[Battletech] A Life Worth Living For

A Suitable Man Part 7
Mumtaz was numb. All she could remember was the dhaba, the robbers having a gun and trying to snatch her wedding chain, Prabhat attacking them, the sound of the gunshot and blood. One of the lorry drivers helped her apply first aid, her movements automatic from years of practice. Then they loaded her into the ambulance with Prabhat, the staff telling the medical technicians that she was his wife. She sat in the corner while they monitored his condition, calling ahead to the hospital, attaching fluids and sensors. They arrived he was offloaded with them moving towarded the Emergency Room. Then the guards told her to wait outside.

Fool. Stupid Fool. Why did he get himself hurt over a chain?
Her parents arrived next, hugging her and telling her it would be alright. Her mother was crying and she could see tears in her fathers eyes. Then Harinder and Olivia arrived, she was not sure of the time. She had a watch and a phone but she did not look at it. Someone handed her a cup of water, it was cold and washed the taste out of her mouth. Everyone was telling her it would be fine, Prabhat was young and strong and she had applied the aid in enough time.

Fool. Stupid Fool. It was just a wedding chain. A simple wedding chain type that you saw in a dozen jewelry stores. Two weeks ago she and Prabhat had gone window shopping and had ice cream. She noticed a new store and wanted to see the new designs. Prabhat agreed and they browsed a dozen designs of gold and precious stones. The shop assistants were polite to her and patient but she could see their looks towards him. They would have had him thrown out if they could, if she was not there. It did not matter, she could buy anything she wanted, but it did not look proper for a wife to buy her own chain.
The police came and told her and her family that the robbers were taken to the local station. Both of the men had criminal records of non-violent crimes but wounding Prabhat was a serious charge and would mean a heavier punishment. The reports were already submitted and when Prabhat was more stable to contact them to give statements. It seemed like hours, people went to pray, to purchase drinks or food but Mumtaz only wanted water. Finally the doctor came out and told them that he was out of surgery, the bullet had not hit any vital systems in his shoulder but there would be some nerve damage. He had a good amount of blood and would need time to recover. He was lucky considering being shot in close distance. Everyone cried and thanked god and hugged each other but she could not find her mother or Olivia. Maybe they are still praying. I will go get her.
She walked a few minutes to the Temple and Prayer Room in the Hospital. She saw both Olivia and her mother talking and could tell that both were upset. She told them what the doctor had said and both thanked God. She could not take it anymore. "Why are you thanking God, it's his fault he was shot! Over a chain! I could buy a dozen chains for him and the fool was seriously hurt and hurt all of you. Stop treating it like it is some heroic act!"

That was when Olivia slapped her hard. Mumtaz was rocked back for a moment and her mother caught her. "Sera Burakgazi, I apologize for my actions to your daughter but I have had enough. I do not blame your values or teachings, but I need to correct this. " Olivia took her right hard and pulled her chain with her thumb. it was delicate and beautiful. "This is not a chain, it is an auspicious thread, a symbol that the couple is bound in matrimony and an indication of the bride's new status as a married woman and is worn for the long life of the husband. That chain that Prabhat tried to save was the last item of his mothers. He wanted to cremate her with it but she said no and gave it to him. However, he did not attack those men for that, he attacked them to protect you. His wife, or should I say pretend wife."

"Did he tell..."

"No, but I raised him since he was a little boy. I know when something is wrong. He never told me, or his brother, or anyone, but I knew. I know how a newly married couple, or even an older couple look at each other and I never saw it from you two. I thought about confronting you but I felt that we pushed you together. Maybe things would work out. Until now. Watching someone I raised like a son being brought in for what. A chain as you call it. I talked to your mother and they knew. You thought you were clever. He never spoke about it, how long would you let it go? When would you tell us, when you were bored of him? When you found someone else or rose in your career? Did you want a husband or a servant?"

"I wanted to be left alone. I was tired of people making decisions for me. I thought we would separate later when he became successful. I would give him a gift and that would be it."

Her mother spoke "We tried to give him gifts, we tried to give favors. He turned them all down. We asked him if he wanted to manage a bigger place and he said no. He said he enjoyed cooking. If he asked we would have given anything but he did not. That is the man he is. I warned you that your stubborness will cost you, instead it cost another family. You said you want to make decisions. Alright. Olivia and I will leave and I will not mention what we discussed to anyone. You need to decide before Prabhat leaves the hospital. Do you want to be married or no? His family deserves the truth." Her mother and Olivia walked away and tears started flowing down her face.

Fool. Stupid Fool.

"One cannot talk about Lakshmibasti without discussing the area of Kaldura. Built in the first wave of city expansion, the area was composed of some of the first housing and commercials units that people lived in while more permanent and larger buildings were under construction. Over time due to its proximity to the spaceport the area became populated with bars, hotels and businesses that catered to spacers eager to spend their saved pay. It also became known as a den of vice for its many activities such as prostitution, brothels, cabarets, drugs, drinking, gambling and clubbing. Various groups would petition the Municipal Corporation and the Central Government to crackdown or clean up the area. Instead they would declare a five-block zone as a Special Area (Vishesh kshetr/Área especial/Özel Alan) where 'victimless' crimes would be taxed and allowed to exist. Police services would still function in the Area to prevent violence among residents and visitors.

