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He moved forward towards his left to get his hands on the jacket kept at the backside of the car. She turned towards her right to check what he was doing. Thanks to the less space in the tiny vehicle, they were now facing each other closer than ever. Her features were shining brighter in that dim setup. He could see how beautiful she was without any makeup. Her doe like eyes, cheeks red as apples out of shyness, lips soft like a lotus petal. She looked like an angel. She could feel his deep longing for her. He tried to blow a wisp of hair away that disturbed her, which made her lips quiver in anticipation, but in vain. So he tucked the stray hair strands behind her ear and cupped her face as delicately as possible and she shivered feeling his warm hands on her silhouette, having tears in her eyes she closed them but they fell off. Those tears had to disappear. He pecked on the right side of her apple cheeks to wipe them. She felt a spark run through her body.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Sir kitne kaa petrol daal Doon??"

Anupamaa tapped on his shoulder and his sweet daydream at night got broken. He turned the shield down while cursing himself for imagining all this when she was in such a dicey situation. He felt guilty and couldn't face her. They got the petrol filled and drove ahead. Anupamaa was looking outside through the window and the blowing breeze made her hair flow, the cold winds were touching her warm yet pale face but she didn't feel a thing. It felt all empty. That's how her life had become.

A girl in her 20's, full of life, dreams and hopes was married to a guy and was promised the life of a Queen. She accepted her fate and considered it as her fantasy. She sowed seeds of love there with her efforts and grew the plant of her relationships. She gave her heart and soul to it, considered it as her only mainstay for life. Though she got only sour fruits but yet wanted to preserve it for life. A huge tornado, one day, came and destroyed all of it, her kingdom of love and Trust. She was left with nothing but EMPTINESS.

Anuj stopped the car near a tea stall in the Nehru Bridge. It was late at night so the place was quiet. Anupama went out and started walking along the bridge. While Anuj ordered two cups of tea and sat on the pedestal nearby. She needed time for herself as it was a huge jolt to her life. As much as he wanted to console her and be with her every moment, he knew it was right to step aside and watch her back. Her mind was filled with millions of thoughts. She was feeling stupid trusting Vanraj blindly and cursed the old saying - "Pati Parmeshwar Hota Hai" which her Mom taught ever since she was born. She could see just darkness around but one thing bothered her more than ever. She had questions and she needed her answers.

When the tea was ready, he gestured for her to come and sit. While they were having tea, Anuj tried to strike up a conversation -

"Tumhe Pata hai Anupama, Jab Maa Papa mujhe chodkar chale gye the naa tab mujhe lagne laga tha ki meri zindagi khatm ho gyi hai, mai toot gya tha. Lekin Ye Zindagi kisi ke liye nai rukti, isne mujhe giraya lekin phir daudna bhi dikha diya aur dekho aaj tumhare Saamne hoo mai bilkul theek....."

She looked into her eyes when he said "Bilkul theek" and knew instantly he was lying. But she was not in the state to ask why. He held the cup of tea strongly, making a gesture of holding her hand.

"Sab theek Ho jaayega Yaar"

She saw a ray of hope in his eyes which were lost. The pain was immense but those words were like magic potions to her wounds.

"Aapke saath kabhi aisa hua hai jab aapne kisi ko apni duniya Maan liya ho, bas usi ke liye jeena chahte ho aur ek din achanak aapko pata chale ki wo insaan to apke liye bana hi nai tha..."

It was like repeating his life story. He started looking here and there to avoid making eye contact. He didn't know what to say, that he loved a girl who was taken away from him suddenly and he is sitting in front of her 10 years later still figuring out how to talk to her. She chuckled and said -

"Aap kaise samjhenge...."

He finally drew some strength.

"Dekho, mujhe nai pata aage kya hone wala hai, mai ye nai kahunga ki tumhari Zindagi bahut aasan hone wali hai lekin aane wali har mushkil me tumhara ye dost tumhare saath humesha rahega. I promise."

At that very moment she was sure of never being alone again. His honest and earnest words were enough to assure her. But she was startled with the word -"Dost". She only made one friend in life that was Devika who was more like a naughty younger sister, sometimes an elder sister to her. Her interaction with the opposite gender was close to zero in school and college and without warning he called himself her -"dost". Not that she minded but it was all really new and astonishing. In all her relationships, she had been the giver, but in this one there was nothing expected which made her the most comfortable. They chatted for a bit and then Anuj dropped her back home.

Everyone had already slept when Anupama came home as it was an emotionally tiring day for all. She fed Pakhi and put her to sleep. Toshu and Samar slept with Moti Baa so she decided to sleep in her room but it was a nightmare for her to enter that place again, even the mere thought of it filled her with rage. She went to the Guest room and lay on the bed while switching the lights off.

