A wedding that was meant to be completed with signatures, but the heart's insistence twisted it. "Rasm-e-Wafa" is the story of a girl who doesn't just want to get married on paper, she wants her groom—in front of her eyes, holding her hand. Mrinal, a... A wedding that was meant to be completed with signatures, but the heart's insistence twisted it. "Rasm-e-Wafa" is the story of a girl who doesn't just want to get married on paper, she wants her groom—in front of her eyes, holding her hand. Mrinal, a stubborn but lighthearted girl, and Achyut, a serious and busy businessman, whose marriage begins like a deal, but there's something in Mrinal's tantrums and innocent stubbornness that slowly starts to bring out the emotions hidden behind Achyut's stern demeanor.<br /> <br /> What happens when love clashes with rituals?<br /> Did Achyut only come to get the signatures, or was there something in his heart that he was hiding?<br /> And Mrinal... will her innocent stubbornness be able to compel Achyut to fulfill his vows?<br /> <br /> This is the story of relationships that begin not with formalities, but with emotions.<br /> A wedding that is completed not with papers, but with waiting and respect.<br />
Page 1 of 9
Kolkata, around 5 PM
"I'm telling you. I won't sign these papers. And dare anyone force me." Mrinal, draped in a red bridal outfit, displayed both anger and annoyance on her face.
"My sister!!!!!!!!!!!! What happened now? You yourself agreed to the marriage. So why aren't you signing these marriage papers now…?" Trivik Kukreja said, holding his head in distress.
"Brother, you also went to marry Bhavi with the entire baraat, right? So, today is my wedding, where is my groom and the baraat…? Achyut sent this… this Shriniketan and team. It's too much, brother," Mrinal shouted in frustration.
"Ma'am! The Saheb has a flight in half an hour. He has to leave for Delhi for the party's conference meeting. The Saheb has already signed these marriage papers. Only your signatures are needed now," said Shriniketan, standing there. The entire staff stood behind him.
"I don't want signatures. I want my groom. Only then will I sign. Now, believe it or not, you can all go to hell. I don't want to get married," saying this, she lifted her heavy lehenga with both hands, collapsed onto the sofa, closed her eyes, and extended her hand. Understanding, a servant placed headphones in her hand. Mrinal put on the headphones and said softly, "Turn up the volume."
Trivik Kukreja looked at his wife Megha, who was staring at Mrinal with murderous intent. In the next moment, she picked up the sandal she was wearing in her hand. Seeing this, Trivik rushed forward, snatched the sandal from her hand, and said, "Oh my God! Calm down. Why are you creating trouble? You may not care about your life, but I do. Or perhaps you've gone too far into mourning widowhood."
"If this girl's wedding doesn't happen today, I will throw divorce papers in your face tomorrow. Remember this," she said, slamming her sandal on the floor and then sitting down on the empty sofa in front of her, crossing her legs.
Trivik looked helplessly at his sister and wife. He knew very well that both were stubborn. But his life was now hanging by a thread. He went to Shriniketan, grabbed his arm, pulled him aside, and said, "Quickly call the Saheb."
"But he has a flight."
"You call and call him, man. A third world war is about to break out between my sister and my wife here," Trivik said, holding his head.
"Yes!" Shriniketan also felt that perhaps he should call and inform them. Coming aside, he took out his phone and dialed the first dial number.
Meanwhile, inside the large, luxurious mansion, there was quite a commotion. The servants working there were working quickly, repeatedly looking towards the closed door in front. The faint sound of someone singing could be heard from there.
Vigyatha, sitting on the sofa with her hand on her head, clearly showed a hint of annoyance. She muttered to herself, "I can never understand the Saheb sometimes. We are late for the flight, and he has no time to stop singing."
Just then, the room door suddenly opened, and the sound made Vigyatha jump up from the sofa with lightning speed. As soon as her gaze fell on the Saheb approaching from the front, she froze in her place.
With a height of six feet two inches, his physique was like that of a model. On top of that, his dusky complexion, which added four moons to his personality.
"Vigyatha! We have to go to Kukreja House now," he said in his powerful voice, bringing Vigyatha back to her senses. "But Saheb, we have a flight to Delhi."
"I know. I've found out that there's a flight at 12 o'clock," said Saheb, that is, Achyut Patil, looking at the time on his wrist.
"Okay, all right, sir." Vigyatha immediately started typing on her tablet.
Achyut came out into the porch area where his car was parked. The driver opened the door for him, and he sat in the back seat. Vigyatha sat in the front passenger seat. The driver started the car and drove onto the road.
A short while later, Achyut stood outside Kukreja House with Vigyatha. Then Shriniketan rushed out from inside. Trivik and his wife Megha also came out behind him.
"Where is she…?" Achyut asked Trivik, pointing inside.
As they all came inside, Mrinal was still lying comfortably on the sofa, listening to songs with headphones on. Achyut glanced at the marriage papers, which he still hadn't signed.
"This girl will never mend her ways," saying this, Achyut leaned towards her, removed the headphones from her ears, and said in his stern voice, "What is this drama, Mrinal…?"
Hearing this familiar voice, Mrinal opened her eyes and looked at Achyut. Since she was lying down, Achyut appeared upside down to her. She happily sat up quickly.
"Why didn't you sign…?" Achyut asked in the same tone.
"I... I was about to," saying this, Mrinal picked up the pen and quickly signed. As soon as Mrinal signed, Megha looked up and thanked God. Her expression was as if a great disaster had been averted.
Mrinal signed, put down the pen, and shyly looked at Achyut. He picked up the papers and handed them to Shriniketan. "Deliver these papers to the lawyer by morning. The rest of the work will be handled by him. (Looking at Trivik) Mr. Kukreja! I am going to Delhi for a conference meeting now. I will come back the day after tomorrow and take Mrinal with me."
"No! No! I want to go with you now. Look, I'm already wearing the wedding lehenga. I won't be able to get ready like this again and again," Mrinal said eagerly.
Hearing her words, everyone's necks turned towards Mrinal. Achyut thought for a moment and said to Shriniketan, "Call Moui to the mansion. We will take Mrinal to the mansion now."
"Yes, Saheb," Shriniketan nodded.
"Luggage…?"
"It's packed," Megha immediately said.
Achyut didn't say anything, while Mrinal, standing behind him, shyly twirled her pallu in her hands and said, "Listen, Ji…?"
"Hmmmm…?" Achyut turned towards her.
"I need to talk to you. Alone," Mrinal said shyly.
Achyut nodded his head. He came to her room with Mrinal. As soon as the doors were closed, Mrinal hugged him like a child, while he stood stunned.
To be continued
After coming into his room with Achyut, Mrinal directly clung to his chest, while Achyut stood there numbly. His hands were down by his sides.
Mrinal tightened her grip on Achyut and looked up at him lovingly.
Achyut looked down at her. There was a significant height difference between them; Mrinal barely reached his chest. She blinked repeatedly and said in her innocent voice, "Mom said I have to hug you tightly. And...and..."
She held his hand and almost dragged him to the bed, climbing onto it while managing her heavy lehenga. Then, she cupped Achyut's face in her hands and kissed his forehead.
"Did Mom say this too?" Achyut asked, making a face.
"Yes," Mrinal nodded happily and, the next moment, kissed Achyut's cheek.
"Did Mom say this too...?" Achyut asked teasingly.
"No!"
"Then...?"
"Now something of mine too, won't it, dear husband," Mrinal said, giggling, and tumbled onto the bed, hiding her face in her hands. She started blushing.
Achyut felt his head getting heavy, and something felt wrong. The next moment, he rushed towards the bathroom.
Mrinal, blushing coyly, lifted her face, but finding Achyut gone, she exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, where did he go...?"
Suddenly, she heard a strange sound from the bathroom. Panicked, she got off the bed and, banging on the bathroom door, asked, "What happened, Achyut? Are you alright?"
"Y-yes!... I'm fine. You call Vigyatha once," Achyut's muffled voice came from inside.
"Why, what do you need her for? Tell me. I am your wife," Mrinal said, raising her eyebrows.
"Please!!!!!!!!!!!! Mrinal."
"Okay! Okay!" she muttered, opened the room door, and stepped out.
"Vigyatha, Achyut is calling you inside," Mrinal said with a pout and went back into the room.
Vigyatha paused for a few seconds, thinking, but as an idea struck her, she picked up her purse and hurried inside.
"Sir! Sir!... Are you alright? Sir, open the door," Vigyatha said, anxiously banging on the closed bathroom door. If she could, she would have broken the door down.
"Yes, he's fine," Mrinal said before Achyut could reply, sprawled on the bed.
Vigyatha glared at Mrinal. The next moment, the door opened, and a hand came out. Vigyatha placed a small medicine box from her purse on that hand. The door closed again.
"You touched Sir...?" Vigyatha, furious, stood over Mrinal.
"Why should I tell you? And it's a personal matter between us husband and wife."
"Are you crazy, Mrinal? Do you know he's allergic to any female touch? He starts vomiting." As Vigyatha said this, the realization dawned on Mrinal. She quickly sat up.
"It... it slipped my mind. I am sorry... Achyut!... Achyut. Are you... are you alright? Call the doctor, stupid girl." Mrinal suddenly snapped at Vigyatha. Her concern for Achyut was evident.
"There's no need to call the doctor. I am absolutely fine now." Opening the door, Achyut came out. Mrinal saw his flushed face; her heart sank.
"I am sorry... Mom told me, and how did it slip my mind? I am really very-very sorry Achyut," Mrinal said with a choked voice.
"It's okay, Mrinal," Achyut said with a slight smile.
"She has a brain," Vigyatha said, annoyed with Mrinal.
"She is just 20, Vigyatha. Let's forget it," Achyut said seriously upon hearing Vigyatha, who then stomped her foot and left.
After she left, Achyut looked at Mrinal, who was barely holding herself together. It was evident she was about to burst into tears.
"It's okay, Mrinal!... Shall we go home...?" he said with a faint smile.
"I am sorry, Achyut," Mrinal finally broke down in tears.
"Why are you crying? Your makeup will be ruined."
"It's waterproof," she said, sobbing.
Despite himself, Achyut couldn't help but laugh. After calming her down with great difficulty, he led her outside.
Trivik came up to Mrinal and, kissing her forehead, said, "Don't bother anyone there. Remember what Bhabhi explained."
Mrinal scrunched her nose, looked at Megha, and then made a funny face, muttering to herself.
"Mrinal's luggage has been packed in the car. You also need to leave for Delhi," Megha said to Achyut. She glanced at him and then at Mrinal.
A look of dread suddenly appeared in Trivik's eyes.
"Yes, perhaps! You are right, Mrs. Kukreja. Mrinal, let's go," Achyut agreed with Megha.
Mrinal nodded and started to walk outside, but stopped, thinking of something. She turned around and saw Megha and Trivik talking. A sly smile crept onto her lips.
"Brother! I need to tell you something."
"Yes, go ahead."
"Come here, near me. It's a whisper."
Trivik quickly came to Mrinal. Mrinal leaned close to his ear and said very softly, "Nothing, brother."
Trivik looked at her, confused. After Mrinal left, Megha came to Trivik and, pointing towards the outside, asked, "What did she say...?"
