19-10-2025, 11:54 PM
(This post was last modified: 24-10-2025, 11:01 AM by lee.jae.han. Edited 8 times in total. Edited 8 times in total.)
## Update 7: The Chachis' Secret Conspiracy (Avi and Suman/Meena/Seema Chachi)
Suman Chachi, the eldest, served me a hearty lunch, her hands moving with practiced care. After eating, I eagerly pulled out my report card, proud to share it with all three of my aunts. Meena Chachi scanned it, her smile warm and genuine.
“Chachi, starting today, I’ll be studying at my Math Madam’s house,” I announced, chest puffed with excitement.
Meena Chachi’s eyes flicked up, a curious glint in them I couldn’t quite place. “That’s good.”
Suman Chachi glanced up from the report card, her brow furrowing slightly. “Will she charge you money, or is she teaching for free?”
“No, Chachi, the principal asked her to teach me, so it’s free,” I replied confidently.
Seema Chachi reached over, pinching my cheek with a fond grin. “My son is so sweet. No one could ever take money from him.”
I pulled back, laughing softly. “Chachi, stop teasing me.”
Suman Chachi’s voice softened as she turned to Seema. “Why are you bothering Avi?”
With a playful pout, Seema Chachi protested, “Didi, I’m not bothering him. I’m just praising my son.”
Meena Chachi let out a quiet chuckle. “I know what your praise means.”
Raising her voice in mock exasperation, Suman Chachi said, “Now both of you stop fighting.”
“Okay, Didi,” they replied in unison, their smiles wide and mischievous.
Stretching, I yawned. “Chachi, I’m going to sleep. Please wake me up in the afternoon.”
Suman Chachi nodded gently. “Yes, go to sleep. I’ll wake you.”
I headed to my room and lay down, my mind buzzing with thoughts of the stern Principal and the gentle Math Madam who’d be tutoring me. Sleep tugged at me, but before I could drift off, muffled voices seeped through the thin wall. Curiosity sharpened my senses, and I pressed my ear against the plaster, every nerve on edge.
Seema Chachi’s voice broke the quiet first. “Meena, your friend Riya came yesterday, right?”
“Yes, she did,” Meena Chachi answered, her tone oddly flat.
“Did she bring the report?” Seema pressed.
Meena’s response was curt. “Yes, she brought the report.”
Leaning forward, Suman Chachi’s voice carried eager suspense. “What did it say?”
“Yeah, yeah, tell us quickly!” Seema Chachi added, her impatience palpable.
Flatly, Meena Chachi said, “I burned the report.”
A heavy silence blanketed the house. My heart thudded, a dull, frantic rhythm echoing the tension next door.
Suman Chachi’s voice trembled with shock. “What are you saying? You burned it?”
Seema Chachi leapt to her feet, her voice sharp with disbelief. “Meena, what did you do? I collected those samples with so much difficulty, and you burned them? Are you insane?”
Her tone detached, Meena Chachi replied, “Yes, I burned it. Because it felt right.”
Confusion laced Suman Chachi’s words. “What do you mean?”
“I read the report and then burned it,” Meena said simply.
Gripping Meena’s arm, Seema Chachi demanded, “You read it? Tell us what it said!”
Suman Chachi’s voice cracked with desperate hope. “Tell us, Meena. Can I ever become a mother or not?”
“Tell us, Meena!” Seema urged, her anticipation tight.
Taking a steadying breath, Meena Chachi said, “Yes. All three of us can become mothers.”
A collective gasp filled the room, shaky and raw.
Suman Chachi whispered, her voice breaking. “Are you telling the truth, Meena?”
“Yes, I am,” Meena replied firmly.
Seema Chachi’s laugh was high-pitched, almost hysterical. “Meena, you have no idea what good news this is!”
But her laughter stopped abruptly, her tone shifting. “She’s lying.”
“What?” Suman Chachi asked, confusion clouding her voice.
Glaring at Meena, Seema repeated, “She’s lying.”
Leaning forward, Meena Chachi insisted, “No, Didi, I’m telling the truth.”
Seema folded her arms, her voice sharp. “If you’re telling the truth, then why haven’t we become mothers yet?”
Meena raised a hand, her expression calm but resolute. “Didi, listen to my full story.”
