I had tears in my eyes, while writing this chapter.
Awaiting for your genuine response.

Happy Reading....

It was dinner time.

Vidyut invited Ankita and Nayan for dinner.

After dinner, Yug is coming for a discussion regarding the meeting they had with the Lady Principal. Vidyut called Nayan too for this meeting. He felt that Nayan knew about the college and the Principal better than anyone else present. He wanted to be sure if the Lady Principal is really supporting them or trapping them. That's why, he called Nayan for a suggestion.

After dinner,

Everyone sat in Vidyut and Adrita's room while Ruhi sat with the kids.

The whole time, Nayan seems off. Everyone sensed Nayan being more silent than usual.

They all sat discussing about the meeting.

After the discussion ended, Vidyut patting Nayan.

Vidyut: Buddy, what's wrong?

Ankita (sighing): Today, we attended, one of my friends' funerals. He is silent after that. He is understanding things around him now closely.

Ankita explained.

Nayan (taking shaky breath): Aunty was dressed as a bride. Maybe, she was attending a wedding for something special. In that special moment, she left the world.

Ankita gasped at Nayan's thoughts. He is misunderstanding the concept.

Ankita (with calmness yet terrified): No beta... As per Hindu customs, when a married woman dies, she is dressed as a bride. That's why, she was dressed as a bride.

Nayan snapped at his mother. He was trying to make sense of her words. She was dressed as a bride because she was married, not because she was attending some special function.

After processing this information, Nayan just nodded, his mind was full of questions.

Anirudh (looking at his mother's photo with softness): This society doesn't even leave the women to die without marking them.

He mumbles, remembering his mother.

Saurav gulped the lump of emotions and Vidyut stiffened.

Harsha bit her lip, to control tears, whereas Shalini couldn't.

Anirudh gazing at his mother, while remembering his mother.

Flashback:

It was early morning, when guests came for Vibha's funeral.

Shalini was out of the house, arranging funeral rites.

Vidyut, a mere 7-year-old, was crying uncontrollably, trying to wake his mother. Saurav sat numb, trying to process the loss of his mother. Anirudh was looking everywhere around blankly. Being the eldest sibling, he has to handle his younger brothers.

Harsha was trying to handle Vidyut and her parents were helping Shalini in preparations.

Guests sat surrounding the dead body.

Lady: Koi iske shaadi ka joda lao. (Someone bring her wedding clothes).

Other lady: Bring sindoor and bangles too.

Anirudh looked at the ladies who were ordering the other ladies, to bring things.

Anirudh (requesting): Mumma, Sindoor nahi lagati. Unko nahi pasand. (Mom, doesn't like to use vermillion)

He said remembering, his mother told him once after the divorce, when he simply asked her, why don't you apply that red liquid now.

Lady: Beta, ye sab jaruri hota hai. (All these are important)

Anirudh shook his head, requesting them not to go against his mother's will.

Ignoring him, the ladies came with a red saree and other wedding things.

Jua red saree they could do anything, Ankita came there.

Anirudh immediately ran towards her.

Anirudh (crying miserably): Masi, they are using Red Saree and Sindoor. Mumma, doesn't like these.

He pleaded by joining his hands.

Ankita immediately rushed in.

Ankita: Bas karo ye sab. Nahi pasand Vibha ko. (Stop all this. She doesn't like all this).

Lady: All these are our rituals. And it's important.

Ankita (argued)): She won't leave this world as his wife. Never!!!

In this sensitive moment, picking an argument was not good but Ankita couldn't let her sister be a bride.

Anirudh (joining his hands): Aunty please.

Lady: You are not a married woman to know the importance of being a bride at the time of death. So, don't argue with me. Besides, she is the daughter-in-law of this family. So, we will decide what to do and what not to.

An elderly Lady said angrily, as if declaring her final decision.

Before Ankita could reply. Ajit came with his family.

He heard the harsh words that the lady spoke.

