He stormed out. And the door shivered banging continuously. She barged into her room and dropped on the bed. Hugging the pillow, she wept. Inconsolably.

Rubbing her running nose and wiping her tears, she remembered her mother’s words “You will suffer Priyu for what you are doing….As a boyfriend Abhi will be the sweetest.. you will get to know when he becomes a husband.. things will change, Priyu..You cannot take it alone!”

She had coolly remarked “Abhi is not like Nana, Amma…”

“Priyamavada.. “ her mother screamed, as Priyamvada Rao was packing her clothes to live a blissful life with Abhimanyu Tripathi, her college sweetheart and now, husband.

“mind your tongue. You’ve gone mad … when you begin to live together, you will know the pain..Money is important too.. Love will not buy you things..” her mother  advised before Priyamvada left the home to live with Abhi.

She remembered the innumerable advices that poured in when she decided to leave her home and get married to Abhi. One of her school mates had advised “Aiyoo.. Priyu.. why do you want marry North Indian re? They only look fair and nice re.. Even Akka loved my neighbor but luckily Amma had saved her.”

Priyamavada laughed and had brushed all the thoughts, aside then. She knew Abhi too well and all these were mere foolish comparisons.

But, why did she think of it now? She wiped her tears and looked for her phone. She looked around the one BHK flat. Finally, she found her phone, lying near the stove. They had purchased it and most of the essentials mortgaging  her gold ornaments.

She had taken it while leaving home for buying the essential items for survival till Abhi and she secure a job.

In haste, she dialed his old number.  When the electronic message read. She realized that they had changed their numbers.

Tring.. Tring..

It rang.. Abhi took a last puff and finally threw the cigarette. He ignored his phone which rang incessantly. The phone vibrated again. It was a message. It read “I am very sorry.. .. Come home.. I miss you..” He messaged “In a while. I love you!”

She replied “I love you a lot..”

He purchased the third cigarette at the Pan Shop and paid 3 rupees to him. The Pan shop owner said in a monotonous tone.. “Four rupees..”

And, he handed it over to him, after searching his pockets thoroughly.  He reminisced the Pan shop wala near college where his account was still due, and smiled. His friends and he used to purchase packets and go on long drives.

He consulted his friends when he decided to go against his family’s wishes and marry Priyamwada. His friend Prajwal had suggested, “Don’t worry yaar..We are there for you… My uncle works in a company.. and we can manage a job..His term is about to end but we can manage… ”

“you leave your home and another one BHK flat is ready for you.. You earn and you can even pay for your college fees..” Prajwal encouraged

After a lot of contemplation, Abhimanyu  decided to move out of his home. He had convinced Priyamwada too.  She was  skeptical in the beginning but eventually agreed. After all, they felt they were inseparable  and nothing could separate them. In the beginning, they tried convincing their respective parents . Their denial and their fury, forced them to take the extreme step of revolting against them.

After a lot of melodrama at Priyamwada’s home, she left the home. Taking her father’s curse and her mother’s advice against the wedding, Priyamwada Rao walked out. Abhimanyu’s family refused to even talk with him.

Abhimanyu and Priyamwada finally moved out to make a life of their own.

But by the time, they had decided to move out, Prajwal’s uncle term had end and the management had changed.  They had decided to recruit only candidates with an year or more of experience.

Prajwal’s uncle had tried but failed to help Abhi. When Prajwal broke the news to Abhimanyu, he was shattered.

Prajwal said “No worries yaar.. we will manage..” “But still, it would take time!” Abhi thought

How would they complete their education? How would Priyamwada pursue her ambition? How long would the mortgaged money last?  Their friends were still in college too! How long would they help them? And how much would they help?

Abhimanyu walked back to his home, kicking the stone that lay on the road. He could not think anything. He went to the flat and found the door still open.

He went in to see Priyamwada still crying. He hugged her tight. She said “Don’t worry.. we still have some of the ornaments to be mortgaged..”
“Hmm..” Abhi hushed her.

After hours of incomprehensible silence,

each of them had a glassful of milk and slept.

The next morning, Abhimanyu was still lying down on his bed. Hoping the day would be better, Just then,  he heard Priyamwada scream ..”Abhiiiiiiiiiiiiii… “

He  jumped out of his bed.. and ran to her.. she cried “My jewellary is missing..”