"She didn't say anything," Trivik replied calmly.
Megha angrily grabbed his collar and quickly pushed him onto the sofa, saying, "Tell me what she said right now. Otherwise, a bone or two will break right here."
Trivik, scared, said, "She really didn't say anything."
"Don't hide it from me. I saw it myself. She whispered something in your ear. She spoke ill of me, didn't she...?" Megha said, grinding her teeth.
Trivik quickly shook his head. When Megha couldn't control herself, she kicked him hard, making him fall, and stomped her foot as she went inside the room.
Trivik composed himself. He got up and sat on the floor. At this moment, his face was filled with immense frustration; frustration for both Mrinal and Megha.
When Trivik realized he was sitting on the hall floor, muttering, and all the servants standing nearby were staring at him in surprise, he shouted, "Hey, get out of here, or I'll get each one of you fired!"
As soon as Trivik spoke, all the servants vanished.
"Sister is like this, and brother-in-law's wife is also a guru. Kerosene. Even while leaving, she lit a fire. Now how do I tell Megha that she really didn't say anything?" Trivik said helplessly, holding his head.
To be continued
"Mrinal! This is your room. From today, you will stay in this room," Achyut said, showing Mrinal a room after they arrived at his mansion.
"Is this your room...?" Mrinal asked, her eyes scanning the entire room with joy.
Achyut remained silent for a moment at her question. Then, taking a deep breath, he told her, "No! This room is not mine. My room is the one next to it."
"Hmm... then why are you showing me this room? I'm not your guest, that you're showing me a separate room like this. I am your wife. Whatever your room is, from now on, that is my room too. Where you live, I will live there too, my foolish husband. 🥹" Mrinal said, laughing in her sweet voice.
"I am sorry Mrinal, but you cannot go into that room. You know, I am allergic to female touch. I cannot permit you to stay in that room even if I wanted to," Achyut said very calmly, while Mrinal's small heart was broken by his words.
"So, will we live like this our entire lives...? Will I not even be able to touch you...? I won't even be able to cuddle and sleep with you," Mrinal's voice was choked. Achyut felt bad for her, but what could he do?
"Not our entire lives, Mrinal. My treatment is ongoing. Maybe one day I will be fine...?"
"Will you definitely be fine...?" Mrinal looked at him with teary eyes.
"Yes," Achyut nodded his head. Mrinal happily started looking at the room, while Achyut thought that he had consoled her for now, but what about the future...? Perhaps he himself didn't know, because this illness had been with him since childhood. He had a problem with female touch. He would start vomiting, and it would continue until he took medicine. The only woman in this world he could touch was his mother, and nothing happened to him.
"Okay! You didn't tell me how I look in this lehenga...?" Mrinal said happily, adjusting her dupatta.
"You look very beautiful," Achyut just smiled.
"Thank you," she said shyly.
"Alright, you rest now. I also have to leave for the airport. Auntie is also arriving. Until I return, she will stay with you," Achyut said, and started to leave. But then, blocking his way, Mrinal asked, "So, when will you return...?"
"There's a conference meeting tomorrow. I'll probably be back by evening the day after tomorrow."
"Come back soon. I will be waiting for you," Mrinal said with a smile.
"Ummm!"
"Mom is coming next week, right...?"
"That's what I said."
"Okay! Now you go. Take care of yourself." Mrinal moved aside and stood at the side. Achyut nodded in agreement and walked out of the room. Vigyatha was waiting for him outside. Shriniketan also stood near him with his hands folded.
"Shriniketan! In my absence, Mrinal should not feel any shortage whatsoever. She should be well taken care of. How far have Auntie and Shridika reached...?" Achyut said, standing in front of him.
"They are just about to arrive, sir," Shriniketan replied, nodding his head.
"Sorry sir, but! Mrinal is not a child. She can take care of herself. Why trouble Shriniketan's mother and sister," Vigyatha said softly.
"I know that. But this house is new to her. That's why..." Achyut said, as Shriniketan started staring at him after hearing Vigyatha's words. Vigyatha made a face and moved to the other side.
"She doesn't like my mother and sister," Achyut said to Shriniketan, laughing softly, and patted his shoulder. Shriniketan helplessly shook his head.
By 8 o'clock, Shriniketan's mother, Kamala, and his sister, Shridika, had arrived. Mrinal mingled with them in a short while. Seeing this, Achyut felt good.
At 10 o'clock, after having dinner at home, Achyut and Vigyatha left for the airport. After they left, Mrinal sat sadly on the sofa in the hall. Both Kamala and Shridika were sitting next to her. Shridika's face had a different kind of glow. She was happily looking around the entire mansion, while Kamala, cutting an apple for Mrinal, asked her, "What happened, dear...? Why are you sad...?"
"They've left. I really wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. My wedding was today. Tell me, is this even a wedding with just papers...? It feels like a wedding house. I really wanted a grand wedding (taking a deep breath), but Achyut refused." Mrinal said sadly.
"Dear! Sir doesn't like too much fanfare. That's why he got married very simply." When Kamala offered Mrinal a piece of apple, she moved her hand aside and said, "No, I don't want to eat anything."
"Where are my phone and headphones...?" Mrinal said, searching here and there, but she couldn't find them.
Kamala hit Shridika, who was sitting next to her, on the arm, and scolding her, said, "Why are you sitting here? Go, go get dear's phone and... and what do you call it, son..." saying this, Kamala looked at Mrinal.
"Auntie! Headphones. Headphones." Mrinal said with a smile.
"Yes! Go get them," Kamala said, so Shridika got up with a pout and went into Mrinal's room.
It was around 12 o'clock at night. Mrinal was sleeping soundly, sprawled on the bed on her stomach. Kamala and Shridika were lying in the same room on the floor after making their beds, but both were awake.
"Mom! This mansion is so nice, isn't it."
"Yes, dear."
"Mom, when brother lives here, why can't we both live here forever? There are so many rooms. Every facility is available. We don't have to stand in line for hours for two buckets of water. We don't have to argue with the shopkeeper to reduce the grocery bill. Servants cook food. This is real life. This is luxury." Shridika's eyes shone differently in the dazzle of the mansion.
"Dear, what God has given us is enough. Yes, I admit there are every facilities here, but this is not ours. We have no right to it," Kamala explained to her.
"Don't sir consider brother his best friend? So can't he allow us to stay in his mansion...?"
"He would, but it's not right. We only have to stay here for two days, to take care of Mrinal. Don't dream too much, because we have no right to this mansion. Stop letting your imagination run wild and sleep peacefully," Kamala said, pulling the sheet over her mouth, while Shridika was lost in deep thought.
To be continued
It was close to two in the morning. Achyut, lying on the bed in a luxurious hotel room in Delhi, was thinking with his eyes closed.
Just then, someone knocked on the room door. Achyut opened his eyes, got up from the bed, and went to open the door. Viyatha was standing there. She had a laptop and some files in her hands and a phone pressed to her mouth. Achyut took the laptop and files from her and went inside. Viyatha brought the phone she had been holding in her mouth to her hand and said as she followed him into the room,
"Sir! I have prepared your speech. It's in this red file. And I have come to give you details of the people attending the conference meeting. Mr. Maheshwari is also coming; I just found out a little while ago."
"But wasn't he at some other party?"
"Yes! But now he has joined our party." Viyatha replied with a grimace, taking out two cans of beer from the mini-fridge there. She gave one can to Achyut and sat down on the sofa herself.
"Which side does the majority lean towards?" Achyut asked seriously, opening the file and glancing at the speech inside.
"Well! I am 99.9 percent sure that the majority is on our side. After Big Sir, this right and the future face of the party will be only yours. (sadly) If Big Sir were here, these people who are groveling so much before us now, sir, would be kneeling. With their noses rubbing the ground. (taking a deep breath) But perhaps! It was destined by Durga Ma that Big Sir would leave and you would join the party. Otherwise, think about it, you who often used to flare up at Big Sir's mention of joining politics, are now doing the very thing you never liked, considering it his last wish." Viyatha said with a faint smile.
"Who will give the assurance for that 0.01 percent...?" Achyut said softly.
"I will talk to the other members tomorrow, sir," Viyatha said, taking a sip of her beer. Meanwhile, Achyut had once again sunk into deep thought.
Having finished her beer can, Viyatha told Achyut to sleep and left. Achyut also set aside the files and laptop and went to bed to sleep.
***
Meanwhile, in Kolkata, when the rays of the rising sun filtered through the curtains into the room, Kamala woke up. But she felt herself bound. She looked to her side and saw Mrinal sleeping comfortably, clinging to her like a child. Kamala removed her hand and leg from herself and got up to look at the other side of Mrinal, where Shridika was sleeping, but she was now off the bed.
Kamala looked at the empty bed and then, scratching her head, woke Shridika and took her out of the room.
Around ten o'clock, Mrinal came out of the room, rubbing her eyes, and sprawled on the sofa in the hall, saying in a slightly loud voice,
"Auntie! My coffee."
"Coming, dear," Kamala called out from the kitchen. Shridika, who was sitting on a stool there having breakfast, said with a pout,
"She's giving all the orders, Mom."
Kamala didn't reply to her. She came out with Mrinal's coffee and said, placing the cup on the middle table,
"What will you eat for breakfast, child...?"
"French toast," Mrinal said, sitting up straight and taking a sip of coffee.
"Which toast...?"
"French toast! French toast, Auntie. If you don't know how to make it, then never mind."
"French toast. I'm a little less educated, so I can't speak English words. There's a cook here, dear; he'll know how. I'm going to call him," Kamala said, rushing inside.
After telling the cook about the French toast, Mrinal, holding her coffee cup, started looking around the entire mansion. When Shriniketan saw Mrinal looking bored, he came up to her.
"Good morning, Ma'am!... Would you like to go somewhere after breakfast...?" Shriniketan said. Startled by his sudden appearance, Mrinal looked at him. Then, becoming normal, she made a face and said,
"I don't want to go anywhere right now. Why, do you have a problem with me being here?"
"N...No, Ma'am! It's nothing like that. I thought you were getting bored, so I was just asking if you felt like it...?" Shriniketan said nervously, trying to explain himself.
"Why are you calling me Ma'am? My name is Mrinal."
"But Ma'am!..."
"You don't value your life, do you? I told you once, don't call me Ma'am. My name is Mrinal. If you call me Ma'am one more time, by God, I'll smash your head." Mrinal said, glaring, so Shriniketan quickly nodded his head.
Mrinal, wrapped in a bathrobe and standing in front of the dressing table with her wet hair wrapped in a towel, was smiling and applying lipstick to her lips. Meanwhile, Shridika, with wide eyes, was looking at Mrinal's clothes, shoes, sandals, jewelry, and other items, which Kamala was setting up in the wardrobe one by one.
Holding a pink one-piece body-fitted dress, which was quite long, in her hands, Shridika happily exclaimed,
"Mom, look! This dress is exactly like the one the TV star wore two days ago, on that reality show we watch at eight in the evening."
"Yes, it's exactly like that," Kamala said, straining her memory.
