Two weeks passed by from the judgement and fear gripped Devamma whenever she saw people talking about them. She was feeling extremely scared to face the day when she had to apologise to the villagers and the panchayat. She knows there were no sources or anything which will provide them money but somewhere deep down she believed sudha and her decision.

" Are you managing to arrange the money? " A lady asked in her work place.

" Yeah we are trying " Devamma said even though she was scared to admit the truth.

" You better hurry up Devamma. There are only two weeks left. Don't get insulted in front of the whole village " another lady said.

" Till now there was no one who challenged the zamindar and your daughter in law openly challenged not only zamindar but also the whole panchayat " the third one said making Devamma gulp in fear. Although she was affected by their  words she continued to work not wanting to show her anxiety.

Sudha finished her work and cooking with the help of dadi. Shyam was as usual silent and she didn't know how to convince him. So she decided that it was high time she should remove her jewellery and ask her husband to sell them for money. She discussed this with dadi and both of them went to her bedroom to remove the jewellery. Dadi was astonished to see her bedroom. She didn't enter here till now as shyam would be resting and sudha would do the cleaning.

" Sudha it's too small. How have you been adjusting? " Dadi asked looking here and there.

" Happily " sudha replied removing the jewellery from the box.

" Huh!? " Dadi questioned.

" I am happily adjusting to it dadi. Now don't think too much and come here " she gestured to her to sit while she removed all the jewellery one by one and kept on the floor. Dadi took the jewellery in her hand and smiled looking at them.

" You really looked very beautiful in them sudha. I couldn't forget the image of you as a bride ever " dadi whispered with tears filling her eyes. Sudha smiled and took a pen and paper in her hand. She started calculating the amount of gold they have and the amount they could get by selling. She reduced little amount as it is old gold and the gold vendors may reduce the amount according to the time the gold is made.

" And finally we may get this much money " sudha said still looking at the paper in hand and counting with her hands. Dadi kept observing her, smiled remembering the moments she was in school.

" Will the expected money be arranged? " Dadi asked hopefully.

" No dadi but this will be the most amount we could get. Let's see what can we do with the remaining " sudha replied and kept the gold in a small cloth bag.

Shyam was resting in the backyard but his mind was occupied with many thoughts. Firstly almost half the month passed away since the judgement. Next sudha hiding things from him. Lastly him ignoring her presence. The last one being the most critical situation though. She was trying to talk and convince him but his mind was too occupied with her betrayal of not trusting him enough to keep things from him. Someone cleared their throat and he came out of his thoughts.

" I removed my jewellery. Tomorrow go to town and sell them. I calculated and this gold can provide us with maximum of amount. So please do it as soon as possible" sudha said. Dadi was inside taking rest so she was free from anyone hearing their conversation.

Shyam looked at her and the bag in her hand. He already knew this was coming as he already heard her discussing this with her dadi. He don't want to sell her jewellery but he couldn't say no to her as she was the one who decided. He don't want to deny her words. Infact he don't want to deny of anything at all. He was ready to accept anything she says. He loved her too much to accept everything she does but what she did made him feel suffocated. She didn't believe him enough.

" Fine sudha I will do it " he replied eventhough he wanted to tell more. Sudha waited and handed him the bag with jewellery finally and stood. Shyam looked inside and again closed the bag. He saw sudha standing still near him.

" Listen I want to tell you everything about my studies and job but... " She was saying but he cut off.

" But you didn't tell me. You didn't trust me. You don't believe in me. I don't want to discuss anything " he said making Sudha gulp. This was the most he talked with her during past two weeks and tears filled her eyes.

" I will ask vikas if he is free tomorrow. If he is free I will take him with me to town " shyam said and sudha nodded as her throat was clogged. She bit her lower lips between her teeth to stop herself from breaking down.

Devamma came back home in the evening by five thirty and sat in the hall thinking about the words of the other ladies. Sudha saw her and went to kitchen to prepare tea.

" What happened maaji? You seem quite today? " Sudha questioned her.

" Sudha I will go to zamindar sahab's house and ask him for forgiveness. We don't need to face him in the panchayat and get insulted in front of the village. I will say it happened just at the heat of the moment and I will apologise to him " Devamma kept ranting and sudha frowned.

" Calm down maaji. Tell me what happened? Why are you talking like that? " Sudha questioned placing her hand on her.

" Everyone are asking if we are arranging the money in the work place. I don't know why but it seems to be disturbing me while working. I don't know but all negitive thoughts keep occupying my mind " Devamma said truthfully. Dadi also heard her and felt sorry for her. She can understand how much mental trauma she might be undergoing right now. Sudha went inside the kitchen and brought tea. She handed tea to her and explained.

