Chapter 8

unicornwriter

@unicornwriter

PART 7 : HEARTBREAK ANNIVERSARY

11 P.M. , BANGLORE

The dinner had been a joyous affair where each household brought their best dishes forward to celebrate the victory of their hardworking girls. Pallavi bid a final adieu as everyone retired back to their houses and she silently closed the main door trying her best not to wake Aaji up. She had been so stressed about her kids the entire day and then danced her heart out on their victory in the evening. Pallavi kept a jug of water beside her sleeping figure as she sat beside her at the end of the bed. She softly stroked her feet as a few tears made their way out of how doed eyes.

"Thank you so much Aaji. Main toh 3 mahine pehle apna sab kuch chodhkar, khaali haath aage badhi thi par aapne mujhe apnaya, ek himmat di ki main sirf Pallavi bhi ho sakti hoon. Agar aaj aap nahin hoti toh shayad main inn ladkiyon ka future nahin bana paati. Main jaanti hoon aapne poori raat jaagkar kaku ke saath dresses banai, roz subah mujhe uthakar motivation di ki main inko kathak sikha sakti hoon. Azoba ke baad bhale hi dukaan par kitni bhi musibat kyun nahin aai, aapne akele sab saha taaki main apne dance par focus kar sakoon. Main nahin jaanti ki maine aisa kya achcha kara ki aap mujhe mile but i promise main aapka saath kabhi nahin chodungi. Aap meri Aaji ho aur hamesha rahogi." she gave a final stroke to Aaji's feet and silently closed the door as she made her way to the kitchen.

Pallavi calmly went up the stairs with a tray of modak in her hands towards the terrace. Moving her hand around she flicked open the light as she smiled at the people infront of her.

"Aaji so gayi?" Shiva asked as Maya took the tray from Pallavi.

"Han aur tum log itna kya khi khi karke hass rahe the upar agar Aaji uth jaati toh." Pallavi scolded in a whisper as she sat down beside Shiva in the formed circle.

"Sorry." all the kids along with kaku apologized.

"Tu pehle yeh bata ki sab decided hai na?" Shiva asked as he munched on a modak.

"decorations toh tumhe kal subah jaakr laani hongi aur khaane ka main aur kaku sambhal elnge lekin Aaji ko bahar lekar kaun jayega.? Unhe kuch nahin pata chalna chahiye." Pallavi looked around.

"Main mandir le jaun?" Maya suggested raising her hand. 

"Aye tu kya poora din mandir main rakhegi. Pagal." Shiva dismissed the idea.

"Are toh main udhar se shopping le jaungi na Aaji ko." Urvashi added.

"Tu toh-" Shiva started to deny when Pallavi stopped him.

"Yeh sahi rahega." Pallavi chimed.

"Tum log pagal ho kya. 10 ghante shopping karoge kya." Shiva raised his brows.

"Shiva!" Pallavi called out to him sweetly.

"Tu kabhi Urvashi ke saath shopping gaya hai?" she gave a mischiveous look to which Shiva nodded in a no.

"Urvashi taai 10 kya 24 ghante shopping kar sakti hai. Itni choosy jo hai." Maya teased.

"Tu ladki hai ya robot." Shiva widened his eyes.

"Girl talent." all the girls chimed in as Pallavi patted Shiva's back.

" Toh phir decided hai kalka din Aaji ke liye best hoga." Maya clapped her hands.

"Lekin agar sabko bura laga toh? Aaji ko bura laga toh?" kaku asked.

"Kaku kal sirf Azoba aur Aaji ki anniversary nahin hai, balki Aaji ka bhi special day hai. Main jaanti hoon ki Azoba ke jaane ke baad sabko lagta hai ki Aaji ki life se yeh din erase ho gaya hai lekin hum yeh kyun bhul jaate hai ki agar kal ke din Azoba aur Aaji ki shaadi hui thi toh kal hi ke din Aaji apni life main pehli baar dulhan bani thi aur harr ladki ke liye woh din bahut special hota hai jab woh dulhan banti hai, kyunki woh uska bhi din hota hai." Pallavi gave a sad smile explaining the auspicious event of the day in a never thought before manner.

"Aur agar aaj Azoba hote toh Aaji ko special feel karate na kyunki Azoba ke liye toh Aaji hi unki sabse badi priority hai na." Shiva added too.

"Kya khoob kaha hai Pallavi." they heard kaka say as he entered through the door and sat beside his wife.

"Ek husband ke liye uski wife sabse badi priority hoti hai." he added holding kaku's hand while everyone gushed at them unaware that they had opened an old wound for someone else. 

