Rudrani:
I went to the kitchen to guide the cook the recipes. I prepared few dishes which I prepare well for mom, dad and Ashu. I asked the maid to change the curtains and table cloth. Everything was cleaned and set ready. I lit the aromatic candles in the living room and dining hall. I switched on the music player to play a soothing music in a low volume yet audible volume.
Ashu, mom and dad came to the living room. I looked at Ashu and gestured with eyes questioning about the arrangements. He gave weird expressions. Are the arrangements not good? Is something missed?
"Rudrani, your arrangements are amazing," mom praised me.
I looked at Ashu as I felt disappointed with his weird looks. May be he didn't like my arrangements. I should slowly know his taste and likes. I know that Ashu loves me so much but still I want to impress him. I want him to get amazed because of me.
"Don't you like the arrangements?" I asked Ashu.
"No, actually I am surprised to know that my wife knew decorations too apart from fighting with me and scolding me. Thank God my wife has few girly qualities," Ashu said.
"Ashu, stop teasing my daughter. She is the best in everything," Mom said.
"Yes, of course because she is the best," Ashu said looking at me with a wink.
I blushed for his words and wink. Is this what is called as love? Even his silly acts and a word has effect on me. I never expected that I will fall in love with someone like this. After seeing my dad, I imagined that every man is like him and I should never marry. But, Ashu changed my opinion. I should keep him happy throughout my life. I understood that Ashu was disappointed for cancelling the date but I cancelled it to surprise him.
I am sure he will love the surprise. Aft few minutes, guests arrived. Ashu excused himself saying he need to study. Dad went to the hospital as he need to do a surgery.
I served the dinner to mom and her guests.
"Prerna, where is your daughter in law? We heard that Ashu got married. Won't you show your most beautiful daughter in law to us?"
Mom smiled.
"Definitely I will introduce my most beautiful, intelligent and perfect daughter in law to you," Mom said.
"She is my daughter in law, Rudhrani who is no less than a daughter to us," mom said holding my hand with a proud smile.
"What? Are you ok, Prerna? Is she your daughter in law? I thought she is your maid. Her face and those scars almost scared me," that lady said.
"Yes, she is my daughter in law and I am proud to say that," mom said again.
"You and Ashu rejected my daughter as your daughter in law when I asked for an alliance. I was excited to see your daughter in law supposing that you might have chosen someone who is the best as a wife for your son. But, I don't understand how you chose this girl for Ashu. You have done injustice to Ashu. He deserve a girl much better than this girl," the lady said.
"Vintha, I always dreamt to get a daughter in the form of a daughter in law. Rudhrani has all the qualities which I expected from Ashu's wife. She always treats us as her parents. If you think only being beautiful is the only criteria to become a wife or daughter in law, you are wrong.
We rejected your daughter not to insult you but we need a daughter in law who keeps our family united but not the one who takes Ashu away from us. Ashu is our only son and we can't live without seeing him. Your daughter got married just before two months and was already shifted to another apartment with her husband. I recently met Mrs. Vasudev, mother in law of your daughter. She told everything.
My daughter Rudhrani, never tries to separate Ashu from us, even in dreams. Her love and heart are pure and she doesn't know planning against her inlaws. We want a daughter in law who is loving, caring and the best but not the one who is the most beautiful. Our daughter has a beautiful heart and we are glad to have her as a part of the family."
Mom's words surprised me. I know Ashu loves me a lot but now I realized how much my inlaws love me.
"You invited us for dinner and insulted us."
"Look Vintha, I didn't insult you. It's you who tried to insult my daughter. I just said the true differences between my daughter and your daughter," mom said.
That lady washed her hand to leave without having food.
"Aunty, please," I tried to stop her but mom held my hand.
"It's ok Rudhrani. She didn't come for dinner. She just came here to insult us but her plan was backfired. Don't worry. We know about you and we are sure you are perfect to Ashu. God bless you," mom said blessing me.
I went to my room after mom finishing her dinner. I laid down on the bed as Ashu was studying.
"Rudrani, can you please get me a coffee? This topic is really tough," Ashu said leaning backwards on his study chair.
"But Ashu, it's dinner time. I don't think it's good to drink coffee. It may make you skip dinner," I said moving my fingers into his hairs to relax him from stress.
