Durga tried to draw support from the wall and continued to cry till she drifted into sleep. Where she saw another incident from her past.
Five months ago...
"Doctor please tell me what happened to my father?" asked Durga. She was nearly in tears.
The doctor spoke in a detached manner, which they do when they break terrible news. "Your father died due to multiple organ failure."
Durga stood still. Indrajeet was beside her tried to comfort her. Durga tried to shrug off from his grip. She couldn't release herself from his iron strong grip. The tears which had dwelled up in her eyes had suddenly dried up.
The doctor looked at her, aghast. Indrajeet too was shocked. Durga looked at the room, where her father had died. She kept staring at room. One thought revolved in her mind, I know Appa you didn't die. You were killed. Once I get a proof Indrajeet will go behind the bar.
After four months...
" Durga! Your father cheated on me." barked Indrajeet.
Durga looked at him, with no expression. Yet she couldn't bear the thought if someone insults her father. "What is the matter?"
"What is the matter? Durga your father cheated me. He left all the property in your name."
Durga was initially surprised. But she knew her father. Even when he left the world he had ensured some financial security to her. "You know what Indrajeet, my Appa has left the property on my name because I am his daughter."
"Daughter? But you were married to me, isn't it? Yet he left the property in your name. Disgusting."
Durga glared at him for the first time in four months, "Don't you dare call my father disgusting. He never differentiated between a boy and a girl. You are disgusting. Your thoughts are narrow minded."
Indrajeet looked at her with raw fury. He pulled Durga by her braid and pushed her into the room. He locked the door and went to other room. Durga, inside the room, was caged in her thoughts.
I waited in Bengaluru for Appa's death certificate. Now with these certificate and property papers I will give Indrajeet divorce. Indrajeet! I trusted you. You broke my trust. I will see to it that you sign the divorce papers. But the reason for Appa's death is still not discovered. No I can't give him divorce until I find out the reason.
After a week...
Durga took out some powder and mixed it in his tea. She handed over him the tea. He snatched it from her and sipped slowly. Durga watched him with hawk eyes. Indrajeet held his head. Durga took out her phone and started recording. She slapped him lightly on his cheek and asked, "Indrajeet Rao tell me how did my father die?"
" Your father? Ah yes! That Akshad Rao? He was told by doctors that he had sugar problem. So in the hospital, I added a ball of saccharine in his tea. He died."
Durga looked at him. By Devi Shakti, saccharine is 550 times sweeter than sugar, thought Durga.
She held Indrajeet by his collar and asked, "Why did you do this?" forgetting that her phone was there in her hand.
"I asked your father to tell you to stop behaving like an idiot. Going out and studying. Writing stupid articles. He said he won't. He said he will support his daughter until he dies. So he had to die."
Durga left his collar. She looked at him for some minutes and said, "Why?"
"Because of your father you had mustered lots of courage. When the support system is lost what will you do?" said Indrajeet with an evil laugh.
Durga turned away when she felt her phone was snatched. She saw her empty hand, then she heard a sound. Her mobile phone was shattered into pieces. She looked at Indrajeet.
Indrajeet came near her and asked, "You decided to drug me, record my statements and put me behind bars? No Durga. You were mistaken. I am an alcohol addict. This is nothing."
"What have I? Why do you torture me like this?" asked Durga. Today she needed answers.
"You want to know? Then listen. Because of the accident, you can never bear a child."
"What?"
"Your father hid this fact from me."
Durga knitted her eyebrows and said, "Mr. Indrajeet Rao, you were driving the car under the influence of alcohol. You had banged my head against the pole. You ran the car to the divider. Otherwise I would have driven the car."
"You would have driven the car? This is not your Appa's house. This is my house. Indrajeet Rao's house."
"When will you change your thinking?"
"When will you stop questioning your husband?"
"Don't use your authority. I am not a thing."
" WHAT DID YOU SAY?" shouted Indrajeet. He slapped her. Her ear started bleeding. He took the keys and left the home.
That night Durga was ready with the papers. She had planned everything. Indrajeet came home, drunken. He sat on the sofa. Durga came to him and said, "Indrajeet I have realised my mistake. These are the property papers. I have decided to give the power of attorney to you."
"Are you serious Durga?"
" Yes. I am. I realised that since you are my husband I should always respect you. Listen to you, no matter whatever the decision is."
Indrajeet smiled and puffed his chest. He took the papers and signed on it. He went to the room and slept off the bed.
Durga smiled and thought, I never thought fooling this idiot will be so easy. Sometimes alcohol has its own advantages.
The next day...
Indrajeet woke up holding his head. He saw a slender hand had a medicine and a glass of water. He took it from her and gulped the medicine. Durga looked at him crossing her arms.
"Feeling better?"
"Yes Durga. I am feeling better. Why are so happy today?"
"That is because I have filed for divorce. Very soon the court orders will come. I will leave the house." she said and went back to her packing.
"Filed for a divorce? Without my signature?" asked Indrajeet getting out from the bed.
"You signed it yesterday. When you were under the influence of alcohol."
Indrajeet slowly walked towards Durga. Durga, who was sitting on the floor packing her bag, got up.
" You... you took my signature? How did you?" asked Indrajeet. He broke the glass on the floor. He raised to slap Durga when Durga stopped his blow. Indrajeet looked at her with his eyes nearly popping out from his sockets. Durga slapped him with other her hand.
"Mrs.Durga Rao! How dare you?" asked Indrajeet.
"INDRAJEET! How dare you raise your hand? You can call Mr.Narayan Rao. My lawyer. Looking after our divorce case. Our relative. Do you remember him? Of course not. When you had started drinking they broke the relation from you. But when I discovered it, I thought you will leave drinking. That is because I TRUSTED YOU. Do you understand the meaning of trust?"
Indrajeet stepped back and he accidentally stepped on the glass pieces. He groaned in pain, "Durga help me."
"Okay." Durga went to the wardrobe and took out first aid box. She handed over the box to Indrajeet and said, "This box was my best friend for five years. I hope it will also serve as your best friend."
"DURGA! YOU CAN'T DO THIS. I won't let you live peacefully." snarled Indrajeet.
"Do you watch daily soaps? Then why are you giving me such idiotic threats. First learn to stand on your feet. Physically and financially."
Indrajeet left the house limping, without even dressing it.
Durga woke up. This time she found some energy dwelling inside her. She got up and washed her face. She collected the newspaper from the doorstep. She read an advertisement, a job in 'Discovering India's Heritage'. An archaeologist was needed. Walk-in interview.
Maybe I can try my luck here...
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Thank you for reading.