Chapter 26 :: Broken ties

Currently.....

"tnx....for supporting me there, Ruthba told me, you stick to your word until Baba agreed" Insiyaa said looking at Sankalp...they were on the balcony alone

"yeah...they may want to make you think that it's your punishment of something, i don't have to make you feel that,...but__

"but....?"

"why all 3 of them looked so uncomfortable when i said you can complete your study in mean time and work ? I mean it not middle age, you were supposed to be literate right ? " Sankalp asked

"because if it's not on their terms they do not want that for me...they just want me gone soon as possible and be someone else's burden and now that you cornered them, they have to wait for another 2/3 years" Insiyaa shrugged and said as a matter of fact

Sankalp cursed inwardly....

he sighed,

"don't worry...i don't think Rahat will say anything anymore, Uncle already agreed"

oh! you have no idea, what's waiting for me at home.....Insiyaa thought

she knew she was about to get another set of---chastising the moment she gets in the car...or as soon as she reaches home

and her intuition was correct.....

Ruthba and Shawkat looked nervous,.....they stole glances at other two men and Insiyaa, who sat in silence.

Amarendra was in deep thought and Rahat looked positively furious.....

"you have been contacting him ---- since when ?" Rahat grumbled looking through the mirror

Insiyaa looked up.....seeing Rahat was looking at her,... "contacting who ?"

"don't act innocent...Insiyaa, how long have you been contacting Sankalp" He gritted out making her flinch

"Rahat" Amarendra scolded him while rubbing the side if his head, a pounding headache is to come

"no baba....she goes behind our back manipulating him!" He growled and slapped the steering wheel

"I've manipulated no one.....what is so wrong with what he said.....moreover what's wrong with you" Insiyaa's eyes welled up

"yes, i believe you...we already decided that no more studying was needed for you, what are you going to do with studying any further huhh ?

and work ?

who decided you are working,.....just because you know things or two about gemstones and helped designing few jewellery, now you want to work ?"

"Rahat.....awaaj niche karo aur gaari thik se chala yaar, ghar chal ke baat karenge" Shawkat was appalled to see how Rahat was behaving with their little sister, Shawkat scolded him....only for him to glare back at him

[ Rahat, keep your voice down and drive carefully, we talk when we reach home ]

*************

That night...

so, after they reached home, she was called by Amarendra Raichand in his study...

Rahat and Shawkat was there too

"Rahat ask her if that's her final decision ?" His back was facing her....with his both hand behind

"m-my f-final decision, baba ?"

"whether you'll study further and work or not!" Shawkat said looking down sadly

"baba aap puch kyun rahe hain.....bas mana kar dein"

[ baba why are you asking.....just say no to her ] Rahat said

"y-es.....m-mein aur p-padhna c-chati hoon, aur p-professional jewellery designer b-banna chati hoon"

[ yes, i want to study further and i want to become processional jewellery designer ]

"hmm, Rahat keh do usse ke ab do raastein hai uske paas....

ya to wo Sankalp ko manaye k wo nahi padhayi karegi aur nahi kaam karna chati hai, dono me se kuch ni karegi aur Shaadi bhi isdi saal hoga, to mein usse ab tak ke saare galtiyon ke liye maaf kardunga...

ya phir, wo issi ghar me rahegi, padhegi aur kaam bhi karegi ... agle kuch saal tak, magar mere samne kabhi ni ayegi, kyuki mein uski shakal ni dekhunga aaj ke baad, aur nahi baat karunga.....jaab tak jinda hoon.

pucho usse, kya jaroori hai uske liye"

[ Rahat ask her... now she has two options....she can decided one of these two...

she'll no longer study nor work and

the marriage will also happen this very year, then I will forgive her for all the mistakes till now....,

or, marriage can happened couple of years later, she may stay in this house and study more and work as a designer....for years to come, but she will never come in front of me, because I will not see her face after today, and will not talk to her...until the day i die

ask her what is more important for her...]

