Damini

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐯

The morning came, and the sun, rising, fell directly on the small figure beside Rajveer .

Avantika. She opened her eyes to look up:

two strong arms were wrapped around her, and his face was buried in the crook of her neck. She remembered all the things that had happened and the moment he claimed her against a tree. She blushed thinking all this.

She had only read about these things in those books her sister-in-law used to buy, but never experienced them herself.

Her thoughts broke when she heard a groan and his yawn.

Avantika: "Aap uth gaye?"

(You woke up?)

Rajveer: "Hmm."

(Hmm.)

Avantika: "Aap abhi bhi humse naraaj hai?"

(Are you still angry with me?)

Rajveer cupped her face.

Rajveer: "Nahi. Nahi hu naraaj."

(No. I am not angry.)

He pulled her against him, hugging her tightly.

Rajveer: "Par aisa kuch karne ke baare me sochna bhi mat. Tune mera pyaar dekha hai, gussa nahi. Samjhi?"

(But don't even think about doing anything like that. You've seen my love, not my anger. Understood?)

A shiver ran down her spine, and she nodded.

Avantika: "Kaafi der ho gayi hai. Mai naashta bana deti hu."

(It has gotten quite late. I will make breakfast.)

Rajveer: "Nahi. Woh sab Kaki bana degi. Tu bas mere liye chai bana de."

(No. Kaki will make all that. You just make tea for me.)

She nodded. These days, he only drank the tea she made-a habit he had picked up after she came.

Avantika quickly took a bath, wearing a dark blue color saree, and walked towards the kitchen.

Rajveer was standing near the window, lost in his thoughts. Then he saw someone holding a chai near him. He reached for it, thinking it was Avantika. But when he turned around to see, it was not Avantika. It was Damini holding a chai to him. He threw the cup against the wall.

Rajveer: "KAUN HO TUM! HIMMAT KAISE HUYI MERE KAMRE ME AANE KI!"

(WHO ARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU COME INTO MY ROOM!)

His face was red with anger.

Damini: "Jii.... Ma...i w...oh..."

(Sir.... I... that...)

Rajveer: "NIKLO YAHA SE!"

(GET OUT OF HERE!)

She quickly turned and ran away.

Rajveer stormed out of the room, and he got to meet the last person he ever wanted to see: his stepmother, Pushpa, was seated in the living room.

Pushpa: "Areyy Rajveer, beta."

(Oh Rajveer, son.)

Meanwhile, Avantika was busy in the kitchen, unaware of all this, and Lalita was standing beside Pushpa.

Rajveer: "Kaki, andar kaise aane de diya aapne in logo ko?"

(Auntie, how did you let these people come inside?)

Lalita: "Maaf karna Sarkar. Inhe rokna humare bas me nahi tha."

(Forgive me, Sir. It was not in my control to stop them.)

Pushpa: "Areyy lo dekho. Apni budhi Maa se ye puchne ki bajay ki kaisi ho, ye ye puch raha hai hum logo ko andar kaise aane diya."

(Oh, look at this. Instead of asking his old Mother how she is, he is asking how we were allowed inside.)

Her smile was faked.

Pushpa: "Waise bhi hum log kal raat ko aaye, aur itni raat ko tumhe jagaana accha nahi laga."

She turned to Damini.

(Anyway, we came last night, and I didn't feel it was right to wake you up so late.)

Pushpa: "Aur ye mere bhai ki beti hai. Maine socha yahan le aau. Aakhir tumhe bhi toh koi chahiye tumhara khayal rakhne ko."

(And this is my brother's daughter. I thought I'd bring her here. After all, you also need someone to take care of you.)

Rajveer: "Aapko koi zaroorat nahi hai meri chinta karne ki. Aur Maa nahi hai meri, samjhi?"

(You don't need to worry about me. And you are not my Mother, understood?)

Pushpa opened her mouth to say something but closed it, not wanting her plan to be ruined.

Then, an ankle sound broke their conversation.

There, Avantika was holding a tray and coming towards them.

Pushpa: "Ye kaun hai? Pehle kabhi nahi dekha ise."

(Who is she? Never seen her before.)

Rajveer: "Patni hai meri. Avantika Rajveer Thakur."

(She is my wife. Avantika Rajveer Thakur.)

Pushpa's eyes widened in shock.

Pushpa: "P...atni? Tumne bina bataye isse shaadi kar li? Tumhare Bapu Jii ko bhi nahi bataya?"

(W...ife? You married her without telling anyone? You didn't even tell your Father?)

Rajveer: "Shaadi maine ki hai. Mujhe kisi ko batane ki zaroorat mehsoos nahi hui."

