17 - 2 - 20xx

Sana sat in the middle of the hall, silent tears flowing down her face. The last rituals of her husband were being performed around her as people came to pay their heartfelt tributes. She remained emotionally frozen throughout the entire session of condolences.

Sidharth had been watching everything silently, managing the arrangements and speaking no more than necessary. He sat there throughout with Aadi in his lap, who understood nothing except that his head was shaven and he had a towel laid in his lap. Sidharth couldn't stop cursing fate as he watched the scene unfold repeatedly. He was standing in a corner when his father's voice caught his attention.

"Now's the time, let's go," his father instructed, to which he simply nodded.

Sidharth sat down beside Sana, and he observed her entire posture going rigid when she felt his presence. Of course, she would have known too that now was the time. But he didn't comment on it, as such behavior at this moment was perfectly normal, and he pretended the same.

They were both broken. But there was something in this moment that he felt deeply - the weight of this ritual. This ritual would tie him to his sister-in-law and her child in all the fatherly ways, not just nominally, but with all the actual duties and responsibilities of being both a father and a husband. It wasn't their official wedding, but it was the ritual that would commit them to each other for the rest of their lives.

"She already consumed one boy's life, and I don't know why they're binding another one to her. If something happens to him, who will take responsibility?" Sidharth heard his aunt's familiar voice say, and he hissed after noticing Sana flinch beside him.

He couldn't help but try to slip his hand into hers for comfort, but she shrugged him away. He kept looking at her, noticing the indecipherable look of utter pain on her face as she fixed her tearful gaze at the floor ahead. He didn't miss the bewilderment as he caught sight of her actually believing the slightest bit of those rubbish words thrown at her.

"Yes, that's what I was saying - we should have sent her to her parents' home. Her father was willing to take her, and we could have just taken Pradeep's child," his father's younger sister replied.

"Yes, I was thinking the same. The younger one will also be in danger because of her," the elder aunt spoke.

"She's nothing but ill-fated," came the reply.

"Enough! That's enough!" Sidharth yelled, standing up, and the hall fell into pin-drop silence.

"Sidharth, what happened?" Mr. Hooda asked, approaching his son with concern.

"Whatever happened to brother was written in his destiny. He chose to be a servant of the nation - that was his choice. His sacrifice was God's will. Sana was chosen for brother by her father and you - that was your choice. And if I'm standing here today, that too is by the elders' choice, not hers. Where there is no choice, there is no fault, and when someone has no control over fate, you don't call them ill-fated, Aunt," he pointed out sharply.

"Your brother is gone, Sidharth, and you're taking this girl's side?" his aunt remarked.

"Oh! So according to you, we should mourn the dead and leave the living to die? Let anyone say whatever nonsense they want without anyone speaking up?" Sidharth spoke harshly.

"Sidharth, they're your elders. This is no way to speak," Mr. Hooda hissed.

"I wish you or brother had taught these elders the same manners," Sidharth retorted.

"What exactly happened? Tell me," Mr. Hooda asked.

"According to your sister, Sana is responsible for brother's death. What was the word you used?" Sidharth asked, and his aunt went pale.

"W-What are you asking?" the aunt stammered.

"You can't understand two English words but claim to understand God's plans?" Sidharth laughed bitterly.

"I'm saying this for the first and last time - if anyone, I repeat, anyone, makes any baseless accusations against Sana again, they'll face serious consequences from me. Whether that person is elder or aged, if you won't show respect, don't expect any from me either," he declared in a stone-cold voice.

"Sidharth, don't create a scene," Mr. Hooda spoke quietly.

"If this was happening to your daughter, Father, or if these same words were being said about your son instead of Sana, the whole village would have witnessed a scene. Everyone knows this, so please," Sidharth huffed.

"Brother never spoke up, and I've always watched but never said anything because it wasn't my place or responsibility. But times have changed now, and I hope wisdom comes with time because I'm not one to tolerate wrong. Respect will only be given to those who deserve it," Sidharth spoke firmly.

"Nothing has even happened yet, and you're already speaking so much in her favor," his aunt said.

"Enough, Janki, that's enough. I've been watching too, but not today. I expected better from you, but I was wrong," Mr. Hooda said disappointingly.

"You may begin, uncle," Sidharth said to Sana's father, who had the slightest hint of a smile on his face.

They were seated together as both family patriarchs placed a dupatta over Sana's head while Sidharth was adorned with a turban, holding Adi in his lap. Sana remained quiet throughout, not crying, just emotionless, but her mind wasn't blank anymore. She had always seen Sidharth as a man of few yet authoritative words. He believed in taking a stand for his people, while his brother was quite the opposite. In his brother's dictionary, nothing was wrong unless it violated his own ethics. Although standing up for one's better half should have been included in those ethics, it never was, and Sana was just told to keep quiet and ignore such things, which she did.

The taunts she heard today weren't new to her. She had always been criticized for belonging to a less privileged family compared to the Hoodas. It wasn't that her family was lacking in any way, but the Hoodas had always carried that name and status, and the aunts had always found fault with her. Initially, the harsh words used to hurt her, but later, when her husband told her to ignore it all, she complied. But today, watching someone stand up for her, somewhere deep inside, she felt it was right.

Stay tuned for more. We're down with more than 5 chapters and i guess i can now ask what do you feel about the book. So please leave your valuable opinion in the comment section, hit the like button, follow to keep reading🌸.