14.

DHARA

✨

My legs froze. I turned around and looked at Arindam Uncle in disbelief. What do they think all this is? My life or some groom exchange Wattpad novel?

'But my Parth doesn't want to get married. That's exactly the reason why I wanted Oni to marry Dhara.' when Daarji smiled saying 'Best friends for a reason. Honestly I was also wondering why did you hide Parth from us? He is such a kind human being. So down to earth, so giving. Knowingly unknowingly he has fulfilled all those duties which Aniruddh did not even bother to think about. My Dhara is always smiling when she is with him. He sent snacks home just to keep her happy when Aniruddh wasn't picking her calls. He consoled her. Tried to give her strength to take right decisions when in distress. My Dhara never told me any of these but I always keep an eye on my child after that ex boyfriend of hers broke her heart. I tried protecting her but looks like I wasn't enough. Maybe I'm not good at judging people' Daarji said when Arindam uncle held his hand saying 'It is not your fault Ballu. I didn't find out my own child's intentions. We assumed he's just workoholic but never expected him to be such a liar.'

'I wish Parth would have been like my other children. Normal. But he's not!!!' Arindam Uncle's words angered me. What does he mean by Parth isn't normal? What is his definition of normal. He's a good human being, cares for his family who treats him like he doesn't exist. Is here by my side. Is here for my family although he doesn't need to. We are friends since last 10 days I guess? But he's more human than his grandmother who wanted me to be the trophy daughter in law of their family who hasn't even bothered to check if my father is ok. And they are judging him?

'Dhara's maturity is a perfect match for my Parth's calm and quiet nature. But he won't agree to it Ballu. Three years ago my son Sanjoy wanted him to get married to a family friend's daughter but he denied. There was a dirty scene back then and he simply denied saying He doesn't want to get married. He never expressed his reasons but I have noticed. Noticed a lot. He...He doesn't behave like a man. I haven't discussed this with anyone until now on this topic except his own father. Ballu...I don't have the guts to question him but the way he dresses up, the way he smiles, his choices in jewellery, he likes applying Bindi and Mehndi...he has so many feminine traits...scares me Ballu...he...he behaves...behaves... acts..like a...like a-'

That's exactly when I lost it. I didn't care if it was his own grandfather spitting out all of that. I had to stop him. He may have forgotten his duties towards his grandchild but I won't forget my duties as a friend. Parth is a friend and I stand up for my friends. No one. I mean it no one can drag my friends down in my presence. So I didn't care if I was rude, arrogant or mannerless. I yelled.

'Stop!! Please stop it uncle!!! That's enough!!! Daarji you... you need rest and Arindam Uncle I'm sorry if I'm rude but please leave.' I said folding my hands when Daarji tried to stop me but I shook my head saying 'No Daarji...I am sorry but he has his own ideologies and theories which he can spew around but not when I'm here. Not to my Daarji. Not in my presence. I won't tolerate anyone interfering into my friend's personal space. Doesn't matter if it's his own grandfather' I said firmly when Arindam Uncle tried to justify saying 'But Dhara I was just-'.

I didn't let him complete that statement as I said 'No Uncle please...Just because Parth is different, has different choices, walks differently, wears unconventional stuff or chooses a profession something you don't like doesn't make him any less respectful.' when Arindam Uncle tried to speak further I showed him my palm saying 'Stop Uncle please...No...don't go there again please. I don't know about Aniruddh but Parth... he's a friend. I won't let anyone point their fingers towards him. And what rights do you or your family has to question him in the first place? Did you ever bother to understand his emotions, his choices, his pain? Did you even consider him a son since he decided to follow his dreams?' I asked when Arindam Uncle shook his head saying

'Dhara you are all getting it wrong. I didn't like his professional choices but I won't disown my child because of something that small. I'm not as shallow as Sanjoy but here that's not the issue. We feel that Parth...Parth isn't...I mean he's...He...you know-'

Gritting my teeth I completed his statement saying 'You think he's not a man enough. You doubt his sexual preferences. Correct?' I asked and Arindam Uncle tried to hush me down saying 'Softly Dhara...please...We are Chakraborties. You have no idea what would happen if this news comes out in open' he said and I was shocked.

