Beneath the silence

Sarika holds her phone, staring at it, as tears stream down her cheeks. Hastily wiping them away, she mutters to herself, “Why does he never understand me? I wish you had understood me, ji... You always want things your way. Can’t you see that I’m a human too, with feelings and emotions? Just once, can’t you think about my emotions, my feelings? Just once, ji...?” Saying this, she breaks down, crying uncontrollably.

A while later, as her tears subside, Sarika wipes her face, heads to the washroom, and washes her face with cold water. Looking at herself in the mirror, her phone rings. She steps out of the washroom and picks up her phone. Seeing her mother’s name on the screen, her eyes well up again, but she composes herself and answers, “Hello, Maa, how are you?”

On the other end, Krishna Ji, her mother, says emotionally, “How do you think I can be, knowing what my daughter is going through? How can a mother be, Gudia?”

Hearing this, tears flow again from Sarika’s eyes, and her throat tightens. But she steadies her voice and responds, “Why are you saying this, Maa? I’m very happy here... Everyone takes good care of me and loves me a lot…”

Her mother, slightly angry, replies, “Save your lies for someone who doesn’t know you, Gudia. I carried you in my womb for nine months, raised you. Don’t lie to me…”

Sarika sighs deeply and says, “Maa, everything’s fine, please don’t overthink.” Changing the topic, she adds, “By the way, how’s everyone else? How’s Shlok? And Baba?”

Sensing the change in subject, Krishna Ji calms down and says, “Everyone’s fine. I called to tell you that Shlok got a job in Delhi, and the company is giving him a flat. So, we’re all moving there. This house will be empty, but we won’t sell it because it’s your Baba’s ancestral home. There are so many memories tied to this house. We’ll celebrate all festivals here.”

Sarika, hearing this, exclaims with joy, “Wow, that’s wonderful news! Where is Shlok, Maa? I want to congratulate him.”

Krishna Ji, smiling at Sarika’s cheerful tone, replies, “He’s out with his friends. I’ll let you talk to him when he returns. But tell me, when are you coming here? We haven’t seen you in nine years. I wonder how you look now. Please come, Gudia, we miss you so much.” Her voice cracks with emotion, and she can’t continue.

Sarika, teary-eyed, responds, “I’ll come soon, Maa, God willing. Please don’t cry. I don’t want to see you like this. I want you to smile when I come to see you. So, please wipe your tears and smile for me, Maa. Please…”

Krishna Ji, now in tears, composes herself and says, “Okay, Gudia, I’ve wiped my tears. But remember, your Baba and I will be waiting for you.”

Sarika, unable to bear lying to her mother, thinks, I don’t want to give you false hope, Maa, but I must, so you don’t stress and fall sick. She says over the phone, “Okay, Maa, I’ll hang up now. I have some work in the kitchen. I’ll call you later.”

Krishna Ji replies, “Okay, take care of yourself and everyone else.” With that, the call ends. As soon as the call disconnects, Sarika’s tears start falling again, but she quickly composes herself and heads to the kitchen.

That evening,

Adrijay comes home early and rings the doorbell. Yamini Ji opens the door.

As Adrijay steps in, his eyes scan the house for Sarika, but she’s nowhere to be seen. Before he can ask, Sarika emerges from the kitchen, handing him a glass of water. He takes it and, looking her up and down, asks, “You’re not ready yet? Didn’t I tell you to be ready? Why aren’t you dressed?”

Sarika, with her head bowed, stays silent. Annoyed, Adrijay asks again, “I’m asking you something. Are you going to answer or not?”

Before she can respond, Yamini Ji interjects, “I told her not to get ready, Adrijay.”

Frowning, he looks at her and asks, “May I know why?”

Yamini Ji, sitting calmly on the sofa, replies, “Because if she goes, who will do the household chores and cook? Vishakha is just a two-month-old bride, her mehendi hasn’t even faded yet. I can’t make her cook. So, Sarika staying here is necessary. You can take the kids if you want; I don’t mind.”

Hearing this, Adrijay controls his anger and calmly says, “But Maa, Mohit and Niharika specifically invited Sarika. If she doesn’t go, they’ll feel bad. As for food, don’t worry. I’ll order something from outside. One day won’t hurt.”

Yamini Ji, displeased, looks at Sarika and thinks, You’ve started turning my son against me, haven’t you? I’ll deal with you later, Sarika. She then says to Adrijay, “Fine, take her.”

Sarika looks at her in surprise. Adrijay tells Sarika to get ready, and she heads to her room.

After a while, Sarika comes downstairs, dressed in a saffron saree with a full-sleeve blouse. Her long hair is tied in a braid, a small red bindi adorns her forehead, and her makeup is limited to kohl-lined eyes and a light pink lipstick.

Even in her simplicity, Sarika looks stunning. For the first time, Adrijay notices her closely. He had always seen her as a village girl, someone he was embarrassed to be with. But today, he feels proud to have such a beautiful wife.

Adrijay stares at her, lost in thought. Sarika, feeling self-conscious, stands silently with her head bowed, her heart racing as she realizes he’s looking at her so intently.

Just then, Tanishk and Adhik come running and say, “Papa, look, we’re ready!”

Their voices break Adrijay’s reverie. Smiling at them, he says, “Wow, you both look so handsome! Shall we go now?”

The boys nod excitedly. Adrijay picks up Tanishk in his arms, holds Adhik’s hand, and says to Sarika, “Let’s go.”

Sarika nods and follows him.

At the car, Adrijay opens the passenger door for Sarika, but Tanishk insists on sitting there. Sarika takes him in her lap and sits, while Adhik sits in the backseat.

Adrijay starts the car and heads toward Mohit’s house. Along the way, Adhik and Tanishk excitedly tell him about their school, and he listens attentively.

Sarika, however, sits quietly, looking out the window. In these nine years, she’s barely gone out. No one ever took her anywhere, not even shopping. Yamini Ji would shop for her only during festivals, buying a saree or two. Sarika never complained because she had accepted her reality, knowing her place in the Chaudhary household. She had no expectations and harbored no grievances.

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