Ajit (calmly): Please calm down and see the atmosphere.

He said to the elderly woman.

Elder woman: I am calm and just trying to complete everything according to rituals but she came with her educational knowledge to control everything.

Ajit sighed and turned to Ankita.

Ajit (softly): What happened, Ankita?

He knew the situation was delicate for her. She had her elder sister as the only one in the world to call family after their parents' demise.

Ankita (breaking down): They are dressing her as a bride. Please don't let them.

Ajit turned to the elderly woman with rage in his eyes.

Ajit (angrily): Let her leave peacefully. Don't throw these rituals at least on a dead person. And let me correct you. She is not the wife of that man. Plus, she is not the daughter-in-law of this house.

Just then Shalini and Harsha's parents entered.

Anirudh saw her and ran into her embrace.

Ajit explained the situation to Shalini.

Shalini (joining her hands): If you can't think of our good. We don't need your presence. We already have a lot to process. We don't need you to add more. Please leave. We will complete rituals on our own.

She turned to others.

Shalini: Whoever is agreeing with her. Feel free to leave. Thank you for coming but we don't need you.

A few ladies left from there in anger.

They completed the rituals of Vibha as a common lady in a white saree, not as a bride.

Flashback ends...

Everyone was pulled back from the lane of memories, when they heard Ruhi's whimpering voice.

Their gaze shifted towards the entrance of the room. Ruhi stood there, with one hand she was holding the door for sport and with the other hand, she was holding her head, trying to pull her hair.

Forgetting everything, they immediately rushed towards her. They saw her body sweating, she was trying to stand, her hands trembling.

Saurav (holding Ruhi): What's wrong, Rooh?

Ruhi (crying helplessly): It's paining. I am feeling dizzy.

Mihika and Harsha ran out to check on the kids.

Saurav took Ruhi in his arms. Anirudh held her hand which was in her hair. He was rubbing her scalp to smooth her pain.

Saurav took her to the bed. He laid her bed. Anirudh settled on the other side. Vidyut sat near Saurav.

Ruhi was crying uncontrollably.

Adrita: Due to medicines, maybe her sugar level drops. Wait! I will bring the glucometer.

She ran out of the room and came back shortly. Vidyut moved to let her check.

She pricked Ruhi's index finger. Blood drop on the test strip.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on Adrita waiting for results, Ruhi was wincing in pain.

Adrita (eyes on test string): It's low. That's why she is feeling like this.

Vidyut (trying to control his tears): I will bring sugar water.

He lashed out without wasting a single second.

Anirudh was softly massaging her scalp, trying to ease her pain. Saurav was rubbing her palms, trying to calm her.

Nayan stood stiff. In the morning, he saw a death and now, Ruhi is suffering like this. His heart clenched.

Vidyut entered the room with sugar water. He sat in front of Saurav and with a spoon, he started to make Ruhi drink water.

After some minutes, slowly, Ruhi calmed and slipped into a slumber.

She seemed at peace. Vidyut couldn't control himself and broke down.

Some minutes back, they were mourning their mother's death then they panicked, sensing Ruhi's condition and now they calmed noticing Ruhi's peaceful face.

Vidyut was crying miserably, his body trembling.

Anirudh turned his face in another direction to hide his tears from his family. He was wiping them off but his feelings were amended to show his vulnerability.

Ankita came and hugged Vidyut, trying to console him.

Saurav was silent. Just sitting beside Ruhi and caressing her hair.

Ankita (caressing Vidyut's hair): Ani, Saurav come here.

She said opening her other arm.

Saurav (gulping): Ruhi needs me.

He mumbles quietly. Anirudh silently obeyed Ankita's words and hugged her, crying.

Ankita held Saurav's hand, pulling him in a hug

Once, they calmed. Ankita, Nayan and Yug left for home bidding them bye.

After being mentally tired, everyone went to their room for rest.

Ruhi stayed in Vidyut's room with Vidyut and Adrita slept with the kids.

To be continued...