Sunday Story "My Live-in Sasuraal" Season 2 - Episode 3 - "It's all in the destiny"

Here's the link to the previous part of the story: All are great chefs in this house.

Anika and Akash were in a jovial mood that day. They made an impulsive plan of watching a romcom movie and hanging out at the mall. They grabbed a quick bite, sipped on mojitos and headed towards Marine Drive. 👫

“We live together, but I don’t know why I still feel that I am meeting you after a long time?” Akash said in mockery to which Anika added more sarcasm.

“It is because there is 100 percent surveillance in the house. I hope this doesn’t happen after our marriage.”

“Wow! Someone is talking about marriage within a week of live-in.” Akash teased her.💍

They spent almost three hours at Marine Drive and returned home late at night. It was around 1 a.m. yet it seemed someone was awake at that hour.

“Bhaiya, bhabhi, I mean gonna-be-bhabhi,” Shivam quivered. He was the eldest kid of Bade Chacha.

“Are you still awake, Shivam? Planning to top the 12^th Boards this year?” Akash asked easily who wasn’t aware that Shivam would be still awake.

“Yes, Bhaiya! But tomorrow morning, you are going to face the music. Everyone was mad at both of you for not informing beforehand. You should have at least called and informed them that you had an outing plan. Santosh Chacha was furious, he said, ‘my son has lost his mannerisms and sanskars with the new girl in his life.’” 😕 And then, Shivam apologetically glanced at Anika and peeped in his textbook.

Anika and Akash exchanged worried looks and marched towards their respective bedrooms. It was already late; they couldn’t afford to lose their quality sleep and brainstorm on the excuses for planning an outing.

The next morning, when Anika woke up, there was some whispering in the kitchen amongst the ladies.

“Our mothers never taught us to be negligent at the in-laws’ place. Not informing the elders, waking up late in the mornings, ordering from restaurants – we never had in our destiny, bhabhi.” Badi Chachi smirked and as she noticed Anika’s presence in the kitchen, she immediately changed her tone, “How was your sleep, beta?”

“Aunty, I am sorry that we didn’t inform you while planning our outing. It was a weekend, and so, we thought of having some fun. Anyways, we hardly find time to talk to each other at home.” Anika calmly responded to Vaishali and ignored Badi Chachi’s questions completely.

“Anika beta, we waited for you till 9 p.m. for dinner. It is okay, you guys should spend more time with each other. But beta, you are living in a family now. We don’t want you to seek permission for us to hang out. Only informing is enough. Bade Chacha, Akash’s Papa, Daadi, all these are elders in this house. They will feel better and respected when you inform them about your plan.” Listening to Vaishali’s soft words, Anika felt better. She was hurt and disappointed with Badi Chachi’s remarks as she criticized her bringing-up.

                                                                                                              -x-

In the evening, when Chhoti Chachi and Anika were having a conversation, they discussed their lives.

“Everything changes after marriage. I was just like you before marriage. I woke up at 8-9 a.m. Only Mom wouldn’t get mad at me, but my grandmother was strict about a girl’s normal routine. She would scold me when I would wake up late. And I would fight with her. This can’t happen after marriage. Whom will you fight with? Your in-laws?” Chhoti Chachi was only three years elder to Anika, and so, talking to her was pretty comfortable.

“Everyone needs a rest day. If men go to work and get tired, then why can’t women demand a rest day? It is okay to relax for a day. We are not machines, we are human beings.” Anika agitated.

“Anika, you are saying all the right things. But don’t say it in front of anyone. It sounds cool to say, but they will not like it.” Chhoti Chachi suggested and warned her.

“Then, they will get a red flag ❌ of my behavior.” Anika mocked.

When the ladies were retiring post-dinner, Anika decided to discuss this topic.

“Beta, we know you are a lawyer. But please keep your profession in the office and court, and not in the house. Don’t try to be an activist here.” Badi Chachi said rudely to Anika, who didn’t flinch at all as she had expected the usual reaction.

“Chachi, you always say that it is all about destiny. Let us change the destiny for one day and take it in our hands. Let things be relaxed for at least one day at home. Let us all accept that we are human beings and not robots.”

Vaishali wanted to stop Anika, but even she wanted a rest day once a week. “So, we can wake up late and order food from outside?” She asked, her eyes pleading for more explanation.

“No rules, Aunty, no rules! We all work hard the whole week. You don’t have to slog harder on your rest day. That’s it! I have also talked to Daadi about this and she is also okay.”

“You have talked to Daadi about this. She never allowed us to have a rest day even when I was pregnant for the first time.” Badi Chachi growled when she heard it. She couldn’t believe Daadi had changed her old ways of treating the daughters-in-law of the household.

“Did Daadi really agree on this? How?” Vaishali asked in half-excitement and half-curiosity.

“Oh, she is an open-minded woman. 👵 She just needed something to open her mind and I did it.” Anika said, blushing in embarrassment as Vaishali and the two Chachis stared at her in awe.

“It will be so nice! It is a juggling task for me to help and take care of Ayan the whole day. I will get some good sleep on Sunday mornings henceforth.” Chhoti Chachi squeaked happily.

While the three ladies were happily chirping about the new Sunday-morning system, Badi Chachi ogled at Anika in terror 😨 and murmured in her mind, ‘This girl is going to change the destiny of this house.’ 

With the dynamics already changing, we wonder what is stored next in this unique family setup!