Seven Vows Part 1- Published

Pichkari

It was Holi. Since it was not being celebrated in Varma house Rajasekhar and Tilak went to the office saying there is backlog of work and they need to clear it. Children insisted on seeing the Holi fair so Sudhir had taken all of them to the fair ground. Even Poornima tagged along as she felt she needed a break.

Only Sreedhar was in the house, but he was busy writing his retail plan. Thinking of finishing it that day. Ladies were preparing lunch

" Maa masala tea " told Sreedhar as he stretched his arms and got up from the dining table.

" Yes Beta give me some 5-10 mins" told Maheswari

Sreedhar went near the door and stood there. From there he could see their gate and he could also see children playing with Pichkari. He smiled as he thought about the Holi the previous year.

He had come just for 1 day break to play Holi with family.

" Sreedhar this year I have got a hiding place. You cant catch me with pichkari" told Murali. Murali never liked getting drenched in Pichkari. And Sreedhar's favourite hobby was ensuring he gets drenched with colored water from Pichkari. It was always hide and seek for Holi. Before Sreedhar could go out and get his hands on pichkari Murali will escape and Sreedhar will running be across every alley in search of his brother. There were Mohalla boys who helped him with tips and every year he managed to catch his brother and drench him in pichkari before the day was over.

"Bhaiyya don't challenge, you know I have always won the challenge" told Sreedhar

" Let us see this time " told Murali

Like Murali told Sreedhar was finding it difficult to find him. He had searched across alleys, common hiding places, even went close near many people to check if it was Murali as it was becoming increasingly difficult to identify people as everyone had colors in their face. Sreedhar had literally given up and then it struck him. He had raced to the house and opened the attic door and saw his brother inside the attic

" Caught you Bhaiyya " and he dragged Murali to the garden

" Now get my pichkari treatment " he zoomed the pichkari at Murali

" Sreedhar " and he heard a crash. He came back to the present only to realize he had held Suman's hand unexpectedly and due to the impact the tea cup she was holding had crashed. Sreedhar looked at Suman and unable to control his emotions he went to his room and slammed the door shut

Suman looked at him trying to hide her emotions as she bent and began cleaning the floor

In the room Sreedhar kept his head in his hand and began to cry " What sin I do to deserve this God. Why it has to be between my brother and my love. Couldn't there have been better way. The last time I saw Murali Bhaiyya I had drenched him in colors. Never thought I will not see him again and the woman whom I took in my arms will stand in front of me as his widow, my bhabi. Why in one month everything was changed. Why? Why did you take him away so brutally. It is all my mistake. If I had told about Suman then the marriage wouldn't have happened. You would have been there. She wouldn't be put through this much suffering. US, US and US. My US dream cost everyone everything" he lamented

Maheswari made the tea second time. Vindhya offered to take it. Maheswari gave it to Suman

" Go, he has to accept truth. He has to know Murali is not there and we all have to live with that. There is no point lamenting about it. Memories will be there. But memories should never make you run away from reality" told Maheswari

Suman opened the door of Sreedhar's room. He was still sitting with head in his hands

" Sreedhar " she called gently. He raised his head and looked at her. Suman could see his eyes were red from crying

" You feel color of love went more deep than you intended " Suman asked

" Which love Suman. Both love for me is deep. I was only lamenting why God gave me this tough choice between you and Murali Bhaiyya. If you were not there obviously I wouldn't have been there. I could never take that guilt of ignoring your multiple pleas to get married. But if you were not there neither would Murali Bhaiyya survived as mom says. If you had committed suicide Murali Bhaiyya would have never been able to take that brutal rejection by a woman"

" Maa says that way" asked Suman

" Yes she says that way. She had said it when she knew you were not in agreement to marry Murali Bhaiyya. Then if both of us are not there what would have happened to Sudhir Bhaiyya. His sole purpose of giving up dreams were we both. I am sure Bhaiyya might have gone insane if destiny had given him that. And Tilak Bhaiyya well less said about him. Papa the family for whom he had sent away Anu Bhabi, that family itself wouldn't have existed"

Suman looked at him " So don't you see Sumi, you exist, so I exist, hope exists. Isnt it an irony. You manipulate people to meet your selfish needs then in one stroke the nature, God whatever you call it that power shows you, who is the ultimate master"

" Tea" she held the cup. He took it from her hand " Sumi yes I have pain, it will be there. But don't ever think, I will ever think loving you was a mistake. You are the best thing that has happened to me Sumi and I will love you always " . Suman looked at him , her eyes glistening seeing the warmth and love in his eyes for her

Vrb2