Story -5

 

On the afternoon of Diwali, Sudarshan was walking slowly towards Latha's house when his friend Kalyan met him. Kalyan smiled at him and shook his hand, saying, "Friend, hmm.... What's up, uhmm... Tell me soon, Maharaja!"

 

"Should I say hmm...? Should I say no? I'm still thinking about it," said Sudarshan.

 

"No, Sudarshan.... You're already 32 years old. After marriage, children are like babies. Wouldn't it be nice if the children were settled by the time you turn 60?"

 

"What you're saying is probably true, but I'm not interested in getting married again."

 

"Friend, my widow sister in law is very beautiful and intelligent. My father-in-law's family has all come to our house today. She has come too. You should at least meet her once."

 

“Let’s meet again. I’m in a bit of an emergency right now, let’s meet again,” he said, extending his hand to say goodbye.

 

“They don’t seem to have the patience to wait much longer.”

 

“Then tell them to look for other relationships,” said Sudarshan, shaking his hand and leaving.

 

As soon as they reached Latha’s house, he handed 2,000 rupees to her husband Sarthak and said, “bring firecrackers to Rohan and Damini go,” he said.

 

“Firecrackers for so much money….?”

 

“Leave quickly, the children are waiting,” said Sudarshan, not giving him a chance to speak much.

 

“You come, let’s go.”

 

“No, I’ve been cleaning the house since morning and I’m tired. I’ll drink a cup of hot coffee in Latha’s hand and recover.”

 

“Okay, then, we’ll leave,” Sarthak said, a hint of guilt clearly visible in his voice. He took both the children and left.

 

When Latha turned around after the three of them had left and closed the door securely, Sudarshan spread his arms. Latha smiled intoxicatingly with love and leaned against his chest.

 

“Shall we start experiencing the great joy of Diwali?” Sudarshan whispered in her ear.

 

“I am always ready to experience such great joy. Okay, what did you do at home to make me tired, sir?” she asked pleadingly.

 

“I haven’t done anything, darling. I have eaten well, slept well, and gathered all my energy to fully enjoy today’s great joy.”

 

“I didn’t spend so much money on crackers, why spend so much?”

 

“I love seeing Rohan and Damini happy. That’s why I gave it to you.”

 

“Your support is my asset, Sudarshan……”

 

“Your warmth is my strength, Latha, so what, will you wear the saree I gifted you today?”

 

“What’s the question? Will you wear the same saree?”

 

“Okay, the saree you’re wearing right now is annoying.”

 

“Ohhhh….. Hurry up, it’s only for two days….”

 

“Don’t hurry, what else! You’ve cast a spell on me.”

 

“Yes, I’m a witch. Happy Diwali….” Latha said and kissed his cheek sweetly.

 

Happy Diwali, Sudarshan said, pressing his lips to her crimson cheeks and taking her to the bedroom.

 

“You are very beautiful.”

 

“Lie.”

 

“I love you.”

 

“That’s also a lie.”

 

“Stay, I will give you proof of my true love.”

 

When Sudarshan hugged her passionately, Latha moaned as if her bones were broken. Excited by his sweat, she began to cooperate fully. In a few moments, the bedroom was filled with moans of pleasure.

 

When Sarthak returned home after buying crackers for the children, Latha was sitting there taking a bath. What else was Sudarshan preparing to leave for home.

 

“I will come around eight in the evening. Then let’s all get together and burst crackers together,” he said, gently pinching Rohan’s cheeks with love and walking towards the door.

 

“Let’s burst some crackers right now, Uncle,” Rohan said, waiting for Sudarshan’s permission.

 

“Uncle, please, Uncle,” Damini said, sobbing.

 

“No, let’s burst crackers together only after I come,” he said, comforting both the children and leaving.

 

When Sudarshan reached home, his brother was busy decorating the house with his wife Rekha. He entered silently without speaking to either of them. As he entered, Amma confronted him.

 

“Where did you go?” Amma asked.

 

“I went outside.”

 

“I had to bring medicine for your father. If you were going out, shouldn’t you have told me?”

