Chapter 14: chapter 14

Sandhya wasn’t able to come back to reality for a while, “Why would he react like that despite his heart belonging to someone else?” Why would he behave that way? Why didn’t I push him away? What happened to me? Did I crave for his touch?” she thought, perplexed. Meanwhile Shashikala came in and called, “Sandhya!”Sandhya came back to senses and said, “Yes Auntie,” she said hurriedly.“What’s wrong, Sandhya? What were you thinking? By the way, where is Surya? Is he not here?”“No Auntie, He had gone out due to an urgent work,” she said anxiously.“Anyway, mother asked about you. Go to her, I have work in the kitchen,” she said and exited the room.Sandhya was drowned in sweat, “Auntie will be doubtful will I go to her this way, I will shower and go,” she thought, bathed with cold water, and went to Meenakshmi.A while ago, Meenaskhi amma met Sombabu and he looked anxious and asked, “What’s the matter, Sombabu?”“Umm..just a while ago, I walked into the room to call Sandhya madam, but in there, I saw Surya sir and Sandhya madam hugging each other. I never realized Surya sir was home. If I knew, I would have never stepped in. I feel embarrassed! Forgive me, Madam,” apologized Sombabu and walked away.Meenaskhi amma was astounded by his words and thought to herself, “What the hell is going on? Is Sandhya becoming closer to Surya? No way, it should not happen. He should live without hope for her. It will end in heartbreak for him, I should create distance between them.”Meenakshi received information from the Swamiji’s ashram early in the morning that Sandhya had to perform a ritual. She wanted to convey the same to Sandhya and that’s the reason she sent Sombabu to call Sandhya. As she was lost in thoughts, “Auntie?” Sandhya’s voice brought her back to this world.“Yes Sandhya, The reason I denied you going to the garden is not because it’s cold but it’s because Swamiji had insisted you to perform a ritual for the next five days. You have to wake up early in the morning, bathe only with  the cold water, reach the prayer room, you have to pray for the Choudeshwari Goddess here, perform meditation by offering her fruits and vegetables. Along with that, your mouth should not taste water till the stars appear in the sky at night. You have to give Aarthi to the Holy Basil plant’s mandap and then the ritual for a day ends. You have to perform this ritual for five days. You shouldn’t stop the ritual for the next five days at any cost. You have be holy. You shouldn’t let lust conquer your heart. You have to sleep on the floor for the next five days. You got that?”Sandhya wasn’t able to figure out why she was stressing so much about the ritual, “Why is Auntie stressing about it so much? She knows that I don’t have any feelings for him. Why would she hurt me? Anyway, If the ritual I do will save Karthik’s life, I would definitely do it. I would sacrifice myself for the sake of him,” she came back to reality and said, “Definitely Auntie, I would sacrifice my life for the sake of my husband. I will do whatever you ask me to.”Meenakshi amma was delighted, “Okay, you go rest now!”Sandhya walked to her room and she was furious about only one thing and thought to herself, “Why would he behave with me like that? He didn’t even apologize!” anger was raging in her heart and she fell asleep on the floor.Surya reached Ravi’s home quickly and he was still anxious, “Ravi,” he called. Ravi looked at him and asked, “Surya, what’s the matter? What happened?”“Ravi, I committed a terrible mistake today!”“What is it?”“I…I…tried to kiss Sandhya,” he fumbled.“What? Did you try to kiss her? And what’s the big deal in it? She is your wife and you wanted to kiss her. Anyhow, why would you tell this to your friends? C’mon dude!”“Ravi, I’m frustrated already and you are making it worse. Stop it, man. You know the relationship between us!”“Okay, okay, calm down! Come here, have a drink. Everything will be sorted.”“Dude, you know I don’t touch alcohol!”“Ugh! I know, dude. It’s okay if you drink for a day,” he said and forced him to drink.Surya gulped it in a hurry.“Tell me now, how do you feel?”“Dude, it’s so raw!”“C’mon, have one more. You will feel it now,” he said and made  Surya drink another one. “Yeah! That’s how you do it!” exclaimed Ravi and made him drink another 3 pegs. Surya was drowsy to the core and fell asleep on the couch.Ravi said, “Sorry Surya, I couldn’t look at you being in pain. You will be alright by tomorrow.”It was almost midnight and Sandhya was waiting for Surya, “He isn’t home yet! Why does he have to be so stubborn? He can apologize to me and settle things! He must come home tomorrow at least,” irritated her and she fell asleep.Sandhya woke up at 4 in the morning and felt that it was already late. She bathed and went to the the prayer room where Meenakshi amma was waiting for her and as soon as Sandhya walked there, “Sandhya, this is a special wear which I made it for you, go wear this saree,” said Meenakshi amma, giving her a heavy saree.Sandhya always liked light/simple sarees and clothes but she couldn’t refuse Meenakshi amma’s words. Meanwhile, Meenashki called Shashikala to bring the necklace box. Sandhya draped the saree and came out and Meenaskhi said, “Sandhya, you have to wear these necklaces and you should not remove them until you give Aarthi to the Tulasi fort in the evening,” and she nodded her head yes.Shashikala started helping Sandhya to get ready, the necklaces were massive and they were irritating her skin. Sandhya was agonized and Shashikala naughtily asked her, “Tell me, Sandhya? How are the