(I got married. I didn't feel the need to tell anyone.)

Avantika understood that she was his mother. She came and bent down to touch her feet, but Rajveer stopped her.

Rajveer: "Jaan, mujhe thāne jaane ke liye deri ho rahi hai. Kapde tayyar kar dogi mere?"

(Darling, I am getting late to go to the police station. Will you prepare my clothes?)

Avantika thought for a moment, then nodded.

Rajveer turned to Pushpa.

Rajveer: "Mehmaan ban ke aaye hai, mehmaan ban ke hi rahiyega. Kahin aisa na ho mai aapki umra ka lihaaz karna bhi bhool jau."

(You have come as a guest, so remain a guest. Lest I forget to respect your age as well.)

Then he turned towards Damini.

Rajveer: "Aur tum, agar mere kamre ke aas paas bhi dikh gayi na, toh apne pair kho baithogi."

(And you, if you are seen even near my room, you will lose your legs.)

Rajveer said and walked to his room.

Damini: "Ye kya hai, Bua? Aapne toh kaha tha meri shaadi inse hogi, lekin ye toh..."

(What is this, Auntie? You said my marriage would be with him, but he is...)

Pushpa: "Areyy chup kar karamjali  . Kisi ne yeh sun liya toh? Rajveer ko tu nahi jaanti. Shaitaan bhi phika hai iske saamne."

(Oh, shut up, unlucky one. What if someone hears this? You don't know Rajveer. Even the devil is pale in comparison to him.)

Damini: "Par mai kya karu?"

(But what should I do?)

Pushpa: "Bas jitna ho sake utna uske paas rehne ki koshish kar. Aakhir kar ek mard kitna hi kabu karega apne aap ko ek jawaan ladki ke saamne?"

(Just try to stay near him as much as possible. After all, how much will a man control himself in front of a young girl?)

Meanwhile, in Rajveer's room, he sat on the bed in anger. Avantika noticed it.

Avantika came near him and sat in his lap.

Avantika: "Kya hua Jii? Aap itne gusse me kyu hai ?

(What happened,  Why are you so angry?)

Rajveer: "Kuch nahi, jaan. Tum in sab ki chinta mat karo, hmm?"

(Nothing, darling. You don't worry about all this, hmm?)

Avantika: "Woh aapki Maa thi, phir aapne hume unke paav chune se roka kyu?"

(She was your Mother, then why did you stop me from touching her feet?)

Rajveer: "Sauteli Maa  hai meri. Woh aurat jise mai had se zyada nafrat karta hu."

(She is my stepmother. That woman whom I hate excessively.)

Avantika: "Par kyu?"

(But why?)

Rajveer: "Kyuki uske wajah se hi..."

(Because of her only...)

Lalita: "Bahuriya... Sarkar... Nashta laga diya hai, aa jaiye."

(Daughter-in-law... Sir... Breakfast has been served, please come.)

Rajveer: "Chalo, nashta kar lo. Tumhe bhookh lagi hogi."

(Come on, have breakfast. You must be hungry.)

Avantika: "Aap kuch batane waale the na."

(You were about to tell me something, right?)

Rajveer kissed her forehead.

Rajveer: "Bas ek baat ka dhyaan rakhna. Is aurat ke upar kabhi bhi vishwas mat karna, hmm?"

(Just remember one thing. Never trust this woman, hmm?)

Avantika opened her mouth to ask him why, but nodded, knowing it was not the right time to ask him when he was already that angry.

Avantika tried to stand up from his lap, but Rajveer held her tightly.

Rajveer: "Pehle mujhe kuch aur chahiye."

(First, I need something else.)

Avantika: "Huh, Jii... Kya..."

(Huh, Sir... What...)

Rajveer: "Tu."

(You.)

He said and attacked her lips, kissing her gently, giving her time to pull back. But when she didn't, he started sucking her lower lip. Avantika also started kissing him back with the same passion.

After 10 minutes, both broke apart.

Rajveer: "Kitna bhi chakh lu tujhe, tere swaad se dil hi nahi bharta."

(No matter how much I taste you, my heart is never satisfied with your flavor.)

Avantika's cheeks flushed at his words.

Avantika: "Aap na bahut besharam ho gaye hai."

(You have become very shameless.)

Rajveer: "Achha, aur kah bhi kaun raha hai? Raat me bahut fayda uthaya hai tumne mera."

(Oh really, and who is saying that? You took a lot of advantage of me last night.)

Avantika: "Haye Raam! Ye kya kah rahe hai? Hume yeh sab karne nahi aata. Jhuthe kahin ke."

(Oh my God! What are you saying? I don't know how to do all this. Liar!)