"Baba ye aap kya--" Shawkat was about to protest but again was silenced but ---

this time by Insiyaa herself

She looked like she was pain...and it was more physical than emotional.

It was her own father and brother, she had to bargain her life, her dreams with.....

and the fact that he wouldn't even look at her while talking,....he was talking through her brother, when she was still infront of him

"aap kyun kar rahe hai asaa.....mein kya koi ni lagti aapki, aapne Rahat aur Shawkat se to ye ni kaha, unhe abroad bheja,.....to mere hisse ye discrimination kyun" Insiyaa asked while sobbing

[ Why are you doing this to me.....am i noone to you! you didn't say this to Rahat and Shawkat,...you sent them abroad,... then why this discrimination against me ]

"Rahat pucho usse...kya faisla hai uska" Amarendra's voice came out much stronger than before, she jumped...

[ Rahat ask her what is her final decision ]

His indifference made her go numb

She sniffed and wiped her face violently and said with a heavy heart...."thik hai phir....

mujhe padhna bhi hai aur Designer bhi banna hai, aapke in dono bete se jyada safalta me leke aungi iss ghar me....aur aap kya mere shakal ni dekhenge, aaj ke baad me bhi ni dekhungi aap ki shakal aur baat karne ki koshish bhi ni karungi,...fikr na kare, soch lijiye ke baas do/teen saal ka mehman hoon baas"

[ Okay then.... I will study and I'll become a designer as well, I will be more successful in this house than these two sons of yours.....and you don't wanna see my face right, well that feeling is mutual and i won't try to talk to you either.....

think of me as a Guest for next 2/3 years ]

with that....she stormed out of there leaving 3 of them shocked to their core,....

"baba....usne too--" Rahat was about to say something but Amarendra Raichand stopped him by answering himself

"humpe hi paasa palat diya!.....

aur kya Rahat, aur kuch baaki hain ?

tum chate the ke mein usse saaja doon, to de diya, usse do raastein diye...,

dono tarf se uske har nishchit thi, wo janti hai ke wo kuch na kuch kho degi.....aur usne choona,....saaja maan bhi liya, aur kya chati ho, usse uska itna chota sa haq bhi cheen loon aaj ?"

[ turned the table on us ?

and what more Rahat ?

is there anything more left ?

you wanted me to punish her, i did....i gave her 2 choice and both way she looses something.....and she accepted it....now what, should i take away that smallest right of her to choose as well ]

Rahat looked away...Amarendra still haven't turn around, so even if Rahat wanted to read his face he couldn't...

and Shawkat ran after her as soon as he came out trance, leaving her father and elder brother rooted on their places.

"mein kuch der akela rehna chahti hoon, Rahat.....aab bahir jao"

[ Leave me alone for awhile.....get out ]

and without saying anymore word, Rahat walked out of the study but not before throwing a glare at Ruthba who was waiting outside the door, possibly hearing everything.

*******************

A week later.....

Rahat was on the door of Shawkat's room when he was busy gathering his things....with a blue envelop open his hand and very serious expression.

"journalism programme....accepted in Northwestern University! what is this ?" Rahat waved it Infront of him

"my scholarship latter" He muttered looked up and he was quiet shocked, he looked around his bags and asked back with an incredulous expression...

"you searched my bags"

"it was on the floor there...and how could you keep something like this from us ?" Rahat said rolling his eyes and pointing at the corner of the door

"i wanted to...but ___

"so, you are leaving...why! you already finished your education Shawky, i need you here, help me handling business.....Baba's been sick, he isn't doing well."

"you want to handle business,...you are good at it, Insu wants to be a jewellery designer,.....and i want this, you always knew my first and second choice, Rahat"

"but Chicago.....!"

"yep!.....Northwestern University is in Chicago"

"have you talked to Baba!"

"yes!.....right after i got the latter"

"hmm"

"Rahat.....about Insu_

"don't...

"but at lea--

"I'm sure you have much to do, I'll leave you be"

with that Rahat left his room.....and Shawkat let out a sigh

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The END......?

Do read my AUTHOR NOTE! AND STAT TUNED