necklaces?”Sandhya showered a half-hearted smile. Sandhya sat for the pooja and it took almost two hours to finish the pooja. She gave Aarthi to the Tulasi fort after the pooja and Meenakshi said, “Sandhya, you have to give Aarthi to the Tulsi fort similarly in the evening and then eat. You have to follow this for the next four days. Sandhya nodded her head and Meenaskhi again interrupted her, “But you have to sleep on the floor and you should be holy. You have to be in constant divinity.”Sandhya’s heart was miserable and she walked into the room. She was praying to the Goddess Chowdeshwari, “Surya must be safe and he should be out of danger,” and she spread a mat on the floor, “Surya isn’t home yet! He must be at Ravi’s home. Why is he so stubborn? Is he expecting me to call him and apologize to him? How is this even justifiable? Anyway, I will settle the matter when he comes home today or else this crazy guy will remain stubborn,”she chuckled and rested her eyes.Surya woke up anxiously, “Oh god, Why the hell am I here? Sandhya might have been waiting for me all night. I am an idiot. This is all because of you!” he cursed Ravi.“Well, well, you are the one who was drunk and now you are cursing me!”“You forced me to drink, dude!”“Yeah, but you had 5 pegs, who the hell has 5 pegs for the first time? Do you have to sleep here? You are the one who did everything and now you are cursing me?” he said.“I understood your game. Ugh, I have to apologize to Sandhya now!”“Apologize? Look at the time, it’s 10.30! We have an important meeting in the office today! Did you forget that?”“This is all because of you! Let’s go to the office now and I have to apologize to Sandhya as soon as I reach home.”Ravi smiled  and both of them reached the office. There was an important meeting which had to be dealt with foreign delegates and it was a matter involving crores of rupees. They were apprehensive all through the meeting and it continued till evening.Sandhya hadn’t eaten anything since morning but she was more worried about Surya who wasn’t home yet. By the time stars started showing up in the sky around 7.30, Sandhya gave Aarthi to the Tulasi fort and finished the pooja. She hesitantly asked Meenakshi, “Auntie, Can I change my clothes?” Meenakshi understood her pain and said, “Okay dear, change and preserve them carefully. Take a shower and eat then.”She nodded her head, hurried upstairs, changed, draped a simple saree, and reached downstairs. A banana leaf was spread on the floor and different kinds of food items by Sombabu. Sandhya didn’t feel like eating anything and ate very less food and said, “I’m done, Auntie. I will go to sleep now,” and as she was about to walk into the room, Meenakshi said, “You have to repeat the same for tomorrow too!” so that she could hear it. Sandhya silently nodded her head. On the other hand, Surya was frustrated. The project was successful but he wasn’t happy. It was almost 12 and Surya exited the office. Ravi felt disappointed and said, “Sorry Surya, this is all my fault”“It’s okay, dude. We have to commit in our field for success. Anyway, the project is successful. We can celebrate if Sandhya forgives me,” he said, smiling, and started his car. It was almost one by the time he reached home. He walked into the room to find Sandhya sleeping on the floor and he felt like she had been working all day, “Sandhya might be furious with me or else she would have slept on the bed but not on the floor. She must be really furious! Her face seems to be tiring, did she even eat? What am I supposed to do now? If I lift her and carry her to the bed, she will misunderstand me that I tried to do something stupid! It’s better not to disturb her and settle things when she wakes up!” he decided and slept on the other side of the bed.An idea birthed into Meenakshi’s head and she walked into her son’s room even though it wasn't optable. She felt relieved as soon as she eyed Sandhya who was sleeping on the floor and to the other side of the floor, she saw Surya. He hadn’t even changed his office clothes and Meenaskhi’s heart screamed in pain looking at her son. She cautiously woke him and Surya jolted awake. He was worried and said, “Mom? What’s wrong?” She made sure him not to make noise and asked him to come out of the room.“Surya, my heart is racing. I feel something is wrong,” worried she.“What’s the matter, mom?” he said.“It’s nothing, son. Venkatesh called me and said there was a problem in our village. I have to go to the village urgently. It would be helpful for me if you come along and help me there.”“But mom…”“What are you thinking, son? You can’t even fetch four days for the sake of your mom?” she asked.“No, mom. I have important work here..”“You do important work all the time. But spare your work for another four days. Let me go talk to Sombabu and get the things arranged,” she said and walked away. He couldn’t refuse her, got ready, and looked at Sandhya. An idea popped up in his mind and decided to write a letter by putting all of his thoughts in it and placed the letter by her side so that she could find it easily and said, “Sandhya, I will be waiting for your call. Bye,” and he exited the room.Meenakshi explained everything to Sombabu and ordered him to make sure Sandhya follows the pooja for the next four days. Sombabu packed the luggage in the back of the car. Surya and Meenakshi hopped into the car and Surya said to Sombabu, “Uncle, take care of everyone at home. We will be home in four days,” and he accelerated the car but his heart was craving to talk to Sandhya. Sombabu watched the car disappear into the darkness.