It was midnight. Everyone has assembled in Suman's room. Renu and Vindhya was sitting on the bed, Suman was standing leaning against the wall. On the opposite Sreedhar stood leaning against the almirah and Sudhir sat on the chair.

" Bhabi I want to ask you few questions. I know it will be bit uncomfortable for you to answer such things in front of me and Sreedhar. But to solve this puzzle I have no other option. Hope you understand " told Sudhir

" Sudhir it is not about what I feel now. I very well know if all of you want to help you will expect honest answers from me and that might include some questions where a woman under normal circumstances doesn't answer due to her modesty. But this not normal circumstances Sudhir "

" Ok you have confirmed the fact that Tilak Bhaiyya had married Anusree and they had spent a night together. So we do not have to verify the claims of Anu that she is married. But you told a hospital form was shown to bhaiyya that Anu had aborted the child. So we have to independently validate the fact that Poornima is indeed Tilak Bhaiyya's daughter. See DNA test is the most reliable method. But in Tilak's Bhaiyya's absence and also considering the time limit we have we cannot go for that. So we need alternate option. I am sure she is Tilak Bhaiyya's child, but what I am right now doing is to ensure that tomorrow there will be no question on her paternity. I am just looking for the convincing proof. "

" Tell that once again Sudhir, tell that once again". They all turned in shock to see Maheswari standing at the door.

Maheswari had half closed her door. From her room she could see the stairs clearly. She was sure something was there between her sons and DILs that was deeply troubling them. She waited. As expected first she saw Renu going up the stairs and few minutes later Sreedhar followed her. After sometime Maheswari decided to go up. She went up slowly not making noise. She could see light was there in Suman's room. She stood behind the door of Suman's room. And when she heard what Sudhir was telling she felt her head spinning and had to hold the door hard for support.

" Maa how come you here. We were.. " Renu couldn't complete

" What we were. You think I cannot read any of your faces. I cannot see my calm and composed bahu is troubled. I cannot see my punctual bahu had an erratic schedule, my chatter box bahu is unusually quiet. And 2 of my sons. They look as if thunder has hit them. And you expect me to keep quiet Renu. Tell me Sudhir. Is what I am hearing is true. Tilak had married that girl. And the child Poornima is the lamp of this house "

" Yes Maa it is the truth. Bhaiyya had married Anusree" Sudhir mumbled

" Did your Papa knew the child in Anusree's womb was Tilak's when the community meeting happened"

" Yes " told Sreedhar his eyes lowered

" And money was given to abort the baby" asked Maheswari

" Yes Dadu asked her father to abort the child, take the money and leave the place . That's what Papa told Tilak when he asked him about Anu's pregnancy" told Renu

Maheswari sat on the floor heavily her hand to the head and all the three bahus tried to hold her. But she shook them off and looked again at Sudhir.

" Tell me Sudhir what was the deal Dadaji cut with Tilak to marry Renu"

" Maa he said if Tilak doesn't marry me he will disinherit Papa from his will and that will put you, Sudhir, Murali and Sreedhar on the streets"

" And Tilak believed his Dadaji will disinherit his only son. He didn't feel he had an option to discuss with his mother and grand mother before he agreed for the deal " told Maheswari now tears streaming down the cheeks " It is my failure that my son didn't trust me much "

" And Sudhir you no going to US and agreeing to marry Vindhya had something to do with this "

" Yes Maa. I couldn't see Dadu berating Tilak Bhaiyya now and then. But I hadn't known Bhaiyya had married Anu. Bhaiyya didn't tell anything to me even after I asked him multiple times. "

" You also didn't feel you have to tell your mother why you took the decision right Sudhir "

" Maa you might have been upset unnecessarily and I didn't wanted to upset you or bring any unnecessary trouble to Murali and Sreedhar" now Sudhir was looking away from his mother.