Shridika's smile faded when she saw the price on the dress tag. It was an 8000 rupee dress, which she could hardly afford.
"Yes, but I will also get such a dress from Brother one day," Shridika said with a faint smile and put the dress back.
Mrinal, who was listening to her, turned around, took the dress in her hand, and, trying it on in the mirror, said,
"This dress... I don't like it. Do me a favor, keep it with you."
Mrinal smiled and gave the dress to Shridika. Shridika jumped with joy. Although Kamala objected, Mrinal didn't listen to them.
"Look, Mom, don't I look beautiful in this?" A little later, Shridika, wearing the same dress and standing in front of the mirror, chirped to Kamala.
Kamala just managed a faint smile. Mrinal, sitting on the bed and tying her shoelaces, looked at Shridika with a smile. She genuinely looked lovely.
"This dress doesn't look as beautiful on me as it does on you, Shri," Mrinal said, complimenting her, and Shridika jumped with joy and hugged Mrinal.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!! Mrinal."
"Okay. Now let's go, or we'll be late." Mrinal, almost dragging Shridika, took her out with her.
To be continued
Mrunal was lying on the sofa in the hall of the Kukreja house, listening to music with headphones on. Megha, Trivik, and Shridika were sitting on the opposite sofa, watching her.
"She didn't bother anyone much there, did she...?" Megha asked Shridika, pointing towards Mrunal. Shridika quickly shook her head.
"Mrunal is quite good and very friendly. That's why we met yesterday and became friends," Shridika said, smiling.
Megha rolled her eyes. She got up, went to Mrunal, and took off her headphones. Snatching Mrunal's phone, she said, "What is this nonsense! Ever since you've arrived, you've only been listening to songs. Talk to us! Tell us what everything is like there."
Mrunal sat up, annoyed, and snatched her phone back from Megha's hand, saying, "What's your problem? I won't tell you when I don't want to. I'll only tell my brother."
"Oh. Then take your phone. Come on," Megha said teasingly, tossing his phone in the air and sitting on the empty sofa in front.
Mrunal glared at Megha. The next moment, Trivik's scream echoed in the atmosphere. Mrunal didn't usually get her way with Megha, and in anger, she took it out on Trivik. The situation was still the same. Mrunal was angrily hitting Trivik with a cushion, while Megha seemed unfazed.
Seeing Mrunal angry, Shridika clung to the other end of the sofa in fear.
"Tell your wife to give me my phone back now, or it won't be good," she said, panting with anger.
"Megha, please, give it back! Why are you bringing trouble upon me? Oh God! Where have you two madwomen landed me? It would have been better to have remained an only child, unmarried. At least there would have been peace. You two have ground me down like termites," Trivik said regretfully, hitting his head.
"Apologize and take your phone," Megha said stiffly, crossing her legs.
Hearing Megha, Mrunal's temper flared. She moved to hit Trivik again, but before she could, Trivik quickly came to Megha, snatched the phone from her hand, and thrust it in front of Mrunal.
The anger vanished in an instant. She took her phone, put it in her jeans pocket, hugged Trivik, and said softly, "You're the only one, brother, who thinks of me. Otherwise, there's no one of my own in this house. Just nominal relationships."
She had emphasized the word "nominal" a bit too much. Megha's eyes narrowed. She stared at Mrunal, who was now teasing her with her eyes.
Trivik breathed a sigh of relief. But he felt a warmth from behind him. After lunch, Mrunal took her remaining essential belongings and returned to Patil Mansion with Shridika.
Around 3 PM, Achyut and Vigyatha came out of the party's office conference meeting hall. Achyut looked tired, while Vigyatha had a different kind of glow on her face. As they came out of the building, they both got into their cars and headed for the hotel.
The driver was driving peacefully. Vigyatha sat in the adjacent seat, looking happy. Meanwhile, Achyut, leaning his back against the seat in the back, looked out the glass window in complete silence. Then Vigyatha chirped, "See, Saheb! I told you earlier that the majority is with us. You were worrying unnecessarily. Big Saheb laid the foundation of this party. He was the main face of this party, and after him, this right belongs to only one person, and that is you. In the elections happening after seven months, you will contest for the position of Big Saheb and see, you will win too. People in the local areas consider Big Saheb as God because he has done a lot for his people, for their welfare. Which I have seen myself. That's why he has been the Chief Minister for the last ten years. The common people have faith in the party... I hope their faith continues. Once you become Chief Minister, my promise to Big Saheb will be fulfilled."
As she spoke, Vigyatha became emotional once again, but she quickly composed herself.
"But I don't want all this. I don't want to become CM," a voice came from Achyut's inner conscience. He did not want to become CM. It was just circumstances that had forced his tongue along with his mind. He had to do what he didn't want to do. He had hated politics from the beginning, but today, fate had brought him to the very place he had always run away from.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "If there's any flight in the evening, we'll go back to Kolkata today."
"Today...?"
"Yes, today." Seeing the sternness in Achyut's voice, Vigyatha asked no more questions and quietly took out her tablet from her purse and started booking tickets.
To be continued.
A black car stopped at the porch area of Patil Mansion around 11 PM. A guard quickly came and opened the door. Achyut walked in with big strides.
"Get all the luggage inside," Achyut told the driver. Vigatha, rubbing her sleepy eyes, followed Achyut.
Shriniketan was standing in the Shriniketan hall. He bowed his head and greeted Achyut. Achyut placed a hand on his shoulder and walked towards his room.
Vigatha, following behind him, softly said, "Why are you awake?"
"I wasn't feeling sleepy," Shriniketan said softly and took the handbag and tablet from her hands. Vigatha glared at him and went to her room. Shriniketan also came into the room behind her.
She looked at her night suit placed on the bed and then turned to look at Shriniketan, who had already locked the door from the inside. Then, taking a deep breath, she turned towards Shriniketan.
"Why is your face so long?"
"It's not."
"Niketan!!!!!!!!!!! Tell me what happened... or do you want to spend the whole night outside the room today...? My mind is already quite troubled. I'm asking you, so tell me. You've made a face as if you've come to a graveyard. Say something..." Vigatha screamed.
Seeing her anger, Shriniketan's tears welled up. Seeing this, Vigatha hit her head. She picked up her night suit from the bed and went to the bathroom.
After changing, Vigatha, holding a cup of coffee, stared at Shriniketan sitting opposite her, who was sitting dejectedly with his head bowed.
"What should I tell them? You tell me. Mom wants you to leave this job and stay with them. Serve them. Fulfill your duty as a daughter-in-law." he said in a sad tone.
"Niketan! I cannot leave this job. And please!... send your mother and sister back from here soon. I feel suffocated in their presence. I cannot stay with them," Vigatha said, placing the empty cup on the side table, and then pulling the blanket over her head, said sleepily, "Please, let's talk about the rest in the morning. I'm very tired. Turn off the lights."
"Hmm." Shriniketan's face drooped again. He turned off the lights and lay down next to Vigatha.
Meanwhile, Achyut, after changing, came out of his room and gently opened the door of the adjacent room. It was quite dark there, so he couldn't see properly. He slowly turned on the lights. First, he looked at the bed, which was completely empty.
His forehead furrowed, but not for long. Because he saw Mrinal sleeping on the floor next to the bed, curled up like a child with Kamala. Shridika, like yesterday, was sleeping on the floor below the bed.
A smile involuntarily appeared on his lips. He placed his hand behind his head, caressed his hair, turned off the lights, and returned to his room, lying on the bed.
In the morning, Mrinal, still half-asleep, got up and came to lie on the sofa outside, calling out to Kamala, "Mausi, my..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Achyut, who was sitting on the other sofa reading the newspaper, folded the newspaper and kept it aside as soon as Mrinal arrived and said softly,
"Good morning! Mrinal."
Mrinal's sleepy eyes opened wide. She sat up with a jolt and said with wide eyes,
"Uh... you were supposed to come today, weren't you...?"
"Why? Don't you like my coming early...?"
"No, it's not like that. I thought you would come tomorrow."
"Hmm! I came last night. I even came to your room to meet you. You were sleeping. It was strange that you were sleeping on the floor, between Mausi and Shridika, leaving such a big bed..." Achyut said, taking a sip of coffee.
"Well... well, I'm not used to sleeping alone," Mrinal said with disappointment, clasping her hands together.
"You didn't sleep alone at home...?"
"No."
"Then whose room did you sleep in...?" Achyut's eyebrows rose.
"My brother's."
"And your sister-in-law...?"
"I slept with them too."
"Meaning...?"
"I slept between my brother and sister-in-law in their room," Mrinal said happily.
Achyut looked at the girl sitting in front of him with strange eyes.
"How long has your brother and sister-in-law been married...?"
"It's been two years," Mrinal said, thinking.
"That's why Mrs. Kukreja was so eager to send Mrinal to her in-laws. This girl was sitting like a leech between the husband and wife. She didn't even leave them alone at night," he muttered softly.
Mrinal couldn't hear what he said. She said softly, "Did you say something...?"
"No."
"Okay."
"Go, take a bath and get ready. We'll have breakfast together." Achyut looked at her odd attire. A loose top with cut sleeves and a skirt reaching her knees. Messily tied hair.
Mrinal nodded her head and hopped away. Achyut shook his head in negation, and as he turned his neck, he saw Shriniketan and Vigatha coming towards him.
To be continued
Mrunal shook her head and skipped away. Achyut shook his head and as he turned his neck, he saw Shriniketan and Vigyatha coming from the front.
Shriniketan’s face was downcast, while Vigyatha’s face clearly showed frustration. Shriniketan was saying something, but Vigyatha was deliberately trying to ignore him as she walked.
"What happened, Vigyatha…?" Achyut asked Vigyatha, who had already sat down on the sofa.
Vigyatha looked at Achyut angrily and shook her head, saying, "Nothing happened, Sir."
"Then why are you angry…?"
"Can't I even be angry now? If you say so, I'll even stop breathing…?" Vigyatha screamed, irritated by Achyut's questions.
Seeing Vigyatha's anger, Achyut looked at Shriniketan, who was standing with his head bowed. Achyut got up from his place.
"Now you are resorting to rudeness, Vigyatha," Achyut said sternly.
Before Vigyatha could say anything, Shriniketan spoke, "Please, Sir! Don't say anything to Vigyatha."
"Why are you taking her side? When this lady is becoming more and more ill-mannered day by day."
"I am not taking her side."
"So you don't like me living in this house anymore…?" Vigyatha said with a mix of anger and surprise.
"When did I say that?"
"You just said it. Do you know what conversation we had? If you don't know, then please, don't interfere, Sir!!!!!!!!!!!!" Vigyatha’s eyes welled up. She stomped her feet and went out of the mansion.
Achyut was watching her go. Without looking at Shriniketan, he asked, "What is the matter?"
"She... she wants her mother... that Vigyatha should leave her job and stay at home to serve her."
"And what does Vigyatha want…?"
"She doesn't want to leave here."
"That's the end of the matter!!!!!!!!!!! No more discussion on this topic. I will talk to my aunt," Achyut said and immediately went out of the mansion.
Mrunal happily came out of her room, dressed well. But when she came out, she saw that Achyut had disappeared. She asked Shriniketan, who was standing there,
"Where is Achyut…?"
