Sunday afternoon was warm and domestic as Aakash helped Meenakshi prepare lunch. She was wearing one of the new gowns he had bought for her, the fabric bright and soft. Aakash leaned in and hugged her from behind as he reached around to stir the contents of the pan. Meenakshi hummed along to a song that played on their new TV, her voice blended with the quiet comfort of their home.
They had recently furnished the hall with a simple sofa and Meenakshi had transformed their bedroom balcony with a few vibrant green plants. Aakash pressed a playful kiss to her shoulder and earned himself a gentle knock on the head.
“Focus on the cooking, mister,” she teased. Aakash only grinned and stole one more kiss just to see her smile. Their playful banter was interrupted by the sudden chime of the doorbell.
“Who could it be? Hema usually call before coming over. Let me go change, you check the door.” she said and hurried to the bedroom to change into a salwar while Aakash opened the door. He stood frozen for a second and was surprised to see his father standing there.
“Appa! What a surprise. Come in,” he said warmly, ushering him inside. Balaram stepped into the apartment for the first time and his eyes wandered over the space. The home felt remarkably lively and curated. Meenakshi, as she always did, had made the space beautiful.
Balaram sat on the sofa and handed a bag of fruits to Aakash.
“What was the need for this formality, Appa?” Aakash asked just as Meenakshi walked out of the bedroom.
“How are you, Mama?” she greeted him kindly and Aakash handed his father a glass of water.
“This looks like a home, very beautiful and peaceful. I’m happy for both of you.” Balaram said softly, looking around and the couple shared a smile, touched by his approval.
“How is your health? Are you taking your tablets on time?” Aakash asked, taking a seat beside him. Meenakshi slipped back into the kitchen to finish the meal. Later, as they sat for lunch, Balaram asked for second servings, admitting how much he had missed her cooking. When they finished, Meenakshi tried to pack some of the biryani for him to take home but Balaram gently denied it and preferred only to eat there with them.
“You have been managing all the family expenses for so many years. I shouldn’t even be asking this, but I’m worried. How did you manage all of this? Setting up a complete home isn’t cheap.” Balaram said, his voice tinged with concern
“I had some savings, Appa. Meen’s father bought the fridge, Hema got us the washing machine and Meena bought the TV and sofa from her own savings. There’s nothing to worry about.” Aakash reassured him.
Balaram looked visibly relieved. “How are Amma and Lavanya?” Aakash asked. Balaram smiled, moved by his son’s enduring kindness.
“They are fine. Nothing to worry about. You just focus on Meenakshi and your own life,” Balaram said, standing up to leave. Aakash reached into his pocket and tried to give him some money, but Balaram shook his head.
“I didn’t come here for money, Aakash. I just wanted to see my son and daughter-in-law.” he said but Aakash insisted and firmly tucked the cash into his father’s pocket.
“I never said or thought you came for money. I’m giving you this for your medicines and for emergencies. We’ll be truly happy if you visit every Sunday.” He looked toward Meenakshi for confirmation.
“Yes, I’ll cook your favorite fish curry.” she added with a smile.
“Enough of living for others. Think of your future. I want to see you both grow to great heights.” he said with a smile.
After he left, the house grew quiet and peaceful again. Meenakshi sat on the sofa while Aakash rested his head on her lap. They watched a movie together, Meenakshi ran her fingers through his hair. Aakash smiled, realizing how far they had come. Before moving out, they had never even had a sofa to sit on together, let alone the freedom to watch TV in peace. Now, they were the masters of their own time.
Meenakshi eventually grew sleepy and retired to the room for a nap. While she slept, Aakash quietly washed the vessels and folded the laundry. When she woke up in the evening, the aroma of fresh tea greeted her.
“You could have slept for a while. We could have done the work together.” Meenakshi said, noticing the chores were done.
Aakash handed her a cup. “Have your tea and get ready. Let’s go out for a bit. The beach or maybe a movie? If you are tired, we can just walk to the nearby park.”
