Chapter 6
Nothing abnormal was happening in the house of Rathores. Like every day, Suraj Rathore got up, did his Yoga and went to shower. The same thing was with Mihir and Adhrit Rathore. May be due to her mother's instinct, Sukanya was feeling something unpleasant was going to happen.
Suraj came to the hall, and asked Mihir where was Tamra. "She had gone to invite her friends to the engagement Papa!" replied Mihir casually. But Suraj's face changed color. "You idiot! Her car is in the parking. Then how did she go?" barked his dad. Without making any noise Aditi came out of the hall and went to the big garden. She was smiling to herself. "The bird has escaped Mr. Suraj Rathore! You will never find her!" she said to herself.
No one bothered to ask her, because she never gets involved in family matters. Suraj was pacing the big hall! "What happened Papa? Anything important?" Asked Mihir. "Umm…it may be something or it may be nothing, Mohan's father called me and asked to arrange for a meeting between Tamra and Mohan this evening." Said Suraj with concern. "Don't worry Papa! Let me call her and ask her to come home immediately! "Mihir tried his daughter's cell phone. Sweating on the forehead, he looked at his father helplessly.
"I knew! There is something wrong about this girl! It's all your mistake. You never told her to restrict her steps. After all she is a girl! There are rules of our family, a girl has to follow. But No! Never bothered to obey!" Yelled Suraj in exasperation. "Papa! Please don't panic! She will be back for lunch!" said Sukanya with less confidence than she felt. "Oh! So! This too has started? Eh? A daughter-in-law talking back to her father-in-law! Wow! What a generation!" scowled Suraj with a red face. Sukanya felt humiliated and averted her face.
"What are the rules for men of your family?" came a voice from the rear end of the hall. Everyone was startled and looked at the direction. Aditi Rathore, a silent spectator, asked the question. Sukanya felt a warmth towards her mother-in-law. "Aditi? You questioned my authority?" Suraj yelled in a big voice. "sh….calm down Suraj! What happened to your etiquettes? Why are you shouting in front of the servants?" came the cool answer from Aditi. Mihir was standing like a statue. He hardly heard his mother open her mouth. Now not only speaking, she was questioning the powerful Suraj Rathore. He didn't like this at all. If his mother started, his wife Sukanya might also follow her footsteps. Women are to be seen, not heard.
"Ma! Please shut up. You don't know what is going on here!" snapped Mihir. "Oh Yeah? Ok then, go on and search for Tamra! You won't find her. It's time for your repentance Suraj. Your old sins are beginning to pay!". Turning abruptly, Aditi again went to the garden. Suraj was rendered speechless. Looking at his father's face, Mihir sensed something was wrong. "Papa? What Ma is talking about? What sins?" asked with concern. "Uff…she is crazy Mihir! I have never done anything wrong in my life!". There was a laugh from the garden. "You Mad woman! Why are you laughing at me?" asked Suraj with fury. Without replying Aditi went to the garden again.
"Papa? Is there anything I should know?" asked Mihir. "Let's not pay attention to mad women. First you try to call your daughter." Suraj turned abruptly and went back to his room.
Mihir tried the phone one more time and got angry as it was switched off. "What your daughter is thinking Sukanya? She has to meet Mohan today! Do you know any other number?" Mihir was in a state of terror and anger. "No I Don't! Remember one thing Mihir, don't say my daughter at the time of crisis, she is your responsibility too!"
"Ok Ok! Let's not argue! How to reach Tamra?"
"I have a bad feeling about this! Somewhere something is wrong." Said Sukanya. She was feeling miserable don't know why? Tamra had to meet Mr Mohan Kanwar at 3 for a light snack. Now it was 11 AM. If she did not show up, the prestige of Rathore family will be lost forever.
Aditi was pacing up and down the terrace watching Suraj Rathore in deep thoughts. "Today did not go your way! Isn't?" asked Aditi sarcastically. Suraj realized he had been watched for some time. "Now a days you have become cocky! Don't forget who you are! You may be my wife for others, but for me…you are only a maid, do you hear me? A maid!" These words did not have any effect on Aditi. "Suits me Suraj! Your wife is not a title any woman would want. Maid is more respectable!" Aditi was in the mood of sarcasm that day. "Oh Really? The clothes you are wearing is worth thousands of rupees, the food you relish is worth a fortune for a poor family! If I have not picked you up from the crap, you will never enjoy these!" cried Suraj.
With venomous eyes, Aditi came near him and looked at him in the eye! "Why you picked me up? Taking pity? Or out of love?" she laughed a sinical laugh, which made his hair stand on end. "Stop! You are crossing a line! Don't forget, who can give can take too!" said Suraj going red. Again, a laugh erupted from Aditi. "I am waiting for that Suraj! All these years I am waiting for that. I dare you; you tell Sukanya about me. If she asks, what happened to your wife, the real Aditi? You have an answer?" Aditi abruptly turned and vanished inside the room.
Suraj fell in thoughts. "No! It's not a good sign. Why would silent Aditi start talking now? What made her brave enough to turn against me? Is there someone I do not know? Is there any connection between Tamra and Aditi? There is some missing connection surely! I must find out. Let that brat of a girl Tamra come, I will put her in her place." Smoke was continuously coming from his cigar.