"He has gone out. He will be back in a while. Until then, please have breakfast," Shriniketan said. Mrunal's face, which had been glowing for some time, suddenly lost its luster upon hearing Shriniketan's words.
"I don't want to have breakfast," Mrunal said displeased and went back to her room.
Achyut, searching for Vigyatha, came up to the roof via the outer stairs. She was sitting on the swing there, just shedding tears. He came to her and placed his hand on her shoulder, saying, "So much anger is not good for your health."
"Oh, just shut up!" Vigyatha said angrily, wiping her tears ruthlessly.
Achyut knelt before her and holding both her hands, kissed her palms one by one, saying, "Calm down."
"Sir, please leave. For now, I don't want to talk to anyone. And definitely not with you. Because in anger, I have no control over my tongue. Something might come out of my mouth unintentionally that will make you feel bad later," Vigyatha said, trying to free her hands.
"I have told Shriniketan that you will stay here. You are not going anywhere. And as for my aunt, I will talk to her. Whatever you want, that will happen."
"It has never happened that what I wanted was fulfilled. Not in life, nor in marriage. Everyone has forced their decisions upon me. Everyone has imposed their own choices," she said with a faint smile.
"Forget these old matters."
"I can never forget them. Because this forced marriage will not let me forget anything. My mind gets disturbed. My veins feel like they will burst when I think about the past. The person who only did good for everyone his entire life, went away after being unjust to his own daughter. He might be a great man for everyone else, but for me, he was that person in my life who never thought about me... never thought about me." She broke down in tears once again.
Achyut closed his eyes tightly. Meanwhile, Shriniketan, hiding near the stairs, was listening to everything in a daze. Forced marriage..? Is it true..? In these six months of marriage, he found Vigyatha's behavior not just strange, but very strange towards him. He thought it might take time for her to open up. But today, when the veil lifted from his eyes, he directly saw the reality. His eyes started burning, and he himself didn't know when tears welled up. He had always understood that Vigyatha and his marriage had happened with both their consent. But today he was finding out that for Vigyatha, it was just a forced marriage.
After marrying her, the question that always lingered in his mind was whether God had truly written such good fortune for him that a girl like Vigyatha came into his life. But the truth was something else...
To be continued...
Vigyatha took a long time to calm down. In the meantime, Achyut had not left her side for a moment. And how could he leave? She had been raised with great care. She had never let even a drop of tear come to her eyes, but now she was crying. And Achyut was helpless.
Many times he wondered, what was the big boss, meaning her father, thinking when he chose Shriniketan for his daughter Vigyatha? It's not that Shriniketan was a bad boy. He was good, but why did he choose him for Vigyatha? When there were so many good matches for her. He had married his daughter to a mere person he worked with and then left. This was quite strange for him.
"Boss!!!!!!! Go from here. I'll come down in a while," Vigyatha said in a tired tone.
"Won't you call me 'bhai'?" Achyut looked at her with yearning eyes.
Turning her face, Vigyatha said sternly, "The day Dad got me married to Shriniketan against my will, from that day onwards, for me, Dad became just 'Bade Saheb' and 'bhai' became just 'Saheb'. I work at your place with my unwanted husband. In return, you people give me a salary. That's all, I don't want any more relation with you all..."
"Shriniketan is a good boy."
"What should I do with his goodness? When I don't like him."
"Then why don't you get a divorce?"
Divorce, upon hearing this word, Vigyatha looked at Achyut in surprise.
"W-what are you saying? Divorce!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Yes, divorce. Why did your tongue falter at divorce? Why are you so surprised? As if you've heard this word for the first time." Achyut said, looking at her face.
Vigyatha moistened her dry throat and started thinking. Achyut stood up from his place. "Think and tell me. Whatever decision you make, remember not to think selfishly. Shriniketan's whole life depends on your one decision. Make a decision after careful thought, not in haste. As for your decision, as an elder brother, I will fully support you."
After saying this, Achyut left; while Vigyatha, lost in deep thought, had come down. He quietly sat in the dining area.
"Beta, should I serve breakfast?" Kamala asked with a slight smile on her face.
"Yes! Mousi," Achyut said and glanced towards Mrinal's room. He muttered to himself, "How long does this girl take to bathe."
Achyut started his breakfast. With slow steps, Vigyatha silently sat on the empty chair next to him. When Kamala tried to put breakfast on her plate, she stopped her by raising her hand and said, "No, leave it. I'll take it myself."
"Hmmm." Kamala left from there.
Meanwhile, in the room, Mrinal, sitting on the bed with her knees bent, was staring hopefully at the door.
"Haven't they come yet..? First, they said we'd have breakfast together and then they left. Should I go out and see..? What's the harm in looking." Saying this, she came out of the room with a sulky face. Just then, her gaze fell on Achyut, whose back was towards her. He was having his breakfast, talking to Vigyatha. She stood there, sulking. Vigyatha's eyes casually fell on Mrinal, standing like a statue behind Achyut.
"Hey! Mrinal, why are you standing there? Come," Vigyatha said, and Achyut turned to look at her. Then, stamping her feet, she went into her room with a tearful face.
"What was that?" Vigyatha looked at Achyut in surprise; while he himself was confused. He got up from his half-eaten breakfast and went towards her room, saying, "I'm coming. You have your breakfast."
When Achyut opened the room door and came inside, Mrinal angrily threw a pillow at him and shouted, "Go from here. I don't want to talk to you."
Achyut caught the pillow and said in a flustered tone, "Hey! What happened? Why are you angry? What did I do?"
"You are having breakfast without me when you said we would have breakfast together. First, you left somewhere, and now.... you didn't even call me," Mrinal said sobbing.
Hearing Mrinal, Achyut realized what he had done. He placed the pillow he was holding on the bed and said in a soft tone, "Sorry Mrinal!... I thought you hadn't bathed yet. It's my mistake... I should have checked."
Mrinal looked at him with teary eyes, "Really..?"
"Yes," Achyut immediately nodded his head.
Mrinal wiped her tears and extended her hand. Achyut looked at her in confusion. Then, thinking for a moment, she hit her forehead and got up, "Oh, me. You can't touch me. Then how will you hold my hand."
She muttered and walked out of the room. Achyut watched her leave and sighed deeply, "Such a strange girl."
To be continued
After breakfast, Achyut and Vigyatha both left for the office. Mrinal went out with Shridika. A car stopped outside a large building, with "Kohinoor Group" written on it in large, golden letters. Achyut opened the rear door and stepped out, buttoning his blazer as he headed inside. Vigyatha followed him, carrying files and a laptop.
"Schedule a meeting with the design department a little later. I need to talk," Achyut said as they walked. Vigyatha nodded.
"Everything will be done by 11. I'm going now."
"Hmm." Achyut headed towards his cabin, while Vigyatha, laden with files and a laptop, stood before the elevator. As she reached out to press the button, a hand came forward and pressed it before hers.
She turned her head and saw Shriniketan standing beside her.
They both entered the elevator, and the doors closed. Vigyatha looked at the files in her hands, then at Shriniketan, who stood with his hands in his pant pockets.
"Why isn't he taking the files from me?" she thought.
Just then, Shriniketan looked at her. Vigyatha immediately extended the files towards him.
"What is this...?" Shriniketan looked at her, confused.
"Hold these files. My hand is hurting," Vigyatha said, her brow furrowed.
"There are only four files. They hardly have more than ten pages each. Your hand can't hurt from these. And am I made of iron that you're hurting but I can't be?" Shriniketan said in his usual tone. But even his usual tone surprised Vigyatha.
She had just opened her mouth to say something when the elevator stopped at their floor. Shriniketan left without looking at her. Stomping her feet in anger, she also headed towards the design department.
A little later, an employee was giving a presentation in the meeting hall. At that time, the room was plunged into darkness. The light from the projector fell on the screen, displaying jewelry designs one after another. Achyut sat in a chair, watching them intently and listening to the employee.
As the presentation ended, the room lights were turned on. Achyut stood up and said to everyone, "These designs are good, but they are quite similar to the previous designs. Don't you think we should launch something different and completely out-of-the-box in the market?"
"But sir! Our sales are high because customers prefer to buy these jewelry designs," said an employee. Achyut agreed with him, saying, "Yes, I understand your point. But! Humans are quite strange. They get bored of similar things quickly. Therefore, this vending season! We will launch some different jewelry designs in the market. Okay, so you all have ten days. Because after ten days, the designs will be finalized and sent to the workshop for making. Hope this work gets done quickly."
"Okay sir," said the head of the design department.
Achyut left and went to his cabin. Just then, Vigyatha came in, opening the cabin door.
"Sir! There's a meeting at three o'clock with all the party's MLAs."
"And Vigyatha, you're telling me this now...?"
"Sorry! It slipped my mind. After the senior sir, you are the new face of the party, so you need to strengthen your relationship with them."
"Okay! Okay! I understand," Achyut said reluctantly.
In the evening, Achyut, Vigyatha, and Shriniketan returned home together. Mrinal was sitting on the sofa in the hall, sulking and shaking her leg.
"What happened, Mrinal, why are you sitting like that?" Achyut asked.
"Auntie and Shridika have gone home. I'm not feeling good here," Mrinal said tearfully.
"What! They both left. Thank goodness! At least now I can breathe freely," Vigyatha said with a sigh of relief and went to her room, while Shriniketan watched her go. It was hard to tell what was going on in his mind at that moment.
"Shriniketan!!!!!!! She says anything. Don't mind it too much," Achyut said, putting a hand on his shoulder. Shriniketan gave a weak smile and left.
Achyut sat there. Mrinal said, pouting, "You know, I felt like crying when they left. (Smiling) But Auntie said she'll come to see me soon."
"You cried. That's why your eyes are red."
"Really? Mrinal put her hand on her face. "Are my eyes completely red? But what shade of red...? I mean! Strawberry red, tomato red, apple red...?"
Achyut scratched his head. "Red is different?"
"Of course, it is. Honestly, you..." Achyut said. "Tell me, please...?"
"Not really red. Just a slight hint. Anyway! Forget all this and tell me, what are your future plans..? I mean, what do you want to do? What do you want to become...?" To Achyut's question, without a second thought, Mrinal shyly blurted out, "My future plans are just family planning. I've become a wife, now I want to become a mommy to our little ones."
Achyut, who was drinking water, spurted all the water out of his mouth like a fountain upon hearing Mrinal's words. Some drops fell on Mrinal's face, which she wiped away with a grimace.
To be continued
Mrunal said with a smile, "My future plans are just family planning. I've become a wife, now I want to be the mother of our little ones."
Achyut was drinking water. Upon hearing Mrunal's words, all the water in his mouth spurted out like a fountain. Some drops fell on Mrunal's face, which she wiped away with a grimace.
"Wh-what did you say...?" Achyut was stunned.
"That my future plans are family planning and..."
"Enough, Mrunal! Enough!!! You might have misunderstood. By future plans, I meant what you want to become. What your aim is. I mean your studies. Have you enrolled somewhere...?" Achyut interrupted Mrunal's talk, feeling a little uncomfortable.
"No! I don't want to study," she said softly, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger.