 

"Couldn't you have told Venkatesha to bring it?" “Where is the money for him in home decoration?”

 

“Okay, I’ll go and get it myself.”

 

“Tomorrow I have to take him to the doctor.”

 

“Okay, I’ll take him to the doctor. Anything else…?”

 

“Nothing else.”

 

“Okay, can I go for a bath now?”

 

Sudarshan was in a hurry to leave for Latha’s house. Even though he was getting ready in such a hurry, it was already 8 pm. Just as he was about to leave the house, Venkatesh’s wife’s brother and his wife came to wish him a happy Diwali.

 

As soon as Sudarshan was about to leave the house, he heard his mother’s voice, “How can you leave without speaking politely to the guests who have come to the house?”

 

Hearing this, Sudarshan was shocked and said, “You and Dad should sit down and talk to them.”

 

“Your father’s health is not good. After him, the responsibility of the seniority of the house is not yours, is it? Just for the sake of being the eldest son, sit down with him and talk to him for two minutes.”

 

“Don’t try to put all the responsibilities on me, mOm, just because I am the eldest. Right now, I have to go see my friends.”

 

“Oh, so we have become such a burden to you?”

 

“There is no one who can surpass you in saying such useless things, mOm!”

 

“Yes….. yes…. What are you doing? Before that witch Latha goes home, talk to the guests.”

 

“It is not right to put an owl on someone for no reason, mom……”

 

“Again, what else do you want besides calling someone who makes you happy every day and puts you in her basket a witch?”

 

“Look, mom, I spend my earnings however I want. Have I made you suffer in any way just because of that?”

 

“okay, what is the use of arguing with you? Sit and talk to those who have come for 2 minutes and then go wherever you want. Otherwise, you will feel like insulting them, and Venkatesh and Rekha will also feel bored.”

 

“Okay, I will sit and talk for five minutes and then leave,” he said reluctantly, walking towards the hallway.

 

By the time he had finished talking to the guests, had coffee with them and left the house, it was already half past eight.

 

Seeing Sudarshan leaving, Rekha said, “Brother, you are leaving without setting off firecrackers, right…?”

 

“We will come back in a little while” he said, and left in a bundle of embarrassment, swaying at Rekha’s affectionate words.

 

Sudarshan, who reached Latha's house by walking slowly, was in awe of the scene there. The four of them had gathered and started celebrating by bursting crackers.

 

"Rohan, didn't I tell you to burst crackers only after I arrived?" Sudarshan scolded the child.

 

"Why did you come so late?" the child asked in a sharp retort.

 

"What would have happened to you if you had waited a little longer?"

 

"Uncle, everyone else is bursting crackers, why are you leaving them all and scolding me alone?" Rohan said in a crying voice.

 

"Today is a festival day. Don't scold the children, Sudarshan," Latha came forward and when Rohan's hair filled with hope, the child ran in a hurry to burst the elephant crackers.

 

Now Sudarshan's gaze turned to Sarthak. His gaze was as if this man had come here for some reason. Sarthak, who always looked at him with respect, felt angry when he saw the disdain in his eyes. Unable to resist Sarthak's nagging, he turned to the children.

 

"You have already set off almost all the crackers, what else can you do?" Sudarshan said, trying to bear the humiliation he was facing and trying to lighten the atmosphere.

 

"Shouldn't you bring more crackers?" Latha said with a smile, trying to understand the pain in Sudarshan's eyes.

 

"Hmm... Yes, I will go to the market and bring more crackers," Sudarshan said and left from there in a moment.

 

Latha thought of calling him and calling him. But Sudarshan, boiling with anger, turned to them and left without even looking back.

 

Sudarshan had stopped going to the market and walked towards home. His mind had reached a worrying point. He had been crazy about bursting crackers since childhood. Today, his mind was very hurt because he had not burst a single cracker.

 

As he approached the house, he saw the scene of Venkatesh holding his wife Rekha's hand and lighting the cracker. The moment he lit the fire, the elephant cracker burst with a loud noise. Rekha, frightened, hugged her husband who was nearby.

