A month Later

Manvi made her way through the bustling local market, her arms laden with bags of fresh vegetables. As she approached her regular vendor, she greeted him with a warm smile.

"Bhaiya, sahi daam lagana.." she said, handing him the vegetables.

"Are, aap fikar mat karo. Aap toh hamari regular customer ho, aapko zyada nahi lagaunga," he reassured her, deftly packing the vegetables into a bag.

After paying him, Manvi headed home, her thoughts drifting to her plans for the evening meal. But as she entered her house and set down her groceries, her tranquility shattered with a tap on her shoulder. She whirled around to find Dhruv standing before her, his presence striking fear into her heart.

"Tum mere ghar mein kaise ghuse?" she shouted, her voice tinged with panic.

Dhruv covered her mouth with his hand and pressed her against the wall, his grip on her hands unyielding. Manvi struggled against his hold, tears welling in her eyes as fear washed over her.

"Chod diya tumhare aashiq ne tumhe badnaam karke! Kamse kam mere saath thi toh itni badnaami toh nahi uthani padti," he sneered, his words dripping with contempt.

Defiantly, she met his gaze and retorted, "Hazar baar kah chuki hun main aur Aaravji sirf ache dost hai samjhe tum!" With a surge of courage, she pushed him away, seizing a nearby vase as a makeshift weapon. 

"Door raho mujhse.. Warna," she warned, her voice trembling with anger and resolve.

"Apne pati ko marogi? Aur kitna neeche girogi tum? Mujhe jail bheja phir uske ghar rehne gayi.. Maze kiye aur chod diya na usne tumhe.." he spat out bitterly, his anger simmering beneath the surface.

"Tumhe jo sochna hai socho, mujhe farak nahi padta hai! Main kisi ko koi safai nahi dungi.. Dhruv, chale jao yahan se tum," she demanded, her voice firm despite the fear coursing through her veins.

"Patni ho tum meri, mere saath aaogi mere ghar," he declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Mujhe nahi rehna tumhare saath, tum mujhe force nahi kar sakte ho," Manvi asserted, her resolve unwavering.

"Aaogi toh tum! Main bhi dekhta hun kaise nahi aati ho.. Tumhe iss society se agle 12 ghante mein nikalwaya nahi na toh dekhna," he threatened, before finally storming out of her home.

As the door closed behind him, Manvi leaned against it, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she fought to steady herself in the wake of his departure.  

As Manvi busied herself in the kitchen, the shrill sound of the doorbell shattered the silence of her home. She cautiously approached the door and peered through the peephole before opening it to find the society secretary standing on her doorstep, holding out a piece of paper.

"Yeh society ki taraf se complaints hain aapke khilaf. Aapko jald se jald yeh ghar khali karna hoga," he announced brusquely.

Manvi was taken aback. "Lekin kyun? Maine pure teen mahine ka advance diya hai.."

"Madam, aapke pati par police case chal raha hai.. Aap bhi wo business tycoon ke saath affair kar chuki hai! Hamari society mein aap jaisi aurat ke liye jagah nahi hai.." he accused, his tone laced with disdain.

A bitter smile played on her lips. "Kamal hai, Mishraji! Main aurat hun toh sab mujhe apna zor azmane aa jaate hai! Agar meri jagah ek mard yahan pe rehta toh koi pareshani nahi hoti kisi ko."

The secretary glanced at her remorselessly. "I am sorry! 80% se zyada society members ne vote kiya hai, aapko jaana hi hoga," he declared before turning to leave.

With a resigned nod, Manvi closed the door behind him, her heart heavy with the weight of injustice. It had taken her months to find this sanctuary, and now she was being forced to abandon it because of her husband's actions. The unfairness of it all stung, but she refused to succumb to despair. She would find another place to call home, and she would keep fighting for her rights.

The next morning dawned, and Manvi prepared herself for another day, steeling her resolve against the looming presence of Dhruv. Asshe made her way to her coaching class, she couldn't shake the feeling of beingwatched, but she pushed the unease aside, finding solace in the familiarity ofher routine.

Entering the classroom, she greeted her students with a composed smile, though her eyes betrayed the lingering tension within. Teaching served as both a distraction and a sanctuary, offering her a brief respite from the turmoil that awaited her outside.

