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

in crisp.

The next moment Mom took out her golden chain from her neck that she was wearing and handed over that to her. I was eagerly waiting for this moment and finally it happened without any drama. Great!!! so my work is done. Mom is impressed, I said to myself after watching this scene.

Sakshi was not expecting that and she looked surprised first at her and then towards me.

“Have it ….. it’s our tradition don’t feel shy.” Mom said putting the chain on her palm.

“Great….So you accept her.” I said looking at my Mom.

“Yes….do I am left with any choice?” She said in straight tone.

“Now you both talk. I will rest for a while, have been tired after the journey.”

We left Mom sleeping and went to terrace.

 

“Wow Sakshi…. You did it. I can’t believe this.” I said in excitement.

“No Rohit…it’s not me but because of you.” She said with a soft voice.

“Ohh..comon she is bowled by your charm. Didn’t you see that?”

“You saw but I could sense it. She was not happy by heart.” She said being pessimistic.

“Why are you talking like that? She handed you her chain. What does that mean?” I question her.

“It means she loves you so much that she is ready to accept me only for her son’s sake.”

“How can you be so sure?” I asked her with curiousity.

“It’s a female thing…you won’t understand.” Let it be she said and turned to other side.

“Okay Sakshi even if that’s the case. Don’t worry soon she will accept you by heart as well.” I said and hugged her softly.

“Hope she does.” She said started playing with the chain in her hand.

“She will… I am sure.” I assured her.

“You keep it Rohit.” She said putting the chain in my shirt pocket.

“Why?? Mom gave that to you. It’s yours.”

“But Rohit??” She was about to speak further I interrupted her.

“Sakshi I agree …may be you are right that she accepted you just because of me. But still she did and this is the first time you both have met. Try to gel with her as much as you can. I am sure she will soon accept you whole heartedly as well. It’s just matter of time everything will be fine.” I pulled the chain from my pocket and handed her back. She smiled and kept that back in her bag.

 

Then we came back to room. Mom was still sleeping. I didn’t want to disturb her. So we came out. Sakshi said she would go back home. Let your Mom rest peacefully she must be tired after journey. I was about to come with her to drop her home. But she said I should stay with my Mom. She will catch me later and then i came downstairs to see her off till the rickshaw stand.

 

I came back wondering. Why was she speaking like that? I didn’t find anything strange. Does Mom really dislike her? As she said. I came back home rested on Sofa watching television waiting for Mom to wake up. I will ask her directly so that there is no confusion I said to myself while toggling between channels.

 

Later in the evening around 5pm Mom woke up. She went directly to kitchen and prepared tea for both of us.

 

I was still lying on sofa watching television. She came and handed me the cup and sat near me.

 

“How did you like Sakshi…tell me honestly?” I said putting the tea cup aside on the table.

“Aren’t you happy?” I added further.

 

“No …she is good. If both of you have decided to marry then I am fine with it.”

“Then why are you acting so cold.” I said and thought back of my mind what Sakshi told me on terrace was true. How could I not understand this? How could they both understand each other’s inner feelings so accurately though they even didn’t talk for much and this was the first time they had meet each other?

 

It is correct whoever said this, that it’s very difficult to read a women’s mind. They both pretend so well to act happy when they were together but as soon as they departed the story was different.

“I am not against your choice beta? Did I protest or said anything.” She continued and distracted my thought.

“No Mom you didn’t.”

“Then!!! Why are you asking me such questions? I just want you to be happy. I just want you to be sure before you take such major decision. Don’t take decision in haste and regret latter.”

“Mom I am sure. That’s why I told you. We have been together for three years.”

“You might be sure but is she???” Mom asked me.

“Yes Mom she is. What makes you say such thing?”

“I don’t know but I could not get any positive vibes as you said. May be I can be wrong as well.”

“Mom stop being psychic, it’s not thing like that. We both love each other madly.”

“I am not being psychic…I am just concerned about your future. For me your happiness is more important be with her or someone else. If you think …she is perfect for you. Then go ahead and marry her I am not against that. But before taking such major decision give your relations some more time.”

“Thanks Mom…in any case we are not marrying now it will happen only next year. So see we still have one more year left before we tie the knot. So time will be clear all your doubts.”

“Okay…. I hope and pray so.” She added.

 

We stopped our discussion here itself and I went to market to buy groceries.

 

Sakshi as usual used to visit our home. They both would nicely talk with each other. I had observed Mom was also helping her with cooking. She taught her to prepare many new dishes. When we three sat together, Mom would talk about my childhood incidents and we would laugh a lot. Things were going pretty good. But this get together could not continue for long. One day my elder brother called my Mom and asked her to come back to Silchar soon, since Dad had started his melodrama again and has made everyone’s life hell. I requested Mom to stay for at least few days, there is nothing to worry. Dad has always been like this since ever. But she didn’t so I had to make arrangement for her return journey. She was hardly here in Kolkata for couple of weeks. I felt very bad but had to let her go back.