"What did you say...?" She had said it so softly that Achyut couldn't hear her properly.
"I don't want to study. I don't like studying. I barely managed to study until 12th grade. My head starts to hurt when I study and it puts a lot of pressure on me," Mrunal said with a pout.
"So what do you like to do...?"
"I like to sleep, eat, watch TV, and listening to songs is my favorite thing," Mrunal chirped.
Hearing Mrunal, Achyut couldn't help but smile.
"Eating, drinking, and sleeping. Do you like anything else besides that...?"
"Yes."
"What...?"
"Drawing. I make drawings in my free time."
"Thank goodness you like something. Besides eating, drinking, and sleeping," he muttered softly.
"Did you say something...?"
"No! Well, I was thinking of getting you admitted to college."
"No! No!! I won't go to college. I don't want to study," Mrunal said, shaking her head.
"Mrunal! If you want to be independent, you have to study."
"So who said I want to be independent? I want to be completely dependent on you. I just want to be a good wife and a good mother. That's the only goal of my life," Mrunal said, and to avoid Achyut's point, she got up from the sofa and sashayed into her room.
"In an era of becoming independent, she wants to be dependent. It's quite strange, and even stranger are her words. But I'll have to convince her. It's better than staying at home, she'll at least have something useful for the future if she studies. I'll wait until Mom arrives," Achyut thought to himself and went to his room.
It was nighttime. Vigyatha was leaning against the headboard of the bed, her fingers moving across the laptop keyboard. Shri Niketan slowly entered the room, closed the door, and stood by the open wardrobe.
"Niketan, get me a cup of coffee," she said without looking at him.
"You get it yourself. I'm busy," Shri Niketan replied, taking his bag out of the wardrobe and putting clothes in it.
Upon hearing him, Vigyatha's hands stopped abruptly. She put the laptop aside, turned her full attention to Shri Niketan, and said in surprise, "In what tone are you talking to me? I've been observing you since morning. There's a limit to overlooking things. And... and these clothes. Where are you going...? Niketan, answer me. Can't you hear me?"
"What is the limit to overlooking...? You got angry when I spoke to you like this for just one day. But what about what you've been doing to me for the last six months...? I've also been overlooking for the past six months. I thought you'd understand on your own, but... anyway! Why am I banging my head? You never see or hear anything anyway. And I'm going home. The home that is mine. Where my mother and my sister live. The only support they have is me," Shri Niketan said in his usual manner while putting clothes and zipping his bag.
This statement shocked her even more.
"Why didn't you ask me...?"
"Vigyatha! Some decisions can be mine too. I can make decisions too."
"Oh!!! Then listen to this very carefully. I'm not going anywhere. Definitely not to that Chole!!!" Vigyatha said through clenched teeth.
"Then who told you to go? I'm going alone."
Vigyatha's tongue seemed to stick to the roof of her mouth upon hearing him. She was both surprised and inwardly troubled by Shri Niketan's changed demeanor. Shri Niketan took a deep breath and began packing the rest of his belongings, while Vigyatha stood like a statue watching him pack.
It was one in the morning, and in her room, Mrunal sat with her knees bent, looking sad. Her eyes were slightly moist. She was never used to sleeping alone. She couldn't sleep unless she cuddled someone. She had tried hard to sleep, but sleep wouldn't come.
Finally, she got up and came out of her room. It was dark, so her foot got caught in the carpet, and she fell face first. A loud scream echoed in the quiet atmosphere.
To be continued...
Let's move towards the story---
Mrunal's face had turned completely red from crying. Vignyatha, sitting in front of her, was applying a bandage to the slight injury on her forehead. Meanwhile, Shriniketan stood near the bed, holding a glass.
When Mrunal lifted her gaze, she saw Achyut standing near the door with his arms crossed, and she started sobbing again, lowering her head.
Seeing her cry so much, Vignyatha closed the lid of the first-aid box and, tucking her loose hair behind her, said, "You aren't that badly hurt. It will heal in a day or two. Stop crying now."
"B-but there was blood," Mrunal said.
"Rivers must be flowing with that much blood! It's a small injury, and the fuss! Uff!" Vignyatha exclaimed irritably, and Mrunal shrank back, tucking herself into a ball. Her sobbing continued.
Shriniketan looked at the insensitive girl, shook his head, and, holding a glass of water towards Mrunal, said, "Mrunal, drink some water. You'll feel better."
"No, I don't want to drink," she said, shaking her head.
"Mrunal, drink a little," Achyut, who had been standing quietly, said as Shriniketan spoke. Mrunal took the glass without saying anything and emptied it in one gulp.
"Were you crazy? Instead of sleeping at this hour, you went out for a stroll in the dark. You've hurt yourself for no reason," Vignyatha said with a grimace. Mrunal, keeping her head down, replied, "I don't sleep alone. I'm scared of being alone. That's why I came out. I don't know how I fell and hit my head on the table."
"It's alright. Now you rest," Vignyatha yawned and started to leave. Mrunal looked at her with teary eyes. Then she looked at Achyut, who was watching her dejected face.
"Vignyatha! You sleep with Mrunal tonight," Achyut interrupted her. Vignyatha quickly replied, "I'll sleep in my room."
"Just for tonight. I'll see to it tomorrow," Achyut said pleadingly. Reluctantly, Vignyatha had to stay.
Shriniketan, telling Mrunal to take care of herself, went to his room. Achyut came near the bed and, adjusting her pillow, said, "Tomorrow! Get your belongings moved to my room."
Achyut's words made Mrunal happy, but lines of worry appeared on Vignyatha's face.
"But Sir, you..."
"It's okay, Vignyatha! I'll manage. Now, you both rest," Achyut smiled slightly at Mrunal and left.
"Yessssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From tomorrow, I'll be staying in Achyut's room!" Mrunal chirped with joy. She had forgotten the pain of the injury she had just sustained.
Vignyatha stared at her. She couldn't say anything to her, so she thought to herself, "Has this Sir gone mad? He knows his health condition, yet... Anyway, what can I do now? If he falls sick later, I won't help."
In the morning, everyone was having breakfast comfortably at the dining table. Then Vignyatha said, "Sir! You have a dinner party with some people at the mansion tonight."
"What... at home? But why at home?" Achyut seemed a bit surprised.
"The elder Sir also used to hold dinner meetings at home. This will build a strong relationship with the party members, which will be better for us in the future."
"Hmm!" Achyut said and left his breakfast half-eaten, going to his room.
Vignyatha went to give the cook the list of dishes to be prepared for the night. After some time, Achyut, Vignyatha, and Shriniketan all left for the office.
After they left, Mrunal, with the help of a servant, moved all her belongings to Achyut's room. As she was arranging her cosmetic products on the dressing table, she looked at her reflection in the mirror and said happily, "It's such a nice room. Achyut and I will be staying in this room together from now on. How wonderful everything will be."
"I didn't say anything there, but before arranging the dinner meeting tonight, you should have at least consulted me once, Vignyatha," Achyut said seriously to Vignyatha, who was standing there, from his cabin.
"What is there to ask? The elder Sir also did this, and I used to arrange everything, Sir," Vignyatha said casually.
"I don't care what happened before. If you had to have a dinner meeting, you should have held it at a hotel, not at home. That is our private space, where, in my opinion, outsiders should not interfere. And definitely not now, because you and Mrunal are both there. Your and Mrunal's safety is my first priority," Achyut said. Vignyatha replied naively, "We are safe in our home, Sir. The dinner is at 8 PM tonight."
Achyut took a deep breath and nodded. Vignyatha left. Meanwhile, Achyut was lost in deep thought.
To be continued
Achyut was talking with four or five people in the garden of Patil Mansion. The servants had finished serving dinner. They were also having drinks with dinner.
Shriniketan stood there holding a glass of juice. When Achyut gestured for him to sit beside him, he shook his head in the negative, as if to say, "I'm fine here." Achyut didn't press him further.
Mr. Sahni, who was around Achyut's age, said, placing his glass of alcohol on the table, "Time flew by as we were talking. By the way, Saheb! You're a very good person now. Seeing you reminds me of Bade Saheb. He had very good relations with my father."
Achyut smiled and replied, "Yes, I know Mr. Sahni. Thank you."
"Hmm! I need to go to the washroom," Mr. Sahni said, getting up with shaky steps.
"Come this way, sir," Shriniketan gestured for him to walk and followed him.
When Mrinal came out of her room, she saw Vidhyatha working on her laptop in the hall. She went up to her and said plaintively, "Listen, Vidhyatha, when will Achyut come inside? It's 9 o'clock at night. Don't these people have homes to go to?"
"Mrinal, stop torturing my brain. This is the tenth time you've asked me the same question. I told you, it will take some more time. Saheb will be free by 10 o'clock," Vidhyatha said irritably.
"I'll just go and see them," Mrinal said with a drooping face.
"He told you not to go out. He told you himself, didn't he?"
"I'm not going outside. I'll just hide behind the curtains and see. Hmm."
"Hmm! Please don't go out. They have been drinking, and Saheb won't tolerate that. Alright?" Vidhyatha explained. Mrinal nodded her head like an obedient child. She quickly got up, went through the gallery to the back, moved aside the curtain, and saw Achyut sitting in the garden through the glass wall, talking to everyone. Seeing this, she smiled to herself.
But then Mrinal felt someone's presence near her. As she turned, she was so startled to see an unknown person in front of her that she pressed herself against the glass wall in fear.
"Mr. Sahni!" he said, looking Mrinal up and down while drunk, "Who are you, girl?"
"I... I... that..." Mrinal stammered, no words coming out of her mouth due to fear.
Seeing her stammer, a crooked smile appeared on Mr. Sahni's lips. He looked at Achyut through the glass wall, then moved closer to Mrinal and said, "I really like Mr. Patil's style. I didn't know he had a liking for girls too."
"G... Get... Get away!!!!!!!!!!!" Mrinal's face turned completely pale.
Mr. Sahni came near her, cupped her face in his hands, and leaned in to kiss her, but Mrinal pushed Mr. Sahni away and started to leave. However, Mr. Sahni, who had fallen on the floor, grabbed her foot, and with that, Mrinal fell face-first onto the floor.
"You cheap prostitute. You stop!" Mr. Sahni tried to get up. Meanwhile, Mrinal was stunned, hearing the word 'prostitute' used for herself. But a voice buried in her mind for years, a scene from her past, suddenly became fresh.
One night, she saw herself sitting in the hall of her house, waiting for her parents to return. After a while, a car stopped outside, and a man came in, drunk. He still had a bottle of alcohol in his hand.
"Papa," seven-year-old Mrinal ran to her father and, holding his hand, asked, "Papa, where is Mom?"
"Mrinal, my child." Mrinal's father picked her up in his lap. The strong smell of alcohol was unbearable for Mrinal, so she turned her face away. As her father petted her, he said, "My child, you are my life. You are my own blood. My little princess."
"Papa
When Achyut and Shriniketan came inside, they were both stunned by the scene. Mr. Sahni lay to one side. Mrinal, meanwhile, was unconscious in Vigyata’s arms.
“B… brother, Mrinal isn’t opening her eyes,” Vigyata’s voice choked.
