A Right Turn

15.

"Maheswaris aapke typical Marwari pariwar hai. Humara ek family business. Mere dadaji ne shuru kiya tha aur papa aur bade papa ne business ko badhaya. Humara ek joint family hai, mere mom, dad, main aur meri choti behan, Uttara aur mere bade papa, Durga Prasad Maheswari ki family. Sare decision mere bade papa lete hai aur agar kuch unke hisaab se nahi jaata, toh aapne toh dekh hin liya unka kaisa reaction hai. Jab unhe pata chala ki main aur Swara date kar rahe hai toh phele toh unhone toh phele hint dia par gradually woh mujhe break up karne keliye pressure karne lage. Finally, unhone mujhe ultimatum dia ki mujhe Swara ko chodna hoga nahi toh woh mujhe disown kar denge. Aapko yaad hoga, jab hum dono bhage the usse phele main kuch dino keliye Swara se contact nahi kar paya tha." Sanskar said. Sobha nodded at his last statement, remember that time five years ago.

"Maine mom ko mana liya tha aur mere dono bhaion ko bhi par dad nahi mane aur akhir main bade papa ki chali aur maine ghar chode dia. Humare ghar main har bada decision bade papa hin lete the. Dad ne kabhi kuch nahi bola, balki uss time bhi dad kuch nahi bola balki bade papa ka saath dia." Sanskar said looking off into the middle distance, eyes unfocused on anything.

"Ye baat mere aur Swara ke alawa kisi aur ko nahi pata par jab main ghar se bhaga tha yaha aane se pehele toh maine ek dost ke madad se aapna death fake kia tha taki mere ghar wale hume kabhi dhund ne ki kosish na kare." Sanskar said. Sobha was surprised on hearing that. It would describe many things.

"Kya issi liye tum dono aaj se pehle kabhi nahi laute? Kya tum dono ke life ko khatra hai?" Sobha asked.

"Bade papa gusse main bahut unpredictable ban jaate hai, issi liye maine ghar kissi ko Swara ka naam tak nahi bataya tha, bas itna bola tha ki woh ladki bangali hai, aur kuch nahi. Aapne toh uss din ka tamasha dekh hin liya hai, bas issi liye maine aap sab ko protect karne keliye sab chupaya tha. Honestly, maine nahi socha tha ki mujhe woh mujhe ek ultimatum de denge aur sab se chupake mere liye rishta dundhna shuru kar denge." Sanskar continued.

"Kya?" Swara involuntarily exclaimed. This was news to her.

"Han maine kabhi bataya nahi kyun ki main tumhe hurt nahi karna chahta tha, par uss samay mere pith piche woh rishta dekh rahe the taki sab unke control main rahe, I guess. Honestly, mujhe nahi pata ki woh kya expect kar rahe the ki main ese hi maan jaunga." Sanskar finished.

"It's okay Sanskar," Swara said. 

"It's not okay," Sobha interjected. "Tumhare maa baap ka kia, unke baare nahi socha. Unhe kese lagega. Aur ab jab tum log wapas aagaye ho, toh ab kya karoge?" She continued.

"I know, mujhe uss chiz ka bahut dukh hai. Mom ne hamesa mera dia par uss samay mujhe jo thik laga maine wahi kia. Dida main mom ko dukh nahi dena chahata tha, lekin jo hona tha so ho gaya." Sanskar said in dejection. Swara sensed his discomfort and intervened.

"Dida, aap woh sab chodo. Mudde ki baat ye hai ki Lakshya yaha hai abhi aur hum itni jaldi usske samne aana nahi chahate. Aap please hamari help kijiye." She said.

Finally, realizing that they were going nowhere with this, Sobha accepted to keep their secret and ordered them not to interfere in Sharmistha and Shekhar's wedding. "Aagar koi puche, toh bolna ki tum dono ko mujh par biswas hai, thik hai." Sobha said. Swara opened her mouth to object to it but shut up, thinking of Sanskar. Finally, she couldn't control herself and asked Sobha about it.

"Dida aap iss shaadi keliye maan kaise gayi aur woh log bhi kaise maan gaye? Aap ko kab se Shekhar Gadodia pasand aane laga? Aap ko toh Sanskar bhi pasand nahi tha aur woh toh uss Shekhar Gadodia se lakh guna accha hai." Swara said with disgust. She could never imagine him as her family, let alone a father. He will always remain her sperm donor.

"Tum mera biswas karo sab sahi ja raha hai." Sobha said.

Before Swara could say more, Sanskar interjected to prevent her from saying anything which she will regret later. He informed that some buyers would come that night to see the house. Sobha just nodded her head and went to rest. Sanskar also ushered Swara into their room.