 

A week later was Sakshi’s Birthday. This time also we celebrated her birthday at her home. All her friends gathered and this time I noticed a new guy who was acting over friendly with her. I enquired Avani who is that guy in red jacket?

 

“Ohhh ….he is Vimal. My mother’s very close friend’s sons. He studies in Bangalore and is from Kharagpur. We were introduced with him there when we had gone to Kharagpur for a month vacation and he used to visit our house occasionally there.”

“Okay…I see.” But Sakshi never told me about him.

“Ohhh…she might have forgotten in that case. But he is very nice guy. We used to enjoy a lot together, shopping, movies, parties. It was so much of fun with him together.

I understood from their behavior that they were pretty comfortable with each other. There was only one question in my mind. Why did Sakshi hided about her friendship with Vimal from me. Did she really forget? Or was this intentional?

While I was watching them Avani went to the kitchen and came with two mugs of hot coffee of which she handed me one and sat beside me.

Sakshi was busy enjoying the game of Antakshari with her other friends which included Vimal as well.

I was having conversation with Avani when Sanjeev and Kaushik entered the room.

Avani said; your friends have come you go and spend time with them and she stood and joined the group with Sakshi and her friends.

 

I went inside Kaushik rooms where both of them were sitting. Kaushik took out a cigarette and lighted it and threw the packets towards me. I took and lighted one cigarette as well.

 

“Sanjeev has a plan that we should go out to disco this time on New Year eve?” Kaushik said while opening the window to let smoke get out of the room.

“No Yaar …please not on New Year eve. Its so much fun enjoying it together with all family members than going out in disco, I am not interested.” I said releasing smoke in the air.

“Comon Rohit!!! We have been doing the same thing for the last 3 years. Let’s do something different this time. I have never been to discotheque ever. I have heard it’s grand during New Year eve we will have so much of fun. Loud music, cocktails, delicious food, dance with new hot chicks. Imagine man it will be awesome.” He said in excitement.

 

“Sorry to disappoint you guys but I am not part of it. If some other day then it’s fine but not in New year.” I said raising my hands.

 

“See I told you Sanjeev he will never agree.” Kaushik said looking at him.

“Sanjeev don’t spoil the party Yaar, you want to enjoy in disco we can do that some other day.”

 

“Yeah I understand why you are not going.” He said in disappointment.

“Sanjeev please I give my word we would definitely go to disco but some other day.” I said coming closer to him.

We were busy with our discussion for New Year Party that was just 4 days later and Sakshi entered. “You three musketeers are impossible? There is so much fun going on the other side and you are here busy with your own conference.” She said looking at us.

 

“Okay we are coming in just five minutes.” I said gesturing Sakshi to leave.

“Only 5 minutes Rohit.” She said staring at me and left.

We got back into our discussion and I said, “Sanjeev please postponed your discotheque plan. We are going to have party here only and Kaushik nodded looking at me. I have call few of my other friends as well. This time it will be more fun than you had expected and I promise we will go to discotheque sometime around next month….Happy now?” I somehow managed to convince both of them finally.

 

We then got up and went to the other room the mood was all set for fun there. Loud music was on and Avani was there in the middle dancing on the peppy song “Aeee Maskali masa kali..jara pankh jhatak” while are others were shouting and clapping. As soon she saw me she came forward and asked me to dance with her. I said, “Please no! I am very bad in dancing…better find some other partner” and went to the corner of the room. She laughed and continued dancing.

Later Sakshi and her friend Neha joined her in the next song “Dance pe Chance mar le” Everyone insisted me to dance with her. But I didn’t, I just stood aside and watched them dancing. Avani pulled Sanjeev and then Sakshi pulled Vimal and he obliged happily. I was observing; that even in real scenario he was taking chance while dancing and trying to get cozy with her. I somehow didn’t like his attitude and went to the balcony and lighted one cigarette and stood near the grill watching outside. I could hear the loud noise coming from the room, Avani’s voice was the loudest.

 

Few minutes later Sakshi came in and hold my hand.

“Hey Sweetheart!!! What happened, are you feeling bore??

“No babyyy.” I said throwing the cigarette butt out of the balcony grill.

“So what are you doing here alone?”

“I had an urge to smoke so I came here.”

“Rohit I see your number of cigarettes are increasing day by day. What is the matter are you still in some kind of stress?” She said crossing her fingers with mine.

“No baby. It is like nothing like that. I have a new job I am earning well. Everyone has approved our marriage. So why should I