Downstairs Mihir was having a tough time as still Tamra could not be reached. Sukanya was also trying frantically to reach her friends, but no one knew anything. The time was going fast. Mihir abused Sukanya verbally for not bringing up her daughter in a good way. She was in tears and dared not to open her mouth with a house full of servants watching. She had a very peculiar feeling, probably a mixed feeling. She wanted Tamra not to return to that golden cage, but at the same time worried about her safety.
Mihir climbed the steps and reached his father. "No Tamra Yet?" asked Suraj with something in his voice. "Yes papa! But….". His words were cut short by an angry Suraj. "No buts…. Mihir! If we don't produce Tamra, in front of Mohan, our esteem, prestige and everything will be gone. People will start talking about our women, which I hate." said Suraj fiercely. "What could we do Papa? Shall we ask for some time?" Suraj looked at Mihir with such a disgust, Mihir bowed his head. Throwing away the cigar, Suraj called Mihir to his side. "Listen Mihir, we have to produce Tamra, somehow. You understand?" slowly Mihir understood and looked at his father with fear in his eyes. "Are you suggesting?" "Yes! That is what I am suggesting! Make the girl wear veil, ask her to say, that was the custom of our family! Got it? Now go and make your daughter get ready!" said Suraj Dismissing him. "Your wife need not know about this!" whispered Suraj to a walking Mihir.
As the day was approaching midafternoon, Mohan Kanwar was asked to come to the house instead of a hotel, as the girl is very shy. He was very happy and by 3Pm he came along with his parents. This immensely pleased Suraj and Mihir, but Sukanya was still feeling humiliated and feared the outcome. The guests were seated in a big hall with chairs and couches made of teak wood. There was a big coffee table which stood like a big dining. Mohan and his parents were welcomed and given a drink of mango juice mixed with tender coconut. They were relishing at.
Mihir asked Tamra to come and meet her future husband and her future In-laws. A figure came slowly from inside the house, dressed in an expensive silk saree, wearing a lot of jewels with face completely covered by veil. How she was able to walk with that veil on was a question. The appearance, the jewels everything impressed the groom and his family. "When you said, Tamra was a research student, I expected an arrogant girl. But She is very docile and timid. I like it. That's how girls should be!" Said Mohan with pompous. The girl in the veil was still looking at the carpet. Mohan asked a few questions about her career, her wishes and her ambition. For everything "As you wish!" was her answer. This pleased Mohan and his parents. They left after congratulating Sukanya for a nice upbring. They said, they will finalize the date for wedding soon.
Sukanya was dying to know, when Tamra came and why she was answering like a fool. The moment the guests departed, Sukanya took of the veil from Tamra's face and was shocked to find, there was another girl instead of Tamra. Due to the deceitfulness and shock, she was not able to speak. "Mihir? How dare you deceive? Who is this girl? Why would she agree to this deceitful act?" barked Sukanya at Mihir. "Don't you dare to raise your voice in front of my father." Shouted Mihir. Sukanya was even more shocked and felt humiliated. "What else we could do? Your daughter had run away! You probably helped her. Unlike you, we have our family esteem! So don't make a big thing out of this!" said Suraj in a clear voice. Sukanya wanted to cry out loudly, but if she did that, she would be labelled as mad and put in one of the rooms for ever. Tears ran down her cheeks. "At least you could have told me earlier!" murmured. "No need for any woman to get involved in all these." Said Suraj in a cocky voice.
"Who is this girl?" asked Sukanya again. "She is one of our employees at our office. She has been rewarded handsomely for her help. She won't open her mouth." Said Mihir looking sternly at the girl. With a fearful look, she walked away from the house. "You can keep the saree! In case you feel you have told someone, that could be useful for you to hang yourself!" said Suraj laughing. With a sob the girl ran outside.
"Do you realize the gravity of the situation? They are going to fix a date for wedding, what are you going to do? Marry this girl off as your daughter?" asked Sukanya panicking. "I will make them fix the date of the wedding next month. We will have enough time to find out the whereabouts of Tamra." Said Suraj. "But…for a second did you think, she might have run away from this marriage?" yelled Sukanya. "Rathore family women are not supposed to fall in love. Or oppose to the man, their parents choose. So, that settles it." Sukanya felt like throwing hot coffee at his face. So much of emotions, humiliations and suppressed feeling gave way, and with a scream she crashed to the floor.
"Hm….This women could never be pleased. Take her to her room, after some rest, she will be ok!" instructing the servants, Mihir and Suraj left the place. The servants carried Sukanya to her room and placed her on the bed. Sukanya was slowly gaining conscious. She wanted to reach her daughter Tamra and inform her about the danger. "Please don't come back to this burning hell Tamra! Go as far as you can! Money is not all dear! Respect and love are needed by every woman. Go Tamra Go!" Sukanya was telling her daughter in her mind.
In the village of Dantla, Tamra woke with a jolt, found herself on the streets, walking towards the burnt house.