The Last Meeting

"I hate you" the fifteen year old Ramya had angrily shouted in child-like frustration.

"Oh! But I love you." Rahat, her brother, five years elder, had calmly said.

"No. You don't. Why then did you complain Mumma that I cheated in exam? I. Hate. You." Her tone had remained unchanged.

"Oh! You really do?" Rahat had asked alluring her with a large, glossy, violet chocolate pack.

"I mean." She had thought for a while and said, "Okay, I don't hate you but I don't love you either." And then with a pause, "Is that for me?" Her eyes had developed shine; her mouth, water.

"It could be. But what's the use?" Rahat had said pretending to be disappointed, "You don't love me."

"Oh no! I love you Bhaiya. I love you soooo much." Ramya had said excitedly stretching her arms for a hug.

Rahat had hugged her and with her ears resting on his heart, had told her how bad it was to cheat in exam and how well she can actually score even without cheating. She had realized and promised never to cheat again but when they separated, the chocolate wasn't in his hand.

"Arghhhhhh.... Where is my chocolate?" Ramya had shouted again but had quickly realized that little Ravi, five years younger to Ramya, snatched it away from bhaiya's hand.

"Raviiiiii.... Give it back to me. I know you don't like chocolates." Ramya had shouted.

"I too want a hug." He had said in an innocent tone.

"Awww.... Here it is." And Ramya had stretched her arms again and Ravi clung to her, tossing the chocolate into Rahat's hands. And they tossed it to each other while Ramya kept shouting in frustration.

***

After a decade, here sits Ravi on a sofa at Ramya's in-laws' waiting for the once-shouting sister to utter a word.

Today when he asked, "Didi! How are you?"

"Fine." That's all she said with a fake smile on her face.

***

A decade and a half ago, one day Ramya had come running to Rahat, crying in full swing.

"What happened my doll?" Rahat was worried.

"Bhaiya!! A got a cut on my finger." She had sobbed as she said.

Rahat had worriedly looked at it. It was just a paper cut.

"It will be fine my dear. Okay here I put this medicine on it." And he had sneakingly taken some moisturizer on his finger and put it on the cut. Ramya's tears had vanished miraculously.

***

That girl today quickly turned her face away as her Rahat Bhaiya noticed, when she bent to pour water in his glass, a scar on her cheek hid under layers of heavy makeup.

"All is not fine" he was sure.

He came home worried and told Ravi about it. It was to be kept secret from mummy until they found the truth in the doubt.

"The scar? It is absolutely worrying?" Ravi said.

"Not the scar itself. But the tendency to hide it. Had it been a normal injury, Ramya would never have hidden it. Never." said Rahat.

"You mean domestic vio...." Ravi said in a heavy stammering tone, while Rahat quickly put his palms on Ravi's mouth to stop him from completing the word.

"Don't say it. Mumma says Goddess Saraswati sits on our tongue once everyday. Don't say it. Don't." His breath exhausted because of heavy throat while tears flowed effortlessly down the cheeks.

But not every reality owes it's existence to Goddess Saraswati. Some things are created by devil. Devil that dwells inside the body of bone and blood.

The two brothers sought to find out the truth. They passed many sleepless nights. They called Ramya over phone everyday, talked to her and could realize that all is not okay but Ramya would never utter that something's wrong. She always said, "I am satisfied. I am okay".

One day, while Rahat and Ravi teased her for too long over call keeping it on handsfree, she began to laugh the way she used to before marriage- open and loud; and then slowly her voice turned heavy as she said, "Bhaiya. I wanted to tell you someth..." But abruptly a very angry voice came from behind.

"What the hell are you doing with this bloody piece of device here when I called you thrice." It was Tushar. And then there was a loud sound of something hitting the floor. It was the phone itself. Rahat and Ravi were stunned. Ravi's hand started shivering and before the phone fell, Rahat quickly caught the phone and supported Ravi, who then sat with his head on Rahat's shoulder. The call continued. 

"Who was on the call?" Tushar grunted, then said with a surprise, "What happened to the screen?", then taunted, "Seems your phone is gone. Ask your brothers to get you a new one. They love you a lot. Right?" and then suddenly shouted, "Who was on the call?"

