Posted:
Brilliantly penned. I read chapters 6-9 in one shot. Amazing quality of work 👏👏!!
Brilliantly penned. I read chapters 6-9 in one shot. Amazing quality of work 👏👏!!
Chapter Ten
Raghav set down the bowl of dog food in front of Damayanti and ran up the stairs to his den. He didn't have much time left this morning. Amma wanted to arrive at the Deshmukh house for the kathā so that they would have the full benefit of the Satya-Nārāyaṇa pūjā, to atone for cancelling the pūjā after his wedding to Pallavi. Raghav wanted to arrive even earlier so that he could talk to Pallavi privately, and reassure her that he would never allow her to be branded a criminal for telling him about her first marriage just a few hours too late. He knew that Pallavi must be anxious after her talk yesterday with her lawyer, Subhadra. That was why it was so urgent for him to call Farhad right now.
"Well, Farhad? Who sent me the recording yesterday?" Raghav demanded, as soon as their phones connected.
"Anna, that message to your phone was sent with hidden identifiers, and our information technology staff haven't managed to trace it yet. They were able to trace the device that logged into the CCTV system. Anna, it's Kirti's laptop."
"Celli?" Raghav knew that his sister resented Pallavi for investigating the hit-and-run that had injured Mandar, and for bringing criminal charges against Kirti and her husband-to-be, Sunny. Kirti had tried to go on with her life as if that accident had never happened. But would Kirti take advantage of evidence that would incriminate Pallavi? Revenge and blackmail were odious to Kirti, who had always been ashamed of Raghav for his ruthless business dealings. Kirti, who had rejected Raghav's money and proudly supported Amma on her own - was his Celli capable of extorting money from her brother who only wanted to give her everything before she could ask for it?
Farhad was trembling, knowing that Raghav would punish anyone who spoke a word against his little sister, but he tried to keep his voice steady as Raghav listened. "I checked the CCTV footage from yesterday morning, Anna, and there was only one person within earshot of the landing when you said to me, 'Every record of the moment I found out that Pallavi was a widow must be destroyed; varanā anartha ho jāyegā.' That person was Kirti. I am sorry, Anna. There were no listening devices in the den, so this recording is certainly the result of Kirti overhearing what you said to me from the landing."
"So, Celli doesn't know what I meant by 'anartha,' why I wanted this evidence destroyed." Raghav tried to take comfort in the deduction that Farhad had made last night. If he hadn't said to Farhad that the evidence was against Pallavi, then Kirti didn't know either, and there was no imminent threat to Pallavi, right? Then Raghav realized, with a pang, "Farhad, you know, maybe Celli told Sunny. Maybe it's Sunny, not Kirti, who wants money from me. It could have been Sunny who copied the original footage from a backup drive and logged in to the CCTV system using Celli's laptop."
"Yes, Anna, that is possible." Farhad almost hoped that Sunny was the blackmailer, although he didn't want one more person to hold evidence against Raghav. Yā Allāh, please let Kirti love Raghav Anna the way Mandar's sisters love him.
Raghav had moved on to another thought. "Celli's laptop has the CCTV system software, but Celli only has basic CCTV user privileges to watch and listen and talk in real time. She doesn't have permission to access archived footage. How did Celli or Sunny find out the master password?"
"You know how, Anna," Farhad hesitated to explain the obvious. He had warned Raghav that it was a bad idea to use his Wi-Fi password for the CCTV system too, but Raghav hadn't bothered to listen because he found it convenient.
"Never mind that. Farhad, call right now and stop tracing the caller who sent me the recording. I can't have Celli's name linked to blackmail and extortion."
"Don't worry, Anna, I already stopped the trace, as soon as I saw the CCTV footage." Farhad had anticipated Raghav's concern for Kirti; this time, Raghav wouldn't expect him to wait for an order.
"Good work, Farhad. Tell me, how is Pallavi? Does she talk about me?"
"Bhābhī is comfortable, Anna, and yes, when I came home last night, she asked me if you were taking care of yourself. She went to the Deshmukh house already to help with preparations for the pūjā."
They ended the call, and Raghav immediately ran downstairs, gathered Damayanti in one arm and a bag of her essentials in the other, and hurried Jaya and Kirti out the door and into the car.
Outside the Deshmukh house, Mandar and Amruta stood together, waiting to greet the guests. "Dādā, tulā āṭhavataṃ kā, āpaṇa doghaṃ aseça nehamī karata asū?" Do you remember how we used to do this every time? Amruta asked.
"Ho, Amruta. Jevhāṃ tū lahāna hotīsa tevhāṃ tū ekā zāgī ubhī rahāta navhatīsa." Yes, Amruta. When you were little, you wouldn't stand still. "Tū rāṅgoḷīvara nāçūna Āīne kāḍhalele citra visakaṭūna ṭākāyacīsa, tyāmuḷe malā tuzhā hāta dharūna rahāyalā lāgata ase." You would run over the rāṅgoḷī and spoil Āī's artwork, so I had to hold your hand. "Tī pahā!" Look! Mandar pointed to the leafy designs of the rāṅgoḷī. "Āīne āza kamāla kelī āhe." Āī has outdone herself today. "Tuzhaṃ pāūla tyāvara paḍalaṃ nāhī tara naśība!" You won't step on it, I hope!
"Dādā, tulā māhīta āhe kī āzacī rāṅgoḷī mī kāḍhalī!" Dādā, you know that I drew the rāṅgoḷī today! "Vyāyāma karatānā tū ikaḍe baghata hotāsa - mī tulā pāhile!" You were looking this way while you worked out - I saw you! Amruta was laughing as she gave a few playful punches to Mandar. "Gele dona mahine mī Kākūkaḍūna śikateya." I've been learning from Kākū for a couple of months now.
A car pulled up right in front of them, and the driver stepped out; it was Raghav! Was he invited? Mandar wondered. Pallavi had told the family that she and Raghav were not together right now.
Raghav opened the back door of the car, and a frail, middle-aged lady stepped out. Mandar folded his hands to greet her with a smile. "Namaste, Aunty, my name is Mandar. Thank you for coming."
