To hear her say this was traumatic. He never expected this move from Roshni. With a raised voice, he said, “Roshni, are you out of your mind? Do you know anybody there? Where will you stay in Bangalore? How will you stay by yourself? It is a new place for you, and I don’t think it is a good idea for you to leave Mumbai and stay by yourself.” He pounded questions at her. The thought of losing her panicked him!
Roshni sensed his concern; he was perturbed. She observed that he’d developed feelings towards her, but her question was, “Are these genuine or is he trying to please somebody?” She was confused and needed more assurance from him before she trusted him.
“Deepak, please try to understand. This is such a great opportunity, both career-wise and personally too! And it works very well with what we talked about in December. It is a good transition for me to be out of your house and for the others to accept me not being around.”
Of course, she was attached to all of them, and this made her sad. “I am concerned. Sashank bhaiya and Kusum didi treat me as their daughter and will never let me go otherwise. Akash bhaiya is concerned for his sister…that is me. Under these circumstances, I cannot leave. You have to understand and support me. After all, they do not know what transpired between us!”
“No,” he said emphatically. “I will not listen to anything you say, and I do not approve of this move. You will not leave Mumbai, and,” he looked straight into her eyes, “you will not leave this house until…until…” He stopped; he did not want to inform Roshni of his plan of applying for her VISA to the US.
He stumbled and could not find the right words to convince her to stay. “Roshni, please don’t leave the house. I don’t want you to go anywhere,” he said, pleading with her.
“But…but…Deepak, please–”
He interrupted her, “I do not want to talk about this anymore. Let’s talk about something more pleasant and happy.”
Roshni did not want to confront him with the topic of their marriage and forgive him yet! Deepak, on the other hand, did not want to discuss her leaving the house; he was fearful of losing her! Both had their weaknesses and were hesitant to deal with them. Would they ever confront each other with these issues?
He hesitantly suggested, “So, do you want to go shopping?”
“No, I am not interested in shopping,” she snapped back.
“Fine, I want to buy a few things to take to the US; let’s look for them.”
Roshni, with a surprised expression, asked, “Here, in Lonawala?”
“Yes, what is the problem? I think we can shop here too.”
Roshni nodded her head. He’d behaved like a little child for those few minutes, and she smiled to herself. She began to get glimpses of his personality. With his behavior, he had established he could not handle stress very well. She had a few examples to prove this. He was upset with the thought of her going away, and this was visible in his expressions.
Finally she said, “Okay, Deepak, will you listen to me if I suggest something?”
“Yes, go ahead – other than you talking about going away to Bangalore.”
“After breakfast let’s drive back to Mumbai. Once in Mumbai, let’s go shop for your items and then go home.” She was handling things better than he was.
Deepak confirmed that she still had the dinner date with him, and she agreed. They left after breakfast and talked about their work and projects. Deepak shared his lifestyle in the US, and it was all fun and enjoyable and, more importantly, very relaxing for both.
~ ~ ~
As they got closer to Mumbai, Roshni asked for the list of items Deepak wanted to buy. He mentioned a few things, and she took him to a sweet shop.
At the sweet shop, Roshni noticed Deepak bought several varieties, and out of curiosity, she asked, “Deepak, pardon me for interfering, but do you really need to get so much? How many people will you share all these with?”
Deepak smiled and came to her. “Roshni, I am going to keep most of these for myself.”
Roshni opened her eyes wide in surprise. He sensed this and with a smile said, “Roshni, do you know I like sweets? So whenever I feel like eating something sweet, I will eat these and think of these sweet moments with you.” He tried to be romantic with her.
She was taken aback. “Deepak, these sweets don’t last too long; I hope you know that.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Again with a smile on his face. “If you say I cannot take these, then I won’t.”
He called the vendor, but Roshni pulled him aside. “Deepak, please stop it. What are you doing? Okay, fine, go ahead and buy what you want.”
He smiled at her. He was happy to see her in this mood.
