The Moonchild – 15th Part

The next day, Samiksha woke, rubbing her eyes. The revelation had affected her physically and mentally. The early morning sun rays reached her bed, making her troubled face glow. She noticed Karan had left the room. Usually, they left the room together for breakfast, but she knew the reason for his behaviour very well. Calmly, she finished her routine and came down. Surprisingly, he had left for the office. Sumitra spoke to her as soon as she arrived at the breakfast table.

“Tumi kemana acho? You look tired. Come sit. Karan left early today.”
“Hmm. I know. Feeling uneasy.”
“Some good news, Samiksha?” Sumitra teased her sister-in-law.
“Na. Nothing like that. Yesterday was draining. I mean … where were you yesterday?”
“See. I told you I was going out. Anything happened?” As Samiksha was about to speak, Mithila and Hemant joined them. Samiksha said in sign language, I will talk later.

It was afternoon. After lunch, all the ladies were resting in their rooms. Sumitra came to Samiksha and asked,

“What happened? Is everything OK between you and Karan?”

“Yes. Something is bothering me a lot.”
“Please tell me. What is it, dear?”
Hesitantly, Samiksha asked, “Do you know that Karan and Anurag da also have one sister?”
Sumitra turned quiet suddenly. She nodded her head.
“Yes. We both have a sister-in-law, Poorna. But destiny has separated us from her.”
“It is in our hands who we choose to keep with us. Not destiny. Why is she without her family like this? This all is disturbing for me, Bhabijaa.”

“Samiksha, relax.

you were not well yesterday. Maa told me. Now I know the reason.”
“But Bhabijaa, it’s unfair.”
“Samiksha, we are in our in-laws’ home. The elders of this home decide what is right and wrong. We cannot opine what we feel.”
“I will. And this is our home, too, now, so we can definitely speak. I have never kept quiet after seeing something wrong happen.”
“Please calm down. I know this much: that Poorna is happy with her husband. Isn’t that enough?”
“No. It is not. How can she lead a happy life knowing her parents have not been talking to her?”
“Not Maa. She wants to meet her and talk to her. But she is quiet because of Baba.”

Since how long have they not met?”

“Since 6 years.”

“And you say she is happy. No way.”
Mithila called Sumitra from downstairs. She got up at once. “I will talk to you later. Don’t get me wrong. But try to forget this and pray for Poorna. That is all in our hands. It will be good for your relationship with Karan as well. I care for you, so I am telling you this.”
Samiksha nodded her head a bit, though unwillingly. She was quiet at lunch and kept thinking about Poorna until evening.
She lay on her stomach, lost in thought. Karan arrived in the room, which went unnoticed by her.

He was standing near the bed with a bunch of roses. The way he left in the morning made him feel guilty. Samiksha noticed the fragrance of the roses and turned back. Karan smiled at her and handed her a rose from the bunch.

She exited the bed and hugged him immediately after accepting the red rose.

“I am sorry.” Karan’s apology melted her heart at once. He comforted her in his strong yet soothing embrace, slowly making her sit on the bed.

“Samiksha, we will have trials and tribulations of life.

Let’s not affect our relationship under any circumstances. Poorna is happy in her life. Let us thank God for this and move on.”
“Move on? How can you say this, being her brother, Karan? She is our family member. She deserves her parents’ love as you and Anurag Da.”
“Again, we are going on the same track.”
“Don’t you love her?”
“I do.”
“Then do something for her.”

“I tried. When she married that boy, Baba got wild. Anurag and I did our best. We tried convincing him. Maa was shattered. But Baba disagreed. He is highly protective of his culture, traditions and ancestral history. His daughter getting entirely married outside his caste enraged him. He told me, Anurag and Sumitra clearly that anyone supporting Poorna could leave this house. Samiksha, Mom needs us both. She is already living without her one child.

Do you want a fight again in this house?

Will you like it if Maa has to suffer more?”

To be continued/-