MEN AND MARRIAGES
This is why I have trust issues in marriages. This lady travels all the way from Bangalore, hunts our house down, and enters defiantly, only to tell us that she is Ahmed Bhai’s other wife. In fact, she thinks she is Ahmed Bhai’s only wife, whom he had married secretly due to circumstances in Bangalore in a private affair. She didn't even know Bhai had a mother, father, or sister, let alone a wife.
I watch with my eyes wide open as she narrates her meeting with Bhai and how their friendship blossomed into a consenting marriage. And as she describes, I feel she is talking about a man I have never known all my life. This isn’t the Ahmed Bhai I have seen and grown up with. And with every detail, she surprises me more. And Ma. Ma is just standing there, behind the dining table where Cyra is seated, confused and agitated. Baba arrives after Ma gives him every detail between her march to the hall and room.
“Cyra,” she says, partly to me and partly to Baba. Baba nods, and I smile awkwardly.
“Ahmed’s wife,” she adds. I wonder if that’s really necessary. But whatever it is, there’s clarity in her voice and composure in her demeanour. She mustn’t be lying. As everyone cools down from the shock, Ma and Baba make her rest in my room. There’s an urgent meeting in the hall with all three of us to discuss this unforeseen calamity.
Ma asks if she is even credible. “What if she is lying and is here to mint money and degrade our name?” she asks. Baba suggests we call Bhai immediately and sort this out until it is too late. But no one asks me what I feel. Because that is how it has been always. And no one has mentioned Aliza Bhabhi yet, even to the strange lady claiming to be my brother’s wife. But why? Whatever it is, I feel I need to get to Aliza Bhabhi right now. She was planning to visit Bhai, right? So, where is she now? Does she know? How has she processed all this?
As our discussion intensifies, Cyra walks out, looking for something she hasn’t left behind. We stop midway and look at her. She runs her hand up and down her stomach and looks at Ma. “I am ravenous. I haven’t eaten anything in all the excitement of meeting you guys. Can I have something?” And then Ma looks at me critically. I walk to the kitchen, rummage through the dishes and find a plate. I take her to the kitchen, the same place that is Bhabhi’s Nest and serve her hot crispy dosas and chutney. She grabs the plate hungrily from my hand as if she could eat it whole and runs to the dining table. She gobbles down the dosas in minutes as we watch her in awe. She must have really been starving. Poor thing. But should I believe her yet? Bhai was head over heels in love with Bhabhi. I thought we almost lost him to her. How can he do such an act of betrayal to her? No, there is probably some misunderstanding. I decide to give my Bhai benefit of doubt.
After finishing, she stands, places the dish in the sink, and walks back to the hall. “Where do I sleep until Ahmed arrives?” She asks, and my jaw drops to the floor. “You can use Sara’s room for now,” Ma says, fumbling before I can pick up my dropped jaw, and yet again, I am at a loss for words. She hops towards my room and shuts it on me, and I stare at Ma in disbelief. I join them again in their conversation which I know will not be useful until Bhai intervened. I hope the sun comes up soon.
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