Trying to mediate, Suman Chachi said, “Okay, okay, tell us, Meena.”
Meena’s face hardened, her voice low and serious. “We can become mothers, but Avi’s uncle can never become a father.”
Shock rippled through the room. My face paled, my breath catching. Suman Chachi sank to the floor, the words hitting her like a physical blow.
Seema Chachi’s voice shook. “What are you saying, Meena? If we can become mothers, then Avi’s uncle will become a father, right?”
Meena’s tone was unyielding. “Avi’s uncle can never become a father.”
Silent tears slid down Suman Chachi’s face as she covered it with her hands. “Then how can we become mothers?”
A slow, calculating smile spread across Seema Chachi’s face. “Meena, are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Still lost in despair, Suman Chachi sobbed, “What’s going on in your mind, Seema?”
Impatiently, Seema said, “Meena is saying that even though Avi’s uncle can’t become a father, we can.” She turned to Meena. “Right, Meena?”
“Yes,” Meena confirmed with a curt nod.
“So?” Suman Chachi asked, her voice small.
Lowering her voice, Seema explained, “Meena is saying that even if Avi’s uncle can’t be the father, we can still have a baby.”
Suman Chachi snapped, disgust lacing her words. “What are saying, Seema? Are you crazy?”
Seema’s eyes burned with intensity. “No, Didi, I’m not crazy. You’re not understanding the opportunity.”
Meena’s voice turned blunt, almost brutal. “Didi, we can become mothers if we have sex with someone else.”
Suman Chachi’s eyes widened, her hands dropping from her face. “What are you spouting, Meena? You’ve really lost your mind.”
Seema insisted, “Didi, just listen to what Meena has to say.”
Defeated, Suman Chachi sighed. “Okay, fine. What do you want to say that justifies this?”
Leaning closer, Meena’s tone grew conspiratorial. “Look, Didi. Avi’s uncle can never be a father. If we don’t do something soon, he might marry again. The fact that he’s infertile is something only the three of us know. He doesn’t.”
Suman Chachi pointed out, “And your friend Riya. She knows, right?”
“Yes, she knows,” Meena replied. “But she’s leaving this city this Sunday for a place far away. She said she’ll never come back.”
Her voice trembling, Suman Chachi said, “But I still don’t understand what you want to do.”
Meena’s plan took shape as she spoke. “Look, Didi. We’ll become mothers by having sex with someone else, but as far as the world is concerned, Avi’s uncle will be the father.”
Seema’s eyes gleamed with calculation. “How will that happen?”
“Yes, how will that happen?” Suman Chachi echoed, leaning closer despite her fear.
Meena explained, “We’ll find a man who can get us pregnant. And then he’ll leave this village, so we don’t have any problems in the future.”
Suman Chachi trembled, the thought of betrayal overwhelming. “But…”
Cutting in, Seema’s voice was sharp. “I think Meena’s idea is right.”
Trying to soothe her, Meena said, “Didi, don’t worry. I’ll handle everything.”
Suman Chachi’s sense of duty lingered. “But what about Avi’s uncle?”
Impatiently, Meena replied, “Didi, don’t think about it so much. Just say yes and leave it all to me.”
“I don’t know,” Suman Chachi said, her voice heavy with despair. “I can’t betray Avi’s uncle.”
Seema’s tone hardened. “Didi, when Avi’s uncle married again and again, didn’t you feel bad? Will you feel good if he marries a fourth time? Do you want to lose your position in this house?” She turned to Meena, resolute. “Meena, do whatever you need to do to make us mothers. Don’t worry about Didi. When she becomes a mother, she won’t feel bad about this anymore.”
Determination settled in Meena’s voice. “Okay. I’ll get to work. I’ll find a powerful father for my children.”
Finally giving in, Suman Chachi’s tone was defeated. “Okay, do whatever you two think is right. But be careful with whatever you do.”
Seema exhaled, relief evident. “Now that’s what I’m talking about, Didi.”
Bowing her head, Suman Chachi murmured, “Okay, you two go and rest. I’m going to wake up Avi.”
*They were going to find a man. A powerful father for their children. They were going to deceive Chacha.* I lay frozen, the secret pressing down like a stone on my chest. My palms grew slick with cold sweat. A dark curiosity surged, drowning out the guilt. My breath came shallow and fast, leaving me dizzy. I stayed there, intensely alert, enveloped by the silence of their conspiracy.
