Harish's bride
Harish began to read book again. He was trying so hard to concentrate on it's words. He wanted to sense happiness. His feelings were hurt today. He knew that he must not feel hurt. He was not so involved in that girl. Her name was Anjali. She was so beautiful. No truthfully she was not that beautiful. He had dated many beautiful girls than her & he had even rejected them. He didn't like their attitude. He wanted someone who would think like him. When he started chatting with Anjali she seemed perfect. She was agree with his every statement. He never felt that it was just show off. She wanted to confuse her parents. Actually she was planning to marry some boy who was out of their caste. She was planning to run away. Before it she pretended. He just wished only if she had warned him. It was stressful for him. He planned all. He was even started planning future of their kids. He was so happy. He still didn't understand what was it? He felt that it was his love. But she never smiled towards him unless it was not necessary. She never showed any interest in going on date until he did insist. He surely sensed it. But still he decided to ignore it. Finally he couldn't avoid truth. Anjali ran away. She never returned. No one knew she was where. She didn't want her parents to find her. He didn't understand why did he was dragged. His life was already complicated enough. He didn't needed more troubles. She used him as bait. He was so upset. But he didn't say anything. He needed to hide his emotions. He knew that he was not involved. He knew that it was just arranged marriage proposal. They hardly knew each other. It was not as if he was dating her for long time. He could sense still tears rising in his eyes. It was not about love. How could he fall in love with a girl who met him before just one month. He couldn't be in love. He told it himself again & again. He was so upset. He began to look for excuses. He was so stressed. He didn't understand why he needed to feel so upset. But he was upset. He didn't want to go out that much now. He kept telling himself that he was getting restless without cause. He knew that many people didn't know about his fixed marriage with Anita. But he kept feeling that his wife left him. He kept telling himself that she was not his wife. He kept feeling uneasy. He told himself once again that no one could. But he knew that it was not cause. He was not upset since she left him. But due to his mother's death! He was okay without Anjali. But his Mom wanted him to marry immediately. He was little bit scared to get married now. He told his Mom that he needed sometime. He went back to normal life everything was fine. He even congratulated Anjali when he saw her with husband in market. But every thing went wrong way. His Mom started to insist on his marriage. It was so problematic. He was introworld person so no one was interested in his personal life. But his Mom was chatter box. She kept telling everyone about Anjali. Now those people started asking questions. She needed a replacement. He was not in hurry but his Mom was in hurry. His Mom started getting in panic mode. She started calling him again & again on daily basis. It was irritating. She began to even cry. His Dad didn't understand his attitude too. Once his Dad called him & said " Why you need to think so much to marry a woman?..just marry one. She will be your. Then if you get bored you can go anywhere. Who is going to stop you?" He felt so shocked. He never thought that his Dad was cheating his Mom. But now he began to doubt him. " Dad are you telling me that I can have relationships with as many woman as I want?" His Dad smile slowly. Then his Dad said " Of course. But it must not come out. Your wife will not leave you since she was dependent on him. She needed to adjust!" He shivered with fear by this attitude. He didn't understand his father. It was not about Anjali but due to Anjali he knew entire truth of his Dad. He didn't say anything for long time. Then his Dad said " So can we fix one girl?" He screamed loudly " Dad I need break. I need time." " What? Now don't tell me you are in love with that stupid Anjali who ran away with that man. Do you want to know this man? His background.." " Dad enough?!" His Dad took pause then his Dad " Surely it is this jealousy which is stopping you from moving to next relationship. Forget grab new one. You can grab as many as you want!" He was so shocked. He was so confused. He didn't say anything. His Dad kept cracking cheap jokes about woman. Then his Dad & his elder brother started inviting him for party. They always kept drink. He didn't want to drink but on their insistence he had few. Then they started cracking jokes which he didn't like. Few times he even noticed his tired sister-in-law. Clearly even with so much money his brother was not giving her basic things for happiness. Harish noticed whenever she asked for something. His brother kept harassing her for every rupee. It was so hard for her. He didn't like it. Slowly he began to get convinced that he didn't want to marry. He kept avoiding subject again & again. His Dad & brother tried for sometime then they got bored. He was forgotten. But his Mom didn't forget him. His Mom kept dreaming about his marriage. Her health started to get worst. No one blamed him. But in heart they all were blaming. Finally one day she died due to heart attack. No one said anything. But people knew. He could see their eyes following him on funeral. They all felt just one thing why didn't he marry to please her? But it was not possible. He couldn't marry to please her. He began to feel that tears were started falling from his eyes. He didn't understand why did she needed him to get married. It was so upsetting. He needed to get his life back to normal but it was not happening. It was so frustrating. He needed to forget all. But he kept getting trap in strange rollercoaster. It was creating different impact of emotions. He needed to get over death of his Mom. He took deep breath & started concentrating on book. He was trying to keep each word of it out of his mind.
