Becoming the Perfect Shaberwal Bahu
Shaurya and Anokhi announced their engagement at her Graduation party thrown by her guardians Shan and Astha. The Shaberwals were an unhappy bunch but they currently couldn't do anything as Shaurya was pretty firm in his decision and the family was already on an edge with Shaurya's relationship improving with his biological parents and so they felt they couldn't completely lose him by not accepting his choice of bride. Devi thought two years is a long time for any engaged couple and so she'll convince Shaurya eventually to see how unsuitable they are for each other.
On the day after the engagement announcement Shaurya asked Anokhi to join his family on Sunday brunch. She was nervous but she agreed. Shaurya had invited Shan who had moved in with Astha to her place in Kapurthala to come to that brunch and he had promised to attend it alone. Anokhi came to the Shaberwal mansion with a bouquet to gift to Devi and had mentally prepared to be at her best behavior knowing fully well how much she had actively tried to break them up. A house help showed her in and directed her towards Shaurya's room. When she was about to knock his room she heard him yell at someone on call and then to her shock saw him throwing vases and artifacts in his room like an angry storm destroying everything in his path.
She quickly rushed in and put her arms around him in a back hug. That seemed to calm him down as he took few deep breaths and turned around holding Anokhi in an embrace who had closed her eyes in his arms. He loosened his tight grip on her when she winced lost in his thoughts as anger bubbled in him. He quickly recovered and lightly pushed her out of his arm as if her touch burned him. Anokhi calmly asked, "What is it? Why are you behaving like a maniac?" to which he replied in a disappointed tone, "He did it again. He went back on his word again. He is not coming even after promising me he would. He knew it was important for me but I guess I never learn to keep my expectation low from him. He said he can't come as he had to go with Astha to somewhere important. It couldn't be postponed. I thought we were finally making some progress in our relationship but no he had to prove me right. He can't change. They both can't change."
Anokhi once again went to comfort him and put his head in her lap stroking his head and putting her fingers in his hair gently saying, "I wouldn't say you are wrong. Neither is he. It is possible that actually there is something that has cropped up. I have seen how desperate Shan Sir and Astha Mam are to mend their ties with you. They wouldn't do anything to jeopardize their mending relationship with you. You'll see there is a perfectly logical explanation to this." "Oh please I know you are trying to placate me with empty words. You'll obviously take their side as they take yours every time. Only I am the wrong party every time, right?" "Stop being so childish. I am telling you the truth but like always you won't believe me in this matter so I have given up to become a mediator. It's up to you guys. You all are adults and way older than me so who am I to interfere? Been there done that and learnt my lesson for good in this regard." Shaurya teased Anokhi, "Wow. Don't you think you are little late with this enlightenment. Also why did you call me wayyy old and put me in the same slot with my parents?"
"You are getting oversensitive about it again. I was just teasing you, Sirrr..." smirked Anokhi with a naughty teasing smile making Shaurya laugh looking at her expression. He got up and rang for someone to clean up the mess. Anokhi stared at him in wonderment and dismissed the house help who started cleaning the room making Shaurya give her a surprised look. She handed him the broom and said, "It's your mess. You clean it." Shaurya gave her an irritated look and said, "Are you mad? Unbelievable. You think I should clean this up...you..." "You know I usually leave you speechless when I am right. If you clean this mess up right now you'll remember the effort required to clean up the mess you create in your anger which will calm you down and you won't feel the need to vent out your anger physically by throwing things around. You know you could get hurt. I could get hurt."
Shaurya rushed to her side and cupped her face in his palms and said, "I can never hurt. Never intentionally. You should know this by now. Don't you trust me?" Anokhi gave a sigh and replied, "I trust you. Explicitly. I do. But I don't trust your anger. Remember the last time you hurt me in your anger although I know you didn't mean to. But the point was even if you don't want to your emotional and angry violent response can lead to unintentional and unwarranted consequences. It will make you only feel guilty even if you didn't mean any harm. I have seen men in mean temper venting their frustration on their spouses and kids and I have been on the receiving end of that anger from my Papaji even if I know somewhere he loves me and my mother. But what's the point of that kind of love if you can't control your temper and hurt your loved one. I don't ever want to relieve that." "You insult me. I am nothing like your Papaji nor will I ever be. I didn't know that you have doubts about it." said Shaurya in an offended manner to which Anokhi took his palm into her own and replied, "I know you are nothing like my Papaji. I feel the most secure in this world when you are next to me, holding me close in your arms. I just...I just get those flashbacks when I see you livid and violent. It scares me. Not for my safety but yours. This anger and bitterness is not you. You are a kind gentle soul. And I want to see you like that." She stood on her toe and kissed him softly on both the cheeks with love. She wanted to kiss his forehead but was struggling as he was not wearing her heels today. Shaurya smiled and muttered under his breath, "Bloody Pindo" and picked her up in his arms kissing her forehead. Shaurya settled her on the floor and quickly started to collect the broken pieces of the vase. When Anokhi bent down to pick up the broken pieces he held her hand and signaled No. Devi Shaberwal had the shock of her life when she saw Shaurya collecting broken pieces of the vase.
