you are showering me with so much love, or perhaps this is all just a pretense.
I know, even today, if I tell you what's in my heart, you will find me wrong. It's always me who is wrong. The mistake is mine, that I am not beautiful like your other children, that I was not born with as good a fortune as them. I couldn't live up to your expectations, even though I wanted to. It's all my fault.
But why didn't you try to understand me? Why did you make me this way? Today I hate my own existence. Why did you break me to such an extent that I can't put myself back together even if I want to? Why did you discard me so much that I can't believe the reality that someone can love me too? Why did you reject my love every time, and make love a deception in my eyes? Today, even your love seems like an illusion to me, or perhaps it is an illusion.
You got me married... now the burden on your head is lifted... just as you were eager to drive me out of this house, you must not have felt like calling me back, but to maintain your reputation, you are now pretending to show love by calling me. By the way, I would like to ask what you told your son when you sent him there.
First you used to say that with my nature, I wouldn't even set foot in my in-laws' house, I would die there and you wouldn't come to get me, and you wouldn't look back at me, you wouldn't call me back ever again. Then why have you called me today? Are you saving your honor? Yes, this honor is everything to you, for this very honor, you got me married against my wishes.
As she thought all this, Muskan's eyes filled with tears. Many old painful memories were refreshed in her mind, and she averted her gaze from Manish ji. She dried her tears within her eyes. After a while, Sarita ji separated from her and touching her cheek, said,
"How are you? How is everything there? Are they treating you well?"
"Why, if not, will you call me back? But here too, I wasn't treated with such reverence. Then I was a burden to you. You threw me off onto someone else's head, so why this question now? However I live, I have to live there now, so I will live. Just as I spent my days here, I will spend them there too. You don't need to worry."
Muskan replied without any emotion and moving forward, touched Manish ji's feet. She didn't even step inside the house and quietly, bag in hand, started moving towards the stairs, but as soon as she took a step forward, two familiar voices reached her ears,
"Muskan Didi."
Hearing the voices, Muskan turned to look, and saw her two younger sisters standing there. Even seeing them, no expression came to Muskan's face. When both of them were very happy to see Muskan and came forward to hug her, they said,
"We missed you a lot."
"Oh..." Muskan just said that and looked at them.
"Yes, we missed you a lot. You know, after you left, no one listened to us. No one saved us from Mom's scolding, and we had to do all the chores alone."
"Yes, Didi, without you, we both were completely alone. There was no one to talk to, who would do our share of the work and save us from Mom's scolding. Fight with us for them..."
The two girls looked at Muskan, pouting. A strange sadness spread across Muskan's face, and a painful smile appeared on her lips. She sighed painfully and touching both their cheeks lovingly, said,
"Now get used to this loneliness, because I won't be here anymore to hide your mistakes, to save you from Mom's scolding, and to listen to your talk. I have come here as a guest and will leave in a few days."
Muskan stroked both their cheeks and started climbing the stairs with her bag. Hearing Muskan's reply, Sarita ji's face fell. She looked a bit sad. Seeing Muskan leave, she said with a smile,
"Muskan, daughter, quickly change your clothes and come, I've made your favorite food today."
When her words fell on Muskan's ears, her steps faltered for a moment. The next moment, she crossed the stairs and entered her room, where the three sisters used to sleep together.
Muskan placed her bag aside and her gaze swept across the entire room. Everything connected to her had been removed, and her sisters had decorated the room according to their own preferences. Muskan smiled looking at the room, then took out a pair from the two sets of clothes kept in the corner of the cupboard and went into the bathroom.
A while later, she came out wearing palazzos and a t-shirt. After a long time, she felt much better returning to her true self. She let out a deep breath and started descending. In the room downstairs, her father and brother were sitting and eating. Her sisters were sitting with the food, but not eating yet.
Actually, before the wedding, the three of them used to eat dinner together, so perhaps they were waiting for Muskan. Muskan smiled seeing them, but only she knew how true and how false that smile was. Muskan sat down with them, and when she looked at the food, even that smile disappeared.