"Maiṃ Jaya hai, Raghav kā Amma," Jaya replied, forgetting to smile at Mandar. So, this fine young man was Raghav's competition! His manners were what she expected of Sharada jī's son. Pallavi would be comfortable with Mandar; how would she choose Raghav now?
Of course, Mandar remembered. Yesterday morning, Sulochana Kākū had badmouthed Jaya Rao, Raghav's mother, and yesterday evening, Bābā had spoken of inviting someone named Jaya jī because they couldn't be left out - meaning, our relatives through Pallavi's remarriage to Raghav.
"I want to listen to the kathā; I hope it hasn't begun already!" Jaya was saying.
"No, Aunty, please come right in," Amruta replied, and showed Jaya through the door, ignoring Raghav, who was silently exchanging glares with Mandar.
The other back door of the car opened, and Kirti stepped out, carrying Raghav's dog.
Mandar was shocked; he didn't know what to do. He stood motionless, staring at Kirti. The woman who left me to die in the road because she didn't want to be caught with Raghav - how does she dare to show up for a pūjā to celebrate my return? Kirti was the target of Raghav's obsession that started his feud with Pallavi, the model who became the face of Deshmukh Saree Emporium at Raghav's insistence, the girlfriend whom Raghav comforted while Pallavi cried - Raghav has brought Kirti here to flaunt their relationship in Pallavi's face, to turn the pūjā into a tamāśā. How dare he!
Raghav shot a smoldering look at Mandar, and walked around the car to put his arm around Kirti's shoulders. He held his head high and walked side-by-side with Kirti, who was holding Damayanti, until they stood facing Mandar. Raghav's expression was defiant, while Kirti tried uncomfortably to look Mandar in the eyes, and Damayanti stretched her neck to get closer to him.
Mandar had not wanted to make a scene at first, when he found himself face-to-face with Raghav, but this was too much. "You brought your girlfriend to your in-laws' pūjā? Are you really that shameless? You want to punish Pallavi because she moved out of your house; you left her nowhere to go, and Farhad had to take her in; and that wasn't enough, so you decided to humiliate her by embracing another woman in front of her family! This is not the time or the place to show how easily you move on!"
Raghav's expression changed from defiance to confusion ... and then to mirth. The laughter poured out, uncontrollably, because Raghav felt relief. He had expected Mandar to protest Kirti's presence due to the hit-and-run, but instead, Mandar was ridiculously in the wrong. Raghav reached out with his free hand and put his hand on Mandar's forearm, and Mandar shook him off.
"You know what you are?" Raghav gasped for breath as he retorted. "Sanakī Buḍḍhe kā Sanakī Junior hai tuma! You're a funny guy, Mandar Deshmukh! You thought Celli -" And Raghav could not finish because he started to laugh again.
Mandar, who was mentally preparing for a fist-fight, didn't know how to react, as Raghav seemed to be in no mood to throw the first punch. Kirti's voice broke into his thoughts.
"Raghav is my brother. He's my older brother. My name is Kirti Ajit Rao."
Raghav and Kirti are brother and sister! Mandar was blushing hotly, and blinking furiously, as he stammered, "Sorry - I am so sorry!" He remembered now that Farhad had told him that Raghav had a sister.
"Let me explain to you, Mandar Deshmukh," Raghav's eyes twinkled as he tried to adopt a menacing tone. "You said only one thing that was true. I am shameless. I can afford to do what I want, with whom I want, wherever and whenever I want. You can talk trash about me. I don't care. But Pallavi isn't like me. She cares what people think. So, I won't let anyone say that Pallavi's husband has a roving eye, or that I let her go without a place to stay. She's staying with Farhad, who is like my brother. Don't you ever say that Pallavi isn't enough for me. My wife is Pallavi, I don't need any girlfriend, and that is how it is going to stay for a lifetime. I am not going to move on from Pallavi, artham ainadā?"
Mandar nodded. Pallavi would tell Raghav her decision soon, and then they would deal with Raghav's reaction. For now, he had to be polite to his Āī-Bābā's guests.
"I shouldn't have come," Kirti said. "After what I did, you and your family shouldn't have to see my face again."
"No, please stay," Mandar made an effort. "You were invited. Isn't it a Satya-Nārāyaṇa tradition that you don't leave the pūjā without taking prasāda?"
"Thank you," Kirti said. "Mandar, I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but if you can forgive me, I would be grateful to you."
"All right," Mandar said. "Your brother did what you should have done, and I have my life back now. You don't have to feel bad for me."
Raghav looked at Mandar with amazement. Just yesterday, this man accused me of nearly killing Sanakī Buḍḍhā, and he dared to warn me as if I would harm my own Pallavi. And now, he says I'm the reason he won't hold a grudge against Kirti. He is Sanakī Junior, for sure, but his sanaka is rather likeable. We're enemies, of course, but only until I find out his weak point and pay the price for him to back off from Pallavi.
"Mandar, tell me," Raghav remembered his need of the moment. "I have to give Damayanti her insulin injection. Where can I do that?"
"Let's go inside," Mandar said, leading the way. "Did you feed Damayanti already today?"
"Yes," Raghav admitted.
"Then you should have given her the insulin right after she finished eating. You adopted Damayanti only yesterday, correct? Didn't anyone explain to you that insulin between meals is very dangerous?" Mandar felt indignant; how was a Rākṣasa like Raghav allowed to adopt any dog, let alone a diabetic dog?
"Jānatā hai maiṃ! Last night, right after I fed Damayanti, I gave her a shot of insulin. Amma made sure I did it correctly. But this morning, we were in a hurry for the pūjā, so I just fed Damayanti and brought the insulin here." Raghav was surprised to find himself answering to Mandar. But with his arm around Kirti, who was holding Damayanti, who was trying to get a lick of Mandar's arm, Raghav was allowing Mandar to assert the privileges of friendship.
"How long ago did she finish her meal?" was Mandar's next question.
