Chapter 25: Back Home

At Singhania Mansion:

"Suman bhabhi, aapki bahu toh bohot hi sundar hai."

(Suman bhabhi, your daughter-in-law is very beautiful.)

"Haan haan, bilkul paari jaisi. Aise lagta hai ki Meera ki vajah se hi uske gehne chamak rahe hai."

(Yes yes, she looks like an angel. It seems like the jewellery is shining because of Meera.)

"Suman bhabhi, kahan chupa kr rahkha tha itni pyaari bahu ko. Aur sirf sundar hi nahi hai, suna hai ki disable bachon ke saath kaam krti hai. Bohot accha kam kr rahi hai, yeh bhi toh dekho."

(Suman bhabhi, where had you kept her hidden? And she's not only beautiful, I've heard she works with disabled kids. She's working for a very good cause.)

"Suman, be careful, kahin kisi ki nazar na lag jaye."

(Suman, be careful there aren't any evil eyes coming her way.)

"Reema, waise kehna toh nahi chahiye, lekin Rohan ne galti krdi. Meera se khoobsurat ladki aur koi nahi hai."

(Reema, I shouldn't say this but, Rohan made a mistake. There is no girl as gorgeous as Meera.)

"Arre, pr Shourya bhi toh kam nahi hai."

(But our Shourya isn't less than anyone either.)

The Singhania's had come back home yesterday, and today Suman and Reema had invited their known women for the muh dikhai for both the Singhania bahu's. It was originally planned for Meera, but Reema had insisted that Priya didn't get one so they should have one for her too. But in a way that puts them up for comparison and competition.

Meera was clad in a golden, silk saree. She had accessorised it with a small gold chocker and a longer pearl and gold necklace, she was wearing jhumkas and her chooda as well. Shourya was struck by her beauty when she was ready, he had insisted on joining them, but Suman had managed to stop him from leaving the room. Everyone was home, but only the women were seated in the living room for the ritual. The rest were on house arrest in their rooms.

"Kya matlab hai aapka Radha Bhabhi, meri bahu sundaar nahi hai aapke hisaab se!?" Reema points her finger at the woman as she defends her daughter-in-law.

(What do you mean Radha bhabhi? My daughter-in-law isn't pretty according to you?!?)

"Aare aare, Reema aap toh gussa hi kr gayi. Hum toh aise hi keh rahi thi."

(Oh Reema, you are getting angry. We were just saying. . .)

"Rehne do tum log. Meri Priya bahu jaise yeh Meera kabhi nahi ban sakti. Na isko khaapde pehne ki aakal hai aur na hi shingaar krna aata hai. Shourya ne toh taras kha kr shaadi krli bechare ne. Warna Rohan toh ise ek nazar dekhta bhi nahi tha. Priya kitni modern hai, aur yeh Meera ko modern ka m bhi nahi pata. Bolne se pehle ek baar dekh to lo. Kahan meri Priya aur kahan yeh Meera. Par samajh sakti hun, muh pr toh iski bezati kr nahi sakti, Suman Bhabhi ki chamchi jo ho tum sab."

(Leave it, you guys. This Meera can never become like my Priya. She doesn't know how to wear clothes, or how to get ready and accessories herself. Shourya took pity on her and married her. Or else Rohan used to never even look her way. Priya is so modern, and this Meera doesn't know the M of modern. At least look before you speak. But I can understand, you can't be rude to their faces, you are little minions of Suman bhabhi.)

Priya snickers from under her veil, whereas Meera's eyes water with humiliation. Suman holds her hand and rubs her thumb over the back of her hand gently, showing support. Riya hugs Meera as she sits next to her.

"Reema, what are you saying? Please thoda soch samajh kr baat karo, Meera meri bahu hai!"

(Reema, what are you saying? Please think before you speak, Meera is my daughter-in-law.)

