UNLOVING THE LOVED ONES -2

 

Anand was caring and charming. He would make every effort to live up to her expectations and make his life partner happy. Ridhika was happy with Anand. He meant everything to her. She too would make herself available for Anand as and when required, even when her job was very demanding sometimes.

Everything was perfect as she- they wanted.

One fine day, his mother arrived from Delhi. She was a sweet lady. Another mother for Ridhika. She would not allow her to cook or do any household chores. Ridhika would appreciate her so much. She was glad that she came, as Anand would miss his mother so much and would often talk to her late at night.

 Until the realisation.

After dinner, she would not allow Ridhika and Anand to spend too much time in the living area to talk or gossip. She would almost push them to the bedroom under the pretext of providing them with the personal space they would need as a newlywed couple. Slowly, Ridhika started thinking about it. She wondered why her mother-in-law was so urgent. At first, she thought maybe the lady would find it hard to stay awake for long. But many times, between her deep sleeps at night, she would hear her talking to someone in a whispering voice. She thought it must be her father-in-law. She had told this to Anand too. But he had dismissed this conjecture.

Days passed. Her mother-in-law was staying with them for 2 long months. She would not mention anything about going back to Delhi. Now Ridhika was becoming impatient as she wanted her couple life back. It was difficult for her to invite her friends for dinner and late-evening parties, as her mother-in-law would make some excuse every time she planned one. Things started becoming patchy now. Before it became rough, she decided to talk to Anand about it on the weekend.

But on Tuesday night, she woke up at 1 AM. She did not find the water bottle near her bed, nor did she find Anand on the bed. She presumed him to be in the washroom and went out to get some water. She heard Anand talking and her mother giggling. She was surprised and upset too, as his mother was talking to him at this hour of the night, while after dinner she would push them into the bedroom. She went closer to the room. It was not latched from inside. She heard them giggling like two women in deep conversation. She strained her ears more and heard her name being uttered. They were talking about her and sniggering. She was furious. Anand was sounding so different than usual. “How could he do this?” Her mind was now restless. She, without hesitation and any further thought, pushed the door open vehemently.

Her eyes could not believe what they saw. Both people were seated on the bed, and Anand was wearing a green saree with full makeup and hair done exactly like his mother. His mother was calling him Shavari, not Anand.

Ridhika could not believe her eyes, and she fainted.

(Shavari was Anand’s aunt (his mother’s own sister) who was burnt to death by her in-laws for not getting enough dowry. Anand was very fond of her, and his mother loved her sister immensely. Her untimely and horrific death left both the son and the mother mentally traumatized. His father knew it and had tried every way to treat them. But he was unsuccessful.)

Shishir, too, knew it.