"Half an hour ago, right, Celli?" Raghav checked, and Kirti nodded, thinking, at least, my overconfident Annayya didn't try to use a needle while driving!
Mandar had responded to quite a few diabetic emergencies as an ambulance driver. He explained to Raghav and Kirti, "Damayanti's blood sugar won't be as high now as it was right after her meal, because the insulin from last night is still working. But it's not late enough that you should skip a shot, because you want her insulin schedule to be regular, every twelve hours. Her meals and exercise also need to be consistent every day. Today, we'll have to make an exception and give Damayanti a snack, so that her blood sugar won't fall too low after this insulin injection. Amruta, can you peel and chop a raw carrot and bring it to me?"
They sat down on the floor, at a distance from the pūjā setup. Pallavi was watching and listening to them as she waited at the door to greet guests.
"Raghav, are you sure no one gave Damayanti any insulin since last night?" Mandar asked, and Raghav nodded. "If there's any doubt, never take the risk of giving too much insulin, because low blood sugar is life-threatening. Do you have the insulin, and a syringe and needle? Alcohol and cotton swabs?"
Raghav took the items out of the bag and set them down. He took Damayanti from Kirti, but she squirmed in his lap and looked at Mandar to rescue her.
"Let her crouch on the floor, Raghav." Mandar spoke softly for Damayanti. "When she gets accustomed to receiving injections from you, she'll sit still on her own, but this time, Kirti should restrain Damayanti - not yet - feed her the carrot first." Amruta had brought the snack, and Damayanti munched it happily.
"What is the prescribed amount of insulin, and where did you inject Damayanti last night?" Mandar asked, and Raghav showed him. "So, this time, you want the injection to be near a different hip or shoulder, where she isn't sore. Roll the bottle of insulin between your palms to mix it, Raghav. You don't want to shake it because that will generate bubbles. And when you're at home, keep the insulin refrigerated - that is best. Now, wet a cotton swab with the alcohol, and use it to sterilize the rubber stopper of the insulin bottle. Attach the needle to the syringe, and using your right hand to move the plunger..."
"Raghav is left-handed!" Pallavi's voice rang out.
"Sorry, my mistake," Mandar said, and stroked Damayanti's head while Raghav continued to follow his guidance. "Use your left hand, and fill the syringe with a volume of air that is equal to the volume of insulin that you'll use. You have to inject air into the insulin bottle to balance the pressure. Avoid repeatedly piercing the same place in the stopper. Good. Draw out more than the volume that you need, and tap the syringe gently to get the bubbles to the top, then push the air back into the bottle until you have the right volume of liquid only. That looks correct."
Mandar nodded to Kirti; it was time to restrain Damayanti. "Now, keep your finger off the plunger as you hold the syringe. With your right hand, pinch a fold of Damayanti's skin, and insert the needle into the centre of the fold, just under the skin. Push the plunger smoothly all the way in, then pull the needle straight out. Now, stroke Damayanti's back to reward her for sitting still. Does her skin feel wet where you did the injection?"
"No," Raghav said.
"Good - that means you injected under the skin." Mandar smiled, and then remembered that he didn't like Raghav.
Pallavi called out, seeing that they were finished, "Mandar, Amruta, can you wait here to greet guests while I talk to Raghav? Raghav, let's go up to the terrace."
Raghav followed Pallavi up the stairs. When they reached the terrace, she turned around to face him, with concern in her eyes and words not ready to be spoken aloud.
Raghav smiled at her to reassure her. "Don't worry, Sārī kā Dukāna. I would never accuse you of taking advantage of me. The misunderstanding was all in my imagination. Only you and I and Farhad know what was said between us that night at the house where we got married, and none of us will tell."
Hearing Raghav's words, Pallavi thought that he was talking about two nights ago, when he had been drunk and lashed out at her in front of Farhad, imagining that she would take away the house with his memories. Of course, if Raghav had allowed her to move into that house, she wouldn't have taken advantage of her residence there when their marriage ended. Raghav had to know that she wasn't greedy.
Raghav, on the other hand, didn't remember saying, "You can't trust me? Well, I can't trust you." He had been drunk, after all. And in Raghav's mind, his concern for the house had fallen far behind his desperation to protect Pallavi from the jeopardy and shame of being charged with bigamy just because he, Raghav, had misunderstood the signals that she was a widow. Raghav couldn't tell Pallavi about the blackmailer who had the CCTV footage - he had to tackle that problem without anyone finding out whatever Kirti had done. Raghav only hoped that Pallavi understood that he was on her side against that stupid law.
Unsure how to cushion the blow that she would have to deal to Raghav, Pallavi blurted out an idea to clear her conscience about taking advantage of him. "Raghav, I asked Subhadra for help to expunge Mandar's death certificate. I know I shouldn't use your money to pay her fees for that service."
Raghav chuckled, remembering how Pallavi had helped herself to his Rs. 5 lakh to pay for her Bābā's medical treatment. That time, Picci Ammāyi had tried to prove that she could be as unabashed as he was, but here she was again, forgetting his lessons and speaking from her pure heart. Mandar had helped with Damayanti a few minutes ago; why wouldn't Raghav contribute to Mandar's return to the registry of living souls? "It's not my money any more; I put it in your expense account, Pallavi. Whatever you want to do with Subhadra's services, go ahead and spend the money."
"Thank you, Raghav. I ... I made my decision." Pallavi saw the laughter leaving Raghav's eyes, and a sad, knowing expression taking its place. "Mandar asked me to resume our courtship, and eventually start our married life. I said yes."
He was not going to cry in front of her again! So what if Pallavi had refused his plea to come home, and had decided, after barely one day of freedom from him, that she was ready to commit to Mandar? Raghav Rao was used to rejection. Unlovable, impure, unworthy - that's what he was, destined to hurt everyone from whom he sought love. He hadn't protected his Tammi, Arjun. He couldn't make love to Pallavi - he was her nightmare. He couldn't even manage to give Damayanti her insulin injection on time because he was in a hurry to meet Pallavi. And for what? To hear the obvious, that Pallavi, who saw the good in everyone, even in him, found more good in Mandar.
