FLASHBACK,

Guddan and Antara were shocked to see police officers at this hour of time.

Guddan: Aap log yahaan kyun aaye hai?

Police officer (PO): Ye Mr. and Mrs. Aditya Gupta ka ghar hai?

Guddan: Ha, lekin Mummy Papa abhi ghar par nahi hai. Wo bahaar gaye hai.

PO: Aap donon unki betiyan hai?

Guddan: Ha. Lekin aap unke baare me kyun pooch rahe hai?

PO: Aapke ghar me aur koi bade nahi hai?

Guddan looked at the servants who were standing with them.

PO: Ye nahi. Aapke family members me se koi?

Guddan: Mummy Papa hi hamare family hai.

PO: Koi to honge na aapke neighbors, ya koi relatives?? Aap unhe call karke bula lijiye.

Guddan: Kyun?? Ham....

Antara: Guddan, chup kar.

Guddan: Lekin Di ye sab yahaan aa kar aise sawaal kyun kar rahe hai? Chahiye kya unko?

Antara: Wo apna kaam kar rahe hai, unhe karne de. Mai Sahil Papa ko call karti hun.

Antara went aside to call and Guddan was about to follow her but a constable stepped in.

Constable: Sir, bodies ko andar laa de?

PO: Dikh nahi raha hai, bachhe hai andar! Mai thodi der baad bulaunga.

Constable: Ok sir.

Guddan: Di, baat ki aapne?

Antara: Ha wo 10 minutes me aa rahe hai.

Guddan: Di wo kisi bodies ke baare me baat kar rahe the. Mujhe bohot dar lag raha hai.

Antara: Wo kisi aur ke baare me baat kar rahe honge. Tu dar mat. Sab thik hoga.

After few minutes, Sahil entered the house to find both the girls tensed and the police officers waiting in the live room.

As soon as Guddan sees him, she runs to him and hugged tight. He slightly caressed her head.

Guddan: Mujhe bohot dar lag raha hai.

Sahil: Mai aa gaya hun na. Mai baat karta hun. Antara sambhalo ise.

PO: Aap koun?

Sahil: Sir, mai Sahil Gupta. Aditya ka cousin aur best friend.

PO: I am sorry to say but unke aur unke wife ka car accident me death ho chuka hai.

Sahil: What??

PO: Yes, the accident was very dreadful. They were spot dead.

Sahil: Lekin aise kaise ho sakta hai??? Maine subah hi unse baat ki thi.

PO: Accidents kisi ko bata kar nahi hote. Agar waisa hota to shayad ham use hone se pehle hi rok lete. Bodies ambulance me rakhe huye hai. Aap kahe the to andar rakha de?

Sahil stood numb, tears brimming in his eyes. He glanced a look at both the girls. Guddan was tightly clinged on to Antara's body hugging her murmuring something under her breath while Antara was controlling herself not to break down and consoling her younger sister. Sahil nodded his head in agreement.

The bodies were brought in covered with white cloth. Fade blood stains and injuries on face and arms. Antara couldn't hold more and fell on her knees seeing her parents lifeless bodies. Guddan made slow steps towards the bodies with a sad smile. She sat down near their heads and gently caressed their faces which turned into shaking their bodies.

Guddan: Papa, uthiye na!!! Mummy, aap to uthiye!!!
Sahil Papa, ye donon na naatak kar rahe hai, mujhe pareshaan karne ke liye. Mai bohot pareshaan karti hun na inhe isiliye ye donon mujhe punishment dene ke liye aisa mazaak kar rahe hai. Papa, I promise mai aapki responsible beti banungi. Aur Mummy, mai aapki saari baatein maanungi. Pakka promise!!! Ab to uth jaaiye!!! Bohot ho gaya aap donon ka naatak. Please uth jaaiye! Please.....

She broke down into tears screaming and sobbing at the loss of her parents. Her nightmare was not a nightmare anymore but has turned into a reality for her, from which she couldn't run away.

PO: Aap inke family members ko inform kar dijiye.

Sahil: Koi hai hi nahi inki family kehlane ke laayaq.

PO: Matlab??

Sahil: In donon ne Love Marriage ki thi, bhaag kar. Gunjan ki family ne usi waqt isse saare rishte tod diye the. 20 saalon se unka koi pata nahi. Aur rahi baat Aditya ki family ki to unko in sab se koi farak nahi padne wala. Phir bhi I will inform my Uncle's family, they have the right to know.

PO: Thik hai. Kuchh formalities poori karni thi, agar aap hamare saath police station chal sakte to...

Sahil: Kya ham kal subah kar sakte hai? In donon ko is waqt yahaan akela chhodna sahi nahi hai.