"Bhabhi, aap kuch maat kaho. Aapko aur Raj bhai saab ko bada shounk hai na maahan bane ka, isiliye toh Meera ko apni bahu banaiya hai. Pr yahan saab ko pata hai ki yeh aur iska baap paise ke bhooke hai. Isiliye toh Neel ke zaariye, Rohan ko trap kiya tha in baap beti ne."

(Bhabhi, you don't say anything. You and Raj bhai are always trying to become great and superior, that's why you got your son married to her. But everyone here knows that this girl and her father are hungry for money. That's why they trapped my son through Neel.)

"REEMA!" Sunita Devi yells.

The voice booms through the mansion, catching everyone's attention. Reema's raised voice had been heard by everyone, however, it was hard to make out what the fuss was about.

But Sunita Devi's voice had everyone shivering, the men rush towards the living room, and Shourya glances at his father as they gather in the living room. Neel puts his hand on his brother's shoulder and Aarav stands next to his mother. Rohan and Shourya stand next to their respective father.

"Maa, what happened?" Raj asks. Shourya observes the scene, the women invited were sitting silently, his chachi standing in the middle of the living room, Priya lifting her veil with a faint smile on her face. Riya and his mother huddled close to his wife, who had also lifted her veil. Her nose is red and she gently wipes it, Riya strokes Meera's cheeks and fixes her bhabhi's makeup as best as she could. She's been crying. Who made her cry?

"Bhabhi! Have you been crying?" Aarav exclaims as he makes his way over. He kneels down in front of her, "why are you crying Bhabhi? Kisi ne kuch kaha hai kya? I won't spare them!" Meera smiles slightly at her devaar and shakes her head slightly, causing her veil to completely fall off her head.

(Why are you crying bhabhi? Did someone say something to you? I won't spare them!)

"Maa? Reema? Kya ho raha hai? Aur thodi der pehle tumhari bhi aawaz aa hai thi. Kya chal raha hai?" Neel asks.

(Maa? Reema? What is going on? And you were also raising your voice earlier. What is happening?)

"Neel. Apni biwi ko kaho ki meri nazar se door hat jaye, warna aaj mujhse bura koi nahi hoga." Sunita Devi says.

(Neel, tell your wife to get out of my sight. Or else I won't spare her.)

"Dadi, hua kya hai. Aap mom se itni gussa kyon hai?" Rohan asks.

(Grandma, what happened? Why are you so angry with mom?)

Sunita Devi recites everything that happened, not leaving any detail. Shourya's eyes turn red with anger, and his body tenses at the accusations Reema had spurred out. Rohan also tenses at the insults his mother had said about Meera, but only for a split second. Raj watches on stunned as Shourya makes his way over to Meera. "Aarav, Riya go to your rooms," Shourya says, his voice strained.

"Nahi bhai, hum Bhabhi ko chod kr nahi jaaynege."

(No bhai, we're not going to leave bhabhi.)

"Aarav. Riya."

The duo are about to protest further when Meera shakes her head at them, they huff before slowly stomping up the stairs. Shourya helps his mother sit on the other couch, Raj moves to stand behind her. Shourya sits next to Meera, wiping her tears and making her look at him to see how hurt she is. The room is silent as Shourya moves around it, his anger radiating off of him.

Meera shakes her head at him, her eyes pleading with him to not cause a scene and to be calm. He holds her hand, giving it a kiss before fixing her hair and saree. Shourya stands up and turns to Reema, he takes a step in her direction, hands behind his back.

"Chachi." His voice sounds as normal as possible but sends shivers down everyone's back.

