Journey of Hope

CHAPTER:- 4

Water was flowing continuously. Her clothes were completely soaked, and tears were perfectly hidden. Sitting under the shower, Adyasha thought about that cursed day of her life.

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It was Adyasha's first day in the Ahuja mansion. She woke up early as now she was in her new home. Her father was not there to woke her up bearing her childish tantrums, and her mother had lectured her enough to behave as an ideal daughter-in-law. She had got married to Pratik Ahuja, whom a lot of girls desired to get. But here only she had the luck to be tagged along with him - not for this life but for the upcoming six births.

Thinking about him, the last night scenes came into her mind. A little shade of pink tint appeared in her glossy cheeks. Biting her lips, she thought about the last night. When she dedicated herself, named her body, soul, and everything to her love, the man who was her husband. They united as one. As per her mother's definition of an ideal wife, her whole life was now devoted to him. The holy fire of her marriage meant to obliterate all their sins, to start a new life being each others'. All the promises she had taken during seven vows, were now oath for her whole life.

All these experiences were new for her. The marriage responsibilities burdened her. Everything had happened in a haste. Pratik had no close relationship with any of his relatives, as almost all of them had already shown their true colors during his father's untimely death. She had heard about their misery from Raghav, to whom Sirisha had narrated about Pratik's painful childhood. At that moment only, She promised herself to spread love in Pratik and his mother's life. She made her father agreed to the earlier date, according to Pratik's wish

.

She was not ready for taking the next step in their marital relationship. But to satisfy Pratik's desire, She gave herself to him without any objection, as her mother had already taught that Pratik being his husband, had every right on her and she should never say no to him. After all the Indian stereotypes said, for wife, the Husband is next to God.

Adyasha was so lost in her thoughts to realize her position. Standing in the middle of the living room, she was busy in admiring the interior of her new home. The dreams of a newly wedded bride had no barriers, cladded with a lot of expectations, to notice the reality.

"Are you going to stand there all day like a queen? Do we have to fill our stomach by looking at this ugly face of yours?" Adyasha's day-dream halted hearing the mockery of her mother-in-law. She tried hard not to cry, but tears automatically brimmed inside her eyes. Never in the life, Adyasha had faced someone, who talked to her with this much rudeness. And here her own mother-in-law was scolding her with pure hatred.

"Oh please! Now don't start your drama. On your marriage day, I have seen enough of your dramas with those dramatic parents of yours. Even look at you now... A manner-less girl, who didn't have a bit of shame to cover her face with the veil. And, you are standing here without completing your first cooking task." Sirisha splatted angrily.

During the days before her marriage, the same Sirisha Ahuja, had denied Sunanda to torture Adyasha more, by teaching those typical traditions of being a submissive wife. She promised her parents that Adyasha would always be her daughter. Her free thoughts had impressed Raghav, but Sunanda was not relieved. She warned Adyasha to be aware of her over sweet mother-in-law, and at that time Adyasha made fun of her, saying that 'I will be the first girl, whose mother-in-law will be cool as compared to her own mother'.

On the day of her engagement, when Adyasha went to touch Sirisha's feet, she stopped her from doing so. Taking her in arms, Sirisha fed her a piece of sweet and kissed her forehead lovingly. This gesture of hers' brought tears in Raghav's eyes, and he joined his hands conveying his gratitude. For the first time, Adyasha had witnessed her super hero's teary eyes. She wiped them, earning his smile. Their relatives praised Adyasha's fortune for getting a loving mother-in-law like Sirisha. Even Adyasha herself thanked God for showing enough gratitude to her.

Then a day after marriage, Sirisha's changed behavior troubled Adyasha. She ignored the earlier scolding, as She had given Sirisha the right to scold her as a mother. Then she couldn't accept her later words.

"I am sorry for my carelessness, Mom. It's my mistake that I overslept and I won't repeat this ever. But my parents have nothing to do with it. Mamma taught me everything nicely. Please don't say anything to them. You can scold me as much as you want." Adyasha said politely while touching her feet for blessings. No matter what, she couldn't hear anyone speaking ill about her parents. It was her mother, who never asked her to study, but taught her the list of manners, and forced her to recall them at once.

"How dare you raise your voice in front of me? This time I am leaving you. Dare you to open your mouth next time, I will burn this ugly face of yours along with that sharp tongue." Sirisha said holding her chin and then pushed her, before leaving the dining hall. The push had enough force to make Adyasha stumble on three steps back.