They opted for the park and strolled through the greenery and sat on a a bench for a long time before driving back.
A few days later, Aakash brought home his salary. They sat at their table with a notebook and pen, meticulously listing their monthly expenses. Meenakshi set aside the amount he usually gave his mother but Aakash pushed half of it back toward her.
“We aren’t living there anymore. We will provide for Appa, Amma and Lavanya, but this is more than enough.” he said firmly.
He drove to his parents house later that day. Balaram’s face lit up at the sight of him.
“Aakash, What a surprise! Come in.” he said holding his son’s hand.
Hearing his name, Padma rushed out of the kitchen. She began to cry the moment she saw him. “Aakash, we all miss you so much. This home isn’t the same without you.” she said wiping her eyes with her pallu.
Aakash gave her a tight-lipped smile, noting silently that she hadn’t mentioned Meenakshi. He handed the stack of money to his mother. Just by the feel of it, she knew it was significantly less than his usual monthly contribution. She looked at him, unable to find the words to ask, but Aakash anticipated the question.
“Meenakshi and I don’t live here anymore. And I am no longer taking care of your other son. This money will be more than enough for you, Appa and Lavanya.” he said clearly.
Padma said nothing and simply nodded her head.
“Anna, please forgive me. I’ve realized my mistakes and I want to fix everything. I asked Appa for your address so I could meet you and Meenakshi Anni, but he won’t share it with me. Please, Anna, give me a chance,” Lavanya pleaded, and her eyes welled with tears as she stood before him.
“You don’t have to apologize. Just take care of yourself,” Aakash said simply, looking toward his father as he prepared to leave.
“Aakash, stay for a while. I’ll prepare dinner. It’s been so long since we all had a meal together,” Padma said.
Aakash let out a dry, short chuckle at her words.
“My wife is pregnant and she’ll be home cooking dinner for me. I don’t like leaving her alone for long. I only came because I knew you would need money for the month’s expenses. I don’t go back on my word,” Aakash replied. He was turning to go when Rajesh entered, looking like a man completely devastated by his own choices.
“Anna, please forgive me,” Rajesh said, taking an uncertain step toward him. Aakash ignored him entirely, mounting his bike and drove away without a second glance.
“Amma, he is not even ready to talk to me. How do I fix this?” Rajesh asked, his frustration boiling over.
Padma looked down at the money in her hand, her expression grim. “He gave us money, but only enough for the three of us. He made it very clear he won’t pay for you anymore. I couldn’t even bring myself to ask if he is still saving for Lavanya’s marriage.”
“Didn’t you hear a word he said? This money is specifically for the three of us, which means you should save as much as you can. And don’t you dare ask him for marriage funds. Didn’t I already make my stance clear on that?” Balaram thundered from the corner.
Lavanya recoiled, terrified. She had thought his previous warnings were just empty threats to scare her, but hearing him say the same words now, even with Aakash gone sent a chill down her spine. She retreated to her room and sat on the edge of the bed, fidgeting nervously with her fingers.
She thought back to the days when she would demand money and Aakash would provide it, no matter the cost. She was well aware he had been saving for years for her wedding. Now, the reality of her future felt bleak.
” What if he spent all those savings setting up his new home? They needed everything from scratch and that would cost a fortune. What will happen to me? I still have three arrears to clear and I can’t get a job until I do. Why did I treat him so badly? He was only ever kind. If only I had shown him some respect… How was I to know he would change so much after marriage? God, what am I going to do? ” she thought frantically.
She quickly sent a message to someone on her phone before stepping back out into the hall. She looked at her mother expectantly. Padma was busy recording the day’s expenses in a notebook while Balaram watched with a look of dark amusement.
“Amma, give me some money. I need to buy cosmetics and I need to recharge my mobile” Lavanya said and Padma looked up, her brow furrowed.
