Alone Together

Part 1: Angry Young Man

“How could you do this to my son? I arranged for my son to marry your daughter, despite his initial lack of interest in the marriage. I didn’t listen to him because you wanted it to happen. I agreed to the marriage because I was helpless. You literally threatened me just because I borrowed money from you. Now my son’s life is getting ruined. What will be your answer now? Will your daughter live with him or not?” Arvind Singh Raizada shouted in anger.

“Please, be patient, Arvind...” Rishab Kapoor tried to touch his shoulder.

Arvind stepped back, shrugging his hand off.

“It has been three years since we started being patient. What do you and your daughter think of us? You used my helpless state. You forced me to get my son married to your daughter, but she is not giving heed to this marriage. Why? Why did she marry my son if she is not interested in marriage?”

Rishab looked at his son-in-law, Arnav Singh Raizada and walked to his daughter, Nandhini Kapoor. He lifted her by her shoulders.

“Why are you doing this? I got Arnav married to you only after you had accepted. You agreed to the marriage wholeheartedly. Then, why are you doing this? Why don’t you accept him as your husband? What’s there in your mind?” Rishab yelled in anger.

Nandhini shrugged his hands off.

“I married him because you wanted it. I married him not because he is Arnav. I would have done that if you had chosen anyone instead of him. I married him because you forced me. I was tired of denying you. So, I married him.”

Arnav looked at her wrathfully.

“You’re married to him. He is your husband. You should give this relationship a chance.”

“I’m sorry, Dad. I’m running a worldwide business. I can’t give my time to bloody sentiments and relationships...”

“What do you mean, bloody relationship? People have already started questioning us about why Arnav’s wife hasn’t got pregnant yet. What will we answer them?” Arvind asked, losing his patience.

“Listen, Uncle, I’m a top businesswoman in India. I have a reputation. I can’t carry a baby and roam with a baby bump, looking uglier.” She said loathly.

UGLIER? Arvind gulped down hard, looking at Arnav.

“Carrying a baby is not a nasty thing. Your mother also carried you...”

Cutting Rishab,

“Oh, please stop your nonsense, Dad. Don’t play your sentiment card with me. It’s all nonsense...” She said, looking at Arnav, loathly.

Arnav stood up.

“Dad, there’s nothing to talk to this woman. I have decided... Divorce... Divorce is the only solution to this problem. I can’t live with this woman... No... When did I live with this woman? I can’t live in this bungalow expecting her to come to my room like an idiot anymore. I’m going to divorce her...” Arnav said, looking at Nandhini, and was about to leave the place, but stopped hearing,

“You can’t divorce me...” Nandhini said.

Arnav looked at her, gritting his teeth.

“What do you mean, he could not? The court issues the divorce immediately because you never let him touch you. It’s enough to get a divorce.” Arvind shouted.

“Of course, he could... But I will ask for alimony... You will have to give me your whole property as alimony. You know my lawyer, Aman Mathur, can do that very well.”

“What the hell is this, Rishab sir? She won’t live with him, and she won’t let him leave her either. What the hell...” Arvind shouted.

Rishab looked at Nandhini miserably.

“I already told you. My reputation is everything to me. I can’t let him divorce me...”

Arnav took a step and held her neck.

“What do you think of me? Am I a slave or what? Why the hell should I be sitting in this bungalow wasting my life? Instead of doing that, I will go to jail after killing you...” He tangled her neck.

Arvind and Rishab pulled him behind.

“Bloody bi***... What do you think of me? I will surely kill you...” Arnav shouted.

Nandhini caressed her neck, coughing.

“Arnav… please, let me talk to her.” Rishab pleaded.

“What will you talk about? Haan? She is not even wearing a mangal sutra. I never saw that in her neck. Then, what’s the value of our relationship? She stays in another room. She never stepped into my room in the three years.”

“Why should I wear a mangal sutra? Do you wear anything that indicates you’re married? Then why the hell only women?” Nandhini asked, coughing.

Arnav looked at Rishab,

“Uncle, this is not going to work. I’m done with this woman.”

He again looked at Nandhini.

“Will you ask for alimony…? Do it. Take my property. I will live happily without money because you won’t be there with me. I will get rid of the biggest problem that has tortured me like hell... Do what you can...” He walked off.

He stopped looking at Aman Mathur, who had just come and listened to them. Arnav glared at him, and Aman looked down. Arnav knew Aman would have given Nandhini such an idea about the alimony.

“Arvindji...” Rishab tried to say something, but Arvind joined his hands over his head.

“Enough, Rishabji... Enough... I thought my son would live a happy life. But you made his life barren. Your daughter broke his heart and hope. She ruined his life. He is no less than a lifeless body... He is literally dead...He is just twenty-eight. Doesn’t he have feelings?What’s necessary for him to control his feelings for the one who treats him like trash? I will ask him to apply for a divorce, regardless. That’s final...” Arvind walked off.

Rishab lifted Nandhini and slapped her hard.

“Why the hell are you behaving arrogantly? He is your husband. Why are you keeping your distance from him?”

Nandhini tried to say something, but Rishab stopped her.

“It’s ok if you don’t want to get a child. You can plan it later. There are many sources if you don’t want to have a child. Why are you testing our patience? What’s wrong with you? Why should Arnav waste his life sitting in your bungalow?”

Nandhini looked at Aman. He blinked his eyes.

“I will find a solution to this issue soon, Dad.”

“Arnav will not wait until you find a solution. He will definitely apply for a divorce. Think wisely...” Rishab left the place.

To be continued...