"Let's take two or three days to get used to being apart, and then I'll ask Subhadra to petition for an annulment of our marriage," Pallavi was saying.
"You want to tell me that our marriage never really existed?" Raghav spoke without thinking how pointless it was to argue.
Pallavi could not ignore his words, nor could she acknowledge them. Honestly, she had felt married to Raghav, but what did she know about marriage, without any experience of intimacy? She couldn't wait a year to be eligible for divorce, and Mandar being living was a valid reason to annul her marriage to Raghav. Did that choice make her a liar?
Raghav saw Pallavi blushing, and he had a wicked thought. It was now or never; he would say it and let her slap him if she felt insulted! "Suppose you and Mandar get started on married life, and you don't like it. Maybe you'll wonder that you missed your chance with me. Well, my arms are always open for you, remember that."
Pallavi trembled and she looked in all directions, except at Raghav. He was between her and the stairs, and he wasn't going anywhere. She finally managed to answer, "Raghav, what you're proposing is indecent. Marriage isn't a game, to try one partner and then another. How can you think that I would do that sort of thing?"
"That's exactly why I have to say this. I know that you have ideals. You imagine that you wouldn't do certain things because they are just wrong. You forget that you're human, and changing your mind, putting your own needs first, won't make you a bad person. So, listen. I love you, Pallavi, not your perfect image. I love your compassion, your fierce fighting spirit, your appreciation of beauty, your work ethic, the way you move. Those are your qualities - the reasons that I love the person that is you. Your physical purity is just a consequence of your choices and habits, which I respect, but it never drew me closer to you. You are innocent on the inside, no matter how much ugliness you see around you. You're the treasure that I aspire to earn in my life. Nothing that you do with Mandar will ever cheapen you for me. Idi Raghav Rao vāgdānam."
Raghav turned around and walked down the stairs.
Chapter One on page 1
Chapter Two on page 2
Chapter Three on page 2
Chapter Four on page 3
Chapter Five on page 4
Chapter Six on page 4
Chapter Seven on page 5
Chapter Eight on page 5
Chapter Nine on page 7
Chapter Eleven on page 8
Chapter Twelve on page 8
Chapter Thirteen on page 8
Chapter Fourteen on page 9
Chapter Fifteen on page 10
Chapter Sixteen on page 10
Chapter Seventeen on page 11
Chapter Eighteen on page 11
Chapter Nineteen on page 11
Chapter Twenty on page 11
Chapter Twenty-One on page 11
Chapter Twenty-Two on page 12
Chapter Twenty-Three on page 12
Chapter Twenty-Four on page 12
Chapter Twenty-Five on page 12
Chapter Twenty-Six on page 13
Chapter Twenty-Seven on page 14
Chapter Twenty-Eight on page 14
Chapter Twenty-Nine on page 14
Chapter Thirty on page 14
Chapter Thirty-One on page 14
Chapter Thirty-Two on page 14
Chapter Thirty-Three on page 15
Chapter Thirty-Four on page 15
Chapter Thirty-Five on page 15
Chapter Thirty-Six on page 15
Loved the last 2chapters. Aai & Baba going to Thank Ammi & Abbu for letting Pallavi stay & inviting them & Raos as well.
The whole scene between Kirti, Raghav & Mandaar was done well. Wow! How do you know so much about how to give an injection? - The details that you input for every scene wows me everytime
So Pallavi finally has the talk with Raghav & chooses Mandaar over him. Also glad that Raghav clearly stated what she means to him. Excited for the next Chapters🤗
Originally posted by: SONIA441
The whole scene between Kirti, Raghav & Mandaar was done well. Wow! How do you know so much about how to give an injection? - The details that you input for every scene wows me everytime
Thank you for saying that. I've used thousands of syringes and needles in my scientific research, but I have never injected an animal or a human with anything, so I just got information off the internet when I decided that Raghav would adopt a dog with diabetes.
Thank you to everyone who reacted and commented. I'm curious about how my readers feel about a few aspects:
1. Viewers often refer to the polar opposites of Rāma and Rāvaṇa when commenting on male characters. What do you think of Raghav being compared to Ghaṭotkaca by Sharada in Chapter Nine?
2. Anyone who thinks that Damayanti is a funny name for a dog, do you think that Jaya's explanation of the name in Chapter Nine has any parallels with Raghav's and Pallavi's relationship?
3. In Chapter Ten, Raghav spoke to Mandar and to Pallavi about chastity - his own and Pallavi's. Is my version of Raghav any better than what you saw on screen (Pallavi cannot even symbolically betray Raghav to save her life, while Raghav can freely explore his "guilt"), or is my version inconsistent with your idea of Raghav's character?
I really would like to read comments on these points, if anyone is willing.
Thank you for the tag. Loved the chapter, waiting for the next update 👍🏼👏!!
Thank you so much for d tag despite me being just a silent reader here. Well, first of all, let me just say THANK YOU for this beauty of a story dear...d way u include mythological, medico-legal references to make it as authentic as possible...I just wish ...if our ICONIC producer & creatives spend even a fraction of that in d show na....it would be something else. But....
As for your questions, I'm writing my lame answers in coloured text..
1. Viewers often refer to the polar opposites of Rāma and Rāvaṇa when commenting on male characters. What do you think of Raghav being compared to Ghaṭotkaca by Sharada in Chapter Nine?
I found that comparison very interesting & intriguing actually. The way you had described Ghatotkcaca is actually so similar to the perception that different ppl have of Raghav ...it was a very thought-provoking parallel to me ...I think d comparisons we make on male characters as only Ram or Ravana is somewhat our limitation in thinking in only black (Ravana) & white (Ram). Though, both these characters too were not completely black or white.
