Unspoken Pain

Sarika was just about to start eating when her phone rang. Wondering who could be calling so late at night, both Adrijay and Sarika turned their gaze toward Sarika’s button phone, which was lying on the sofa in the hall, ringing loudly.

Leaving her meal, Sarika quickly got up and picked up her phone. Seeing Shlok’s name on the screen, she immediately answered in a panicked tone, "Hello, Anu (Shlok)? Are you okay? Why did you call so late? Is everything alright?"

On the other side, Shlok tried to calm her down, saying, "Relax, Didi! Everything is fine, and I am also okay. I called you at this hour because I couldn't talk to you all day. Maa told me you weren’t feeling well yesterday, so I thought I should check on you. Tell me, how are you feeling now?"

Sarika let out a sigh of relief and said, "I’m glad you're okay! I got so scared... But I’m fine now!"

Smiling, Shlok said, "That’s good. By the way, did you know, Didi? I got a job!"

Sarika feigned annoyance and said, "Hmm… But I expected you to tell me yourself. You didn’t, and Maa had to inform me instead."

Shlok made a face and replied, "What can I say, Didi? I had told Maa not to tell you yet—I wanted to give you this good news myself. But you know she can never keep a secret! She told you before I could. Then I got busy too. You know we’re shifting to Delhi, so Baba and I have been handling everything here. That’s why I barely get any time, and sometimes I get home quite late. I haven’t been able to talk to you either. So today, no matter how late it got, I was determined to talk to you. That’s why I called."

Hearing this, Sarika smiled and said, "You did the right thing… So, tell me, when are you all shifting?"

Shlok, excited, said, "In two days! I got my joining letter, and now I just have to go there. I told Baba to sell the little land we had here, so he sold it. Half of the money from it has been put into an FD, and the other half was deposited into Baba’s account so that he wouldn’t face any financial difficulties in the future. I also needed a lot of stuff for my flat, so I took a bank loan of three lakh rupees. Furniture and all cost quite a bit. Baba wanted me to use the money from the land sale, but Didi, he has done so much for me all his life. If I took money from him now, would that feel right?"

Hearing this, Sarika smiled and said, "Wow! You have become so responsible! I’m really happy to see that despite moving to the city, your behavior hasn’t changed. You’re still the same old Anu."

Shlok, on the other side, said, "How could I change, Didi? I grew up here. I saw everything—how you sacrificed your education, how Baba worked day and night just to make me capable… How could I break your trust? How could I let your hard work go in vain?"

Sarika's eyes welled up with tears, and she said emotionally, "Shlok, you’ve grown up so much… You talk so maturely now. It doesn’t feel like I’m talking to the same little Shlok who used to be terrified of studying."

Shlok laughed, reminiscing about his childhood. Just then, Divakar Ji’s voice came from behind, "Who are you talking to at this hour?"

Smiling, Shlok handed him the phone and said, "It’s Didi, Baba!"

Hearing this, Divakar Ji happily took the phone from him and held it to his ear. "Hello, Sarika, meri bacchi (my child)! How are you, beta (dear)?"

Hearing his voice, Sarika's heart swelled with emotions. People say there is nothing greater than a parent's love—it is the purest and most fulfilling bond in the world. At this moment, only Sarika knew what she was feeling. After everything that had happened today, she wanted to go to her parents, cry in their embrace, and share all her pain with them. But she couldn’t because she didn’t want to worry them. However, hearing her father’s voice now broke the dam inside her, and with a choked voice, she said, "I miss you so much, Baba…"

Her words pierced through Divakar Ji’s heart. He felt utterly helpless because, despite wanting to, he couldn’t go see his daughter. Only because she had made him promise not to. But hearing her tearful voice now, he felt a deep pang in his heart, and his eyes filled with tears. Still, controlling his emotions, he lovingly said, "Arey! Meri pyari gudiya (Oh, my little girl)… We will meet soon, you’ll see. Don’t cry like this, dear. You are my brave daughter, aren’t you? Then why are you crying? If Tanishk sees you, he will scold me, saying I made his mumma cry."

Hearing this, Sarika laughed through her tears and quickly wiped her eyes. "Sorry, Baba… I got a little emotional. It’s been so long since we talked." Then, composing herself, she asked, "How are you? Are you taking your medicines on time? You’re not stressing yourself too much, are you?"

Smiling, Divakar Ji replied, "I’m absolutely fine, beta (dear). I take my medicines on time and don’t overwork myself. Now tell me, how are you? And how are my adorable grandsons?"

Sarika smiled. "I’m good, and so are your two grandsons."

Divakar Ji then asked, "And what about our damad ji son-in-law?"

Hearing this, Sarika fell silent. It was only then that she noticed Adrijay standing right behind her, looking at her. But today, there was something different in his eyes—something she couldn’t understand.

Divakar Ji called out again, "Hello, beta dear? Can you hear me?"

Sarika snapped out of her thoughts and quickly replied, "Yes, Baba, I can hear you. Actually, I was just serving him dinner. He had a late meeting today, so he came home late. He’s eating now, so can I call you tomorrow?"