 

As soon as he saw this scene, Sudarshan remembered his late wife. He had celebrated only one Diwali with his wife. That day, Geeta also became a fan of elephant crackers…. Hearing the sound, his heart skipped a beat, remembering how he had been hugged like a bat in fear. When the memories of Geeta came to mind, tears welled up in his eyes.

 

His father had not left the house, so he walked towards his father's room without stopping by Venkatesh and Rekha. His father was lying motionless on the couch.

 

Seeing Sudarshan who had come closer, he said, "Everyone is thinking about their own happiness. No one is worried about me. The sound of those crackers is breaking my heart." “Should I give you cotton to fill your ears?” Sudarshan struggled to suppress his displeasure.

 

“No. But I am getting tired of seeing the intelligence of these people. Doesn’t that poet king have any intelligence? god has brought such loud crackers. Doesn’t he even know that I am bedridden due to illness?”

 

“Then why are you so angry, father?”

 

“No one understands the hardships of another,” said his father, expressing his displeasure at Sudarshan, who was taking care of him with affection.

 

“You are right, father. I think this applies to everyone,” said Sudarshan, sighing, “I will go to the terrace for a while and come back,” he said.

 

When Sudarshan, who was pacing the terrace with displeasure, looked down, he saw Venkatesh and Rekha bursting crackers with even greater enthusiasm. Even though the firecrackers, sweets, and the saree he had bought for Latha had cost more than ten thousand, Sudarshan's inner self had not yet received a hint of Diwali celebrations.

 

At the same time, Sudarshan's mobile rang. Latha had called. "How long will it take for you to come?" Latha's voice was filled with panic as she asked.

 

"I won't come again," Sudarshan said, a sneer clearly visible in his voice.

 

"Don't be so stubborn, Sudarshan, you have to eat with us today."

 

"What...? Can't you even eat without me?" he snarled.

 

"What? Do you want to argue with me on a festive day?"

 

"I don't need to argue with anyone."

 

“Come here, Sudarshan. I know how to console you. Look, all the children are waiting for you. Come quickly.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“You said it yourself, that I would bring more crackers. Even if I don’t bring any crackers, you should come anyway, Sudarshan.”

 

Just then, Amma’s harsh voice, shouting from downstairs, reached her ears, “Hey Sudarshan….. At least take your father’s medicine. It’s already time for his meal,” she said.

 

Then Sudarshan looked down. Rekha and Venkatesh were still standing together. The flowerpot crackers were burning beautifully in front of them. The joy and happiness that had settled on both their faces in the colorful light of the flowerpot was palpable. While Sudarshan was observing him like this, Venkatesh slowly leaned towards Rekha and kissed her cheek.

 

“Sorry, I won’t come… Not just today, but from now on,” he suddenly made a tough decision.

 

“Are you talking crazy, Sudarshan?” Latha asked anxiously.

 

“There is nothing crazy about this. I said this keeping my future in mind. Today I feel like I have learned a good lesson. I cannot accept sacrificing my life for the happiness of others. From today, I will learn to live as a selfish person.

 

“All those who show pity for me are enjoying my earnings. Even my well-wishers and loved ones, my family members, are not showing any concern for me. What are you counting on? Beyond all this, your eunuch husband, who eats the same food I serve every day, has grown to the point of rejecting me. Who am I anymore…?”

 

“Shut up Sudarshan,” Latha shouted in a loud voice, trying in vain to calm Sudarshan down. But Sudarshan kept talking whatever came to his mind. Latha tried to say something to make up for it, but Sudarshan, who had already said his final goodbye, hung up the phone.

 

Then he rushed down the stairs, went to the main door, and shouted to his mother, “I am going out to get medicine for my father.”

 

“If you want to eat with everyone, come back soon,” his mother replied indifferently, which seemed to fuel his impatient agitation. In the next few minutes, Sudarshan, who had recovered, controlled his anger and made a big decision about his future life. After buying medicine, he decided to go to his friend Kalyan's house. He was determined to see his widow sisterinlaw. His heart was beating fast, wanting to start his life anew.

 

Just then, his mobile rang again. As soon as he saw Latha's number on the mobile, Sudarshan switched off his mobile.