For me, I relate to the core characters of Raghav similar to Karna too...Like Karna...he is forever searching for that anchorage, that sense of belongingness despite having a family...d charities he does ...d instinct of going all out to protect the ones whom he considers his own or to whom he thinks he owes something. Ppl saw him fighting the epic battle from Kauravas side, d wrong side but was he wrong in choosing that side? Same way, Raghav is judged for his illegal works, but given his circumstances & all...can we really blame him? I hope, I'm not blabbering here😒
2. Anyone who thinks that Damayanti is a funny name for a dog, do you think that Jaya's explanation of the name in Chapter Nine has any parallels with Raghav's and Pallavi's relationship?
Again interesting reference....r we going to see Damyanti playing a role in RaghVi's love life?😳😉
3. In Chapter Ten, Raghav spoke to Mandar and to Pallavi about chastity - his own and Pallavi's. Is my version of Raghav any better than what you saw on the screen (Pallavi cannot even symbolically betray Raghav to save her life, while Raghav can freely explore his "guilt"), or is my version inconsistent with your idea of Raghav's character?
Again u r spot on with ur characterization of Raghav here 👍🏼
Thanks again for d story & all d very best 👍🏼
Originally posted by: tellyfan14
For me, I relate to the core characters of Raghav similar to Karna too...Like Karna...he is forever searching for that anchorage, that sense of belongingness despite having a family...d charities he does ...d instinct of going all out to protect the ones whom he considers his own or to whom he thinks he owes something. Ppl saw him fighting the epic battle from Kauravas side, d wrong side but was he wrong in choosing that side? Same way, Raghav is judged for his illegal works, but given his circumstances & all...can we really blame him? I hope, I'm not blabbering here😒
...r we going to see Damyanti playing a role in RaghVi's love life?😳😉
...
Again u r spot on with ur characterization of Raghav here 👍🏼
Thanks again for d story & all d very best 👍🏼
tellyfan14, thank you for all of your kind and detailed reply. Your answers are useful to me, especially the comparison of Raghav and Karna. I agree that Raghav's feeling of abandonment by Jaya is reminiscent of Karṇa's words to Kuntī: "You did me long-lasting harm by throwing me away; that has spoiled my success and my fame." (akaron mayi yat pāpaṃ bhavatī sumahā'tyayam avakīrṇo'smi te, tena tad yaśaḥ-kīrti-nāśanam)
Karṇa put his life at stake when he donated his protective armour and earrings to Indra and promised Kuntī that he wouldn't kill four of her sons who were his strongest enemies. Raghav donates what he can afford most of the time, except that he's willing to sacrifice his health and life and dignity for Pallavi (e.g. driving Dr. Kanika and Farhad off a cliff; the mahāthālī; drinking foot-wash; Russian roulette etc.).
Like Raghav who thought that all women were treacherous except mother figures and children and Kirti, and thought nothing of exposing Amruta to Manasi's in-laws-to-be, Karṇa had polarized views of women - he said that Draupadī could be stripped naked because she was a common woman subject to many men (anekavaśagā bandhakī), and shortly thereafter he praised her as the boat that rescued her husbands (aplave'mbhasi magnānām, apratiṣṭhe nimajjatām, Pāñcālī Pāṇḍu-putrāṇāṃ naur eṣā pāragā'bhavat).
Like Raghav who does business according to his personal feuds, Karṇa was easily provoked by Bhīṣma to sit out the war in which Duryodhana needed him to fight.
I very much want Damayanti to play a role to reunite Raghav and Pallavi. If my readers have any ideas for what should happen, please tell me! So far, I have only one idea, which will tie up a loose thread from the early episodes. (Hint: I mean this literally.)
Jaya's conversation with Kirti and Raghav at the end of Chapter Nine should really be in Telugu, but that is beyond my ability. If any Telugu-speaking readers would kindly volunteer Telugu dialogues for this passage, I would gratefully include them.
Thank you for accepting the way Raghav in my story talks about chastity. I have seen comments on the forum that Raghav would never want a woman who is committed to another man, so I wondered if the words that I had him say to Pallavi at the end of Chapter Ten would be unpalatable to my readers.
Please don't hesitate to comment whenever you wish.🤗
Chapter Eleven
Farhad walked briskly up to the door, where Mandar stood with Amruta. Farhad kept looking at Mandar's sky-blue kurta, the cool colour inviting him to come closer, while Mandar's brown hands folded to greet him reminded Farhad of the warmth of those hands under his own. Mandar smiled at how Farhad in his red-orange kurta looked resplendent on this bright morning. The way Farhad walked lifted Mandar's spirits, so that his unease about how Raghav would react to Pallavi's decision was momentarily forgotten.
Amruta scowled at Farhad and went inside. Farhad was the man who had invited everyone to watch the spectacle of her hopeless attempt to destroy the hospital record of her abortion. Amruta didn't want Farhad in her house, but Vijay Kākā and Sharada Kākū had invited him because Pallavi was living with him.
Amruta felt very confused. She had hated Pallavi for taking Mandar Dādā's place in the family, and for ruining her dream of marrying Raghav, but now that Dādā was back, maybe Amruta could accept Pallavi as her Vahinī for his sake. Pallavi was ridiculously old-fashioned, but she did try to have fun, and she was kind.
Amruta thought, Pallavi was actually too good for that callous Raghav, who had laughed off his humiliation of Amruta, saying that a thousand whispers about her didn't bother him, but his mother and sister shouldn't have to hide their faces. After that long talk with Dad about how a culture of sexual harassment creates a lifetime of unequal opportunities for womankind, Amruta was ashamed that she had cheered for Mom to frame Jaya Aunty and Kirti for prostitution, and she felt sorry for allowing Mom to scapegoat Pallavi for the abortion. Of course, Kirti deserved to go to prison for leaving Mandar Dādā to die, and Raghav should suffer for lying about Pallavi. Amruta fantasized about taking revenge on Raghav somehow, ever since she had had to grovel at Raghav's feet after he ordered a beating for her that would render her face unrecognizable. It felt good to hate Raghav, because the memory of how Raghav had smiled at her and taken her by the hand at Manasi Tāī's saṃgīta still made her feel special, and it had meant nothing to him.
While Amruta was staring pointedly at Kirti inside the house, Mandar had dropped his hands to his sides and was smiling shyly at Farhad outside the door.