"Cus..custom... Customer care." Ramya distant voice over the call was laden with fear. She was shivering to the core.

While Ravi wanted to speak, Rahat closed his mouth and quickly muted the call from his side and then said to Ravi, "If he gets to know that we are hearing it all, he will never allow us to bring Ramya back here."

While the sudden shouting and silence continued over call, Rahat asked Ravi to do something very important, "Go to mumma, don't tell her anything we heard. Just request her enthusiastically to call Ramya here for this Bhai Dooj. She will ask Ramya's mother in law."

Ravi immediately got up and went to Mumma.

Rahat turned his concentration over the call. Suddenly he heard a slap from the phone. A harsh full blown slap. Chills went down the spine of Rahat. He held the phone in a reflex as if holding Tushar's hand from falling on Ramya.

"I am sorry. I will listen whenever you will call me." Ramya was begging like a helpless woman. Rahat was squeezing the phone in his fist like a helpless brother.

"You were so well engaged in talking to the customer care man that you couldn't hear your husband's voice? YOU CHARACTERLESS WOMAN." and then came a next slap. Rahat could barely remain seated. His frustration could be seen in the way he pulled the curtains, pounded on the wall and pulled his own hairs. Torture didn't stop. A heavy blow, a painful cry and then continuous sobbing. This went on repeatedly for a minute. The worst one minute of Rahat's life. He felt like he was paralyzed, even with all his senses and organs working.

Finally there came an end to the blows and all that was left was sobbing. Rahat picked up a pillow and squeezed it gently, praying that he be able to bring her Ramya at place of the pillow as soon as possible. Ravi came in to find Rahat Bhaiya's damp cheeks and swollen eyes. Rahat told him all that he heard and asked, still sobbing, "What did Mumma say?"

Ravi was too stunned to answer it. He sat like an idol, as if lifeless. Rahat quickly got up and shook him and gave him water to drink. Ravi hugged Rahat and tightly and began to cry like hell saying, "Please Bhaiya. Bring Didi back. Do something. Please Bhaiya."

Rahat too in a heavy stammering voice said, "Yes my babu. We shall bring her soonest possible. Okay now tell me. What did Mumma say?"

"She...she called Didi's mother in law and requested her. After slight convincing she agreed to send her saying, 'Why not? It's a festival of brothers and sister and I know her brothers will load her with heck of expensive gifts when she comes back to her sasuraal.'" Ravi narrated.

"Oh! Why not? The most expensive will be for the devil." Rahat said with an extremely heavy stammering voice laden with anger.

They went to fetch Ramya, who had an idea that her brothers know something. 'Something' because she still thought the call had terminated as soon as the phone had struck the floor. She avoided a direct eye contact with either of her brothers as it could lead to her shedding a flood of tears. Ravi being younger quickly got up to help Ramya in taking the refreshment plates back to kitchen. And once he found he was far away from the sight of family members he whispered to Ramya, who was still not looking at Ravi, "Didi, answer me in 'yes' or 'no'. Do you wanna come back here?"

Ramya didn't reply.

"Tell me Didi. Bhaiya has asked me to ask you before I say anything else." Ravi very lovingly lifted her face with his palm. Her eyes were surrounded by the darkness of torture, her face had several scars at different stages of healing. She was the document of proof of domestic violence.

"I am so soooo sorry, I realized it so late Didi." Ravi was crying, though silently, "Didi please say 'No'. Say that you don't want to come back here. Please. I cannot see you like this anymore."

Ramya smiled with tears in her eyes and said in the faintest voice, "No"

Ravi's eyes developed the shine of satisfaction and then he said quickly wiping his tears, "Okay. Then do just one thing. Keep all the valuables that belong to you in your bag."

Ramya blinked her eye in agreement and Ravi quickly went to the drawing room.

"Long talk between the siblings. Hmm?" taunted Ramya's mother in law.

"Oh yes! She showed me the new works in the kitchen- tiles, platform and all. Nice choice." Ravi said with a smile.

