Chapter 17: Chapter 17

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.”

Abhimanyu’s Perspective

“Abhi!” I heard someone shaking me. I tossed on the other side, covering myself and the next moment my blanket swept off from me, making me groan slightly.

“Abhi get up.” I turned to see Dada eyeing me, skeptically.

“Dada let me sleep, please.” I said hoarsely, snatching blanket from him.

“Why are you sleeping here in the study?” I heard him and that broke my sleep completely. I sat up, rubbing my eyes and strolled outside but he followed me. “Abhi, why were you sleeping there?”

“Let it be Dada!” I dismissed him but halted in steps as I saw my whole family sitting on the dining table.

“Abhi? What were you doing in the study?” Dad cocked his eyebrows and my eyes traced Shree with them, having her breakfast.

“He was sleeping there.” Dada divulged, popping so many pairs of eyes.

Why can’t he remain silent?

Mom and dad exchanged glances and mom turned to Shree. “You said he’s sleeping in the room. Then?”

“I lied.” She put her fork down and sighed. “Actually I woke him up early but he got riled up and yelled on me. Before I could say anything, he walked out warning me not to disturb him.” She lied blatantly. “I am sorry aunt.”

“What?” Everyone echoed in unison and glared me while I had my eyes fix on her who’d a smug look on her face.

“What’s this Abhi?” Mom looked angry, way too angry. “She’s your wife. Have you forgotten that?”

“Mom, that’s not the truth.” I protested and glared Shree, “Why are you saying this?”

“Then you tell the truth. What is the other reason you were sleeping in study?” She countered and I realized I couldn’t answer to that.

“I am sorry.” I mumbled after a minute, this was the only option left. I’d to go with her concoctions.

“Don’t be. I believe you will not repeat that again.” She smiled at me and I clenched my fist.

“I’ll join you guys after getting fresh.” I muttered and sprinted upstairs. Anger ran in my veins. She was really cunning. I had never thought that she would conspire against me like this; she just turned the even against me. I was forced to accept that Divya was right. Shree wasn’t like she pretended to be and I couldn’t be happy with her.

I stomped my foot and slammed the bathroom door behind me, turned on the shower and let the cold water soothe my anger.

“What was that?” I asked her when she entered the room.

“Oh that!” She exclaimed. “That was a trailer. You know I want to give you a little insight how your life is going to be about.”

“You think you’re smart?” I was cold, and she shook her head vigorously. “No, not at all. How can I be smart? I don’t know how to be treacherous. I don’t know how to cheat people. That’s you.”

“I didn’t cheat you.”

“Yes, you did.” Her voice croaked. Her façade pulled off, “You cheated me. You think I deserve this? A baseless relation in which, neither you accept me nor you respect me.”

I walked out of the room, clenching my fist and found it unable to answer her. I was stuck.

Shree’s Perspective

I sat on the bed and my tears spilled again. Why couldn’t he understand that he was hurting me? His snide behavior, his ignorance everything, it was hurting me, cutting me deep. I wanted to run away like very far from him.

ESV sniffed, ‘This is just the first day and I am wearied. How will I cope further up?’

My phone buzzed tearing my web of agony and I wiped my tears picking up the call to sound enthusiastic. “Hello?”

“Hey Mrs. Butu, crushed your well protected virginity??” Rhea guffawed and it hit the right nerve, I started crying again.

“Hello! Butu! Are you alright? Why are you crying? Hello!”

“He doesn’t want me. He doesn’t respect me, Rhea. He doesn’t want this marriage.” I mewled, covering my mouth.

She went silent and then her whisper came. “You are not joking, right?”

“Am I sounding like joking?”

“But, why? What happened all of sudden? He was okay before but what happened sudden-”

“I don’t know, I just don’t know. He is not telling me. He is just ignoring me, thwacking snide remarks.”

“Stop crying first. Skype! Now!” She commanded and cut the call; I opened my bag, pulled out my laptop and logged in to Skype. Her face instantly popped up on the screen and I cried again. My eyes had become such leaky tap.

“Where’s that moron?” She greeted her teeth and I sniffed, “He’s just gone and I don’t want to talk about him.”