" Unnecessary trouble to Murali and Sreedhar" she smiled sarcastically

" So your father and grand father protected the pride, honor and dignity of this family by following the traditions that is doing the character assassination of an innocent girl, outcasting her family to the extend to protect her child she had to become a widow. Sudhir do you realize Anusree was a Suhagan and we the great Varma family pushed her to be a widow. The life which killed a young woman who might have been in her early twenties. Do you know what the price of that crime is. Do you realize the price of the deals that your grand father and your father has cut by snatching Tilak's love, your dream and an innocent girl's life " Sudhir, Renu and Vindhya were standing heads bowed, Sreedhar was looking away

Maheswari dragged Suman in front and pointed at her. " See the price. This is the price. Yes by pushing an innocent girl who was Suhagan to widow hood to protect our honor, pride and dignity see what we have got 15 years later. A widow in this house. Can your father bring me back my Murali. Yes his pride, honor and dignity is protected. But can my 25 year old son come back. Can those traditions give me my Murali. Tell me Sudhir. Can your Papa get my Murali back with the pride and honor he protected. The world outside calls this young girl poison, chudayil what not. She is nothing Sudhir. She is paying the price of the crime that is done by us, the great Varma family. The punishment is not hers, but ours"

Everyone was silent and Sudhir simply didn't know what to tell. Truth was that he had not thought about anything when he made the decision. He felt that was in best interest of the family. He accepted and moved on.

Maheswari touched Sreedhar's cheeks " My chotu. I had always wanted to protect him, protect him against all the bad things in society, keep him always happy but look now. Everyday it feels like he is standing on a battlefield, taking new challenges. Beta how can I tell you I didn't wanted this destiny for you and I was confident I would not give you to this destiny. But no the mess that is created by your elders has fallen on your head for correction.."

" Maa it is fine Maa. Please calm down" told Sreedhar.

" How can I calm down Sreedhar when failure is staring at me both as a mother and a woman. As a mother I couldn't understand my sons. I couldn't see their pain and as a woman, as a woman I couldn't see the pain of Renu who had to bear the information that her husband is already a married man, probably a father too. Neither could I see the pain of Vindhya who knew she was the not the woman in her husband's dreams."

" Maa please Maa.. " told Renu

" No Renu, I have not seen your pain. But atleast I have seen one pain. If I need some salvation to my soul today atleast I have to understand that pain"

" What pain Maa. What do you want to understand " asked Vindhya.

" Pain of Suman. Today I want answer to the question which I should have asked her earlier before the marriage"

Suman looked up and Maheswari saw her going rigid. She went near the girl, made her sit beside her.

" Beta I only want yes or no to two of my questions. I wont ask any justification for your answers. Don't be afraid. No one in this room will ill behave with you, whatever be the truth. I guarantee you that and whatever you say will not go outside this room. Renu you will not tell anything to Tilak and Sudhir you will not speak anything to father"

Suman looked up apprehensively holding her hands together. Maheswari held her hands.

" Suman tell me whether you were in agreement to marry Murali " Suman looked around the room, her eyes seeking the eyes of one person in that room. Sreedhar's eyes told her to be calm and speak the truth.

" No " whispered Suman. Maheswari closed her eyes. She had known it. Her hunch was right that she should have asked Suman before marriage.

" Did you tell your parents your decision" " yes " came another whisper from Suman and she broke down. Maheswari held her in her arms. She was right. This girl was tortured and was forced into marriage. Now she had to know the reason why she didn't wanted the marriage fixed by her parents. But it was not the time now. She will find it on her own without troubling this girl. Now she had to compose Suman

" Suman you didn't wanted to live with Murali and you are not living with him. Sometimes what we want Mata Gowri gives us, but not the way we expect it. She bought you to this pain, so child at the right time she herself will alleviate your pain also. Now don't cry. See you all have work to do. You have to bring my eldest grand daughter to this house. See what all needs to be done" Suman smiled and nodded.

" Sudhir ensure no time is lost in doing what you are intending to do. I do not want any humiliation for my grandchild in the congregation. Her insult is the insult of Varma family. If we need to ask sorry to her and Anu's family we have to do it. I know what to speak to your father. None of you are going to worry about it. Am I making myself clear "

" Yes Maa. You don't worry" she heard all the 5 voices together and felt the tension in the room was somewhat relieved and they all were now focused on the task in hand.

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