chapter 7

Bhumi opened the door and stood stiffened, looking at the person before her with a pale face."Kunal" She spelled his name with so much pain.He is stinking like a fish and roaring drunk. He is stuttering his son's name all the time.It took a second for her to get some sense, She quickly grabbed his hand, made him stand up and took him to the bed.She helped him to climb the mattress and removed his shoes."Kunal" She looked at her stepbrother lying on the bed.She knows very well he hates her to the core, still, she couldn't hate him as he does.Why so?Just because he takes after their father or she truly loves him, adores him as her big brother.She doesn't know the answers to her questions, he is the only family left for them, two siblings.Why does he hate her?He seldom talks to her, The only thing he has done in favor of her is letting her stay in his home.He hates to be called "Bhaiya" by them and ordered her to call him with his name, Kunal.He doesn't like Rahul even, he is ten years old kid what just he does, nothing. Why so much hatred on us both?! Bhumi thought and looked at the dead drunk lying on the bed.His phone rang suddenly and she picked it with so much hesitation."Hello" She spoke slowly."Bhumi...." It's Sukriti on the other hand, Bhumi felt relieved.Sukriti talks to Bhumi nicely, She treats Bhumi like her sister, The only solace Bhumi gets in the house.Sukriti left the house and went to live with her Parents, Bhumi doesn't know what's the reason behind it but her decision made things even worse for Bhumi.Bhumi cooks, does all the chores for him but he never pays attention to her. It's not she needs money, she just needs a small smile and small word of appreciation from him but he never talks to her.By looking at Kunal's behavior Bhumi thought to send Rahul to the hostel and did the same. So that he can live with his friends from all this stuff and humiliation.At least he would be happy with his friends. She expected.She is in desperate need of money to sustain, survive. She can't ask Kunal, She is much against it, She doesn't know whether he helps her or not.She has to earn in order to bring Rahul from the hostel.But to her surprise, Kunal was the one who performed all the rituals to her mother's corpse in the place of a son. He is the one who paid the bill at the hospital.He is so capricious and much tough to understand.He hates her mother because he thinks she snatched his father from him, his mother.Bhumi alone knows even her mother was deceived brutally by her father, She truly has no idea about his first marriage and son."Bhumi..." Sukriti called her slowly."Are you crying Bhabi?" Bhumi asked in a worried tone."How is Kunal...?"She could manage to ask her in between sobs."Fine..." Bhumi stuttered looking at her brother who is dead drunk, lying on the bed."Came drunk and laying on the bed..."Bhumi told the truth, after all Sukriti needs to learn how her absence affecting him.Sukriti is crying out her heart."He is missing Prajwal all the time" Bhumi sighed."I am helpless Bhumi" Sukriti said in a stubborn tone."He needs to know our value, he can't take things so easy and accuse me whatever he thinks." She sighed."Bhabi..." Bhumi spoke slowly asking her to calm down."You don't know him well Bhumi, he has that habit of talking low about women." She is speaking her heart out, Bhumi became a passive listener so suddenly.Bhumi too wants to know what's their problem is? So that if she can help her brother in solving the issue"He accused me of having an affair with Rajeev?"Her voice became screechy and chocking."Bhabi,  Please, " Bhumi's eyes became unknowingly. She can feel her Bhabi's pain. Her mom was accused of something like that all the time.People accused her mom as a home breaker, A characterless woman, What not?Bhumi is terribly missing her mom now."What haven't I done for him?, Bhumi?""Does he know how difficult for me to leave my family?" A faint sob escaped from Sukriti's mouth""I left my family, my life behind and walked without a penny for this man, What hasn't he accused me?""He called me a b*tch.."Sukriti took a pause.Bhumi wants to hug her and console her, She knows how cruel men are sometimes, They become insane out of possessiveness and suspicion.Bhumi is still listening to Sukriti's words, She truly doesn't know how to solace her wavering mind."Don't you know how he blamed your mother? He always blames her and says she snatched your father from him and his mom.""Yes" Bhumi spoke in a whisper."See...""He fails to think from other's perspective most of the time, especially from a woman's perspective" She is very clear.She is a strong woman, Bhumi thought.Bhumi knows Sukriti well but she never saw her this aggressive."You know, only favor your brother did to me?"She asked after a second."What?" Bhumi asked very slowly."He didn't question Prajwal's birth?" She chuckled.It truly clenched Bhumi's heart.Sukriti seems so lost and broken.The thought itself mad Bhumi uncomfortable.How to make this man lying there on the bed dead drunk like a corpse learn what exactly Sukriti is going through? Bhumi is searching for ways."Thank you Bhumi" Sukriti spoke bringing her out of her thoughts."Why...?Bhabi...?" Bhumi felt truly clueless about why she is thanking her."For staying there, taking care of that heartless beast." She broke into another round of tears."I thought twice and thrice before taking that decision, stepping out of the house""You know the only way I convinced myself to do it is? Bhumi will be there, She will take care of that beast if he tries to do something so stupid," She said sincerely."Thank you Bhabi" Bhumi couldn't stop thanking her."By, Take care, Bhumi." She cut the call.Bhumi understood her pain.She smiled at her words and thanked her for believing her.Bhumi sat in think silence thinking about her brother and things happening in her life.To be continued...Please vote and commentPlease let me know how it isThank youTake care.