PO: I understand! Aap kal subah aa jaiyega.

Sahil: Sure, Thankyou!

The police officers left the house and an uneery silence covered the atmosphere.

Guddan: Sab meri wajah se hua hai. Sab meri wajah se hua hai!!

Sahil: Guddan, beta, sambhalo khud ko. Tumne kuchh nahi kiya hai.

Guddan: Maine hi kiya hai sab kuchh. Agar mai unhe nahi jaane deti to ye sab hua hi nahi hota. Mujhe unhe rok lena chahiye tha. Maine unhe jaane diya isiliye ye sab hua. Sab meri galti hai. Sab meri wajah se hua hai.

She stood up and started throwing all the items her hand could find at that instant. Sahil hugged her in order to console her but she was not in the state of mind to understand anything. The only emotion filled into her was guilt. Guilt of not being able to save her own parents. Guilt of being the reason behind her parent's death.

Guddan: Sab meri wajah se hua hai. Mujhe bhi nahi jeena. Mujhe bhi mar jaana hai.

She lifted the knife present in the fruit basket and was about to hurt herself but a hard slap landed on her cheek before she could hurt herself. She looked at Antara who slapped her and snatched the knife from her hand.

Antara: Marna hai tujhe??? Thik hai, pehle mujhe maar de phir tujhe jo karna hai kar lena. Tab to sukoon milega na tujhe?

Guddan: Paagal ho gayi hai kya aap?

Antara: Tu paagal ho gayi hai!!! Tere alaawa aur koun hai mera? Tu mujhe chhod kar jaayegi? Aage se aisi baat ki na to aur do kheench kar lagaungi tujhe.

Seeing her in tears, her anger long forgotten, she hugged her sister and both cried their heart out.

NEXT MORNING,

Aditya's family which consisted of his old mother, elder brother, his wife and their children along with the neighbours came to attend the funeral.

After a small puja held at home, they all left for the cremation ground. Antara and Guddan performed all the rituals and cremated both the bodies.

They returned back to the house which was not more than a building of four walls for the children.

Sahil came back after completing the formalities in the police station. He was checking some files when he received a call. He received it and went to speak leaving the files. Aditya's brother, Ajay, who came in search of Sahil saw the files open. He studied the files which left his mouth wide open.

Sahil: Bhaiya! Kya kar rahe hai aap?

Ajay: Tu mujhe ye bata ki ye sab kya hai?

Sahil: Wahi, jisse aap ka koi lena dena nahi hai.

Ajay: Tu waqil hai uska matlab ye nahi ki apni marzi se koi bhi kaagzat banwa lega.

Sahil: Ye sab maine apni marzi se nahi banaye hai. Aditya ne ye will pehle se hi tayar karwa liya tha taaki aap log uske property par ek rupay ka haq bhi nahi jama sake.

Ajay: Bakwaas mat kar. Hame hamare property ka poora haq chahiye.

Guddan: Kounsi property Mr. Ajay Gupta???

Ajay: Ye tareeqa hai apne bade papa se baat karne ka? Naam se bulayegi tu mujhe?

Guddan: Bade Papa?? Kounse Bade Papa? Mujhe to yaad hi nahi hai ki mere koi Bade Papa bhi hai!! Aaj aapko property ke liye rishta yaad aa gaya? Kahaan tha ye rishta jab Dadi ne Papa ke haq ki property unhe nahi di thi? Tab to aapne unka haq unhe nahi dilaya! Aur aaj Papa ki property par apna haq bata rahe hai!

Antara: Guddan, kaise baat kar rahi hai tu? Chup kar!!!

Guddan: Nahi Di, aaj mujhe bolne dijiye! Kahaan gaya tha aapka ye rishta jab ham donon raat raat bhar bhook se bilakte huye rote rehte hai. Pet bharne ke liye ek glass doodh bhi naseeb nahi hota tha hame. Tab is Bade Papa ko apna farz yaad nahi aaya?? Kahaan gaye the ye bade bhai jab aapke apne chhote bhai ko unke ghar se, property se dhakke maar kar bahaar nikaal diya gaya tha just because ki unhone apni pasand ki ladki se shaadi kiya. Kahaan gaye the ye bade Bhai jab mere Papa din-raat, dhoop- baarish me ek chhoti naukri ke liye sadkon par bhatakte the.

Aarti (Ajay's wife): Guddan beta, aise baat nahi karte. Mai aapki Badi Mummy hun na......

