Forbidden Desire, Ritesh Prasad [chrysanthemum read aloud .TXT] 📗

blanket and covered ourselves in it. In that winter morning our body met and warmth both our body and soul.

 

Around hour later she got up from the bed and went to kitchen to prepare tea for both of us. I was still lying on bed. She came in and handed me the tea cup. I pulled the pillow upside and lean back towards it and took sip from the cup.

 

“So what was the thing you wanted to explain me in person that you could not do over phone?” She said while pushing me side and getting on bed again.

 

“My Mom is coming next Sunday. I am sure she will talk about my marriage and this time she won’t let it go. I already had enough of this with her over phone. But this time the matter is serious and I know this is one of the main motives of her coming here to stay.”

 

“Ohh.... has she finalize any girl for you?” She said crossing her hand against my arms.

 

“I don’t think so. If that was the case then she would have told me over the phone. Sakshi I think the right time has come I should tell everything about you to my Mom. There is no use of delaying this anymore. I wanted to confirm this with you before I could talk to her about our marriage. Are you ready to spend your entire life with me?” I said spreading my arms towards her.

 

“Ohhh yes….i m ready always.” She said and hugged me tight. I gave a small peck on her forehead.

 

“Great …let my Mom come then, I will finalize all things this time itself and we would get married next year around same time in December.” I said and looked at her. She closed her eyes and leaned on my shoulder.

 

Next Sunday as advised I reached Sealdah station well on time. The train was just entering the platform and halted after it reached closer to the dead end. I was looking into each coach and finally found Mom standing on the gate on one of the coach. I touched her feet and seek her blessing and asked her about her well-being. I took and all the bags from her and went with her to the taxi stand. I hired a cab and we reach home within 45 minutes.

 

I asked Mom to get fresh and went to kitchen to prepare tea for her. I then made a list of things that I need to bring from nearby grocery shop and left for the same. When I returned back Mom was there sitting on bed and talking to someone over phone. I kept my wallet there on the dressing table. As soon Mom saw me she asked the person over the phone to call after sometime.

 

“Who had called you?” I asked.

 

“She was Gayatri Aunty from Siliguri. You won’t remember. It’s long back since you have met her. She used to come to our house when you were small kids. Then his husband got transferred and their family shifted from Assam to Siliguri.”

 

“Okay.” I said while changing my outfits without paying much heed to her description.

 

“One of her relative is looking for a suitable match for their daughter and Gayatri Aunty suggested your name and we were talking regarding the same.”

 

“What?? I reacted with reflexes after listening her last words.

Mom are you crazy.. it’s hardly been an hour you have entered home and you started with your old marriage tune again.”

“But beta I am not asking you to get married now, see it takes a lot time. I have just initiated the talk. Then they will send us the snap of the girl, just have a look and if you find her suitable then only we will proceed further.”

“No Mom, I am not ready for marriage now.”

“Arrange marriage doesn’t happen in a day. It takes months to finalize things sometimes even a year. So I am just initiating with the talk as of now. I want you to be settled in few months. How long will you survive like this lonely with no one to take care for you?”

 

“I am okay Mom. Why you are pushing so much for marriage.” I said in exhaustion.

“Because it’s important, now you are over 27 and you are earning well and it’s the ideal time for you to get indulged in family life. You will feel better when you will have someone to take care of you and to listen to you to talk with you when you are home after office. Life is not meant to survive alone.” My Mom kept on giving her philosophy on marriage.

I thought I need to break the ice now itself before it gets more complicated.

 

“Okay Mom now listen to me. First of all I am not getting married this year in any case. And the second thing is that...” I said and pause for a while.

“I have a girl in my life and I am serious about her. I will marry only her.”

“A girl in your life????” Mom just repeated what I said.

“Is she of the same caste?” This was her first question as every orthodox parents would ask.

“No but rather higher caste than ours. She is a Rajput.”

“No this can’t happen. So your brothers were correct about your connection with a girl here. I was the only one who didn’t believe their words.”

“Mom she is a very nice and educated girl and is beautiful equally.” I said while pampering my Mom with words.

“I don’t care. No one in our entire generation ever had a love marriage, that also with a girl from different caste. It’s impossible. I will not allow this to happen.” She gave her verdict even before the hearing was complete.

 

“I don’t care; you are only going to marry the girl that I will select for you. I will ask Gayatri Aunty to expedite on the talks. If everything matches as per our criteria we will get you married by next month.”

“Ohhh Mom please stop all these nonsense. I had already committed Sakshi and her family as well. I can’t back out at the last moment. Everyone from her family knows about our relationship.”