'Unbelievable. So much fake pride. Why?' I asked when Arindam Uncle was shocked as he asked 'Dont you get it. He...he isn't normal!!!' and this time I lost it as I yelled 'What is your definition of normal uncle? I don't get it. Has Parth told you that he's not a man. Or he feels some other gender like? Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Has Parth confessed he is gay? Or bisexual or does he doubt his gender-'

He didn't let me complete it as he said 'Dhara please...I think I must leave. Ballu...let's talk tomorrow' he said when I stood infront of him. He was shocked. I know everyone in his household respects him and might never have spoken to him but respecting someone doesn't mean letting their wrong ideology perpetrate.

'Uncle...Parth isn't at fault here. You and your family's ideologies are. I'm sorry to say all that progressive judgements you passed as a judge are all a failure if you cannot stand up for your own grandson's basic rights and choices. Parth hasn't asked anything from you all since he's graduated. He's always on his own. Stood on his feet. Found a college that teaches beautiful forms of art that's giving life to so many budding artist not just in Kolkata throughout the nation.

He's doing a great job. He's doing all of this without all of your support. He's successful, strong and more powerful than all your sons or grandchildren because Parth is a self made man and you know what you must be proud of him.' I said when Arindam Uncle said in a small shaky tone 'I am...but his...his-' he wasn't able to complete that line when I said

'His sexual preference. Who are you to judge him for something, you or your family were never responsible Uncle? He was made by the same Goddess Durga whom you pray to. If he's a little extra feminine how is it his fault. If his sexual preferences are different, how is that also his fault? Infact who are you to define normalcy Uncle? You can't control emotions that a human body feels for the other. Could be physical or mental.

I don't know what's Parth's sexuality. I don't know what is his sexual preference. But you know what I don't care. Yes Uncle. I don't care. You know why because he's a good man. He's honest, kind and a wonderful human being. If his choice of partner is of same or different sex it doesn't change the human being he is. If for you a relationship with Sayantani aunty is your normal. His choice of partner, could be any gender is his choice. Again that's how Maa Durga made him. You can't change that. Its not like how you both were discussing sometime ago about how Parth wasn't available so you decided to tie Dhara to Aniruddh. That's not how life works Uncle. That's not how relationships work.

Your love for Parth must be beyond all of this. Tell me something this small that you discovered a few years ago can change your decades old love for your grandchild? How can you disown a piece of your own flesh and blood Uncle? Daarji told me, you were really attached to your family but your duties took you to different cities due to your responsibilities as a judge until you retired. That was painful.

I'm sure your children or wife never planned that for all of you when you started a family but you had to...did that change their love and emotions for you? Then how do you disown your own grandchild just because he's a little different?A garden has various flowers, that's exactly why a garden is beautiful. Can you just pluck and throw away a flower which is a little different from others thinking it's odd one out. Maybe that flower alone is special and rest of them are just usual ones? Even it's not how does it matter? Why is perfection and normalcy decided to be a certain something like? Why Uncle?' I asked leaving Arindam Uncle speechless.

He gulped and looked away saying 'Society has their own rules Dhara...it's not that easy' and I chuckled saying 'Says the man who stood up for a certain girls rights few years ago when her groom's family were demanding dowry and she ran away. Says the man who stood up for her. Encouraged her to stand her ground and supported her always! How did you forget your own goodness Uncle?' I asked and Arindam Uncle put his head down with tears in his eyes.

I swallowed hard saying 'Parth is a gem of a person Uncle. Stop judging him for his choices and accept him with open arms. Believe me he will be your pride unlike your dummy coward grandchild who was fake and a liar!!! And then if you cannot do it, do not EVER. I MEAN IT...EVER...try to judge him... because none of you have the honesty within yourselves to stand up and own up their true selves. Parth is a brave man. Sorry to say but....thats something Chakraborties need to learn from him.' saying I turned around to leave the room when I noticed Parth standing at the door. I didn't know what to say but his eyes were filled with angry tears. I tried to stop him but he left that place in such hurry that I was extremely worried for him.

I started following him but he was too fast. He boarded his car and left from there without letting me reach him. I tried dialling his number but he wasn't picking my call. I was getting worried for him. I kept dialling him but he didn't pick my call. I decided to call Nivedita Didi, my phone started ringing and it was Nivedita Didi. I picked it and just when I was about to tell her about Parth she said

'Dhara!!! Thank God...you are awake. Listen I know your Daarji just underwent a surgery and everything is still too complex but I have some very important news. As of now I've managed to not let it come out but a friend of mine who works at a media house sent me a footage. Please have a look at it.' and she passed me a video footage.