Rajveer: "Ulta chor kotwal ko daante Sach me Kalyug  aa gaya hai."

(The thief scolds the guard. Truly, the Age of Vice has come.)

Rajveer: "Chal ab, meri sach ki murat toh jeeti, aur mai hara. Ab thik?"

(Come on now, my idol of truth won, and I lost. Is that fine now?)

Avantika nodded. The both walked downstairs. His mother and Damini had already seated. Rajveer came and sat at the head of the table, and Avantika sat beside him.

Damini quickly held the bowl of rice to serve him, and Avantika saw it. She quickly put a chapati in his plate and held Damini's hand, stopping her from serving.

Avantika: "Aap apne naashte ke upar dhyaan dijiye, Damini Jii. Hume pata hai humare pati ko kya accha lagta hai aur kya nahi. Maaf kijiyega agar aapko bura laga ho toh."

(You focus on your breakfast, Damini. I know what my husband likes and what he doesn't. I apologize if you felt bad.)

Damini's face turned red with anger and shame, while Rajveer was shocked.

Rajveer (in mind): "Ohh, so my little tigress also gets jealous."

Damini: "Nahi, koi baat nahi."

(No, it's alright.)

Pushpa: "Haan beta Damini, tum abhi khaana kha lo. Woh ise kaam karne ki aadat hai na, isliye ise khaali baithna accha nahi lagta."

(Yes, dear Damini, you eat your food now. She is used to working, that's why she doesn't like sitting idle.)

She said, trying to cover up

After the breakfast, Rajveer got ready to go to the police station.

He kissed Avantika's forehead and said:

Rajveer: "Shaam ko tayyar rehna. Aaj tujhe bazaar ghumaane le ke jaunga."

(Be ready in the evening. Today I will take you to visit the market.)

Avantika's face lit up. She had thought after the incident he wouldn't allow her to go out.

Avantika: "Aap bahut acche hai.

(You are very good.)

Rajveer: "Hmm, sirf tere liye."

(Hmm, only for you.)

He said and left for his work, and Avantika came into the kitchen, helping Lalita with lunch.

Lalita: "Areyy Bahuriya, hum kar leb..."

Translation: (Oh Daughter-in-law, I will do it  )

Avantika smiled.

Avantika: "Hume bhi aapki madad karne dijiye, Kaki. Din bhar ghar me hi baithe rehte hai."

(Let me help you too, Auntie. I sit at home all day.)

Avantika: "Ek baat puchein hum aapse?"

(May I ask you one thing?)

Lalita smiled and nodded.

Avantika: "Ye apni Maa se itne gusse me kyu rehte hai?"

(Why does he stay so angry with his Mother?)

Lalita hesitated.

Lalita: "Yeh barson purani baat hai. Jab Sarkar ki Maa mari toh uske mahino baad hi inke Pita Jii ne dusri shaadi kar li thi. Inke jeevan me kuch bacha hi nahi tha mano hasne ke liye. Par..."

(This is a matter of years ago. When the Sir's Mother died, his Father married a second time only months later. It was as if nothing was left for him to smile about in his life. But...)

Lalita hesitated.

Lalita: "Bahuriya, dekhiye, hume itna hi pata tha."

(Daughter-in-law, look, this is all I knew.)

Avantika: "Nahi Kaki, aap kuch aur kahne waali thi. Batayiye na hume."

(No Auntie, you were about to say something else. Tell me.)

Lalita: "Woh... Ek ladki thi."

(That... There was a girl.)

Avantika's breath hitched, like someone had punched her right in the chest.

Avantika: "Ladki?"

(A girl?)

Lalita: "Haan, ek ladki. Shayad haan, Avni naam tha uska. Uske baare me poora toh nahi pata, bas jab behas huyi thi tab humne uska naam suna tha Sarkar ke muh se. Woh khush rehne lag gaye the kuch din. Par phir... pata nahi kya hua. 03/05/1970... Yahi aakhri din tha. Is din ko nahi bhul sakti jab ye Rajveer se Sarkar bane the."

(Yes, a girl. Maybe yes, her name was Avni. I don't know the full details about her, but I heard her name from the Sir's mouth during an argument. He had started being happy for a few days. But then... I don't know what happened. 03/05/1970... That was the last day. I can't forget this day when he changed from Rajveer to the Sir.)

Avantika (in mind): "Par kaise ho sakta hai ye? Unhone humse kaha tha hum ek lauti aurat hai inke jeevan me. Aur ye tareekh..."

(But how can this be? He told me I was the only woman in his life. And this date...)

Lalita: "Zyada mat socho, Bahuriya. Woh guzri huyi baatein hai."

(Don't think too much, Daughter-in-law. Those are things of the past.)