“What’s wrong with me? What do I lack? You showed me the photo today. Look at the man your family has chosen for you. Even he and his complexion would lose to a crow.”
“Listen carefully. If you say anything about my husband again, I swear I’ll push you off this bridge. I’m telling you.”
“Then come. The two of us can fall and die together. I have no life without you, Sathya… Come.” He reached for her hand.
Before he could touch her, there was a loud smack against his cheek.
A ringing filled his ear. Manoj, dizzy and disoriented, needed a few minutes before he could stand properly.
When he finally steadied himself and looked ahead, he saw Sathya trembling with uncontrollable fear and clinging to Hari. He did not even have the courage to meet Hari’s furious gaze.
“Hari…” Sathya trembled.
“It’s all right. Don’t be afraid.” He gently stroked her head to comfort her.
Manoj could not bear the thought of receiving another blow from this man.
“Sorry, Sathya…”
“Sorry, sir,” he said hurriedly, grabbed his bike, and left.
“Hari, I’m sorry.”
He remained silent.
“I didn’t know he had thoughts like this. At the office, he always behaved very well with me.”
“He said he needed some help, and that’s why I came. But halfway here, I started feeling that something wasn’t right. I was confused. I didn’t feel I could suddenly suspect someone I had known for years. That’s why, when we came near this bridge, I sent you that message. I called you because I wanted you to know if anything happened to me.”
“Sathya…”
This time it was Hari’s turn to be overcome with emotion.
“I will never let anything like that happen to you, my dear. Don’t ever say something like that again.” He pulled her into a tight embrace.
After they returned to their respective homes, it was only after some time that the impact of what had happened slowly began to fade.
Later that night, they began their usual private phone conversation.
“Sathya, be a little careful around that Manoj. I feel we should frighten him a little so that he stays away. But I wonder if your family will worry if they come to know about this. In any case, I’ll come to your house tomorrow morning and talk to them.”
“Hmm…”
“What?”
“Hari, I have decided that from now on I shouldn’t talk to anyone outside.”
“Hey, Sathya, what kind of foolishness is that? How can you live without talking to anyone?”
“I normally talk to everyone. I never imagined that he would think about me like this.” There was frustration in her voice.
“I don’t like this decision of yours, Sathya. What exactly was your fault in what happened today? I love the fact that you are simply yourself. Don’t squeeze yourself into a tiny shell just because of this. Do you understand?”
“Hmm…”
“Be friendly with everyone within your boundaries, but don’t trust anyone excessively, all right?”
“Hmm…”
“But when you were in danger, you called me instead of your father or your brother. Do you realise how that makes me feel? I feel like I’m floating in the sky. Am I really that special to you?”
“Don’t get carried away. If I’d called Dad, by now my ears would have been sore from all his advice. If I’d called my brother, not only would Manoj have had a red cheek, mine would have been red too. That’s why I called you.”
“My Sathya is back to her usual self…” he said with relief.
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