Almost around the same time, elsewhere, Bhuvana walked into her house followed by Raghav and Eshwar. Varun made his way towards the door from the courtyard behind them in an attempt to see the proceedings.
A few people who were Prakash’s relatives and neighbours were scattered around in the living room in groups. All of them were peering at Bhuvana as if she were an exotic animal or a witch, occasionally whispering amongst themselves. Bhuvana’s father, Ramesh, was sitting in a lounge chair at one end of the living room, looking away as if he didn’t want to see or meet Bhuvana.
At the sight of her father’s aloofness, Bhuvana made a quick assessment. With all the commotion that had happened, Ramesh had not stepped out once or tried to intervene or at least make an attempt to speak. Hell, he hadn’t even made any movement from his seated position all the while the fight was commencing in the courtyard. That drew only three conclusions for Bhuvana: a) Ramesh was furious with her as always and wanted her to fight her way towards him, earn herself the worth to get to him; b) Ramesh was too scared to speak up for her lest people frame him for taking Bhuvana’s side as soon as her step-mother died, as if he were changing lanes, c) he simply didn’t care for Bhuvana, whether she came or not, wasn’t bothered even if she was badmouthed by everyone and didn’t wish to see her at all.
All the three cases meant only one thing: he was still choosing to be an estranged father who didn’t care about Bhuvana. He was abandoning her all over again.
Despite the logical reasoning running in her head and blaring sirens of warning, Bhuvana controlled the way her facial expressions were playing, put on a stoic face and treaded carefully towards her father. She stopped a couple of feet away from him and stood staring at him silently, controlling her breathing, waiting for Ramesh to turn and look at her.
When he didn’t shift his gaze at all, Bhuvana couldn’t prolong the silence any more and spoke up, “Dad?”
Ramesh took an exasperated breath and turned to look at her. Bhuvana gave him an apprehensive smile. Ramesh didn’t smile back at her and instead, stared at her hard.
“How are you?” Bhuvana asked. She waited for an answer and receiving none, asked again, “Are you okay?” She waited again for an answer and when Ramesh didn’t still respond, questioned wearily, “Are you not going to speak to me?”
Ramesh finally managed in a cold, heavy tone, “You made a scene as soon as you arrived.”
Bhuvana was a little taken aback with those words. She had expected him to be cold to her, but not accusing like she had done something terribly sinful. Raghav and Eshwar looked bewildered that Ramesh’s concern wasn’t about Bhuvana being hurt with what she had faced, but about the commotion that had happened.
Bhuvana opened her mouth to protest, then closed it and looked away for a moment to compose to herself. She then turned to her father determinedly and stated, “I didn't create the drama. My mere presence here is triggering on the drama queen in everyone here. I hope you can see for yourself who started it all.”
“I know,” Ramesh retorted.
“Do you?” Bhuvana questioned.
“Why did you come? After all these years, as soon as your step-mother died?” Ramesh asked in the same accusing tone he had used before.
“I came to see my father. Although I am not sure if he still considers himself as my father.”
“Do you really have a father?” Ramesh shook his head in a strong denial. “I don't have a daughter.”
Bhuvana asked sharply, her eyes blazing, “You don't have a daughter now? Or did you never have a daughter?”
Ramesh stayed silent, unable to answer her.
“How are you?” Bhuvana asked again in an attempt to have a normal conversation.
“Do you care?” Ramesh was bitter.
“Can’t you see that I do?”
“I am fine.”
“Good.” Bhuvana took a pause before clarifying herself, “I didn't wait for her to die. I simply waited for myself to be able to come here. I could have come much earlier had I not been banned from entering this house.”
Ramesh looked away as if he was uninterested in Bhuvana’s statements. Bhuvana struggled to keep her emotions in control. She was hurt, close to tears, yet she reigned herself in to stand tall. With her fists balled up despite the shivers she was feeling, she spoke in a low, strong voice, “I guess my father is not willing to dignify me with a proper welcome, let alone a sensible conversation today. I will leave now.”
“You come and go as you please and expect me to cater to you? It is you who cannot act dignified enough. Leave!” Ramesh hurled those words at her.
Bhuvana nearly exploded, “I waited in the courtyard, was humiliated by people who have no right or concern about me, was blocked and made to defend myself. Yet, you didn't even look outside the door. You didn't take even a single step, speak a single word to welcome or protect me. I think that clarifies my intention to leave now. I wanted to see my "father". But he still seems to be absent, like how he had been absent for most of my life and through all of my struggles.”
Ramesh finally gave a heavy gaze that was close to a little better emotional precept from him. Bhuvana paused, collecting herself and continued, “I will come again for him. If possible, tell him to talk to me like a decent father to an accomplished daughter.”
She turned to leave, but spotting a solemn and conflicted Prakash, gave a look of assurance to him. “Take care, of both yourself and him. Call me if you need any help,” she said as she stepped to him.
