Passion & Dilemma

Prerna's POV          
         
Carefully holding the pleats of my saree, I descended the stairs of my mother's penthouse.          
         
This usually silent place, coloured in neutral shades, was today filled with chaos and decorated with vibrant flowers. Aroma of feast prepared filled every square feet of the house. 
         
Children, dressed in traditional clothes, sat in the huge living room, playing different boards games. Their loud yet lively voices echoing in the whole house.         
         
Passing by the kids, I shuffled Naitik's hair who gave me a smile, munching on his favourite sweets.          
Reaching the kitchen, I spotted my mother, Sarthak and Pratigya bhabhi preparing dinner for everyone.         
         
"And I used all my strength to hit that thug's head with my bag." Pratigya bhabhi, as always, recited some event from her life, while the other two listened in fascination.       
         
"And Sanskar was just standing there, while I fought to save him, putting my own life at stake." She added.

My gaze drifted to Sarthak who was sitting on the counter, eating salad that he was supposed to serve in the plates.          
         
"You fought alone?" Maa asked, her hands wrapped in the bangles like a newly wedded bride.          
         
She was looking gorgeous in the red banarasi saree, a nuptial chain around her neck and pinch of vermillion in the partition of her hairline.          
         
I could not move my eyes away from the beautiful lady, who have been through a lifetime of hardships to finally reach her happiness.          
         
"Yes, he was standing at a distance all scared by that robber's knife." Pratigya bhabhi said, making me raise an eyebrow because as far as I remember, Sanskar bhaiya is a skilled fighter.          
                
"He had a knife?" Maa exclaimed, her eyes meeting with Sarthak's who looked just as surprised and shocked as her.         
         
I stood by the door observing the scene unfolding before my eyes.                 
I never thought that after everything Maa let happen to me and did to me, I would be able to forgive my mother. But I did, and surprisingly, it was easier than I had expected.          
         
I used to think that if my mother had shown even a little courage, my father would never have been able to torture us the way he did, and we wouldn’t have had to endure such cruelty.         
         
I kept blaming her, but in reality, I wasn’t all that different from her. Just as I endured brutality for my mother’s sake, she, too, must have had her own reasons for putting up with Jayesh for so many years.         
         
Whenever I look at her, I see myself in her. I see a girl who is confused, lost, and scared.         
         
A girl who is shocked that the person who was supposed to protect her against the world, who she considered her everything never even considered her anything at all.            
A girl who believes that if she lives the way Jayesh ordered, perhaps she might be able to win back his love. But in the process of living for someone else, she didn’t even realise when she became just like him.         
         
What my mother did to me, I ended up doing the same to Sarthak, the only difference was in intensity. So when Sarthak understood me, forgave me, and stood by me, I realised I could do the same for my mother.         
         
But there was a difference, Sarthak is there for me until the end of my life, but I cannot always be there for my mother. I was healing by leaning on someone else. In such a situation, how could I be my mother’s support?          
         
I tried my best, but somewhere deep down, I knew that something was missing.         
         
This thought was eating me up, and then one day, my mother told me, fidgeting her hands in hesitation and shyness, that she liked someone.                 
I swear, she looked so cute at that moment, as if I weren’t her daughter but some strict teacher from whom she needed permission.         
         
When she told me, I was quite surprised and a little scared, because, honestly, her taste in men hasn’t been the best.          
         
But when I met Raghuveer, my mother’s boyfriend, who is now her husband, I felt at peace. He seemed like a mature, understanding, and cheerful man, someone who respected my mother.         
         
It has been nearly seven months since I got to know him. I have accepted him as my mother’s husband, but I have yet to accept him as a father in my heart.         
         
I am trying. Maybe not completely, but I hope that one day, I will be able to give him the love and trust he deserves.         
         
"I always knew he is a coward." Sarthak clicked his lips like was stating a common fact. "All words and no actions."         
         
As soon as he said that, Pratigya bhabhi gave him a blank gaze, that look was that it could make a person crumble to ground.          
         
"He is not a coward." Bhabhi pointed the knife in Sarthak's direction who responded with raising his hands in surrender.          
         
I chuckled at their lighthearted encounter and it drew their attention.          
         
"Aaiye, Prerna ji. Apne bhai ki veerta ke kisse suniye."          
         
"Come, Prerna ji. Listen to the tales of your brother's bravery."         
         
Sarthak mocked me and I suddenly remembered that I was supposed to be upset with him. So I rolled my eyes, ignored his existence and addressed the ladies in the room.                 
"Is the dinner ready? Shall I call everyone?" I asked, the ladies nodded while sniffling their laughter at Sarthak's cute reaction.          
         
He took a bite of carrot and looked at the ladies. "I swear, being a husband is very difficult. Sometimes one has no idea why his wife is upset with him."          
         
He said, earning laughter, but I just gave him a look that made him laugh awkwardly before he wore a wide smile. "But it's not difficult for me, though hehehe.          
         
"I always know the reason behind my Prerna's foul mood." He added and blew a kiss in my direction.         
         
I shook my head, in response, before turning and leaving the room. Once I was out of their vision, a giggle escaped my throat at Sarthak's antics.          
         
I was about to call the remaining adults until I saw Sanskar and Raghuveer coming downstairs, busy in talking.          
         
"Dinner's ready." I told them, drawing their attention.       
       
Sanskar bhaiya looked up first, his usual composed expression softening as he nodded. "Alright, we'll be there in a minute."       
       
Raghuveer ji smiled warmly at me. "Smells delicious. Your mother has been excited about this feast all day."       
       
I nodded with a smile and walked to balcony to call Naina. As soon as I opened the door, an exasperated yet frustrated sigh escaped me.       
       
"Can you guys control yourself for a day?" I scolded, turning my head away in shame because the couple in front of me didn't seem to have any.       
       
Naina and Shobhit jija ji took their time to part their faces, not looking guilty for corrupting my mother's house. Naina smoothed the pleats of her saree, while Shobhit jija ji, casually buttoned his kurta.       
       
"Can’t a couple even peacefully kiss in private?" Naina pointed out and I scoffed at her audacity.        
       
She was slowly becoming like her husband, unapologetic when found in compromising position.        
       
"Go to a room and do whatever you want in there."        
       
"But the weather and vibe of this balcony is way too romantic to go to a room." Shobhit jija ji explained and I didn't know whether to be amused or exasperated by his response.       
     
"You guys have been married for almost 10 years. Please stop acting like love-sick teenagers who look for nonsense reasons to ravage each other's faces."      
     
"But—"     
     
"Enough. The dinner is ready. Please fix your appearances and come inside."      
     
I walked inside and went to call the kids, only to find that Naitik had already fallen asleep on the couch, resting his head in his favorite Avni Didi’s lap.   
   
Meanwhile, Saanvi and Nidhi were sitting together, wearing the same-colored lehengas. They had their sunglasses on even at night and were sipping cold drinks from whiskey glasses.   
   
Baddies in the making.   
   
"Come on, kids. Time for dinner."    
   
The baddies nodded, taking off their sunglasses and gulping their remaining drink in one go.   
   
"Should I wake him up, bua?" Avni asked and I shook my head.   
   
"Let him sleep, beta. You come and have dinner." I said and Avni nodded before carefully placing Naitik's head on the couch and following me to the table.   
   
I took my seat at the dining table, the lively chatter around me making my heart feel full.   
   
As everyone settled in, Maa took her place at the head of the table, her gaze scanning the faces of everyone who gathered to celebrate her new beginning.