Harish went back to office on normal time. He kept working hard on every day. He was trying to plan his new project carefully. He was always loner & shy. No one expected him to greet them. He always went to his table. He started working with different projects. He was doing work whole time. He never talked or never got social so he always worked hard than any other person. He kept working. His life didn't have anything else except work so he was perfect for any boss. Employee who never wasted anytime on anything else. An employee who kept working. He even got promotion. But it never worked. He couldn't order people properly. He just kept doing his job. Finally he started getting just increment. Boss kept one cabin & different arrangements for him. He got respect. Boss called him his gem. Everyone admired him. He was their financial source. They all respected him. He was always called for every function. He always managed to make some excuse & they always respected it. He didn't told anyone about his marriage. He was not seriously considering to inform any one before confirming date. Actually date was not decided. It was needed to be confirmed properly. But then Anjali ran away. He didn't showed any surprise about it. He was feeling so normal when she was in his life. He didn't care for her love. He kept pretending that he was normal. He kept talking about kids to his Mom. He didn't discuss much with colleagues. But today when he sat down, suddenly one old lady who was working for company long time came to him. He sensed that some important question was going to be put forward. " Yes Auntie?" Everyone called her Auntie with respect. She smiled & said " Actually you have not invited anyone on marriage so we assumed it is off.." he took deep breath & told her with plastic smile " She ran away with someone else." Then suddenly another man added " We know but we were planning to start new dating for you." He was shocked. They were talking just like his Mom. He didn't want to get married. He took deep breath & said " I am not interested." They all nodded. He saw them all going back. He felt so stressed. He began to feel that they all were disliking him. His father disliked him. His brother disliked him. Even his mother hated him on her death bed since he disagreed to marry. Now he didn't want it. He started working. He began to feel that his head was paining. Nothing was going the way it should. His life was in big trouble. He needed to find some way out. He began to think of quitting this job. He began to feel that he might need to change city. He kept doing his work. He didn't even went for lunch. Then that Auntie came again. Auntie " Are you upset?..sorry I don't want to interfere. Do you remember Saitsh?!" Harish nodded. He was one of the clerk very nice. He got suddenly sick in office few days ago. Auntie controlled her emotions & said " He got cancer. He has one sister, mother, wife & two kids. We all thought. You will be best for his sister. She is such nice girl. You will not even demand any money from him. This way he can manage to settle one responsibility! That girl is nice. We want nice husband for her. If she marry a random man her life will destroy & it will just increase Satish's responsibility. Satish wanted you to at least try.." Auntie didn't say anything more. She just went away. Harish didn't say anything too. When office was over, he was going towards car. He noticed one girl. She was standing alone. She looked towards him but she didn't say anything. She was beauty of different type. Her skin had wonderful shine. He didn't keep observing her. He sat in car. But on that point suddenly Auntie came running towards his car. She insisted him to come out. She introduced that girl to him. " This is Tanuja.. this is Harish.." She took deep breath. Then Auntie said " Why don't you chat with each other?" Harish started to feel some strange fear. He began to feel as if whole world around him was going to vanish. He didn't want to faint. He stated to feel so restless. He tried to feel normal but he was so unsteady. Finally worst thing happened. He sensed that he was fainting. He was so nervous when he woke up on office sofa. Doctor was checking him. Doctor gave nice smile & said " Do you have BP problem before?" He was so confused. He never checked it. He did first time today. He was so nervous." I never paid much attention to it." Doctor " I will prescribe medicine. Start it from today. You suppose to take them from time to time." He nodded. He began to feel sure that something was wrong with him. It was so embarrassing. He