Sarita ji's words from a little while ago echoed in her ears that she had made her favorite food today, but surprisingly, seeing her favorite food, a deep silence fell upon Muskan's lips, an unspoken pain on her face, and a strange sadness reflected in her eyes.
Coming soon.........
What has been made to eat that made Muskan sad, and what finally happened to her here? Is there so much bitterness and despair in her heart for everyone connected to this house?
Muskan's father and brother were sitting on the bed and had started eating. Sarita ji was sitting to one side, watching them, so she could fetch something if needed. Her two sisters were sitting with the food, waiting for her.
Muskan smiled on seeing them, but how true or false that smile was, only she knew. Muskan sat down with them, and when she saw the food, her smile disappeared. Sarita ji's words from earlier echoed in her ears that she had made her favorite food today, but surprisingly, seeing the food of her choice, a deep silence fell on Muskan's lips, an unspoken pain on her face, and a strange sadness in her eyes.
In front of her was a plate of puris, a bowl of Shahi Paneer curry, and a bowl of Kheer on the side. Muskan first looked at the food, then after glancing at Sarita ji, she started eating.
She had hardly eaten four puris when she got up. Seeing this, Sarita ji immediately asked,
"Why did you get up? ... Didn't the food turn out well?"
"No, it's very good. My stomach as well as my heart is full."
Muskan replied with a faint smile. Sarita ji then looked at the full bowl of Kheer and asked, "You haven't even touched the Kheer. You like it, don't you?"
At her question, Muskan looked at them silently for a few moments. Her vacant eyes held a silent complaint, which no one here could understand. After a few moments, she broke her silence and said without any emotion, "I don't like Kheer, Mom."
Hearing Muskan's words, Sarita ji was shocked, "What are you saying? ... You don't like Kheer? ... You used to eat bowls full of it before."
Muskan's lips curved into a helpless smile, "Well, try to remember and tell me a day when I ate bowls full of Kheer, because as far as I remember, I never even looked at Kheer, let alone eat it."
Sarita ji strained her mind, then after thinking for a few moments, she said with disappointment, "It seems I forgot."
"No, Mom, you haven't forgotten, so don't lie. Accept the truth that you don't know anything about my likes and dislikes. If you did, you wouldn't have fed me Paneer curry, which I don't like at all, by saying it's my favorite. You wouldn't have given me Kheer, which I don't even like to see."
"You never told me, so how would I know?" Sarita ji tried to defend herself and put the blame on Muskan. Seeing this, a painful smile spread across Muskan's lips.
"Yes, it's my fault here too that I never told you, but did you ever try to find out? Did you ever hear my voice? Today you are saying that I never told you my likes and dislikes, but the truth is that you were never interested in knowing, you never tried to know, you never paid attention to me, because I never mattered to you..............
You are saying that I never told you, but the truth is that I have shouted this countless times, but you never heard my voice. For you, I eat everything; what's important are everyone else and your son. He is important to you, you pay full attention to him, that's why today everything is made according to his preference."
An unspoken pain reflected in Muskan's words, and resentment was evident on her face. In a few words, she had shown Sarita ji a mirror today, but who likes the truth? And when your child is proving you wrong, you absolutely cannot tolerate it, because you are never wrong. The fault is always the child's.
Finding herself unable to answer Muskan's words, Sarita ji now appealed to Manish ji for help and said helplessly,
"Look, ji, what is she saying?"
"It's all your doing. I told you there was no need to educate her so much. Look at the result of her studies, how rude she has become, arguing with her parents. I told you not to work so hard for her. Now see how she is talking to you........... God knows what she does at her in-laws. With her rebellious attitude, you'll see, you'll get complaints from her in-laws every day about the upbringing you've given your daughter."
As always, Manish ji was taunting Muskan with the name of her in-laws and, as usual, was holding her education responsible for her rude behavior. Or perhaps, by blaming her education for his mistakes, he was reassuring himself of his innocence.