“First, you don’t cry, we will do something.” She tranquilized. “Did you tell this to your parents?”

“No! I have not. I think his parents also don’t know about his deeds.” Yes, that was what I’d noticed on the breakfast table.

“Is he suffering from multiple personality disorder?” She peeved. “He thinks it is a joke?”

“What should I do Rhea? How will I tell mom all this? Dad will be disheartened.” I rubbed my forehead.

“Just keep calm.” I contorted my face. Of course, keeping calm would fix everything right?

“You think he has a dark secret? You know like a girlfriend or something?” She widened her eyes.

My tears spilled on. “What will I do, then?”

“Hey baby, don’t cry but see that can be a possibility or perhaps he is impotent.” She added, making me wince. “Or perhaps he got married just for his physical needs?”

Her last conjecture threw me off the trench and I felt dizzy.

Did he really marry me for sex?

Abhimanyu’s Perspective

I put one leg over another sinking in my seat more, last night’s uncomfortable posture made some of my nerve crackle badly.

“Kartik pass me the coke!” I stretched my hand and he gently threw the can to me. I caught it swiftly. “Thanks buddy!”

“So finally you spent your wedding night in study room! Hmm…bravo!” Bharat sneered and I rolled my eyes, gulping down the soda.

“She’s very wily. One day in my home and she turned everyone against me. I’d to apologize to her and when I confronted her, she mocked me countering.” I summed up the whole episode.

“You know what?” Kartik rubbed his stubble. “I think she is perfect match for you.”

They high fived and I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for making me feel good.”

“No, see it this way. You behaved like a jerk but instead of telling everyone, she handled herself which also means she won’t back out from this marriage and that leads you to get stuck with her whole your life which you will eventually do but the part where you needed time, is basically subtracted because she will be on your back all the time and soon you will fall in love with her.” Bharat spoke in one breath and inhaled sharply.

“Bro, take a breath.” Kartik rubbed his back and I clapped. “You almost made me believe it but trust me, it’s not that easy. The look I saw in her eyes today made me realize one thing that’s she will make it hell difficult for me.”

“Are you afraid of your wife?” Mehul sniggered and I twitched my lips. “That would be the last day of my life but right now, I think I’d dug my own grave by going for this marriage.”

“Relax! Everything falls in its place.” Kartik shoulder hit me. “By the way, what about that Hyderabad project?”

“Still working on it. It will be ready precisely by one week. Then I need to go there.”

“Don’t worry. I will handle it.” Bharat shrugged but I shook my head, “I’ll handle that myself. I need you to go Bangalore and look into the marketing malfunctions. I think there’s some loops.”

“Let’s hop into club tonight.” Mehul commented oblivious to our serious conversation and we posed him a nasty look.

“Shut up!”

Shree’s Perspective

“Here!” Abhimanyu’s mom showed me the plates full with dresses and nectarines. “Press your palm on it and then we will distribute it in the poor.”

“Is it necessary, mom?”

“Yes, it’s a ritual and we perform it with every new member of our family, so that member will get blessing and orations.” Mom smiled and I followed what she said. I couldn’t hurt everyone because of my jerk husband. I will hurt him only and this will be confidential.

“Mom, um…when will I go to my home?” I asked and she caressed my hair. “Why? Aren’t we treating you good? Did Abhimanyu say something to you again?”

I got hold of her hand. “No mom, nothing like that. It’s...just I am missing mom and dad...and Siya.”

She smiled, affectionately. “I understand. You will go to your home tomorrow and then if you want you can stay there for a day or two.

“Really?” I was excited and happy while she guffawed and nodded.

“Thank god!” I breathed a sigh and sat on the bed as she went, “I don’t need to stay with that jerk.”

Rhea’s notions tress passed my mind with light year speed. There could be a possibility or there couldn’t be. However, I couldn’t trust him. Not now and perhaps never. I heard the door knob clicking and my Lord entered with his full grace; I frowned when he came closer to me, I instinctively slouched back but he kept hovering over me.

“What?” I shouted when I fell on my back with legs dangling down and he’s over me balancing his weight on his arm, leaving centimeters between us.