Achyut quickly went to her side, lifted Mrinal into his arms, and headed straight for his room. Vigyata and Shriniketan followed close behind him.
Achyut gently laid her on the bed and, rubbing her hand, said in a panicked tone, “Call the doctor right now.”
“Yes! Yes!” Vigyata immediately ran out.
“Bring the CCTV footage from the bank side immediately,” Achyut told Shriniketan, who also left the room.
After two minutes, Achyut started to feel uneasy. He left Mrinal there and quickly went to the bathroom.
A little later, the doctor was examining Mrinal, and Achyut was sitting on the sofa. The CCTV footage was playing on the tablet in his hand, showing the incident that had just occurred. Achyut’s face had turned dark with anger. He tightly shut his eyes and began to take deep breaths.
“She has fainted due to shock. Everything else is fine. I have given her an injection. If she sleeps peacefully, she will be fine by morning,” the doctor said, looking at Achyut, who just nodded his head.
The doctor left. Now, Achyut, Vigyata, and Shriniketan sat in the room in complete silence, while Mrinal was completely unconscious.
Achyut placed his hand on his neck, massaging it, and said in his deep voice, “Shriniketan! You will go out for a while.”
“Yes, sir!” Shriniketan agreed, glanced at Vigyata, and left.
Achyut looked at Vigyata sternly. Vigyata lowered her head and said in a sad voice, “I didn’t know, sir, that the situation would escalate this much. I had told Mrinal not to go out. But she didn’t listen to me and…”
“It is not Mrinal’s fault. The entire fault lies with you, Vigyata. If anything had happened to Mrinal today, I wouldn’t have spared you. (He stood up and came right in front of her) You know, I can go to any extent for this girl. ANY!!!!!!!! EXTENT!!!!!!!!. If I can give my life, I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to take one. From now on!!!!!!!! From now on, if you invite anyone home, there will be no one worse than me.” Achyut said gravely, and Vigyata just nodded her head.
Achyut started to leave, but then he paused, thinking of something, and without looking at Vigyata, said, “If a mistake has been made, there must be a punishment. Right, my dear sister? Prepare to go to your in-laws’ as soon as Mom arrives.”
Achyut had left the room. Vigyata stood there, stunned. Achyut came out and went to the back, where Mr. Sahni lay unconscious on a chair. Achyut’s veins bulged with anger. His blood was boiling.
He approached him, grabbed him by his collar, dragged him to the swimming pool, and holding his neck from behind, plunged him directly into the water.
As the water hit him, Mr. Sahni regained consciousness. He tried to get out of the water, but Achyut’s grip on his neck was so strong that he couldn’t escape. He could do nothing but flail his limbs. Achyut’s anger only grew.
After about two minutes, when Mr. Sahni’s movements stopped, only then did Achyut release him, and he released him in such a way that his entire body was now submerged in the water.
Achyut washed his hands in the water, splashed some water around himself, and got up.
“My Mrinal is very delicate. She gets scared. Now, whenever she saw your face, she would remember today’s incident. And I cannot see her in pain. My life is in her. Therefore, your departure was necessary. May God grant peace to your soul,” Achyut said, glancing at the calm water, and came back inside.
Shriniketan met him there.
“Take her to the hospital after a while. And the cause of death in the post-mortem report should be drowning. Tell her father that he was so drunk that he fell into the swimming pool. When he was found much later, he had already left this world.”
“Yes, sir! It will be so.”
Achyut went into his room, where Mrinal was sleeping. Vigyata had already left. Achyut gently closed the room door and went into the bathroom, standing under the shower.
Ten minutes later, he came into the room wearing a bathrobe and stood in front of the mirror. Water dripping from his wet hair fell onto his face. His dark, deep eyes peered into his own eyes through the mirror.
“Mom! I want to get married.”
“Yes, I’ve been telling you for a long time. Get married. Get married. It’s only you who doesn’t listen to me. Anyway, forget it. Has my son found a girl he likes…?”
“Yes!”
“Who is she, what is she like? Her family? Tell me something.”
“Mrinal!!!!!!!! I want Mrinal.”
“What nonsense are you talking, Achyut? Mrinal? Has your brain gone to graze in the fields? She’s a child. Have you seen her age and yours? When she was born, you were nine years old.”
“I don’t care, Mom. I just want to marry her. I want her, Mom! Because I want her.”
“Uff! Achyut… why don’t you understand this? You will find girls better than her. Girls your age.”
“There can be no girl better than her for me. I only want that one better girl. Just that one.”
“I love you very much, Mrinal!!!!!!!! So much.” Suddenly, a slight smile appeared on Achyut’s lips.
To be continued.
Sweat droplets suddenly appeared on Mrinal's face as she slept on the bed. As the effect of the injection wore off, everything became fresh in her mind. And that line, which made her the most restless: "You are a two-rupee prostitute. Wait, you."
She woke up from sleep, screaming, and sat up. Achyut, who was sleeping on the sofa, also woke up with a start. Tears welled up in Mrinal's eyes. She shrank into herself, scared.
"Achyut!!!!!!!! What happened?" Achyut came to her, but stood at a distance.
Mrinal trembled and spoke, her voice broken: "He…he called me…he called me a prostitute. I…I'm not a prostitute. I'm not. Brother!!!!!!!! I want to go to my brother. Please, let me go to my brother."
Achyut's jaws clenched in anger as he heard the word 'prostitute' from Mrinal's lips.
"Mrinal!!!!!!!! Did he call you a prostitute…?"
"Yes…" Mrinal shook her head, sobbing.
Achyut controlled himself with great difficulty. His desire was to bring Mr. Sahni back to life and kill him again and again for speaking such words about his beloved wife.
"Shh! Shh, completely. Calm down. Just consider it a bad dream and forget it," Achyut said, handing Mrinal a glass of water. Mrinal took the glass with shaking hands and began to drink water. She was trembling with fear.
"I didn't go out, Achyut! I don't know where that man came from…"
"It's okay. I know you didn't do anything wrong, and whoever did will be punished. Mr. and Mrs. Kukreja are coming to meet you. Let's get up, get ready, and go out. I'm waiting for you," Achyut said. Mrinal massaged her eyes and got up from the bed, heading to the bathroom. As soon as she left, Achyut sat on the bed and stared intently at the closed bathroom door. He began to hear the sound of water dripping.
Some time later, Mrinal stood in front of the mirror in a bathrobe, while Vijaya stood behind her, drying her hair with a dryer.
"Mrinal! Are you okay…?"
"Yes."
"Please don't mention what happened yesterday to your brother…"
Mrinal looked at Vijaya questioningly, and Vijaya continued, "I don't have any bad intentions. I just want your brother not to be troubled because of you."
Mrinal nodded.
"Your hair is dry. Do you need any more help?" Vijaya asked, turning off the dryer and putting it in the dresser drawer.
"No, I'll do it myself," Mrinal said with a slight smile.
Vijaya left, and Mrinal stood in front of the wardrobe, deciding on a dress. Just then, the room door opened and closed. Mrinal turned around and saw Achyut removing his phone from the charging point. He looked at Mrinal, who had turned her face away. He smiled slightly.
Mrinal picked out a sky-blue dress, and as she turned to close the wardrobe, her foot slipped on the water on the floor. Before she fell, Achyut caught her in his arms.
Seeing herself in Achyut's arms, a smile floated on Mrinal's lips. Achyut made a face and said, "Do you fall all the time?"
"My foot slipped. I didn't fall on purpose. But it's good, isn't it? You caught me in your arms!!!!!!" Mrinal said, blushing. Now that she seemed normal, Achyut felt relieved.
He stood her up properly and patted her cheek, saying, "Be careful."
"But if I take care of myself, then what will be your job?" Mrinal said, tearing off the tag from the dress.
"That's also true," he said with a gentle laugh and moved towards the door. But then, as if he remembered something, he stopped and turned back to look at Mrinal in surprise. Mrinal also looked at Achyut in surprise.
They both exclaimed simultaneously, "What!!!!!!!!"
Achyut quickly came to Mrinal and held her hand, touching his cheek, neck, and hands. He didn't feel like vomiting, unlike before when he had touched her twice.
Achyut was perplexed, holding Mrinal's face in his hands and kissing her forehead repeatedly. But still, he didn't feel like vomiting.
"Are you okay, Achyut? You can touch me. Look, I'm not vomiting, am I?" Mrinal said happily.
Achyut told her he would be back in a minute and rushed out of the room. He approached Vijaya, where a servant was standing. He stretched out his hand and said, "Touch my hand."
"Mr.!!!!!!" Both Vijaya and the servant looked at Achyut in surprise.
To be continued...
Achyut quickly left the room, saying he'd be back in a minute. A maid stood near Viyatha. He went to her, extended his hand, and said to the maid, "Touch my hand."
"Sir!!!!!!" Both Viyatha and the maid looked at Achyut in utter shock.
Achyut apologized, gently took the maid's hand, and held it for a few moments. Then, what always happened, happened. Without delay, he went straight to the bathroom. Meanwhile, Viyatha and the maid stood there with a mixture of shock and confusion.
Splashing water on his face, Achyut rested both his hands on the sink and looked at himself in the mirror, saying, "I didn't vomit when I touched Mrunal just now, but I did when that girl (the maid) touched me. Mom and Viyatha’s touch doesn't cause a problem, but Mrunal...? Even though I vomited the two times I touched her before, it didn't happen now. In fact, I touched her leisurely. What is happening…?" Achyut himself was deeply confused.
A little later, everyone was seen having breakfast at the dining table. Mrunal looked quite happy sitting between her brother and sister-in-law, eating her breakfast and talking to them. Achyut was still quite confused, so he sat silently. Viyatha and Sriniketan were also silent.
"Are you enjoying your time here, child...?" Trivik asked Mrunal, taking a sip of juice. With a big smile and sparkling eyes, she quickly nodded in affirmation.
"Very much!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm really enjoying my time here, brother."
"How did you get this injury on your head…?" Megha looked at everyone present with suspicious eyes. This was the first thing she had noticed upon entering Patil Mansion, undoubtedly! No matter how much Mrunal had tried to hide the injury on her forehead with her hair, nothing could hide from Megha's sharp gaze.
"I came out to drink water at night, and it was very dark here. My foot got caught in the carpet, and I fell on the floor. During this, the corner of the middle table hit my head." Mrunal explained everything with a smile, but only as much as she felt was enough. Because a short while ago, Viyatha had scared her by saying that if she told everything, her brother and sister-in-law would take her away from here, and she didn't want to leave. Not at any cost, except from Achyut…
After breakfast, Trivik and Megha left. Achyut asked Viyatha to stay at home with Mrunal today, and he himself left for Kohinoor with Sriniketan.
He had an appointment with the doctor in the afternoon, so he went straight to the hospital from the office. When he explained his confusion to the doctor, the doctor remained silent for a few moments.
