IAL Chapter 35: Transformation

Chapter 35: Transformation

 

As soon as NK got home he made sure that Anjili was settled into her bedroom before he went to his. Guilt was eating him like a thousand maggots. He really should’ve told the family or at least Arnav that he was taking Anjili to see Shyam. He finally made the decision that he would tell everyone in the morning.

 

No one had really slept last night so everyone was up pretty early. Naniji, Mamiji and Payal were all very surprised to see that Anjili hadn’t woken up to start the morning pooja. When they went to check up on her they found that she was just taking a shower and she had reassured them that as soon as she finished she would be down for breakfast.

 

Breakfast was a quiet affair. No one really knew what to say so they kept their heads down and ate. Not even Mamiji, who was infamous for having too much too say, was speaking, she was just throwing dirty looks at Payal. As usual, Arnav and NK had come down late. Arnav because he didn’t do morning prayer and NK because he got to bed really late last night. Arnav scanned the table for his sister.

 

“Where’s Di?” he asked.

 

“I’m here.” Called a voice from the top of the stairs.

 

They all turned to where Anjili was and gasped. Anjili was wearing a long white skirt and a yellow t-shirt. No one really noticed the fact that she wasn’t wearing a mungulsutra or sindoor.

 

“Di, what are you wearing?” asked Arnav.

 

“Whatever I want to wear.” She answered as she took her place at the table.

 

“But your sarees-”

 

“What? So only your model girlfriends can wear modern cloths and your sister can’t?” she said defensively.

 

“I didn’t mean-”

 

“It’s my body, it’s the 21^st century, I can wear what I please.”

 

“Of course Di.”

 

“I was actually thinking of giving away most of my sarees.” She confessed.

 

“Anjili betiya-”

 

“Don’t worry Nani, I keep some for special occasions. I thought I’d let you guys know that my lawyers are coming over and I’m going to the hospital.”

 

“Di, I’ll take you.” Said Arnav.

 

“I’m not a child Chote, I don’t need constant supervision. I can go by myself. I also have a confession to make. I made NK take me to see Shyam yesterday.”

 

The entire family turned to look at NK who looked like he wanted to die on the spot. And of course Arnav blew a gasket.

 

“NK!”

 

“Don’t yell at him Chote. I blackmailed him into it. I’m glad he took me because I got to see Shyam’s true face. That’s why I’ve contacted my lawyers, I want divorce before he goes to prison. I don’t want to explain to people where my husband is and why he is a convict.” Anjili could see that the family wanted to talk more about this but she really didn’t. “Let’s talk more about this later, I want to have my breakfast in peace.”

 

They all shut up. A thousand questions were at the tip of everybody’s tongue but for a few minutes they all pretended to be a normal family with no burdens just having breakfast.