Chapter - 19
Hasmukh came into my life, and he became like a curse for me.
My in-laws also spoiled him a lot. They took him everywhere with them. What was so special about him?
I had booked tickets for the film 'Amar Prem' for my family and my in-laws. I didn't want to include him.
We reached the theater on time. Before us, Hasmukh had already arrived there with his wife.
I was surprised to see him.
I had planned the outing for my family and hadn't included him. Yet, he shamelessly came to the theater.
The theatre was house full. Even then, he boasted:"We got extra tickets."
There was no truth to this.
Not only that, they got seats in our row.
It made me to understand that he had separately booked ticket for Suhani as well..which made easy for Hasmukh called Suhani to his side and made her sit in the empty seat next to him.
This was story behind all this.
When the theater was house full, how could that seat was empty? It could only mean one thing: he had booked three tickets separately.
His coming to watch the film and calling Suhani to sit next to him ruined my mood for watching the movie. The lines of a song from the film were stirring up my wounds:
If an enemy hurts you, your beloved comforts your heart, But who can heal the wounds inflicted by your beloved?
I had considered both of them my own. I had trusted them. Hasmukh was a complete stranger, but Suhani had gone with him. I felt terrible seeing this. Suhani was educated. I had booked tickets for everyone, and she had gone with him without saying a word.
After the movie, we went to Chowpatty. That's when I had scolded Suhani with bitter words. I had bought the movie tickets to enjoy film with my in laws and Hasmukh had spoiled everything by joining us.
He was a teacher, yet he had no manners.
There was no point in saying anything to him because he had become the favorite of my in-laws. He was a master in cutting vulgar jokes. My mother-in-law was also very fond of listening to such jokes. That's why they always kept Hasmukh around.
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A few days later, it was my Pushpa auntie's birthday. On that occasion, she had organized a mini-picnic. Hasmukh was her younger brother's son. She didn't like him, but he had somehow managed to worm his way into my in-laws' family. She didn't want to include him in the picnic.
But my mother-in-law invited him without without asking Pushpa bahen.
" Report to Charni Road station at 6 o'clock this Sunday with your wife."
She didn't like this. But there was no point in saying anything. She thought it best to remain silent.
That day I saw a new color of Suhani. She herself had been boasting about it.
"I love my elder sister immensely."
But that day she was completely smitten with Hasmukh's wife. She had made Hasmukh's wife, not Aarti, her sister.
We went to Vihar Lake. And Suhani's behavior disturbed me at larger extent.
We were all sitting together playing Antakshari (a singing game). At that time, Suhani laid her head in Hasmukh's wife's lap and demonstrated the scenario of sleeping.
She was engrossed in listening to her non-vegetarian jokes.
I was annoyed by Suhani's behavior. Once again, the presence of Hasmukh and his wife spoiled my mood.
To try and improve things, I tried to join another group. I sang the song from the film Shaheed:
My saffron-colored garment,My saffron-colored garment,
To die for this country,That's my only wish (2)To die once on this pathIs equal to a hundred life times.Seeing the sacrifice of the heroes (2)My heart was also moved... Color my garment...
The garment that Shivaji wore when he went out with pride,The one that the Queen of Jhansi wore when she sacrificed her life for the country.
Today, we, this group of children,have also come out wearing the same... Color my garment...
The group accompanied me on this song. But I was unwell. In that condition, I couldn't sing the song properly. The group was also surprised by that.
At lunchtime, everyone was sitting down to eat. Even then, Suhani was giving more importance to the Hasmukh and his wife , ignoring me. That disturbed me a lot.
My whole day was wasted. I didn't talk to anyone. Suhani had ruined Pushpa bahen's birthday with her immature conduct.
I was getting annoyed by the presence of Hasmukh and his wife. He was completely unaware of this.
On the way back, we were sitting in a horse-drawn carriage. At that time, I had an argument with Suhani. She had taken Hasmukh's side. Because of her, my anger flared up. Suhani didn't care about me at all. I was deeply hurt by her stand.
I didn't even eat dinner. I dropped myself on bed with an empty stomach. I couldn't sleep until late at night.
I wasn't in the mood to go to the office either. I took the day off. Suhani had gone to college. She didn't know anything about my feelings.
In the evening, she returned from college.
I was sitting outside in a chair. She came to me. She cupped my face in her hands and asked:
"Did you feel very bad, Jiju ?"
Her question melted my anger like ice.
Her behavior had kindled a hope in me.
That she would come to appease me like this every time.
But that was going to happen.
000000000000 (To be continued)