"May be you are right. Having dinner is better."
"Yes, first let's have dinner. If you want after sometime, I will prepare coffee for you."
I was leaving to set the table but Ashu held my wrist and pulled me onto his lap.
"Ashu, leave me."
"Wait, what happened to you? Why are your eyes red and face dull? Did mom say anything to you? Is something wrong?"
"No Ashu, nothing happened to me. Mom never scolds me. Infact mom loves me a lot. Until you are with me, surely I will be happy," I said encircling my arms around his neck and resting myself on his chest. Ashu caressed my hairs and kissed my cheek.
"Then why are you dull sweety? Are you tired? Don't worry, I will bring our dinner, let's have it. Then you take rest," Ashu said softly holding me in his arms carefully.
"I am not tired, Ashu," I replied.
"Then?"
I told him everything that happened.
"It's okay, leave it. Mom answered them in a correct way. The fact is that aunty was jealous of you as we rejected her daughter. That's why she tried hurting you with her harshful words. Jealous comes only when they think you are better than them. The one who are in darkness are never criticised by anyone but the people who are in limelight, often suffer from criticisms. That is because this world has many covetous people and they raise their voice only to hurt others than trying to make any positive difference in this world.
Such people are worthless and useless to this world. Every person in this world born with a purpose to fulfill however few idiots deviate from their purpose and concentrate more on pulling the leg of others. They never fulfill their purpose and become a hindering stone in our way of fulfilling our purpose and need a hard kick. We should just kick them hard out of our way and move on towards our purpose and goals rather than wasting our time thinking about such useless idiots."
I smiled with Ashu's words. I noticed his love for me and anger at that lady for hurting me. My sweet husband hates everyone who hurts me. I didn't want anything except my husband's love and happiness of this family. I got such a loving family because of my Ashu and I am ever grateful to him.
"Rudrani, her daughter got married to our family friend. She separated her husband from the family. Her husband thought that her words are true and maybe his parents were harassing her in his absence. Later, he realised the truth. That girl didn't respect her inlaws and felt it as an insult to listen to them and care for them. She didn't feel caring for inlaws is her responsibility but felt as if she was treated as a maid. Knowing her hurtful behaviour towards his parents, her husband slapped her. She made it a very big issue and now seeking divorce saying she never forgives him.
I never understand how people behave that immature and seek divorce for minor issues. Of course, self respect is important but not at the cost of relationships. Now she started criticising her parents for marrying her to that person, her inlaws for becoming a reason behind her divorce and husband for slapping her. At last, she messaged me too criticising and making me responsible for all this mess. She said as I rejected her, she married someone else and now her life got spoiled. She left India and blamed our India for not sanctioning divorce so soon and our laws are wrong encouraging abuse of inlaws and husband. She didn't leave anyone without blaming. She has no guts to accept her mistake though she know she is was wrong. To say sorry and accept mistake, we need lot of courage and cowards can't do it. Instead they blame everyone for their fate rather than thinking how to make their life heaven by getting out of miserable circumstances. The one who criticise parents and motherland are worth for nothing and achieve nothing by the end of their life.
Of course, I agree there are few parents who are really wrong but I am talking about those children who find fault in parents love, concern and caring and misunderstand those as mistrust, restrictions and hatred. Every parent restrict children until certain age to secure them from this evil world but it's not mistrust or doubt on their children. If a parent ask about your friends, it's not that they doubt you but they want to know that all your friends are good. If you are good, it doesn't your friend is also good. India always prioritize love over hatred, relationships over ego, responsibility over power and few necessary restrictions over unlimited freedom. I love our nation because of it's unique characteristics.
I feel I am lucky for choosing this angel over her. You are the best and treats my parents as your parents. You never criticise anyone and still you love your parents though they mistreated you many times. No one can be like you. You are a good daughter, wife, daughter in law, sister and friend. I love you so much."
Ashu kissed my forehead, cheeks, eyes, lips and my neck making me blush and leave myself in his love. He kissed me several times in the neck and then turned me other side to kiss my back. All the while he held me carefully in his arms. I felt bliss and the most surprising thing is I didn't get scared remembering my past.
Suddenly I remembered something and took Ashu to our terrace without telling him the reason. I am sure he will be happy with my surprise. A sweet surprise for my sweet husband.