Divakar Ji immediately said, "Yes, dear. Your husband comes first. Take care of him, and we’ll talk tomorrow. Good night!"

Sarika also wished him good night, then disconnected the call and placed her phone on the table. Walking towards the dining table, she softly said, "Sorry… because of me, you had to leave your seat."

Without looking at her, Adrijay sat back down and replied, "It’s okay." He then resumed eating, but his mind kept going back to Sarika’s conversation. The way she told Divakar Ji that she missed him pricked at Adrijay. It suddenly struck him that in these nine years, Sarika had never gone to visit her family, nor had they come here. Why? He didn’t know. But he could feel the pain hidden in her voice, and it only deepened his guilt. That’s why he couldn’t even focus on his food. Still, he forced himself to finish eating because he knew that if he didn’t eat, Sarika probably wouldn’t either.

After finishing his meal, he took his plate to the kitchen, washed his hands, and headed towards the stairs.

Sarika, too, finished her meal, washed the dishes, and was about to go to her room when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to find Devansh and Vishakha standing there.

As soon as Vishakha saw Sarika, she made a face and walked straight to her room.

Sarika was about to close the door when Devansh stopped her and said, "It’s okay, Bhabhi. I’ll close it. You go ahead."

Without looking at him, Sarika replied, "Devarji, these are my responsibilities. You don’t need to do them. You should rest; you must be tired from work."

Hearing this, Devansh felt overwhelmed with guilt. His Bhabhi had done so much for him, but he had never been able to do anything for her.

Hearing Vishakha call him, he quickly said, "Good night, Bhabhi!"

Sarika locked the door and said, "Good night, Devarji!" Then she went to her room.

Lying in bed, she quickly fell asleep due to exhaustion, while Adrijay lay awake, lost in thought, unable to gather the courage to face her.

After entering the room, Sarika took out her clothes from the cupboard and went to change. A little while later, she came out dressed and lay down in her place. Soon, the exhaustion of the entire day took over, and she drifted into the arms of sleep.

Meanwhile, Adrijay was still awake, lying there with his arm resting on his forehead, pretending to sleep. But the truth was, he didn't have the courage to face Sarika anymore. So, he just lay there in silence, lost in his own thoughts.

Days passed. Adrijay started coming home late every night, and after dropping the children off at school in the morning, he went straight to the office. His behavior hurt Sarika, but what could she do? So, she quietly waited for him until late at night and ate only after he returned. Every day, Yamini ji would taunt her about something or the other, but Sarika remained silent. She had now decided that no matter what Yamini ji said, she would never respond to her again. Along with that, she had also made up her mind never to talk to Adrijay again because she had realized that talking to him only meant inviting her own humiliation. And she no longer wanted to be humiliated. She had found her happiness in her children and spent all her free time with them.

A few days later...

Adrijay was about to leave to drop the children off at school when Yamini ji came and said, “Adri, wait right there. I need to talk to you.”

Without saying anything, Adrijay quietly stopped where he was. He hadn’t spoken to his mother since that incident.

Taking a deep breath, Yamini ji walked up to him and said sternly, “Navratri starts tomorrow, and on this holy occasion, I don’t want any drama or nonsense in this house. So, from tomorrow onwards, you will go to the office early and return home early. I want you present at both the morning and evening aarti. Understood?”

Hearing her words, Adrijay simply nodded. Then, taking Adhik and Tanishq’s school bags in his hands, he walked out of the house.

After he left, Sarika kissed her children on their foreheads and told them to go.

Once the children were gone, Yamini ji turned toward Sarika and glared at her before saying, “It’s because of you that my son has been coming home late and leaving early in the mornings. If you hadn’t pulled those stunts that day, everything would have been fine. Have you no shame? You live here for free, and on top of that, if someone asks you to do something, it feels like a death sentence to you!”

Hearing her words, Sarika’s eyes welled up with tears, and she lowered her head, silently listening to her taunts.

Seeing her quiet, Yamini ji continued angrily, “Remember one thing—if my Adri doesn’t come home on time from tomorrow and doesn’t attend the puja, you can’t even imagine what I’ll do to you. Understood? Now go and take care of the kitchen work. I don’t know what your parents taught you before sending you here. I have to do everything myself! You didn’t even bring dowry, you’re not even that educated, and yet you have so much arrogance, as if there’s no one richer or smarter than you!” She scoffed and, muttering to herself, went to sit on the sofa and turned on the TV.

Meanwhile, Sarika, holding back her tears, went into the kitchen and started working while speaking to herself, People are right—no one can take the place of parents. Maa ji is a mother herself, so how can she say such things about me and my parents? Does she never see her own mistakes, not even once? Does he (Adrijay) not see them either? Am I really the one at fault?

Lost in these thoughts, she continued working, silently weeping.

*************************************

Guys seriously right now I don't have words. Like seriously you guys love this story so much. You always complete targets before time and always excited to read the next part. This is something which is so overwhelming for me. I read each and every comment and also try to reply back but it is not possible for me as there are so many comments. Well ab mai aap sabhi ka kimati (precious) samay nahi lungi, filhal itna hi kahungi.

Next chapter target:- 130 votes and 30 comments.