" Maaji first of all relax. There is no need for you to go to zamindar sahab's house and apologise as we are already arranging money. And do not allow any negative thoughts occupy your mind and be peaceful and patient. Everything is going to be fine " sudha said to which Devamma was confused. Sudha gestured her to drink tea when she was about to ask something and she had tea before asking her doubts.

" How did you arrange money? We don't have so much money in hand beti " Devamma asked.

" That will be taken care by me and your son. Don't stress yourself and be happy " sudha said making Devamma sigh in relief. She didn't ask further but she believed sudha's words. Shyam heard their conversation and felt relieved that sudha was able to lessen ma's doubts.

" Sudha, sudha beti. Where are you? " Someone shouted from the frontyard and sudha shouted back 'yes'.

" Sudha I am here to give you a good news " Aabida happily chirped lightening the mood and everyone looked at her puzzled.

" What is it Aabida? " Devamma asked.

" My husband and son with his wife arrived yesterday. And my husband is going to stay here for whole two months this time " Aabida said excitedly. Aabida's husband lives in Dubai and works there. He sends money to her and couldn't come often due to work. Whenever he comes Aabida will be very happy and chirpy but she would feel disappointed when he leaves early. And her only son got married and went to Saudi for his job purpose so she is completely alone.

" That's a happy news indeed Aabida. I am really happy " Devamma said.

" Everyone today is going to have dinner at my place and there are no buts and ifs that's it " she declared like a judge in the court. Everyone chuckled at her and agreed.

As said everyone had dinner at Aabida's place. Her husband and son were lovely people. They talked with sudha casually without any hesitation and she felt homely dining with them. However her daughter in law is less spoken and sweet lady. Shyam was close to his son so both of them talked for a long time even after dinner and all the ladies cleared the table gossiping.

Next day shyam got up early and finished his chores. He collected milk as usual and went to deliver it. Devamma insisted on doing that but shyam denied saying he was fit now. Sudha also prepared breakfast and lunch soon and packed lunch for her maaji.

" Vikas seems to be free so we are going to town after breakfast " shyam said to Sudha who was in the kitchen. Sudha nodded and continued her work. She arranged breakfast for everyone and they had with little talks.

Shyam and vikas went to town in his cart and reached a gold shop. Vikas said one of his close friend is working in the shop so he suggested to go to that shop for selling. Shyam agreed as he was not much aware about the shops and all. Vikas's friend welcomed them with a warm smile and explained to them the rules to be followed while selling the jewellery and also what all to be considered. Shyam understood and nodded.

" Now handover the gold so that I could inspect them " he said to which shyam nodded and handed him the bag with jewellery. He intently checked all the jewellery for a long time while both of them kept waiting patiently. Shyam's heart beat was increasing with each passing moment as he never expected to sell her jewellery. He regretted for accepting her decision but he had no choice.

" This jewellery is very old and pure. I had never seen such pure gold till now. You will get good money " vikas friend said making shyam smile.

" This jewellery belongs to my wife's mother. They might be very old I guess " shyam said touching the jewellery and imagining her wearing those in their wedding. She looked ethereal in them.

After long time he discussed the matter with the owner and he too inspected the jewellery and nodded in agreement. He took the jewellery and handed them the money. Shyam's hands shivered when he placed the money in his hand. He want to return the money and take the jewellery back but sudha's words stopped him.

He counted the money with vikas and this money could manage most of the loan. He thanked his friend and both of them exited the shop ensuring the money was kept safely. They reached Shyam's home and vikas was elated with sudha's dedication and love towards her husband.

" You are quite late. How was it? " Sudha asked and vikas explained her the whole situation while Shyam went to washroom. She served lunch to both of them and vikas left soon after having lunch.

" Here keep this money safely " he handed the money to her.

" You better give it to maaji. She will be relieved to know that we were able to arrange money " sudha said making shyam nod in agreement.

She removed the money she saved from her writings and handed it to shyam. It was a little less but it could be used now she thought.

" From where did you get this money? " Shyam asked looking at the money in her hand.

" I will explain to you when you are ready to hear me out " she said and went away. She was ready to tell him the truth but he intentionally ignored and hurt her feelings. So she will explain him everything only when he was ready to accept her and stop ignoring her.

Evening when Devamma came shyam handed her the money and Devamma was shocked to see so much money at once.

" Keep them safely with you. We will take it on the day of panchayat " shyam said making Devamma nod and smile in tears. She kept the money safely in the almirah and locked it ensuring several times.

First of all sorry for delay in update guys. My new year started with a death of my close one. My maternal grandmother passed away recently and it was really a biggest blow to our family. She was my grandmother's younger sister and she played a very key role in our lives. My own granny passed away when I was hardly 10/11 so I don't remember much about her. But this granny was very close to everyone. We all miss her so much😭🥺💔 May her soul rest in peace. We all love you Nani❤️🫶
Thank you so much for your patience and love.
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