Spurned

It was one of those mornings after a good rain when every thing looks pure and cool. The sun was shining bright, small clouds were sailing like white boats in the clear blue sky. A gentle breeze was blowing. Birds were busy chattering after being disturbed through the night.

Mrs Ghosh was sitting in the bench waiting for her friends to join her when Dipti walked by, she smiled at her, and Mrs. Ghosh smiled back. Soon she noted Prabhat coming her way, she smiled within this time, taking enough care that it does not breaks on her lips. Every one in the housing estate knew Prabhat and Dipti were deeply in love with each other and were to be married soon.

Mrs Ghosh was surprised when Prabhat asked her if he can sit down beside her for a while. He sat down and by the very look of his face she could tell some thing was really wrong.

Prabhat himself spilled out the reason after a brief hesitation. He told her that his brother is dead against his marriage to Dipti. He is taking every measure to cancel the marriage. He is falsely alleging Dipti for the things which she has never done or never will. He insults her, her friends, her relations and later complains they have misbehaved with him in the first hand.

He is hell bent to ruin her image in front of every one. As a result Dipti has started to avoid him too, because he has failed to take her side. How can he insult or challenge his own elder brother, a brother who has loved him so much, and taken care of him for so long after their father died.

There was an awkward silence after which Mrs. Ghosh explained him the reasons of his problem. Prabhat’s elder brother Rajesh has taken care of his brother and sister since their father passed away at a young age. He did not married because of this.

When Dipti and her family shifted to the housing estate he instantly fell for her, he tried to win her heart for years but could not. The more she tried to distance herself from him, the more his obsession for her grew. Slowly love transformed into hatred, and he started to hate her with all his heart.

When Prabhat fell for her and she reciprocated his love Rajesh was infuriated. He made up his mind that he wont allow her in his household and started to act like that.

After explaining the reasons Mrs. Ghosh told Prabhat it will be next to impossible to change Rajesh. Dipti’s entry in his home will never be welcome. So Prabhat will have to chose the side, either he can procure a job in a distant place and live there with Dipti or let her walk away. If they stay in the same city as husband and wife, most of the people will call them, especially him selfish for walking away from a brother who has done the duties of a father.