Hearing his words, Muskan looked at them with a sarcastic smile on her lips,
"That's what I was thinking, why haven't you taunted me about my education until now? You are absolutely right, Papa, it's all my education's fault, because of which I am like this today, but now you don't need to worry about me, because I am married now, and though I will die, I will never let such a situation arise that a complaint comes to you. Still, if those people ever call you to complain about me, tell them clearly that I don't listen to you. She is your extremely rude and spoiled daughter, only she can handle herself, so whatever you have to say, say it to me."
Muskan said everything in one breath and left in anger. Everyone was left looking at her in astonishment. Perhaps for the first time, she had broken her silence and said something that stunned everyone.
Leaving from there, Muskan went straight to the roof, and as soon as she set foot there, the tears she had held back in her eyes broke through every dam and flowed down her eyes like stubborn streams.
Some people might consider this a very small matter, but ask that person how much it hurts when, after living in a house for so many years, their mother knows the likes and dislikes of every child except for them. And actually, the pain is not that your parents don't know your likes and dislikes.
The real pain is that you were never paid attention to, your likes and dislikes never mattered to them, your parents don't even know this much about you, and after speaking, they don't know anything, which clearly indicates that you have no importance in their eyes.
It was this fact that pricked Muskan the most, that everything was made according to Gaurav's preferences in her name. Muskan's tears did not stop today. She looked at the sky with tear-filled eyes and said with a choked voice,
"I will never complain to you about anything. I silently endure every pain you give, I accept every decision of yours with bowed head, then why do you increase my pain every time? I don't expect anything from anyone, so why do you always make my wounds fester? Why don't you let me live in peace?"
Muskan sighed deeply and wiped her tears. She stood on the roof alone for a long time, looking at the sky with vacant eyes, then went to her room and lay down with her eyes closed. Sleep was miles away, but she lay there with her eyes closed.
On the other side, when Siddharth, tired and defeated from the whole day, went into the room in the evening, it felt as if the room had become desolate. As if the soul of the room had left with Muskan. Now, only lifeless four walls remained, standing with a sulky expression.
Siddharth let out a cold sigh and took his clothes to the bathroom. After a while, he had dinner, then went to the roof and, thinking about Muskan, looked at the ghat and the flowing current of the Ganga far away.
To be continued…
A week had passed since Muskan returned home. In these days, she had spoken to Asha Ji, Ravi, and Radhika Ji, but not even once to Siddharth. She felt like a prisoner in her own home. She felt more suffocated there than she ever felt in Banaras.
These days, Manish Ji's usual taunts continued. Muskan had once again adopted silence. She believed that if she wasn't eating without working, she had taken care of all her own chores.
Sarita Ji kept giving her knowledge about in-laws, in which Muskan had not the slightest interest, but she listened to it all in silence. Her sisters-in-law also used to lecture her.
Along with Manish Ji, Gaurav was also not behind in taunting Muskan. One evening, on some matter, Gaurav misbehaved with Muskan, so Muskan also gave a sharp reply. The matter escalated to a physical fight, Gaurav raised his hand on Muskan, but Muskan slapped him hard instead.
And that was it. While Gaurav was overpowering Muskan, Sarita Ji silently watched everything, and as soon as Gaurav was beaten, she and Manish Ji immediately came to his defense. Gaurav was scolded and reprimanded and sent away, but at the same time, both of them, as always, blamed Muskan for everything and berated her.
In reality, this was not a new issue; it was the same every day. After five daughters, their only son was born after many prayers, so he was pampered from the beginning, which resulted in him becoming unbearable.
Every mistake of his was justified and forgiven, due to which he continued to get worse day by day. But the irony was that his parents never saw anything wrong with him. Due to their overdose of love and constant presence, Gaurav's male ego had already been deeply ingrained. He considered no one equal to himself.
Misbehaving with his parents and elder sisters, raising his hand on them, fighting – all had become common. He would proudly say that this house was his, because that's what he was taught. Perhaps most boys who are born after daughters and are worshipped by the entire family are like this.
Anyway, Muskan had stopped Gaurav's hand, but even when Gaurav raised his hand, Sarita Ji and Manish Ji said nothing to him, instead they berated Muskan. This was beyond her tolerance. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall and went to the roof and, for the first time in so many days, called Siddharth.
