Page 65

Story: Tainted Bride

Upon hearing this, Prakram immediately lifts Aashi from Digvijay's lap and begins to take her with him, holding Avishka's shoulder. However, Vishwajeet, the uncle, intervenes.

"It hasn't been long since your daughter-in-law arrived, and you've already started loving her very much, lest she throw you out of your house after grabbing all the property."

"They are my property... I was neither greedy for property before nor am I greedy for it now because God's gift is more than enough. I have one more thing to say about saving the property. Those who have brains can rebuild the property, and at the same time, they also save very well what they have earned over the years."

After saying her words, Sandhya looks towards Prakram, who was looking at her, and signals for him to leave immediately; as a result, he quickly leaves from there with Aashi and Avishka. They reach the third floor, and Avishka is constantly walking with them with her head bowed. She sees her room in front, where she desperately wants to relax for a whilebecause this drama has made her feel so strange. However, as she was walking, Prakram, who had been holding her by the shoulder, suddenly turned, and in an instant, she found herself in Prakram's room. As soon as Prakram enters the room, he releases her shoulder, closes the door, and informs her.

"Nanny's room is not yours now; you have to stay here... in your husband's room.”

Avishka, who had been living comfortably in the other room even after her marriage to Prakram, was utterly disturbed by this situation. Prakram leaves Aashi down, and she starts playing with her toys in Prakram's room. Prakram knows very well that Avishka is very disturbed by this, but it is absolutely useless to say or listen to anything here, so he goes to the closest place to relax so that he can wear some relaxing clothes.

Avishka lifts her saree and starts looking at the room. It is not that she has never seen this room before, but today, after coming here, a strange nervousness has again engulfed her. She quietly sits on the sofa and looks at Aashi, who is playing with her toys, but her thoughts have strayed into a realm of memories.

PAST EVENT

"What do you mean by marriage? What kind of things have you started saying suddenly?.... Papa, you know very well that I want to concentrate on my career at this time."

"I am very serious about whatever I am talking about. All I know is that I do not understand at all what to concentrate on in your career. I wanted to study well and become a professor. Now that you have achieved this, could you please provide some insight into the type of concentration you require?"

"Papa, what has happened to you suddenly? I am not able to understand. For the last two days, you have been insisting on getting married. Before today, you had never even mentioned the topic of marriage. Every time you expressed a desire to marry, you were expected to stand on your own two feet, pursue a successful career, and study extensively. Suddenly, what happened?"

"If I have never talked about this, then it does not mean at all that you do not want to get married. You are well aware that getting married is very important. There is nothing so significant about it that you react like this."

Avishka, who deeply loves her father, never imagined that he would speak to her in such a manner. She leaves, expressing her displeasure, and Kailash abruptly sits down after witnessing her departure. Reema says this to him because she was standing there silently, controlling her crying.

"You don't even know why you are talking so stupidly when you know that just becoming a professor is not her dream; she wants to do a lot more, and she is not really ready for marriage yet."

"I know very well that she is not ready for marriage, but what should I do? I have very little time."

"Do not say it like this."

Avishka, who had forgotten her mobile phone there, was on her way back. Upon hearing this from her mother, she stood silently and began to listen.

"Why should I not say that when my doctor has clearly told me that I have at most 5 to 6 months left? Apart from that I have no hope, I am in the last stage of cancer."

Avishka cannot believe her ears at all that her father has been diagnosed with cancer, and that too in the last stage. She suddenly comes out and hugs her father.

"Why didn't you tell me anything? You are hiding such a big thing and talking nonsense. We will treat you as best as we can, and I will not let anything happen to you."

Kailash closes his eyes tightly because what he did not want is happening. He knows that his daughter loves him very much, and somewhere, this love is what gives them the courage. He lovingly cups his daughter's face and says to her.

"Every father dreams that his children should reach great heights in their careers, and he can see them reaching such heights. At the same time, every father wishes to see his daughter marry."

"Papa, don't talk nonsense to me."

"I am not telling you any nonsense; I am simply saying that I have never told you anything in my life. Today, for the first and last time, I am telling you that I want to see you get married."

"Papa…"

"This is your father's last wish: that I want to see you get married. I want to see you happy very much. My soul will leave my body, but it will never be able to find peace until I see you happy. Quickly give me the happiness that you are very happy with your partner; after your marriage, I will automatically get freedom. Try to understand my point. I have a big dream. I don't know when or what will happen to me, but I want this thing taken away from me. Don't take it away; I want to live this happiness."

Avishka has tears in her eyes, but seeing her father's helpless face, she is unable to do anything and just nods her head.*

PRESENT

Aashi's doll starts dancing to very loud music, due to which Avishka gets distracted, and at this time Prakram also comes out of the closet. She glances at Prakram, who appears troubled at the moment, before turning her gaze to the room, which has suddenly begun to frighten her. Prakram looks towards Avishka, who turns her eyes away. He can see the trouble on her face, but he doesn't have any solution to this problem right now, so without saying anything to her, he focuses all his concentration on Aashi.

CHAPTER 37