“So you have reached that far…..that you have finalized marriage on your own. Great then why do you need my consent? Go ahead and do as you wish.” She raised her voice being upset.

“Mom please calm down and listen to me… you will definitely like her. She is very down to earth and will be an ideal daughter- in- law for you. Don’t get into pre-notion without even meeting her.

“Mom this is 21st century it’s not the same that happened in your times some 30 years back in villages…Beside I will stay here why are so worried about what others will say. I am only concerned about your approval not the entire world.” She turned her face and became numb.

“Inter-caste marriages happen these days; it’s no big deal…. There is nothing wrong in it. I don’t understand why our community is so hypocrite regarding inter-caste marriages. We have friends from other caste this is acceptable with society but when someone does inter-caste marriage then it becomes a big issue for everyone. Why is it so hard to accept? Aren’t people from other caste human beings? They are same like you and me, made of flesh and blood. Mom I don’t expect this at least from you.”

 

“But beta even if I agree??? What about your Dad….you know his temper and what will the society say?

“For me only your approval is important. I give a damn care to anyone else. By the way you married Dad and he is from the same caste. Tell me a single moment of happiness that he has ever given to you. I don’t have to say anything further we all have been victims of his Hitler regime our entire life. Tell me one thing both of you are of the same caste, are you really happy living with this man??? Tell me honestly.” Mom became quiet as soon I raised question about her married life.

 

“I am sorry Mom if that hurts you … I didn’t mean it that way, but please try to understand compatibility is more essential than caste for a happy married life. She has been with me for last 3 years and trust me Mom she had taken my care wonderfully like an ideal wife would do.”

“I have called her in the afternoon. First you meet her and then take any decision. I am sure you will like her too. Please meet her once for my sake.” I beg to her and finally she agreed.

“Okay Okay…just for your sake.” She said in straight tone.

 

I called Sakshi and gave the news that Mom has agreed to meet her. “I want you to look the best ideal women she has ever met. No jeans top please, come in red churidar the one I gifted you. Wear long earrings, My Mom dislikes women whose ears are empty and as soon you enter give a short smile looking at her ….not the big one and touch her feet. She will be impressed. And yes please call me when you reach near my gate. I need to check everything is fine before you meet her.” I was getting very nervous. We had only one chance to impress her and we had to hit the jackpot in this one shot. I disconnected the call and came back to room.

 

Around 2 pm she messages me that she had reached near our main gate. Mom was watching her melodrama serials on television after having lunch. I went downstairs and there she was looking more gorgeous than expected. I knew from looks viewpoint Mom will have no doubt now she equally needs to impress my Mom with her charm as well.

 

“Am I fine with my get-up?” She said combing her hair and giving her looks the final touch up.

“Yes perfect baby….just do as I said…enter looking at her with a short smile and then…” “Okay okay…. I know what needs to be done. I also watch Saas- Bahu serials.” She said interrupting my sentence.

We both came in and the first thing I did was switched off the Television, as TV serials are big distraction for women. Even if there is War going outside ladies still can’t resist themselves from watching those melodramas.

“Hey Mom….This is Sakshi.” I said and went by the side of my Mom.

Sakshi smiled and moved forward and bend to touch her feet.

“Khus raho Beti” My Mom said placing both her hands on Sakshi’s head as a token of blessing. She then herself raised her arms and asked her to sit by her side. I was sitting on the opposite side of bed watching them both.

 

“Sakshi... name is as beautiful as she is.” Mom said looking at me and I responded with a smile.

“Who are there in your family.” Mom asked her

“Me, my Mom, my brother Raju and Kaushik Da.” She said in a low tone while still looking at the floor.

“Mom you remember my childhood friend Kaushik? We used to go school together his father was in Army.” I said reminding her of childhood friend.

“Ohhh Yes that Kaushik!!!” Mom said recognizing him.

“Yes the same Kaushik and she is his cousin sister.” I added further.

“Okay and what about your Dad?” Mom enquired further.

“Mom he expired last year,” I said before Sakshi could reply. I didn’t want Mom to know how he died because that could have negative impression on my Mom about her family.

 

“Mom would you like to have tea?” She makes superb tea. I added to distract Mom from further questioning Sakshi about her family.

“Tea in the afternoon, we just had lunch…later beta not now.”

“Do you know Cooking well?” She asked further.

“Yes Mom she is a great cook.” I said and both Mom and Sakshi stared at me and I understood what they meant.

“Now would you please shut your mouth and let her speak.” Mom said in desperation.

“Yes Aunty…I can.” She added