Chapter Nine

Jay:

In the morning, I got ready and came to the kitchen but stopped listening to Vidya.

"Dad, please try to understand. It's my goal. I want to reach it. Marriage is not an obstacle to my goal. Somehow I will convince Jay. But I need money for the coaching. I can’t ask Jay for money. Please understand me."

"Thank you. Love you, dad. Bye."

Vidya took the coffee cup and came to the hall but stopped seeing me near the door.

"Jay, when did you come?"

I took the coffee cup from her hands.

"Tell me," I said.

"What?" Vidya said.

"What are you going to prepare for the breakfast today?"

"Noodles is already ready for the breakfast," Vidya said.

"Do you have anything to tell me, Vidya?"

"No but why are you asking like that?"

"That's fine. I have something to talk to you. Come let's sit and talk in the dining hall," I said.

Vidya nodded but I understood that she was scared of me for no reason. I am not angry with her. I just want to tell her that she has every right on the money I earn and after the marriage, I don't want her to depend over her parents for money or anything.

"Are you scared of me?"

Vidya nodded. I smiled and held her hand.

"Vidya, Why did you call your dad?"

"You permitted me to talk to my dad. Are you angry at me for that? I am sorry. I will stop calling them," Vidya said.

"Vidya, it's your right to talk to your parents and I never object for that," I said.

"I got upset for the reason that made you to call your father."

Vidya looked at me confused.

"Why didn’t you inform me that you need money?"

"I thought to ask but...."

"No need to ask me, Vidya. Informing me is enough. Anyways, don’t worry. Take these cards."

I handedover the debit card and cheque book to her with my signature on the cheques.

"You can use these cards for today and meanwhile I will transfer amount to your account. Give me your account details. But please don't ask anything from your parents.

Whatever you need, I am ready to give you. Because now you are married and it's our life. We should lead it together. You are my wife and my responsibility. I don’t want my wife asking anything from anyone."

"Jay, I need two lakhs. It's not a small amount."

"No problem. You can withdraw the money you want with those blank cheques."

"But I can’t take your money."

"It’s not my money. Everything that belongs to me also belongs to you. So it's our money."

"Ok. Don’t you want to know why I need such a huge amount?"

"I already heard that you need it for your coaching. But I don’t know exactly. However it's your money and you can use it as you wish," I said.

"I want to say something to you," Vidya said in a low voice.

"Yeah, sure. But I want a promise from you. From now whatever problem or needs you have, first please discuss that with me. Not with your family or friends. Only when husband doesn't understand, wife should share her grief or happiness with maternal family or friends. And you know well that I am always with you and understands you better than anyone."

"I promise you. Now I want to ask upu something. But I don’t know whether you would accept it or not. But please don’t be angry with me."

"I will not be angry with you. You can share anything with me," I said, holding her hand to assure her.

"I want to prepare for the civil services. I want to be an IAS. It's my goal," Vidya said slowly. Maybe she assumed that I may say no to her dreams.

"Wow. That's great. Why do you think that I will not agree? Even my elder sister, Suhana is an IAS officer," I said happily.

Vidya:

I was in shock knowing that his sister is Suhana, Additional Secretary of Chief Minister. Suhana is my inspiration initially. She is a very courageous and sincere officer who works for the welfare of the people. She topped the civil services exam too.

But later on, I heard that Suhana involved in a scam. After that she absconded and the police department is searching for her. No one knows about her whereabouts.

I read in the newspaper that Suhana is a corrupted officer but acted as a sincere officer until now. Her real character and misdeeds were revealed recently. I hate such people who misuses their power and authority.

"Do you mean Suhana, the former Additional Secretary in the Chief Minister Office?"

"Yes, she is my elder sister," Jay said.

"I heard that she was involved in a scam and absconded. Where is she now? The police are searching for her," I said.

"I am also searching for her," Jay said with tears in his eyes. He closed his eyes and then, leaned on the sofa.

"Are you okay?"

"Do you know anything else about Suhana other than what's given in the news?" Jay said.

"I don't know anything than that."

"Do you know who is her husband?"

"No, I don't know."

"Do u know whom your brother loved and married against your father’s decision?"

I remembered how my brother went against my dad to marry someone he loved. My parents didn't accept him or the daughter in law until now as my father felt that my brother degraded his respect in the society by eloping.

"How do you know about my brother? I don’t know anything. My brother left us and married someone but I don't know who is she. Because, for a few years I studied in Delhi, away from my home. All I know is my brother eloped on the day of his wedding and married someone. After that my dad suffered with a heart attack."