Not even 10 minutes had passed , when she felt a pair of hands on her face, they felt familiar. She jumped out of shock to see him. It was Vanraj - in a completely drunk state. His eyes looked red due to excessive drinking, he looked extremely dangerous. She pushed him hard and stood up when he tried to touch her inappropriately.

"Kya kaha tha tumne....Meri parchayi ko bhi haath mat lagana. Himmat kaise hui tumhari ye kehne ki. Pati hoo tumhara, Mera haq hai tumpar samjhi."

He was moving towards her while she was stepping back. He pinned her to the wall and came dangerously close to her.

"Galti to sab se ho jaati hai na, iska matlab rishta to khatm nai ho jaata na Anupama. Tum Biwi ho meri, aur kavya bas timepass hai. Samjho meri baat ko."

She could smell the Alcohol from him which terrified her even more.

"Aap hosh me nai hai abhi jaiye yaha se. Kal baat karenge hum."

He took his belt out and splashed it on the floor. She was shivering out of fear. One of his hands still had her pinned to the wall.

"Mujhe gussa mat dilao Anupamaa. Tumhe itni aasani se mujhse aazadi nai milegi. Mai baap hu tumhare bacchon ka, unke liye tumhe mere saath rehna hi hoga.....Tum unke liye itna nai karogi..."

He was behaving like a psychopath and was about to touch her when she struggled to get out of his hold. She succeeded finally and ran out of the room.

While running aimlessly she stumbled upon Devika who flew from Pune directly to meet her. She was shocked to see Anupamaa in that state. She pushed her too and kept running for her life. Devika could not comprehend what was happening and shouted her name which woke up everybody and they came out in the hall. They were shocked to see Anupamaa, whose face went blue out of fear. Vanraj came downstairs blabrering something continuously. He was high on whiskey and was not able to walk properly, so stumbled upon the sofa. Everyone looked at him and wondered -"was there anything else left to see that day" Baa went near him and asked -

"Ye kya haal bana liya hai tune beta. Itni sharaab peene ki kya jaroorat thi tujhe. Tujhe aise nai dekh sakti mai."

Vanraj was not able to speak properly.

"To mai kya karta Baa, Baapuji ne mujhe iss Gavaar Anupamaa ke liye mere hi ghar se bahar nikal diya. Ye aisi masaledani hai isiliye mujhe baahar kisi aur ko dekhna pada. Isme meri kya galti hai. Aur akad to dekho iski....Mujhe thappad maara.....mujhe thappad mara ...mai....."

He went unconscious and laid down on the sofa. Baa stood up and went near Motibaa -

"Baa Mujhe pata hai mere bete ne galti ki hai, par mai use is halat me nai dekh sakti. Arey nashe ki haalat me use kuch ho jaata to. Aapki is laadli ki wajah se mai apne bete ko nai kho sakti. Arey samjhaiye ise......saare pati aise hi hote hai, aurat ko samjhauta karna padta hai. Mera beta mere saath mere ghar me hi rahega chahe koi kuch bhi kahe."

Baapuji tried to stop Leela but she was adamant. Love for her son had blinded her inner conscience. Moti Baa was numb. In a single day, she saw her little grandson turn into a monster and she was helpless. Devika, who witnessed all the drama, had had enough now -

"MB mujhe nai lagta iske baad Anu ko is ghar me rehna chahiye. Aapne haalat dekhi uski. Aur aapki ye Bahu apne bete ke alawa is duniya me kisi se pyaar nai karti. Inke rehte ye aadmi iss ghar ko chodkar kahi nai jaane wala hai."

Baa stole eyes from everyone and lowered her head. She knew she was wrong and also had a strong feeling that it was a grave mistake and that she will have to pay for it.

Devika went near Moti Baa, held her hands and said -

"MB Anu yaha safe nai hai. Wo yaha ek minute bhi rehna deserve nai karti hai. Mai abhi ke abhi usko apne Ghar leke Jaa rhi hoo."

Moti Baa just nodded her head. She was shocked, upset, numb to say anything else. She knew her "" would no longer be there to bring good omens to that cursed house.

Devika scanned the hall for Anupamaa. She was nowhere to be found. She panicked and searched for her outside but in vain. She went out in the locality and heard someone sobbing behind the kids slide in the colony garden. There she was, sitting with knees bended, face hiding on her lap, crying relentlessly. Her mind was replaying his squeamish face and his threatening warnings without break. This incident frightened her to the core. She had a panic attack and was not able to breathe when Devika saw her. She held her by the shoulders calling her name while Anupamaa was trying to get rid of her hands in disgust.

"Anu....Anu dekh idhar dekh meri Taraf...koi nai hai yaha....tujhe koi kuch nai karega. Dekh mai Devika, kuch nai hoga tujhe dekh meri taraf...."

Anupamaa lifted her eyes and saw Devika. She hugged her tightly as possible while sobbing. She somehow managed to take her to the car and also carried Baby Pakhi and her items.

