Second Chance

Chapter 06

Supriya POV
I soon got a conformation massage on my phone on booking ticket for India. It was of tonight 10 p.m, just in 7 hours from now. I decided to meet my parents-in-law before leaving, so I called the house driver and asked to get the car ready. The kids were sitting on dining table and having snacks when Arun saw me descending downstairs with my luggage. I got down with my 2 luggage bags as the 2 maids approached me to help and I told them to keep the bags in the car.
"Are you going somewhere, Maa?" Arun asked as soon as the maids went with my bags.
"Yes! I am going to India. Back to my family." I said as I started to walk out.
"When will you be back?" it was Arthi to asked. I decided against answering and shake my head as I head out to the car.
It took like an hour and 20 minutes to reach my in laws house or mansion one could say. I took my luggage out and told the driver to go back. I then called a taxi, which said to take some 30 minutes to reach here.
I rang the bell and soon the door opened. It was a maid who opened the door. She recognized me and asked if she could take my luggage bags inside, which I declined and ask her to keep them on side of door so it will be easier for me to get them while leaving. My mother in law was there with some of her friends having a small tea party. So it means my father in law must be out with his friends.
"Supriya! What a pleasant surprise. You should have told me earlier that you were going to come. I would have stopped your father in law from going out. You know it's been days last I saw you. Please have a sit."
"No it's okay, mom. I just came to say bye to you and dad. I would be leaving now. See ya. Bye." I said as I turned around to exit and took my luggage from the side of door and came out of mansion.
"Supriya, wait." I was waiting for my taxi when I hear mom call from behind. " Where are you going? And for how long?" she asked me.
"I am going back to India, mom. And for how long? Maybe forever. I.... I plan to divorce. I plan to divorce Aryanji, mom."
"What?" "Why?" I hear two simultaneously reply. 1st one was of mom and 2nd was of my sister in law, who was standing behind mom.
"You know why, didi. I will talk to a lawyer soon after reaching to India, maybe in a week or two. My taxi is here mom. Bye." I said as I saw the taxi stop like in front of me.
"Supriya Gupta?" the driver asked as he came out of his taxi. I nodded as I signal towards my luggage bags.
"Supriya, listen to me..." Mom tried to say something but I cut her off in the middle.
"Mom please! I am sorry, so sorry but I give up. I can't not any more. I just can't." I said while shaking my head in 'No'. I saw my sister in laws, Avantika, eyes getting damp. As she is ready to cry. Her face clearly shows that she wants to stop me but didn't said a word.
"Bye mom. Talk to you later." and signal driver to drive.
I took one last look towards them as the taxi moved forward and close my eyes to keep me from crying.
* Flashback *
It was my second day at my in-law's house and as Indian traditions, I woke up early to do puja (pray) and get God's blessing for my 'pehli rasoi' (first time cooking at in-laws as daughter-in-law). My first day went by settling in and sleeping due to uncertain feeling over my body, which my mother-in-law said was jet lag. I didn't see my husband, from yesterday. He had to go to some work matters to Chicago.
The whole house was calm. Even though it was decorated exaggerately but it didn't felt like a house where a marriage had happened. I was walking aimlessly when suddenly someone bump into me. It was a girl of my age maybe a little older.
"I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going." I said to her bending a little.
"No. No. It's OK. Even I wasn't looking." she said while staring at me. "Supriya. Right?"
"How do you kno.."
"Cause you got married to my brother. Hi! I am Avantika, your.. sister-in-law."
"I am so sorry. I didn't know. I mean..."
"H Hey hey, it's OK. I know how fast everything happens. You were looking for something?"
"Puja ghar? I mean.."
"Go straight to the hall and take right. Grandma will be there. Bye I am getting late for college."
I saw an elderly woman sitting in front of God Lord Ram and Mata Sita idoms. See was reading Geeta and in right hand was a rudra-mala. She reminded me of my grandmother, who would also sits in front of God's idoms for hrs and read Geeta.
The lady saw me standing there signal to come and sit. I do as she says as she repeat everything she reads. It is a pleasant atmosphere until I hear my mother-in-law shout for coffee. To know that it was already noon. I look to see the grandma face turn distort as mumbled about how she didn't like it when her daughter-in-law acts unmannered. And how she is happy to finally have an Indian cultured daughter-in-law for her grandson. How she wish her son could turn his wife a little culture now that she herself is a mother-in-law.
She smiled at me as returned her smile knowing she was only means good nothing bad. She was just babbling.
*Flashback Over *
She was 1st person over there who made me feel acceptance. She use to tell me or you could say babble to me about my mother-in-law whereas mom would babble about her. They never said anything good about each other but one could still see the love they had in them.
Mom is half Indian as her mother is from this country, born and brought up here she is completely like them. Whereas for dad, his father, my grandfather-in-law came here with his wife and 4 kids and settled in. He was a merchant who came here for a new start and find his way to phosphor. After leaving his family business in India, so his brother won't separate the family for family heirlooms and properties.
Grandma was the only person with whom I could be the way I was in India. Even after I shifted away with Aryanji, I would frequently visit her just to listen Geeta or Mahabharat schok from her.
I was brought back from my mindset wonder world as the taxi stop in airport parking. I was already 9:20. I paid the driver and entered airport with my luggage to have them and myself checked in.
I switched off my phone and relaxed back in sits as the plane took off. Tears flowed out of my eyes and I said one last goodbye to everyone in my heart.