Sunday Story: 'Is this working?' My Live-in Sasuraal Season 3 - Episode 5

Here's the previous part of this story: Give and Take

“Shhh….Speak slowly. She might listen.” Vaishali hissed to Badi Chachi when they were whispering about a sensitive topic, Akash’s marriage. They were making chapatis in the evening, but as Anika had returned early from the office early, she thought of assisting them in the kitchen. She overheard the tiny bits of conversation between the two senior ladies.

“Aunty, can I help you with something?” She asked Vaishali casually, pretending that she didn’t overhear them.

“Yes, beta. Please peel the potatoes na. We are getting late.” Vaishali requested softly, but Badi Chachi wanted Anika to know what was ‘cooking’ besides chapati-sabji in the kitchen.

“Anika beta, if you don’t mind, can you tell us about your plans? Even Daadi wants to know your thoughts on this arrangement. Have you both decided about marriage? If not, then…” But Vaishali immediately nudged her to keep quiet and focus on the chapatti-rolling task.

“Then?…. I didn’t get you, Badi Chachi.” Anika asked again to confirm.

“It is a bit urgent, beta. It has been more than five months, so we want to know your opinion on this arrangement. Are you comfortable here or not? Do you want to proceed with the marriage or …..not.” Vaishali fumbled as she asked questions.

“Beta, there is one more thing. We are getting many marriage proposals from good families for Akash. One of them is my close relative, she is educated and works in an MNC, and is from a really well-to-do family. If you are not okay with staying with the in-laws, we can check her proposal. Otherwise, we might lose such good proposals and Akash will end up marrying someone else.” Badi Chachi expressed her thoughts indignantly while Anika’s face became pale.

‘I really should do something. Otherwise, Akash might marry someone else. Shall I say that I am comfortable and accept marrying Akash at this moment? Wait a minute. Why do I have to think and decide quickly without even confronting Akash about this? Is he ready to marry someone else in a jiffy? Then, why are we living together?’ Countless thoughts entered Anika’s mind and she could see a blank surface in front of her eyes.

“Aunty, I have peeled the potatoes. I need to make an urgent call to a client. I will be back.” She requested the ladies to spare her for some time as she wanted to relax.

“Beta, you need not decide immediately. Take your time, talk to Akash, speak with your parents, and then let us know.” Vaishali convinced her, noticing the worried expressions on Anika’s face.

“But please hurry and tell us tomorrow. Or else, we might lose all such proposals. It is hard to find a good daughter-in-law these days, beta,” Badi Chachi retorted with a sneer.

Anika fled to the bedroom and found herself in a maze of thoughts. Of course, she was comfortable staying with the in-laws. She loved Akash to the core. But was it the right time to get married and start a new chapter of life?

                                                            -x-

“Hi, Ani. I am so sorry I am late. It had been a rough day at the office. What happened, baby? You look gloomy.” Akash enquired about Anika as he didn’t know about the recent happenings in this house.

“You call yourself the pioneer of the live-in with sasuraal’ system, right? And you are also looking for girls as a backup and want me to hurry up in deciding whether I want to marry? Oh yes, it is because you are worried that all good girls might be taken, and you will end up alone in this world. Are you completely okay that if I don’t marry you, you will be happily married to Badi Chachi’s close relative within the next 6 months? Wow! Wonderful planning!” Anika was in a dramatic mood that evening.

Akash stared at Anika in terror. He had never imagined during his commute from office to home that she might react in that weird way. From where on Earth did she have those bizarre ideas about his marriage and future?

“Anika, are you okay? Are you down? Shall I order chocolates and a pizza? What about momos?” He asked with concern and a plain smile on his face, trying to place an order from an online food delivery app.

“I am not down.” She said strongly. “I am vigilant about what’s happening in this house without my knowledge. I went to the kitchen to help Aunty and Badi Chachi and they were discussing a marriage proposal for you. Can you imagine how I must have felt? Am I looking for guys or are my parents pressurizing me to make a decision? No, why will they? Only joint families make good decisions while in nuclear families, parents are not worried about their kids, right? You are searching for good brides and I am here peeling potatoes in the kitchen for you. It sounded like an ultimatum to me – decide tomorrow or we will marry off Akash! It is not acceptable, Mr. Akash Trivedi.”

It seemed that Anika was terribly fumed up and her ‘I am a feminist’ mode was on. Akash tried to escape from the scene, but he guessed his act would result in a disaster.

“Ani baby, I am not looking for girls. Who told you? In fact, I wanted to tell you something. Do you remember the project on which I was working and had to go to Bengaluru often? There is an important update on it.”

It seemed Akash was attempting to divert her attention from his marriage talks to his office politics, but Anika understood his intentions very well. She covered her ears and roared in rage, “I am not listening to you and your Boss’ talks. You will soon get married, you can discuss it with your new wife belonging to a good, joint family, understand?”

“Hey, that ‘understand’ sounded like Bade Chacha,” Akash cracked a joke but it worsened the situation. He grabbed Anika by her shoulders tenderly and said quietly, “I will have to move to Bengaluru for one year.”

Suddenly, Anika’s mind went blank and she gazed at him in shock. “What? What about us then, Akash?” She forgot about his marriage talks and her anger vanished within a fraction of second.

“It will always be ‘us,’ Anika.” He added calmly, looking into her eyes, “Always ‘us.’”

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