Three months passed with new arrangements. Shailja never gets delayed in depositing the rent. She makes adjustments in other expenses if required. Looking at this new Shailja and her attitude, Abhay was stunned. He was baffled as arrangements of his side were total upside down. Grocery and food are not in place. He hardly knows cooking. Cleaning house and washing clothes which he had never done in the last 20 years of marriage are now the tasks he has to do unwillingly. He knew there is no point in talking to Shailja and anyways his ego is at its peak. He doesn't want to show his weakness and seeks Shailja’s help. So somehow he is managing by himself. This also started impacting his work.
Abhay knows Shailja is working with Vinay Uncle. He doesn't want to file divorce and get involved in its complexities. He was well aware that he is wrong and things which are still under wraps about his extramarital affair with Preeti, will surely be revealed. This will destroy his partnership with Aakash. Preeti and Aakash's married life will also be shattered like his. And Shailja will also be not going to keep quiet as she has caught him red-handed with all the proofs. And the most important thing was that he will lose all the respect and love that Pulak and Lavanya have for him. So he accepted everything the way it is going.
On another side at Preeti’s house also, everything was not as smooth as before. Aakash was quite introverted and simple but not stupid. Preeti’s changed behavior, spending time on her phone at late nights, visiting parlor, and always getting decked up whenever she goes out and increased frequency of going out, all these are making Aakash uncomfortable. His instincts made him questioned Preeti.
“What's up Preeti? These days you are becoming quite a hi-tech. Always busy on your phone. Have you joined any new clubs or groups? You seem to be going out quite often. Earlier you always used to run behind the kids.”
“Ohh come on Aakash... Now kids have grown up. They can do their stuff by themselves. Don't you think I also have the right to enjoy my life? Whatever things I couldn't do before, can't I do it now when I have time. You know “Me Time”.” Preeti replied very smartly leaving Aakash short of words.
“Don't get me wrong Preeti. I am not saying that you should not have your “Me Time”. Or you can not enjoy life. You have all the right to do so. But you should not do this by avoiding your responsibilities towards the family. Our kids are now at the stage where they don't only need our attention but guidance also. And as a mother, they seek it most from you.” Aakash tried to put his point but Preeti didn't take him seriously.
The rift has started in their house as well.
One day Shailja received a call and got the news that her father suffered a heart attack. She took the next flight to Kolkata. He received all the possible treatments but still, doctors couldn't save his life. His sudden demise left everyone shocked. Shailja’s mother was shattered. There is no one left to see her father’s business which he had set up and spread wide. Her mother is still not recovered from the loss and cannot take care of everything. Shailja couldn't leave her mother in this condition so she decided to stay back for a few weeks after all rituals finished and everyone went back.
One night Shailja was lying beside her mother. Both were staring at the ceiling as they both had no sleep in the eyes. After a few minutes, her mother broke the silence.
“Shailja, you know when you were a kid, you used to tell us every small thing. Whether it was about your studies, your friends, your dreams, every tiniest thing of your life. But now you hid such a big thing from us. Why did you do this?” Her mother questioned with a heavy voice.
Shailja couldn't understand this sudden question. She was not sure that her mother was talking about which thing so she asked surprisingly, “What are you talking about Ma?”
She sat on the bed and turned towards Shailja, “Vinay Uncle told your father about the jewelry and bangles which you sold. He had this suspicion that something is wrong between you and Abhay and asked us. We even asked you a few times but every time you gave us one or the other excuse. Vinay Uncle came to Kolkata and returned your jewelry to your father. Your father asked him not to tell you anything as he didn't want you to lose your confidence and self-esteem. Your father wanted you to get the experience of the business and accounts and so we had decided not to disclose all this to you. You have become so strong and self-reliant that we are very proud of you. But what Abhay did that you have to take this drastic step?”
Hearing everything, Shailja couldn't control herself and she broke down in her mother's lap. She told everything to her mother about how Abhay’s attitude changed after her surgery and what led her to take such a decision.
“I did not want you and Papa to get worried and tensed at this age. I was trying to manage on my own. I haven't told anything to Pulak and Lavanya yet. I don't want to spoil their life and future. But staying with that man was getting difficult for me day by day and that's why I made my own home within that house and paid him rent. I don't want to live on his mercy.”
“Enough is enough Shailja. Now I can't leave you alone there. You have tolerated a lot but now you need not do all this. You deserve a much better life. What is the point of staying in such a house where no one values relations? Why do you need to suffer like this and how long? Pulak and Lavanya both are now studying abroad. You don't need to stay with such an ungrateful and cunning man.” Her mother's voice is filled with anger for Abhay and worries for Shailja.
“But Ma, what about kids? They need both the parents and how will they face all this?” Shailja was thinking about her kids.
“Look dear, there is a limit of everything, even of sacrifice. You already sacrificed so many years of your life for your kids. But if you are not happy and content, how will you make your kids happy. When your kids will come to know that their mother had spent this miserable life because of them, will they be able to be happy? Wouldn't they feel guilty? See Pulak and Lavanya are grown-ups. They are very sincere and understanding. Today or tomorrow, they will certainly learn everything about their parents. It would be better if you tell them everything in your own way and make them strong to face the truth. After a few years, both of them will also have their own life. You don't need to spend your future with a cheat like him. Why do you even want to stay in his house and pay him to rent when you are capable enough to stand alone and face this world?” Her mother said with conviction and faith in her daughter.
Shailja thought about her mother's words and after a pause, she said, “I will think about it but before taking any decision I want to talk to kids and Abhay.”
Shailja slept like a baby in her mother's lap and her mother gazed at her new reborn daughter.