fainted before all. He tried to stood up. But all objected. Boss told him that he had sofa & refrigerator all in his cabin. He could relax there. Harish smiled & said " I am fine." Doctor " You are not." Then Doctor wrote out something on paper. He began to get tense. He started remembering how hard it was to go to Doctor & do treatment. Harish smiled & stood up. He was so glad that he could manage it. But that girl suddenly came from behind. That Girl " Just relax. You don't need to get so tense. If you don't want to marry then don't get married." He nodded. That girl went away. He began to feel so relaxed. He started feel marriage was his trouble. He decided that if he would keep away from that subject all would be fine. He smiled & said " Thanks. I truly not want to get married now." That girl nodded & went away. He sat peacefully. Then he slowly called Cab. He went in it & finally he reached in his house. He was so lucky to have some house for himself. He didn't want to stay with his parents. Luckily his brother wanted to stay with his Dad so he got this house. It was small but perfect for him. He was settled happily in it. He went in bedroom & immediately fall asleep. It was so upsetting. But when he came back home, he was relaxed. He felt that all was over. He didn't sense that he was just running away from his fear which was waiting to grab him. He slept happily in his cosy bed.
Harish woke up while shivering with fear. In his dream he saw Satish was blaming him for his attitude. Satish was abusing him. He kept telling Satish that it was not his responsibility but Satish was not ready to hear it. Everything was so horrible. He didn't understand cause of his fear. But next morning when he came in office, he was so shocked. Entire office staff was sitting in corner. They were talking with full energy. Then Auntie came running towards him. Auntie told him that Satish died yesterday in sleep. " It was heart attack. That sickness & family burden managed to destroy peace of his mind. He was always so stressed." He nodded. Soon he sensed that they all supposed to go for last rituals. He didn't want but he didn't have much option. He went there. Satish's mother was crying. His wife was beating her chest & screaming. His sister was sitting in corner & crying. It was so stressful. He didn't want to stay there. But he didn't have any option. He kept observing. Finally they all went back home. Harish started to shivering immediately. He began to feel that entire room was full of ice. He stopped AC still he kept feeling cold. He was feeling as if he was on Himalaya. He didn't understand what was wrong with him. He kept feeling chill from inside. He was so restless. He started to feel different touch of fear. Then suddenly he saw Satish. He was standing before him. He was blaming him for his sudden death. He was there. He began to sense that he was seeing ghost. He screamed loudly. He started to open door but he couldn't for long time. Satish kept saying " You didn't marry my sister& you killed me." He started to cry. He kept crying. Then after long time he woke up on floor. He was so scared. Satish's ghost was truely around. He was feeling depressed. He didn't understand why his life was turning in worst way day after day. He saw time. He was late for office. He got ready & went in office. He felt so safe there. But he kept watching Satish's chair which was empty now. He began to feel tense. Then suddenly another man sat on it. Harish sensed that Boss managed to replace Satish already. Satish was going to die. All knew it. Harish felt that it was horrible but in life people had no option. They couldn't keep Satish's position empty for long time. Otherwise their company might suffer too much. If that company get closed, all hopes would be closed & many people would be unemployed. They needed to do it. Harish started doing his work. He felt normal & happy. Then finally time came. He needed to go home. He happily went home. All was perfect until he didn't went in that house. It was still cold filled with chill. It was so scary. He began to think that he needed to use heater. He needed to create house in normal way. He started to stay in house. He wanted his house to be perfect. He went in room. Then suddenly he sensed someone was behind him. Satish was there. He tried to run but his feet didn't cooperate. Soon he started to feel that cold. Satish began to scream " Marry my sister!" He shivered. He began to feel that he couldn't escape this ghost. He started crying. He didn't even eat. When he woke up, once again he was sleeping on floor. He