Till now you have read – Kusumita  a young girl from a poor family is forced to marry Nihaar Singh who is heir of a rich family of Delhi.  Soon she comes to know the reason behind their marriage as Nihaar has a dark past. His first wife had a mysterious death.Indira Devi, grandmother of Nihar, notices the awkwardness in their relationship, and forces them to go on  their Honeymoon to Agra.

They go and see the Taj Mahal, where Nihar talks about being in love. At mid-night, Nihar wakes up Kusum. Indira Devi is sick and they must leave.

Part 6 : dew and the Mist

The night was stark dark and the road was empty with hardly any vehicles moving on the road. Nihar was driving, quiet and engrossed in himself, while Kusum tried hard to curb the roar of her fears. Through the corner of her eyes, she looked at him again and again, which soon he noticed, and asked, ‘Any problem?’

She shook her head in denial. He stared at her deeply for a few seconds and then switched on the music. The music relaxed her, and she did not realise when she went to sleep.

But soon she opened her eyes as heard a loud sound.  

‘Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech’

The car was hit by a large-sized truck. Before she could think, the car skidded down the ramp of the highway. Terrified she closed her eyes tightly only to open when it stopped. She could see huge smoke coming out of the bonnet of the car, the engine was roaring and the doors were flung open. 

In the darkness, she tried to look for Nihar and couldn’t find him. Suddenly she remembered what Mohit had told her about Nihar’s first wife Radhika’s accident and fears sneaked in. Of a sudden she saw Nihar in front of her, he had something like a rod in his hand. 

Panicked, her sixth sense asked her to escape, ‘Run Kusum Run…!’

Collecting all her strength, she came out of the car and taking fast steps ran without thinking. 

Nihar shouted, ‘Where are you going?’ but she did not pay any heed to him, she ran…ran… ran until she saw the road, and the light, and she collapsed on the road…

After some time, she regained her consciousness as the water was splashed on her face. Soon she the strong smell of liquor filled in her nostrils and she realised, she was in more danger as she saw few men looking at her. One of the men lifted her in his arms and walked away. She tried to free herself and started screaming for help. But there was no one nearby, no vehicles passing by; no one except those men. She cursed herself and closed her eyes. She didn’t want to see what her fate was going to be…

 ‘Kusumita….’ suddenly she heard someone calling her name and saw Nihar standing at a distance. She felt life back in herself; she shouted, ‘Nihar…..! Help me!’ 

Seeing him, the attackers threw her on the ground and ran away. Immediately she got up and ran to him. She hid in his arms and started crying loudly. 

He cuddled her, ‘You are safe now. Stop crying. But why did you run away from there?’

Suddenly she remembered that she had run away from him and immediately she tried to come out of his embrace, but he didn’t allow it. He held her more tightly, ‘Kusumita, you don’t know, I died another death not seeing you there. I could not believe fate could play the same mischief again!’

Surprised she looked at him, his lips were trembling and his eyes looked shaken. But then her mind alerted her, ‘Do not get impressed by his eyes. Stay alert.’

Forcefully she came out of his embrace and asked, ‘Where is the car?’

He replied, ‘I will call the mechanic, meanwhile I will arrange for the Taxi.’

They came back on the road. He made a phone call and soon the taxi arrived.

 It was almost dawn when they reached Delhi. 

Everyone was fast asleep in the house. They straightway made their way to Indira Devi’s room. She too was fast asleep but she woke up as she heard them. 

Indira Devi hugged both of them together, and said, ‘Nihar, I am sad, because of me both of you had to cut short your honeymoon.’

Nihar replied in a very soft and caring tone, ‘Dadi-maa, you know very well that you are the most important person in my life.’

Indira Devi smiled. She then looked at Kusum, and said ‘Kusum, so how was your trip?’

‘Dadi-maa, we went to see the Tajmahal then to shopping….then we…I….’ Her non-stop babbling started. Indira Devi listened very keenly while Nihar left the room. After some time Indira Devi went into sleep and Kusum returned to the room. 

Next few days Kusum dedicated herself completely to Indira Devi. She kept herself busy nursing her, talking to her, and then sometimes even reading books to her. It also gave an escape to be away from Nihar. 

One day, suddenly Indira Devi spoke, ‘Kusum, I want to talk to you something important.’ 

‘Yes, Dadi-maa….’

‘I want you to take care of Nihar. I don’t see you doing anything for him. There is no change in his life after the marriage.’

Kusum understood what Indira Devi hinted at but she chose to be ignorant, and asked ‘Like Dadi-maa?’

Indira Devi hesitated and then continued, ‘Like what wives normally do for their men. Making his breakfast, helping him when he is getting ready or making something special for him…. I want both of you to be happy.’

Kusum lowered her eyes and stayed quiet.

Indira Devi said, ‘Kusum, are you understanding what I am saying?’ 

‘Yes! Dadi-maa…’ Kusum nodded.

Indira Devi was delighted by Kusum’s commitment and closed her eyes.

Kusum stood there a while and then came out of the room. As she walked towards her room, she started thinking about her conversation with Indira Devi. She had said YES to her but inside she was frightened. She tried to reason herself, why she was so scared of Nihar? She was not scared of Indira Devi; she was not sacred of Sneha and she was not scared of Mohit but then why she was so scared of him? Till now he has not done anything which should make her doubt him, and then at Agra, he was so well behaved, he took care of her. He saved her life. 

Kusum came back into her room and tried to sort out her dilemma.

Almost a week had passed since they returned from Agra, neither did she cared to see him nor he made any attempt to meet her. But now how much she can shunt him out of her life?

To whom she can talk out all her doubts? She then remembered Bindiya. More than her sister, she was her friend. If Bindiya was here then she could have easily confided in her. Bindiya was always able to read her mind. Today she missed her. She then remembered about her promise to call Bindiya. Filled with hopes, she immediately called Bindiya. 

‘Kusum, after so many days! What a surprise!’ Bindiya was very excited.

Bindiya’s voice broke the dam of her prolonged turmoil and she started crying. Bindiya was immediately alarmed, ’Kusum what happened? Is everything all right?’

She started crying more loudly as if suddenly she got a light of hope who could save her from all her woes. After a while, she calmed down and slowly narrated to Bindiya what she had felt after marriage.

‘Bindiya, now tell me what shall I do? Shall I trust him?’

‘You have no reason to distrust him. He had not harmed you till now.’

‘But my life is in danger.’ 

‘Listen to your heart what it says. It will never give you a wrong direction.’

She sighed; what option she has other than this?

As she hung up the call, she thought for a while. ‘Yes, Bindiya is right. She should give him a chance. She should not doubt him anymore.’

Rakhi Sunil Kumar

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