secrets woven in moonlight

chapter 4

ishita was seated in front of everyone in a sky blue embroidered suit, with the dupatta covering her head, despite of some  of her central hair part revealing through. Her makeup wasn't as heavy as for the wedding, as minimal as possible, her heart was just not in it. there were middle aged women sitting around the living room in the couches separate from her, as they were making circles of 500 rupee notes and keeping them on her lap one by one, making her let out a fake smile that lasted barely any moment. 

"arre nimrat itni pyaari bahu kaise le aaiyi?" asked one of the ladies, as dushyant's elder sister only smiled politely. 

"bas, kismat mein likha tha iske hamare ghar aana, bas, aa gayi..." she replied cordially, as ishita too gave a polite smile, but she only loathed her fate. 

"arre, dushyant kahi nahi dekh raha..." pointed out another lady. 

"arre woh hamare jaane ka intezaar kar raha hoga, nayi biwi se toh koi nahi door reh paata..." stated another one jokingly, making ishita let out an ironic, dry, mocking laugh in response. 

"chalo, chalo bhai, isse pehle khudh hi humein nikalne aa jayein..." cracked a joke another lady. 

The forced lightheartedness being attempted to induce into the air, was just not spreading.

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Kavin was seeming to not wake up this morning, confusing purvi if she should try to wake him up or it would make him displeased by her even more. she couldn't help but wonder if it was really possible for him to be anymore frustrated with her. 

She went ahead to shake him up, calling his name aloud to wake him up, but there seemed to be no response. She took a deep sigh and just shook her head, walking away from the bed, opening up the door to the room, only for something to strike her mind. she ended up not leaving the room, but instead banged the door extremely loudly, with a bang thud that made kavin wake up. 

He fluttered his eyes open and sat up immediately on the bed. 

"uth gaye pati dev..." remarked purvi sarcastically as she smirked, as kavin looked at her dumbfounded. 

"ab agar kaam pe jaana hai toh jaldi niklo, tumhe der toh ho hi gayi hai..." stated purvi bluntly, this time leaving the room for real. 

Kavin ended up rubbing his eyes, as he facepalmed himself. He had to realise, she was done putting up with him. 

                                                                                       ***

Ishita reluctantly entered the room, as she saw dushyant getting ready to leave for work, after packing up his briefcase. Awkward glances met, as they both had no idea what they can even say to each other. 

"toh aap, kaam pe jaa rahe hai?" asked ishita, just because she thought what could go wrong over asking the most obvious one, as dushyant, still feeling awkward around her, nodded in agreement. 

"mujhe, ek hi din ki chutti mil paayi....phir mujhe thodi der se rehna padega aaj...kal, didi aur jiju ko chodne jaana hai station, woh waapas jaa rahe hai....toh half day lena padega..." informed dushyant, as ishita could only nod upon receiving this piece of information. 

"toh...khayal rakhna...apna...chalta hoon...." stated dushyant, as he quickly stepped outside the room, as ishita swallowed a lump down her throat, letting a deep breath out. 

She was starting to realise that this was the beginning of many more empty moments to come. 

                                                                                   ***

Kavin came out rushing from his room, adjusting his belt to his pant, as he was heading out for work, when his mother came in front of him. 

"kavin...." she called out. 

"maa, mujhe der ho rahi hai..." stated kavin, as he was unlocking the door open, but her mother got hold of the lock. 

"beta apni zindagi se bhaagna band karo...jo hua hai, usse maanne se mana karna chodo...apni zindagi khudh hi bardbad karna band karo!" stated his mother, a bit aggressive in her tone, but it seemed a bit necessary. 

"aapne mujhse puche bina mere liye itna bada faisla kardiya...main kaise hi mukrunga kisi faisle se, jisse kabhi lene ka mauka apne mujhe diya hi nahi...kisike gale nahi bandhi jaati shaadiyan!" argued kavin, getting her hand off the lack, pushing the door open swiftly and heading out. 

His mother stood there blankly, haunted by the memories of that day again....