"Even when I feel lost, I remind myself—God is still writing my story, and His endings are always beautiful."
X—X—X
NANDINI
My day can’t be worse than this. Today, I fought with Manik, then the guard issue, and now, THIS.
This?
You guys must be wondering what I meant by “this,” right?
Well, my maternal aunt, my Nani, called me this afternoon to come and meet her. And this is the only thing that I never wanted. She is a cruel bitch in the form of a lady.
I know I must be grateful to her and her family for raising me after my parents' death, but it must have been good if I had been raised in an orphanage rather than in her house.
Although I am well settled in financial terms and married, I AM NOT INDEPENDENT. My weak point still lies under her foot that she always presses if I ever try to go against her.
And that weak point is my father’s dream home, “DREAM HERITAGE.”
Being an orphan, my father saw every struggle and went through it until he met the love of his life, my mother. My mother belonged to a middle-class conservative family. Who can never allow a love marriage, but my mother went against them and married him and had me, the apple of their eyes.
The story doesn’t end here. With the little money he earned and by collecting pennies, he bought land on the outskirts for his dream project. He wanted to create a shelter for those who have nowhere to call home. He wanted to give them a house, the house which he never had until he met my mother.
He was a good man, a good husband, and a good father. He showers all his love on my mother and me, like we are the only people he can see on this planet. But he made a wrong decision, and that decision bound me with MurthyS.
He named that piece of land in my mother’s name, but after her death, my maternal aunt became the owner of the land as she was the first nominee. And, I come as a buy one get one free package deal. Kishori Murthy became my legal guardian, and I became the money-making machine that she used like tissue paper.
In short, I earn, they spend, the end.
Today, I earn enough to buy 10 such lands, but I want that single piece of land so that I can fulfill my father’s dream. I wanted him to show that his daughter is here to make his dream come true.
I am confident that one day I will make his dream come into reality, no matter how much struggle I have to conquer, because I know he never dreamed of anything except that.
That’s why I am here, standing in front of her to please her. According to her deal, I have to be obedient to her, and she will name that land on me in her will, while the rest of the properties will be given to her son. Well, I didn’t want those properties, either.
And, since childhood, I only prayed for her death. I know I am being selfish here, I am tainting my parents’ upbringing, but I can’t do anything. She deserves that because I went through a lot. I never faced a financial issue or any kind of physical assault, but mental assault can't be less than that. They made me do the things that I never wanted in the first place, but the past is past, and I have to stay focused on the present.
“I heard that you rejected a film offer.” She started bringing me back from my thoughts, and I stayed silent as I predicted the same.
Kavya is her informer. She informs every tiny detail of me to her if I ever go against her or cause any loss. And, this time, I rejected a big banner’s 10 crore project. So, I knew this was coming.
“I…. Umm….” Why do I always stammer and sweat in front of her?
Because of fear, my heart mocks me. Somewhere, I knew that was correct.
“Don’t give me any excuses like you have no dates and are not fine.” She looks at me with those big predator eyes of hers and continues, “Kavya already informed me that, unfortunately, you are doing fine and also have dates for that project.”
“I… The shoot for that project is in Switzerland and will need me there for two months, and… I don’t think my husband will let me go there for two months.”
Lie, a proper lie. My in-laws never stopped me from doing anything in this one month. They are okay with everything until I am fine, and my husband, well, that was a rare case. He doesn’t care about my whereabouts.
I am using their name to excuse myself from this situation, but I know her well. She won’t let me go easily with that.
“Oh… yaa… I forgot that you are married and have a family, and you need their permission to go for outdoor shoots. How unfortunate!” She threw her glass in my direction, getting angry. The glass shattered around my feet, but luckily, nothing harmed me. She can never harm me, as she knows she is earning wealth through my face.
One cut on my body, and she will lose crores in a week. That’s her weak point. Evil smirk
She reached near me and said aloud, “I don’t care about your fucking in-laws.” She cupped my cheeks roughly, causing me to whimper, “You are going there on your fucking deathbed, and that’s final.”