“Why do you need cosmetics when you are just sitting at home? Use things from the kitchen for a facial. and what is this about money for a recharge?” Padma asked, snapping her notebook shut.
“Aakash Anna used to recharge my mobile every month. The plan expired and I can’t even make a call,” Lavanya complained and Padma turned to her husband, seeking support.
“Don’t look at me. Check your own mobile, it probably needs a recharge too. There is a saying that people don’t value what they have until they lose it. You’d better start saving to pay for that TV connection, too.” Balaram said, pointing toward the television.
He stood up, his gaze hard as he looked at both his wife and daughter. “There are a lot of payments Aakash was making that you clearly took for granted. Do you want the list? He paid whenever the washing machine broke. He recharged all our mobiles. He paid for the TV. He gave your daughter money whenever she asked. He bought everyone dresses for birthdays, anniversaries and festivals. He provided the gifts we took to relative’s functions. And when we fell sick, he took us to the hospital and never touched a rupee of the ‘house money’ to pay the bills.”
Balaram spat the words out and grit his teeth in anger. “My son never spent a single rupee on his own needs. He never went out with friends, never watched a movie, never even bought new clothes for himself. While other men his age, including your other son were out having fun and enjoying life, my son was shedding blood and sweat for a family that doesn’t know the meaning of gratitude. He wasted his life on people who are nothing but selfish.” he said looking at them with disgust.
He leaned in closer. “But God exists and my prayers weren’t in vain. He sent Meenakshi and she finally brought him the happiness he has yearned for all these years. She gave him the love you all denied him. If you weren’t my wife and children, I would curse you all to rot in hell.” he screamed and Lavanya and Rajesh hung their heads in deep shame.
“Please, talk to him before it’s too late, let’s get Lavanya married. This distance with Aakash might ruin her life. She is our daughter; we can’t let her suffer.” Padma pleaded with her husband.
“Do you have any sense at all? She just finished college and Meenakshi is pregnant. They are going to have a baby in a few months. Aakash needs to focus on his wife and child, not your demands. You aren’t worried about his struggle but only Lavanya’s wedding? I don’t see her putting any effort into finding a job. You will never change and I will not let Aakash suffer for you anymore.” Balaram snapped and walked out.
“Amma, please do something, I don’t want to marry into a poor family and struggle my whole life. I can’t spend my life stuck in a kitchen working like a maid” Lavanya pleaded holding her mother’s hand.
Balaram, who had returned to pick up his phone, began to clap mockingly. “Wow. You don’t want to be a maid or work in a kitchen? But you had no problem treating Meenakshi like a maid. you even called her a ‘maid’ in front of your friends. How do you think she felt? She is a teacher, yet she took care of every chore in this house for the sake of this family. And what did she get? You and your mother taunted her like she was the enemy. You are all shameless.”
He grabbed his phone and walked away for good. Lavanya sat on the sofa, her mind raced back to the day she had insulted Meenakshi.
” What if karma bites me back? What if I get stuck in a worse life? I need to do something”, she thought and scurried back to her room to check her phone.
A week passed. Padma was in the kitchen preparing lunch when she let out a blood-curdling scream at the sight of a large centipede on the floor. Rajesh and Balaram rushed in and Rajesh quickly killed it with a broom.
“How did that get inside?” Padma asked, trembling and Balaram just laughed.
“Don’t you know? Aakash used to clean the backyard every few weeks. Now it’s so overgrown it’s become a sanctuary for all sorts of creatures. We shouldn’t be surprised if a snake appears one of these days.” he said and Padma gasped, looking horrified.
“Pay someone to clean it or let your useless son do it for once,” Balaram said, walking away.
Padma thought of all the times she had seen Aakash walk in from the yard, tired and covered in dust after cleaning. She wiped a stray tear and looked at Rajesh but he shook his head before she could even ask. Resigned, she finally called a laborer to clean the yard and paid him out of the household money.
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