Devika made Anupamaa sit on the Sofa, gave her water and sat on the floor in front of her. She tried talking to her but Anupamaa wasn't ready to respond. Devika had to rile her up to get all the emotions out of her.

"Tu sabse badi darpok hai Anu.....Itna darti kyu hai tu uss aadmi me. Sach me teri jaisi ladki usi ko deserve karti hai.....Tu ek kaam kar chali Jaa uske paas wapis yahi theek rahega....jaa tu abhi chali Jaa..."

Anupamaa could not take it. The thought of going back to him just broke her down. She stood up and shouted -

"Nahi nahi nahiiiiiiiiii......Mai kabhi us shaitan ke pass nai jaungi. Teri himmat kaisi hui devika ye sab bolne ki, tujhe pata bhi hai mere sath kya hua tha....usne......usne mere saath kya kiya tha...tujhe koi andaaza bhi hai....mai kabhi nai jaungi...."

Devika knew her trick worked. She stood up and asked Anu -

"Haa bolde Anu...Aaj Bolde jo bhi tere Mann me hai... kya hai jo tu chupa Rahi hai...aisa kya hai jo tujhe jeene nai de Raha....bolde Anu....Bol..."

Anu threw her hands and shouted -

"Usne mere saath Jabar...dasti ki...........jabardasti....Mujhe Amreeca jaane se rokne ke liye, mere sapne todne ke liye....Mujhse pyaar hone ka natak kiya....mere saath....mere...."

She fell on her knees and cried. There was a sound of key dropping near the door. Devika looked and saw Anuj standing frozen. His face was expressionless. He was a shell of a person, shocked hearing her confession. He ran away. Devika could not stop her tears either. She knew something had happened to Anupamaa but never did she think in her wildest dreams that her dear friend was subjected to not just domestic but sexual abuse too. It was hard to gulp for her. She knew Anupamaa needed her but if Anuj wasn't stopped he would have burnt the world that day. She ran behind him calling his name.

He only had one thing in his mind - "Kill that Monster". He sat in the car, inserted his keys and was about to drive that Devika came in front of his car. He pushed the break immediately. Devika asked him to come out.

"Anuj....kaha Jaa Raha tu...pagal ho kya...kya karne jaa rha tha...."

Anuj's face went red due to extreme anger. He was clenching his fist.

"Haa pagal ho gya hu mai devika....Us aadmi ko Mai Zinda nai chodunga....usne meri Anu...meri Anu ke saath itna galat kiya....use jeene ka koi haq nai hai. Kya halat kar di usne Anu ki. Itna neeche koi kaise gir sakta hai. Aaj uski maut mere haatho likhi hai."

Devika held him by shoulders and jolted him to bring his senses back.

"Haa.....Us Admi ko sazaa milni chahiye lekin wo saza tu ya mai nai de sakte Anuj....Use saza sirf Anu de sakti hai...aur abhi hamari pehli priority use theek karna hai. Uski haalat bahut kharab hai yaar, use hamari zaroorat hai."

His blood froze at the thought of his Anu weeping alone. A lone tear rolled down his eyes. He asked Devika not to tell Anu that he knew everything and told her to take care of her.

Anu had slept on the floor, weeping. She was so hurt that she was sobbing in sleep too. Devika tried to wake her up but the medicines that Doctor gave her earlier still had its effect. Anuj, who was standing at the door, came in and held her up in his arms. He took her to the room to make her sleep comfortably in the bed and laid her down while caressing her forehead lovingly. He wanted to stay there and be with her but was helpless.

While he stood up to go, she held his hands and clinged on to it in a state of slumber and he had to sit there for longer.

Devika, who was looking at these two pure souls from far prayed to Kanha Ji to bring them together at any cost.

The sun playing peek-a-boo through the window curtains woke her up from the sleep which felt like aeons. Surprisingly, she felt much better. All the frustration and pain which she had stacked inside her was out the other day and she felt like getting a new life again.

"Surpriseeeeee........."

Cried Anuj, Devika, Mukku, GK, Samar, Toshu and Moti Baa. The whole room was decorated with yellow and white balloons. Party music was playing in the background

Samar and Toshu hugged Anupama. Anuj Mukku and Devika danced on - "

Moti Baa came with tea and Anupamaa's favourite breakfast - Jalebi Fafda.

She was elated with the sudden surprise. The sweet gesture made her emotional. Nothing could have reduced her pain but the fact that her kids and her loved ones were standing firm with her through thick and thin strengthened her belief that - "This shall pass too......"

Devika pulled her to dance. She was giggling, dancing and having the time of her life. Anuj felt relieved finally seeing her smile. He gave a thumbs up to Moti Baa and others for actively participating in his plan. Mission - " was successful.

*

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So That was the Chapter!!!

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Do tell me in the comments if you like it or not.

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