It was a video footage of Parth and mine in a car. Followed by that was a audio confirmation of a police constable who was giving a statement that Parth and I were caught in a compromising position in the car, when questioned Parth raised his hand on a police officer, is the reason why they spent a night in prison. I was shocked. This was all a lie.

I immediately dialled Nivedita Didi saying 'Di...it's all a lie. You know it was raining and the car broke down. You know everything. We called you!!!' I was furious but also angry and in tears. It's like everything wrong was happening in my life, together. When Didi said 'I know Dhara. I know you and Parth both, but you know how media can be. This is really sick. It is a lie. Purely a lie and yes we can prove it too but all I'm worried right now is about your Daarji.

We didn't want Oni's wedding news to be coming out but looks like you told in the station that you were marrying Oni but now that he's run away, I don't know if it's someone from the station, his enemies or someone from the opposition party has leaked this news. It's going to be all over the media in a few hours. Shayan and I were trying our best to not let it come out anywhere is when this video was sent to me by my friend. I don't know Dhara. I just...I want you to be strong. We...we are doing our best okay?' she said and I almost collapsed.

I closed my eyes and my alarm clock started ringing. This was going to be my wedding day. An eventful day but not like this. This was all going wrong. I was breathing hard and trying to collect myself. I had a long night. I just needed a little rest. I didn't want to think about anything. I simply ran to Tillu and took his car keys and locked myself up in the car. There were hundred thoughts running in my mind but I shut things down. I just closed my eyes and leaned back trying to not think about anything.

My heartbeats were rising and I was feeling suffocated. No...I didn't want to take pills. I'm stronger than this. I can manage.

Sleep Dhara!!! Sleep!!!

After a few minutes, I didn't know if it was tiredness or my fears I drifted to sleep. I had a lot of ugly dreams. I didn't remember much but I saw a lot faces. It wasn't a peaceful one but when I opened my eyes bright rays of sun were falling on my face. I slowly tilted my head and turned my face around to see something that left me speechless.

There was a huge crowd of people surrounding the car that I rested in.

What the hell was happening? Who are they?

I heard constant knocking on the windows of the car. I was getting scared now. There were constant camera flashes, people holding mic and I was getting scared now. My panic attacks were coming back. I was trying to control myself but I was not able to handle anything. The knocking continued. The flashes were blinding me now. I wanted to runaway from there but the crowd scared me. I was looking for one familiar face there but I saw none. I tried to look out for my mobile to call Tillu but my phone was switched off. I tried looking out for charger but the knocking continued and the phone fell from my hand.

I closed my ears trying to hide myself inside the car but it was impossible. They were clicking pictures, capturing videos. I was feeling heaviness in my chest and also dizziness around me. I couldn't stay any longer in that small space. I was feeling claustrophobic. So without a go, I opened the door only to be hounded by these reporters who didn't even think of me as a human being and fell into my face with their cameras and mics with their questions

Hello Miss Dhara Puri...Were you the girl who was going to be marrying MP Mister Aniruddh Chakraborty who apparently ran away from his own wedding?

Miss Dhara...why did Mister Chakraborty run away from his own wedding? Was he forced into this?

Miss Dhara...we heard Mister Aniruddh Chakraborty has a secret girlfriend? Is it because of her that he's run away from his wedding?

We also heard that you are carrying someone else's child and Mister Chakraborty got to know about it, is why he walked out of the wedding the last minute. Is it true? Is that the reason you are outside a hospital???

That question made me loose my shit. When I simply turned towards the man and shouted 'I am here because my Daarji is hospitalized. Stop spreading nonsense news' and just when I was walking away someone said

Miss Dhara...we have heard that Mister Aniruddh ran away because apparently he found you in a compromising position with Mister Parth Chakraborty, his own elder brother and that's the reason he ran away from his own wedding. Is that true Miss Dhara?

And that statement left me shaken. What the hell are they saying? And they pounded upon me like animals pound upon meat. My head started spinning and before I knew darkness acquired me.