Ira and Varsha are enjoying their days. Grandpa has asked everyone to tell Varsha about things from their experience so as to make her more comfortable into the party she will be attending after a few days.Akash is busier these days due to some critical implementation in the restaurant business. He has worked hard on creating the project plan and has included many creative ideas which will make the advertising, order and supply work much more efficient. He has to coordinate with different groups and review the progress and also check the simulation results. He leaves early for the office even before breakfast and comes back around 07:00 or 08:00 in the evening.
On the breakfast table, one-day Grandpa said to Varsha "Dear! You don"t have to feel nervous about talking or interacting with people. If nothing, just be yourself. You are the daughter-in-law of the Patel family, be confident. No one has the right to comment on you because you don"t owe them anything."
The youngest member of the family, the little girl Aditi who is just 10 years old and is the daughter of the youngest uncle said in her cute voice "Sister-in-law! one day we went to a party. I saw one woman was carrying a puppy. She was not talking or doing anything. She was just tending to her puppy. Sometime she will feed the puppy, sometime she will just sit and stroke its fur. One time even her puppy ran toward the outside and she ran behind it but still, no one laughed. You can also take one puppy and then don"t care about others."
Everyone on the table laughed. Even eldest uncle who is most of the time not in the best mood also laughed. Grandma said "Our Aditi also is no way inferior to anyone. She is also aware of what is going on." Aditi is sitting beside Grandma. Grandma said softly while stroking her hair "But we can not do that way. If you take a puppy to party and does not give attention to people, everyone will think you are a rude and arrogant person. Rude and arrogant means a bad person. Do you understand?"
The little girl nods in a hurried way making everyone smile. Breakfast of family was done in a relaxed and harmonious environment.
This is Sunday today and the party is on the evening of coming Tuesday just after two days. Akash has gone to the office due to his busy schedule. Varsha is in the kitchen helping Sita prepare the lunch.
Arpit enters the kitchen to drink water. After drinking water he turns and looks toward Varsha and sneers "Make sure you bring the exquisite taste of the food. I don"t wish to eat tasteless smelly peasant food."
Maid Sita looked toward Arpit and said "If Old Sir hears you he will feel sad due to your behaviour. Please don"t stay here."
Varsha who has turned toward Arpit and is looking at him with an apathetic gaze, said "Are you feeling discontent because you can not bring your girlfriend to party? Even if you disrespect me or use not so good words, nothing is going to change. Why are you showing how good you are? Go back before other kids come and hear you."
"Whatever, but it is good that at least I love my girlfriend and she loves me." Arpit heard her and retorted and then turned back and walked out of the kitchen.
Varsha looked at his retreating back and felt sad. The last sentence of Arpit has really touched the painful spot in her heart. Akash has not yet given her a.s.surance of his feelings towards her and there are elder uncle and Arpit who have openly shown their rejection toward her. She felt fear and restlessness growing inside herself. She forced herself to smile at Maid and excused herself from the kitchen saying she is not feeling well. She could not stomach food in lunch properly. Akash is not present during lunch and she missed him so much.
The same day, around 4:00 PM in the evening, Varsha and Ira along with Akshay are working in the vegetable garden to give water to the plants. Two youngest kids Arun and Aditi play most of the time with Grandpa and Grandma and have no interest in gardening activities.
Eldest uncle came in the garden with a basket to pick vegetables for the dinner. He walked quietly and started plucking the ladyfingers at one corner of the garden. After a few minutes, Arpit also came in the garden and is watching the activities of people quietly from the sidelines.
Girls are talking and laughing while doing their work. Ira is more playful and will sometime splash water on Varsha or Akshay and run away far from them. Varsha also joins in the fun. Their hairs are messy and dresses are sprinkled from water.
Arpit jeered from nearby "You are just so unkempt. Make sure you don"t show you shabby side in the party and ruin the image of the elder brother." Girls got startled and turned to see Arpit standing nearby with ridicule in his eyes. From his words, anyone can guess who he is pointing to and how unreasonable he is being. Even Akshay felt surprised and awkward for his elder brother"s comment.
Ira said "Elder brother will take care of issues which will happen due to his wife. And we are working in the garden, do you have to come and comment if there is water or soil on our hands and clothes?"
Arpit said "There is a way to do any work. Unlike some people of backward cla.s.s and thinking. Didn"t Grandpa and elder brother already say that everyone in the family should help her understand proper culture?"
"So, you want us to work in the garden without touching water and soil? You should know working in the garden is not like working in the office where you can wear a professional dress and remain clean whole day." Ira replied in a mocking tone.
Arpit did not wish to back off. He is in the mood of pouring all his anger on Varsha today. He snickered "Whatever, but still, it should be done in a better way than an uncivil peasant girl."
Varsha saw that Arpit is not going to back down and is using more and more insulting words. She does not wish this to continue anymore as Akshay is also here and he might feel conflicted due to the argument of two sides. She turned toward eldest uncle who is doing his work.
She is sure that eldest uncle has heard the argument as he is within normal hearing range. She said toward eldest uncle "Eldest uncle! Please ask Arpit to not use such words while talking. Everyone is family here and it is not good."
Eldest uncle raised his head and looked toward the kids who were looking toward him. His gaze is indifferent and for a moment Varsha thought he did not hear the argument which was just happening. Ira also looked toward eldest uncle and felt hopeful that eldest uncle will definitely rebuke Arpit for using insulting words to sister-in-law.
But next moment eldest uncle"s expression hardened a bit and he said in a scornful tone "I don"t see you as a part of our family. I don"t care if Arpit also feels so."
Varsha felt a sting in her chest due to the eldest uncle"s words. For a moment she could not believe an elder of the family would say such words to her. Now she understood that Eldest uncle"s discontent and anger has really crossed all the limits to become hate toward her.
Varsha felt hurt but she was more afraid that Ira will say some wrong words toward eldest uncle, So she turned toward Ira and found that her tears are already flowing and she looks more hurt. Next moment Ira shouted in hoa.r.s.e voice "Eldest uncle, you are too much" and she threw away the working tools she has in her hand and ran toward the house.
Varsha felt bewildered and looked toward the Ira who is running toward the house while wiping her tears. She can understand the hurt and disappointment Ira might have felt due to eldest uncle. She sighed and washed her hands and followed the direction where Ira went without saying any word.
Ira cried due to Arpit and eldest uncle which made Varsha sad and angry. Varsha knows thatArpit will act more like this as the day of the party is coming nearer. She decided to tell Akash about this. She wishes to share how she felt with someone and the only person she could think of is Akash. She thinks it will not look good complaining about an elder to Grandpa or Grandma. So, she could only look toward Akash for some consolation.
Normally the conversation between Akash and Varsha is always started by Akash. Although she feels a bit of unease thinking about initiating a talk with Akash she is determined to talk to him today.