Siddharth was at the shop then. Ravi had sent Muskan Siddharth's number, but Siddharth still didn't have Muskan's number. So when the call came from an unknown number, he didn't pick up due to being busy with work.
After some time, a message appeared on the screen with a notification, which caught Siddharth's attention. A message had come from the same unknown number. Siddharth tapped on the message, and the entire message opened up before him.
"Come and pick me up."
That's all the message said. At first, Siddharth couldn't understand who had sent it and why. Then, suddenly, Muskan came to his mind, and without wasting a moment, he called that number.
Muskan let out a deep sigh and received the call, but neither of them could say anything. A deep silence prevailed between them for a few moments, then Siddharth started the conversation.
"Saanche." Perhaps Siddharth was confirming his suspicion. There was something in his voice that made Muskan's eyes well up when he called her name. A soft voice came from her mouth,
"Yes."
After his confirmation, Siddharth proceeded with a beating heart, "Saanche, did you just message us to come and pick you up?"
It was becoming difficult for Muskan to compose herself. She somehow controlled her tears and replied,
"It's been a week since I've been here. Come and take me away from here now, please..."
There was pain in this request, and feeling it, Siddharth became distressed and said in a worried tone, "Saanche, is everything okay there?... Are you okay?"
"Yes... it's been many days since I came here, and after marriage, a girl's real home is her in-laws'. If I stay here for too long, people will start talking, so I'm saying you should take me back now."
Siddharth remained silent for a few moments, then let out a deep sigh and said, "We'll talk to Mom today. Take care of yourself."
"I will wait for you." After a few moments of silence, Muskan's voice came from the other end, and the call ended.
This was the first time after their marriage that their few words were spoken peacefully. Muskan had hung up the phone, but her sudden call and request to be picked up lingered in Siddharth's mind.
Muskan was a bit sad even before leaving, and today her voice carried an unspoken pain, which Siddharth had keenly felt, and now his mind was restless. Without wasting a moment, he called Asha Ji.
Siddharth spent the night restlessly, while Muskan didn't even eat. She sat on the roof until midnight, even though it was very cold, then came down and slept.
The next day, everything was normal for everyone. Everyone was behaving as if nothing had happened. Muskan had adopted her usual deep silence, but today her anger was evident in this silence. She hadn't spoken to her parents since morning. She wasn't responding to anything they said, just quietly did her chores and went back to her room.
Whenever she encountered Gaurav, Muskan's anger took over, but she didn't say anything to him either.
It was afternoon when someone knocked on the door. Inside the house, Muskan's two sisters were watching TV. Sarita Ji had gone to a neighbor's house. Manish Ji was at the shop, and Gaurav had gone to school. Muskan was in the kitchen, preparing lunch.
When there was a knock on the door, Muskan shouted from the kitchen, "Pooja, go and see who it is!"
Pooja immediately came out of the house and opened the door, surprised to see Siddharth standing there. She quickly joined her hands and greeted him, then looking towards the kitchen, she said loudly,
"Sister Muskan, Jijaji has come."
When Muskan's ears caught her words, she casually asked, "Which Jijaji has come now?"
"Your Jijaji has come, meaning Siddharth Jijaji has come," Pooja replied, looking at Siddharth. When Muskan heard her answer, she couldn't believe her ears. She immediately pulled aside the kitchen curtain and came out, saying,
"Do I look like a fool to you for making up stories?... He's here..."
As soon as Muskan's gaze fell on Siddharth standing at the gate, her remaining words got stuck in her throat, and the pupils of her eyes widened in surprise. Her mouth hung open.
Siddharth was in a similar state. He too stood there with wide eyes, looking at Muskan.
"Your brother-in-law is here, meaning Siddharth brother-in-law is here," Pooja replied, looking at Siddharth. When Muskan heard her reply, she couldn't believe her ears. She immediately pulled aside the kitchen curtain and said as she came out,
"Did you find only me to fool?....... He is here......"
As soon as Muskan's gaze fell on Siddharth standing at the gate, her further words got stuck in her throat, and her pupils widened in surprise. Her mouth also remained agape. Siddharth was in a similar state. He too stared at Muskan standing in front of him with wide eyes.
