Cupboard of books
Charu began to arrange all books properly in cupboard. She was watching them carefully. Her father had that book collection. She was not exactly booklover. In fact, she was not that much fond of them. But those books were unique gift. Those books looked so nice & pleasant. She was not planning to read them. But still she wanted them. She was looking towards them when her husband Arun came from behind. Arun “Why did you keep arranging those books? Honestly, we don’t need them! We need to give them to shop where we give old papers. They might give us some money.” Charu was so shocked. Her husband wanted to sell her books with unwanted papers. “These are books collected by her father. She needed to arrange all those books carefully.” She began to feel so nervous. She knew that she was not earning. She was staying in house of her in-laws. No one was happy when she brought those books. They felt that they were consuming place. But Charu had hopes. Arun gave her angry look & said “My parents didn’t want this house to be filled with those book cupboard. It was taking too much place.” She knew that it was fact. But those books were special for her. She slowly smiled & said nervously “I wanted to keep them.” “Come on. You are grown up now. If you plan to read then we can keep them.” She suddenly began to feel that she might start read them. “You are right. I will read them & then we can give them away.” Arun nodded. Charu smiled & began to look in those books. She slowly selected one of them. She turned towards Arun & she slowly pulled out book. She took it out of book cupboard. She sat in chair & opened book. She began to read name. It was really nice one. She was thinking about every idea. She finally decided one book & started reading. Arun looked towards her with frustration. Charu began to read those books. He started to feel that it would take days before she could throw them out. He just wanted those books out of his house. Charu was his wife. She supposed to act nicely with him & obey whatever suggested by his family. Until now Charu did everything as he told. She never did any arguments. He was so happy. He needed a wife who obeyed. He always kept reminding her that she didn’t have earnings & they were living in his parent’s house so she needed to obey every instruction. She always did whatever told to her. She throw some tantrums. But they were never survived for long time. He always kept them short & for limited time. She never threw tantrum like this one. He knew that his parents were angry. He was feeling that he was not as dominating as he should with Charu. So, Arun went near her & screamed on her “I want those books out of here. This house belongs to me & my parents. This is not your father’s house. Your father was poor man who used to stay in rented place. He never owned any house. He just gave these books. Why don’t you just throw them out?” Charu looked towards him nervously. She felt so scared. His voice was so loud. She was shivering due to it. She knew that she was not financially strong. But she looked towards those books. She wanted to keep those books. She slowly said “Just let me keep this book cupboard.” He gave her angry look & said “Enough is enough. Tomorrow I will throw all this out. You have just one day.” She started crying in low voice. She didn’t want anyone to hear it.
Charu was observing books. She didn’t
want to throw them out but she knew that she didn’t have much options. Then she
suddenly remembered her friend Sarika. Sarika had small house but she loved
books. She was feeling so upset by all. She was demanding help. She didn’t like
it. But she decided that her books needed home. She began to think about those
books like some human beings. She knew that they were not human beings but
still she had those feelings about books. She decided to call Sarika. Sarika
took her call. Charu slowly explained situation to Sarika. Sarika “It’s great.
My house is small but we can adjust. Don’t worry. I love books & my husband
admires them too.” “Can I bring them immediately?” “Of course. I will make
arrangements don’t worry.” Charu was so happy. She came in hall & told her
in-laws that Sarika was taking those books. Her mother-in-law nodded then she
said “But what she is paying for it?” “Paying?! She is not paying. I am not
selling my father’s books I am just gifting them.” Her father-in-law gave her
angry look & asked “Did you asked Arun?” She felt so confused. “I don’t he
just told me to get rid of those books. I want to read them but he didn’t want
to keep them so I decided to shift them.” “You are going to land in big
trouble. I don’t feel Arun would be happy to learn that you just gifted all
those books without asking him.” She felt so nervous. She never thought about
things that way. She slowly asked “I don’t understand. I thought that we just
want to shift those books.” “No! Arun wanted you to make some money out of
them. You never managed to earn anything & now you are just giving away
those books…you need to understand that you must sell them.” Charu felt so
nervous. She said slowly “But I already told Sarika to take them.” She
immediately called Arun. She started to tell her mistake with apology. She
began to feel so negative by all. Arun listened to her. Arun was so happy. He
knew that he wanted money but he was happier that Charu was apologizing for her
attitude. He didn’t like her stubborn attitude of morning but now she was
confessing her mistake. Arun “I know you done mistake. But you never earn money
you just spend it so you can’t value it. You need to earn money to value it.
Just while relaxing in house, you will not understand importance of money. Now
you have already told Sarika to take those books so let’s not ask her to bring
back those books. But honestly how could you gift something like this? You need
to think about your attitude! You are just wasting money without second
thought.” She said “Sorry!” while controlling her tears. This was truth. She
was not earning. Then Arun said “I might talk with Sarika. It’s not too late. I
can stop her.” She nodded. She sat in chair while watching books cupboard. It
was her precious dream. Only she had enough earnings to keep them. She knew
that now she could not able to see them. She suddenly sensed that she could keep
few in her cupboard. She selected few. She was so sad. She wanted to keep
seeing them. Only if it was possible to keep them for her but it was not. She
felt so nervous. She didn’t understand that how could she face Sarika. Then
Sarika called her “Arun is coming to take books cupboard. But before that I
will come & take few books. He said that it was okay if I take few books.