They purchased sweets and then bought some spices. He noticed Roshni quietly watching him, and he approached her. “Roshni, how come you’re so quiet now? Aren’t you going to stop me from buying these spice powders?” He smiled at her again.
He was in a jovial mood and had fun joking with her. Deepak bought a gift for his boss, and after all the shopping was done, they stopped at a restaurant for an afternoon snack and chai, then returned home. Both seemed very happy, and the people at home noticed this.
Deepak shared the snacks and sweets he bought with everybody and went to his room. He had received two parcels to take with him to the US. He hated packing and tried to procrastinate, or rather, he hoped that Roshni would join him and help him pack. This was his strategy, anyways!
Chapter 19
Deepak prepares to leave for the US after Lonawala trip
Deepak pulled out his itinerary and reviewed it. His flight was at 10:15 p.m. the next day. He mumbled to himself, “I have time to pack in the morning. I don’t have to worry now!”
Roshni walked into the room to freshen up and noticed all the items scattered all around the floor. He read her expression. “I will pack all this tomorrow morning. I have time until evening,” he said.
She did not say a word. She went into the bathroom and came out fresh.
Deepak waited for her. “Roshni, what time shall we go for dinner?”
“Deepak, we just came back from our trip. Do we really have to go out for dinner? You’re leaving tomorrow. Why not spend time with the entire family?” she suggested.
Deepak sensed her reluctance to go with him. “Roshni, you promised to go with me for dinner tonight, and we are going. That is final.” Then he came closer to her. “Please don’t change plans on me.”
He was semi-formally dressed, and Roshni suspected he was taking her to a formal restaurant and wondered if she was appropriately dressed. He read her expression again and nodded that she was well dressed and complimented her for her choice of dresses.
Their relationship had grown to an extent where each of them could read each other’s expressions, a great improvement, indeed!
Arriving at the restaurant, they were seated at a table, and Roshni experienced a candlelight dinner with Deepak again.
Deepak became more aware of the fact that she was preparing herself to leave this house and him. Her decision to leave him had not changed. He’d tried to regain her confidence in this trip, but not much improvement was seen. There was a lot of hesitation from her side.
He remembered the conversation he’d had with Vivek and Vaishali: “She felt deceived and betrayed; regaining her confidence will not be easy.”
After a few minutes into this trance, he counseled himself, I will regain my credibility and her confidence. It may take longer, but I will be patient. I can think of options after I go back to the US, but I am not going to ruin this evening. He returned his attention to the restaurant and Roshni.
They enjoyed the food, and after dinner, Roshni was pretty quiet in the car, so Deepak decided to venture some questions.
“Roshni, are you unhappy because I’m leaving tomorrow?” he asked and smiled.
Roshni looked at him. “What? Why would I feel unhappy?”
Deepak shrugged his shoulders. “You’ve been so quiet, just wondering.�
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“Deepak, there are so many other things I can worry about, why this? Moreover, I know my stay here is very temporary, so why should I feel sad?” she remarked.
These statements instantly pricked him deep inside. “Roshni, why do you have to say such things and mar this beautiful evening we spent together?” He meant it. He’d enjoyed the beautiful time they had together and did not want to ruin it.
“Thank you for dinner, but…but…” It was futile to argue, and she made no further comment, especially since he was leaving the next day.
“Roshni, I am disappointed,” he said.
“What did I do?”
“I am disappointed. You never wore any of the dresses or jewelry that I gave you for your birthday. Why not?”
“You bought those for your wife, and I am not your wife. It is that simple,” she replied.
Deepak sighed. “Roshni, I took you with me intentionally so I could buy something you like, and you start this whole thing again.”
“How can I forget everything, Deepak? It may be easy for you, but not for me. Anyway, let’s not discuss this now. We’ve already discussed it enough and agreed on a few things. Let’s not go back there again.” She did not want to talk about it.
Deepak thought, What can I do for her to talk about it? Every time I initiate this topic, she ignores it… I have to come up with a better idea!