She yelled at the House help for not doing their job. Shaurya too tried to explain to Devi but she was in no mood to hear his explanation. She threw an accusatory look at Anokhi and taunted, "So you did this? You are not even in the house for two minutes and you have already started controlling my son and making him do chores. I have never let him touch a glass and you are making him do menial work. Shaurya Beta this is just the beginning. You'll see your wife resting and going to work and you doing all the domestic work. " Shaurya started to explain to Devi that she was wrong but Anokhi shook her neck side by side indicating to stop and say, "I am making him clean the mess he has made. I am not asking him to do my work. Even if I did in future he should do his share or even my share of domestic work and vice e versa as partners should. What's wrong with your son being independent and not dependent on his wife on every small thing?"
The Shaberwals heard the entire commotion and they all gathered in their room as if there was a live drama playing in front of their eyes. The Men gave Shaurya a shocked expression while Gayatri and Kanchan gave amused surprise smile. Devi repeated the entire incident in front of Tej who gave her a judgmental look. She stared back at the couple and replied, "Tej Sir in our college do you punish a student if he makes mistake or you punish his best or classmate." "What kind of question is this? Of course the one who made the mistake gets punished." "So it's decided right that if I make a mistake I'll get punished and in the same way here Shaurya has made a mistake which he is trying to correct. So what's wrong with what's he is doing?" asked Anokhi in a matter of fact way, making all the Shaberwals stare at her in shock and Shaurya in awe. He had an idea Anokhi could and would be able to handle his family and their set ways but he never imagined her to do so well from the start.
Devi recovered quickly and was clearly irritated and snapped, "See this. She is trying to change the topic. Listen you little girl don't try and argue." to which Anokhi flashed her an angelic smile and said, "But Badi Ma this is not an argument. This is a debate. You can also put across your logic if you want with data and facts." "You think i want to debate with a 21 year old? We don't want your logic or lecture" said Devi in an annoyed tone making Anokhi flash a bigger smile and said, "Why Badi Ma scared of loosing debate with a Debate Competition Champion? And I think you should get used to hearing me giving lectures. After all I am part of a family of Professors and there is a chance I could end up becoming one too." "This girl..." started off Devi who was cut off by Tej who seemed irritated with his time being wasted. He signaled Shaurya and the rest to come for Brunch immediately as he had to leave for Delhi for his meeting with HRD Minister so no one argued. Shaurya winked at Anokhi with a proud grin for a job well done for standing up to his adoptive mother and she winked back with an amused smile.
Kanchan tapped on Anokhi's shoulder when they were prepping the last minute finishing touches in kitchen. She squealed in excitement and said, "Hi Bhabhi. I am Kanchan. I am a big fan of your now. You are too good. You have done the impossible and I am so grateful. " Anokhi smiled and said, "Hey Bhabhi. Why are you calling me Bhabhi? I am younger than you. And you are embarrassing me. I am doing what I feel is right." "Are but Shaurya Bhaiya is elder to me and Yash. How can I call you by your name?" asked Kanchan to which Anokhi held her hand and said ,"I am younger to you and so you should call me by my name. I will call you Didi if you mind me calling you Bhabhi as Yash Bhaiya is younger. You kind of remind me of my Babli di." Kanchan hugged her in excitement and said, "I don't mind it at all. In fact I love it Anokhi. I always wanted a sister and I couldn't have found one better than you." Their lovely moment was interrupted by Devi who glared at Kanchan scaring her and snapped, "You are wasting time here. I see you have still not learnt to make that perfect phulka. Till when will you be a lazy load on my head and actually learn something useful". Kanchan had tears in her eyes and Anokhi felt bad for her. Devi directed a look at her and asked, "Do you know how to make a phulka?" "I can make anything but a round chapati. I can make roti in shape of every country in the world. You can try me" replied Anokhi to which Devi snapped at her saying, "You can only make stories girls nothing else. Now help them serve the food and learn to cook in this...this time period. " Anokhi gave her a saccharine sweet smile and said, "If I get time in between leaning about Freud and Pavlov I'll learn cooking too."
Devi rolled her eyes at her stubborn insolence and went towards poolside where the entire table was laden with Sunday brunch spread. Shaurya signaled Anokhi to sit next to him and she went taking the chair next to him. Gayatri and Kanchan started serving them insisting they don't need her help and she must go sit next to Shaurya who was looking impatient. After they were done serving the Men of the house along with Kitty Bebo and Devi started having food without waiting for Gayatri and Kanchan who were standing in attention. Anokhi said, "Chachi, Kanchan Di come join us for brunch. Why are you both standing?" Gayatri and Kanchan looked awkwardly and Devi who was looking murderous taunted Anokhi, "They are doing what evey good daughter in law does. Wait for her family to eat and stand to serve them food properly with love. What you should have done too."
"I am sorry I didn't know I had to act as server at a family brunch. I thought one can eat food by passing around plates and pots too instead of the ladies waiting on foot for her family. I thought family brunch would include the entire family." Devi gave her a defeated I give up look while Tej signaled the two to join them. Both of them felt elated to join the family for brunch for first time in their married life. Shaurya put his arm around Anokhi's chair making her glance at him secretly while their feet were playing footsie under the table. They all passed around food engaging in animated conversation making Shaurya smile as he saw Anokhi weathering the storms his family put her through with flying colors. Winds of change has started blowing in the Shaberwal household which would shake up the deep rooted trees of prejudices and conventions.
The End
Hello Peeps I hope you enjoy this light and fluffy stuff after the heavy duty OS from me. Change of pace for all of us I guess LOL. Do share your views in the comment section. Looking forward to hearing from you all. If you haven't already and are interested please do check out my other work on the forum
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/5211681#155978860
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