"Thank you beta. All we need is an electric chimney, which can be a good gift for a sister. Isn't it?" the mother in law's greed didn't have even a trace of patience.

"Oh yes! Why not?" Rahat said before Ravi's anger could spell out a befitting reply.

And finally they took Ramya back with them to a safe and happy place.

When Mumma saw Ramya, she for once couldn't believe her eyes. Ramya looked so sick, so thin and so weak. And when she went to hug her, she was already in tears, "What has happened to you mera bachcha?"

Rahat and Ravi then explained Mumma everything and Mumma just sat crying with Ramya in her arms, held tightly.

But when Ramya started narrating the story from the beginning to the end, no one could hold their tears. And at the last she said, "...But now as I am back to a place where I can be safe in the deepest of my sleep, I want to live the coming days like I did always- teasing Ravi and Bhaiya, having fun with Mumma. I crave for happiness, Mumma! I crave a lot..." and she started crying again.

Rahat at once got up with a jerk and immediately went into his room. While everybody tried to figure out the reason for this unusual gesture, he came back with a large pack of chocolate and went close to Ramya.

"Say 'I hate you'" he said to Ramya.

Ramya looked at him with all the love she could express in her shining, swollen eyes and said, "I hate you."

Rahat smilingly said in a taunt, "Oh! You really do?" and began to tickle her on the waist, She jumped on the sofa and took twist and turns laughing her lungs out and screaming, "Noooo! I love you sooo sooo much." and once Rahat stopped tickling she hugged him tight. In the tightness Rahat could feel her fear, the fear that someone would take her away. He reciprocated with the same tightness to make her feel that he won't allow anyone to hurt her anymore and said, "Fine then. Ravi! You can take this packet now." Ravi took the packet and ran around, Ramya chased him and hugged him too, and they all began to laugh.

Ramya, with intense love and care began to gain health and happiness. By now, Rahat had made it clear to her in laws that Ramya was not going to be sent back. Thus, the in laws tried to contact Ramya but thankfully she had removed her old SIM from her phone.

After the month of continuous wriggling efforts of Ramya's in-laws, Tushar came on the front foot.

"Bhaiya! I wanna come and meet you all." said Tushar over call to Rahat.

"There is no use, Tushar! You are not getting Ramya back. When you can't value my angel, you don't deserve her at all." said Rahat angrily.

"Yes I don't deserve her. I realize that. But I just wanna meet you all and apologize for my deeds in person. Please. I beg you. This will be our last meeting." requested Tushar.

Rahat thought for a while and he agreed, though unwillingly. Somewhere inside his heart a warning bell was continuously ringing but even then, he agreed, "Okay! You can come. But alone. And you will have to leave as soon as you have said what you wanna say and signed on the divorce papers."

"Okay Bhaiya. Thank you." Tushar kept down the phone.

But as soon as the call was over, Rahat could hear the shrill cry of Ramya, the slaps and the sobbing. It was resonating it his brain. He became furious and the feeling of revenge started to gain strength. To calm himself down, he went for an evening walk with Ramya and Ravi.

Coming home he was calm, and told everyone that Tushar was to come next day. Everyone first revolted and became impatient but when Rahat told that Tushar has promised, this will the last meeting, they agreed, though still not with a happy will.

Next day, Tushar came in the afternoon. He was kept to the drawing room itself. Tushar acted the same way as he acted before marriage- a sane, humble and well mannered boy. For a moment Rahat and Ravi thought, he had changed but quickly they deliberately trampled this thought.

"I am extremely sorry to all of you." said Tushar.

"Hmm" replied Rahat.

"Please let me also apologize to Ramy..."

"She won't come down. She doesn't need your apology. It will be best if you just sign and leave." said Ravi showing him the Divorce papers.

"Please Bhaiya." Tushar requested Rahat, ignoring Ravi's statement.

Rahat turned to Ravi and said, "Go and ask Ramya. Tell her she is free to decide if she wants to come or not."

Ravi irritatingly looked at Rahat saying with an eye gesture, "Why Bhaiya? Don't."

