Please read the prologue before reading this chapter. Chapter is unedited so please please read at your own risk. Grammar pe bhi thoda kam dhyan dena.😘
I've never experienced love, therefore I just want to be loved once, and that will be sufficient for me ╰┈➤Tara Raghuwanshi.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
Author POV
It was a pleasant day. Hahahaha, just kidding. Just like other normal days, Mrs. Tara Raghuwanshi was doing housework by the orders of her grandmother-in-law.
"Tara beta, ek kaam Karo jara jaldi jaake khane me parathe bhi bana dena" (Tara beta, do one thing, go quickly and prepare parathas for dinner) Jyoti Raghuwanshi, Tara's grandmother in law said to her in a sweet tone.
Tara who was sitting on the dining table ready to dig in, looked at her and nodded with a tight lipped smile, "Yes dadi".
She went inside irritatingly while Ekansh Raghuwanshi didn't say anything to his grandmother. His sister, Twinkle Khanna scoffed, "Bro, aapki biwi chamcha giri bohot badhiya kar leti hai. Yakeen nhi hota ki ek saal se is pagal budhiya ki khidmat karne me lagi padi hai." (BRO, your wife is a very good sycophant. I can't believe that she has been serving this crazy old woman for a year now.)
Ekansh shook his head in irritation, "Let her be, after all she herself jumped into this hell even after reading the warning sign."
Twinkle whispered while eating, "Mai to kehti hu aap Tara ko divorce de denge uske baad is budhiya ko bhi divorce de dena." (I saying that when will divorce Tara then after that, divorce this old woman too)
Ekansh scoffed and rolled his eyes, "Kash aisa kar sakta" (I wish I could do that too)
Jyoti stood in her place and looking at her, Ekansh and Twinkle also stood up in respect when they all saw that Harshvardhan Raghuwanshi was coming to the dining table.
Everyone sat down when Harshvardhan sat. Ekansh curiously asked, "Arey Chachu aap yaha? I mean aap to usually humare sath khana nhi khate" (Hey uncle you are here? You usually don't eat with us)
Harshvardhan gave him a gentle smile, "I too sometimes like to eat with my family."
Jyoti smiled, "Sahi hai, aakhir tujhe bhi to family chahiye." Harshvardhan, Ekansh, and Twinkle rolled their eyes because they knew what she was going to say. (That's right, after all you also need a family.)
"Mom please don't start again," Harsh said in frustration.
Jyoti sarcastically said, "Ha bhai ab to mujhe kisi chiz ka haq hi nhi hai aur nahi aapne baccho ki jindagi pe koi haq hai." (Yes, now I have no right to anything and neither do I have any right on the lives of my children)
Harsh slammed his fist on the table, "Stop it, Mom"
She didn't stop and started blabbering, "You are already 34. It's no use waiting for that woman for years now. You even divorce Roshni because of that bitch."
Harsh glared at her when he called his love a bitch. He loved her but she married someone else but that doesn't mean that anyone could insult her, "Mom, I didn't divorce Roshni for her. Roshni didn't like me. She loved someone. I just helped her and I already said before that Roshni's chapter is closed. I never loved her nor she loved me. She is happy with her husband and kid so please let her be. I am not interested in her"
She averted her eyes in anger and shouted feeling angry when her son shouted at her, "TARA, kaha mar gayi." (Did you die over there?)
Tara came in a hurry and kept the pot infront of Jyoti. Tara looked at Harshvardhan and greeted him in the hope of getting a reply from him, "Good morning Chachu"
He didn't reply to her and just nodded with a blank face.
Tara and Ekansh have been married for a year. In just one week, it will be their one-year anniversary.
The first day when Tara told her Mama that she liked Ekansh and wanted to marry him, he immediately asked for his hand for marriage from Jyoti.
Her Mama, Ajay Bedi is a very big businessman. He gave Jyoti Raghuwanshi a big amount of dowry to marry Ekansh to Tara. It wasn't out of his love but it had a big motive behind the story. Jyoti asked Ekansh to marry her telling him that it was his parent's last wish. Harshwardhan was not ready to take dowry from her but Jyoti was persistent to take dowry as it was really too much. 500 crores are not less.
Ekansh already cleared with Tara that he likes someone else. He wanted her to back off from the marriage by herself. She felt heartbroken when he said that but then he told her name, "Katha, I like her too much"
Tara frowned and asked suspiciously, "Are you talking about that Katha Rawat?"
He hummed seriously.
