Family Crisis
The Sharma house, once alive with chatter and warmth, now feels heavy with silence. The old ceiling fan whirs above the dining table, where half-eaten plates of food lie untouched.
Vijay Sharma sits at the head of the table, his usually calm face buried in his palms. His shirt is wrinkled, tie loosened, and his eyes red with sleeplessness.
Beside him, Kavita Sharma paces restlessly, wringing the end of her dupatta in nervous circles.
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
Betrayed… after all these years.. (Vijay mutters, voice cracked)
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
He was like a brother to me, and he stabbed me in the back.
Meher, their eldest daughter, watches quietly, her spoon untouched.
She’s dressed in a simple kurta, hair loosely tied, but her sharp eyes take in everything.
Her younger sister Riya, usually bubbly, sits unusually still, glancing nervously between the adults.
Kavita Sharma (Meher’s mother)
(Kavita stops pacing, her voice trembling)
Kavita Sharma (Meher’s mother)
The factory papers are gone, Vijay. The money is gone. And tomorrow the lenders will come asking for their dues.
Kavita Sharma (Meher’s mother)
How will we face them?
Kavita Sharma (Meher’s mother)
What will people say?
The words “what will people say” hang in the air like a curse.
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
(Vijay slams his fist on the table, startling everyone)
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
I trusted Deshmukh! He promised partnership, and now he’s run off with every rupee.
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
If I don’t pay the debts, they’ll seize everything.. this house, the shop… our name.
Meher Sharma (FL)
(Meher straightens in her chair, her jaw tight. She’s been quiet too long)
Meher Sharma (FL)
Papa.. (she says softly but firmly)
Meher Sharma (FL)
Crying over betrayal won’t solve anything. We need to think of a way out.
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
(Vijay looks up at her, his eyes brimming with guilt)
Vijay Sharma (Meher’s father)
And what way do we have, Meher? We are finished.
For a moment, no one speaks. Even the fan seems to grow louder.
Meher grips the edge of the table, her mind racing. Somewhere deep inside, she knows this storm is only the beginning.. something bigger is coming for all of them.
Outside, the temple bells ring for evening aarti, but inside the Sharma home, it feels like a funeral.
Author
Literally, this story happened all of a sudden, writing at 2 am. and I know these names are common. In a hurry, I couldn't think of it anymore. So bear with me. This is going to be a simple, sweet and short story, maybe 50-60 episodes..
Author
If you enjoyed it then do like and comment… see you with lots of updates..
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