"Aaj ki class khatam.." she announced, her voice steady despite the turmoil swirling beneath the surface. Gathering her belongings, she made her way out of the coaching center, her heart pounding in anticipation of another encounter with Dhruv.

As she settled onto her scooty, her breath caught in her throat as Dhruv's hand closed around the handle. Panic flickered in her eyes, but she refused to let it consume her, meeting his gaze with a steely resolve.

He smiled, his words laced with thinly veiled threats. "Kaha tha 12 ghante mein society se bahar karwa dunga.. Ab toh tumhare paas koi jagah nahi hai.. Maa baap tumhare rakhenge nahi, aana toh mere paas hi hoga. Pyaar se ghar laut aao warna.."

"Warna kya?" she challenged, her voice devoid of fear, her determination shining through.

"Yeh coaching waalo ke saamne itna zalil karunga tumhe ki bachi kuch ijjat bhi kharab ho jayegi tumhari aur naukri se bhi haath dho baithogi tum! Ghar laut aau, I promise kuch nahi karunga," he assured her, his words dripping with malice before turning to leave.

Manvi watched him retreat, her jaw set in defiance. Taking a deep breath, she revved up her scooty and rode off into the unknown, refusing to let his threats dictate her actions. 

At a red light, her thoughts drifted to her meeting with Aarav, a nostalgic smile gracing her lips as memories flooded her mind. It had been a month since she'd last spoken to him or Khushi, the warmth of their friendship a beacon of light in the darkness that threatened to consume her. The blare of a car horn jolted her back to reality, and with renewed determination, she continued on her journey, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Manvi parked her scooty in front of herbuilding, a sense of weariness weighing heavily on her shoulders.

"Manvi beta," a familiar voice called out, and she turned to see Sharda kaki, the warmth of her presence offering a brief respite from the turmoil of her day.

"Sharda kaki," Manvi greeted with a genuine smile, touching her feet in reverence and seeking her blessings.

"Khush raho.. Kaisi ho?" Sharda inquired, her concern etched into every line of her face.

"Main thik hun, kaki.. Aaravji aur Khushi kaise hai?" Manvi asked, her heart aching with longing for the companionship she had left behind.

A shadow crossed Sharda's features, a silent communication of the unspoken troubles that weighed heavily on her mind. Sensing the tension, Manvi pressed gently, "Kaki, batayie na."

"Khushi se tumhari baat nahi hoti?" Sharda ventured cautiously, her voice tinged with concern.

"Nahi kaki, maine Aaravji ki baat ka maan rakha aur uss din ke baad usse kabhi baat nahi ki," Manvi confessed, her words heavy with the weight of her choices.

Touched by her sincerity, Sharda's eyes softened with emotion. "Beta.. ho sake toh ek baar ghar aao," she implored softly, her heart aching for the fractured bonds that once held them together.

"Kaki, main uss ghar mein nahi aa sakti!" Manvi protested, her voice filled with a mixture of determination and regret.

Sharda offered a sad smile, the pain of their circumstances etched into every line of her face. "Main force nahi karungi. Khair, khayal rakhna apna," she bid farewell, her footsteps heavy with the weight of unspoken truths as she walked away, leaving Manvi to grapple with the echoes of their conversation.

Her phone rang, interrupting her reverie, and it was the agent on the line. He informed her that he had found a place for her, a glimmer of hope in the darkness of her uncertainty. Without hesitation, she instructed him to finalize the arrangements, her trust in his judgment unwavering despite her reservations.

With a heavy heart and a determined spirit, Manvi set out to face the unknown, ready to carve out a new path for herself in a world filled with obstacles and challenges.

Malhotra Mansion

Sharda arrived at the grand Malhotra Mansion, her heart heavy with worry and concern. As she entered the opulent hall, she was approached by one of the staff members who informed her about some clients eager to meet Aarav.

"Kuch clients hain jo Sir se milna chahte hain," the staff member relayed.

Sharda shook her head, her expression grave. "Unse kaho Aarav ki tabiyat thik nahi hai.. Phir kabhi mile."

The staff member nodded understandingly and conveyed the message to the manager. After a brief moment, the manager entered the mansion, acknowledging Sharda with a respectful nod before placing a file on the table.

"Sir kaha hai Shardaji? Ek mahine se office aaye nahi hai.. Kitne loss ho chuke hai," he shared, his concern evident in his voice.

