CHAPTER 4:
Sneha’s POV:
It was evening and all the men came back from office except my husband. I wonder where he was?
“Hi Sneha” Manik’s voice broke my chain of thoughts.
“Hi” I replied with a small smile.
“So, what are you doing standing in the middle of the hall all alone?” he asked me with a mischievous smile on his face and that’s when I looked around and saw that there was nobody except the two of us.
“Um nothing. Actually, Manik where is Siddharthji?” I asked him.
“He had some work so he will come little late. Why, are you missing him?” he asked me teasingly.
His teasing made me question myself. Am I really missing him? No ways I asked about him as it is my responsibility being Siddharthji’s wife.
“Where are you lost?” Manik asked me clicking his fingers in front of my face.
“Nowhere” I replied with a small smile. “Aap fresh ho jai I will prepare dinner till then”
“Ok” he replied and went towards his room.
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The clock struck 12 and still there was no sign of my husband. Itna bhi kya kaam karna ki ghar aana hi bhool jao.
I started dozing off a while later when the harsh sound of something falling woke me up with a jerk. I immediately ran down the stairs and what I saw shocked me…
It was Manik !!!!!!
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Supporting a drunk Siddharthji !!!!!!
“Manik, Siddharthji !!!!!” I exclaimed in shock and immediately ran to help Manik.
“Manik what happened? Why is he drunk?” I fired questions one by one as we took Siddharthji up to his room.
“Mujhe nahi pata Sneha, bhai business party mein gaye the, maybe he drank there. Don’t worry” Manik assured me as he laid Siddharthji on the bed.
“Oh” I said unsure how to react to the situation. The staunch smell of alcohol was making me nauseous but well I had no option but take care of my drunk husband.
“I will take your leave now. Agar kuch bhi chahiye hoga toh awaz laga dena ok?” he said once again assuring me through his eyes.
“Hmmm. Thank you so much Manik” I said with a small smile.
“Arey its ok, no need for thanks. Chalo now you go to sleep, its already very lat. Good night” he said before leaving the room.
“Good night” I replied to him and closed the door.
I decided to make my bed on the floor for two reasons. One was the staunch smell of alcohol coming from my husband and the second was my unwillingness to sleep beside him.
As I closed my eyes, the incidents of today flashed in front of my eyes. All day long I was busy in doing chores but now that I had time for myself, I could not help but ask the question ‘Why am I disliked by people?’ despite trying my best to keep everyone happy. Today, mummy ji told me to prepare a sweet dish for my first rasoi and I did as I was told. Then why did everybody except Manik not even taste it? I was very hurt especially by Siddharth ji’s words. He called me a gawar. Am I really a gawar? Just because I believe in simplicity, he put the tag of gawar on me. Par Manik eating my kheer happily brought a small smile on my face.
Manik.
Today he helped me lot. I was loosing my confidence but his small gestures of appreciation brought a smile on my face. He seems different from the rest of his family. But… Even he seemed to show some sort of sadness in his eyes thought he was smiling on the outside. Don’t know what that is but I think I have found a genuine friend in him. He is like someone on whom I can rely, who I know will not break my trust.
With Manik’s thoughts bringing a smile on my face, I drifted off to sleep.
