chapter 4

Jamuna Aunty went back to her village and my mother got operated after some days. Sugandha always tried to take care of my mother in my absence.I often cried in my room whenever I felt lonely without my mother. She is truly my wonder woman. She never cried for my father in my presence and made me her reason to live!I recalled the conversation I had before she went to the operation theatre, she said to me,"Palash, if something happens to me then get married to Sugandha as I want you to fulfill your promise made to her before her mother. Even if you don't love her, still I want you to always respect her as a woman in your life."I said to my mother with tears in my eyes,"Ma, I will marry Sugandha in your presence, you are my whole world. I can't live without you, I don't remember my father but for me, you are both my father and mother. I love you Ma, please come back for my sake!"My mother stroked my hair as she tried to hide her tears from me.When I came back home, Sugandha said to me,"There was a call for you from Nikita, is she your best friend?"I looked at her and felt that she was feeling insecure so I said to her,"Nikita is my classmate. Taara Mam must have asked her to inform me about the campus recruitment. Once, I will get the job, I will fulfill my promise and will get married to you!"Sugandha was red in her face like a beetroot. She was looking down as she said to me,"You don't have to spoil your entire life for my sake. I know you sympathise with me but you don't have to actually marry me in order to save my life!"I hesitated but then I went close to her and lifted her face so that she could look into my eyes, as I said to her,"You don't know how much I love you Sugandha! I am Palash, the flower without any fragrance but after being with you, my dear Sugandha this flower will have the most enchanting fragrance in this whole world. You are not my charity case, in fact you will do me a favour if you will marry me because if you will say, "No" then I will never marry anyone else in my whole life. So, tell me Sugandha, will you be my lucky charm, my wife and my life?"Sugandha was surprised as well as happy. She started crying and I wiped her tears as I hugged her for the first time in my life.I went to college for my campus interview and met Taara Mam, who said to me,"All the best Palash for your interview, always remember that when your character is good then your personality is always impressive!"I went for my interview and got selected in my first attempt. I got a handsome package and I went back to inform my mother about my selection in the multi national company as a Manager.After some days, my mother recovered and I got married to Sugandha.I felt that she was intimidated by my presence and tried to avoid me by always staying with my mother. My mother must have felt that and she told me that she is going to live with her sister's daughter for some days.I was working so I could not go with her. Sugandha stayed back for my sake. She was looking sad and lonely without my mother.On the weekend I took her out to watch a romantic movie, where I met Taara Mam with her fiancé. She asked me,"Hello, Palash how are you and who is your friend?"I told, Mam,"She is Sugandha, my wife!"Taara Mam was surprised as she said to me,"Congratulations, you never told us."She purchased a silver idol of Lord Ganesha and Ma Lakshmi and gifted them to us as our wedding present.She said to me,"Palash always respect your wife as she might never say many things to you but you have to understand her wordless feelings like a heart reader because you are her soulmate as well as her life partner!"We thanked her profusely for her precious gift and advice.When we reached our place, Sugandha went to my mother's room to sleep. I felt that she was not expressing her feelings so I asked her,"Sugandha, are you sleeping? Can I talk to you about something?"She sat on her bed and nodded her head.I asked her, as I pulled her closer,"Do you love me?"She started crying as she hugged me and said that,"Yes, I love you but I don't want to live my whole life under the burden of your favour, you have married me to save me from an unfortunate life but I can't make your life a regret of not marrying someone who was more like you, confident and smart unlike me, please leave me and marry someone from your office, I can't do anything for you, I will be a burden on your conscience forever, I ask you to divorce me and remarry a girl of your own choice!"I kissed her for the first time and felt an electric current running through my veins. I recovered from the shock with great difficulty, yet I tried to appear strong and confident in front of her, as I said to her,"Never ever say such kind of a thing in front of me. You are my wife, my true soulmate and my life partner. I am incomplete without you."I thought that I should make her smile so I said to her,"You can do one thing for me, but it will be impossible for you, I am sure!"She was wide eyed as she was curious to know the condition of fulfilling her promise to me.I teased her further,"You have to kiss me goodmorning and goodnight every day and night throughout our lives, even if you are angry with me!"She said,"Ok, done!"I said to her,"Ok, Goodnight!"Suddenly, I felt the soft kiss on my lips by my dream girl who became a part of my reality and I never let go of her after that because I didn't want my dream to end so soon. She accepted my love and me too, finally!