“I am getting my wallet.” He smirked and with the slow movement of his hand, he grabbed the wallet that probably was on the pillow before he crawled out, slightly. I sat with a jerk as he walked to the cupboard and I watched him sneering. I would probably kill him.

“Rhea was right!” I stoop up. “You got married for this right?”

“What?”

“Don’t feign innocence. You get married to me for sex only. Isn’t it?” I bawled my fist angrily and his eyes widened. “What? No!!”

“Then you must be having a girlfriend and when your family didn’t approve, you thought of getting married to me and keep her as concubine.” I spat and with each word, he looked murderous.

“Shut your filthy mouth, you stupid girl! There is nothing like that. How can you even think-”

“Then” I gasped, covering my mouth. “You’re impotent! That’s true, isn’t it?” That came out as a whisper and he became mad bull. I could practically see the smoke coming out of his ears and fire in his nostrils.

ESV emboldened me, hiding behind me, ‘Don’t be afraid, he won’t kill you. Yes, keep going keep going.’

Well, I am trying.

He menacingly stepped closer, I gulped taking steps back and at the end of the day, every room has a wall that hit me behind sandwiching me between mad jerk and itself.

“I look impotent.” He gritted his teeth but I heard it like question, suddenly my vocal cords abandoned me and I couldn’t find my voice.

“I asked you something!” He hissed, near my ear and slammed his fist in the palm, in fear I gripped his shirt ducking my head.

“I will complain against you for harassing me if you lay one finger on me.” I whispered, trying to be intrepid.

“Hear me once and all, I. Am. Not. Impotent.” He grabbed me roughly and pulled in him. “And if you dare say this again, I will prove it to you.”

He retreated pushing me, letting me take oxygen sharply and glared. “I said my loyalty is for you and I am standing by my words.”

He spun to go but I caught his hand. “But you didn’t say you won’t accept this relationship, you never said you won’t accept me, you never said you would be rude. Then why are you doing it?”

I made him face me. “Tell me why are you doing it? Perhaps I can help you out.”

“Now is not the time.” He pulled back his hand and moved to the exit when I interrupted. “Then don’t expect me to go with this hollow relation. I can’t live with a person who has enigmatic personality.”

“The day your this ‘I-don’t-want-you’ phase switches off and you want to live with me, let me know but till that day, I am going to my home and it’s not my concern how will you to take care of things!” I said and moved out, of course, leaving him dazed.

I needed comfort, so I called mom. “Hello mom? How are you?”

“I am good Butu! How are you? Everything is good there. Are you happy?” She bombarded questions and I smiled.

“Mom, it’s not been the one day since I am here. Relax! Everything is good here.” Except my husband!! I just couldn’t say this.

“You didn’t answer me yet Butu! Are you happy?”

“Yes mom! I am happy.” I lied and we talked some more. “Oh mom! Before I forget, you know Abhimanyu’s mom said I can come to home tomorrow and can stay for two three days.”

“I know that. Everyone is waiting for you to come. Your dad is missing you so much and Siya, she hasn’t had anything since morning.” I heard her voice croaking and my eyes watered. “I am missing them too. I just want to run to you.”

I spun and saw bhabhi coming to me. “Ah! Mom I will call you later. Bye, take care.”

“Come, I will show you something funny.” Bhabhi pulled me to her room and I looked at sleeping Dada with Aditya sitting over him and he had colored his face with bhabhi’s lipstick. I bit my inner lip and pressed my palm on my mouth tightly while bhabhi clicked pictures. After one minute or two, Dada woke up and we burst out, laughing.

“Don’t laugh. It shows how much my son loves me.” Dada snorted at bhabhi and she giggled, “Yeah sure, try telling this to everyone.”

Bhabhi showed him the cell phone as she broadcasted his picture among his friends circle and dada looked horrified.

“You will be my death, Vidhi.” He groaned and ran to bathroom and we sat on the bed, laughing our heart out.

“You know being only daughter-in-law is really special but I really wanted to share my happiness with someone.” She smiled, pressing my hand. “I don't have any sister but now I have you.”

“Yes, You’ve gotten me.” I smiled. This marriage had given me everything and every relation in this home except the one who bound me to them and who was actually my authentic belonging. My husband!