was feeling so restless. He was totally wet due to sweat. He took shower. He needed help. Then he thought that he should marry that girl. It would stop problem. He didn't went to office that day instead he just went to Satish's house. He rang door bell. Satish's widow opened door. She invited him inside then she called Satish's Mom who talked with him nicely. So Satish's Mom was not angry when he was discussing suddenly Satish's Mom smiled & said " Before his death he planned all for his sister." She was so happy. He sensed that Satish was not stressed about sister. Satish's Mom looked tense. " Are you alright?" He nodded. She controlled her emotions & said " My son ignored his health. It lead to crisis. I heard you were fainted. Are you sick?" He felt so confused. She immediately gave her number of Doctor. " Go to him!" He nodded. He called Doctor. He took appointment. That night once again Satish came. He kept screaming on Satish until his throat didn't start paining but he didn't vanish. Next day he went without appointment. He just waited in line. He started to feel so upset. He wanted to hide his tears but receiptionist saw them. She came & asked " Are you in pain?" He turned head negatively. She asked " What happened?" He started crying. All patients started looking towards him. Receptionist gave him water. He started to shiver. Receptionist called Doctor. Doctor came out. Doctor checked his BP. Doctor looked tense. Doctor " I feel we need to admit him in hospital. He needed to do full check up." Harish agreed. Ambulance was arranged. Then many doctors & nurses started checking him. He slowly fall asleep. When he woke up, nurse was checking his BP. She smiled & said " Normal! Now tell me what happened?" He didn't stop himself now. He immediately told everything. Nurse looked tense. She called Doctor. She explained all. Then he once again told all. Doctor told to do scanning of brain. They were clearly suspecting brain tumor. He was tense. His family came but he was not much interested in meeting Dad or brother. Then his colleagues came. They all gave confidence to him. Then Satish's Mom came she talked nicely to him. He felt so nice. He did all tests while remembering face of Satish's Mom. Her words were giving courage to him. Finally all reports came normal. His family taunted & indirectly abused him for wasting money but his colleagues seemed happy even his Boss didn't cut his payment. He was so happy. Finally Doctor suggested Psychiatrist.
Harish went there. He was so scared but slowly he felt normal. He told all. Psychiatrist said " It was not about Satish but it is about your Mom. Your Mom demanded one wrong thing & you said no to her. You were absolutely right. You can't marry if you are not mentally ready. You needed time after first failure. But she kept pushing. Then luckily Satish's situation become similar. You were pushed but Satish was wise than your Mom. His sister told him all. He found another person. You are not hallucinating because of Satish. It was actually guilt of your Mom's death but it changed in form of Satish's ghost." " So I will keep seeing him always.." psychiatrist laughed. "No..no after some appointments you will start seeing but you just need to control your fear & understand truth.." he nodded. Then they talked for long time. Harish went home. He was so scared when Satish's Mom called. He told her all. She asked nervously " Do you want me to stay with you for night?" He immediately agreed. That night he felt as if he was with his Mom again. Harish woke up fresh. He sensed that psychiatrist was right. He missed his Mom. He looked towards Satish's Mom. He couldn't keep her with him always but his Mom was not staying with him too. He slowly started discussing all with Satish's Mom like his Mom. Psychiatrist encouraged it. Soon he stopped seeing ghost. He sensed that his Mom was replaced so he no longer needed her. Psychiatrist explained him step by step that his Dad was cause of his Mom's sorrow not his marriage. He sensed that Dad's affair killed his Mom. He never said it loudly. But slowly he became normal. This time he got promotion & managed to do his job perfectly. On his promotion party he met one girl. She was sister of his another colleague. She smiled & he decided that he needed her in his life. He didn't know if he could get her but he knew one thing that he would try & this time he truely liked her. He was not desperate to get her but he wanted her to become part of his life. He decided that he would do it slowly step by step.
The End
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