"I don't know what your problem is with my wife. I've noticed you trying to bring her down every opportunity you get. From trying to throw food on her clothes, to constantly comparing her to Rohan's wife, but we've always brushed it under the rug. I've let it slide one too many times. Meine bardasht kiya. Lekin jo aapne aaj kiya hai, bahar wahlon ke saamne, woh mujhe bilkul bardasht nahi hai. Meri Meera apki Priya jaisi bilkul nahi hai, isliye nahi ki woh uske jaise kapde nahi pehnti ya uski jaisi tyaar hoti nahi hoti hai. Balki iss liye kyunki Meera ko rishton ki kaadar hai, khaas kr aapne maa baap ki. Apki Priya aur Rohan ne toh bina soche samjhe, bhaag kr shaadi kr li. Priya ne aapni maa baap ki izzat ke baare me ek baar bhi nahi socha. Lekin aapke Rohan ke kaarname ke baad, meri Meera ne aapne ghar walon ki izzat pr aanch na aaye iss liye mujhse shaadi ke liye tyaar hogi. Aur yahan tak rahi baat paison ki toh hai kya Rohan ke paas. Meera ki usse shadi hone wali thi na. Pr na aapka Rohan kaam krta hai, na uske paas kudh ke paise hai. Baba ne aapni dosti ke liye Rishta kiya tha apni beti ki."

(I don't know what your problem is with my wife. I've noticed you trying to bring her down every opportunity you get. From trying to throw food on her clothes, to constantly comparing her to Rohan's wife, we've always brushed it under the rug. I've let it slide one too many times. I've tolerated it. But what you have done today, in front of others, I will not tolerate at all. My Meera is not like your Priya at all. Not because she doesn't dress like her, but because Meera respects and values relationships, especially her parents. Your Priya and Rohan didn't think twice before running away and getting married. Priya didn't think about what her parents would go through even once. But after your Rohan's actions, my Meera kept her parents' reputation intact and married me. And as far as it goes for money, then what does Rohan have? Meera was going to get married to him, right? But your Rohan doesn't, doesn't have his own savings. Baba had yes to the alliance for the sake of their friendship.)

Rohan fixes his shirt to hide his discomfort and Priya's face turns red with anger, whilst Reema stares at Shourya. Meera pulls on Shourya's arm, wanting him to stop, but he isn't done yet.

"Aur kis baat ka aapko itna guroor hai? Priya ki khoobsurati ka? Aisi khoobsurati ka bhi kya krna jo sirf surat se hai, seerat se nahi. Ya aapko Rohan ka guroor hai? Lekin usne aise koi teer bhi nahi maara. Ya aapko apne aameer hone ka ghamandh hai? Pr woh kamai Neel chachu ki hai. Aap, appka beta aur uski biwi ke chote se bhi chote kharche woh karte hai. Ek din ruk gaye toh kya hoga aapka? Yeh ghar dad aur chachu ne saath mein banaiya hai, hamara business un dono ne start kiya tha, aab meine join kr liya hai, Aarav bhi aata hai uski holidays mein. Aur aapka Rohan, humaari mehnaat ki kaamai se aish krta hai. Uske honeymoon tak ke paise maine diye hai. Meera bhi kal keh rahi thi ki ek do hafte mein job dubara join kregi. Meera ke saamne aapke bete aur bahu kuch nahi lagte. Aaj ke baad Meera ki taraf aapne, apke bete ne, yah aapki bahu ne aankh utha kr bhi dekha na, toh mujhse bura koi nahi hoga. Agli baar itne pyaar se baat nahi hogi."

(And what are you so proud of? Priya's beauty? What's the point of such beauty that doesn't reflect her character? Or are you proud of Rohan? But he hasn't done anything special. Or are you proud of being rich? But that is Neel uncle's income. you, your son and his wife are all dependent on him. what if he decides to not do that one day? This house belongs to dad and chachu, our businesses are built by them. No I have joined and even Aarav comes in during his holidays. And your Rohan, he enjoys himself on our income. I paid for his honeymoon. Meera is also wanting to join her work as soon as possible. Your son and daughter-in-law are nothing in front of Meera. If you, your son or his wife, even look Meera's way, then you'll have to face the consequences. And next time I won't be this polite about it.)

The women here for theritual bless Meera before slowly taking their leave. The fact that they didn'tspare Priya a glance says a lot. Shourya takes Meera's hand and guides her totheir room. His grip firm, his body tense, his steps fast.

I really loved this chapter because of the way Shourya stood up for Meera. What do you guys think?

And Reema is getting on my nerves!!!