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'Skepticism' means coming to conclusions without any proof.

12.06.2023

Over these days Manik have been busy as he needs to shift to Nagpur. Nandini will be starting for University tomorrow and hence have been busy with her work.

The cousin of Manik had also left after the heated argument that took place with his mother. Dadi and Neonika has been busy taking care of Sneha. Where as Mr. Malhotra and Vikram busy with their work.

It's night now and MaNan were sleeping under the blanket after their hot moment with each other.

"Nandini, I have kept some money in the locker if needed use it. And when do you have to submit the remaining admission fees?" He asked running his fingers in her hair.

"By 18th we have to give. Can I get 500/-, I'm short of five hundred anx I don't want to use the amount which you have kept in the locker." She reasoned out making him frown.

"Ek second, which money are you using to pay your fees?" He asked making her look at her.

"Woh, I had some money in the bank aur bank se agar 500/- nikal dungi toh account band ho jayega. So..."

"Seriously? I had told you to keep that money and don't touch. I'm there to look after your needs. I don't like it when you don't use the money which I give." He said gritting his teeths making her sigh.

"Par Manik, I don't want to be burden on you for this. Papa ne paise bheje the toh usi se maine socha ki fees bhar dun." He got angry anx held her arm in a grip making her frown and scared a little.

"I DON'T LIKE THAT NANDINI. When I'm earning enough I don't want you to use father's money. It makes me feel liks I'm over looking my responsibilities. So DO NOT REPEAT THIS. UNDERSTOOD?"

His deep voice depicting sterness made her shiver. She bobbed her head and hid herself under the blanket.

She heard him mumble "Shit!". He lied down and took her in his arms.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken like that. But please understand, logon ke samne mujhe aisa nahi dikhna ki main kuch kar nahi sakta apni biwi ke liye. Specially your parents who have given me your full responsibility. I don't want to disappoint them in any way."

The guilt was flowing from his words and the voice. She looked at him and asked

"Yahi baat acche se nahi bol sakte the? Why you had scold me? Kuch bhala sochun toh galat aur kuch na bhi sochun toh bhi galat." She complained making him chuckle.

He pulled her closer and pecked hed head making her snuggls more into him. He knew the treatment sometimes his wife gets yet he cannot do anything. If something happens in his presence yes, he would take stand for his wife even if he had to go against his own family.

Next Morning

"Nandini! Nandini... Get up baba you will get late." I heard someone calling me. I have heard this voice.

"Nandini, if you don't get up then I gotta use my own trick. Later on don't blame me if you get late." I opened my eyes with an irritation.

Manik! I saw him all ready to go to office. What is it? I looked around until my gaze fell on the watch. Shit! It's already 7:30.

"Manik, apne pehle kyun nahi uthaya? See I'm already late. All because of you." I said jumping out of the bed only hiss.

"Relax! It's not only my fault that you are late and in this condition. Aur rahi baat tumhare utne ki, toh madam... I have been trying to wake you up since 7 clock. Kumbhkaran ki tarah toh tum so rahi thi."

Seriously? I gave him a look to which he bobbed and hugged me.

"Don't run fast meri maa, later on you will complain that you are sore. Go, get ready. Breakfast vagera sab ready hai."

I nodded and ran down to have bath ofcourse not before taking my clothes. I knew today I will have to face taunts which I'm used to now.

Aftee getting ready I came out and directly sat beside Manik as I knew if helped maa then probably I will my lectures today.

"Nandini thoda aur jaldi uthti." The sarcasm of dadi's on the sentence could easily be make out. I sighed and concentrated on my breakfast.

"Aaj kitne baje tak aa jaogi?" Maa asked as soon as I finished eating.

"Pata nahi maa, main call karle bol dungi aapko." Nodding at my words she left to look after bhabhi.

I went to college, Manik has gone when I came down with my bag. The first day of part 2 went well. Almost at 12 I called maa and informed her about my arrival at 2.