"Your brother is also an IAS, isn't it?"

I nodded.

"Your brother is my brother-in-law. Your brother and my sister loved each other during their training period. Suhana is the one whom he married."

"What? Where is my brother now? I want to talk to him once," I said with a hope that I can talk to my brother after a long time.

"Ask your father."

"I asked my father several times but he didn't tell me anything about my brother. I miss him desperately and want to talk to him atleast once. Please tell me where is he," I said.

"He is no more. He was killed by your father. The great father who killed his son," Jay said.

"Shut up, Jay. I am sure my dad won't do that. He can’t kill his son. How could you talk like this? For everything, you are showing my father as the reason. I read that your sister involved in a scam and escaped. I know my brother is sincere. Maybe to escape, your sister killed my brother. Your family is the reason for my brother’s death," I said losing temper for blaming my father.

"Vidya," Jay yelled at me, making me realize what I said in sorrow.

"I am sorry, Jay. I don't mean it."

Jay went off to his room. I followed him but he closed the door. I knocked on the door.

"Jay, I am really sorry. Please open the door. I am sorry."

I sat down near the door crying. After one hour, Jay opened the door. I saw him and got up immediately. I too one step towards him but stopped. Jay looked at me.

"Vidya, come here," Jay said.

I went to him and looked at him with a bit of fear. Jay wiped my tears and hugged me.

"Don’t cry. It's ok. I understand. I locked in the room not because of anger but same as you, I too can’t bear comments about my family. But I know as you don’t know anything, you talked like that. I don’t want to hurt you. So I went off and locked in the room just not to hurt you."

"Please forgive me, Jay. I shouldn't have blamed your family without knowing the truth," I said, holding his hands.

"It's ok. Soon you will come to know the truth. I know that you love your father a lot and that's why you have spoken that way. Once if you know the truth, you won't be hurting me anymore."

"I love you, Jay."

"I love you, my angel. I am sorry if I hurt you," Jay said.

"Are you going to join in the coaching today?

"Yes. Can you accompany me?"

"No," Jay said, making me dull.

"I am always with you. I will come with you to the institute. But you should manage everything there and I am not going to help you. Because you should become independent," Jay said.

Jay kissed on my forehead.

"Aren’t you to office today?"

"No. Today my younger brother, Adi, is coming to visit us. After that let's go to the institute."

"Younger brother? I hope no girl faces a situation like me who don’t know anything about her husband’s family."

"I have two siblings, Suhana and Adi. Your brother Kiran is my brother-in-law. My parents Vijaya and Vivekananda are doctors . Both are cardiologists. My sister and brother in law are IAS officers. My younger brother is pursuing aeronautical engineering.

My family is a happy family where everyone knows only to share love. Apart from my family, there are three persons whom I love equally. They are my best friends Vikram, Karthik and Shwetha. Is this brief introduction enough for you?"

I nodded asusual, not understanding what to say.

"Don’t think too much. When time comes, you will know everything."

We heard the door bell and Jay went to open the door.

"Hi brother, how are you?"

"Adi, I am fantastic. How are you?"

"I am doing great," Adi said.

They hugged each other. I stood there smiling.

"Vidya, he is my younger brother, Adi. Adi, she is your sister in law, Vidya."

"Hello, Adi," I said, smiling at him.

"She can become your wife but can never become my sister in law. Because of her father, our entire family expired and we didn’t even see their dead bodies. Not only that, her dad blamed our sister as the one who involved in a scam and escaped. I never accept her as my sister in law."

"Stop it Adi, it's not her mistake."

"Jay, leave it. It's ok. Adi came just now. I don’t want you to argue with him for me. I will prepare the lunch for both of you."

"I don’t like to have food prepared by her. Brother, If you try to force me then, I will leave you and will stay in Karthik's house," Adi said.

"It's ok, Adi. Be as you want. We won’t force you," I said.

Adi went to his room.

"Vidya, please don’t get hurt. Soon he will understand about you," Jay said.

"It's ok. I am habituated to this kind of hatred and harshness from the moment you married me. Please don’t think I am blaming you. Because I am getting immense love from you. So, I can bear all these as long as I have your love and until the truth comes out. I will prepare lunch," I said and went to the kitchen, hiding my tears from Jay. I dreamt a happy married life having the love of all the family members. But, all I got is hatred for the mistake which is not done by me.