28-10-2025, 10:09 PM
## Update 57: The Power of the Secret (Suman, Seema, and Meena Chachi)
Meena Chachi and I walked home from the market. I quickly completed my studying and went to bed.
Later that evening, after the house settled into silence, I listened to the three Chachis gather again.
"Did something happen today? You seem even more relaxed." Suman Chachi leaned close to Meena Chachi.
"Assume it's done." Meena Chachi smiled, brushing an invisible speck of dust from her skirt.
"Did you actually ask the boy?" Seema Chachi fidgeted with her necklace, her fingers restless.
"Not yet."
"Then how is your work done? You still haven't secured the agreement." Suman Chachi frowned, her brow furrowing slightly with doubt.
"I've found out a secret about that boy." Meena Chachi's eyes glinted with triumph.
"So you're going to blackmail him?" Suman Chachi drew back slightly, her voice sharp with suspicion.
"I won't blackmail him. But we can certainly take advantage of that secret." Meena Chachi shook her head slowly.
"So, we have his secret, and he has ours. A mutual agreement?" Seema Chachi chewed on her lip, considering the power balance.
"Yes, exactly right." Meena Chachi confirmed, a deep, satisfied sigh escaping her lips.
"This is good for us. The leverage gives us safety." Suman Chachi relaxed, a slow smile spreading across her face.
"Yes," Meena Chachi agreed. "I think even God is with us."
"Yes, I feel the same way," Suman Chachi whispered, her voice full of relief.
"Me too." Seema Chachi chimed in quickly, happy to feel included.
"I will talk to him tomorrow itself." Meena Chachi rose, her posture decisive.
"Yes, do it. And quickly give us good news." Suman Chachi gestured emphatically.
"Assume you've already gotten the good news." Meena Chachi tossed her head back, her confidence immense.
"What if he still says no, even with the secret?" Seema Chachi couldn't shake her doubt, her voice laced with worry.
"Then we'll have to think of something else." Meena Chachi shrugged.
"Did you think of another way, too, Meena? A backup?" Suman Chachi looked at her, suddenly worried by the lack of planning.
"Like in the movies, Plan B?" Seema Chachi leaned in, pressing her for details.
"Not yet."
"Look, Seema. This is the last time. If we don't become mothers this time, we'll never be able to again. We can't afford a mistake." Suman Chachi placed a heavy hand on Seema's arm, her desperation clear.
"I know, Didi," Meena Chachi murmured, recognizing the weight of Suman Chachi's plea.
"You know, so try every method possible," Suman Chachi urged.
"I'll try everything I can from my side." Meena Chachi nodded firmly.
"But still, what if he doesn't agree to the terms?" Seema Chachi pressed her again, unable to let go of her fear.
"Didi, do you want him not to agree? Why the persistent doubt?" Meena Chachi stared at her, her voice sharp with sudden annoyance.
"I didn't say that! I'm just being cautious for all of us." Seema Chachi flinched slightly.
"Okay, let it go, Didi. We won't need another plan." Meena Chachi waved her hand dismissively.
"Why are you so sure?" Seema Chachi crossed her arms, still challenging her.
"He'll agree easily," Meena Chachi explained, her confidence flooding back. "Even if I hadn't found out his secret, he would have still agreed to our proposition."
"If Meena is saying this with so much confidence, then she must have a solid plan. Seema Chachi, don't bother Meena so much with your worries." Suman Chachi intervened, smoothing the tension between them.
"I'm not bothering her," Seema Chachi muttered under her breath.
"Okay, let it be," Meena Chachi concluded. "Just be ready to become mothers."
"I've been ready for a long time." Seema Chachi's eyes softened, thinking only of the future.
"Then assume the work is done." Meena Chachi gave her a genuine smile.
"Okay, I'm feeling sleepy. I'm going to bed." Suman Chachi rose from the sofa, stretching her arms above her head.
"Wait, I'm coming too." Seema Chachi rubbed her eyes. The two eldest Chachis left the hall, their shared secret sealed for the night.
I lay in the dark, my breath barely moving in my chest. My mind reeled, trying to grasp what "agree to our proposition" truly meant. I pulled the blanket closer, but the cold dread was already deep inside me.