~ ~ ~
Everybody at home had had their dinner and was relaxing in the family room, watching TV. Deepak and Roshni joined them. It was a family time together. Deepak had never experienced this before. He was so pleased to see this, and he gestured to Roshni and thanked her.
The phone rang, and Roshni picked it up. “Hello?”
The other voice, a female voice, said, “Hello, this is Nirmala.”
Roshni had heard this name before but did not place her immediately. “Nirmala who?”
Sashank, Akash and Deepak recognized the name, and their eyes widened in shock.
Nirmala continued, “This is Satish’s wife.”
Roshni recognized her: Satish, the oldest brother, and Nirmala, his wife.
“Hello, bhabhi, this is Roshni, Deepak’s wife,” Roshni introduced herself.
Deepak smiled; it felt good to hear her say ‘Deepak’s wife’.
Sashank was all red and angry. “Why did she have to call here? What does she think she’s doing?” Akash and Deepak tried to calm him down.
Nirmala continued, “Roshni, can I speak with Sashank, please?”
Roshni turned towards Sashank bhaiya, and she noticed he was upset and angry. Without uttering a word, she gestured to Sashank bhaiya that Nirmala wanted to talk to him, and Sashank shook his head ‘no’.
Roshni understood that Sashank was not interested in talking to her. “Nirmala bhabhi, Sashank bhaiya is busy. Do you want to leave a message for him?” she asked.
Nirmala understood; she continued, “Roshni, Satish had a stroke last week.”
“A stroke!” Roshni exclaimed with a shocked tone.
Sashank, Akash and Deepak stood up, dismayed.
“Yes, he had a stroke last week, and we brought him home a couple of days ago. He is recovering but needs to rest. He has been thinking of Sashank and asked to talk to him, so I called,” she said.
Roshni asked for a few more details and found out that his left arm and leg were paralyzed as a result of the stroke, but fortunately, he’d received medical attention promptly and the impact was not that severe. With further treatment, physical therapy and rest, he should be able to recover well. She collected the address and telephone number and agreed to communicate this message to Sashank bhaiya, and they hung up. Roshni turned around, and everybody waited eagerly for her to update them. She told them of Satish bhaiya’s stroke and his desire to speak to Sashank bhaiya. All three brothers took a deep breath and settled back in their chairs.
Sashank was fuming. His face was red, and he started clenching his fingers.
Roshni came to Sashank bhaiya and knelt in front of him. She held his hands and tried to calm him down. “Bhaiya, Satish bhaiya wanted to talk to you.”
Sashank did not respond; instead, he stood up and walked away to his room. He was concerned for Satish, but his ego was so strong he did not want to accept it. Roshni indicated to Kusum didi to calm him down.
“He is so young and…a stroke,” said Deepak.
“Haan, what must have happened?” responded Akash.
This news was heartbreaking to all three brothers. Agreed, they’d had some unforgettable experiences with Satish and his wife, but this was not the time to hold a grudge against him. After all, he was their blood relation; how could they not do anything!
After a few minutes, Akash went to his room, and Deepak and Roshni went to their room.
Deepak was troubled, and was concerned for Satish bhaiya. Roshni held his hand and made him sit on the sofa, and she sat next to him. He was quiet. Roshni gently squeezed his hand. She was brave and provided him with strength and courage.
“I don’t even remember his face, Roshni. It has been so long, so many years… They never kept in touch with us, and we never did either, and now, all of a sudden…this phone call…”
He looked at her. “Here I was…I was having such a good time with you and a great time with everybody and was ready to leave on a high note…and this news…” He stopped.
Roshni placed her hand on his shoulder and provided the support he needed, and he acknowledged it.
“Deepak, let us be thankful that he is recovering and is home. Who knows what went on in his mind. This is not the time to ponder over the past events. Whatever happened has happened.” Looking at him, she said, “Can I tell you something?”
He was helpless and waited for her to speak.
