Thakurji Nahiii!

 "Thakurji, Nahiiiii!", Rita Ben shouted, just like a film's scene, with palms over her ears, eyes shrinked to a strand, tears waiting to drop from it's ends.....

She couldn't believe her eyes. She rubbed them repeatedly. She held the photograph close to her eyes, zoomed it in and out. She wore her spectacles to see the photograph clearly and then removed them to confirm once again.

"Yes! It's Raman", her heart replayed the line.

"Awey hu shu karu Thakurji? Baddhu pati gayo! (Oh God! What should I do now? Everything's finished)", Rita Ben sat down with a thud, banging her forehead with her palm.

Her neighbour, Sushma Ben, who had clicked the photograph, patted her back, consoling her, "Now that we are not young anymore, they are doing such things. They are getting old too. Sathiyo gayo che Raman Bhai ( Raman Bhai is gone crazy)", she blurted.

Rita Ben lifted her head and gave a stern look to Sushma Ben.....as if saying Tedha hai par mera hai!

"Hah, hah, I know we women are all Pativrata (loyal to husbands), but look what we get in return? How dare he cheat you? After taking care of him and his family....Tamey aa parivar ne jodi rakhya che (you're the one to hold together the entire family). And he is trying to break you down...like this...", Sushma Ben kept blabbering and listening to her blether, Rita Ben fainted.

Sushma Ben called Rita Ben's son immediately. Mihir came rushing home, he called the ambulance and took his mother to the hospital. Rita was still asleep. Doctor put an IV and asked them to relax. She would be waking up, nothing was serious, he confirmed.

"What happened Sushma maasi?", Mihir enquired.

Raman Bhai came rushing to the hospital too. "Kya che? kya che Rita? ( Where is Rita?)", he exclaimed with anxiety.

Sushma looked at Raman Bhai, "How pretentious! As if he cares ", she said in her head.

She turned to Mihir, "There's something I have to share with you", she said.

She took out her mobile and showed the photograph to Mihir.

Mihir snatched the mobile from her hands. "When did this happen Pappa?", Mihir asked revealing the photograph to Raman, his hands were shaking.

"Awey chhodee ne! (Right now, just leave it).Let's talk about it when we go home Mihir", Raman Bhai said.

"But Pappa, Mummy fainted because of this. Sushma maasi said", Mihir sighed.

"What? Why did you click this picture? Sushma Ben baddha shu che (What is all this, Sushma?)", he politely asked.

Sushma fumbled, yet sticking to her tone, said, "It's you who has to answer. Who is this young and beautiful girl sitting with you in the coffee shop?".

"She's my girlfriend!". Rita Ben woke up to this sentence, startled, she stared at Raman. But Raman was looking at Mihir.

"Sushma Maasi, I was going to tell Mummy about this....", he stopped mid-sentence as he saw Rita struggling to get up.

"Mummy! Are you alright?", Mihir hurriedly helped Rita. Raman too held her hand, but Rita averted it. "Shu vaat che?(What's the matter?)", Raman asked Rita.

"How could you do this to me?", Rita started crying. Sushma Ben once again readily patted her back.

"Wait!", Mihir judged the situation. "It's not what you are assuming Mummy. Jenny is my girlfriend ", Mihir muttered.

"Pappa had seen us when we were on a date. So he asked me about it. Jenny is a Christian girl so I thought you both may be against our marriage. But we both love each other. Pappa told me that he will handle the situation. He said he would convince you. But I didn't know when he met Jenny........".

Rita and Sushma looked at each other. Sushma's face turned pale. She had put everyone in bewildering situation, without being aware of the truth. But she had to take her stand, how could she accept her fault?

So she began her blether once again...."How is this possible? How can you marry someone out of our caste?......."

"Nahiiiiii!", Rita yelled. "Bas Sushma Ben bas. Stop spewing nonsense now. You've already caused trouble just a while ago. I was so clueless, and now embarrassed that I believed in you. You only said, Aa parivar ne hu jodi rakhya che(I am the one who has held the family together). So I will keep doing it". Rita Ben pulled Mihir and Raman Bhai's hands and held them tightly. "Jo, em! (see like this)", she smiled and gave a thumbs-up to Mihir, while apologising to Raman Bhai.

Nahiiii! Don't believe everything you see and hear....Perceptions are deceptive!

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