Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Author:Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni [Divakaruni, Chitra Banerjee]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-307-47679-1
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 1999-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

Late that night I lie in bed alone, my stomach hurting with hunger and distress. I can’t stand the idea of having to face Sunil’s father ever again. How can I stay in this house with him and Sunil’s mother, that poor, broken woman, as everyone expects me to, for a whole year after Sunil leaves? How can I reconcile the tender, caring Sunil I know with the enraged stranger downstairs, ready to smash in his father’s face?

But most of all Sunil’s father’s crude accusations tear me open with their malevolent claws. Drinking and whoring. I wish Sunil’s mother hadn’t pulled me away before I could hear Sunil’s response. I wish that doubt didn’t shift its ugly coils inside me like a snake coming awake. I wish I had someone who’d know just what to make of this crazy evening with her cool, calm vision. I wish I had Sudha.

And with that realization I’m crying, my stinging salt tears soaking my bridal pillow. I haven’t allowed myself to think of Sudha for a whole month, since the moment I turned on her so unforgivably after our wedding. Haven’t called her, haven’t even asked the mothers how she’s doing. Every time the topic came up during my brief visit home, I changed it deftly. Deep in the core of my jealous heart, I knew she wasn’t to blame for that spellbound look on Sunil’s face—ah, but I can’t bear to think of it. That’s why I’ve kept myself drugged with the romance of his words, the passion of his touch.

This is how love makes cowards of us.

The door swings open. Sunil flicks on the light. I blink in its sudden glare and wipe my eyes quickly, not wanting him to see I’ve been crying. But of course he notices.

“Angel,” he says, putting down the packet he’s carrying to take me in his arms. “I’m sorry about tonight.” He holds me tightly. His hands stroke my hair. I burrow my face into his chest and smell the American cologne mingled with sweat, the best smell of all. We hold each other, comforting and being comforted. I press my lips into his palm, murmuring words that one might say to an injured child. The house of marriage has many locked rooms. Tonight we’ve opened one and entered in.

He’s kissing my eyelids now, his breath hot on my face. I open my mouth to him, shrug off my clothes and pull at his. My bones are remolding themselves to fit against his, our skins have melted together, seamless, to form a map of desire. We move in urgent harmony, cry out in unison, lie damp and triumphant in each other’s arms. How vulnerable he is after lovemaking as he nuzzles, infant-like, at my shoulder. How could I have ever been fool enough to doubt him?

Later, we sit cross-legged on the bed, eating. Sunil has brought me luchis and alu dum—all the way from the railway station because the neighborhood stores were closed by the time he and his father finished with each other.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.