All the times he had seen Muskan before, he had seen her dressed up in suits and sarees. After marriage, she used to be adorned with sixteen ornaments, but the Muskan standing before him today seemed like a completely different person. Instead of a saree or suit, she was wearing a plazo and a top. Her hair was haphazardly tied into a bun, with a few strands falling on her face and neck. There was a nominal amount of vermilion in her hair parting, visible only upon close inspection. The mangalsutra around her neck was hidden beneath her top.
She wore only two lakh worth of bangles on each wrist. No bindi, no heaps of bangles on her wrists, and no adornment or makeup. She was in a completely simple look. The henna on her hands had faded, and her hands were smeared with gram flour. A little gram flour was also on her forehead, perhaps from trying to tuck away her stray strands, which Muskan herself was unaware of.
Today, a different Muskan stood before Siddharth, and Siddharth could only stare at her.
Seeing Siddharth in front of her, Muskan's surprise knew no bounds. Although she had emotionally called Siddharth yesterday and asked him to come soon, she had no idea that Siddharth would come today itself. So, for a few moments, she stood there, astonished, looking at Siddharth. Then, as soon as she realized her state, she hastily averted her gaze and ran back into the kitchen.
Siddharth was taken aback by her sudden departure, then smiled as he remembered her flustered and anxious face. Muskan's breath hitched. She composed herself and said from behind the curtain,
"Pooja, why is he standing at the gate? Bring him inside and go inform Mom and Dad about his arrival."
"Yes, sister," Pooja immediately agreed. Then, looking at Siddharth, she smiled and said, "Come on, brother-in-law, your wife is very worried that you might get tanned standing in the sun. Now, we have to obey her orders, both you and I. Otherwise, maybe nothing will happen to you, but she'll definitely wash me clean like clothes in a dhobi ghat. So, you come inside."
Seeing Pooja's theatrics, Muskan helplessly shook her head, while Siddharth smiled and extended the packet of sweets and fruits he was holding towards her, asking,
"Does your sister Muskan also hit?"
Pooja immediately agreed, "Of course, she hits, and she hits so hard that your ears ring for two days."
"Pooja, stop your nonsense and quietly bring him inside, or you'll truly get it, and you won't be able to eat from that side for a week, not two days." As soon as Pooja finished speaking, Muskan's angry voice came from the kitchen. Hearing it, Siddharth looked in that direction, but the wall of the curtain still stood between him and Muskan.
Hearing Muskan's threat, Pooja put on an innocent face and said in a low voice, "See how angry she gets? I think her anger sits on her nose, and as soon as she gets a chance, it dances on your head, and then there's no escape for the person in front of her, so be careful with her. Now, let's go inside, or if Didi comes out, she won't spare me today."
Siddharth looked at her and nodded. As Pooja brought him inside, their other sister, Siya, quickly got up and, in a hurry, greeted him with a 'Namaste' and ran straight out of the room. As soon as she went out, Muskan handed her a tray and sent her back inside.
Pooja quickly tidied up the clothes scattered on the bed and put them in the wardrobe, then asked Siddharth to sit on the bed and began to arrange the room. Siya brought Siddharth water, but Siddharth refused.
Siya went back to the kitchen. Seeing the full glass, Muskan started making tea and sent Siya to inform Sarita ji and Manish ji about Siddharth's arrival.
Within a few minutes, Pooja had the house completely set. Just then, Muskan's voice came from the kitchen, "Pooja."
Pooja smiled at Siddharth and then left the room. Siddharth looked around the house. It was a typical middle-class home. On one side, the slab was made into a temple. Besides a TV, fridge, bed, and wardrobe, there were some small miscellaneous items and books. On one wall, several pictures were hung, but after searching a lot, he couldn't find Muskan in any of them.
Pictures of almost everyone except Muskan were hung there, and there were many pictures of Gaurav from childhood to the present.
While Siddharth was looking at all this, Pooja's voice drew his attention back, "It's a futile effort, brother-in-law. Sister Muskan doesn't like to get her photos taken, so there are no pictures of her here."
