Chapter 23: She is Calling

Saanvi's POV

It was evening.

My mind was preoccupied with Yuvraj Ji's revelations.

To calm myself, I called my village friend, Dhuni.

Yuvraj Ji had given me a brand new phone, which I often use to play games.

The place he selected for my dance academy is still held by him, in case I change my mind. However, I didn't want to go far from the Haveli, so I declined the offer. He gave me the freedom to use the space as I wished.

I was contemplating creating a place for the education of underprivileged children. With these thoughts in mind, I called my friend, Dhuni.

"Han ji kon?"

(Yes who is it?)

Her voice was mockingly scary.

"Mai bol rahi hu Dhuni!"

(Its me Dhuni)

I replied with a smile.

"Mai kon? Mai kisi 'mai' ko nahi janti."

(Who 'me'? I don't know anyone named 'me'.)

She joked lamely.

"Dhuni, mai sheher se tere liye kapde-"

(Dhuni, I have brought clothes from city-)

I hadn't even finished when she yelled on the other side of the call.

"Aree toh pehle bolna tha na!! Kaise hai tu? Mai achi hu. Han ghar mei bhi sab ache hai. Han khaana kha lia maine. Kab milne aa rahi hai?"

(Ohh you should have said it earlier!! How are you? I am good. Yes everyone is good at home too. Yeah I ate food too. When are you visiting me?)

She questioned and answered herself.

Typical Dhuni.

When I lost my parents, Dhuni was my only support. It was very common in our village to be an orphan, so no one came forward to take care of me. I completed my schooling with Dhuni's help. By working here and there in the village, I managed to survive.

"Oh mem sahab!? Kahan kho gayi!? Haww kahi tu mujhse jhoot toh nahi bol rahi thi nah?"

(Oh madam? Where you got lost!? Were you lying to me about clothes?)

She said with a gasp.

"Nahi nahi meri maa! Chup karegi tab toh mai kuch bolu?"

(No you Dumbo. Atleast give me chance to talk.)

I replied.

"Han han ab toh hukum chala apna. Aakhir Sarpanch Ji ki jigri jo hai!"

(Oh ho now you are ordering me. Afterall you are precious to Sarpanch ji)

She teased.

"Aesa kuch nahi hai-"

(It's not like that)

I tried to say.

"Aree sab pata hai mujhe. Pure gaon ki khabar hai mujhe! Tere naam par toh Sarpanch Ji vidyalaya (school) bhi banwa rahe hai!"

(I know everything girl. I know everything about each villager. Sarpanch ji is even funding a school on your name)

She informed me, and my eyes widened in surprise. I had no idea about this.

"Sare gaon wale teri ek jhalak dekhne ke liye marte hai. Gaon ki sari aurat teri burai karti hai baithak mei. Mai khud sunti hu aur unse lad bhi jaati hu! Huh!"

(The whole village is eager to catch a glimpse of you. All the women in the village criticize you during their gatherings. I hear it all and even argue with them! Huh!)

She said, and I imagined her angry face.

"Acha yeh sab chhod, bata kab aa rahi hai?"

(Okay leave all this. Tell me when are you coming to visit me?)

She asked.

"Mai nahi aa rahi. Tu yaha ayegi. Teri bahot zarurat hai mujhe."

(I'm not coming. You will come here. I need you very much.)

I said with a wavering voice.

"Achaa!? Sarpanch Ji ne kuch kia kya!!? Dekh tu dar mat! Mai tujhe leke yaha se bhaag jayungi! Hum kahi dur chale jayenge! Chinta mat kar tu. Mai na Sarpanch ko hi maar det-"

(Really!? Did the Sarpanch ji do something!!? Don't worry! I will take you away from here! We'll go far away! Don't worry. I'll even beat up the village head-)

She started rambling.

"Bas Dhuni! Yuvraj Ji ke baare mei ye sab mat bol."

(Enough, Dhuni! Don't say such things about Yuvraj Ji.)

My voice unexpectedly raised.

I felt bad for yelling at her. Taking a deep breath, I was ready to apologize, but she continued in her usual manner.

"Oyye hoyyee... baat toh naam tak pahuchi hui hai. Kya baat hai ji... aag toh dono ke jigar mei hai."

(Oh, my! The matter has reached this point. What's this... both of you have fire in your hearts.)

