AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I did not want to have any misunderstandings or lack of communication.”
Deepak stared at her. He wanted to hug her and genuinely apologize to her, but she moved away from him, anguished, and there was nothing he could do to comfort her. He was dejected. Not knowing how to react, he walked away angry and disturbed.
He was unhappy but could not discuss this with anybody at home. He desperately wanted to let out his feelings but could not. What could he do? Who could he talk to? He was angry at himself, at Roshni, and he got out of the house. He needed some ‘alone’ time. Roshni watched him leave; she knew he was very troubled.
Roshni left the papers on his hand bag, and she noticed the bracelets (kangans) lying on his carry-on bag. They remained where he’d left them on the wedding night. She placed them securely in a small bag and left a note: “Deepak, these belong to your wife. Please give them to her.” She left the kangans in his suitcase and went to the kitchen.
~ ~ ~
Deepak went on a long walk and returned a couple of hours later, much calmer. Sashank reminded him to check for his passport, tickets, etc. He nodded and went to his room. Roshni was folding some clothes in the room; she noticed him but was quiet. She was prepared not to go to the airport to see him off.
After lunch, Deepak was still perturbed and went back to his room. He paced back and forth. He was tormented by what Roshni had done; he could not believe it!
At about 5 p.m., Kaki and Roshni served chai to everybody. Prashant called to check if he could visit Deepak before he left, and Sashank invited him to join them for dinner and then accompany them to the airport. Prashant agreed.
Roshni went into the kitchen to help Kaki with the dinner preparations. They had half an hour before dinner, and Deepak wanted to talk to Roshni, but with Prashant and others around, he could not. Deepak gestured to Roshni that he wanted to talk to her, and she saw there was lot of hustle around, so she suggested they talk after dinner.
During dinner, Sashank requested that Roshni eat so they could leave for the airport on time.
Roshni had already made up her mind not to go to the airport. “Bhaiya, do you want me to come to the airport?”
Deepak just stared at her, thinking to himself, Oh, Roshni, please don’t start this again. I want you to come to the airport.
The few days he’d spent with her after the wedding had an impact on him. He respected her and certainly appreciated all her efforts to keep up the promise to make his brothers happy.
Roshni tried to justify why she should not go. “They do not allow visitors inside, and we don’t get to talk once Deepak goes inside. It makes no sense for all of us to go. I was planning on staying back.”
Deepak was furious at this statement but was not surprised because of the decisions she had been making.
At this time, Prashant intervened, “Roshni bete, I am going with Sashank, and you should go. Deepak will feel better.”
Deepak was relieved to hear this; at least her babuji supported him. “Yes, I certainly hoped she would come, but I will leave it to her.”
Deepak and Roshni looked at each other, and Roshni agreed to go to the airport. Deepak completed his dinner and looked at Roshni; he signaled to her about his talk. Roshni picked up a plate with a couple of chapathis and curry for her, and a bowl of kheer for Deepak, and they went to his room.
She gave the kheer bowl to Deepak, and she took her plate and sat on the sofa. “Deepak, my apologies, we got distracted, but you wanted to say something to me. Please go ahead; I am listening,” she said.
Deepak sat next to Roshni on the sofa. Roshni was confused, nervous, and looked at him. Even before she took her first bite, Deepak held her hand and with a sad face said, “Roshni, I am very sorry.”
His apology was genuine; he meant it.
Roshni was taken aback as to why he apologized; she looked at him with a questioning expression.
Deepak had watched her enough in these few days to believe that Roshni was a woman of dignity and self-respect. He unknowingly had done a lot of harm to her; she was devastated. He was very cautious communicating to her, especially on this topic of their marriage.
Deepak took a deep breath and continued to hold her hand. He looked into her eyes. “I feel awful for all that happened on our wedding night. I was so unsure of so many things and felt like sharing with you. I absolutely had no intention to belittle you.”
He held her hand with both his hands. “And I realized later…whatever I said not only caused grief but you felt very insulted. Believe me, I struggled between my views on marriage and Sashank bhaiya; I could not do anything to disappoint him.” He looked at her very sadly.
Deepak’s words touched her; however, her ego would not accept this apology. She was torn between these personalities. She was distressed, and tears came to her eyes. She put her plate on the table and tried to wipe her tears with her other hand. Deepak asked her to listen to him, and she listened.
“You said you distrust me. I can understand your feelings and frustrations, but I want to say this to you, if I was open to the arranged marriage concept, I don’t think I would have found anybody better than you. As Sashank bhaiya said, you were the right person for me,” he confessed to her.
Deepak waited for her response to this statement. She gradually pulled her hand away from his and wiped her tears. This was her response: no more tears, she decided to move on!
“I wanted to apologize to you before I left. I have one request, a sincere request. Please give me some time to digest all that happened. I acted very immaturely and probably not to your expectations–”
Roshni interrupted him, “Deepak, what is done is done. You expressed your views on marriage that day. Yes, I was…and am very upset.” She gained control of herself. “And I repeat this again, you could have been open and honest with me before the wedding. We could have averted this situation.”