A small chuckle left her mouth, "But she is already married. She is Mrs. Katha Rohit Rawat now"
He nodded with a sad smile and went away saying, "Please say no to this marriage, or even if I marry you, I won't be able to become a husband for you. You will be alone for your whole life"
He warned her nicely but she was persistent about marrying him and why not, she loved him. It was the kind of obsession that she asked for help from her Mama whom she despised too much and gave her a 20 percent share of the company just to marry Ekansh. It was Tara's mother's shares which Ajay refused to give her back but when Her mother died, Ajay felt guilty for Tara who has every right to take his sister's shares. That's why he gave it to her as her dowry.
It was a kind of obsession where she was ready to bet on her self-respect. And just like this, they got married. Tara got her love but Ekansh lost an aim to live. He was living his life thinking that if accidentally Kartik Rawat had an accident then he'd be available to give Katha support.
In anger and fury Ekansh gave two options to Tara either keep working, as an independent woman or become a housewife and a dependent woman who would be recognised as his wife. She has to ask permission for everything from him. She has to forget her own identity and do every work for him.
He had put conditions before her so she could hate him and back off from the marriage thinking of him as toxic but she was jiddi. She wanted him.
Tara always yearned for love. Her father passed away when she was 5. Her mother was always busy with her work to earn for her. Her Mama was just a strict man who never showed any emotions for her.
There was only her Mami who used to talk with her and teach her some lessons of real life but her Mama didn't like it. So, he restricted Tara to meet her. She had always yearned to be loved but when she tried to do something good, everything turned upside down and she ended up getting hated instead. Almost everyone is against her. No one likes her as per her thoughts. So she started bullying when she was in 8th class. She used to bully weak students. She used to slap them or cut their hair and etc...
She never cried infront of anyone except her mother and Mami. She was always strong and she still is too strong emotionally but she's just sick in love. Stupid isn't it?
Nobody likes her in the family, not even Jyoti herself. Tara tries her best to impress everyone but fails every time because everyone believes that she is doing drama for attention. Twinkle doesn't like her, as you know, as she bullied her in school, while Ekansh and Harshwardhan have their own reasons.
Harsh looked at everyone and asked, "Where is he?"
Ekansh ate a morsel and said casually, "He's in his room. Maybe drowned in his liquors again"
Harsh sighed and said, "We have to do something or he'd kill himself like this" Ekansh nodded sincerely.
Twinkle excitedly asked Harsh, "Chachu, vaise aapne kaha tha ki Veer aur uski family aa rahi hai?" (Uncle, by the way, did you say that Veer and his family are coming?)
Harsh replied with a smile, "They will be here in one or two hours. Be ready."
Twinkle blushed at the thought of meeting her husband after two long days. Six months ago, she married her childhood best friend. It was a love marriage, and her husband loved her so much.
Jyoti sarcastically said, "Ha thik hi hai, vaise bhi betiya sasural me hi Shobha deti hai, hai na Tara?" (It is fine, anyway daughters look good only in their in-laws' house, isn't it Tara?)
Everyone's gaze fell on Tara one for the positive response and others were just curious to know her answer.
Tara nodded after taking her time, "Yes dadi you are right." She nervously averted her eyes.
Twinkle scoffed sarcastically and stood up leaving her lunch disappointed by Tara's answer. Ekansh too left the table behind her.
Tara lowered her head feeling bad by their reaction. Harshvardhan also went back to his office.
Jyoti rolled her eyes. "Leave them on their own, and go check on the maids to see if they have done their work properly. And yes, ask Mrs. Oberoi to send her daughter here."
Tara frowned and asked her, "But why dadi? Chacha ji already said no for marriage"
Jyoti smiled sarcastically, "Don't tell me what should I do. Tumse jyada duniya dekhi hai Maine, to mere faislo pe kabhi sawal mat uthana" Tara nodded meekly. (I have seen more of the world than you, so never question my decisions)
Jyoti again called her, "Aur ha Aaj raat ka khana tumhe banana hai. Damad ji aur unka pariwar aa rahe hai to kisi cook ke hatho ka khana khilana thik nhi hoga unhe." (And yes, you have to cook dinner tonight. Son-in-law and his family are coming, so it will not be right to feed them food cooked by a cook.)
Tara nodded and asked, "So what should I make dadi?"
Jyoti thought for some time and said, "Ek kaam Karo ye banado, matar paneer, jira rice, daal tadka, bajre ki roti, normal roti, aalu gobhi, some desserts like gulab jamun and rasmalai." (Do one thing, make this, matar paneer, cumin rice, dal tadka, millet roti, normal roti, potato-cauliflower, some desserts like gulab jamun and rasgulla)
Tara scrunched her brows in shock wondering if she would be able to make this many dishes till night still she nodded.
