Chapter 34

Note* This Chapter includes themes of homophobia and sensitive language.

Geet is receiving continuous calls that she is ignoring. She seems scared. Gathering her courage, she takes a deep breath and goes to meet Payal. She finds a recording where a male voice from an unknown number says:

"I heard, you have a wife. It doesn't feel good that you're happy with someone. Leave her, or I'll kill her too! I enjoy ruining lives. The teasing game ends here. next time, you won't get away"

Then she receives a call from Payal's mother. Answering it, she is asked to go and find Payal.

Just then, Raveena's mom comes in.

"Raveena, Prem is looking for you. Where is your phone? He called you."

"Mom, I'm coming!"

Raveena's mom glared at me.

"You're Payal, right? You were supposed to marry Ranjeet? What happened? What was missing that he left you?"

I was about to speak when Geet came and said to me, "Your mom called you. Your dad wants to talk to you."

Raveena, with an innocent smile, said, "She left Ranjeet, Mom! It's not always the girl's fault, see! I always say that, don't I?"

"You don't know anything, dear. This girl has gone mad! Payal, dear, were you involved with someone else? Where's your Romeo?" Raveena's mom asked.

Geet spoke up, "Excuse me? You can't..." I grabbed Geet's hand, and she went quiet.

Raveena smiled and said, "Mom! You're so funny. It's not a Romeo, it's a Juliet!"

"What a shame?" Raveena's mom fell silent for a long moment. This is the bitter truth of India—people still don't understand.

Raveena grabbed my hand and pulled me away. "Payal, stay away from her," she said.

Raveena replied, "Mom, listen! Is not her wife very beautifu.."

"Shut up"

Geet looked at me angrily, "Why did you stop me?"

"No! She's a mess! The more you get involved, the more you'll waste your time. She won't understand."

Geet crossed her arms and said, "I don't like it when someone disrespects you. If she does it again, don't stop me next time. She may be older, but her mind is still small."

"Calm down! Don't stress over this. This is normal in India. Get used to ignoring it."

"You may get used to it. I'm the type to tear someone apart."

"Oh, my wife!" I pinched Geet's cheek, and she forced a smile. Moon came in and said, "Your mother-in-law is looking for you, Geet. Pick up your phone. There's loud music here, but stay focused."

Geet and I went to meet my dad. As soon as we entered, he shut the door. Geet stood to the side, and Mom was sitting there too. Dad said, "I don't have a problem with you or your marriage, but can you hide this for me? Please, for my sake, Payal?"

I said, "Dad! This isn't a crime."

"It may not be, but I have a lot of respect in family. I don't want you to ruin it!"

Mom said, "Payal, don't do it!...Don't follow what your dad is saying. He's wrong. I'm with you."

Dad glared at Mom angrily, "ye sab tumari parvrish ka kiya hua hai"

"To aap kar lete. kisi ne roka tha? ishi duniya me the na? chand par to nahi gaye the?" Mom said with savage anger.

Dad replied, "Be practical. Otherwise, Payal, you should leave this place."

Geet said, "Dad...Uncle, what you're saying isn't right. I'm with her.

Dad looked at Geet angrily. "No one wants to talk to you. This sickness came here because of you. Both my son and daughter are in this situation because of you. You didn't do the right thing, Geet."

Just then, Chipsy also entered the room, along with Ranjeet. Dad gestured to close the door. Chipsy asked, "Mom, what's going on? You called us?"

Dad said, "Son, you understand, right? I don't judge who you both married. I'm happy, but could you please keep all this hidden?"

"What are you saying? You know I don't hide anything!" Chipsy said angrily.

Ranjeet said, "Jay, let it go! There's no point in talking about it here. No one's going to give you a pride award for announcing it. If Dad will be happy with it, we should just do it."

"Ranjeet, why are you slowly turning into the old Ranjeet? What happened? Are you scared people will say something bad? You had no concerns about this when you loved me, so why now? I'm not ashamed, and I won't pretend."

Geet said, "Jay, I'm with you." Ranjeet added, "Jay, be practical. These people won't understand."

"Why do I need to explain it to anyone? Who are they to need an explanation? My life, my rules. And one more thing, Ranjeet—I'm not afraid. If I were, I wouldn't have fallen in love." Jay said angrily and slammed the door shut.

Hearing that, something seemed to click in Ranjeet. Geet took my hand, and we started to leave. Mom stood up as well, and Ranjeet said, "Sorry, Uncle."

"It's okay, son!" Dad said before leaving angrily. I noticed that Prem was drunk.

