Roopa breaks Preetam’s heart

Preetam PoV:

Roopa was tired with the journey and slept while I was working on the laptop. Hearing the sound of the door knock, Roopa woke up from her slumber.

"You take rest Roopa, I will see who's that," I said as she is trying to get out of the bed.

I opened the door.

"Mom!" I said.

"Where is your wife?" Mom asked in a firm voice, indicating to me that mom cooked up something in her mind to trouble Roopa.

"Roopa is sleeping, mom," I said, trying hard to avoid the third World War in my home.

"Sleeping? How can a daughter in law sleep at this time?" Mom asked as its 6:30 pm.

"Roopa was tired with the journey. So I asked her to take a rest," I said.

"Look Preetam, Roopa is not only your wife, but also the daughter in law of this house. She has responsibilities and duties. Ask her to get up and prepare dinner for us," mom ordered, glaring at me.

"Mom, Roopa needs rest. She returned from Vizag today. Please, mom, she will do as you said from tomorrow. Leave her for today," I requested mom.

"Preetam, I will prepare dinner. I am fine" I heard Roopa saying and turned back.

"Aunty, I will just wash my face and will prepare dinner," Roopa said in a low tone. I understood that she needs a sound sleep, but mom forced her to work.

"Look Roopa, every day you should prepare food for us. One more thing, don't prepare food which you like. Come to me every day and cook only those dishes which I order, understand?" Mom said in her most harsh and dominating tone.

Roopa nodded to mom's words, without retorting back.

"Prepare vegetable rice, paneer paratha, mixed vegetable curry, boondi Raita, potato kurma, chilli paneer. Make paneer and boondi by yourself. Don't use instant paneer or boondi. Everything must be ready by 8 pm," mom ordered her.

"Mom, we are just five members, including Vinaya. What will you do with all these dishes?" I asked.

Did mom plan to donate the food or for a function? Who would eat that much food? I didn't like mom's behaviour towards Roopa. I gave a pitiful look to Roopa, to which Roopa smiled signalling me to relax.

Mom glared at me and left the room, giving Roopa strict instructions. I didn't know how Roopa would do all those things by 8 pm. Mom was trying to suffer her.

"It's ok, Preetam, I will try to do all on time. Don't worry," Roopa said confidently.

"Please Roopa, don't get upset with mom's behaviour. Please bear her for me," I requested her.

"Don't worry, Preetam; I will not utter even a word before your parents. I will stay calm following their every word to win their hearts," Roopa said smiling.

Did I ask her to stay calm and do everything they say? Did I force her to bear their torture silently for my sake? I pity her.

"Preetam, please don't be dull. I will manage everything. Give me your most attractive smile which took my heart away. That boosts my energy," Roopa said.

I smiled at her words. Roopa completed preparation of dinner on time. She served everyone. My hunger increased with the aroma of the dishes prepared by her.

"Roopa, you join us," I said to Roopa. I wished to have dinner with her.

"No Preetam, as per our customs, daughter in law should eat food after serving in-laws and husband. She should never eat with in-laws. Didn't your mom teach all these to you Roopa?" mom asked Roopa.

"Yes, mom, but it was in Vedic times. Now everything is changed," I said.

"Nothing changed, Preetam. Everyone should know their position. You stop arguing with me and have your dinner," mom said, and I tried to say something. Roopa signalled me not to say anything.

Roopa served everyone, and very soon I found them finishing the food prepared by her. How could they eat like that? What would Roopa do now? I felt it was too much.

"Mom, what will Roopa eat now? You people ate everything."

"It's her fault to prepare less food, Preetam. Roopa demonstrated her middle-class miser mentality in preparing food. She will prepare later for herself. Stop bothering" dad said this time.

Everyone had their food and left for their respective rooms. Roopa came to the bedroom after completing the household chores ordered by mom. I felt guilty for binding her legs with my words, asking her to obey mom and dad.

"Did you have anything?" I asked Roopa.

"Yes, I took the milk," Roopa said.

"Roopa, I am sorry for my parent's behaviour. Wait for some time, I will prepare something for you to eat," I said.

"Preetam, please sleep. I am not hungry. I used to take light food at night time. So, a glass of milk is sufficient to me," Roopa said.

"No, I can't let you sleep with hunger. I know you are hungry," I said.

I went to the kitchen and prepared macaroni for Roopa. I know it's her favourite. I fed her, and she slept hugging me. In the morning, Roopa prepared breakfast for all of us. We had food and got ready to go to the office.

"Aunty, we are going to the office," Roopa said to mom.

"Office? What will you do there? Maids are on leave for a month. If you go to the office, who will do all the work at home?" Mom said.

"Mom, Roopa is educated. I don't want Roopa to waste her talent and education. Let her work in our office. I permitted her to do the job," I said.

I never liked the concept of restricted the woman to the kitchen after marriage. They have their goals and dreams. Marriage shouldn't curb their freedom.

"No! We don't want our daughter in law to work," dad supported mom.

"That's okay, uncle. I respect your words. I will take care of the works at home," Roopa said.

I asked her to come to our room. Why did Roopa accept their words? Roopa loved to work and how could she sacrifice her dreams that easily?

"Roopa, are you mad? Why did you agree to quit the job? I am trying to convince them but....."

"Preetam, Uncle and aunt are doing this intentionally. You can't convince them. I will take care of all this. You go to the office," Roopa said, convincing me.

"What if they hurt you more when I leave?" I asked her.

"Preetam, don't worry, I can handle. I love you. Now you, please move to the office," she said confidently. I left to the company, leaving her at home, though I was tensed about her.

I returned home soon. I opened the room door and went tiptoeing to surprise Roopa. I stopped finding her talking a call, turned another side.

"Yes, I know how important it is for me to come there. But I promised Preetam that I wouldn't go anywhere without his acceptance. I am sure till my in-laws accept me, he doesn't like me going anywhere. I don't understand what to do," Roopa said.

"Nandu, please understand. It's not that easy as you think. Preetam is different from everyone. Even my parents trusted that note which I didn't keep. But Preetam trusted me. I can't hurt my husband again and again," Roopa said.

I felt happy to know that Roopa didn't want to hurt me. She understood me and my reason for asking her not to go on any trip for some time. But, her next words had hurt me deeply as I didn't expect them.

"Look, it doesn't matter whether I love Preetam or not, but what matters the most is I am his wife, and he has right to know everything about me. Yes, you are right, my heart loves only one thing and no one else. Love has no place in my life. I am still the same Roopa who loves no one. I know why I came here. I didn't want them to fall into a problem because of me. Once if they are out of that problem, I will return to you."

I was in shock listening to her words.

Doesn't she love me? She doesn't want to hurt me but has no love for me? Is she staying here on purpose?

Everything confused me, and I couldn't understand her purpose behind returning to my home.