Seven Vows Part 1- Published

Delicate Touch

Suman and Vindhya were in the car. They had been asked to come to Jaipur main warehouse by evening so that they can select the sarees. When they reached Sudhir and Sreedhar were waiting for them. Once they entered the warehouse , Sudhir closed the door and ensured only 4 of them were there.

" Sreedhar cotton sarees are inside, you go with Suman there. Spend some time with each other. Don't worry about time. It will take ages for your bhabi to go through all the stock here. She will want most of the things and by the time I convice her to take only 4 or 5 it will be midnight" told Sudhir and Vindhya made faces.

" Suman atleast you enjoy. My fate is gone from the time I am tagged with him. 4 or 5 sarees. Everytime profit or loss. As if I need to come this far and see so much just to take 4 or 5"

Suman and Sreedhar laughed. " Bhaiyya all the best. Bhabi doesn't seem to be in right mood " told Sreedhar as he and Suman moved inside.

Once inside Sreedhar dragged 2 chairs across the table and they sat opposite to each other. " You read my letter " asked Suman

" Yes, but before I answer your question, I have a question for you" told Sreedhar

" Question for me, what question " asked Suman

" Why you didn't want to marry Suman and why you changed your decision and accepted my love"

Suman stared at him

They were in the terrace of her hostel " Sumi you had never told me who were the man of your dreams. What kind of a man you wanted as your husband. I have heard girls dream about their marriage. And my bhabi says even before you people get a groom you plan what dress you wear, what jewellery you wear, what will be there for the wedding feast etc..so what were your plans or what are your plans "

" I have never thought about marriage Sreedhar. Actually I had no plans of getting married.I wanted to study, get a job and go to some city in South like Bangalore or Madras with Maa"

" Really don't lie. All girls will have dreams of marriage " Sreedhar persisted

" Sreedhar is it mandatory for a girl to have dreams about marriage. I don't have believe me"

She walked in a huff and stood near the railing of the terrace. He went behind her and turned her towards him " Ok baba fine you didn't had any dream of marriage. I will not ask anything about it. Now you love me, you want to marry me . Now smile. I don't like that frown in your face" she laughed

" Sreedhar I told you that day itself I didn't had dreams of marriage and if a girl doesn't have such a dream should there be a reason" told Suman

" You know there is a reason Suman. And now I have guessed some of it. But I want to know from you. I can withstand any pain in your past Suman. But to ensure your past doesn't cloud our future I want to know that past. Story of Suman Rajput's scarred childhood "

Suman got up walked towards the window and stood there sometime holding the window bars. Then she looked at Sreedhar " I was afraid of marriage Sreedhar, I was afraid of my identity getting ripped off and I was afraid of a man's touch. I was like an unwanted furniture at home . If my father saw me he will find a reason to beat me. He called me the reason for all his failures. My mother's status in the family was that of a slave because she only had me not a son. She did all the housework, was publicly humiliated by my dadi and other badi maa's. Sometimes dadi will beat her, sometimes Papa. And if they are really angry hot tawa will be placed on her hands. Even with burnt hands and bruised body she will be made to work. My mother told me it is a woman's fate that she has to bear all this if she cannot give a son to the family.My mother also told a woman's family wants to throw her out as soon as possible and her husband's family will have value for her only if a boy is born. But to be frank even my badi maa's who had sons were not treated anything superior. They were also abused but in lesser scale