⋆˚— ★—˚⋆
In Twinkle's room, Ekansh sat beside her and consoled her, "Chodo Twinkle unhe, wo pagal budhiya to vaise bhi aapna muh chalati hi rehti hai ignore." (Leave her alone Twinkle, that crazy old lady keeps on talking to you anyway, ignore her)
Twinkle clutched the bedsheet in anger, "I am not angry at her Ekansh. I am angry at your wife"
He rolled his eyes in irritation. "Shut up, Twinkle. Don't call her 'your wife' in front of me."
Twinkle looked at him in anger, "So? Isn't she your wife? Why don't you just leave her damn it. That woman is basically that oldie's pet dog. Jo bolti hai usi me ha kar deti hai. Jara bhi apna dimag nhi lagana aata us aurat ko. And I hate her. I can't believe that she's a lawyer" (Whatever she says, she does it. That woman does not know how to use her brain at all.)
"Shh" Ekansh shushed her and said, "Don't ruin your mood because of her. Com'mon smile or what would your husband think, that we were making you cry? They would never let you come here again"
Twinkle chuckled hearing him and said, "Ekansh don't tease me"
Ekansh wiggled his eyebrows while teasing her, "Oh ho, bada sharma rahi hai meri behen." (Oh, my sister is feeling very shy)
She slapped his arms tightly, "Shameless, dog, do you trouble your elder sister like this?"
He squinted his eyes rubbing the spot where she slapped him, "Kamini, I am older than you"
She slapped him again in irritation, "I am older than you donkey, and that too 5 minutes older than you."
He clutched her hair, "I am 5 minutes older stupid."
"Mai hu"
"Mai hu"
They both rolled their eyes and laughed at themselves. Ekansh chuckled, "This is a strange problem. No one except mom and dad knows who is the elder and who is the younger among us."
Twinkle smiled sadly, "Ya, aur wo dono ye raaj leke upar chale gaye " (Or, and they both went up to heaven with this secret)
Silence covered the room. Ekansh lowered his head so as not to show his sad face to his sister.
Suddenly Twinkle's phone rang and she picked up the call hastily because it was her friend's call, "Hello Avasthi, how are you doing?" Ekansh felt that he should leave the room.
He went to the kitchen to eat some snacks but his gaze fell on Tara who was trying to cook alot of food.
He shook his head in disappointment, looking at her. He had already given her options to become independent or a housewife. However, he just gave her these options so she would break the marriage. It was never his intention to bother her this much, but she was too persistent. She never complained about anything.
He took a glass of water and smashed it on the floor. She flinched at the sudden sound and looked back. Her heart started beating faster as she remembered some trauma's. She turned around and sighed in relief when she saw Ekansh.
Ekansh looked at her and ordered, "Ye saaf Karo. Mere hath se galti se gir gaya" (Clean this. It accidentally fell from my hand)
She smiled at him and said, "We have servants for that husband."
"SO what? I want my wife to do this" he said challenging her.
She smirked, "Okay, but first I want a sweet and passionate kiss from my dear husband."
He didn't have any words to say so he just glared at her and turned back to drink water angrily. She turned back and hummed a song, "Ang laga de re mohe ang laga de re" She looked at Ekansh who was already glaring at her for doing such things, "Mai to Teri joganiya tu jog laga de re" She sang while gently moving the tip of the knife on her body. He scoffed and went back after getting defeated by her. Tara chuckled looking at him and again got busy with her work saying, "Cute"
Twinkle came into the kitchen and saw her cooking for everyone like a maid. Even if she was her bully, she used to admire her attitude and confidence. She never liked her decision to become a housewife. She knew very well that Tara was an advocate and was going to fight for someone, but for Ekansh, she left it.
Tara paused when Twinkle said, "Don't you have any self-respect?"
She looked at her blankly and said, "Am I not allowed to work in my own house?"
Twinkle chuckled sarcastically, "You exactly know what I am trying to say didn't you?"
Tara left the work and turned around crossing her hands in front of her chest, "What do you want?"
"Leave him, Tara. He doesn't love you, and I don't think that he would ever love a girl like you. You just deserve hate only after what you did with me," Twinkle said in anger, remembering the day Tara stuck a chewingum in her hair. She had already forgotten everything about the bullying, but still, when she saw Tara's face, memories started getting fresh in her mind.
"I don't want your concerns, Twinkle. I just want to stay here with Ekansh." She replied back sarcastically.