Hearing the voice, Siddharth turned his gaze, and Pooja placed a tray in front of him, containing a cup of tea and a plate full of pakoras. Muskan was probably making pakoras.
"Eat, eat, your wife made it. You must have tasted her cooking by now, but I'll tell you, sister Muskan cooks very well, and after drinking her tea, the soul is satisfied. But she doesn't like making tea. She makes tea very rarely, and only after a lot of flattery and requests, so consider yourself lucky that she made tea for you willingly."
"We would consider ourselves lucky if your sister Muskan had brought it herself," Siddharth said with a smile and picked up the teacup, taking a sip of tea. Indeed, the tea was delicious, truly heart-warming.
Hearing Siddharth's words, Pooja quickly replied, "Sister Muskan can't come in front of you right now."
"Why?" Siddharth asked, slightly surprised. Hearing his question, Pooja came a little closer and whispered, "She won't admit it, but I know she's shy with you, so she's not coming in front of you. She's wearing a plazo and a top and isn't ready, so she's hesitant to come in front of you."
Siddharth couldn't help but smile at her words. Muskan, in the kitchen, was in a different dilemma. She had no idea Siddharth would come here so suddenly today.
Besides being surprised to see Siddharth here, she was also worried about what he might have told everyone. When everyone here asks the reason for his sudden arrival, what will he say, and if Siddharth asks her why she asked him to pick her up so abruptly, how will she be able to lie to him?
Thinking all this, Muskan quietly left the kitchen and tiptoed upstairs to her room. She picked up her phone and sent Siddharth a text message.
As Siddharth was talking to Pooja while sipping tea downstairs, his phone suddenly buzzed with a message notification. He took out his phone, checked it, and started reading Muskan's message,
"How did you come so suddenly without telling me?"
Siddharth paused for a moment after seeing her message, then typed a reply and sent it. Muskan, who was pacing restlessly holding her phone, heard her phone ring and immediately read Siddharth's reply,
"You asked me to come, did you forget so quickly?"
After reading Siddharth's reply, Muskan just stared at the message for a moment. The fact that Siddharth had taken her words so seriously and come the very next day was beyond Muskan's imagination. She let out a deep breath and typed a message,
"What did you tell Mom?"
To be continued…
"You asked me to come, did you forget so soon?"
After reading Siddharth's reply, Muskan just stared at the message at first. Siddharth had taken her words so seriously that he had arrived the very next day, which was beyond Muskan's imagination. She took a deep breath and typed,
"What did you tell your mother-in-law?"
"The truth."
Reading this message, the color drained from Muskan's face. She wanted to smash the phone on the ground in anger, but then controlled herself. Suppressing her anger, she said to herself in a distressed voice,
"What was the need to call them? If I had called Ravi, he would have conveyed the message to mother-in-law indirectly. Now they have told the truth. What must they be thinking about me now, that what an impatient girl I am, who is asking to be called to her in-laws' house herself."
Muskan squeezed her eyes shut, then after a few moments typed and sent a message, "Couldn't you say something else? Will you tell everyone whatever I tell you?"
Muskan's displeasure was evident in the message. Siddharth smiled after reading the message, then typed and sent a reply,
"We didn't understand what else to say, so telling the truth was the only way."
Muskan made a sour face after reading Siddharth's reply, then impatiently typed,
"Don't tell anyone here that I asked you to come."
"We won't tell, don't worry." After reading the reply, Muskan put the phone back and quietly went downstairs.
Pooja had been noticing the ever-changing expressions on Siddharth's face with keen eyes since then. Frowning, she asked him,
"Brother-in-law, who are you chatting with on messages and smiling so much? Have you found a girlfriend who is bombarding you with messages?....... Are you cheating on our sister Muskan?"
Siddharth, who had just finished messaging Muskan, was startled when Pooja's words reached his ears. He looked up at Pooja, who was staring at him with suspicious eyes.
