Arpita was about to serve sweet pongal to Rishi when Sravya squealed making everyone look at her.

What happened, Sravya?

Sravya: Nothing, atta. Vadina (sister-in-law) was about to serve sweet pongal to Mamayya. So, I was just going to stop her.

Sakshi: But, what is the problem in that? He likes it, right. And he doesn't also have diabetes.

But, it was made by my chinna vadina (younger sister-in-law). You guys only said, right. You don't want to eat anything served by her. So, I stopped her. I don't want you guys to blame her after eating that. She said looking at them innocently, but her eyes held different emotions.

Jhansi: Sravya. She said sternly.

Sravya: What amma, did I say anything wrong? She said controlling her anger.

Avi: Sravya and chinnamma (pinni/masi/aunt) stop it. And you three also sit and eat silently. We can serve ourselves. He said sternly.

Arpita, Maya and Sravya also sat to have lunch after serving everyone. No-one spoke a word.

After lunch everyone settled down in the living room when Rishi got a call. He excused himself and went to the lawn to attend the call.

He came furiously after attending the call and shouted Maya's name. Listening to his shout, Maya stood up. Rishi stood in front of Maya and was about to slap her, but a hand stopped him (obviously our Avi's).

Avi: I didn't give anyone the right to their raise hands on my wife. Be it an outsider, my family or her own parents. He said sternly and his eyes were spitting fire.

Avi, low your voice. Don't forget that he is elder to you.

Then tell him to behave like an elder one.

You don't know what she has done.

What did she do, mavayya?

She made Rajesh and Chytra lose their jobs and also put a black mark on their professional career. Now, they won't get a job anywhere.

She didn't do that. I did. He said with anger dripping in his voice.

But why? What did they do?

Avi: Are you seriously asking this stupid question, atta? Don't you know what did they have done?

Sakshi: They did nothing, Avi. If you have to blame someone, it's your wife, and if you have to punish someone, then it's your wife. She said raising her voice.

Avi: Yes, she definitely needs a punishment. Saying that he looked at everyone.

She definitely needs a punishment for not thinking about her. For thinking about you guys before her and for fulfilling your every word sacrificing her dreams. For bearing your taunts silently without speaking a word. She thought that two families would separate if she told the truth and thought to handle the matter herself.

He stopped and went and stood infront of Maya and asked her,

Avi: Tell me one thing, Maya, when they never cared whether you were alive or died on that day when you were admitted in the hospital then why did you think about their happiness?

Sakshi: Avi. Sakshi shouted his name loudly. What the hell are you speaking? Why won't we care for her? She is our daughter.

Ten years ago, one day Adi mama called you saying that Maya's health was not good. Did you know, she was admitted to the hospital and was unconscious for two days? What were you guys doing then?

Jhansi had tears in her eyes as she was the one who was there with her in the hospital that time along with Aditya (Anjali's husband).

You were not there when she needed you the most. You were not there to say everything would be okay whenever she felt low. You were not there to take her in your arms whenever she had nightmares. You were not there to protect her from the cruel world. You were not there when she wanted to celebrate her achievements with you. What was the most ironical thing is you became one of the reasons for her miseries?

Everyone looked at him proudly, but their eyes were filled with tears listening to him. While Maya stood there admiring him. Oh! How much does she love this man?

We were having important meetings then. He said slowly.

Avi: Are you serious, mavayya? An important meeting. Adi mama left an important deal even after knowing that his company would face the loss. And Jhansi chinnamma (pinni/aunt/masi) was there by her side taking care of her leaving all her work for a week. And here you were saying that both of you had important meetings. Don't they have works or important meetings? They put their child's well-being above their career. I must say, you guys are just great. He said sarcastically.

Rishi and Sakshi looked down not knowing what to say. Yes, deep down in their hearts they knew they were wrong.