“Sashank bhaiya is enraged, but I think he is anxious too. I think he should talk to Satish bhaiya.” She continued after a pause, “Deepak, it is late now, but tomorrow morning, after breakfast, let us go meet him.”
Deepak did not respond. He was confused.
She looked around, and all his stuff was scattered everywhere. “I will help you pack tomorrow morning, and then we will go meet him.”
Deepak agreed.
Roshni got ready to sleep on the sofa.
“Roshni, you can sleep on the bed…like we did in Lonawala,” he said.
Roshni did not make an issue of it. She had slept on the same bed in Lonawala, so she agreed.
~ ~ ~
After finishing her morning chores, Roshni went to have chai. Sashank bhaiya, Kusum didi and Akash bhaiya were already at the table, and a few minutes later, Deepak joined them. It was a somber moment. Everybody was quiet and thought of the phone call from the previous night.
“Deepak, this was a very hectic trip for you. Hopefully you had a good time.” Sashank broke the silence.
Deepak looked at Roshni. “Certainly, a good one. I hope Roshni enjoyed it too.”
“Deepak, are you done with packing? We will have to leave by 5:30 p.m. this evening.”
“No, bhaiya, I am going upstairs after chai.”
“Bhaiya, Deepak and I planned to visit Satish bhaiya after he packs,” Roshni said.
Sashank had not expected this but didn’t say anything. He was quiet and just shrugged his shoulders.
Deepak and Roshni left to finish packing. Items were scattered everywhere, and she volunteered to help him. She asked him to sort everything – which items were absolutely necessary and which items could be left behind. Deepak was very proud of her organizational skills. He smiled at her and started to identify items that needed to be taken and those that could be left behind. Roshni took charge and packed his suitcase.
Meanwhile, Deepak received a call from Vivek. Vivek asked for flight details from Deepak, and after talking for a few minutes, they hung up the phone. In the meantime, Roshni had done all the packing. She was able to accommodate all the items in the suitcase.
“Thanks a lot, Roshni. This is great. Yo
u are so efficient and organized. Thank you, thank you!”
Roshni looked at him and the items for his hand bag. “You should pack these in your hand bag. Do you want me to pack these as well?”
“No, no, I mean, I can pack them.”
He was worried she would see the passport copies, marriage certificate, etc. She wondered why he acted so strangely but ignored it and walked towards the bathroom to get ready.
“Deepak, hurry up. We have to leave,” she said.
“Yeah, right!” He remembered they planned on visiting Satish bhaiya.
Deepak got his hand bag ready and checked his passport and ticket. He had brought the immigration papers this time with a hope to obtain Roshni’s signatures. How could he get her to sign them? He was successful in getting her passport copy and marriage certificate, but how could he get her to sign the immigration papers?
As he pondered it, he remembered the power of attorney she had given him on their wedding day. Roshni had given it to him when he left in December, asking him to apply for divorce. He was happy he thought of this. The power of attorney was in the US, and he could use it this time.
Both Deepak and Roshni were ready, and before they left, Roshni called Nirmala and informed her that she and Deepak were coming to see Satish bhaiya.
On the way, Deepak became nervous; he had not met his brother in so many years. What was he going to say? How would he respond to him? These questions bothered him. Roshni was his strength!
~ ~ ~
They arrived at the apartment complex, and just before they got out of the car, Roshni held Deepak’s hand. He was confused and looked towards her.
“Deepak, we’re here to meet him. Let him do the talking; we will listen. This is no time for him to endure any more stress,” she said, and Deepak agreed.
Roshni rang the doorbell, and Nirmala welcomed them inside. The house décor was very refined; certainly, Satish must have been in a very senior position at his company. The apartment had marble floors, mahogany furniture with expensive cushions, and rugs spread on the floor. The walls were hung with beautiful paintings and silk curtains, and the corner tables had beautiful decorative pieces. The apartment itself was huge and spacious.
Love after Marriage Page 20