Pallavi gave a sad smile as she looked up at the lovely couple and then at the sky as a memory clicked her.

FLASHBACK

Pallavi was shocked as she realised that the evidence she had attained against Keerti via a pen camera had been changed and she looked like a fool infront of everyone.

"Aaji main bahut disappointed hai Pallavi." Amma's words rang in her ears as she pulled out all the things out of her purse hoping to prove herself. She hated the look Amma gave her and it made her heart drop. But soon realization dawned upon her as she looked up in her husband's eyes. All things making clear now. She stood up as her eyes held the tears of betrayal in her eyes.

"woh pen camera tumne hi badla hai." she spoke not sure if it was a question anymore.

"Han." Raghav replied without a blink as a tear escaped her eye..

" Family values tumse hi seekha hai Pallavi. Salon ke baad mereko mera Amma aur behen wapas mila hai. Ab main dobara unko kho nahin sakta. Agar kisiko saza dekar shanti milega toh main tumhaare saamne khada hai. " he added.

"Tum family vlaues toh seekh gaye mujhse Raghav lekin sach ka saath dena nahin sikh paaye. Tum sahi the isliye main apni family ke khilaaf gayi lekin tum apni behen ke pyaar main itne andhe ho gaye ho ki sach tumhaare liye maaaine hi nahin rakh raha hai. " she moved closer to him hurt at his doings.

"Sach jhooth sahi galat. Yeh sab mereko samajh main nahin aata Pallavi. Main sirf apna family ko bachane ka koshish kar raha hai. Aur yeh baat tum samajhlo." he replied guilt visible in his eyes overpowered by the love for his family. 

"Otherwise it's your wish. " he added as he turned to leave. Pallavi ran after him as she turned him around to face her again. She knows he was doing it all for his family but wasn't she a part of it?

"Raghav" she stopped him forcing him to face her.

"Kya sirf Keerti hi tumhaari family hai? Main nahin?" she asked. A question that had been scaring her, a fear of being left out again. She had prioritized him , maybe hoping he would do the same.

"Mera kya? Mera dard ? Meri takleef? Koi maaine nahin rakhti tumhaare liye?" she raised her voice as he looked at her trying not to break down by those questioning gaze.

Raghav composed himself as she went two steps back falling onto the sofa with a thud as the tears finally made their way out from their barrier. She cried as she let her heart out to him. All those miseries she had gone through just because she was widowed at such a young age that too on the first night of her wedding. All she was demanding now were answers to those questions that had been haunting her for the past 2 years. She had tried her level best to stay strong and not let anyone see through the fake facade she had created but from within she had been hurting all this while. Hurting so bad that at times it was impossible to get back up and start a new day. Times when she felt like ending it all.

His hand went up, he so wanted to compose her but right now they stood in two different boats. If he left his, he would end up drowining his sister. A sister he had cried for since the past decade, to hold her, to have her tie the rakhi around his wrist. And hence he pulled his hand back as she shared her haunting feelings. She looked back up to face him again.

"Tum humse woh tasalli karne ka mauka chhen rahe ho?" she shouted tired of fighting him. She wanted to fight this situation with him and not against.

"Main tumhara dard samajh sakta ha Pallavi.Lekin tum kisika past ke liye daud raha hai aur main kisika future ke liye." he moved closer to her.

They were bound by hate at times but above all was the pain that they had inside their heart related to their past , so this time Raghav let his guard down as he tried putting his fear into words. She heard him well, knew what he was going through but still it pained her heart when he finally said.

"Ab aage jaake tumko aisa hi zidd karna hai toh i am sorry. Main apna behen ko hi choose karega. Aur keerti ko bachayega." his words rang in her ears. He was her priority but turns otu she still wasn't his.

Flashback ends

" Oye kahan kho jaati hai tu baar baar." Pallavi came out of her memories when Shiva patted her shoulder.

"Kidhar nahin." she nodded her head in a no and walked to the railing.

She looked at her phone screen and then at the sky.

12:00 A.M. , it read.

"Happy Anniversary Ghamandi Rao." she whispered more to herself.

12 A.M. , HYDERABAD

Raghav picked up the frame from his side table as he packed his bag.

"Happy First Anniversary Saree ka Dukaan. I promise ki kalka din main tumhaare paas hoyega." he spoke as he held their picture close to his heart.

And i am done for the day!! Posting it early cause have a family dinner that i have to attend tonight.

I had to rewatch that same episode to write it down word by word. Might have made a few mistakes so please forgive me for that.

Will be waiting for your reviews.