“But I need a break,” I said, and she left my cheeks with surprise. “I have been working continuously for six months, and I don’t think my body will endure anymore.”
This is true; I am working for 12 hours a day without a single holiday in between, and that is my limit. I know I will get ill if I don’t stop here. I can feel the changes in my body and the changes in my eating capacity. And I can bet on it that it was not good. Today, Chachi and Maa noticed me, and I dismissed them with a dieting excuse, but I can’t do that every time. They are genuinely concerned about me, and I can’t get ill because it will worry them.
For me, work is my worship, but if it comes in between my health, then it’s okay to let it go for some time. And I am ready for it.
She smiles, a devilish smile. Her smile is nothing but a silence before a storm. She sat on the couch like a queen who rules the world, and I was nothing but a pawn at her feet.
“I heard that HAVE FOOD’s turnover last year was around 100 crores or something, right?”
This evil bitch got my second weak point as well. I can’t let anything harm come near MY FAMILY.
She continues with a smile, “What if the Income Tax department comes to the company for inspection? That will ruin the company’s image, no?”
She can do that as her son, my Mama, is a corrupt officer in the IT department. I can’t let that happen just because they are related to me.
“Fine!” I took a deep breath and agreed, as I didn’t have any other choice. “I will do that.”
“Good decision, darling.” She and Kavya both laugh at my situation.
One day, I will laugh.
“By the way, Darling, you have to invest in Sonali’s debut drama.” She orders authoritatively, making me go silent. “It will cost just 6 to 7 Cr.”
Ah… I won’t do that on my deathbed.
Sonali, another bitch of Murthys. She is the granddaughter of hers, always ahead of her in bitchy things. Trained by Kishori Murthy herself.
Now, it’s my showtime. “I will do either the Switzerland project or produce Sonali’s drama; the choice is yours.” The ball is finally in her court.
“My puppet got her voice, nice!” She exclaimed and continued, “My darling, you are playing with fire.” She pulled my hair, bringing my face closer to herself, making me wince. “You will pay for your behavior.”
Ahh…. damn! This hurts. I felt like my hair roots would fall off if she didn’t leave me in the next second.
“Or else, I say, your family will pay for your behavior.” Smirking, she went away, leaving a Kavya who was happy with my situation. Half of my problems will end if she goes away from me.
“Let’s go, Nandini. You have to resume your shoot, and I have to give the affirmation message for the Switzerland project.” Kavya said and went out.
Oh god! When will I come out of this mess and live my life as I want?
After another hectic 6 hours of the shoot, I finally reached home and slumped down on the couch, as I knew the Malhotras’ men were not there at this time. I need a very good and peaceful sleep, but peace has enmity with me. I closed my eyes and smelled the good aroma of food that was coming from the kitchen.
“You come early, Nandini.” I heard Maa’s voice and looked up. She sat beside my head, and momentarily, I kept my head on her lap. She roams her hand on my scalp with love, and I close my eyes again as this feels so soothing.
“Hmm… I got packed up early.” I hummed in a low voice.
“Nandini, are you fine?” She presses my shoulder lightly, giving me a little massage, and I smile, seeing her care. “I am a mother, and a mother has a sixth sense that wakes up whenever her child is not well.”
“Maa, you are overthinking. I am alright.” I tried to lessen her worries. She royally ignored my lie and paid attention to my hair.
“Your hair turned so dry. Are you not oiling it properly?”
I pout like a little kid, showing my tantrum to her. I know that she is the only one who can bear my tantrums. Not only her but everyone bears my tantrums.
“Come, I will give you a hot oil hair massage…”
“Didi, do that later.” Before Maa can complete her sentence, Chachi interrupts while placing a hot coffee and a sandwich on the table. “Nandini, have this first. You must be hungry.”