He was willing. I tell you names just keep those books aside & give
remaining books.” “Okay.” Then Charu created list. Charu read them all
carefully. Then she slowly began to search for them. She was working fast.
She knew that Arun would not give her one extra minutes. On that point her
mother-in-law began to call her. She decided to ignore her. She knew that she
needed to either cook or clean in house. But it could wait. She began to
collect all those books which Sarika planned to keep.
Arun’s parents were so angry. Today
Charu was not serving them like dutiful daughter-in-law. Charu was busy with
books. Arun’s Mom “I feel Arun need to know this.” On that point Arun came.
Immediately Charu ran to open door. Arun entered in house. His mother didn’t
take seconds to start talking “Your wife was just busy with those books. Her
friend Sarika seemed to asked for many.” Charu felt so nervous. Charu didn’t
understand what she supposed to say. She hated her mother-in-law for exposing
it like that. She slowly said “I just removed few books.” Arun gave her angry
look. “You will never understand value of money. Why did you call that Sarika
in first place? You don’t have any right on those books alone. You need to
understand that you must talk with me before doing those things.” “I am sorry.”
She felt so sad. She didn’t want to appear so useless before Arun. She didn’t
say anything. She said “ I need to do cooking.” She ran in kitchen. She didn’t
want to see how did they sell books. Those books were so important for her. She
knew that Sarika would value them but they would never reach to Sarika. She
didn’t earn anything so she didn’t have right. She began to cook. She started
to feel relaxed in her mind. She was so stressed. She told her mind to forget
all. She started to concentrate on cooking. She was working properly. In some
time, Arun came inside. Arun “Where is dinner?” “Actually, I am little bit
late.” “Little bit! You are so late. I don’t understand where you wasted your
entire time? You just have one responsibility to cook & take care of house
but you can’t do it on time.” She began to feel strange fear in her mind. Her
hand started to shake. She tried hard to control her fear but it was not
working. She began to feel so nervous. She started to tell herself that
everything would be fine. Her soul was feeling so negative. Her mind was not
turning positively on any point. She kept cooking while Arun kept lecturing her.
Finally, he went away. Charu was still cooking. After sometime she told all
that dinner was ready. She tried her best to make perfect dinner but it seemed
as if it was not enough for them. She felt so stressed. She served dinner. Arun
& his parents ate it. No one admired or said anything. But finally, Arun
declared that she needed to concentrate more on cooking. She nodded. Then she
returned in hall. She was so confused. She could see book cupboard. She began
to call Arun. She started to show him that book cupboard but he couldn’t see
anything. She kept pointing & showing it. But he didn’t see it. Entire
family didn’t see it. She was so shocked. She decided to wait until next day.
When she woke up, she once again saw that book cupboard there. She was feeling
stressed. She was beginning to sense that book cupboard was standing on that
place for her. She tried to convince her family but they all kept saying that
there was not book cupboard. She kept telling. She was crying loudly. Finally,
Sarika came. Charu told all to her. Arun immediately asked “Did Charu acted
like that before? Does she have mental issues?” Sarika gave shocked look.
Sarika “No! She never suffered like that!” Arun’s Mom “Oh! But now she is
acting like mad woman.” “It’s might be due to her father’s death.” Arun
immediately called Doctor. Then Arun said “Psychiatrist will do treatment.” Charu
began to cry loudly. Then soon she was taken to Psychiatrist. She told all.
Psychiatrist listened to her & started counseling. Then Psychiatrist told
Arun that she needed to change of place. “Why don’t you send her to parents?” “Her
father is dead & I don’t feel her old mother can handle all.” “What about
her friend Sarika?” Arun nodded. Arun decided to send her to Sarika but Charu
was not happy. Charu packed her bags. Then she slowly looked towards Arun. She
knew that he didn’t like her. She slowly said “Let me stay here.” “I don’t want
your burden.” Then she stayed with Sarika for few days. But when Charu returned,
she didn’t see that cupboard. She started working normally but she was no
longer scared. She was stuck in one loveless marriage. She managed to accept
it. But she was scared about having children. She tried her best to avoid. Soon
Arun started to discuss divorce. She agreed to it. She knew that she needed to
earn & live alone but she felt that it was okay. She didn’t want to stay
with Arun. Charu took help of Sarika to get one job of salesgirl in shop. It
was hard work but she was happy. She was finally out of Arun’s house. She knew
that they disliked her. Soon Arun married another woman. She saw many times Arun
with his family. But she never felt sad. She was happy that now Arun would
never come back in her life. She just regretted one thing that she sold that
book cupboard but now she brought one small cupboard. She began to arrange
books again. She was happy. People around her didn’t understand that. They kept
sympathizing with her. But in her heart, she was so happy. She didn’t want to
change her any decision. Her life was finally pleasant & peaceful. She was
glad that she went to psychiatrist. She managed to find her happiness. Her mom
didn’t stay with her. Her mom never understood her decision but she didn’t try
to convince her too. It was her life & she was living it in her way.
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