"Thank you for the invitation. Perhaps it was best that I wasn't there when you and your Āī-Bābā met my Ammī-Abbū last night," Farhad smiled, his eyes twinkling.
Mandar guessed that Farhad was referring to Āī, Bābā, and Pallavi finding out from his Ammī that Farhad was gay. Mandar shuddered at the thought of that conversation taking place with Farhad in the room. If Farhad had looked at him, all of Mandar's behaviour modification training by Dr. Ramya wouldn't have come to his aid. Sympathy and shame and guilt would have been plain to see on Mandar's face. And if Bābā had looked at Farhad with disgust, Mandar would have felt like a traitor, because Farhad didn't deserve to be hurt. Farhad had kept Mandar's secret. No one else knew what Farhad had overheard Mandar saying to Dr. Ramya.
"Your Ammī is a music teacher, I came to know. Do you like classical music too?" Mandar tried to find a safe topic.
"Yes, Mandar. I think Rāga Mūlatānī must sound magnificent in your voice, and Rāga Kedāra is also a favourite of mine. I play the violin. I'll try to have it with me for the next time you feel like singing." Farhad knew that Mandar hadn't outright accepted his offer of friendship yesterday, but with Mandar right in front of him, Farhad felt the urge to offer much more.
"I was looking at the photographs on your living room walls, trying to recognize you." Mandar spoke spontaneously, and hoped he didn't sound too interested. "Thank you for looking after Pallavi," he added, to be safe.
"The faces on the living room walls are Ammī's students. My photographs are all on my bedroom walls," Farhad answered honestly. Yes, you could visit again and look around my bedroom, his steady eyes communicated without any hint of coquetry. "There are too many photographs of me. Abbū decided that they all belonged inside because Ammī could never decide which ones to show off."
Mandar blushed. He was looking into Farhad's eyes and all over Farhad's face, and back into his eyes - he had no right to look, but he wanted to! Farhad was welcoming him in, and Mandar wanted to know him.
"My Ammī is very proud of me," Farhad prompted Mandar, and waited.
Mandar didn't know what to say. He tried to look down; he tried to look aside; he tried to blink; but he kept returning to Farhad's eyes, where he wasn't supposed to feel safe, but he did.
Farhad laughed softly. "When I told you, I'd like you to meet my family, this is what I meant. My Ammī and Abbū have strong opinions about what I should do, who my friends should be, where life should take me, and when I should reach there, but none of those opinions deny my sexual orientation. Ever since I was a child, my Ammī and Abbū accepted that this is how I respond to men, not women; this is the way I am; this is really who I am. Mandar, it's not too late for you. This comfort and this self-confidence - everything that makes it a joy to live my life is within your reach. Your family is very different from mine in terms of what we eat, the decoration of our houses, how we celebrate joyous occasions ... but not how we protect our loved ones. You have the right to be affirmed by your Āī-Bābā, your Kākā, and your brother and sisters. Give them a chance to know you and to do what is right for you. My Ammī and Abbū would be on your side if they knew, just as I am on your side."
Mandar heard Farhad's encouraging words, but how could he answer? How could he tell Farhad that when Abbū had expressed pride in Farhad, Bābā's reaction had been to leave abruptly? Mandar wanted Farhad to know his reasons for anticipating that Āī and Bābā would be disappointed if they found out; Mandar wanted to tell Farhad about Ved Pillai; but with the pūjā about to begin, anyone at any moment could come close enough to hear what they were saying.
Mandar silently gestured to Farhad to please come inside, and turned to greet Krishna's mother, who was approaching with her eyebrows raised as usual. Farhad slipped off his chappals, and stepped over the threshold into Mandar's house, his world.
"Anuradha Aunty! How are you?"
Anuradha's voice was as pretentious and her words were as passive-aggressive as Mandar remembered. "Now that I've seen you, Mandar, I am satisfied. Everyone else might say, mourning won't bring Mandar back to life, so what does it matter that this young woman was married to him? Let Pallavi wear colours like a young girl, they said; let her dance in the rain until everyone in the street sees her clothes clinging to her body; let her do what is unnatural for a woman, and remarry, as if Mandar was nobody. But I knew, and I said, this is not our culture, this is propaganda from outsiders who hate our morality and want to destroy our heritage. No one listened to me, but Veṅkaṭeśvara brought you back and proved that I was right. Now, see how your Amma-Nānna are stuck with no way backward or forward!"
Farhad stood just inside the door, listening to this self-righteous woman spewing bigotry against his beloved Pallavi Bhābhī. Of course, Farhad would control his temper and not make a scene, but Allāh Miyā, forgive me, he thought, if Raghav Anna were listening, he would give this biddy the earful of plainspoken words that she deserves.
Mandar was as furious as Farhad, but he chose his words carefully. "Pallavi took care of my Āī-Bābā when I wasn't able, for two-and-a-half years, Anuradha Aunty. They mourned for me when I wasn't dead, and they may never forget that pain, but the thought that Pallavi still had her life ahead of her, that she could be happy someday, helped my Āī-Bābā to recover. So, I think my Āī-Bābā made the right choice."
"Oh, Mandar, young people like you think that you know everything, but tell me, what good came of allowing Pallavi to pretend that she wasn't already married? Now she has two husbands - such a shame! What will she do? Such a nice young woman with good manners, but what people are saying about her is ..."
"The pūjā is about to begin, Anuradha Aunty. Please join us." Mandar knew a hopeless case without having to get a body bag from his ambulance.
As Mandar ushered Anuradha through the door, and was about to follow her inside, he noticed a young man running up the driveway. Mandar turned to face him, and folded his hands with a smile.
"Namaste, I'm Akash, Pallavi Dī's friend Rashmi's brother," the young man said.
"Namaste, I'm Mandar. Are you here for the pūjā, Akash? Come on in!"
Akash unlaced his shoes and set them aside neatly, then followed Mandar inside. He caught sight of Kirti, who was playing with Damayanti. Akash halted in mid-step and turned back.