------
Meena Chachi and I walked home from the market. I quickly completed my studying and went to bed.
Later that evening, after the house settled into silence, I listened to the three Chachis gather again.
"Did something happen today? You seem even more relaxed." Suman Chachi leaned close to Meena Chachi.
"Assume it's done." Meena Chachi smiled, brushing an invisible speck of dust from her skirt.
"Did you actually ask the boy?" Seema Chachi fidgeted with her necklace, her fingers restless.
"Not yet."
"Then how is your work done? You still haven't secured the agreement." Suman Chachi frowned, her brow furrowing slightly with doubt.
"I've found out a secret about that boy." Meena Chachi's eyes glinted with triumph.
"So you're going to blackmail him?" Suman Chachi drew back slightly, her voice sharp with suspicion.
"I won't blackmail him. But we can certainly take advantage of that secret." Meena Chachi shook her head slowly.
"So, we have his secret, and he has ours. A mutual agreement?" Seema Chachi chewed on her lip, considering the power balance.
"Yes, exactly right." Meena Chachi confirmed, a deep, satisfied sigh escaping her lips.
"This is good for us. The leverage gives us safety." Suman Chachi relaxed, a slow smile spreading across her face.
"Yes," Meena Chachi agreed. "I think even God is with us."
"Yes, I feel the same way," Suman Chachi whispered, her voice full of relief.
"Me too." Seema Chachi chimed in quickly, happy to feel included.
"I will talk to him tomorrow itself." Meena Chachi rose, her posture decisive.
"Yes, do it. And quickly give us good news." Suman Chachi gestured emphatically.
"Assume you've already gotten the good news." Meena Chachi tossed her head back, her confidence immense.
"What if he still says no, even with the secret?" Seema Chachi couldn't shake her doubt, her voice laced with worry.
"Then we'll have to think of something else." Meena Chachi shrugged.
"Did you think of another way, too, Meena? A backup?" Suman Chachi looked at her, suddenly worried by the lack of planning.
"Like in the movies, Plan B?" Seema Chachi leaned in, pressing her for details.
"Not yet."
"Look, Seema. This is the last time. If we don't become mothers this time, we'll never be able to again. We can't afford a mistake." Suman Chachi placed a heavy hand on Seema's arm, her desperation clear.
"I know, Didi," Meena Chachi murmured, recognizing the weight of Suman Chachi's plea.
"You know, so try every method possible," Suman Chachi urged.
"I'll try everything I can from my side." Meena Chachi nodded firmly.
"But still, what if he doesn't agree to the terms?" Seema Chachi pressed her again, unable to let go of her fear.
"Didi, do you want him not to agree? Why the persistent doubt?" Meena Chachi stared at her, her voice sharp with sudden annoyance.
"I didn't say that! I'm just being cautious for all of us." Seema Chachi flinched slightly.
"Okay, let it go, Didi. We won't need another plan." Meena Chachi waved her hand dismissively.
"Why are you so sure?" Seema Chachi crossed her arms, still challenging her.
"He'll agree easily," Meena Chachi explained, her confidence flooding back. "Even if I hadn't found out his secret, he would have still agreed to our proposition."
"If Meena is saying this with so much confidence, then she must have a solid plan. Seema Chachi, don't bother Meena so much with your worries." Suman Chachi intervened, smoothing the tension between them.
"I'm not bothering her," Seema Chachi muttered under her breath.
"Okay, let it be," Meena Chachi concluded. "Just be ready to become mothers."
"I've been ready for a long time." Seema Chachi's eyes softened, thinking only of the future.
"Then assume the work is done." Meena Chachi gave her a genuine smile.
"Okay, I'm feeling sleepy. I'm going to bed." Suman Chachi rose from the sofa, stretching her arms above her head.
"Wait, I'm coming too." Seema Chachi rubbed her eyes. The two eldest Chachis left the hall, their shared secret sealed for the night.
I lay in the dark, my breath barely moving in my chest. My mind reeled, trying to grasp what "agree to our proposition" truly meant. I pulled the blanket closer, but the cold dread was already deep inside me.
------
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