"I have been telling you from the beginning that there is something to this problem, but it is also partly psychological. When you touch someone with the thought in your mind that you will feel sick, it happens. Because your mind accepts this. And what we think, starts happening to us. Because we have accepted it. The two times you touched your wife, you had the thought of falling sick in your mind, and as you just mentioned, today when you touched her, you didn't vomit, but you did when the servant touched you. Which clearly means that when you touched your wife, you didn't have this thought in your mind at that time, but when you touched the servant, you did." The doctor finished speaking and fell silent, while Achyut now understood some parts of it, and some went over his head.
"Which cosmetic products does your wife use in her daily life…?" the doctor asked. Achyut took out a photo from his phone and showed it to the doctor, which he had taken that morning of Mrunal's cosmetic products placed on the dressing table. The doctor looked at them closely and handing the phone back to Achyut, said, "If possible, please get these cosmetic products tested in a lab. Perhaps! You are allergic to the smell of some of these cosmetic products…?"
"Okay! Doctor. I will send these cosmetic products for testing in the lab today itself," Achyut said as he got up.
Leaving from there, he returned to his office and got busy with his work. When he returned home in the evening, as always, he found Mrunal sitting on the sofa in the hall. She was scrolling through her phone. Achyut slowly approached her and looked at her phone screen, where he saw a fair-skinned man, wearing only shorts. Seeing this, Achyut's eyebrows furrowed.
What did it mean that his wife was ogling some strange man?
If Achyut had his way, he would break the phone with just a glance. He snatched the phone from her hands. Mrunal sat up startled. But upon seeing Achyut in front of her, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Phew! It was you, and I was completely scared."
"What was all this going on…?" Achyut asked, staring at her.
"What, what was going on…?" Mrunal looked at him confused, wondering why he was staring at her. Without thinking, he leaned towards her and captured Mrunal's lips with his own.
To be continued
"What, what was happening..?" Mrinal asked, confused, staring at him, who was staring at her for some reason. She leaned forward without thinking and directly trapped Mrinal's lips with his.
Mrinal was stunned. Their lips were joined, but there was no movement. After four seconds, their lips parted. Mrinal's eyes widened in amazement, staring at Achyut.
She wasn't even in a state to understand what had suddenly happened between them. Achyut pressed her cheek between his finger and thumb and sternly said, "Even though you're a married girl, you're still looking at a stranger and burning your eyes."
As he spoke, Mrinal's phone was in front of him, and that same man was still on it. Mrinal glanced at her phone screen and then at Achyut, and the next moment, she burst out laughing. She rolled around on the sofa, while Achyut stood there, his eyebrows raised, his arms crossed over his chest.
"I... I was looking at his shorts," she said, still laughing, holding her stomach.
"Ew! Aren't you ashamed to be looking at that?"
"Ashamed of what? I was thinking of buying it."
"What?! That man..?"
"His shorts, which he was wearing."
Achyut was now puzzled by Mrinal's words. He glanced back at her phone screen and saw that it was a shopping app. This girl was browsing Amazon.
Achyut forced a smile, "So you were looking for shopping..?"
"Yes!!!!!!!!!" Mrinal exclaimed, shaking her head.
As Achyut realized his folly, he handed her phone back to her and went to his room. Mrinal watched him go with a smile, then shook her head and looked back at her phone. But now her mind wasn't on her phone. She turned it off, put it in her jeans pocket, and started thinking about Achyut's actions. Her cheeks flushed. Involuntarily, her hand went to her cheek.
"My Chunnu-Munnu, wait a little longer," Mrinal said, lost in her sweet dreams, where she imagined herself in a red chiffon saree and her Chunnu-Munnu holding her pallu. Just thinking about it made her heart leap with joy.
Just then, she heard the sound of a car stopping outside. Mrinal came out of her reverie, got up from the sofa, and stood by the door, looking outside. Suddenly, she exclaimed, "Mom!" and ran outside, delighted.
Chanchal Patil, Achyut's mother, was standing outside, wearing a light-colored saree and smiling. Mrinal hugged her tightly.
"Mom! How are you..?"
"I'm fine. How about you?" Chanchal Patil patted her head. When she pushed Mrinal's hair back, she said, "Oh, this bruise..?"
Mrinal pouted, "No! I'm not telling anyone now. I'm bored telling the same story to everyone, Mom. You can ask Achyut."
"Okay! Okay!" Chanchal Patil smiled softly. Then she looked towards the car and extended her hand, "Jaks, come, beta."
Mrinal looked curiously at the car, where Jaks Patil, Achyut's younger brother, who was about 18 years old, was standing, shivering, and placed his hand in Chanchal Patil's. With his bag on his back, he came out of the car and adjusted his glasses.
Mrinal smiled and stretched out her hand to Jaks, but he ignored her. This made Mrinal's face fall.
Chanchal and Jaks went inside, with Mrinal following behind, her face twisted.
After dinner, Achyut sat with Chanchal for a while, then went to his room. As he passed by the garden, he saw Jaks sitting on the stairs.
He took a deep breath and sat down beside him.
"Why are you sitting here..?"
"Dad promised me that as soon as I finished school, he would come to pick me up from the hostel. But he didn't keep his promise," Jaks said, emotional.
"Mom went, didn't she? Now Mom is both Mom and Dad," Achyut said, putting his arm around Jaks' shoulders.
"But I never got to spend time with him. You know how small I was when I was sent to London for studies. He never even came to meet me. I didn't even see him in his final days," Jaks said, burying his face in his knees and sobbing like a child.
Achyut's eyes welled up with tears. He hugged his younger brother tightly. He stroked his back and said, "Dad wasn't there much. I know I can't make up for his absence, but as your big brother, I'll stand by you every step of the way. Stop crying now. Be strong. Hmm.."
Jaks composed himself with difficulty and wiped away his tears. The two brothers got up and went inside. Jaks headed to his room, while Achyut watched him until he disappeared from sight.
When Achyut entered his room, he found Mrinal sleeping on the bed, her face down, with a pillow clutched in her arms as if it were a person.
He shook his head and went to the wardrobe, took out a loose T-shirt, because Mrinal was still in the same short top and tight jeans.
To be continued.
Shaking his head, he walked to the wardrobe and pulled out a loose t-shirt. Mrinal was still in that short top and tight jeans.
He came to the bed and called out to Mrinal, "Mrinal! Wake up once. Change your clothes first, then you can sleep."
"No! Please let me sleep," she mumbled sleepily.
"Mrinal, wake up for a bit. You'll be restless all night. You won't be able to sleep properly."
Mrinal reluctantly sat up. Achyut placed the t-shirt next to her and turned away. Mrinal took off her top, put on the t-shirt, and threw the top on the floor.
She placed her hand on the button of her jeans and started looking for something around. She stood up, took out a kaftaan from the wardrobe, wore it, and went back to bed, falling asleep. Achyut took his gaze away from the mirror, scratched his head, and started picking up Mrinal's clothes that had fallen on the floor. Then, after taking a shower, he turned off the light and lay down on the bed.
In her room, Vigyatha was packing her belongings. She clearly remembered that Achyut had told her to go to her in-laws' house after Chanchal arrived. She didn't want to, but she had to leave. While closing the zipper of her bag, she muttered softly, "Just a few days. After that, I'll make some excuse to Saheb and come back to stay here."
After packing everything, she lay down on the bed and tried to sleep. She looked at the empty bed beside her. Shriniketan had already left.
"I just don't understand. What did Papa see in Niketan that he married his only daughter to that pauper? What does he have? No house to call a home; the whole family lives in a chawl. No car; he uses buses and public transport to go anywhere. Uff! And he cries like a girl over little things. He's only somewhat decent-looking." She spoke to herself, thinking about Shriniketan. Then, taking a deep breath, she shook her head.
In the morning, everyone was having breakfast at the dining table. Achyut, drawing Mrinal and Jaksh's attention, said, "You both send me all your documents."
"Okay, brother," Jaksh said, nodding his head.
Mrinal made a face and said, "Why!!!!!!!! What will you do with them...?"
"Oh! I need to get you both admitted to college," Chanchal said.
"What...? But I don't want to study further. I told you. I can't do this studying and all," Mrinal shouted angrily.
"Behave yourself, Mrinal. And what's wrong with studying further? Anyway, I didn't ask you. I'm telling you. I've spoken about your admissions. Only document verification remains, which will be done today. It's Saturday, so you both have to go to college from Monday. That's the end of it," Achyut said sternly. Mrinal, stamping her feet in anger, got up and ran to her room.
Achyut looked at Chanchal, who shook her head and said, "I had warned you before. But at that time, you were smitten. You can't expect maturity from that child."
Hearing them, Achyut didn't say anything. After breakfast, he came to the room where Mrinal had made her eyes red from crying.
"Alright then. I'll call Mr. Kukreja," he said, putting his hands in his pant pockets.
"Why... brother...?" she said, stammering.
"So that he can take you home with him."
"Why...?"
"Because you're not listening to me...? If you don't want to listen to me, then you'll have to go home. It's your choice. If you stay away from me, you won't have to study. If you want to stay with me, then you'll have to study. I'll help you with your studies. What do you say...?" Achyut looked at her flushed face.
Mrinal, crying, picked up her phone and started scrolling on it.
After a while, several notifications popped up on Achyut's phone. He took his phone out of his blazer pocket. Mrinal had sent her documents. Seeing this, a smile appeared on his lips.
"Good girl. Now stop all this crying. We'll meet in the evening, okay?" Saying this, Achyut started to leave. Mrinal, sobbing, said, "You said you would, right? So you'll do all my work. Remember."
"Okay, I will. You just go to college for classes. Don't do anything more than that. Okay!" Achyut said, turning back. Mrinal didn't say anything. He left.
"My life is ruined. I got married so I could escape studies, but even that plan failed. I didn't even find people who don't let their daughters-in-law step out of the house after marriage. Oh, my ill fate!" she said, hitting her head.
To be continued.
It was afternoon. Mrinal came out of the room after a good sleep and found Jaksh sitting alone on the sofa watching TV. Mrinal stretched and sat down next to him.
Jaksh looked at her in surprise. Mrinal widened her eyes, snatched the remote from his hand, and said, "Why, little chick? You're acting too proud in front of me. I'm very dangerous. All the children in our colony used to be terrified of me. I used to beat them up a lot."
"So...?" Jaksh shrunk into himself. Mrinal's big eyes were indeed scaring him.
"So, my dear! Don't you dare make a peep in front of me. And yes, keep that foolish pride of yours in your jeans' back pocket because it won't stand a chance in front of me. I'll beat you up for no reason. Then you'll cry and hide behind your brother's kurta. Understood?" Mrinal said, scaring him by alternately widening and narrowing her eyes.
"What is the essence of all this...?"
"Essence of what! I've told you the whole story, and you're asking who Sita was...?" Mrinal almost lunged at him in anger.
"B-but I know who Mother Sita is. Because I have watched, heard, and read the Ramayana," Jaksh said.
"Oh, you dull-witted person! That was a saying. The essence of my words is this," she said, coming very close to his face and looking into his eyes, "If you want to live in this area, you have to follow my lead."
"I won't be living in the area. I have to live in my house," Jaksh said innocently. Mrinal stared at him and thought to herself, "He's pulling my leg."
When Mrinal couldn't understand anything, she grabbed Jaksh by the collar and shook him, saying, "You haven't understood one thing. Hey, chick! Do you have a brain or not? Or have you rented it out to London...?"