"Sorry, I just remembered that I have some important work that can't wait. Please excuse me." Akash tried to make a hasty exit, but Mandar caught his arm.
"At least meet Pallavi before you go!" Mandar wondered why Akash had reacted to Kirti so strangely. "And one doesn't leave a Satya-Nārāyaṇa pūjā without taking prasāda."
"Look, Mandar, I'm sorry. I know Pallavi Dī has no one else from her Kolhapur days in Hyderabad. That's why Vijay Uncle invited me. But I can't be seen at the same event as Raghav Rao's sister. Please let me go." Even as Akash explained, he saw Raghav coming into the courtyard - Kirti's brother who wouldn't hesitate to punch his face in front of everyone.
As Raghav's eyes searched the courtyard for Mandar, brooding because he couldn't leave without having a talk with his enemy about Pallavi, he saw Akash right away, and an idea occurred to him. Seeing that Amma was getting up to intervene, Raghav showed the palm of his hand to her - patāka hasta with fingers and thumb pointing straight up in abhaya mudrā, just as Amma had trained him in Bharatanatyam to say, "Have no fear!" - and then, with both hands moving back and forth in kapittha hasta, Raghav signalled that he would pull Akash's strings.
Raghav called out, "Look, Kirti is over there! What's your name? Oh, right, Akash!"
"I ... I came by mistake. I thought Kirti wouldn't be here, because the news ..." And Akash thought he would surely lose his life today, for stupidly alluding to the hit-and-run for which Raghav Rao's sister was facing criminal charges.
"Does anyone come to a friend's house by mistake? Your friend Pallavi is on the terrace. Until you talk with her, you won't go out of this house." Raghav was standing right in front of Akash by now, and speaking quietly with a forced smile, to which the fresh pain of Pallavi's decision gave the semblance of a cruel smile.
"No, no, it's all right, I'll see Pallavi Dī some other time," Akash almost whimpered.
"You like to spend time with Kirti, don't you?" asked Raghav, who was long past the days when his voice sounded innocent.
"No. No?" Akash honestly could not remember the last time a meeting with Kirti hadn't been ruined by Raghav's threats of bodily harm.
"Kyā kahā? Do you think the right answer is that you don't like Raghav Rao's sister?" Raghav couldn't resist menacing Akash, just a little, to lighten his own rotten mood.
"Look, whatever you want, I'll do. Please, for Pallavi Dī's sake ..." Akash had perspired so much by now, he was shivering from cold as well as fear.
"Exactly," Raghav smiled. "I am asking you to stay for the pūjā, for Pallavi's sake. You will sit next to Kirti."
Raghav took Akash by the hand and walked over to his Celli. "Celli, you remember Akash? Introduce him to Damayanti while I have a talk with Mandar."
Raghav's movement towards Mandar was interrupted as Sulochana, having finished her makeup and hairstyle just in time for the pūjā, caught sight of him and seized her opportunity to make trouble.
"Dādā, Vahinī, are you sitting to perform the pūjā today? How can that be right?" Sulochana simpered, loving the fact that everyone was looking at her while her face and hair were at their best.
Milind hurriedly spoke up, "Sulochana, if it's our turn to sit for a pūjā, we can give it to Dādā and Vahinī, can't we? For Mandar's sake."
"Oh, I am not so selfish, don't you know me, Milind?" Sulochana said, fooling no one in the room who did in fact know her. "I am thinking of our Mandar only. He is today's utsava-mūrti, so the pūjā for Satya-Nārāyaṇa should be done by his hands. And let's not forget that we owe a Satya-Nārāyaṇa pūjā ever since we celebrated Mandar's wedding. How can Dādā and Vahinī perform another pūjā before the one pledged by Mandar and Pallavi? Where is your wife, Mandar?"
Sulochana threw a triumphant look at Raghav, who impulsively pointed his hand at her in a way that ardhapatāka hasta was never intended by Nandikeśvara, like a gun, and click-clicked his tongue. Don't push me today, Baḍā Bindī, he thought, I'm not in a forgiving mood.
"Raghav Rao!" Vijay almost shouted, he was so outraged. He had set aside his misgivings and actually invited this āyatyā biḷāvara nāgobā - cobra who takes over a readymade hollow from the animal that dug it - into his home for the first time, just for Pallavi's sake, and it was obviously a mistake. Vijay was kind to dogs on the street, but Raghav had brought one into his home without even asking his permission. And now, while the dog was quietly curled up to sleep, Raghav himself was defiling the auspicious occasion. "How dare you! You are visiting my home for a pūjā, have you forgotten? Jaya jī, forgive me, but did you teach your son that killing a family member is a joking matter?"
"O Buḍḍhe Rambo!" Raghav shouted back, stung by the reminder that his Nānna and his Tammi had died needlessly for his mistake. "Merā Amma ke ḳhilāpha eka śabda bhī..."
"Raghav!" Jaya had crossed the courtyard quickly, and she reached up to put her hand over her son's mouth. "Remember what is at risk!" Turning to Vijay, she said, "Vijay jī, I am deeply sorry, and I ask your pardon on Raghav's behalf. Raghav will sit quietly for the pūjā." Taking Raghav by the hand, Jaya tried to pull him in the direction of Kirti and Akash, who were quietly sitting beside Damayanti.
"Amma, there's nothing left," Raghav whispered, refusing to move and trying to hold back his tears. "Pallavi chose Mandar, of course. I just want to tell Mandar to treat her right, and then go home and get drunk. I'll send a driver for you and Celli and Damayanti."
"No, Raghav," Jaya wiped her tears and looked steadily into Raghav's eyes. "It is a terrible blow, but you haven't lost everything. Trust me. My life with your Nānna and Arjun came to an end suddenly, but they are always in my heart, and so every day that I go on living is a worthwhile day because I remember them. As long as Pallavi is in your heart, you will make good decisions and be a better person to live your life. We'll go home together after the pūjā. Remember why you adopted Damayanti - to prove to Satya-Nārāyaṇa that you are sincerely listening to Pallavi because you regard her as your wife. This is Satya-Nārāyaṇa's pūjā, which we failed to perform after you married Pallavi. Until you partake of the prasāda of this pūjā, you cannot expect Satya-Nārāyaṇa to restore what you have lost. So, promise me that you will sit quietly and without fussing, and not get up, no matter what happens, until the pūjā is complete."