The area boasts a bustling nightlife attributed to many places remaining open twenty fours hours a day, the location next to the Spaceport and the excellent public transportation system. The diversity of the clubs in attests to the popularity of its nightlife, with night clubs, pubs, with various musical and dancing styles all attracting different types of customers."

A Guide to Lakshmibasti

Welp, no space exploration for Praya!

A Suitable Man Part 8

A few hours later Mumtaz sat in a chair watching Prabhat sleep. The rest of the family had gone home and the nurses allowed her to stay in the room where they moved Prabhat. They even folded out the couch and provided linens to make it into a bed if she wanted. The thoughts in her mind would not let her sleep, so she sat and watched him and the monitors. The nurses would quietly come in on their rounds and nod to her, concern in their eyes. The doctors told her that it would take time to recover and there maybe possible long term, even lifetime damage. She thought about the dhaba, how happy he was to cook for others, would he be able to do that again? Would he have bad memories of the robbery if he returned or blame her for his condition? How would he care for himself with a wounded shoulder?

"This is not a chain, it is an auspicious thread, a symbol that the couple is bound in matrimony and an indication of the bride's new status as a married woman and is worn for the long life of the husband."

Olivia's words echoed in her mind. "He did not attack those men for that, he attacked them to protect you. His wife, or should I say pretend wife." "His Wife."

"His Wife"

"Wife"

She did not know when she fell asleep in the chair or how long she had slept. She woke up and it was morning. Prabhat was holding her right hand with his left. Already he had stubble growing and he was looking at her. He whispered "Sorry, did I wake you? Do you need anything?"

"No, how long was I asleep?" "A few hours, I woke up and saw you asleep so I told the nurses to leave you."

"I am so sorry. It is my fault you are here and hurt. You should have let them have the chain. I could have paid them. Why did you attack them?"

"I wanted to protect you. You are special to me."

"Why did you protect me? After all the hurtful things I said or did to you. You knew what kind of person I am before we married and what I told you our first night. Why am I special? You never approached me, or yelled at me. What relation do we have? Why did you even agree to this marriage?"

"I wanted a family. A partner. So one that would not control me or that I needed to control. Other than my brother and sister in law I have no one. I needed something more. I knew you were kind to your parents, to your friends and co workers, that you were smart. I thought..I thought if we spent enough time together we could grow into something more. Marriages and families take time to build, but I will not hold you if you do not want to stay."

"Prabhat. Can we start again? As a real husband and wife, not a pretend one. I will try to be a better woman, not a perfect one."

"Just stay the way you are and it will be fine."


END

Weeks passed after the vote from the government came, and the idea of a colony, as tantalizing as the prospect was, was set aside for a nebulous "later." In these weeks, people weren't happy, nor were they afraid of speaking about it, as many demonstrated for one reason or another, egged on by those who wished for change. Here, these people were upset and called for the vote to be overturned and an actual colony set up with willing people so that they may continue with exploration and not have their home be reduced to one single JumpShip. There, people were angry that the government's first, apparently only, idea was to put prisoners on a rock in the emptiness of space and force them to mine, finding the idea utterly infuriating. Over there, others began to pick up the protests, venting anger and frustrations about having their culture and way of life not merely ignored but actively sidelined and pushed down. Civil Rights activists born upon Lakshmibasti arranged an unholy union with Political Fighters, both sensing a potential wave of unrest that may be incited to create some change in the government and bring about a better world for all. But most importantly, construction workers began to strike, demanding better pay and hours, more benefits, and improved safety after the government's construction drive saw business skyrocket for their companies, but stress, overwork, and injury or death rise for them.

Each protest was met the same. They were a disruption to daily life and thus treated as such. Those that could not be made to dissolve with a showing of force by the police were dispersed with violence and judicial action, with harsh sentences to those who fought back and rights taken from strikers that had directly threatened the nation's future with their greed and shortsightedness. How could they not see that their actions sabotaged them all? How could they only look after themselves and think not about the others?

And while the news only reported about the destructive actions of the protests and "good citizens" nodded in assent and tutted in disagreement over the demonstrations, A Woman With A Burned Hand saw herself thrown into a cell, beaten and brutalized. And yet, even with her injuries, she stood up and glared.

And she balled her fist.

Choose one for each:
[][Construction Priority] Housing And Civilian Support
[][Construction Priority] Industrial Logistics And Industry
[][Construction Priority] Heavy Industry And Nautical Adventures

[][Burning Hand] Revenge For The Workers
[][Burning Hand] Salvation To Those Left Behind
[][Burning Hand] Beacon Of A New Dawn