"I haven't had any surgery. My brain is with me," Jaksh said, intimidated by Mrinal.
Mrinal slapped him on the head and glared, saying, "You have a brain, but not in your head, it's in your knees."
Jaksh made a face and rubbed his head. Mrinal sat back in her place.
"By the way, I also went to London once."
"When...?"
"Two years ago. Brother and sister-in-law went on their honeymoon after their wedding, right? I went with them then," Mrinal said happily.
"That wouldn't be called a honeymoon. That was a family trip."
"No!!!!!!!!!!! It wasn't a family trip," Mrinal flatly refused.
"Only husband and wife go on a honeymoon."
"Who said only husband and wife go?"
Jaksh looked at her in astonishment. This girl was insistent on her wrong point. Jaksh thought it was best to leave. He got up and started to leave. Mrinal grabbed his hand and said, "Where are you going...? I'm thirsty. Go get some water. You listen to your sister-in-law, understood...?"
Jaksh forced a smile and looked at his sister-in-law, who was now acting like a grandmother ordering him around.
Jaksh left. Mrinal crossed her legs and sat back with a lot of attitude, puffing out her chest, as if she were a queen and had ordered her servant to work.
"Water." Jaksh placed the glass of water on the table and disappeared.
"What can I do, people are just so afraid of me..." Mrinal said, shaking her hair with her hand, and raised the glass of water to her lips.
"Mrinal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Suddenly a powerful voice fell into the ears of Mrinal, who was drinking water. Startled, she put down the glass of water and looked in the direction of the voice, panicked. Achyut had entered the hall, holding some files.
As soon as she saw Achyut, Mrinal's bossy aura vanished somewhere in Patil Mansion. She chirped, got up, and stood in front of Achyut, saying, "Are we going on a lunch date...?"
"No!"
Mrinal's face fell upon hearing Achyut's "no."
"Then what are you doing at home at this time...?"
"I came to get your college forms signed," he said, showing her the file in his hand.
"You always roam around with such trivial tasks," she said, folding her arms across her chest and sitting on the sofa with a sulky face.
"This is not a trivial task," he said, sitting on the sofa opposite her. "Jaksh!!!!!!!!!!! Jaksh, come out."
Jaksh came out of his room. "Yes, brother."
"Sign your form. Mrinal, you too." Achyut placed both files in front of Jaksh and Mrinal. Jaksh signed it quickly. Mrinal placed the pen on the file and signed it reluctantly, dropping the pen as if it had thorns.
To be continued.
Mrunal smiled as she looked at Achyut standing in front of her. He looked at himself in the mirror with strange eyes. Jaksh stood at the door, repeatedly adjusting his glasses and checking the time on the wall clock.
"Does this look good...?" Achyut turned and looked at Mrunal and Jaksh.
A white t-shirt covered by a black and red checkered shirt, with the buttons open. Blue denim jeans and sports shoes completed the look. Mrunal wore the exact same outfit. A white t-shirt, a black and red checkered shirt, blue denim jeans, and sports shoes. Achyut was being made to twin.
"They look very good, don't they? Why, Jaksh...?" Mrunal said, her eyes sparkling.
"Yes, brother," Jaksh agreed with her.
"But I've never worn anything like this before," Achyut said with a pout.
"Then why haven't you? You look so hot and handsome. Just like my hero," Mrunal said, biting her shirt collar and lowering her gaze shyly.
Achyut lightly slapped her head and said as he walked out of the room with Jaksh, "We're not getting late now... hurry up."
"Hey! Wait for me," Mrunal said, picking up her phone from the table, putting it in her back pocket, and running after them.
Vigyatha's sleep was broken by a knock on the door. She forced her eyes open, got out of bed, and went to open the door. Shridika stood there, her face contorted, holding a tray with tea and breakfast.
"Didn't I tell you last night not to wake me before nine? What is your problem, Shridika?" Vigyatha flared up in anger.
"Oh, princess of palaces! Open your eyes and look at the time. It's 9:30. Eat breakfast if you want to, otherwise... Sister-in-law! You're something else. I made this myself with my own hands. It's piping hot breakfast." Shridika was venting her frustration, but her tone suddenly softened. She had spotted Shriniketan standing behind Vigyatha just in time.
Vigyatha angrily took the breakfast tray from her hands and slammed the door shut in her face. Turning around, she immediately understood Shridika's trick upon seeing Shriniketan. Placing the tray on the bed, she sat down. Shridika's behavior was nothing new to her. When alone, she treated Vigyatha this way. If Kamala, Shriniketan, or anyone else was around, her tone would be as sweet as honey.
This was one of the main reasons Vigyatha didn't want to stay here. Taking a sip of tea, she looked at Shriniketan, who was still standing there.
"Don't you want to drink tea? Shridika won't heat it up again, and I can't do kitchen work."
"I don't drink tea in the morning. And anyway, there's only one cup of tea in the tray, which is just for you," he said flatly. Vigyatha looked at him in surprise. "Since when?"
"It's been a habit since childhood."
"It's been over six months since our marriage. I know you drink tea in the morning."
"That's the thing, Vigyatha. That's exactly it. It's been more than six months since our marriage, but the surprising thing is that you don't know your husband even a little bit. I don't drink tea for many hours after waking up. Anyway! I have an important task, I'm going out." After saying this, Shriniketan left immediately.
Meanwhile, Vigyatha was trying to understand his words.
A shiny car stopped in the parking lot of Central Mall. Jaksh got out of the car, followed by Mrunal. Achyut had been in the spotlight lately due to his prominent role in the Jan Jagriti Party. Therefore, he wore a cap and a mask to hide his face.
As the three entered the lift, Achyut instructed them, "The mall is quite big, and it's Sunday, so it will be crowded. So, both of you, take care of yourselves. If you get separated, call me. Okay?"
"Okay, brother," Jaksh nodded with a smile.
"We're not children, are we?" Mrunal pouted. "We can take care of ourselves, Achyut."
"Alright. I agree. Anything else?" To avoid arguing with her, Achyut joined his hands in front of her. Mrunal could only stare.
The lift opened on the third floor. Mrunal and Jaksh got out first, followed by Achyut. Achyut was right; the mall was quite crowded today. The movie theater was on this floor. All three bought their tickets and went inside. The entire theater was plunged into darkness. The movie had already started and was about 10 minutes in. All three found their seats. Achyut was in the middle, with Mrunal on one side and Jaksh on the other.
Mrunal leaned towards Achyut and whispered in his ear, "We need to go shopping after the movie."
"Yes, I know."
"And lunch after that."
"Okay. Anything else?"
"Yes!"
"What?"
"Everyone has popcorn, and we don't even have that. It would be so much fun if we had popcorn, sugar-free cola, and fries, along with a burger," Mrunal said, licking her lips. Achyut nodded and got up to leave. Mrunal looked at Jaksh, who was watching the movie. She scrunched up her nose. "Didn't I tell you to take my picture? Why aren't you?"
"Photos don't come out well in the dark," Jaksh replied.
"Alright, Mr. Cameraman," she said through gritted teeth and turned her attention to the screen.
To be continued
It was afternoon. Achyut was looking at Mrunal, who was sitting in front of him, eating as if she hadn't eaten for a month. Meanwhile, Jaksh, leaving his food in astonishment, was watching her.
Mrunal, putting a french fry in her mouth, pulled her plate towards herself and, resting both her hands on the table, said with difficulty,
"You two will cast an evil eye on my food. I won't give you anything from my food."
The two brothers looked at each other and simultaneously slapped their foreheads. Mrunal looked at them, confused, then shrugged her shoulders and returned her full attention to her food.
After finishing their remaining shopping, the three of them left for home. But on the way, Chanchal Patil called, so they decided to bring Vidhyatha home with them. Achyut said "Okay" and turned the car in the opposite direction of his house.
It was a colony-type place, quite crowded. Mrunal was walking forward, looking at it with surprise, while Jaksh and Achyut were walking a few steps ahead of her.
They came to the first floor via the stairs and, turning to the right, knocked on the door of the last house.
"This place is very nice," Mrunal said, looking around. Away from the glitz and showiness, she found this place very simple.
"Hmmm," Achyut merely grunted.
Kamala opened the door and was initially surprised to see Achyut and the others, but then she composed herself and said with a smile,
"Oh, Saheb!!!!!!!! Do come in."
"How are you, Auntie..?" Achyut said as he entered.
"I am fine," Kamala said, petting Jaksh's head and touching Mrunal's cheek.
Shridika, sitting on the sofa nearby and applying nail polish to her nails, saw them all, quickly stood up, and ran into the room.
"These sweets and fruits," Jaksh said, handing the box of sweets and the bag of fruits in his hands towards Kamala. She took them and said with a smile,
"Saheb, there was no need for this."
"It's not about need, Auntie. It's about respect and honor. I have come to my younger sister's in-laws' house, how could I come empty-handed? And this is not too much," Achyut said with a slight smile.
"Auntie! Is this your house..?" Mrunal asked, sitting on the sofa.
"Yes, dear."
"It's very nice. Will you not invite me here again..?"
"Why are you saying that, dear? You can come here whenever you want. Consider this your own home," Kamala said with great affection.
"Yes! Yes! I will come tomorrow too," Mrunal said happily.
Shridika brought water and tea for everyone. Hearing voices from outside, Vidhyatha, who was sitting in the room, came out and said in surprise,
"Saheb, you..?"
"I am here, and Jaksh is also here, Sister," Mrunal said happily, waving her hand in the air. Vidhyatha's face paled instantly.
The four of them arrived at the Patil mansion. Mrunal and Jaksh picked up their shopping bags from the car and went inside. Vidhyatha, angry, slammed the car door shut and got out.
"What is making you so angry..?" Achyut finally asked.
She stopped in anger, turned, and retorted,
"You are asking this..? You took your wife there to be insulted? Do you even know how embarrassed I felt in front of her?"
"Felt embarrassed..?"
"Yes, I did. Very much so. Because that house is not worth showing to anyone where you took your wife. What would they be thinking... that my in-laws' house is like this."
"What is, is. What is there to hide, Vidhyatha. And as for my wife, she never judges anyone based on their house or money. She liked the place and the house so much that she told Auntie she would come again tomorrow. My sister! What is happening to you day by day? When did you become so judgmental?" Achyut placed his hand on her shoulder, but she snatched it away in anger and went inside. Achyut took a deep breath and went inside himself.
Everyone was sitting in the hall, except for Mrunal. Because the day's fatigue had greatly affected her, she had collapsed onto the bed as soon as she got home and fallen asleep. Vidhyatha went to Chanchal Patil's room to talk to him alone. After that, Jaksh also took his bags and went to his room.
Meanwhile, Achyut sat there thinking about Vidhyatha. He loved his sister dearly. And he was very worried about her married life. Here, she wasn't thinking or acting thoughtfully. She had created a boundary of status around herself, from which she couldn't break free. That very boundary of status was now going to her head. Achyut knew that until that boundary was broken, her married life would continue to stumble along like this. As a brother, he wanted to see his sister not compromise but fulfill this relationship with a happy heart.
To be continued
