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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 Radhika’s mysterious death. 

In last part 9, you read how Kusum tried to search information about Radhika in Nihar’s study. 

 

 

Part 10 : dew and the Mist

Love is in the air!

 

Back in her room, Kusum moved restlessly, and tried hard to bring her thoughts to conclusion but they confused her even more.

Desperately she looked above, and prayed, ‘God! I have never asked you for anything. I don’t want anything in my life. I don’t care if my husband loves me or not. I only want him to be truthful. I cannot live here for a second if he has anything to do with Radhika’s death. I just want to know if I should believe Nihar or not.’

Troubled by her anxiety, she started crying loudly, and did not noticed when Daadimaa had entered the room.

Daadimaa was full of worries to see her tearful. She asked, ‘Kusum, what happened…?’

‘Nothing Daadimaa….’ She wiped away her tears but the next gallon came faster.

Daadimaa was more worried, ‘Kusum, something surely has happened. Did Nihar say anything? I know how bad his temper is!’

‘No Daadimaa.’

Daadimaa then hugged Kusum which relaxed Kusum a bit.  

‘Daadimaa, I think you only can help me now. I am not getting answers for my questions.’

Daadimaa took her hands in hers to comfort her.

‘Daadimaa, I want to know about Radhika. I hear so much about her. I want to know the truth.’

Dadimaa’s expressions changed as if she was not pleased, ‘Why do you want to know something which happened five-six years back?’

‘Daadimaa, please it’s very important to me.’ Her eyes were flooded.

‘If it is worrying you so much then I have to let you know the truth. Radhika was very attached to Nihar. They were very close to each other, actually all three. Nihar, Radhika and Mohit. And then Radhika went to Canada with her father but Nihar and Radhika still kept in touch and after a few years when she returned, he announced he wants to marry her. He was very adamant; he was very young but we all gave up under his demands. He was so happy. Radhika was a lovely girl, very bubbly but then on their honeymoon, she slipped from a hilltop; Nihar was completely broken, shaken; Radhika was his world.’

‘Then….?’

‘He completely closed himself and it took years for him to get back to the normal routine.’ Daadimaa was also not able to hold her tears, her voice choked.

‘And then marriage with me….Why? Is it because I am from a poor family?’ She could not hide, what had pinched her so much since marriage, the thought of being used as a scapegoat.

‘Kusum, what are you saying?’ Daadimaa looked surprised at her outburst and looked into her eyes. ‘Kusum, for what Nihar went through, I wanted someone who can understand him, someone who can bring the happiness back in his life, someone who can make him smile again and when I saw you, I liked your charming nature and I felt you could be the one. Then Nihar also said YES. I knew both of you are made for each other.’

‘Daadimaa….’ She was stunned.

‘Kusum listens, we have loads of money, and we don’t need that. I wanted someone who can make my Nihar happy.’

Hearing, she felt very light-hearted. She was wrong in understanding him, she should just leave all her doubts aside and accept him.

She felt relieved with her decision.

 

 

At Night

Kusum smiled at herself in the mirror as she darkened her kajal. She felt shy as she thought of her decision and blood rushed to her cheeks; her heart started beating fast. Yes! today she will not let him sleep in the Study, today she will surrender to her husband, today she will do this, she will do that, she will say this. She made all plans in her heart and waited eagerly for him.

Nihar did not made her wait longer, he came, and as she saw him, her lips dazzled with happiness and she ran to him. He was taken by surprise when she embraced him from behind.

‘Kusumita, what happened?’

She felt shy, how could she tell him about her decision. Finally, she uttered what was in her heart. ‘Stay with me.’ her voice was hardly audible to herself.

He was taken aback; he turned and looked at her. She could not take his stare and closed her eyes, her arms still hung around him.

‘Kusumita….?’

She couldn’t say anything, simply clung to him and tightened her embrace. He stared at her for some time and then lifted her in his arms and brought her to the bed; his hands softly went through her hair and opened it. He removed her large earrings and then her dupatta; she observed him nervously and closed her eyes, trying to capture all this in her heart, in her mind; her hands went into his hair and trailed his back.

She fluttered her eyes as his hands moved on her neck and she felt shy; she closed her eyes more tightly; so many emotions ran through her, so many feelings were rushed in; she could not understand any of them, simply she tried to imbibe every moment so precious to her. Suddenly he moved away from her….

She looked at him surprisingly.

‘Kusumita, I am sorry. I can’t….’

‘Nihar…?’ her eyes were full of questions.

‘I am so sorry. I had thought I will be fair to my wife but NO… I am wrong. I cannot let anyone come in place of Radhika. I just cannot.’

And he left the room hurriedly.

She felt like crying loudly. He was doing all this, taking care of her only to show that he is a good husband?

She sank into the bed. ‘Kusum, he is not ready to accept you.’

 

After a few days

Nihar asked her to accompany him for a party.

She was confused what to wear, Sneha helped her to choose a black saree with a sleeveless blouse. Shyly she looked at herself in the mirror; it exposed her skin so much and then her back, almost bare. She was very reluctant to wear such an attire but then Sneha said everyone wears such types of dresses at parties, so she gave in.

Once again, she checked herself in the mirror, her big diamond earrings dangled and her neatly tied up hair in a simple bun with a few red roses made her look very elegant. She highlighted her kajal once more, and mesmerized by the transformation in her, she stared at herself. 

‘Kusumita, are you ready?’ 

She heard Nihar’s voice, immediately she turned and looked at him, she could see the surprise in his eyes as he stared at her. She waited for him to say a few words but he disappointed her.

‘Let us go, we are getting late.’ He said and left the room. She followed him.

