The Perfect Rishta : ShefalixAkshara
'Akshara?'
Akshara stopped on her tracks and turned. Shefali was looking at her with a hopeful expression.
Shefali: tum ye kya le jaa rahi ho?
Akshara: (looks at the tray in her hand) ye!? Gudail ka tel..isse na baal-
Shefali: Mere laga dogi?
Akshara was shocked for a second by the unexpected request but nodded.
Akshara: Off course Bhabhi!! Mujhe to accha hi lagega..mai toh Aru se bhi kehti thi ki lagwa lo lekin vo na oil ko ew krke nikal jati thi...mujhe to humesha ye beheno wali activity-
Akshara stopped her rambling and looked at Shefali with a sleepish face. She got over excited again! She was very young when she lost her parents and those memories are a bit blurry but whatever she remembered post that- she had lived her life trying to fit according to Arohi. Then she left home. It was true that her relationship with Arohi was in a much better place now but she did crave simple activities that she knew Arohi would never like.
Shefali shook her head at Akshara's child-like enthusiasm. And over what? Over oiling her hair? She really was the cutest person she knew with the purest heart. Shefali actually wanted to have a chat. She often stayed away from home and while she loved all of them like her family, she was lonely. Her point of view wasn't heard. She sat in front of Akshara while the later sat on the higher seat near the in-house pond. Something inside her told her that her devarani was just the person she could open to. Maybe the person she was getting jealous of was the answer to her inner trouble.
Akshara rubbed her palms and carefully sectioned Shefali's hair. She poured the heated oil and massaged with her soft hands. Shefali closed her eyes and she felt relief surge through her.
Shefali: wow Akshara...
Akshara giggled.
Akshara: Accha lga na? Mimi kehti hai ki mere hatho me jaado hai....aur Kairav bhaiya bhi mujhe almost roz massage krwate they aur Abhi toh-
Akshara stopped, her cheeks redder than a whole tomato. Shefali laughed and teased her. Then she grew serious.
Shefali: I am sorry Akshara...Maine pehle jaise react kiya..
Akshara: Bhabhi maine sach me vo bhula diya hai...itni badi toh baat bhi nahi thi..
Shefali: Ye tumhari acchai hai pr...I have to say this. I am sorry for what I said because of it. I wasn't tired like you assumed. I wai..I-...I envy you Akshu..
Akshara: what? Why?
Shefali: why not? My own husband cannot stop gloating about you..
Akshara felt bad. She never wanted Shefali to face any comparison. She knew how it can eat up a person.
Akshara: I am so-
Shefali: Sorry mt kehna please. Tumhari kya galti hai isme...I get his point of view kahin na kahin. Tum sbse kitna pyaar krti ho..
Akshara: Pyaar to aap bhi krti ho na bhabhi..
Shefali: Haan pr mai kaam me reh jaati hoon....aur tum dekho kitna acche se balance kr leti ho...new department hai, uska kitna kaam hota hoga...upar se yahan bhi sab naya hai...Ghar, rishte, kaam...you balance it all..
Akshara: Bhabhi...mai..vo-
Shefali: Shh...tumhe kuch kehne hi zarurat nahi hai...You are being good, isme sharmane ka kya hai? .....Hmm- waise tum sach me massage acchi krti ho...braid bhi kr dogi?
Akshara smiled and braided her hair. Shefali stood up and made Akshara sit down.
Shefali: Tumhare jaisi toh nahi atti mujhe..pr let me try okay?
Akshara nodded, feeling emotional. She had been doing her hair ever since her mother passed away. Nobody offered to give her a massage in return. Shefali poured a small amount in the middle of her scalp and tried to copy the moves she had felt Akshara make.
Shefali: sahi hai na
Akshara: hmm-hmm
Akshara hummed and closed her eyes. Her eyes moist. This felt like a slumber party with a sister- something she had craved and given up hopes for.
Shefali: (hesitated a bit but continued) Pta hai Akshu jb mai iss ghar me aayi thi na, mai bhi bohot excited thi...sbko apnana chahti thi...lekin- you know na how everyone here is with a non-doctor..
Akshara nodded. She knew Manjiri faced it. She had been taunted for it.
Shefali: Mai journalist thi.. A stream they don't really respect but mummy ko isse problem nahi thi toh mujhe kissi ne openly taunt nahi kiya...Aur phir jb Parth ne kaam chod diya toh sbne mujhe kehna toh band hi kr diya..
Akshara knew Shefali was trying to open up. She just nodded in acknowledgment, not disrupting her flow.
Shefali: Pehle toh mai ghar se isliye door rehti thi taki tano se bachi rahoon...tb Parth bhi busy hota tha..but he got fed up of his work. Sach kahun to usne MBBS bhi sbke pressure me hi ki thi. He thinks I don't understand him, that I don't support him. I want him to be happy and find his calling but he has been without job for so long. He says I don't balance like you but he doesn't see my point- I have a jobless husband. I feel the pressure to earn and save for the both of us- our future!
