Sumedh's POV
Some days passed. Chandana's mood was always off.

"Chandana kab takk chalta rahega yeh sab?" I asked her.

She kept quiet.

"Bhool kyu nhi jaati usko?" I asked.

"Aap Bhabhi ko bhool sakte ho?" She asked.

"Uski baat alag h!" I replied gritting my teeth.

"Bhaiya...aap...please Ishaan se baat kro na" She said.

"Pagal ho geyi ho kya? Me usse baat nhi krne wala!" I said.

She started crying. Devaki came and consoled her.

"I think hame...ek baar Ishaan se baat kr leni chahiye" Devaki said.

"Yeh to pagal thi hi, iske saath saath tumhara bhi dimaag kharab ho gaya h!" I said.

*******

In the evening everyone was sitting in the hall and we were talking about Chandana and Ishaan.

"Sumedh ek baar baat krle na usse" Mummy said. "Haan Puttar, ghar di izzat da sawaal h" Bauji said.

"Theek h! Par sirf ek baar..." I said. "Bhaiya please usko mna lena" Chandana said. I simply nodded.

Mummy and Bauji asked me and Devaki to go to Ishaan's place.

We decided to go the day after.

*******

Me and Devaki were sitting in Ishaan's house.

We had a cup of tea. "Dekhie, ham...haam yaha seedhi si baat krne aae h. Aapke aur hamare parivaar ko pta tha k aage jaake Ishaan aur Chandana ka rishta hoga, lekin last moment pe aapka beta baat se palat gaya" I said to Ishaan's father.

"Hamare bete ko kisi aur se pyaar ho gaya" His mother said.

"Lekin isme meri behen ki kya galti h? In dono k beech me jo sambandh the uske bareme kya kehna k aapko?" I asked.

"Woh aap jaake apni behen se poochie! Kya pta usne hi hamare bete ko..." She said but I interrupted her.

"Kya bakwaas h yeh? Aapko sharam nhi aati esi baat krte hue?" I almost yelled.

"Hamare ghar me aake hamse hi ese baat krna aapko shobha nhi deta Thakur Sahb" Ishaan said raising his voice.

I was losing my cool.

"Dekho Ishaan" Devaki said, "Yeh baat tum bhi jaante ho k galati tum dono se hui h. Tum maan kyu nhi lete? Kis zidd pe ade hue ho?" She asked.

"Dekhie Thakurayan, agar aap chahti h k me Chandana ko apna lu, to Thakur Sahb ko meti baat man'ni hogi" He said. "Konsi baat?" I asked.

"Maafi maangie hamse" He said. "Maafi? Kis galati k lie?" I asked. "Wahi jo aapne pichli Holi pe ki thi" He replied.

"D...dekho Ishaan, m-me uss galati ki maafi pehle maang chuka hu. Kyu uss baat ko baar baar beech me laate ho?" I asked nervously.

"Maafi maangi thi lekin saza to kaati nhi" He said with a smirk.

"Theek h. Chandana k lie me kucch bhi krne ko tayyar hu, bolo kya krna h" I said confidently.

He nodded and said something to a servant.

We waited. The servant went and came back with a tray and some water.

"Aaie Thakur Sahb. Holi pe aapne meri poori family ki insult ki thi na? Ab uss insult k lie saza yeh h aapko sabke saamne mere per dhone honghe" He said.

I gritted my teeth. I looked around. Everyone was there: his mother, father, servants, Devaki...
And I had to wash his feet infront of everyone.

I was about to say something angrily when Devaki held my wrist. I looked at her. She gave me a helpless look.

I looked at Ishaan and simply nodded.

He sat on the couch. I bent and sat on my knees. I washed his feet. I was feeling so helpless. It never happened before. He was insulting me infront of everyone.

When it was done, he splashed the water with his feet. I was sitting near his feet so the water went on my face and clothes. I didn't say anything.