Preamble: During Blogchatter's A2Z challenge during the month of April 2024, I am writing mini stories on various subjects and characters on each day of the month except on Sundays. The name of the protagonist shall begin with the alphabet assigned for the day.
Jyothika was very excited at the prospect of her brother's wedding. It was an occasion for her to project herself too, wear beautiful clothes, fun and frolic with relatives and friends. It was a surprise when her brother Varun opted for an arranged marriage. Somehow she had thought that he would find his own bride and that, that would open the door to acceptance of a love marriage for her and their little sister as well when her time came.
Their family could boast to being a very close knit one. The members shared freely whatever was happening in their lives be it father of his woes at work or Jyothika herself about her challenges at college. She particularly had a bond with big brother Varun. He would take her with him to most places and make it a point to bring back something special for her when he went on tour.
Finally, the big day arrived and passed off with a lot of colour, celebration and happiness. But it was the days succeeding the big event that was bothering Jyothika. She felt that her sister in law Aditi was slowly and surely shutting out others and keeping her husband Varun only for herself. Jyothika began to feel that she was not welcome in many situations where her brother would have previously happily associated her. Granted that he was now married and some space would be lost to the wife. But '"all space?" is what was bothering Jyothika. She noticed this happening in respect of other members of the family too. In fact Varun was seeing less and less of them with each passing day. It was almost like they were building this exclusive castle in which only both of them could be residents!
Jyothika raised her apprehensions with her mom but she dismissed it with the words "The poor girl lost both her parents when young and was brought up by an uncle. Naturally, she would be a little possessive of her husband. Stop being super sensitive Jyothika!"
Jyothika was not however convinced. She felt that she had to know more about this person who seemed to have made 'a prisoner' out of her brother. She began to cultivate friendship with anyone and everyone who knew Aditi or her family well. Then casually she came across a girl who had studied with Aditi for her graduation and had shared the same hostel facilities of the college in Indore. Jyothika was very happy to meet Meera who knew Aditi at close quarters. How was she at college and in social situations? she asked her.
'Well, I will tell you just one incident at the college hostel" said Meera.
"We were all discussing boys and what qualities each one of us would want in a future husband. The girls were giving various criteria like looks, sound financial background, well employed, of good character, one caring by nature and so on. Aditi was sitting a little distance away detached and cool. Then one of the girls noticing her said "Hey aditi, what are your preferences?"
Aditi answered in a matter of fact manner "I also will get my man. Then I will love him, love him, love him so much as to suffocate him..."
Jyothika got her answer and the reason for the total surrender of her brother. She also sort of knew it was a losing battle. It was futile to attempt getting anywhere near to the bond that she had shared with her brother for the last 20 years...
NB: This post is a part of challenge #BlogchatterA2Z
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