Avi: Attayya, tell me one-thing that day some outsider came and told a story and you believed them over your daughter and asked her to divorce me. But, I want to ask you one thing. Would you do the same if someone said the same about me? Maya's breath hitched listening to it. She would kill that person with her bare hands without thinking once.

Rishi and Sakshi lost in their thoughts.

Avi: You didn't even think once before slapping her after listening to them and now you were lost in your thoughts. And, attayya do you have a mind. Didn't you see what that girl did to our Arjun, and you again believed the person from the same family? They had almost two months' time to tell everything before our marriage. Why didn't they tell the truth, then? He was literally torturing my wife mentally and you believed that swine over her.

She could have come and told us about her problems.

Sravya: You are really great mavayya (uncle/mama). Tell me, how many times have Anju atta warned you guys to spend time with your children? Did you do that? Maya came to tell you guys but you both were too busy with your work to spare a glance at your daughter and even taunted her for coming home by bunking her college. Tell me, didn't she tell you guys that she had something important to say? She said raising her eyebrows.

Sakshi and Rishi nodded their head.

For once, you could have asked her how everything was going on in her life. But you didn't. Did you guys ever think anytime why she was not comfortable around you? Because you never created that comfort zone between you and your children. He took a deep breath and continued, today she is married to me and is with me in my house. That day my parents trusted her when her own parents didn't trust her enough. But, what if she was married to someone out of our family? How would they believe her when her parents didn't trust their daughter? Did you guys ever think about what would have happened to her? They would have thrown her out of their house and society would leave no chance to mock her. Would you guys will allow her to your house? They looked down. No, right. What if she had commited something worse? And after that, you came to know that she was the victim and was the one who bore all the pain. Then, could you undo all those things that you have done in the past?

In her 22 years of life, did you ever get any black mark on her? She tried her best to make you guys proud of her. Did you ever appreciate her hardwork? No, instead, you used to point out some lame mistakes. You used to scold her for being curvy, oh no, I forgot she was fat right. Do you know how many health issues she has? Isn't it the responsibility of parents to look after their children? She gave up on her dream for you guys, she gave up on her career for you, even that day she stood in front of you as the guilty one just because of you.

Leave all that, I told you guys that she had fainted on the fourth day of our marriage. Did you guys ask her how she was feeling? No, right. Instead attayya, got angry that we didn't consummate our marriage. For Godsake, it's our personal issue. Yes, give suggestions as an elder person, we will heartily listen to them, but please try to understand the situation from our position too. Do you know that she has dyspnea? Rishi and Sakshi looked at him in shock.

Thank God, she has only mild symptoms. What would have happened if it was severe? Do you know she has been getting nightmares for the past ten years? You guys lived in the same house, right, don't you know? Did you guys ever think why was Anitha aunty coming to your house frequently? Shall I say. For treating Maya. On Arjun's birthday she was admitted in the hospital, and I guess even you guys knew that. Don't you? They nodded their heads. So, did you guys have asked her how she is. Yes, you guys have called her. But, shall I say why you guys have called her. To warn her how to behave with guests. Isn't it? Sakshi nodded her head while Rishi looked at them confused. Avi told him what happened. That girl is hitting on her husband, and do you expect her to sit silently? Tell me, attayya, what would you do when out of nowhere a woman came and confess her love to mavayya? Would you sit silently and watch the scene? Sakshi shook her head in denial. So, do you expect my wife to sit and watch the show? Sakshi shook her head. Then, why did you scold her? Doesn't she know how to behave with the guests? For once think about from her perspective too. Every story has two sides. But you are not seeing the other one. I'm not saying she is wrong and guys are right. Both of you are wrong. But you guys have made a huge mistake. He sighed.

To be continued....

Hello peeps!

Sorry for the late update.

I'm stuck with some personal stuff. It's just draining me physically and mentally.

Hope you guys understand. I know I'm saying one or the other reason everytime. I definitely try to update regularly.

For now enjoy the update.