"Is this illness of suspecting and misunderstanding others hereditary?" Siddharth asked Pooja in surprise. Hearing this, Pooja's eyes widened in surprise, then she said in astonishment,
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing......" Siddharth shook his head in denial, then putting the phone in his pocket, said, "We don't have a girlfriend. We definitely have a wife, whom we can't even think of betraying or deceiving. So your suspicion is futile, we were talking to our friend, not some girl."
Siddharth said it casually and fell silent. Pooja nodded her head now. Thinking about Muskan, Siddharth said to himself,
"You seem fine to look at and talk to, but then why did I feel yesterday like you weren't okay?"
Here Siddharth was entangled in his own dilemma. Ever since talking to Muskan on the phone yesterday, he had been restless and worried, fearing something was wrong, but everything seemed fine here, so he was a bit confused.
Muskan came to the kitchen and started preparing lunch. Siddharth enjoyed the pakoras and tea made by Muskan's hands in the winter weather, then got up to wash his hands, but Pooja made him wash his hands at the plate and took the empty utensils into the kitchen.
Muskan asked him to stay with Siddharth, because he was a guest and son-in-law at the house for now, so it wouldn't be right to leave him alone.
Even though the relationship between Muskan and Siddharth was strained, Muskan possessed basic manners and upbringing. She knew how to greet, treat, and take care of a guest who had come to the house.
Pooja returned to Siddharth. After a while, Sarita Ji came there. Siddharth respectfully touched her feet. She blessed him, then looking at Pooja, said,
"Have you left son-in-law sitting dry and dry, or have you given him some tea and snacks too?"
"We gave her tea and hot pakoras," Pooja replied proudly, so that she wouldn't get a chance to scold her now. Instead, she had done more than expected, so she was eager for praise. But nothing like that happened. Sarita Ji, without reacting much to this, asked her the next question,
"Where is Muskan?"
Poor Pooja's mood was ruined. If she hadn't asked about tea and water now, Sarita Ji would have scolded her standing right there, spoken so much that blood would have streamed from Pooja's ears, but when she had done more than expected without being asked, they didn't even praise her, not a single word in her praise. "She is cooking in the kitchen."
"And you are chatting here? Go help her and tell her to get ready properly."
Pooja left with a sour face. Sarita Ji then turned to Siddharth and asked,
"Son-in-law, how did you come suddenly? You didn't inform us before coming?"
"Father had informed your father by calling. Tomorrow is the auspicious time for the farewell, after that there is no auspicious time for a month, so we have come to bid farewell to Sanchi."
After this, Sarita Ji started asking him about everyone there. After a while, Manish Ji also came. Pooja, Siya, and Muskan had prepared lunch together. Muskan sent two plates.
Siddharth ate with Manish Ji, Pooja and Siya stood there and kept bringing things as needed. Muskan stayed in the kitchen for a while, then on Sarita Ji's saying, Pooja asked her to get ready, so she went to the room and changed into a suit from the things she had brought.
After Muskan changed and came into the room, her advancing steps halted upon seeing Siddharth already present there. She was avoiding an encounter with him so as not to have to answer any of his questions. She had talked on the phone, but was evading an in-person meeting. After that night, their relationship had become very strange.
Siddharth, sitting on the bed, saw Muskan and got up, "Sorry, Mom sent me to rest, we didn't know you would be here."
Siddharth immediately offered an explanation, to which Muskan composed herself, then nodding her head, said, "It's okay, you must be tired. Please rest. I was going downstairs anyway."
Muskan said this and exhaled a deep breath as she exited the room. Siddharth stood looking at the door for a while, then sat on the bed and looked around the room.
Muskan reached downstairs and stayed there after lunch. By evening, her two sisters and brother-in-law also arrived. Siddharth wanted to talk to Muskan, but he didn't get a chance. Muskan kept her distance from him.
In the evening, a gathering took place at home. Dinner was also with everyone, but Muskan did not eat with everyone. She stayed in the kitchen. After everyone ate and Siddharth went to his room, she reluctantly ate a little and went straight to the roof. With eyes filled with loneliness and pain, and an unbreakable silence on her lips, she stared at the moon, as she always did.
To be continued…
