Read Love after Marriage Online
Authors: Bhagya Chandra
Love after Marriage (54 page)
Roshni nodded in agreement.
“So give them to bhaiya, and he will take care of it.”
Roshni agreed to discuss it with Akash and Sashank bhaiya.
“I have some cash here in the banks and some fixed deposits. I can leave them as-is and authorize Sashank bhaiya to take care of them. What do you say?” Roshni again asked Deepak for his opinion.
“Roshni, it’s okay for you to authorize Sashank bhaiya, but I think it all belongs to you, and you should monitor them yourself.”
“Then I need online access.”
“Let’s check into it tomorrow as well. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
Roshni agreed, and they talked about a possible date.
“Your green card is supposed to arrive within four weeks, and it will arrive at this address. Let’s wait until we receive it.”
Deepak moved to a calendar. “January 24
th
! How about January 24
th
? We should receive your green card by then.”
Roshni agreed. Deepak noticed a festival on the calendar and realized that Sankranth was on January 14
th
and 15
th
.
“We will celebrate Sankranth festival and then leave. Are you okay with this date?”
Roshni again agreed to this plan.
~ ~ ~
During lunch, Roshni and Deepak initiated the conversation regarding the house.
“Roshni, have you made a decision regarding Prashant’s house?” Sashank asked.
“Bhaiya, Deepak and I talked about it. Renting is not a good option because it is a lot of work for you or Akash bhaiya.”
Sashank and Akash nodded in agreement.
Roshni continued, “Akash bhaiya and Sheetal, we could keep the house if you want to live there.”
This was a sensitive topic for Akash and Sashank. Akash had lived in this house all his life with Sashank bhaiya and to move out now…he was uncertain. He and Sheetal exchanged concerned looks. He did not want to traumatize Sashank.
“Roshni, thank you for offering your babuji’s house for us, but I think you should dispose of it. If Sashank bhaiya and bhabhi don’t mind, we would like to stay here with them.” He turned towards bhaiya and bhabhi and asked their permission.
This request of Akash was very touching. Sashank and Kusum looked at each other and with teary eyes, Sashank said, “How can I ask you to leave, Akash? This is your house as much as it is ours.” Sashank’s words made him feel secure.
“I agree; you don’t have to go anywhere. Sheetal, are you okay with this decision?” Kusum asked Sheetal, and she nodded.
A decision was made to sell Roshni’s babuji’s house. Car, house and finances…everything was taken care of by Roshni with Deepak’s support.
~ ~ ~
Finally the day of departure arrived. Roshni was nervous and frightened the previous night…the very thought that she would be leaving India and would be starting her new life with Deepak was alarming.
The next day, everybody was at the breakfast table. There was sadness around; nobody wanted Roshni to leave, but they understood she was going to start her life with Deepak.
Roshni looked at everybody. “Sashank bhaiya, Akash bhaiya, Kusum didi and Sheetal, I have one more request.”
Everybody looked at her curiously, and Deepak wondered what she was going to say now.
Roshni continued, “We are all so happy here…”
Everybody nodded.
“Sashank bhaiya and Akash bhaiya, can you please forgive Satish bhaiya and his wife, Nirmala bhabhi, too! Nobody is perfect, and all of us make mistakes. I’m sure Satish bhaiya and bhabhi are also regretful.”
“Roshni, what are you saying? Where does Satish bhaiya come into this picture, especially at this moment?” asked Sashank.
Everybody looked at Sashank bhaiya and then towards Roshni in utter surprise.
Roshni called Satish and Nirmala inside. Everybody was shocked to see them. Sashank was dumbfounded. Satish came forward and apologized to every one of them for their rude behavior in the past. Nirmala also apologized.
A few minutes later, Deepak came forward and touched Satish’s and Nirmala’s feet, and both brothers hugged each other, one apologizing and the other accepting the apology. Soon Akash and Sheetal followed. Sashank was not ready to forgive his brother and sister-in-law.
Roshni came closer to Sashank. “Bhaiya, you know, forgiving is a divine quality. It does not belittle you; it only shows your humongous heart. Please forgive him.”
At this moment, Satish came forward and joined his hands in Namaste posture to ask for forgiveness, and Nirmala followed. Immediately, Sashank, with tears in his eyes, held his brother’s hands, and both brothers hugged. They cried and consoled each other. Kusum and Nirmala hugged and greeted each other.
It was an emotional time; the whole family came together. Aunty was in a dilemma – her sister had recovered, and she’d stayed to help with Akash and Sheetal’s wedding preparations. So what now? Where would she go? Aunty was very close to Roshni and Sheetal. Both the ladies discussed this with Sashank bhaiya and Kusum bhabhi, and it was decided she could continue to live with them and her sister, Kaki. Aunty was very grateful.
“Roshni bete, if you had not influenced us and changed us, I would not be here today forgiving Satish,” Sashank said. He hugged and thanked her for everything.
Satish and Nirmala stayed all day to bid their farewell to Deepak and Roshni. Deepak and Roshni touched all the elders’ feet and took their blessings. Roshni came to Aunty and thanked her for all the help during her accident and after, and she thanked Sheetal and Akash for their support.
It was a very sad moment.
Deepak and Roshni bid good-bye to the entire family and boarded the plane to the US as a reunited couple, a married couple beginning their life together. A marriage that taught Deepak… As long as the partners trust each other and are loyal and they have a firm faith to work through it, marriages are successful. He’d learned the true meaning of ‘Love after Marriage’.
THE END
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Acknowledgements
My sincere gratitude:
To my family – my husband and children for supporting me through this endeavor and assisting me create a balance between a demanding job, family and writing this novel.
To my friends, Steve and Kosia Konkoly – for motivating and encouraging me in bringing this novel to completion; Kosia – for reading my manuscript and providing invaluable comments; and Steve –for guiding me through the publication process, and introducing me to the production crew. All the help and support Steve and Kosia provided is much appreciated.
To the production team—
My editor, Pauline Nolet, who has been a pleasure to work with, her expert guidance and professional and skilful editing has taken the book to a new level; Jun Ares for producing a magnificent cover and Stef Mcdaid for formatting; a brilliant job from each of them.
About the Author
Bhagya Chandra (alias Chandrashekar) was born and raised in India. She moved to the US in late 80’s to pursue graduate studies. She currently lives in Southern Maine with her husband and two children.
Writing from the heart, ‘Love after Marriage’ is her first novel—a courageous journey to describe a simple, cherished love story.
Bhagya would welcome any feedback or questions at:
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