Eklavya #Book I

Chapter LXIX

It was an eerily quiet afternoon as both Upendra and Pradeep were fast asleep in their rooms. Aarav and friends were playing on Krishna's terrace and the loud ruckus they were creating could be heard in Rathore household too.

Shivangi was making a beeline to the kitchen for water when she heard Radha informing Bhagyashree about visiting Kusumlata and asking about her health as the latter was feeling under the weather lately.

Her heart had sunk when she grasped the original motive behind her sudden visit. In the hope of somehow shielding her sister from whatever their Maa had decided, Shivangi had rushed behind her and called after her.

Radha turned when she heard her elder daughter calling out to her in desperation, "Maa..."

Reaching her hastily, Shivangi panted then timidly asked, "Maa... Are you going to Advay's home?"

Radha had only pursed her lips in a thin line and said nothing. Shivangi's voice turned to a desperate plea, "Why Maa? Please don't do this. Anu will be extremely hurt. At least listen to her first."

"I do not wish to discuss my decision with you Shivangi. Especially considering how you also hid everything from me along with your sister." Radha emphasized what she thought of Shivangi deliberately keeping her in the dark, "And you're already aware of my strong opinions against young love."

Shivangi's head hung low as she listened quietly to her Maa. Radha exhaled sharply, feeling the onset of an excruciating headache.

"I'm doing what I think is good for my daughter." Saying so Radha had turned and left with determined steps before Shivangi could get a word in her sister's defense.

A strange melancholy had loomed over her as she imagined Anamika's obvious reaction to all this. A lump had formed in her throat as helplessness settled deep within her.

~*~*~*~*~

Kasturi had been anxiously pacing the living room since Radha went with Eklavya, citing the need for privacy for the conversation. Ira who sat on one of the sofas, looked equally if not more worried, as she watched her Maa fretting continuously.

It was only when they heard Radha descending the stairs did, they stop.

Kasturi looked searchingly at Radha's somber face when she came into view. Not addressing the glaring question in the elder woman's eyes, Radha instead said, "Anamika will come here in some time... for the last time."

Ira gasped realizing the gravity of the situation and opened her mouth to say something when an admonishing look from Kasturi mummed her instantly. Heaving a sad sigh, "I understand where you're coming from Radha. But this is no solution. I fear it might aggravate things further."

"My decision is irreversible didi," Radha stated stiffly. "And Eklavya had already given me his word on this." This unsettled Ira deeply,

Kasturi shook her head and then said, "This home has seen Anu's childhood. For me, she's always been my daughter and for her... this will always be her home. She can come whenever she pleases. And you've no say in it."

Kasturi's words were terse as she stated her opinion. Radha's eyes turned tearful at that.

"Of course! I understand your reservations. I'm a mother too. And I realize how awfully cruel our society is but this high-handedness is not right either."

Exhaling the sudden emotional fervor, Kasturi spoke in a soft almost pleading tone, "I had my suspicions about their closeness for some time now," which piqued Radha's interest. "Listen to me completely..." Kasturi admonished instantly when she saw Radha was going to interject.