Rahat too with an eye blinking gesture stressed, "Go."

He wanted nothing to remain in Ramya's heart too. He didn't want to impose his decision on her.

Ramya came to the drawing room with a plate of sweets and a glass of water. Mumma didn't like this. She left the room and went upstairs.

Rahat went behind her to explain her why it was important to give Ramya a free hand on meeting with Tushar. While going behind Mumma, Rahat had indicated Ravi with an eye gesture, not to leave Ramya with Tushar alone at any cost.

Rahat switched on the television for Mumma. It was Ramayana showing on the channel. Rama had left for the golden deer asking Lakshman not to leave Sita alone at any cost.

"See I want to talk to you Ramya." said Tushar extremely humbly.

"Say." said Ramya in the tone of indifference.

"No. I want to talk to YOU. Just you and me." said Tushar with tears in his eyes.

Ravi at once looked at Ramya and with fear and anger in his eyes indicated, "Noooo. Do not."

"Ravi! Please go out for a minute. I will call you in." said Ramya, ignoring Ravi's gesture. 

"But Didi!!" Ravi was not at all ready, like Lakshman in the television, upstairs.

"GO. Don't worry." Ramya stressed, like Sita did.

Ravi got up extremely reluctantly, left the room and sat in the adjacent room.

"Now say." said Ramya, still in the tone of indifference.

"I promised Bhaiya that this will be our last meeting. The last meeting of Tushar and Ramya. Because today, one won't remain alive to meet the other." He said with his tone changing from humble to devil as he pulled out the pistol.

Ramya at once got up to run to the door shouting, "Raviiiiiii"

But Tushar pulled her back holding her wrist and latched the door. Ravi came to the door immediately but the door had been latched by then. He began banging the door shouting, "YOU DEVIL!! LEAVE MY SISTER. DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER." Rahat came running downstairs with Mumma and looked through the window shouting in fury and pain, "STOP IT I SAY. I AM CALLING THE POLICE." But there was no use. Tushar kept beating Ramya but today Ramya tried to fight and not beg. She defended and even attacked. She tried her best to fight even if she was to die. Mumma, Rahat and Ravi just stood outside helpless. Rahat called the police but they weren't to appear miraculously.

Finally, Tushar held Ramya by throat and hit her head on a wooden almirah pointing the pistol on her forehead. A heavy brass flowerpot kept over the almirah lost balance and fell over Tushar hitting hard enough to make him unconscious. Rahat began to shout, "Open the door Ramya. First open the door." But Ramya seemed to have a hangover of fight and a fit of revenge. She went close to Tushar, picked up the gun, and started moving backwards pointing the gun at him.

"NOOOOOO RAMYA. DON'T DO THIS." shouted Rahat.

She shot at him. The bullet hit the thigh. And once she had pressed the trigger, the hangover seemed to have ended immediately, the energy seemed to have exhausted. She walked towards the door with noodle like legs, opened it and fell down immediately, unconscious.

Ravi quickly sprinkled on her some water from the glass. She slowly opened her eyes. Ravi gave her the glass.

"Bring another glass, babu! This has poison." said Ramya.

Rahat, Ravi and Mumma were all shocked. Ramya continued, "I had once found it in my almirah at the in-laws. Tushar every now and then blackmailed me that he will poison my food if I don't act like a good wife. So, it was one of the valuables I brought here and I think this was what a good wife would do. I don't know what I did was right or wrong, Mumma! but I couldn't resist."

Mumma did not know what to say. Rahat quickly picked up a cloth and wiped Ramya's face saying, "I can understand Babu." and then turning to Ravi said, "First go and hide these sweets and water away from the house. The police must be arriving any moment. Once the police is gone we shall bury these lest any stray animal should feed on them."

Then police arrived, investigated and after weeks of turmoil, Ramya was acquitted on the basis of self-defense. Things could not become as normal as the time before Ramya's marriage, but yes, they were far better that the time after Ramya's marriage. Being divorced was a new normal for Ramya and she slowly adapted to it. And obviously not all men are demons. Thus, she found someone.....