She looked around. Now the home and its interior seemed foreign to her. The servants were busy in their own work as if nothing had happened there. Only if this was her Baba's home, there would have a rush among everyone to ease their princess' pain.

'Remember, Adyasha! Never ever compare your in-laws with your parents. Everyone should have their own place in your life, and the prior place should belong to your husband only. Comparison won't let you feel satisfied.' Sunanda always repeated this words in front of Adyasha. She remembered her mother's words and wiped her tears.

Moving inside the kitchen, Adyasha asked one of the servants to help her with the ingredients. She had to prepare a sweets dish to complete a post-marriage ritual. Sunanda had informed her about all the rituals but she had forgotten them among the tiring rituals of marriage. Only because of her mistake, Sirisha pointed at Sunanda's upbringing.

Adyasha wiped the tears, which kept flowing without her consent. Her mother had told her not to take anyone's words in heart. She had to win everyone's heart with respect and love. As long as Pratik loved her, she should ignore these kinds of little arguments with her mother-in-law. Even Adyasha had enough confidence in herself. She could do the impossible until Pratik stood by her side.

Tugging the end of the saree on her waste, she decided to make Gajar Halwa as it was one of Pratik's favorite dishes. She had noted all his favorites from her mother-in-law, before marriage only. She downloaded the recipe from Google and started to collect all the ingredients. Then following the instructions, she started to chop the fresh carrots. All these kitchen skills were so new to her. In Bharadwaj Mansion, the kitchen was a prohibited area for the princess as her overprotective Baba was afraid that she would be hurt by the sharp knives and flames.

To some extent, Raghav's fear was right though. Adyasha lifted the pan from the gas being inattentive about its temperature, and it had already burnt her soft palms. While chopping the carrots even her palms got few cuts. But still, she completed the cooking task wholeheartedly. The thought of Pratik tasting her handmade food was enough to encourage her. She ignored those small cuts and burning patches. The Halwa was waiting for the last touch, to be given by Adyasha, when Sirisha entered in the kitchen.

"What are you cooking?" She asked, reminding Adyasha about her strict math teacher.

"Gajar Halwa." Adyasha answered, keeping a check on the Halwa, that was almost cooked.

"Trying to impress my Son!" exclaimed Sirisha, faking an act of being surprised. Adyasha sensed the hidden taunt in her voice. She was unable to understand the fault in her attempt to impress her son, who was her legally wedded husband too! Still, she kept mum as Sunanda had advised her not to argue unnecessarily with anyone in her in-laws' home.

"Why didn't you add peanut in the Halwa?" Sirisha questioned back, seeing Adyasha's silent behavior. She examined the Halwa, rolling her eyes over the pan, which was still on the burner.

"I am allergic to peanut. So I didn't add it." Adyasha replied in a soft voice. Peanuts were always prohibited in the Bharadwaj mansion as per Raghav's strict order. Nobody ate them, as Adyasha was allergic to it.

"So? If you are allergic then that's your problem." Sirisha said shrugging her shoulders. "Add peanuts. Pratik loved it in this way." Listening to her Adyasha was hurt. "Won't my comforts and liking matter to them! Is it only me who is going to adjust here!" She thought. But hearing about Pratik's liking for peanuts, she forgot about her allergy.

"Sure Mom! Thanks for the information. I will definitely add peanut into it as Pratik loves." Adyasha said with a slight blush on her cheeks.

"Good luck!" Sirisha said patting her cheeks. Her voice was overloaded with sweetness. Adyasha did a happy dance inside her mind for impressing her strict mother-in-law. In her excitement she forgot the fact - that states extra sweetness to be the main cause of diabetes.

Setting the dining table, Adyasha waited for everyone. The breakfast was already prepared by the cook while Adyasha only prepared the Halwa in the desert. Exactly at 9:50 AM, Pratik joined the table along with Sirisha and Adyasha served both of them. She was about to sit for her breakfast when Sirisha eyed her to stand up. She silently obeyed her. Pratik completed his food. When he took the first spoon from Halwa.

Damn...Adyasha's heart was beating at a rapid rate. She was feeling like her final board results were going to be declared in the next moment.