My head was bursting with pain before coming here, and now, I am all fine and showing tantrums to them. They are my peace. All the tensions left my mind when I came to MY HOME.
“Chachi…” I cried, and she stuffed the sandwich in my mouth, making Maa laugh.
“Have it first, then cry as much as you want.” Chachi scolded me.
“Bhabhi…” Here comes my stress buster, Varun. He is smiling extra sweetly, and I know something is wrong with him.
“Have you completed your homework, Varun?” Chachi asks.
“Yes, Maa.” He answers positively, and I am sure that something is not right.
He completed his homework without getting any beating sessions from his elder brother, which was strange.
“What do you want from your Bhabhi, little devil?” Maa asks the question that I wanted.
He smiled innocently and forwarded a bundle of 50 papers. “Bhabhi, please sign these for me.”
Oh… he needs my autograph on these papers. I look at the bundle and gulp. “All these papers?” He nods, and I look at Maa and Chachi, who are also suspicious.
“Why?” Maa asks but gets answers from Manik.
“So that he can sell them to his friends.” Manik enters with Dad and Chacha Ji. He spares a look at me before turning towards Varun again. “Right, bro?” He looks angry, and Varun’s silence gives us affirmation.
Wow! Varun proved that he belongs to a business family, but this is wrong.
“How much are you taking for one signature, Varun?” Chacha Ji asked angrily. We all stood up, as this was going to be hard for everyone. Varun is our baby and very dear to us. We are ready to spoil him, but to a certain limit.
Although Manik is here to keep him grounded, he never fulfills his unethical demands. I find this nice because it shows that he will be a good father. He loves him but, at the same time, keeps a check on his behavior.
I came out of my thoughts, hearing Varun’s reply. “100 rupees.” He looked down in shame, and I gasped because this was huge. He is charging 100 rupees for my autograph, and the people are ready to pay.
AM I THAT POPULAR?
“And, why so?” Manik asks, crossing his arms around his chest, giving murderous looks to my little boy.
“I need extra pocket money.” Varun shutters, and somewhere, I saw myself in him. I can feel this fear. I can relate to him; that's why I held Manik’s hand lightly to calm him. I can’t see Varun in this fear.
Unexpectedly, Manik calms down and says, “Then, do wash my car daily, and I will pay you 100 rs for that.” We look at him as if we heard something irrelevant. He is ready to pay him, but on his condition. The elder brother syndrome. He can’t see him sad, nor does he help him with the wrong things.
I look at Dad’s smiling face as he winks at me, making me confused.
Manik continues to threaten Varun, “Stop all these wrongdoings, or else I will not even think before sending you to the boarding school.”
His all-time favorite threat, and as usual, it worked on Varun.
“Understand?” He yelled, and Varun nodded only to hear his loud tone again.
“I need words, Mr. Varun Malhotra.” He said dominantly, and for a second, I, too, shuddered with his aura.
The Devil Malhotra can give competition to Annabelle’s doll. And, trust me, the day will be near when he will defeat Annabelle.
“Yes.” My poor Varun Baby says in a low voice.
Everyone left for their room, but I stayed there for Varun. He turns and hugs me while pouting with tears in his eyes.
“Bhabhi, give him a tough competition. Take revenge on him for me. Make him sleep on the couch because he is very bad.” I chuckle and wipe his tears.
“Don’t worry, Baby boy, I will take your revenge. We are in one team.” I said to make him feel good. He smiles after getting my affirmation while I continue, “By the way, why did you need extra pocket money?”
OH MY GOD, THE VARUN MALHOTRA BLUSHED!
“Woh… Promise me that you won’t tell anyone. Not even to Bhai.” I promised him, “I am going on my first date.” He smiled sheepishly, and I teased him.
“Oh Oh… Little Malhotra is in love.”
“Bhabhi, this is not love. I am just going on a date because I like her.”
“Liking is a first step towards LOVE, Baby.” I teased him, and he cribbed just like me.
These two brothers are so different.
To be continued…