Ramakrishna's confession

Ch-75

Nandini's husband was an NRI. He was a doctor in New Zealand, he returned to India to get married at his parents' insistence. Despite his being bitter about the marriage, Nandini looked cute and bubbly to his eyes when he saw her on their first date. Even though he never believed in love or a lifetime commitment he realized being committed with this cute girl wasn't a big deal. Krishna Uppalapati was looking forward to his marriage. His parents were doctors too. And he became a doctor too. They had a chain of hospitals, while he went to New Zealand to study but got settled there. His parents were asking him to resign and come back to take care of the hospitals, he never listened to them. Also, his traitor's parents said to the bride's parents that he was going to resign a year after his contract ended there. Till then the bride has to be with him in New Zealand.

Nandini was not comfortable staying in a different country. She always wanted to stay in the same city where she was grown. But she has to go with her so-called husband. She was only twenty years old now. If she have to move out of the country then she would have to discontinue her studies. She has to request to take online classes to continue her studies. Or may have to request to take online exams too. She wished she could get a year before they threw her into this hell, but she got none.

With a sigh, she walked out to the garden. She saw everyone was busy with their work. Just then she saw Rahul taking Laya out for a walk in the garden. She smiled looking at them. Nandhini knew how tough life was for Laya. She was brave enough to stand up and live her life but was she the same as her?

Laya almost died. But she got a loving husband. She got lucky. But was it the same in the case of Nandhini?

Maybe or maybe not. Her eyes focused on the couple who got married a year ago. Laya's eyes were as bright as twinkle stars. Her face radiated with a bright glow covered in a layer of happiness. She was genuinely happy for her at the same time she was jealous of her too. Yet she has no right to feel jealous here.

"What are you thinking?" a voice sounded from the side.

Turning her head she saw Ramakrishna settling beside her. "Nothing, Babai(Father's brother)" she replied.

"Don't lie, child. I know the feeling of wanting to be jealous yet you can't be jealous," Rama Krishna said. Just then Raghuram saw Rama Krishna sitting with his daughter while looking at Laya from the upstairs balcony. Hurriedly he walked down.

"Babai, I am happy for her yet I am jealous of her. Again… there was nothing she got more than me to be jealous of. I don't understand why I am like this," Nandini said. Just then Raghuram walked down and was about to reach him. But stopped hearing his words.

"Hmm… Nandini, even I am happy for her genuinely but sad also," he said as he cast his gaze to the earth.

"Why, Babai?" she asked.

"Happy, because she finally got what she deserved. Sad because I have behaved like a beast to her. My brother has to rise her protectively from my clutches. She ran away to a different city. I am not the sole reason for it but one of the reasons for sure. And she got married hastily because of my evil plans. She has to go through hell because of me.

"I didn't change even after she went through so much. I asked my wife to get her signature on the property documents when she needs the support of the family. And knowing that my brother broke her already broken heart into wisps of dust.

"My always obedient wife turned into a fierce tiger and went against me for the first time in my life. Then I started thinking, in twenty more years I would die because of my aging. I can't even swim in the piles of money. Then I realized… I missed her precious innocence. Her precious moments, my possible happy moments, and everything.

"Now… after all the hatred I showed to her for twenty years, I can't simply go forward and ask her forgiveness. All I can do is bless her to lead a happy life to eternity.

"But… there are times I question myself, if I am good to her, If I have treated her better, If I have not tortured her… she wouldn't have to fight with life and death, right? I have regrets, I have made mistakes. Neither I can free myself from the guilt nor undo my mistakes.

"What I say is… don't feel jealous of what she had. That jealousy can turn into greed, and greed can eat all of your possible happy moments and may leave you with regrets. Be you. Stay happy with whatever you have," Rama Krishna said as he leaned back on his stone bench.

Raghuram was shocked to hear his brother's confession. He never thought he would be changed like this. This was good too. He was happy for her. Indeed, Laya was a lucky charm to their family.

With a smile, he left the place and let them talk, missing the important part of their conversation.