Her Salvation

Chapter 2

9 months later

Its been 4 days that Uma's first year's (Part I) results are out. She couldn't score as per her expectations. She had expected 65%, if not then at least a first class. But unfortunately, she got 59% only. She was more than sad. She had worked hard but .... . Anyways, her mother was more sad than she was. She had been shouting at Uma all these days, which made her sadder. She knows and understands her mother so goo and supports her all through, but she feels that her mother doesn't like her. 

Her mother, Anupama, has a very saddening past. Uma has learnt from her that, she had never been happy in her married life. Uma knew that her paternal grandparents emotionally tortured her mother. They even taunted her for giving birth to her, a girl. All these circumstances have pushed her mother to become a neuro-psychiatric patient. She's under medication for the last 10years, but things have just worsened. 

Anupama had already connected Uma's bad results with Anupama's failure as a mother. Uma has been seeing her parents fighting verbally since 15years. Uma never blamed her mother. If she would've been in her mother's place, may be she would have reacted in the same way. She has strong complaints against both her parents. She thinks her father was too ignorant towards all these. But among it all, what annoyed her most was "WHY HAS IT TO BE SHE WHO'S SUFFERING??" 

Her father, Uday, is already in town. He had scolded Uma in a way, as if she had deliberately made her marks go down. This made her more upset. 

But what led her shattered was the biggest truth of her life. She had already started to question her existence. 

2 days back 

Uma felt that it was high time things get clear. She has been hearing that her parents weren't compatible since the very beginning. Henceforth, she had this question continuously revolving around in her mind. She went to her parents and asked 

-"Maa, you said me earlier that you weren't compatible for each other since the very inception.. uuummmm so, how come there's m..m..me?" 

Her mother was already pissed off at the moment, her parents were having a fight. Anupama bursted the bomb 

-"You're unplanned. It was unplanned. You were a mistake..." 

Before she could go any more, Uma ran back to her room and locked her up. She immediately fell down on the floor as tears started rolling down her cheeks.

"MISTAKE" 

"MISTAKE" 

She was a mere MISTAKE. Her parents were rapidly banging the door calling for her, but she paid them no ears. She was too broken to do anything.

Back to present 

It's been two days and nothing has changed, except for Uma's behavior. She has been keeping extraordinarily silent. In these hours she had thought of finishing off her life many times, but she wasn't brave enough. 

Yesterday she had called her best friends, Rayna and Saheel and said them EVERYTHING. They were shocked beyond words. Rayna tried to reason her saying that may be Anupama was too pissed to speak rationally. But Uma knew her mother in and out. 

*******

Aditya had been working his ass off on a mission for the last 10days. The place where he is posted, is located near an international boundary. There had been evidence of animal smuggling for the last few days. But yesterday, he could successfully accomplish his mission. He is being congratulated by one and all. 

His parents have come to visit him. Aditya was very happy. Afterall, living alone in a bungalow was too boring. Though there were maids, but FAMILY is FAMILY. 

It was 10pm, and all were having dinner when Aditua's father Adhiraj started the conversation. 

-"Adi, since you're financially settled now, you should think about marriage." 

-"Your Baba is right, Adi. Have you got anyone in your mind?" , asked his mother, Snigdha.

-"Naa Ma .." , replied Aditya. (No Mom) 

Adhiraj and Snigdha looked at each other for a while and Snigdha said, 

-"We have chosen someone for you. It's more like your Thamma chose. But her parents are not ready. Since, she's just twenty and is a student at the City College." 

On the mention of City College, Aditya's mind flew back to the young girl in blue saree. He still had that picture in his mobile. 

"Is it her?" 

He brushed the thought off as soon as it came. 

-"What's the use then if her parents aren't agreeing? We're not going to force it on them now, are we?", asked Aditya. 

-"Absolutely not. But we insist you to see her picture once. I have it with me. Look!" , saying this Snigdha handed her phone to Aditya. 

Aditya got numb seeing it. It was hers! She was looking stunning as usual. The only difference is that she has got chubbier. She was, nonetheless, looming beautiful. He couldn't take his eyes off. 

Adhiraj cleared his throat as Aditya looked up to his father. Adhiraj said, 

-"She is Uma, Uma Roy. An English literature student in the City College." 

-"Do you like her? Shall we approach them once more and try?", asked Snigdha. 

Aditya smiled at them with his eyes twinkling. 

Adhiraj and Snigdha understood everything just by their son's expression and mumbled to each other's ears 

"We need to do something!"