Sharda's eyes filled with sorrow as she replied, "Tumse kuch chupa nahi, Siddharth. Jabse Khushi ne ghar choda hai, wo toot gaya hai! Uske kamre se bahar nahi aata hai, main kya karun?"

Siddharth sighed heavily, the weight of the situation bearing down on him. "Aap yeh sign karwa dijiye.. Main sabko zyada nahi sambhal paunga. Agar Sir wapas nahi aaye toh itna nuksaan hoga ki sab kuch khatam ho jayega.. Aap samajh rahi hain na?" he implored.

With a heavy heart, Sharda nodded in agreement."Main laati hun sign," she conceded, making her way upstairs toKhushi's room. Unlocking the door with a heavy heart, she entered the dimly lit room, her eyes scanning the space for any sign of Aarav's presence. 

Spotting him in the corner, clutching Khushi's photo, Sharda's heart shattered at the sight of his broken state. Tears welled in her eyes as she approached him, her touch gentle as she placed the pen in his hand, urging him to sign the papers.

As Sharda unlocked the door with the key and stepped into the dimly lit room, her heart sank at the sight that greeted her. Despite the flicker of light from the window, darkness seemed to envelop everything, casting a pall over the once vibrant space.

Turning on the light, she scanned the room with a heavy heart, her eyes searching for any sign of Aarav's presence. But he was nowhere to be found amidst the shadows that lingered in every corner.

Approaching the window, her heart clenched at the sight of him huddled in the corner, his form shrouded in darkness as he clutched Khushi's photo with silent tears streaming down his face. His once vibrant eyes were dulled with grief, dark circles etched beneath them, his lips dry and parched, and his face drained of color. He seemed like a mere shell of the man he once was, consumed by the weight of his sorrow.

Placing a trembling hand on his head, Sharda's voice trembled with emotion as she spoke softly, "Aarav beta.."

But he remained oblivious to her presence, lost in the depths of his despair, his ears deaf to her words.

With a heavy heart, she extended the papers and a pen towards him, her hands trembling as she implored him, "beta ye paper sign karde.."

Forcing the pen into his hand, she guided his trembling fingers to the document, her heart breaking at the sight of his shattered state. Tears welled in her eyes, mirroring the silent agony that gripped her soul as she watched him succumb to the weight of his grief.

Siddharth, witnessing the scene unfolding before him, stood in stunned silence, his shock palpable as he beheld the once formidable man reduced to a mere shadow of his former self.

As Aarav mechanically complied with Sharda's request, his tears mingling with the ink on the paper, a profound sense of helplessness washed over them all, the magnitude of their loss weighing heavily on their hearts.

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Sharda could only watch in silent agony as the man she had once known and loved slipped further away into the abyss of his despair, his pain too deep to be assuaged by mere words or gestures.

As Sharda handed the file to Siddharth, her voice trembled with sorrow. "Shardaji, Sir aise.."

"Iski jaan toh ek mahine pehle hi chali gayi.." Sharda's words hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the gaping void left by Khushi's absence.

Siddharth's expression softened with empathy as he offered reassurance, "Aap chinta mat kijiye main Khushi ko dundhne ki koshish karta hun.."

But Sharda's eyes glistened with a glimmer of hope as she interjected, "Nahi beta.. Tum usey nahi dundh sakte ho koi usey dundh sakta hai toh wo hai Manvi aur jante ho aaj meri usse mulakat hui."

Aarav, who had been lost in his grief, suddenly snapped to attention, his eyes darting around the room in a desperate search for his daughter. With newfound determination, he rose from his huddled position, his heart racing with the possibility of reuniting with Khushi.

He rushed towards Sharda, his hands trembling as he grasped her shoulders, a flicker of hope igniting in his eyes. "Aap Manvi se mili? Khushi uske saath hai na??" his voice cracked with emotion.

Sharda, taken aback by his sudden urgency, struggled to find her words. "Wo Manvi.."

"Kaha hai?" Aarav's voice was tinged with desperation, his heart pounding with the possibility of finding his beloved daughter.

With a heavy heart, Sharda relayed Manvi's whereabouts. Without a moment's hesitation, Aarav rushed outof the room, his determination to find Khushi overriding any obstacles in hispath. Sharda watched him go, a mixture of hope and apprehension swirling withinher as she prayed for their reunion.