50 Sad and Angry (1/2)
Ira and Varsha are enjoying their days. Grandpa has asked everyone to tell Varsha about things from their experience so as to make her more comfortable into the party she will be attending after a few days.
Akash is busier these days due to some critical implementation in the restaurant business. He has worked hard on creating the project plan and has included many creative ideas which will make the advertising, order and supply work much more efficient. He has to coordinate with different groups and review the progress and also check the simulation results. He leaves early for the office even before breakfast and comes back around 07:00 or 08:00 in the evening.
On the breakfast table, one-day Grandpa said to Varsha ”Dear! You don't have to feel nervous about talking or interacting with people. If nothing, just be yourself. You are the daughter-in-law of the Patel family, be confident. No one has the right to comment on you because you don't owe them anything.”
The youngest member of the family, the little girl Aditi who is just 10 years old and is the daughter of the youngest uncle said in her cute voice ”Sister-in-law! one day we went to a party. I saw one woman was carrying a puppy. She was not talking or doing anything. She was just tending to her puppy. Sometime she will feed the puppy, sometime she will just sit and stroke its fur. One time even her puppy ran toward the outside and she ran behind it but still, no one laughed. You can also take one puppy and then don't care about others.”
Everyone on the table laughed. Even eldest uncle who is most of the time not in the best mood also laughed. Grandma said ”Our Aditi also is no way inferior to anyone. She is also aware of what is going on.” Aditi is sitting beside Grandma. Grandma said softly while stroking her hair ”But we can not do that way. If you take a puppy to party and does not give attention to people, everyone will think you are a rude and arrogant person. Rude and arrogant means a bad person. Do you understand?”
The little girl nods in a hurried way making everyone smile. Breakfast of family was done in a relaxed and harmonious environment.
This is Sunday today and the party is on the evening of coming Tuesday just after two days. Akash has gone to the office due to his busy schedule. Varsha is in the kitchen helping Sita prepare the lunch.
Arpit enters the kitchen to drink water. After drinking water he turns and looks toward Varsha and sneers ”Make sure you bring the exquisite taste of the food. I don't wish to eat tasteless smelly peasant food.”
Maid Sita looked toward Arpit and said ”If Old Sir hears you he will feel sad due to your behaviour. Please don't stay here.”
Varsha who has turned toward Arpit and is looking at him with an apathetic gaze, said ”Are you feeling discontent because you can not bring your girlfriend to party? Even if you disrespect me or use not so good words, nothing is going to change. Why are you showing how good you are? Go back before other kids come and hear you.”
”Whatever, but it is good that at least I love my girlfriend and she loves me.” Arpit heard her and retorted and then turned back and walked out of the kitchen.
Varsha looked at his retreating back and felt sad. The last sentence of Arpit has really touched the painful spot in her heart. Akash has not yet given her assurance of his feelings towards her and there are elder uncle and Arpit who have openly shown their rejection toward her. She felt fear and restlessness growing inside herself. She forced herself to smile at Maid and excused herself from the kitchen saying she is not feeling well. She could not stomach food in lunch properly. Akash is not present during lunch and she missed him so much.
The same day, around 4:00 PM in the evening, Varsha and Ira along with Akshay are working in the vegetable garden to give water to the plants. Two youngest kids Arun and Aditi play most of the time with Grandpa and Grandma and have no interest in gardening activities.
Eldest uncle came in the garden with a basket to pick vegetables for the dinner. He walked quietly and started plucking the ladyfingers at one corner of the garden. After a few minutes, Arpit also came in the garden and is watching the activities of people quietly from the sidelines.
Girls are talking and laughing while doing their work. Ira is more playful and will sometime splash water on Varsha or Akshay and run away far from them. Varsha also joins in the fun. Their hairs are messy and dresses are sprinkled from water.