Nandini stared out of the window, her head pounding due to sleepless night, while the sun rose over the horizon. She looked over both the children, who were sleeping peacefully, before she got up to get ready. Walking to the bathroom, she took a bath and wore a cotton suit, her fingers fiddling with the nuptial chain and then she sighed, hooking it. Tying her hair in a bun, she walked downstairs.
Moving to the kitchen, Nandini collected some flour in a bowl with the intention of preparing paranthas for everyone for breakfast. She raised the sleeves of her suit till her elbow, her eyes falling on the red marks on her wrists.
Swallowing, she ignored them, focusing on doughing the material, not realizing she was crying until her tears dropped on her hands. Moving away, she tried to wipe her eyes as she washed her hands, startling as her mother in law called out, "Nandini."
"Jee," Nandini asked, not turning around as she knew her mother in law would immediately catch upon that something was wrong looking at her. If she hadn't already.
"Bahar aa. Mujhe tujh se baat karni hain," her mother in law said. Nandini nodded and when she moved out, Nandini cleaned her face before following her outside. Nandini sat on the charpai opposite her, looking at her in surprise as her law enquired, "Manik kaha hain? Woh kal raat ghar nahi aaya tha na?" Looking at Nandini's surprised reaction, she explained, "Ghar aate hi mujhe milta hai voh raat ko. Kal nahi aaya."
"Pata nahi," Nandini mumbled, her eyes filling up again as she recalled how he had left and disappeared on her for whole night, not even listening to her. She wondered if he believed Ashish's words over hers.
"Kya hua?" Her mother in law asked, noticing the sudden sullen look of Nandini. Nandini shook her head, her hands fisting in her lap as the old woman further enquired, "Aur Ashish kaha hain? Woh bhi shaam se nahi dikha mujhe."
Nandini simply shrugged her shoulders, making her mother in law sigh in frustration as she snapped, "Mere jaane ke baad shaam ko essa kya hua tha joh mere dono bete ghar par nahi aaye puri raat aur tu hi hain joh iska jawab de sakti hain taaki mujhe unki chinta na khaa jaaye."
"Dono ki ya ek ki?" Nandini asked, looking up at her, feeling sudden rage even towards her for letting a man in Ashish in their household, though it was unreasonable since she didn't even know his deeds. The old women frowned at her until realization dawned on her and she simply replied, "Tujhe Mahir aur Agastya ki fikar barabar hoti hain na?"
"Mere bacho ko isme bilkul mat laaye. Aur apne beto se toh unki galti se bhi tulna na kare," Nandini snapped in anger.
"Kyu essa kya gunah kar diya mere bacho ne tujh par?" Her mother in law enquired.
"Kya nahi kiya ye puchiye," Nandini scoffed. When his mother didn't speak up, her eyes widened in shock as Nandini said, "Voh aapke bete Ashish ne zabardasti ki mere saath. Aur inhone usse bhi bada gunah kiya. Pata hain kya? Apni hi biwi, inke doh bacho ki Maa uss par vishwas nahi kiya. Joh voh Ashish bola usse maan liya."
"Nandini," the mother in law said, stopping her as she moved towards her. Nandini looked at her as she asked, "Tujhe pata hain uski pehli biwi saath kya hua tha?" When Nandini shook her head, Manik's mother breathed in, narrating his past, not wanting her son to lose his wife due to some misunderstanding.
However, she was shocked when Nandini simply nodded her head and then got up, saying, "Agar ye aaj raat se pehle ghar vaapis na aaye toh main dono bacho saath iss ghar se chali jaungi. Kyu agar inhe mujhpar vishwaas nahi toh mujhe bhi nahi hain."
~~~~
Manik's mother sighed in relief as she noticed her son coming back but it soon converted to worry as she noticed his condition. He looked so unkept with his hair ruffled and eyes red due to tiredness.
"Maa," Manik mumbled, bending down and greeting her. Blessing him, her mother made him sit beside her, cupping his cheeks and asked in concern, "Kaha tha puri raat. Tujhe pata hain mujhe kitni fikar horahi thi." Looking at him lost, she said softly, "Ye sab chod. Teri haalat dekh kar lag raha hain ki tune kuch nahi khaya raat se? Jaa muh haath dhole main khaana lagvati hu. Phir baith kar baat karenge, theek hain?"
Manik nodded as he got up, washing his hands and face downstairs instead of going to their room, knowing Nandini was in their since he didn't see her around the kitchen. His mother asked her sister to serve him, wanting Manik to have his dinner peacefully and knew it wouldn't happen if the couple were in each other's presence given their anger and frustration.
After Manik had his food silently, only enquiring about Mahir's health since stitches and Agastya's well being in between. As he got up to go upstairs, his mother called out to him, making him turn to look at her, "Beta, bhul jaa purani baato ko."
Manik simply nodded before walking away.
~~~~
Nandini looked towards the entrance of the room while she was busy patting Agastya to sleep as Manik entered. She was relieved but swallowed her hurt as he didn't even throw a glance her way, simply walking to the bathroom with a fresh pair of clothes.
While he was bathing, her sister in law came up and asked, "Bhabhi aaj Mahir ko apne paas sula lu? Kal hum dono ko subah jaldi bhi nahi uthna." Nandini was a bit apprehensive, given the stitches he had yesterday but her sister in law hopefully said, "Main uska pura dhyan rakhungi. Ya hum dono Maa paas chale jayenge sone ke vaqt."
Nandini nodded, forcing a smile, watching as she walked away excitedly.
When Nandini heard the tap closing, she slowly parted away from Agastya and settled her clothes. As he came out, Nandini asked gently, "Khaana lagau?"
"Maa ne karvadiya tha," Manik replied, looking up. He watched her for a moment before focusing back on closing the buttons.
Nandini nodded, standing with the hope that he may speak up. But, when he didn't, simply walking away after he was ready to sleep, he froze in his steps as Nandini started, "Galti aapki pehli biwi ne ki aur phir aapke bhai ne ki. Lekin unn dono ki galtiyo ki saza main nahi sahungi. Itna karne ke baad bhi aap ko mujh par vishwaas nahi hain na?" Manik turned around, his heart dropping as Nandini said, "Toh jis riste main vishwaas hi nahi hain uss rishta ko bhi aage nibhane ka bhi koi fayda nahi hain. Mujhe talaak dedijiye."
I love leaving you guys on cliffhangers 🤭
*Runs and Hides away*
YOU ARE READING
Insatiable Desires
General FictionA story set in 1960s where an eighteen year old is wedded off to the Sarpanch of the village who is fifteen years her senior. 🔞 Contains mature content and domestic abuse. Reader's discretion is warned.