After a many days she saw him; they had not uttered a single word to each other after that night. She had avoided him completely as she was very much upset by his denial.  But today morning, she was surprised when he came and told her to accompany him to this party. It was supposed to be a business party, a celebration of a contract win. She didn’t understand much about his business and it was for the first time he was taking her out, so hardly she cared!

She was stunned by the grandeur of the Hotel as they entered inside. What a huge gathering…! Glitter, loud music, drinks and then the most happening people of Delhi! Nihar was soon lost in the crowd. She decided to take a seat and dumbly stared at the gathered crowd. She had never been to such parties and immediately felt out of place.

 

‘Kusum, so how is going?’

‘Mohit….!’ She was damn surprised to see Mohit.

‘I must say you are looking very beautiful!’ Mohit gave a charming smile.

She smiled; she was very relieved to see someone known.

‘Why are you sitting alone? I know big brother must be busy with his business talks and surely has forgotten about his beautiful wife!’

‘Nothing like that and please do start about your brother again.’ She softly scolded him.

‘Fine, leave him. Let us talk about something else. Do you mind dancing with me?’

She looked at him hesitatingly.

‘Kusum, I am your brother-in-law. Why are you thinking so much?’

‘Mohit, Actually I don’t know this type of dancing. I only know desi style.’ She laughed out loudly.

‘So, what…? I will teach you.’ And he pulled her and dragged her to the dance floor. He asked her to keep her hands on his shoulder and his hands moved to her waist. He taught her a few steps which she tried but then she stepped on him.

He shouted in great pain, ‘Kusum, your sandals have assaulted me!’

‘Sorry, Mohit…!’

Mohit tried to straighten firm and winked at her, ‘No problems, by the way, what perfume are you wearing?’

‘Why?’ She was surprised.

‘It smells very familiar.’

‘I don’t recollect the name. Nihar made me buy this in Agra.’

‘Oh! I should have guessed it. It’s so similar to what Radhika used to wear…’

‘Oh…!’

For the first time, she didn’t like hearing Radhika’s name. She felt jealous and her eyes went teary.

‘Kusum, don’t get upset. Let us do some masti. I will request for some Punjabi number!’ Mohit probably sensed her discomfort and changed the topic.

Saying this, Mohit ran to the DJ and asked him to change the music and put on a fast Punjabi song. Once the song came on, he dragged her to the floor. She couldn’t stop herself from dancing, after a long time she had felt at home and she started matching her steps with him. After some time, she was completely exhausted and they left the floor.

Mohit was very excited, ‘Kusum, everyone was looking at you. You were in full Masti with sandals in your hand.’

‘Yes, I let myself go completely. Thanks, Mohit. I had fun after a long time.’

‘Anytime you feel you need a friend, just call me.’

‘Sure.’ She smiled.

‘Kusumita….’

She heard someone shouting her name and turned back, she was surprised to find Nihar. She had completely forgotten about him.

‘We are leaving.’ He announced.

She nodded. She could sense he was upset as he didn’t speak to her while driving back. She didn’t want to care. He left her alone at the party. What was she supposed to do, sit there? Dumbly look at all the overdressed women?

She entered her room and he followed her.

‘Kusumita, Keep off Mohit…’

‘Nihar, he is your brother.’

‘Yes, I know but I don’t want you to get closer to him.’

‘Oh! So, you care for me? Then why did you leave me alone at the party?’ her eyes flashed.

‘Kusumita, it was a business party. I have to entertain my clients. I cannot afford to sit with you.’

‘Then why did you take me?’

‘I thought you would enjoy the change. But of course, I didn’t have to worry about that. You had a great time.’ He sounded sarcastic.

‘Oh! This is the truth. You are upset that I enjoyed it!’

‘I don’t mind you enjoying. I am only asking you to take care, stay away from Mohit.’ He harshly retorted.

‘Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.’

And she moved away from him and started taking off her ornaments but soon she was surprised to find him very near to her; he roughly wrapped his arms around her waist.

‘What did you say? You can take care of yourself? You don’t need me?’

His eyes stared at her for some time and then at her lips and then were stuck at her mounts. She could feel anger in his eyes and unknown fear crept in.

‘Nihar, leave me.’

‘No, you are my wife.’

‘Leave me, you are hurting me…’ She tried to sound firm as if she was not scared.

But her pleas did not affect him. He embraced her more tightly, lifted her in his arms and roughly threw her on the bed. She swiftly moved to the other side of the bed as he removed his shirt. She sensed his intention and pleaded again.

‘No, you can’t be forceful to me.’

‘I don’t care what you call it, you are my wife and I have full rights on you.’

‘Yes, I am your wife but this is not right.’  She again tried to convince him but he didn’t listen and pinned her both hands, she struggled to come out of his grip but he didn’t let her go. She kept on twisting below him to free herself but then he covered her mouth with his and started kissing her harshly making her breathless.

She could feel his anger in his every touch, she felt insulted and started crying. Her cries broke the silence. He looked at her tear-soaked face for a moment and loosened his grip. She couldn’t believe when he relaxed his body; she found life back in her.

‘Let me go.’

‘No.’ His eyes were very firm.

Shocked, she looked at him in disbelief.

He defied her, ‘What happened? The other day you only wanted me to come near to you and now, why are you resisting?’ His eyes shone like a wild animal.

‘Not this way, you are taking out your anger on me!’

He gazed in her eyes, ‘Do you want me to stop now?’

She closed her eyes in frustration, a winning smile twinkled on his face. She could feel pleasure-filled in his body as he started feeling her more, kissing her deeply; slowly she surrendered.

 

Rakhi Sunil Kumar