---
Suman Chachi, the eldest, served me a hearty lunch, her hands moving with practiced care. After eating, I eagerly pulled out my report card, proud to share it with all three of my aunts. Meena Chachi scanned it, her smile warm and genuine.
“Chachi, starting today, I’ll be studying at my Math Madam’s house,” I announced, chest puffed with excitement.
Meena Chachi’s eyes flicked up, a curious glint in them I couldn’t quite place. “That’s good.”
Suman Chachi glanced up from the report card, her brow furrowing slightly. “Will she charge you money, or is she teaching for free?”
“No, Chachi, the principal asked her to teach me, so it’s free,” I replied confidently.
Seema Chachi reached over, pinching my cheek with a fond grin. “My son is so sweet. No one could ever take money from him.”
I pulled back, laughing softly. “Chachi, stop teasing me.”
Suman Chachi’s voice softened as she turned to Seema. “Why are you bothering Avi?”
With a playful pout, Seema Chachi protested, “Didi, I’m not bothering him. I’m just praising my son.”
Meena Chachi let out a quiet chuckle. “I know what your praise means.”
Raising her voice in mock exasperation, Suman Chachi said, “Now both of you stop fighting.”
“Okay, Didi,” they replied in unison, their smiles wide and mischievous.
Stretching, I yawned. “Chachi, I’m going to sleep. Please wake me up in the afternoon.”
Suman Chachi nodded gently. “Yes, go to sleep. I’ll wake you.”
I headed to my room and lay down, my mind buzzing with thoughts of the stern Principal and the gentle Math Madam who’d be tutoring me. Sleep tugged at me, but before I could drift off, muffled voices seeped through the thin wall. Curiosity sharpened my senses, and I pressed my ear against the plaster, every nerve on edge.
Seema Chachi’s voice broke the quiet first. “Meena, your friend Riya came yesterday, right?”
“Yes, she did,” Meena Chachi answered, her tone oddly flat.
“Did she bring the report?” Seema pressed.
Meena’s response was curt. “Yes, she brought the report.”
Leaning forward, Suman Chachi’s voice carried eager suspense. “What did it say?”
“Yeah, yeah, tell us quickly!” Seema Chachi added, her impatience palpable.
Flatly, Meena Chachi said, “I burned the report.”
A heavy silence blanketed the house. My heart thudded, a dull, frantic rhythm echoing the tension next door.
Suman Chachi’s voice trembled with shock. “What are you saying? You burned it?”
Seema Chachi leapt to her feet, her voice sharp with disbelief. “Meena, what did you do? I collected those samples with so much difficulty, and you burned them? Are you insane?”
Her tone detached, Meena Chachi replied, “Yes, I burned it. Because it felt right.”
Confusion laced Suman Chachi’s words. “What do you mean?”
“I read the report and then burned it,” Meena said simply.
Gripping Meena’s arm, Seema Chachi demanded, “You read it? Tell us what it said!”
Suman Chachi’s voice cracked with desperate hope. “Tell us, Meena. Can I ever become a mother or not?”
“Tell us, Meena!” Seema urged, her anticipation tight.
Taking a steadying breath, Meena Chachi said, “Yes. All three of us can become mothers.”
A collective gasp filled the room, shaky and raw.
Suman Chachi whispered, her voice breaking. “Are you telling the truth, Meena?”
“Yes, I am,” Meena replied firmly.
Seema Chachi’s laugh was high-pitched, almost hysterical. “Meena, you have no idea what good news this is!”
But her laughter stopped abruptly, her tone shifting. “She’s lying.”
“What?” Suman Chachi asked, confusion clouding her voice.
Glaring at Meena, Seema repeated, “She’s lying.”
Leaning forward, Meena Chachi insisted, “No, Didi, I’m telling the truth.”
Seema folded her arms, her voice sharp. “If you’re telling the truth, then why haven’t we become mothers yet?”
Meena raised a hand, her expression calm but resolute. “Didi, listen to my full story.”
Trying to mediate, Suman Chachi said, “Okay, okay, tell us, Meena.”
Meena’s face hardened, her voice low and serious. “We can become mothers, but Avi’s uncle can never become a father.”
