Seven Vows Part 1- Published

She gave me a lot

Renu was sitting in the dressing table and combing her hair as she saw Tilak come in. She tried to get up, but Tilak held her by shoulders and he sat on the ground looking at her

" You are happy Renu" he asked

Renu kept her arms around his neck " You know Tilak 15 years back when I sat in front of this mirror seeing my husband absent mindedly go to the bed without even glancing at me, I never thought a day will come in my life where my husband will come to me like this, his eyes full of happiness. What more I need to be happy Tilak"

Tilak smiled as he led her to the bed and kept his head on her lap. " Tilak do you know how excited I am that I will be working. In childhood when girls played with gudda, gudiya marriage I used to dress up like teacher and teach everyone. I never thought one day an opportunity will come for me to manage things outside the 4 walls of this house "

" Renu I wanted to ask you a question. Will you give me a honest answer" asked Tilak

" Tilak please don't bring the past asking have I really forgiven you, am I ok etc etc. I just want to move on" told Renu

" No Renu it has nothing to do with us, it was something to do with Suman. Tell me what do you think about her "

" Suman, why suddenly " Renu was curious

" You tell, I will tell you the reason after that" told Tilak

" Suman, Tilak if you ask me that girl has given me everything a woman could ask for. People call her inauspicious because she became a widow on wedding day. If you see it is a tragedy no woman can withstand in this brutal society. Always called one name after another. But then Maa kept her like a human here and expected that me and Vindhya will do the same. You very well know Tilak we always have been a close knit family and your Maa trusts me and Vindhya a lot. We have got so much freedom here which other bahus don't get. I have completed my graduation post Aakash was born, thanks to Maa who convinced your Dadu and Vindhya Maa has never once belittled her for just having a girl. So we knew same courtesy she will extend to Suman as she is also Varma bahu.

We have followed that code of conduct Tilak . Believe me irrespective of the circumstances she was placed in Suman has adapted very well into our family. You very well know she is an integral part of Varma family now. Coming to me specifically her coming has led to a series of events where we got our Poorni and I got you back. Completely Tilak. You don't know what a woman feels when she knows her husband belongs to only her. And all this has happened because of Suman. So Tilak if you ask me Suman is the most auspicious thing that has happened to me. She gave me my complete family. Now why do you ask"

" Because I think Sreedhar has fallen for her " told Tilak

" What Sreedhar loves Suman how do you know " asked Renu her eyes showing interest

" Renu you remember they both coming fighting after that army bash. When she went up arguing with him , the pain in my brother's eyes was not something a devar feels. He had that kind of look on his face as if a part of him is teared off. Then he bringing hairclips from Singapore. Why didn't he get her a saree. He even got a saree for Poorni and asked her to get it stitched as a salwar. Many offwhite sarees with simple prints you get in Singapore, but no he went for hairclips and he told he had seen her wearing hairclips. Renu by personal experience I know a man doesn't observe what a woman wears unless he thinks that woman belongs to him. Ask him what you or Vindhya wears. He will look here and there. Even the first gift I gave to Anu was a parantha a green color one as she loved to braid her hair and put paranthas. And do you remember what was the first gift I gave you personally " told Tilak

" How can I forget that Tilak. You gave me fresh gajra for our second Karvachauth together and that night " she blushed

Tilak patted her cheeks " That night I made you my wife everyway, I remember it very much as much as you do. So you see. Also though he averts his eyes quickly sometimes when Suman comes down the steps I feel as if Sreedhar gazes her like a man gazing a woman not a devar looking at his bhabi. I wanted to know from you have you observed anything in Suman like that , I mean does Suman have any feelings for Sree"

Renu looked at her husband. It has been sometime she had wanted to tell him about her feelings on Suman-Sreedhar. Now the oppourtunity has there

" Tilak to be frank after seeing Sreedhar and Suman together for Deep dan ceremony I don't know I had a feeling that they are meant to be together. I felt it that way even when they came together for that community meeting where Aakash spoke. Suman was totally messed up that day what with oversized salwar, no make up and a bandage on her arm. But still with Sreedhar she looked beautiful and for Deep dan ceremony it was very much evident when they walked together with that old lady. Vindhya had told the day she saw Suman's photo that she is more of a match for Sreedhar than Murali. You know right Vindhya had gone to her maayka for her brother's daughter's roka and came back only when we had sent Shagun to Suman's place. That time we couldn't change it. But looking at things now I feel if we have a chance to bring together Sree and Suman that will be great. Suman deserves a happy life with a loving husband which of course our Sree can be for her. And though I don't know what Suman feels yet as I have not observed her that much I feel Maa feels Sree-Suman should be together"

" Maa feels that way. How do you know asked Tilak"

" That day they both were sleeping in her lap right and they held hands. Maa didn't separate their hands though she was aware of it. As much as I understand Maa I feel such an act of hers point towards her wanting to have Suman-Sree Jodi. Also she send Sree-Suman together for that army bash. Adwaith could have been a ploy so that no one suspects anything else"

" What about Vindhya" Tilak asked

" No clue. I have not discussed with her on this topic" told Renu

" So Renu if both of us feel Sree-Suman should be bought together we have to get information right. We have to observe right. Also we have to create situation right so that everyone feels Sree-Suman is just an automatic choice and not a choice that is forced by anyone"

" What are we supposed to do" asked Renu

" Simple observe Suman, Maa, Vindhya. Try to understand what they feel about the Jodi. Once we are sure it is positive we can pop the question. I will observe Sree and Sudhir and try to see what info I can get from them. Papa is the final frontier. Once everyone else come together we will tackle Papa. I am sure given time he also will relent. He likes Suman" told Tilak

" Sure Tilak if I can set up Suman's life that will be the best gift I can give to her for what she has done to me. " They smiled to each other as Tilak switched off the lights

Vindhya was lying wrapped in Sudhir's arms as he continued kissing her after a passionate love making. She knew with each passing day they were discovering each other with fresh perspective. She could never believe in her life that much romance will come which she had heard, read or watched in movies. She could never believe her husband loved her so passionately but he could express himself only now once the fire inside him got an outlet through Sreedhar's dream

" Sudhir " she whispered

" Don't disturb" he chided " You complain I am not romantic and when I am trying to be one , you have your bak bak"

" Sudhir it is not bak bak " she told kissing him on the cheeks " What I was feeling was now things are a bit smooth shouldn't we try to know what Tilak Bhaiyya, Renu Bhabi feels about Sree-Suman, what Maa feels . Only if we start now we will get some idea and we can take forward Sree-Suman's relation forward to the logical conclusion. I had always wanted to unite them but now what they have done to us Sudhir, I want to give them their share of passionate nights at the earliest".

Sudhir gave her a tight hug " Vindhya dear do you think I don't want that. But listen to me. We have to be very careful not because of family, but we very well know the enemy outside. One false step the building we are slowly putting up brick by brick can fall. If something of Suman-Sree college life is known unnecessary dirt will be thrown on her. So don't be too excited and mess things up. Yes check for the clues, but very very stealthily without being obvious " he looked into her eyes and she nodded as once again they fell into a kiss