"I promise, Amma," Raghav answered. He and Jaya sat down next to Kirti.
Meanwhile, Pallavi had come down from the terrace. Smiling at Anuradha and Akash, she said nothing because the pūjā was starting, as she took her place next to Mandar, behind Āī and Bābā. Sharada and Vijay were determined to perform the pūjā themselves to give thanks for their son's return, and Gurujī supported them by citing the example of Līlāvatī from the kathā, who had performed the pūjā herself to fulfil her husband's pledge regarding the birth and marriage of their daughter.
Farhad, after greeting Jaya, Kirti, Akash, and Raghav, left them and sat down behind Pallavi and Mandar. Raghav Anna looks miserable, Farhad thought, which is to be expected after I told him that Kirti must be involved in blackmailing him with that recording.
Damayanti woke up during the pūjā and got into Raghav's lap. She started to play-bite his wrist, and Raghav noticed that the kalāvā that he had tied last night was coming loose. He tried to push Damayanti's head to the side and retie the kalāvā, but Jaya shook her head, reminding him to sit still without fussing. Damayanti would not let him hide his wrist from her; she darted around to his back, and kept gnawing at the kalāvā.
"Amma, I tied this kalāvā for Pallavi's protection. I can't let it come loose. Please?" Raghav whispered.
"Raghav, your promise to sit still during the pūjā is more important. Trust Veṅkaṭeśvara to protect Pallavi no matter what," Jaya chided him.
So, Raghav tried not to think about Pallavi's vulnerability to the blackmail started by his own Celli, and he did not resist the teeth teasing playfully at his wrist. Before he knew it, the kalāvā was in Damayanti's mouth, and she had darted across the courtyard, straight to the pūjā area. Without knocking over anything, Damayanti dropped the kalāvā, woven out of white, red, yellow, and black threads, into Sharada's lap, and trotted proudly over to Pallavi, who gently lifted her into her lap. Vijay shot a disgusted look in Raghav's direction, but quickly returned his focus to the pūjā.
When the pūjā was complete and the prasāda was being distributed by Manasi, Nikhil, and Amruta, while everyone was thronging around Mandar to welcome him back, Sharada approached Pallavi. Raghav came close to them, wanting to retrieve his kalāvā and his dog.
"This kalāvā looks exactly like the one that I gave to you, Pallavi, doesn't it?" Sharada was saying.
"Yes, Āī, but I gave mine to a lady outside a hospital, long ago, in early March," Pallavi replied. "She needed money for cancer treatment, and I could only give a little. I hoped that if she tied the kalāvā with a prayer, other people would contribute until she could afford the treatment."
Raghav heard Pallavi's story, and as its meaning sank in, he got goosebumps. "Pallavi, which day did this happen?"
"I don't remember the exact date, but it was the evening of the day you kept me waiting in the cold for hours. I fell down and cut my forehead while running to stop the bulldozer that you had sent to my shop. So, I went to the hospital."
"Which hospital?" Raghav asked, his voice loud with excitement, trying not to think of his Pallavi shivering and stumbling and bleeding and terrified because he had been so cruel to her.
"S. K. Venkatesh Criticare Hospital," Pallavi informed him.
"And that's where you gave the kalāvā to the lady?" Raghav questioned, breathing heavily, and Pallavi nodded. "Pallavi, that lady gave the same kalāvā to me because I told her that Amma was in critical condition, at the same hospital. Then I went to Bābū Jamāla Kalandara Dargāha to pray for Amma, and your kalāvā is the reason that someone came forward to donate blood, and Amma is alive today."
Pallavi said nothing; this revelation surprised her, but she had always known that Amma was the patient whose life her blood donation saved that night. Pallavi's relationship with Raghav was so complicated that words often failed her.
"Don't worry about the lady," Raghav added. "She was able to get treatment for cancer, and she's in remission now."
"How do you know she's healthy?" Sharada asked, quietly but shrewdly.
"I saw her photograph in a newsletter. There's an old age home that one Mr. Ramaswami runs, and he sends me a newsletter every few months to convince me that donations are being used properly. So, I recognized the lady and asked Ramaswami if she was all right." Raghav really was a glib liar, but Pallavi, truthful though she was, could summon a perfect poker face when she wished to remain impassive, as she did now, knowing Ramaswami's truth quite well.
Sharada retied the kalāvā on Raghav's wrist. He bowed down and touched her feet - the first time he had ever done so. He wanted to be sure that her blessings were with him, because he was determined to protect Pallavi from the fallout of that blackmail recording, no matter what he might have to do.
Chapter One on page 1
Chapter Two on page 2
Chapter Three on page 2
Chapter Four on page 3
Chapter Five on page 4
Chapter Six on page 4
Chapter Seven on page 5
Chapter Eight on page 5
Chapter Nine on page 7
Chapter Ten on page 7
Chapter Twelve on page 8
Chapter Thirteen on page 8
Chapter Fourteen on page 9
Chapter Fifteen on page 10
Chapter Sixteen on page 10
Chapter Seventeen on page 11
Chapter Eighteen on page 11
Chapter Nineteen on page 11
Chapter Twenty on page 11
Chapter Twenty-One on page 11
Chapter Twenty-Two on page 12
Chapter Twenty-Three on page 12
Chapter Twenty-Four on page 12
Chapter Twenty-Five on page 12
Chapter Twenty-Six on page 13
Chapter Twenty-Seven on page 14
Chapter Twenty-Eight on page 14
Chapter Twenty-Nine on page 14
Chapter Thirty on page 14
Chapter Thirty-One on page 14
Chapter Thirty-Two on page 14
Chapter Thirty-Three on page 15
Chapter Thirty-Four on page 15
Chapter Thirty-Five on page 15
Chapter Thirty-Six on page 15
comment:
p_commentcount