"Geet, you go ahead. I'll be right there." Geet got a phone call and couldn't ask anything, so I went over to Prem, where I saw Raveena sitting on the bed, crying. Prem, completely drunk, had left the door open and was waiting for someone.

"Raveena, what happened?"

"Nothing! What are you doing here? Leave, or he'll hit you! He's drunk," Raveena gestured with her hand.

I pushed Prem out of the room and locked the door.

"What happened? Why are you crying? Tell me, don't be afraid."

"He hit me with a belt! He always does this when he's drunk. Is this what all married lives are like?"

"It's not like this," I hugged her.

Just then, Raveena's mom knocked on the door.

When I opened it, Raveena's mom stood there. "What are you doing with my daughter? Have you come to spread your sickness here? Raveena, I told you to stay away."

"The sickness is your son-in-law! He was beating her! He can't even stand straight!"

"He's her husband! He can do whatever he wants! You, get out of here. My son-in-law is better than your sickness."

Just then, Geet came in and grabbed Raveena's mom's hand, twisting it behind her. "Aunty, speak properly, or else I'll make sure you regret it. I always carry a gun with me, and I won't hesitate to use it."

"Oh, dear! I was just joking," she said nervously. "I don't have a problem with anything." Geet let go of her hand.

I said, "Geet, Prem hit Raveena with a belt."

"Payal, you know if we report this, Raveena's marriage will fall apart."

"Geet, what are you saying? This is the truth! Why are you thinking otherwise?"

Raveena said, "Payal, please don't fight with your wife because of me."

Raveena's mom said, "Wife?"

Geet glared angrily. "Any problem, Aunty?"

"No, beta (dear)!" Raveena's mom said with a forced laugh.

Prem entered, and the waiter handed him a bottle of alcohol. He was holding three or four bottles.

"Payal, what do we do?" Geet asked.

"Raveena, don't be afraid. Just say what you want. As long as Geet is with you, nothing will happen to you."

Raveena said, "I don't know! My mom has always told me what's right and wrong. Now, I can't make decisions for myself." Raveena looked scared. There was fear in her eyes, and she was crying. Her face had turned pale, as if all the color had drained away. It felt awful to see such innocence overshadowed by fear. It was hard to believe that even her own mother could treat her like this.

Geet said, "Should we talk to Prem? Give him another chance?"

"Geet, are you crazy? Another chance? He's a monster. He deserves to be thrown out!"

Raveena's mom said, "Dear, your wife is right. Prem isn't bad. He's just become like this because he's depressed."

I angrily replied, "What a perfect way to justify a crime—'I've been through bad things, so now I can be bad.' No, Prem. You're bad, and now you've found an excuse."

"You're thinking too much, Payal. Listen to me!" Geet said.

I got angry and left, taking Raveena with me. By evening, Raveena's mom had spread the word that Geet is my wife. By then, everyone looked at me like I m a terrorist. But not everyone—one girl came up to me. She was Prem's sister, I think.

Wearing a pink lehenga, she said, "Hi."

"I heard, you have a wife."

"Hmm," I said while standing on the terrace, looking at the sky.

"Her name is Geet! She's really beautiful, kind & lovely. she is pure magic.

"I'm Prem's sister, Anaya."

"Hi, Anaya. Have you come to hate me too?"

"No! I'm a fan of yours! You married a girl and are living here in India, smiling and enjoying life." She smiled as she said that.

"Yeah, life has its problems. If it's not this one, it's another!" I said with a laugh, and she hugged me after hearing that.

"I really like the way you think! You're amazing."

Just then, Geet arrived. The expression on her face showed she was upset about something.

"Geet, you're here," I asked.

"What are you doing, Payal?"

"I was just talking." Anaya was holding both my hands, and Geet pulled them away and asked, "Prem's sister?"

"Yeah, Hi Geet."

"You're hugging random girls? Stay away." Geet said to me.

"Geet, don't get angry! She was just talking. Why are you getting upset?"

"This girl is all over you, can't you see that? She's flirting with you!"

"She's not," I replied.

"Yes, she is! Stay away from her."

"She didn't say anything... Anaya, I'm sorry. Please go. I need to talk to Geet."

Geet angrily said, "I don't want to." I grabbed her hand to stop her.

"What's wrong? You don't agree with me. I said something, didn't I? My thoughts matter too, right? Geet?"

"Payal, I'm right! Not everything should be taken so seriously! You were about to break marriage....."

Anaya, Prem's sister, said, "Kya ye sach hai?"