"AHH... My throat is burning. Water... Give me some water." Sirisha screamed in a stuttering voice. Holding her throat in one hand, she cried for water. Adyasha was shocked looking at her state. While Pratik went near his mother and patted her back.

"Peter! Bring the anti-allergic medicine from Mom's room." Pratik shouted at one of the servants. "Fast." He roared, and Peter ran upstairs to bring the medicine. Everyone was too shocked to react at that moment.

"Throat...burning. Water." Sirisha kept screaming, while her voice stuttered. Peter, the servant whom Pratik had ordered earlier, brought the medicine. Sirisha took it and became normal.

Adyasha was still standing in that same place. She was in too much shock to do anything. When she got herself back, realization hit her hard. She went near Sirisha and started to pat her back, as Pratik was making Sirisha eat the medicine. But a strong pull made Adyasha stumble on her steps. She looked back to find her husband's raging eyes.

"Why did you put peanuts in Mom's food? Don't you know she is allergic to it?" Pratik asked Adyasha, coming dangerously closer. While she moved her steps in a backward direction. Adyasha looked Sirisha expecting some help fron her.

While Sirisha was caressing her own throat to calm the burning sensation. Her back was leaned on the chair, and the corner of her lips was curved into an evil smirk. Adyasha realized that her mother-in-law's evil intention.

"I didn't. It was Mom who asked me to put peanuts in her Halwa." Adyasha said in a low voice, expecting Pratik to understand her.

"Why are you lying? Why would I tell you to put peanuts when I am the one allergic to it?" Sirisha said, coughing continuously, and then she stood up suddenly as if some realization hit her hard. "Are you taking revenge on me?" She asked Adyasha, who was shocked, seeing her drama.

"Which revenge, Mom?" Pratik asked, and tears brimmed in Adyasha's eyes. Pratik's words were indirectly accusing her.

"In the morning I requested her to cook a desert in order to complete a post marriage ritual, and she denied saying that She was the princess of her Baba. She won't do this kind of servant's work. When I told her that you will be angry, She said that soon she will trap you in her web of love and you will throw me out of the house. I thought she was just saying it. But she was really serious about it." Sirisha faked a cry in the end. The story was enough realistic for Pratik to believe. While Adyasha was not in the right state of mind to justify herself.

All her life, she was overshadowed by her overprotective father. She was never needed to stand for herself. No one never dared to accuse her, so defending herself was out of course. She looked at Pratik, who was silently hearing his mother. Adyasha recalled his marriage vows, he was the one who had promised her father to protect her self-respect like his own. Then his silence was enough to make Adyasha strong enough to stand for herself.

"Why are you lying, Mom? It was you who..." She couldn't complete her sentence, as the sound of a slap echoed in the hall. The servants went inside bending their heads as if nothing had happened. It was not like Adyasha had expected them to protest for her against their masters. The one from whom she had expectations, had slapped her. Yeah, It was Pratik, who slapped her, in front of his mother and left the hall without listening to her side of the story. The sound of the car's engine indicated that he was not coming back again to stand for her self-respect.

Adyasha couldn't cry. As if her tears had no strength to show her pain. Her father had never raised his hand on her, while on the next day of the marriage, her husband slapped her enough hard to swollen her cheeks - that were red now, but she was not blushing as a newly wedded bride. He was the man, for whom she had left her MBA degree incomplete, just to make him feel secure. His mother was the same lady who caressed her head and promised her father to treat her like her own daughter. She couldn't think of a sin of hers', for which she was repenting.

Feeling a piercing look on herself, She looked up to find Sirisha sitting on the chair, with an evil smile on her face. "Your throat... It was burning." A shocked Adyasha whispered. Sirisha laughed loudly, mocking her innocence.

"Why would my throat burn? Due to your peanut Halwa?" Sirisha questioned her showing her plate full of Halwa. Adyasha gasped seeing it untouched, while Sirisha smirked. "I never ate that Halwa and why would have I eaten when I was the one, who asked you to put peanuts in it?"

"Why did you do the drama of allergy then?" Adyasha asked.

"Because I hate you." Sirisha said. Her eyes held the expression of hatred, while words dripped venom.

"But, why?" Adyasha asked dejectedly. She couldn't accept the fact that the woman, who loved her till yesterday, was plotting against her. The woman, who begged her to marry her son for his happiness, was trying to break their marriage.

