When Trust Becomes Home

"What kind of woman is she? We had her married to you so she could keep the house the way a woman should, so she could give your daughter love and care the way a mother should. But what is this silly girl doing here? Only loafing about. You are still the one doing everything for Nia. I truly cannot understand it when there is a woman here to care for your child." "Stop it, mom," Arjun cut into his mother's tirade in a firm voice. "You are asking why I do everything for Nia? She is my daughter, mom. Caring for her is my duty, my obligation, and unquestionably my right to be there for her, to remain closely involved in her life as her father," he said steadily, but the anger in his eyes was not missed by Mira or his mother. "You keep talking about this woman," he said, pointing a finger at Mira. She was frightened now. 'Will he change his mind about what he told me? What is he going to do? I hope he does not ask me to leave this house for not being the perfect wife in his mother's eyes. No, he would never do that. He's a good man, not some petty misogynistic fool.' - Mira was caught in a storm of thoughts inside her head. "This woman is my wife. My lawful wife. My wife, who was pushed into marrying me, just as I was pushed into marrying her. But do you know what sets her apart from the rest of you, mom? She gets me, she gets Nia, and she stands by us. And lazing around, you say? We both share the work in this house equally. She is not sitting idle. She's an ethical hacker who already earns nearly as much as I do at this age. So do not say another word against her, mom." - Arjun defended Mira with fierce conviction. He let out a sarcastic chuckle. "Why this newfound concern, mom? Where were you back when I needed you most? Still somewhere farther away, right? You kept choosing society's inhibitions and its opinions instead of being there for your own son. So now, mom, do one thing for me and go. Leave the three of us in peace. We are happy," Arjun finished in an exhausted tone. "You wicked girl, this was your doing, wasn't it?" his mother spat at Mira, leaving her startled and deeply confused by the accusation. "You turned his mind against us, didn't you? I will not let you get away with this," she burst out furiously. "And you, Arjun, I will never forget this insult," she said, and with that, Arjun's mother whirled around and headed for the apartment door, her heels clicking over the floor. "Why did you stand up for me against your mom, Arjun? She is your mother. I am almost no one," Mira asked Arjun, still wary after everything that had happened in the last few minutes. "You are my wife, Mira, and on the day I married you, even if the marriage was forced, I had already decided no one would hurt your self-respect as a human being. And besides, nobody has any right to say anything about our family - Nia, you, and I," Arjun said, a quiet smile touching his face. Mira smiled brightly at him. At last, she had a family. Today, something had shifted between them, and both of them knew it. The roots of When Trust Becomes Home had finally begun to take hold.