"Yrrr! Nandini, chal na aaj kahi chalte hai." One of my friend to which I declined politly. For 2 reasons, one is because I to do some sorting if Manik's clothes and second is that I didn't want anymore taunts.

Malhotra House

"Manik, zara apni biwi par nazar rakkha karo. College start hua nahi ki iske rang dikhne kag gaye." Dadi said making Manik frown.

He was atleast expecting a peaceful environment when reached home. But seeing the atmosphere I could see the tension around.

"Kya kehna hai aapka?" He asked her to which she replied

" Woh kuch jyada hi chut de rakkhu hai tumne. Mohalle ki sari auratein aisi aisi baatein kar rahi thi ki tauba tauba."

"Batayengi bhi ya nahi? Hua kya hai?" He shouted seeing her drama of exaggerating.

"Nandini kisi ladke ke sath aayi thi ghar. Woh bhi gari mein. Woh khi khi karke hasn rahi thi aur uska hath bhi pakda tha. Kya yeh sab shobha deta hai iss ghar ki bahu ko?"

This time it was Neonika pointing out the main reason.

"Maa, aap kya bol rahi hain? Nandini aisa kuch nahi kar sakti. I know her pretty well. " He said after recovering from the shock.

"Accha, toh hum use nahi jante? Aaj jo humare neighbours baatein bana rahi thi usko agar sunoge toh pata chalega." Sneha spoke in between making him sigh.

"Dost bhi toh ho sakta hai? Aise shak karke aao kya karna chahati hain aap?" He asked furiously making all sigh. He moved up in his room only to see Nandini sitting on the bed with tears' strains. She opened her eyes immediately and hugged him.

"Manik! I swear mera aur nikhil ka kuch nahi chal raha hai. He is my friend and nothing more. He is just a friend." She said with hiccups forming every now and then.

"Shhh! Calm down calm down. Kuch nahi hua hai. I'm there na."

"Lekin sabko aisa kyun lagta hai? Maine kuch *hiccups* nahi kiya. Tumhari kasam."

"Nandini, I trust you enough. Stop doubting that I will believe without any proof. I do know you very well Nandini. Tum aisa kabhi nahi kar sakti thi." He made her understand who just stared at him as if he is her father.

Later on Nandini didn't even go down to have food knowing how much of taunt she got when she came home after college.

19th June...

Manik will be leaving tomorrow around 8 clock in the morning. I'm sad that he won't be there on my birthday. As I was going through the calendar I realised even our wedding anniversary is coming up.

Yes! Can't believe we will complete 1 year on 1st July. But apparently I don't know what is so wrong in the house.

I havd stopped taking any of my friend's help because I know my mother-in-law and all will again create a chaos. My life with Manik is perfect and I'm not in a state to face up and down as of now. Specially of this skepticism.

The other day it was raining heavily so Nikhil said he will drop md as I had forgotten my umbrella in the bus. Stupid me. But who knew all the neighbours aunty were keeping their eyes on me that they concluded me having an extra marital affair.

Tomorrow is my birthday and I don't know how the is gonna go. Agh! I better do this cleaning of cupboard fast, I had to prepare dinner as well.

I came down to prepare food when Sneha bhabhi taunted

"Mujhe iske hath ka khana nahi khana. Kya pata kuch mila de aur mere bacche ko mar de."

I was shocked! Shocked is beyond but no body spoke anything.

"Bhabhi? Main aisa kyun karungi?"

"Kyun karogi? Jo tum kand kand karti phir rahi ho na, uski saza hum bhugat rahe hain. College jane ke bahane pata nahi kaun kaun se gulchade uda rahi ho. Sharam naam ki bhi koi cheez hoti hai. Logon ke samne humari izzat toh gawa di aur shayad ab ghar walon ko bhi maar do."

Hurt? Is that what is feels? May be more that I'm feeling right now.

"Sneha, kya bekar ki baatein kar rahi ho tum? Uss din jo hua uski galti nahi hai. Nandini bataya na woh sirf ek dost hai. Abhi kyun rishton me darar dalna aisi baatein kar ke?" Father asked sternly making her shiver.