"You are not the one for my son." Sirisha casually said, as if Adyasha had married her son forcefully, going against everyone's will.

"Why?" The amount of hatred inside Sirisha's eyes blanked Adyasha's mind to think words further, 'Why'.

"Oh, Let me tell you the story from the start then. You have a misconception that Pratik loved you at the first sight only, which is nothing but the biggest lie. He just liked you because of your submissive attitude, and not to forget this attractive shape of yours." Sirisha continued her talks. "Pratik wants to start a new business project, for which he needs an investor who will invest a big amount in his project. He was tensed about getting a trustworthy partner, and I couldn't see my son in tension. To make his path smooth, I started to search a bride for him, whose father has enough bank balance to ease my son's tension. At that time, Vabna put forward your proposal, and I immediately accepted it seeing the net worth value of your father. That night, when Pratik told me about his meeting with a sweet, kind and innocent girl, I had made my mind to insert poisonous thought about that girl in his head, but destiny's coincidence! That girl came out to be the only daughter of Raghav Bhardwaj.

I did everything to please you and your family. From buying expensive jewelry to act as a sweet mother-in-law, I did everything for my son. I would have continued this act of mine, only if you wouldn't have been the barrier in my son's success" Sirisha shamelessly confessed her deeds.

"When did I become a barrier to Pratik's success? I always wished for him to reach new heights. I have promised myself to fill his life with love and happiness." Adyasha replied not accepting those false accusations.

"Happiness won't come with your love. I too love my son, probably more than you, more than anyone in this world. But, My love was not enough to feed his empty stomach during those sleepless nights, when we had neither food nor money. I have faced enough to realize the real value of happiness, that costs money - the main reason why I had chosen you for my son. Then you being a b***h destroyed my whole plan.

Standing in the middle of the marriage altar, you burned your father's will paper saying that, 'From now on my husband will take my responsibility. Baba! We just need your blessings nothing more'." Sirisha mimicked the last line.

"Pratik has promised me to cage in his love. He will bear my responsibility." Adyasha said. More than a reply, it was like she was assuring herself.

"Even the cage costs money in this world. You decided to donate your father's property to the orphanage after their death in front of all the guests. I stayed silent at that time and forced a smile on my face because everyone there was charmed by your kindness. But now I will take my revenge on you for your family's betrayal. I will torture you until you make your father sign on those property papers stating my son as their sole heir." Sirisha said bitterly and went to her room.

Adyasha sat there on the floor crying over her fate. In a moment, all her dreams were broken. She cursed herself for being so naive. Then she had no undo button to make everything alright. She knew that she had done the right thing. 'Pratik promised me to cage in his love. And being his caged bird, I come under his responsibility only.' She kept repeating those lines, again and again, to assure herself, until a maid asked her about the lunch recipe.

Adyasha had no courage to reveal Sirisha's evilness to Pratik as she had already watched a trailer of its consequences. Pratik wouldn't trust Adyasha going against his own mother. In fact, he wouldn't even listen to her side of the story. She wanted to tell everything to her Baba, then opted for another choice of waiting for her destiny to decide her fate. She still had the hope of getting everything alright as before. She was determined to win everyone's heart with love.

Then destiny won't change according to one's will. With passing times, every equation changed. Adyasha no longer remained as her Baba's princess, and Pratik was no longer her prince charm. He became busy with his new project, and somewhere Adyasha realized that money valued more in his life. The alone time she got with him, was during the night when he only wanted to fulfill his manly need, and like an ideal wife she had to satisfy him. He slept giving her the excuse of being tired due to heavy workload, while Adyasha couldn't get a peaceful sleep.

On the other hand, Sirisha started to torture her in several ways. Physical tortures were bearable for Adyasha, but the mental abuses scratched her soul. Sirisha pressurized her in various ways to take the signature of her father on the property papers, but Adyasha denied and bore her cruel tortures. No matter what happens She had promised herself to not give her mother-in-law the access to destroy her Baba's hard earnings.

Still, the hope was always alive in Adyasha's heart that she was going to get Pratik's love. Until the day of their second month marriage anniversary. Pratik himself crushed her hope, leaving the mark on her soul forever.

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Sitting under the shower, Adyasha was lost in the thoughts of her past. Thinking about all this, her head started to spin and everything seemed dark to her. Within a minute she felt that complete darkness had surrounded her.