Shock rippled through the room. My face paled, my breath catching. Suman Chachi sank to the floor, the words hitting her like a physical blow.
Seema Chachi’s voice shook. “What are you saying, Meena? If we can become mothers, then Avi’s uncle will become a father, right?”
Meena’s tone was unyielding. “Avi’s uncle can never become a father.”
Silent tears slid down Suman Chachi’s face as she covered it with her hands. “Then how can we become mothers?”
A slow, calculating smile spread across Seema Chachi’s face. “Meena, are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Still lost in despair, Suman Chachi sobbed, “What’s going on in your mind, Seema?”
Impatiently, Seema said, “Meena is saying that even though Avi’s uncle can’t become a father, we can.” She turned to Meena. “Right, Meena?”
“Yes,” Meena confirmed with a curt nod.
“So?” Suman Chachi asked, her voice small.
Lowering her voice, Seema explained, “Meena is saying that even if Avi’s uncle can’t be the father, we can still have a baby.”
Suman Chachi snapped, disgust lacing her words. “What are saying, Seema? Are you crazy?”
Seema’s eyes burned with intensity. “No, Didi, I’m not crazy. You’re not understanding the opportunity.”
Meena’s voice turned blunt, almost brutal. “Didi, we can become mothers if we have sex with someone else.”
Suman Chachi’s eyes widened, her hands dropping from her face. “What are you spouting, Meena? You’ve really lost your mind.”
Seema insisted, “Didi, just listen to what Meena has to say.”
Defeated, Suman Chachi sighed. “Okay, fine. What do you want to say that justifies this?”
Leaning closer, Meena’s tone grew conspiratorial. “Look, Didi. Avi’s uncle can never be a father. If we don’t do something soon, he might marry again. The fact that he’s infertile is something only the three of us know. He doesn’t.”
Suman Chachi pointed out, “And your friend Riya. She knows, right?”
“Yes, she knows,” Meena replied. “But she’s leaving this city this Sunday for a place far away. She said she’ll never come back.”
Her voice trembling, Suman Chachi said, “But I still don’t understand what you want to do.”
Meena’s plan took shape as she spoke. “Look, Didi. We’ll become mothers by having sex with someone else, but as far as the world is concerned, Avi’s uncle will be the father.”
Seema’s eyes gleamed with calculation. “How will that happen?”
“Yes, how will that happen?” Suman Chachi echoed, leaning closer despite her fear.
Meena explained, “We’ll find a man who can get us pregnant. And then he’ll leave this village, so we don’t have any problems in the future.”
Suman Chachi trembled, the thought of betrayal overwhelming. “But…”
Cutting in, Seema’s voice was sharp. “I think Meena’s idea is right.”
Trying to soothe her, Meena said, “Didi, don’t worry. I’ll handle everything.”
Suman Chachi’s sense of duty lingered. “But what about Avi’s uncle?”
Impatiently, Meena replied, “Didi, don’t think about it so much. Just say yes and leave it all to me.”
“I don’t know,” Suman Chachi said, her voice heavy with despair. “I can’t betray Avi’s uncle.”
Seema’s tone hardened. “Didi, when Avi’s uncle married again and again, didn’t you feel bad? Will you feel good if he marries a fourth time? Do you want to lose your position in this house?” She turned to Meena, resolute. “Meena, do whatever you need to do to make us mothers. Don’t worry about Didi. When she becomes a mother, she won’t feel bad about this anymore.”
Determination settled in Meena’s voice. “Okay. I’ll get to work. I’ll find a powerful father for my children.”
Finally giving in, Suman Chachi’s tone was defeated. “Okay, do whatever you two think is right. But be careful with whatever you do.”
Seema exhaled, relief evident. “Now that’s what I’m talking about, Didi.”
Bowing her head, Suman Chachi murmured, “Okay, you two go and rest. I’m going to wake up Avi.”
*They were going to find a man. A powerful father for their children. They were going to deceive Chacha.* I lay frozen, the secret pressing down like a stone on my chest. My palms grew slick with cold sweat. A dark curiosity surged, drowning out the guilt. My breath came shallow and fast, leaving me dizzy. I stayed there, intensely alert, enveloped by the silence of their conspiracy.
---
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