"Par mujhe nahi khana iske hath ka khana. I'm scared that she might hurt the baby." She voiced out making me close my eyes in anger.

"Theek hai. Jaisa apko theek lage. Ek kaam kijiye aap khud apna khana bana lo agar mere hath nahi khana ho. Infact aap sab hi bana lo, vaise bhi mujhe toh ab iss ghar ka hissa nahi samjhate aap log. Ek kala dhabba samjh ke rakkha hai." I bursted out probably removing all the anger stored in me.

"Nandini, aisi baat nahi hai beta. Uss din humne dekha aur assums kar liya." Mother said coming forward but I backed out.

"To hell with you all. Woh aap logon ki galti hai ki aap sabnd assume kar liya. Mujhse pucha tak nahi. You know what, it's better I only leave."

More than anything my self respect is more precious to me. Inke sath rehne se accha hai ki main yahan se chali jaun.

"Nandini... What do you mean? Iss vakt kahan jaogi tum?" Maa came behind me but hardly any words came.

I locked the door and sat on the bed as tears flowed down my face. Taking the bag I filled the majority of my clothes and went out.

"Nandini... Mat jao. Hum baith ke baat karte hai na. Why to take a drastic step." Dadi said making me chuckle.

"Drastic step? Apni badi bahu kahiye ki jubaan di hai bhagwan ne lekin acche ke liye na ki aisi behuda baat karne ke liye. Aur aap mujhe drastic step ke bare mein bol rahi hai? Jisne pal bhar mein mujhe doshi tehraya."

Seeing their faces only disgust I was feeling. May be, it's ny mistake that from start I didn't respond to their taunts.

As I exited the house all the members of the house were behind me to stop but this time I won't. I decided to never look back in this house where woman are not treated with dignity by women itself.

As I was going to settled in the taxi Manik's bike came in. But I didn't look back. I don't want to face him otherwise I won't be able to move out.

Manik

I frowned seeing a taxi moving out when I almost reached my house. But more surprising is that neighbours also out with my family.

"Bechari ghar chod ke jana pada use."

"Khak bechari, uska toh affair chal raha hai, usi ke paas gayi hogi."

"Manik ka pata nahi ab kya hoga."

What? Did Nandini leave the house? But why?

I looked up at my family who allowed me inside. But seeing the house in tension broke my patience.

"Kya hua? Why is the environment like this?" I asked but nobody replied.

"Nandini kahan hai?" I asked again, but no reply. I'm getting anxious now. I went up to my room only to get shocked cupboard open and Nandini's clothes are missing so are her college stuff.

"ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?"

I shouted as soon as maa told me that Nandini left the house. I looked at bhabhi probably shivering with my tone. I need to keeo calm, I need to keep calm.

I reminded myself knowing her condition.

"How stupid can you be people? Usko aapne blame kiya? Right now I need to find her, i will see you later. And I mean it." Saying so I dashed off the room and went out tried calling on her phone.

First few time she didn't pick up but atlast she picked it.

"Nandini... I..." Words fumbling, don't know how to talk after what happened at home.

"Where are you?" I asked finally gathering myself.

"Going home." Her reply came bluntly.

"Don't go..." I said/pleaded.

"No Manik I'm going. I cannot stay there." I heard her crying. Shit!

"Listen to me first... Meet me near xyz cafe. I'm coming. And do not deny please." She agreed I immediately left from here. I don't know how I deove so fast but I reached withinb 15 minutes.

I looked around to see her sitting outside the cafe with the suitcase. I ran towards her which made her aware about me.

"Let's go..." I held her hand but she moved back making me startled.

"No.. I have told you I'm not going back." I sighed, she is really hurt as those eyes which used to shine are not shining anymore.

"I'm not taking you there. Come with me please." I requested to which she kept staring until she realised that I'm serious.

She nodded and held the bag to left but I immediately took it and placed it infront with me and she settled behind.

No talking at all. No words exchanged, no emotions exchanged in between. I kept staring in between but she wasn't even looking at me.

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