The Malhotras
Arun was a doctor. He was posted in a village way far from his hometown for a period of couple of months. With a height of 6 feet 1 inch, dusky complexion and sharp features, Arun was someone who was an epitome of good looks. Not just that, he was kind and honest. He had a long queue of admirers back in college. Supriya was after his life to marry her. However, for Arun, marriage was an immensely complex decision. He came from a joint family. He lived in the Malhotra Mansion with his entire family. His parents are Sukumar Malhotra and Sulochana Malhotra. His paternal uncles Suyash Malhotra, Sujay Malhotra, Suyash’s wife Rasika, Sujay’s wife Kasturi, his cousins Akshita, Amrita, Ansh and Laksh are also an integral part of his family. Arun could never get married to anyone without the approval of everyone from his family. The greatest hurdle was his Mom. She was very finicky about her future daughter in law. She was the director of a leading fashion agency. She was a socialite and immensely popular producer and director of quite a few web series. Rich and famous, Sulochana wanted a daughter in law who could be a jewel in the crown of the Malhotra family. Rasika and Kasturi were sick and tired of Sulochana’s name and fame. Because of her, despite belonging to affluent families, Rasika and Kasturi were hidden the shadows of Sulochana’s success. There were times when they contrived quite a few conspiracies to bury Sulochana’s pride and vanity. However, they were not successful. The entire Malhotra family was a mess. Pangs of jealousy, hatred brew in the family. All the same, the kids were just the opposite. Akshita, Amrita, Ansh, Laksh, all of them were kind, polite and nice to the core. Arun loved them.
Back in the village, one fine day Arun was attending to patients when he saw someone waiting. There was this girl clad in salwar suit with jet black straight long hair reaching her waist. With bright eyes, a sharp pointed nose, peach and cream complexion and height of around 5 feet 4 inches, she was one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen. She was waiting for her turn for the doctor to see her. When she got her turn, she went to Arun’s chamber. She sat in the chair right in front of Arun. Unable to take his eyes off her, he stared at her and asked, ‘ So, how can I help you?’. She trembled and said, ‘ I….I dddon’t know how you can help me, bbbut I..I…I nneed your help.’ She continued, ‘Sssorry, I am fumbling a lot. I am scared.’ She then joined her hands tightly and said, ‘I heard, in the city there are people who rescue girls like us. Please help me get out of this place.’ While she said that, she sobbed. Arun looked at her and said, ‘ I think I can help you. What is it that’s troubling you. Tell me in details.’ She looked at Arun . Her sea green eyes were moist. She replied, ‘ I am a victim of abuse. My step father tries to molest me. I want to get out of here. I want to work and become independent. Give me some phone number or contacts so that I can get out of here.’ Arun said grimly, ‘ Why don’t you inform the police?’ She looked at Arun and said softly, ‘Do you think if that was easy I wouldn’t have done that?’ Arun took off his rimless glasses, rubbed his eyes with both his hands and said, ‘I will help you. One of my friends works for such causes. I will call her. I am sure she will help you. How can she reach you? Do you have a phone number?’ Still trembling she said, ‘ I don’t have a phone, but my friend has. Ask your friend to call my friend Reena.’ She then gave a tiny piece of paper to Arun and said, ‘This is her number. I will wait for your friend’s call. Please ask her to call between 8:00 am to 10:00 a.m. That’s when I am at my friend’s home to help her mom with the household chores.’ She then got up from the chair and was about to go when Arun asked, ‘What’s your name?’. ‘Maya’, she replied and went away.
After that episode Arun met Maya quite a few times along with his friend Supriya to help Maya. Finally Supriya was able to get Maya out of the village and gave her a job at her clinic as an assistant helper. Arun also moved back to the city and joined a renowned hospital there. Arun knew he was falling for Maya but he also knew that he had to get out of these feelings because his family, specially his mom will never accept her. Maya never knew about Arun’s feelings for her.
This week, Supriya was to visit the Malhotra mansion for dinner. She was an all time favourite of the Malhotra family. She wanted to marry Arun but Arun did not have any romantic feelings for Supriya. All the same, Sulochana liked Supriya but she never wanted Supriya as her daughter in law. Today, Supriya decided to take Maya with her to the Malhotra mansion. The cook of Malhotra mansion had not been keeping well. Hence Supriya thought maybe Maya could help with the cooking there till the cook felt better.
Sulochana agreed. Maya started living in the Malhotra family. Arun was elated. He could see Maya everyday. However Maya was oblivious of everything. Timid, worried and scared as always, Maya never talked to anyone. She would quietly complete all her chores and would go to bed.
Rasika and Kasturi were not very happy with Maya. Maya was way too beautiful and they were always worried that she might get the limelight spot in the family.
Things were going smoothly in the Malhotra mansion. After Maya came, things became beautiful. Timings were maintained, food was delicious and Maya ensured nobody had any reason to complain about anything. After couple of months, the old cook of the family came back. Maya wanted to go back to Supriya’s office however Arun stopped her. In sudden flow of events, Arun confessed his love to Maya and Maya said yes and Arun married her secretly.
Hell broke at Malhotra Mansion. Arun getting married to a girl who came from a modest family was not acceptable. Sulochana, Rasika, Kasturi, all of them hated Maya. However, nothing mattered to Maya. She had faced a lot of challenges in life. This was nothing compared to all the trouble she had been through. She bore the brunt of the acidic tongues of her mother in law and Rasika and Kasturi happily. She listened to all the taunts of her mother in law and aunties in law with a smiling face. She never sat together with everyone at the dining table. She always ate separately. Despite Arun’s coaxing to sit together with everyone at breakfast, lunch and dinner, Maya never listened to Arun. She knew everyone hated her and all she wanted was peace. She was happy with Arun. No matter how rude everyone was, she never cared. She loved to be with Arun, that all mattered.
Time went by. Sulochana climbed the ladder of success. However, because of stress and exhaustion, lately, she has been suffering from a lot of health issues. She used to feel tired often. She barely had the energy to go to work. All the health investigations were done. There was a dip in the vital essentials in her body and hence the exhaustion.
Today, Arun had to come suddenly from work. He had forgotten an important patient file. Sulochana was in her room sleeping. Maya was in the kitchen. This was her time to have breakfast. After everyone left, she used to have her breakfast. The cook had gone to the market to get vegetables.
Arun went to the kitchen to surprise Maya. Maya was sitting at a corner of the floor. Arun saw Maya and said to himself, ‘This is the time the poor thing gets to eat something. I am glad she is drinking juice. Finally she listened to me. Cranberry juice is something she wouldn’t drink because she felt it was expensive. I am glad she is drinking it today.’ He then quietly went to see Sulochana. Sulochana had been on supplements, however, everyday, she felt weak. Arun checked her pulse. It was weaker than last night. He had to rush to the hospital, get the medicines and give those to Sulochana.
After getting his file, Arun rushed to the hospital. Maya saw Arun go out. She smiled and told herself, ‘ Poor guy. He will never know that I cannot eat any meals with anyone. How can I?’ She then took the glass from where she was drinking something, and said again, ‘Sulochana’s blood is damn tasty.’ After all Maya was a vampiress.
