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The next morning all of them took a day off
Because they all wanted to spend time together, they had taken a day off. Dadi Saa had made food for breakfast. The day began with its warmth-everyone savoring it with the comforting presence of the grandmother. The afternoon slipped away listening to her stories-about Aakash's childhood mischief, Pus's endless complaints about fighting with other children and seniors, and how even Aadu used to get into trouble. Dadi Saa laughed and spoke about how Aakash used to be.
In the evening, the entire family was gathered, sipping tea and coffee. Laughter echoed through the room until a phone buzzed. Shashi looked at it, excused herself, and left. A few minutes later, she returned.
"I'm sorry... but I'll have to leave. There's an emergency," she said, her voice tense, eyes unreadable. She went inside and emerged changed-

her hair parted to the side, covering the sindoor in her hairline. She had to hide her marital status. She had to become someone else again.
An hour passed.
Aakash's phone rang. It was Shashi's PA. Whatever he heard left him frozen. Without saying a word, he called for Sarthak. The urgency in his broken voice alarmed everyone. They didn't waste a second. Without caring about the world, the Rajputs drove recklessly to the hospital.
Crowds had gathered there, but as soon as the Rajputs walked in, everyone moved aside, sensing their wrath.
And then they saw it.
A man was lying unconscious on a hospital couch. Blood stained his neck and the floor beneath him. A doctor was stitching the wound. Everyone stood there, shocked. Speechless.
"She left after this. The mens... they're behind her," one of the bodyguard said
"Where is Abhishek?" Sarthak and Aakash asked in unison, their teeth clenched.
"I asked, where the fuck is Abhishek Singh?" Aakash roared.
"H-he went after her, sir," the man stammered.
Sarthak immediately checked her location. The entire family followed the signal.
After 45 minutes of silence and heavy breaths, they reached.
And what they saw-
Glass shattered violently, echoing through the stillness.
A group of 12-15 men stood there-hands behind their backs, postures steady, but eyes lowered. None of them dared look up.
In the middle of that wreck stood Shashi.
Once dressed in white kurti and green dupatta -now stained crimson with blood splashes. Her hands were red. Her eyes, fierce. She stood with a hockey stick, smashing the glass of a car, like a woman possessed. Her hair was wild, skin pierced by glass, but she didn't care.
Not about the pain.
Not about the people watching.
The whole family stood frozen.
"What the hell are you all sucking air for? GO STOP HER!" Aakash yelled at the guards.
"Sir... we can't," they mumbled.
"GO!" Aakash screamed again. -Abhishek-stepped forward.
But Shashi didn't even turn. "Abhi, don't even think about stopping me. And dare you go against my word-take your dick and fuck someone else. I don't care. LEAVE ME ALONE. Get lost, "
Gasps echoed. Aparna had tears in her eyes. Akriti was already breaking down, sobbing.
"S-Sarthak ji... stop her, please. She might hurt herself," Akriti said, trembling in his arms.
"Don't worry, Ritu. I won't let anything happen to her. She's my sister. My baby. I'll protect her," he said with steel in his voice.
"Someone stop her!" Dadi Saa cried.
Aakash moved towards her.
"Stay right there! LEAVE ME!" she yelled, voice cracked and shaking.
Aakash took the hockey stick from her hands and flung it across the road. "Please... just stop," he said.
"FUCKING LEAVE ME " she screamed.
"Baby... never. In my whole fucking life, I'll never leave you. Even if I wanted to-I wouldn't be able to breathe without you," he whispered.
And then she fell to her knees.
"Please... Aakash... I might say something in anger-"
"Then say it. You have every right," he said, kneeling beside her.
She broke down. He wrapped her in his arms. She sobbed into his chest. He rubbed her back gently and said:
"Aapko zara bhi taras nahi aata kya khud par? Kya haalat bana li hai apni? Khudka nahi toh ek baar mera bhi toh socha hota. Aapko dard mein nahi dekh sakta main. Bohot takleef hoti hai mujhe."
She looked up, eyes teary.
"Dekhiye aapki aankhein kaise laal ho gayi hai. Itni sundar aankhon mein aansu ache nahi lagte mujhe. Ek ajeeb sa dard ho raha hai. Please rona band kardo. Please," he pleaded.
"Main ek bohot hi buri aulad hu, Aakash. Har kisi ko sirf takleef hi di hai maine. Mujhe sirf dard dena hi aata hai. Main kabhi bhi kisi ki pasand nahi ban sakti. Mere apno ko bhi mujhse takleef hoti hai, Aakash," she sobbed.
" Meri annkhon mein dekhiye app kya dikh raha hai . Yeh ansoo..kiske liye hai humare pure parivar ko dekhiye kiske liye ro rahe hai sab or aap ko kisne keh diya . Kaha se aaya yeh sab kachra dimag mein "
("Look into my eyes and tell me... can't you see the pain? These tears... this breakdown... it's for you. Our whole family-look at them-they're crying for you. And who the hell told you that you can't be loved?
My whole family adores you. Stop creating these lies in your head,") he said, holding her face.
"Nahi Aakash... har kisi ke paas koi na koi hota hai. Har koi mujse behtar hai Meri kisi ko zarurat nahi hai. Main mar bhi jaaun toh farak nahi padta," she whispered.
He gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.
" Meri aankhon mein dekhiye or suniye .. bohot dhyan se suniye . Agar agli baar esa kehna ho to usee pehle meri jaan le lena "
("Look at me. And listen carefully. If you ever say this shit again, kill me beforehand ")
Her eyes widened.
"A...Aakash..."
" Kya aakash main tab se bol raha hu shant ho jao par aap ro rahi ho.. dekhi nahi ja rahi kya meri haalat. Kese keh sakti ho aap yeh sab "
("I've been asking you since the beginning to calm down. But you kept crying. Can't you see what it's doing to me? How can you say all this?")
"Please, calm down. And if you want to cry-cry in my arms."
"Khudko meri aadat mat banne do... tumhe takleef hogi, Aakash."
" Agar takleef ho bho toh , yeh meri zindagi ki sabse sundar takleef hogi mera baccha
"Even if it does... this would be the most beautiful pain of my life, my love," he said softly.
He stood and pulled her up gently.
"I'm sorry," she said, looking at everyone.
" Maa hu main teri , teri takleef samajhti hu beta par ghusse main aakar khudko takleef mat dena kabhi "
("I'm your mother, Shashi. I understand your pain. But don't hurt yourself in anger ever again," )Aparna said, hugging her.
"I'm so sorry, Mumma," Shashi whispered. Aparna froze at the word.
" Tune mujhe apni maa ki jagah rakha hai wahi kafi hai beta "
("You called me your mother... that's enough for me, beta,") she said, kissing her cheeks.
"Come home now. Your pie must be waiting for his cupcake," Sarthak smiled.
Shashi looked at him.
"Bhai"
"I... I want to say something."
"Main bohot buri hu . Par main esi nahi banna chahti thi bhai , us aadmi ne esa bohot kuch kaha jis vajah se maine uski gardan kaat di"
("I know I'm not a good person. But I never wanted to be like this. That man... he did things to me that made me-" she paused, trembling- "cut his neck.")
"But bhai... this time, I didn't do anything wrong."
Sarthak pulled her into a hug.
"You never have to explain yourself to anyone, beta. Not anymore."
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Hey lovlies the next ch
apter will be more interesting and emotional
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