Ch-30
Sharada's heart pained when she saw the visible handprint of Laya's face. She came forward to touch her cheek and ask her how she was. But her words shocked her.
"Please leave," was that her daughter only?
She used to have a genuine smile. But now… it's nothing but fake. Maybe the pain on her cheek was excruciating, she stopped smiling at them. Her eyes turned cold at them.
"I guess you all are happy with the situation. Since you are done. Please leave," Laya said.
"Laya, we are your parents," Raghuram said for the first time in his choked voice.
"That's before you made a deal with my marriage to get a contract," Laya countered, making the three of them widen their eyes in shock. Sharada has only disgust towards her husband right now. A deal with her daughter's life? Sharada realized he was nothing but an animal with money hunger.
Abhinav didn't expect his father to be this heartless.
"What deal?" he asked innocently. Indeed, he doesn't know anything about the deal. He wondered if his eldest son did anything about this. But… his son loved her, what made him do this thing like this?
"Don't act innocent. You made a deal with her that I shall get pregnant and give her a grandchild in any case in a year. Now… you became an actor when things came out, huh?" Laya said, trying to not yell and make a scene.
She felt her head was feeling dizzy but she held It on.
"I don't know what happened," he said.
"Then why would you make a deal with my life? Didn't I say I would give all my inheritance? But why? Why do you need to do this?" she asked, almost in her tears. But she held it on.
"Well… forget it. Why are you here?" Laya asked, calming down.
"Diwali… as a newly married couple… you guys have to pray in our native place village goddess temple. So… we came to invite you and our son-in-law," Sharada said.
"Didn't you see how happy I am? I don't need any prayers or blessings. So… You can leave," Laya said to them sarcastically.
"Laya…" Sharada trailed.
"If you want me to get beaten more. Please stay," Laya said. Her voice was devoid of any emotion.
Sharada said nothing and dragged her husband and son. Abhinav looked like he was going to beat Maha Lakshmi any second. Sharada dragged him away seeing his anger. Raghuram's eyes were filled with nothing but regret and guilt. But his guilt and regret could do nothing to her.
Harish Chandra was still in shock that his wife slapped her daughter-in-law and that was witnessed by his in-laws. He wanted to say something… but he knew it would simply be useless.
Laya didn't even get to eat food. By the time she reached the table, it's empty already. She sighed and started cleaning the table. From the time she entered the house, the lack of maids showed that there would be none as her mother-in-law removed them wontedly.
She wondered why she was doing this. She never once talked back to her mother-in-law. Laya was always obedient to her. She did everything she asked her without any complaints. After washing the dishes, she cleaned the dining table.
Taking ice from the fridge, she left for her room. "Laya…" Harish Chandra called her.
She kept her ice pack aside and followed him to the garden.
"Mamayagaru (Father-in-law)," she called him out softly.
"You can leave for Chennai tomorrow. I will book the tickets tonight. You can directly go to the airport and leave," he said to her.
"I will be burdening Rahul," she said. She doesn't want to disturb him there. She knew how much of a distraction to him. She heard from Saranya that the work which was supposed to be done in six months her brother was getting it done in three months. So…she didn't dare to disturb him.
"She will not change her ways. And she will be scolding you further. I can't stop her. After all, it's my fault for her current situation," Harish Chandra sighed slightly.
"Father-in-law," Laya called him out in expectation of knowing him more. She thought he would support her but instead asked her to leave and escape the hell. He was indeed worried but he was saying that his wife would be man-handling her in the future other than enduring it she could do nothing if she were to stay here. She smiled bitterly at her fate.
"When she was newly-wed, she was obedient, hard-working, and filial. But my mom always wanted everyone to listen to her. If anybody doesn't listen to her she would take her anger on Maha. Maha almost died because of my crazy mother. That was one she started turning out like this. Maha thought if she becomes like my mother… no one would abuse her. And I didn't stop her because my filial behavior towards my mother almost cost her her life. If anybody tries to go against Maha, she would get a panic attack. I don't dare to take risks with her life," Harish Chandra said.
He was saying to Laya not to go against his wife. And just listen to her and endure her mistreatment.
"I understand, Father-in-law. I will take my leave if that's all," she said and turned around without even waiting for his reply.
She took the ice she left on the table and returned it to her. She started applying the ice to her cheek, hissing in pain. Laya was already having backache from last night and with the fall her ache worsened. When she got slapped the slap resounded in the whole room with a sound of 'pack'. One could understand the force that Maha Lakshmi used on her. But no one stood for her.
Even when her family came to visit her, no one gave her a hug. They stood outside for her in-law's permission to enter the house. They acted as they cared with their eyes but their actions say otherwise. She thought her father-in-law would care for her, but even he made his stance clear that he would be on his wife's side only.
A tear rolled down from her left cheek as she thought about how she became an orphan.