This is a story of a couple. Sri and Rati. What unfolds below is just another day in their life.
It was almost 10.30 PM. Rati had put her 1 year old baby to sleep. And meanwhile her husband Sri, was doing small chores in kitchen (Rati like all working women had trained her husband to do such chores in kitchen..)
On a normal day after their baby was asleep they sat chitchatting in their balcony. Sitting there they loved to talk about their day. The darkness and peace of night had an amazing calming effect on them
But today things were different. They had had an argument in morning before going to work. Since both of them had to rush to work they decided to talk it out at night. As usual they dropped their baby at her mother's place and ran for their respective work places. With busy work schedules both forgot about the argument.
In the evening when they reached home after picking up their baby they mutually decided to talk about it after putting Riya, their baby to sleep.
When Sri came out of kitchen Rati was already in balcony. She was standing near the window and staring out in dark. Sri entered and went for his usual chair. Rati turned at the crack of the chair and looked at Sri. When they looked at each other they again felt same rage they had felt in morning while arguing.
Rati was the first to vent out her anger. She looked at her husband and said "Sri you are such a liar!!"
Sri frowned "What makes you call me a liar Rati? I had clearly told you that I have to give 2 lakhs to ma and pa for Ajit's wedding. Last week only I told you that Ajit does not have enough money. How on earth Ma and Pa will bear all the wedding expenses?? They have already broken few FD s to pay for weeding. But still there remains huge gap."
"But Sri, I had told you not to give them money. If you all keep supporting your younger brother like this he will never mend his ways. He will continue to be irresponsible. Now he is 28. Why can't he bear his wedding expenses? He has been going around with this girl for 4 years now. We have seen how lavishly they have spent for all these courtship years. Instead of spending all his salary on new car, bike and weekend shopping he could have saved it." Rati was now fuming. "And if he does not have money, how come they are going to Kerala for honeymoon? Ma was telling me the other day that they have booked air tickets To and Fro!! Kerla is the costliest tourist destination in
"Rati, Ajit wanted to have a court marriage but circumstances are such that he has to have a traditional marriage. The girl's side wants it that way!" Sri tried to explain.
"I am not buying this Sri!! How ridiculous! Your brother has guts to go around with this girl for 4 years but does not have guts to tell her and her parents that he has empty pockets. And Sri we are not so well off either. For your kind information we have a home loan, and my father's loan to repay. And our daughter will start going to school in another 1.5 years. How are you going to put her through a good school if you continue to support your brother like this? And what about our car? We had planned to get a four wheeler after 2/3 months. I hope you remember that!! " Rati shot back.
"Rati, I am making enough money to put our baby through school. You need not worry about it." Sri's male ego had come out of its shell now
Rati looked at her husband and said with a pointed voice "Sri don't forget that I am also working. And since I am working you could afford to be generous and give money to your brother". She continued calmly "You brother has everything ready on his platter Sri! He will be living with Ma and Pa so he need not borrow home loan. Last year Pa had helped him to get a car. So he does not have to worry on that front also. Why can't he take a personal loan for wedding? Even his would be is working! Both of them can repay it later on."
Rati was talking sense and suggesting a solution so Sri mellowed down a bit. "Dear I had suggested this option to Ajit, Ma and
Rati kept staring at her husband. She didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. 'Is he innocent or just plain dumb? Why can't he understand that his parents are being unjust to him. And he is being taken for a ride by his brother.' She wondered to herself. She felt frustrated. She buried her face in her palms and continued in a tired voice "Knowing Ajit he will never return our money Sri You be rest assured of that. Actually I think he has enough money with him but he is just pretending that he does not have it. He knows how Ma and Pa pamper him being the youngest child. He is just taking advantage of all of us. And Sri the most irritating part is Ajit wants to have a grand wedding. He does not want to settle for a simple wedding hall. He has booked an AC hall and selected expensive food. And on top of that Ma is making jewelry for the new bride. Ajit is just having fun at our expense!"
Sri was staring at some invisible spot in dark. "Rati, since childhood my brother has been very selfish… so I can not rule out the possibility that he is lying about his savings It is quiet possible that he is taking undue advantage of us. But I can not help it Rati. I could not say no to Ma when she asked for help. It was very painful to see them suffer through a financial crisis at this age.. I had to give money. And I am sorry for this. Throughout the childhood they have been very partial towards him. I have always been made to do things for him. He is allowed to get away with anything & always gets advantage of being younger to me." Sri looked very hurt.
Rati looked at her husband and felt bad for him. She wanted to hug him and make him feel better but she herself was feeling so drained out that she just sat in her chair feeling numb. "You know me well Sri. Had it been some genuine crisis like illness or hospitalization I myself would have given them money. It hurts when someone is blowing away your hard earned money like this. Our baby is growing up without me being around. She is being deprived of care and love of her mother so that we have a decent saving and then it is taken away by somebody in such a mean manner. This is just not done Sri ." Rati's voice trailed off as she tried to control her emotions.
Sri looked at her and didn't know what to say. He got up from his chair and went to Rati. He pulled her close and whispered "Dear I am really sorry for putting you through so much of agony. Please forgive me."
They stood in close embrace for a long time. Rati let her tears run freely. Even Sri did not try to console her as he knew it was meaningless.
Suddenly Rati broke the embrace and looked into Sri's eyes "Sri you know what? You need not feel sorry about it. If Ajit is playing games with us he will have to pay for this. Mark my words Sri. He will have to pay for this some day. I believe in God. Let us take this in our stride. I Am not saying that let us forget this. But let us not become bitter over this. We will have to wait for few more months to bring our bank balance at a decent level. Let us work hard and do it."
Sri once again pulled her close. He didn’t say a word for a long time. After sometime he whispered “Rati I know why you are saying this. You are saying this just to make me feel relaxed and…” Rati stopped him in between and said “No Sri. It is hard not to turn bitter after all this. But let us try. Ajit has taken away our money but we will not let him take away our happiness."
Then they looked at each other and smiled. They went to bedroom to check on their little one. Riya their one year old was peacefully asleep on bed. They looked at her and felt calm and content. Rati whispered to Sri "she is so cute!" Sri smiled "Yes dear she is cute. like mother like daughter!". "oye, don't try to flatter me. I Am not angry at you anymore." Rati teased Sri. Sri just continued smiling.
erm.. Like Gaurav even i feel this is ur story, no1 elz cud b this close to the scene and hence the feelings.. Glad to read it. I always feel peaceful on reading such stories
ye aapki story hai
So nice and true. It really happens in a family. But the way both husband and wife understood each other is the key to a happy marriage. Nicely written
awesomly writen. Even being in a family .. it’’s always necessary to respect each others money. And if at all someone help u during ur crisis. We need to return it.
good one
keep it up..