Akshara: Bhabhi...apko paiso ko lekr-
Shefali: Akshu I know humare pass bohot hai. Pr Parth ko samjhna chahiye ki we have a privilege. Koi normal family se hota toh kaam accha lage ya bura- pet palne ke liye krna hi padta. But we have enough to afford Parth sitting idle, discovering himself. Lekin mai chahti hoon humara apna bhi kuch ho. Kl ko humari family age badhi, to kya humare baby ke chote se chote zaruraton ke liye bhi ghar se mange...I know no one will refuse but I have self respect.
Akshara: I understand Bhabhi.
Akshara said and turned. She held Shefali's hand, trying to convey what words might not be able to say. Shefali smiled, understanding that Akshara got her point of view. She appreciated that Akshara did not give her any 'gyan' and heard her judgement free. She had been bottling her frustration with Parth staying idle at home all day and her bearing the brunt of providing & saving for their future alone.
Shefali: Accha, ab tum braid khud kr lo...mujhe dusron ke krna nahi aata..
Akshara smiled and did a quick braid. Shefali got up, feeling better as she had finally opened up about her bottled feelings. Akshara took her into a hug. Shefali felt slightly emotional at how much warmth Akshara radiated.
Shefali: thank you..
Akshara: Aap bhi na....ye thank you bolkr paraya kr diya..
Shefali hit the side of her head slightly.
Shefali: Nautanki! Ab jao...mere devarji already rah dekh rahe honge tumhari..
Akshara: mujhe toh yakin nahi ho raha ki abhi tk dhunta hua neeche nahi aya..
Shefali laughed.
Akshara: (laughs and then sobers up) App bohot acche ho bhabhi. Aur aap galat nahi ho apni jagah...
Shefali: (nods) But I am tired of constant comparison and feeling like I am not enough! Isliye I snapped!
Akshara: Maybe you just need to get your point across.
Shefali: But how...?
Akshara: hmm...(makes a thinking face) soch lenge kuch..
'Akshu!'
Shefali: Ye lo...aa gaya bulawa...(laughs) zyada tang mt krna..
Shefali wished her goodnight and left. Akshara turned but before she could take a step forward she was enveloped into a bear hug.
Abhimanyu: Itna gussa ki room me bhi nahi aayi? I am sorry Akshu. Tumhari chinta hai isliye vo dawaiyan laya tha...mt lena pr mujhse baat krna toh mt chodo..
Akshara: can.—bre—ffff
Abhimanyu: Kya?
Akshara: (pushes out of his hold slightly) I can't breathe!...(gasps) uff! Itna tight hug...
Abhimanyu: Sorry! (rubs his head sleepishly) tum room me kyu nahi aayi thi? Abhi bhi gussa ho? Sorry maine chillaya..
Akshara: (pouts sadly) it's okay I guess..(sniffs)
Abhimanyu: Tum ro rahi thi? Please! Don't tell me that. Mai tumhe kbhi nahi rulana chahta...kabhi hurt nahi krna chahta..
Akshara purses her lips but then gives up and giggles.
Abhimanyu: Oye!
Akshara: (winks) hoye!
Abhimanyu: Tum drama kr rahi thi...
His eyes fell on the empty oil bowl.
Abhimanyu: Aur tumne akele oiling bhi kr li. Roz ki tarah mere liye oil nahi rakha?!
Now it was Abhimanyu's turn to throw a fit. But instead he threw Akshara over his shoulders.
Akshara: ABHI! Koi dekh lega!!
Abhimanyu: sb so rahe hai...ab tum agar awaz nahi karogi toh koi nahi ayega bahar aur koi nahi dekhega..
He started to move to their room with her bent over his broad shoulders.
Akshara: haye! Vo kya din they jb tum mujhe bahon me le jaate the room tk....ab to kissi bore ki tarah utha rakha hai...
Abhimanyu: (spanks her lightly) aur ye bora agar ab nautanki karega to punishment bhi milegi...
Akshara: Haw! Tum mujhe punish karoge?!
Abhimanyu: zarurat padi toh haan...
Akshara: neeche utaro..
Abhimanyu: nope! (spanks again)
Akshara: ( makes her voice really low) Abhiiii....mere saara khoon sir me chad raha hai...sir ghoom raha hai..
By this time they had already reached the top of the staircase. Abhimanyu grew concerned and put her down.
Abhimanyu: Thik ho na Akshu...sorry-
Akshara: ullu banaya...!!!
She pushed out of his hold the moment she was on the ground and rushed to their room.
Abhimanyu: Oye! Iski saza toh tumhe milkr rahegi..
And she sure did get punished that night- all night.
......................................
How did you like a little Shefali's POV? I wanted to highlight that there are flaws in Parth too.
If Shefali is a workaholic, then Parth is idle. If she does not balance, then neither does he. Him doing comparisons isn't his only folly. He has a privilege of being born in a family where he can afford to sit home and find his passion. Yes, they taunt him but he still gets to be at home. Practically, we either do what we love or learn to love what we do because earning a living is vital.
😍😍😍
xoxo