Seven Vows Part 1- Published

A Thorn

When they reached back the haweli in the hall one young man was sitting.

" Sreedhar he called "

" Sourabh " Sreedhar reciprocated went near him and hugged him

" Suman it is Sreedhar's Mausi's son Sourabh and Sourabh ..it is " told Jaideep Mamu

" I know Murali Bhaiyya's widow, Suman Bhabi. Heard Badi Maa is keeping her on her head" told Sourabh but in the eyes that looked at her Suman could see only lust. She covered herself tightly with pallu.

" And this is Poornima, Tilak Bhaiyya's love child " proceeded Sourabh before Jaideep Mamu could stop him and patted Poornima's cheeks. Sreedhar could see Poorni felt uncomfortable and hugged Suman

" Sourabh behave yourself. Poornima is Tilak's daughter in every way and Suman she is Maheswari's bahu , our bahu and your bhabi. It will be good if you show respect " told Jaideep Mamu sternly.

" Mamu I came to meet Sreedhar only. The new hero in the town. Thought will have dinner with him "and it was then his eyes fell on Vaishu.

" How can I miss Vaishnav Samrat. News of him making my widow bhabi do house warming have reached Jodhpur. Boy are you now a free addition to my Badi Maa's family" Sourabh sneered

" Sourabh Vaishnav is our extended family and Poorni's good friend. We value him very much. He is not some free addition" Sreedhar was losing patience.

" Sreedhar go and check for Aakash. He has gone to that Gyanesh house to play cricket since morning. It is getting dark and he has not returned yet " came in Latika Mami trying to diffuse the tension. She knew Sourabh was a headache. He was just 10 days younger to Sreedhar but if Sreedhar was the rose in the family, Sourabh was the thorn.

" Fine I will go and check. Vaishu let us go" Sreedhar and Vaishnav went out. Suman and Poorni excused themselves and went upstairs telling they need to freshen up. As she went up Suman could feel Sourabh's eyes on her. She felt uncomfortable but she was not sure what to do. It was not the first time she was meeting men like Sourabh who thought a woman's body belonged to them whether she liked it or not. Also Sourabh was family.

When they reached upstairs Poorni told " Suman Chachi that Sourabh Chachu is disgusting. I didn't like the way he looked at me. I am his niece naa"

" Poorni be cautious. Neither did I like the way he looked at me. Let us keep our eyes and ear open when he is around. We will have to manage this. If Mamu, Sreedhar or Vaishu gets involved matter might turn ugly" told Suman

" But Chachi why we have to keep quiet. We didn't do anything wrong naa. I feel we should tell Sreedhar Chachu and Vaishu" told Poorni

" No Poorni what will we tell them. It is only our feeling. Also hearing us if Sreedhar and Vaishu gets into argument with Sourabh he will get away. Only Sreedhar's name will get tarnished and if he knows Sreedhar calls me Sumanji I don't think he will take it lightly. He will do character assassination. I don't want anything of that sort. Let us just be cautious"

" Ok Chachi if you tell that way let it be that way " told Poorni

When they came down everyone had sat for dinner. Suman felt Sourabh's gaze on her. When they started serving he called her multiple times " Bhabi can I have mutter panner", " Two more rotis bhabi" and everytime she went to serve him one way or the other he tried to touch her hand which Suman was quite deft in avoiding. She could see Sreedhar was silent and didn't address her at all. She knew the reason also. He didn't want Sourabh to get any ideas. But when she finally went to serve him paratha his eyes told her one thing. He has understood what Sourabh was doing with her. Suman indicated him to be calm telling she will handle.

It was a relief for everyone when Sourabh left after the dinner. " I will break his legs" shouted Jaideep Mamu. I simply didn't liked the way he dealt with Poornima. How could he hold her cheeks. She is a teenager. Poorni beta next time he does something tell nanu ok " told Jaideep

" I thought atleast he will show some decency with his niece and bhaiyya I am worried. The way he looked at Suman was not right. We all know when his eyes fall on a prey how he is like" told Jaidev mamu

" You are imagining things devarji agreed Sourabh is a brat but then Suman is his bhabi. Atleast Sobha would have ingrained that much sanskaar into him" told Latika Mami

" I just hope you are right Latika. But I am not sure. Sreedhar and Vaishu beta be sure you never allow Suman and Poorni alone in that corridor. I cant take chances as far as Sourabh is concerned" told Jaideep Mamu

" Mamu don't worry. We will handle it" told Sreedhar

After dinner when they went up Suman looked at Sreedhar and she could see his face was grave as if he knew his cousin's wayward ways very well.