Seven Vows Part 1- Published

The Advice, The Threat, The Love

Surekha laid the breakfast to her daughter and son –in-law. Naina still looked frail. Surekha told

" Rajat beta eat. By evening today she will be normal. You can take her to your house. Anyways she is the bahu of your house. Let her visit her sasural and then you can come back "

" Aunty I need to open the shop. So I will be going there after breakfast" told Rajat

" Sure sure beta. Do go " told Surekha. Rajat after breakfast moved out from that haveli. His heart was heavy. His mother had forced this marriage onto him for the sake of his three sisters. He had loved Sudeepta though he had never confessed his feelings for her. He had responsibilities and he knew she too had responsibilities. He was waiting to propose her after the wedding of atleast two of his sisters. He knew convincing his mother would have been difficult as Sudeepta could never bring the dowry which Naina had bought now. He walked to his house to take the key of his shop. His mother stopped him

" Rajat I hope you had Suhaagraat with your wife or are you still thinking about that sales girl. Don't think I don't know anything " asked his mother

" Maa I have married Naina as per your wish. That girl is tired. From what I understood she has not had food for atleast for ten days. Let her be steady. Let her feel comfortable with me and let me feel comfortable with her" he tried to go, but his mother blocked his way

" Girls adjust. Married and you started giving advice to your mother what is right, what is wrong. Ensure you have Suhaagraat at the earliest and around this time next year let her hold a baby. When bird has come in hand, learn to keep it. Make sure your sisters get the best of alliance". Rajat nodded his head. There was no point arguing with his mom

" Maa I am married " asked Naina.

" Yes you are. Let me tell you one thing Naina. You are going to be in this haweli. I am going to be with you. Between your father and you I have chosen you. Thanks to the man whom I met in temple who told me what all things I have in my name, what I can do if I want to protect you. You have got a decent man. From what you say I understand he has not done Suhaagraat with you. So he is caring. Now keep aside all your grievances and learn to live with him. Understand that if not for Rajat you would have been the 3rd wife of that old man. Now please don't create headache for me" . Naina nodded as she checked the mangalsutra in her neck. Well she was not the 3rd wife of 50 year old man and if she misbehave what if her husband treats her the way her father and brothers have treated her.

Rupinder Singh stood in front of Mahant " Mahantji that man Kashiram is threatening, he tells he will not spare you. I told you naa to keep quiet. Now his lawyer might take bail for him. But still he is in trouble. His wives are demanding their shares and that lawyer Amit is working for them"

" Rupinder if you cant do anything else, cant you do something to keep him in jail. Or do I need to tell that also. Rawat is a fool. Infact everyone is a fool. Praveen made a mockery of himself, now Rawat his wife took away his wealth under his nose and he is in hospital and she went away with her daughter"

" Now tell me Mahantji what should I do" Rawat's younger son stood by side

" Do nothing for the time being if you don't want further damage. Take care of your father." Told Rupinder

" Rupinder I want this man's chapter closed at the earliest. Aman you come with me. You will be able to help me with routing money. Since nothing else have worked for you, be the agent for our business " told Mahant and Aman nodded.

Suman had come back to her room after finishing the work. Tomorrow was holi and she had closed all the holi related work that day evening itself. Still she stayed awake for the sake of Poorni and Sreedhar. It was only then Poorni had finished her QB and Sreedhar too had stopped the work for the day she too came back after tidying the kitchen. Suman opened the letter.

" Sumi how easily you told you never wanted to meet me. Was it that easy to erase the moments we shared Sumi. Tomorrow is holi. How could you easily forget the holi we celebrated, how could you wipe the color of love I throw on you for the first time" Suman took the Tedy in her hand, held it close to her and closed her eyes.

" Sumi don't go home for this holi. Isnt this our first holi together. I want to put the color on you this holi" they were sitting in the lover's corner and he held her hands

" Arrey what will I tell Maa. She might be waiting for me " told Suman

" Tell something Sumi. Tell some exams. But please be here. " Sreedhar's eyes were pleading. So finally Suman relented and told home that she has to finish an assignment next day after Holi hence she would prefer to be in hostel.

On holi day she woke up very early. Sreedhar had wanted to be the first one to put colors on her. But as she was just walking from the hostel, one of her friend threw color on her. So it was a Suman who had green color in the white salwar who stood in front of Sreedhar

" I am sorry Sreedhar. I didn't see my friend standing with colors"

" It's ok Sumi. Whatever color others put no one else can put this color on you, the color that signifies my love for you" saying it he caressed both her cheeks coloring them with red powder and she caressed his cheeks back with the red color in her hands and he pulled her in his arms in a warm hug and together they went to the ground where holi celebrations were happening to get drenched in colors.

Suman opened her eyes and looked at the Tedy " Color of your love can never be wiped from my heart Sreedhar. How much I ever say it doesn't exist, the truth is that it always existed. And it is that color that has bought colors back in my life also" saying it she kissed the Tedy and hugged it.