She said with an extra sweet tone.

I blushed at her words.

"Bas bhi kar yaar ab!"

(Stop it now!)

My voice broke into laughter.

She chuckled.

"Acha thik hai! Mai aati hu tere paas! Bas tu dekhti ja teri sari pareshani chutkiyo mei chali jayegi!"

(Okay, fine! I'll come to you! Just watch, all your worries will disappear in a snap!)

She said and made a snapping gesture on the other side of the call.

"Thik hai. Mai tere ghar ek bhaiya bhej dungi. Woh tujhe yaha le ayenge."

(Alright. I will send a driver from our house. He will bring you here.)

I said.

"Jee mem sahab ji. Ab toh gaadi waadi ayegi humare liye. Kya maje hai! Uff."

(Yes, Madam. Now we will have a car coming for us! What fun! Uff)

She replied with laughs.

I shook my head and managed to end the call, otherwise, she would gossip about every person in the village.

Feeling thirsty, I walked to the kitchen to have some water.

I was relieved that Dhuni would be here by tomorrow.

I would ask Yuvraj Ji to send his man to bring her here.

In the kitchen, I drank water and started to leave, only to be startled.

Soha Didi was standing at the entrance, observing me.

I squirmed under her gaze.

"Aap-"

(You-)

I started.

"Sarpanch Ji aaye hai. Tumhe dhoondh rahe hai."

(Sarpanch ji is here. He's looking for you.)

She said in a hollow voice.

"Ji."

(Okay)

I nodded and decided to move out.

But she didn't move away.

I looked at her questioningly.

"Tum jo bhi kar lo. Patni toh unki mai hi kehli rahungi. Tum dusri aurat ho bas."

(Whatever you do, I will always remain his wife. You are just the other woman.)

She said, and her words stung me.

Saying that, she moved away to the stove.

I stood there, considering my next words.

"Apne dawa lagai kya Yuvraj Ji ke paer ke ghao (wound) par?"

(Did you apply medicine to Yuvraj Ji's wound on his foot?)

I asked and turned to meet her eyes.

"Han laga di thi. Tumhe zarurat nahi hai unki chinta karne ki."

(Yes, I did. You don't need to worry about him.)

She replied with a stern voice.

I walked to her and filled a glass of water for Yuvraj Ji.

"Pata hai naam aur haq mei kya farak hota hai?"

(Do you know the difference between a name and a right?)

I asked politely.

She looked at me in confusion.

"Naam khokla (hollow or of no use) hota hai. Aaj nahi toh kal mit jata hai. Par haq? Haq insan ko ruh (soul) pr diya jata hai. Jo insan ki antim saas tak nahi mit ta."

(A name is hollow. Today or tomorrow, it fades away. But a right? A right is given to the soul of a person. It never fades, even with the last breath.)

I said. She looked at me for an explanation.

"Aapka naam ka patni hona, aaj nahi toh kal mit jayega. Par mera haq, Yuvraj Ji ki antim saas tak sabko yeh yaad dilayega ki woh mere hai."

(Your title of being his wife will fade away someday. But my right will remind everyone that he is mine until his last breath.)

I explained, and her jaw clenched.

"Aapka naam ka patni hona, gaon walo se ek pranam bhi nahi le pata. Lekin mera haq, gaon walo ki nazre jhuka deta hai aur mujhe izzat ka bhagidar banata hai."

(Your title of being his wife doesn't even earn a greeting from the villagers. But my right makes the villagers bow their heads and grants me respect.)

I completed and left from there.

As my response pierced the air, her eyes widened in astonishment, clearly unprepared for the assertiveness in my tone. Little did she know, this was merely the prelude to what I had in store.

Fed up with constantly shielding her from Yuvraj ji's fury, I resolved that it was time for her to confront the consequences of her actions on her own.

No longer would I play the role of her savior; instead, I would be the harbinger of her downfall.

Gone were the days of extending kindness towards her. My scheme to dismantle her carefully constructed facade and watch her tumble from grace was now in motion.

It was time to sink my teeth into the game of snakes and ladders, ensuring that she descended every rung with each calculated move I made.

Her words were hollow, like her lie.

Yuvraj Ji never had any injury.

She lied to hide the fact that she was never close to him.

And it made me proud on the man I love.

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