Remarriage

The air in the room hung thick and heavy, a silent, unseen weight pressing down on Samrat. He shifted uncomfortably, his gaze darting between his father, mother, and grandmother.

He could feel the unspoken words swirling around them, a familiar dread coiling in his stomach. He knew, deep down, what they wanted to discuss, what they needed to discuss. Yet, a desperate part of him wished they would simply ignore it, let it fade into the background, bury it so deep it could never resurface.

"Samrat." His father's voice, usually firm and reassuring, was laced with a somber gravity. Samrat met his gaze, the weight of his mother and grandmother's silent scrutiny adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

"Ji, Pitaji."

A sigh escaped his father's lips, a sound heavy with unspoken burdens.

"You understand your responsibilities, right?"

Samrat nodded, a single, decisive movement. Responsibilities. The word echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of the void left by Adhiraj's death. He was now the sole pillar of the family, the weight of their legacy resting squarely on his shoulders.

"After Adhiraj…" his father paused, his voice cracking slightly, "you will be the one to look after this family."

The words struck Samrat like a physical blow. He felt the weight of his responsibilities multiply. He could no longer afford the carefree existence he once envisioned.

"Do you feel, in any way, that you want to run away from your responsibilities?" His father's eyes searched his, a sharp gaze for reassurance.

Samrat's voice was firm, laced with sincerity. "I am not going to run away from my responsibilities, Pitaji. I know Bhaiya is not here to shoulder them. We share the same blood. I learned to face my responsibilities from him."

A wave of pride washed over his father's face, a flicker of warmth in the somber atmosphere. He nodded, a silent acknowledgment of his son's strength.

"Samrat." His mother's voice, soft and gentle, broke the silence. He turned to her, his heart pounding in his chest. She held his hand, her touch warm and comforting.

"So, you are aware that Brinda and Viraj are also your responsibility?"

The question hung in the air, the unspoken fear finally voiced. Samrat swallowed hard, the dread he had been trying to suppress now fully unleashed.

"Maa…"

His mother nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "You know how the world is, Samrat. People talk. They will talk about you and her. I know you are taking good care of her with pure intentions, but will they see it that way? If you think you can take care of them without marrying her, are you sure no fingers will be pointed at your bond?"

She paused, her gaze shifting to her mother-in-law, who nodded, her eyes filled with the wisdom of years.

"Samrat, listen to me carefully." He nodded, his heart pounding in his ears.

"No matter how much you think men and women are equal, the reality is, there are differences. The way the world and society perceive their roles, their characters, their images, their responses… it's not the same. No matter how pure and respectful your bond with her is, it will be questioned. And the repercussions will fall on her, far more than on you, because she… is a woman. You are both young."

His grandmother's voice was steady, her words laced with the weight of experience. "When you are a woman, young, alone, and living in the presence of a man, the world will question you, no matter what. I'm telling you this from experience, beta. It will be much difficult for her, than for you. She cannot live her life alone like this."