Patting his arm affectionately and ignoring the stares of every onlooker, Bhuvana turned on her heels and left the house, followed by an equally serious Eshwar and Raghav. It had taken both the men a lot of restrain from speaking their minds at the house; they had wanted to give the time and space to talk to Bhuvana alone and had instead stood on alert, lest anyone interrupted her again and they had to step in to defend her like before.
Varun, who had been standing at the door, stepped aside to let the trio pass through and watched them with mixed feelings as they left the place.
It was nightfall and Nirgala was cooking pasta in the kitchen while Siri was washing a couple of dishes in the sink. Both of them were talking animatedly while the little Harini stood near the stove, watching the boiling pasta with anticipation.
Abhi came rushing in, looking upset.
“Niru!” he called as soon as he stepped in, his voice giving away that something serious had happened.
“Yeah?” Nirgala asked, a little unbothered.
Abhi noticed Harini gazing at him and what Nirgala was cooking, and for a moment forgot his purpose. “Why pasta, now? I have already ordered food for all the people at home.”
“Ah, the kids seem to miss my pasta,” Nirgala answered joyfully.
Abhi considered it for a brief moment before turning to Harini and asked politely, “Could you please leave the kitchen for a moment? I want to talk to your aunt.”
Harini pouted. “Okay dad!” She knew something was up and didn’t want to be part of any drama. Without another glance at anyone, she ran out of the kitchen.
Abhi stepped closer to Nirgala and with his voice lowered yet angry, asked, “Did you fight with our aunties today?”
“Fight?! No.” Nirgala continued stirring the pasta sauce on stove.
“Did you talk back to them rudely or not?” Abhi questioned.
“ No, brother. Why would I? I was as polite as I could be.” Nirgala tried to stay calm.
Abhi started getting frustrated. “Did you or did you not tell them that you married some foreigner in Germany and have three kids secretly?” he slammed.
Nirgala looked flustered and scornful at the same time as she cried, “Oh my God! Did they twist my words like that? This is ridiculous!”
She lowered the flame on the stove, put the laddle away and turning to face Abhi straight, she asked back, “You really want to believe them?”
“Not them. Mom told me you were talking nonsense. Care to explain?”
Nirgala looked hurt. “Mom? She didn't tell you what those aunties were speaking to me?”
Abhi rolled his eyes. “They might have said a thousand nonsensical things. They always do. Spewing lies and nitpicking are their talents. Why lower yourself to their standards?”
Nirgala crossed her arms and claimed seriously, “I simply answered their questions. It hadn't been more than two hours since my arrival and they started mocking me, degrading me for being unmarried, for not having a house or family of my own. So, I simply answered them that I own a good house in Germany. And without any inclination towards maintaining decency, they said they "heard" that I got married secretly abroad. Tell me, the only people I am regularly in touch with are you, mom and Siri. None of you three would spread such lies about me. Then where, and from whom did they hear such things?”
Abhi looked conflicted as he heard the recounting of the afternoon’s mishappenning.
Nirgala continued, “They didn't ask me if it was true, didn't specify where they heard it from. They simply made a statement as if it were real. That's called making up rumours, brother. Either they intended to defame me and gossip about it, or they were on a power trip, trying to drag me down to cater to their own supremacy and insecurities. Should I stay silent and act weak? I simply pointed out how ridiculous it was by giving an example of how they were making things up, and asked them not to believe in anything unless I tell them personally.”
Abhi analyzed it for a couple of seconds before stating resolutely, “Look, I get it. They started it first and provoked you. But, you shouldn't get riled up like that. What's the point of it? You think they will stop doing that or change completely?”
“Yeah, they won't. But, that doesn't mean I should let them trample all over me either.” Nirgala said equally determined.
Abhi was controlling his frustration. “Niru, there's a ceremony going on here and there will be a lot of people. You are like the perfect meal for them to gossip and create drama. Do you want to cater to all that and make things worse? You would be ruining the whole mood and spoiling the event.”
Nirgala looked hurt at being called a mood-and-event-spoiler when it was no fault of her at all. Abhi realized his mistake and took his words back. “ Okay, you won't. But, our relatives will. They will try all their best to set fire and watch everything burn. Do you want to let them do that?”
His expression softened as he lowered his head to look at Nirgala at the eye level and pleaded, “This is your and our house, Niru, and the first auspicious ceremony after our father's passing away. Please, let's just stay a little subdued and get things done. You won't have to deal with them once they leave after the rituals are done.”
Nirgala could feel the sincerity in Abhi as he gazed at her. He wasn’t judging her, and he was taking her side, albeit not directly. She didn’t want the housewarming function to turn chaotic or boisterous either. Considering Abhi’s valid points, Nirgala pursed her lips in contemplation and finally nodded.
“Okay, don’t worry. I will stay put,” she assured him.
The brother and sister gave each other meaningful looks of acceptance and understanding.
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