Twinkle sighed in frustration, "Ok then live this lonely life by yourself." and went back to the living room where she saw Jyoti sitting on the sofa. She turned back and thought, "sheh! Galat turn le liya tha. Ye pagal budhiya sar kha legi" (Sheh! I took a wrong turn. This crazy old lady will eat up my brain) Before she could move forward she heard Jyoti's voice, "Tinkle, come here"
Twinkle stomped her foot on the ground in irritation that Jyoti caught her, "For god's sake dadi, it's Twinkle, not Tinkle"
Jyoti scrunched her nose, "Ha ha thik hai, Tinkle. Ek kaam kar aur jakar Tara ke sath kuch apne hath se bhi bana le" (Haha okay, Tinkle. Do yourself a favour and go make something with your own hands along with the work)
Twinkle stood there obediently, "But why grandma? Tara is there, she will handle it."
Jyoti slapped her forehead, "Oh my god, this crazy girl, you are married so you should at least know how to do household chores. Don't give them any chance to complain"
Twinkle rolled her eyes and thought, "Chalu ho gayi ye generator ab mera ek ghanta gaya" (This generator has started, now I have lost one hour)
"Arey tumhe to ab ye office Jana chod ke ghar ke kaamo me dhyan dena chahiye. Arey kuch sikh meri Bahu se. Tujh jaisi nhi hai. Arey itni padhi likhi hai fir bhi ghar sambhal Rahi hai wo bhi itne acche se aur ek tu jo graduation tak nhi kar pati. Arey padhai likhai nhi hui to Kam se kam Ghar sambhalna Sikh lo varna ek din tera pati tujhe chod dega aur tu kuch nahi kar payegi" (Now you should stop going to office and concentrate on household chores. Learn something from my daughter in law. She is not like you. She has studied so much and still she is managing the house that too so well and you are not even able to complete your graduation. If you have not studied then at least learn to manage the house or else one day your husband will leave you and you will not be able to do anything.)
Twinkle hummed and asked, "Ok grandma. Should I go now?"
Jyoti scoffed, "Ja, vaise bhi tujh jaisi jad budhi ko bolne ka kya matlab." (Go away, anyway what is the point of talking to a stupid person like you?)
She was going back to her room but Jyoti yelled, "And wear a saree. Don't stand in front of your in-laws in these jeans."
She hummed and rolled her eyes.
⋆˚— ★—˚⋆
Ekansh went downstairs to the kitchen to drink water. His gaze fell on Tara who was cutting vegetables and at the same time boiling milk to make rasmalai.
Her whole body was covered in sweat. Her hair was sticking on her forehead and some of the strands were irritating her too much, "Us pagal budhiya ne waise hi pareshan kar rakha hai. Meri honhar bahu kehkar waise hi ajeeb si nautanki karti rehti hai mere sath aur ab ye baal. Ji Karta hai saare Baal shave kar ke takli ho jau-" she was mumbling herself. (That crazy old lady has already troubled me. Calling me 'my beloved' daughter-in-law, she keeps doing strange things with me and now this hair. I feel like shaving all my hair and getting bald-)
Ekansh noticed her irritated expression and chuckled hearing the curses she was giving to her dear dadi saas. He noticed that her hair locks were irritating her so, he went back to the room.
He came back taking a clutcher and some clips in his hands. She flinched when she felt his hands clutching her hair tightly in a bun and clipping the small strands of hair back.
She turned back toward him and looked at him with unbelievable expressions.
He noticed her expressions and said hesitatingly, "I don't want to eat your hair in these dishes."
She smiled feeling something comforting in him. He turned back to go from there but she remembered something, "Mama want me to meet Mami. May I go to her house please"
He sighed as he remembered what he asked her to do when she was getting married to him, "you won't get out of my house. Never and if you do want to go then ask me first. If I said yes then you will go there." It wasn't a serious line and he just put this condition for her to reject him but she was stubborn.
He groaned in irritation, "Go wherever you want, and don't ask me again. I don't fucking care about you"
She lowered her eyes feeling sad but still consoled herself by taking a deep breath in. He went back and got ready to go outside to meet his friend, Shekhar.
Meanwhile, Harshwardhan was in his cabin going through his work papers. He felt like his head was throbbing.
His client gave a partnership to Ajay's company. They were ready to give the partnership to them but suddenly they changed their decision. It was weird because just like this partnership many more deals went to him. But he thought that maybe Ajay was just buying them to irritate him.
Harshvardhan's company was his brother's startup and after his death it passed on to Ekansh, Ekansh was too young to handle anything so he started taking care of the company until Ekansh reached his mature age but Ekansh refused the company when he was 24.
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