Geet responded, "I am sorry! Nothing like that happened. Just forget it! We'll talk later, Payal."

I said, "Geet! Why are you apologizing? Anaya, your brother raised his hand on my sister, which isn't right. Tell me, what would you do if someone did the same to you?"

Anaya smiled and replied, "Payal, you're right! But in our house, that's how things are. It's normal. My dad hits my mom, my older brother hits his wife, and now Prem, the youngest, is doing the same. This is normal."

"So just because everyone does it, it's normal? That's not how it works. Wrong is wrong, even if everyone does it!" I angrily retorted.

"Payal, you can't change the world! Think about your sister. It's her life. Let her decide. She doesn't want to end the marriage," Geet snapped.

Anaya said, "Payal, Prem isn't a bad person! He'll take good care of her. He's made mistakes, but I'm sure Raveena will fix him."

"Raveena will fix him? She doesn't even know what she wants herself!"

"Payal, think rationally. This isn't the right approach!" Geet insisted.

Just then, Raveena and Prem arrived on the terrace. Prem said, "I'm sorry, Payal! I was drunk and don't know what I did. Please forgive me. I've already apologized to Raveena. You're not mad at me, are you?" He spoke very sweetly.

Geet chimed in, "See! He was drunk! I hope you won't do it again, Prem."

I asked, "Raveena, are you happy that Prem apologized?"

"Yes!" Raveena answered briefly.

I left. I was still furious.

Morning time.

The tea vendor wasn't giving me my usual tea that morning. I ended up ordering tea from outside. Geet woke up, freshened up, and came over to hug me from behind, asking, "Are you still mad?"

"Yes."

"Let it go. Prem has already apologized."

"Hmm."

I drank my tea and went outside. I felt suffocated. Just then, Anaya was offering biscuits along with tea to everyone and offered me some too.

"Want tea?"

"Just give me a biscuit!"

Anaya put the biscuit directly in my mouth, saying, "Is this direct delivery, okay?" I started laughing, and the door was open. Geet, who had overheard everything from the room, began loudly throwing things around.

Anaya said, "Your wife looks really cute when she's jealous." She whispered softly in my ear. Geet saw how close Anaya was to me, and I laughed at Anaya's joke. Geet came out, saying, "What did she say? Why are you laughing? You didn't laugh when I was trying to be loving you!"

Anaya asked, "Want some tea?"

"I'm a coffee lover."

"Coffee! Nice," Anaya said, walking away.

Geet gave me an angry look and said, "Your taste is so bad. She's nowhere near my level, yet you're replacing me over something so small."

"What? Geet, grow up! This is just your perception? What's wrong?" I said, irritated, and walked away.

I'm standing outside on the balcony, lost in thought. Just then, my mom was passing by, and she asked me, "Did you know? The whole family found out, wait..." Mom noticed my expression

Mom saw me and asked, "Payal, what's wrong? Why are you upset?"

"Geet and I had a fight. We think so differently. Nothing's like the movies."

"So you thought movies were real?" Mom said, sipping tea. We were standing on the balcony, watching the decorations being put up. It was 5 a.m.

"No, but it felt like it should be."

"That's how it is. Our partner's thoughts don't always align with ours. It doesn't mean we should turn it into anger and fights. When there are two people, there are bound to be two perspectives."

Ranjeet overheard my mom and stopped to listen.

"Mom, can't Geet think like me?"

"Tell me, are all your fingers the same size?"

"No."

"Then nothing can be exactly the same! If she fakes it to agree with you on everything, would you be happy?"

"No! I like that she's honest."

"Respect her way of thinking! You don't always have to agree on the same thoughts. Anyway, sometimes a 6 looks like a 9 from another perspective, and occasionally it even seems like an 8. You both can understand things from the same viewpoint, but that will come with time. Adjusting to a new life takes time."

"Mom! How do you always know the right thing to say?"

"I've been waiting to say this line forever! But wait, Maine ye bal dhoop me safed nahi kiye hai. (I didn't get these gray hairs for nothing.)"

I started laughing, and Ranjeet, who had been listening, laughed too. "Aunty, you're the best!"

Mom said, "Quiet! Were you eavesdropping? Fool! Call me 'Mom,' not 'Aunty,' Khote de putar (you cheeky brat.)"

We all laughed together, and I felt relieved. It seems like the hardest chapter of my life has begun, where Geet and I don't agree on everything, but I need to learn to respect her opinions. I need to understand that life isn't always like the movies, and sometimes, reality hits differently. Not everything that looks like the truth is actually true.