Guddan: Arey aap to aurat kehlane ke laayaq nahi hai, Maa ka rishta to jodne ki baat hi mat kariye. Ek aurat ho kar aapne doosri aurat ko preganncy ki haalat me ghar se bahar nikal kar sadak par phenk diya tha. Yaad aaya ya aur bhi yaad dilaun?? Mummy pregnant thi, Antara Di thi unki kok me lekin kisi ko na hi Maa ki aur na hi bachhe ki chinta thi. Din me khane ke liye do roti nahi di aap logon ne unhe aur aaj achanak se rishta yaad aa gaya aap logon ko? Sirf isiliye ki Papa ne in 20 saalon me itna kuchh kama liya? Agar aaj bhi unki wahi haalat hoti na to Durga Maa ki kasam aap log unka mara hua munh bhi dekhne nahi aate!!!

As soon as she finished her sentence, her grandmother, Aruna slapped her hard.

Aruna: 15 saal ki hai lekin baatein to suno iski, bade badon ko peechha chhod degi. Yehi sikhaya hai teri Maa ne tujhe?

Guddan: Meri Maa ne mujhe jo sikhaya hai na usi wajah se aap log unke is ghar me khade hai. Warna aise logon ko apne ghar me khada rakhna to door, na hi tameez se baat karte aur na hi unki taraf dekhte.
And thanks to you Dadi ji, agar aapne us din Mummy Papa ko apne ghar se nahi nikala hota na to aaj Papa itne successful nahi hote. Aapke hi ghar me noukar ka kaam kar rahe hote. Lekin aapki wajah se unki bhi aur hamari bhi kismat sudhar gayi.

Antara: Guddan bas kar!! Aise baat karte hai badon se??

Guddan: Bade??? Bohot hi neeche gire huye log hai ye!! Ye is laayaq hi nahi ki inse tameez se baat ki jaaye.

Aruna: Apne Maa Baap se bhi zyaada tedhi hai ye!

Guddan: Bilkul galat kaha aapne Dadi. Mere Papa tedhe, meri Mummy bhi tedhi, lekin unki beti mai poori ki poori ulti hun. Abhi isi waqt is ghar se bahar nikal jaaiye warna mere Papa ne ghus paithiyon (intruders) ke liye security ka intezaam bhi karwaya hai.

Aruna (to her family): Aur kuchh sunna baaki hai tum logon ko?? Chalo yahaan se!!!

AJAY'S HOUSE,

Aruna: Kya tha us will me?

Ajay: Yehi ki Aditya ke marne ke baad uski poori property uske patni aur betiyon ke naam ho jaayegi. Aur agar wo aur uski patni donon ki mout ho jaati hai to donon betiyon ke naam poori property ho jaayegi.

Aarti: To isme itni bhadakne wali kya baat thi? Kuchh din un donon anaath bachhon ko apne ghar rakh lete aur dhoke se sab kuchh apna naam karwa lete.

Aditya: Jab tak un donon me se koi 18 ka nahi ho jaata, tab tak ham unse ek rupya bhi nahi le sakte. Arey un donon ko marna hi tha to kuchh mahine baad mar jaate, Antara 18 ki ho jaati to ham sab kuchh apne naam karwa lete. Waise bhi Antara ko patti padhana aasan hai. Dekha nahi kaise wo Guddan ko rok rahi thi.

Aruna: Wo Antara ko kam mat samjho. Donon betiyaan shakal se bholi hai lekin utni hi chaalu hai. Guddan tez talwaar ki tarah bolti hai aur Antara meethi chhuri ki tarah. Jo aaj Guddan ne kaha hai na, Antara bhi wahi kehti lekin apne baaton ko shehad (honey) me dubo (dip) kar.

Ajay: To ab ham kya karenge?

Aruna: Abhi to kuchh nahi kar sakte kyunki Sahil bhi unke saath hai. Kuchh din ho jaane do maamla thanda ho jayega phir dekhte hai kya kar sakte hai.

A&G PALACE,

Sahil: Antara, Guddan tum donon ka yahaan rehna safe nahi hai.

Antara: Aap kehna kya chahte hai, Sahil Papa??

Sahil: Ajay Bhaiya ko will ke baare me pata chal gaya hai. Kuchh mahinon me tum 18 ki ho jaaogi, Antara. Jahaan tak mai unhe jaanta hun wo kisi bhi tarah ye sab apna naam karwane ki koshish karenge. Shayad uske liye wo tum donon ko nuksaan bhi pohoncha de. Isiliye tum logon ko yahaan se jaana hoga. Aisi jagah jahaan wo log tum tak pohonch na paaye.

Antara: Lekin Sahil Papa, ham log jaayenge kahaan? Wo bhi sab kuchh yahaan chhod kar!

Sahil: Delhi! Delhi thik rahega. Mai kal tum logon ko Delhi le jaaunga. Mai apne friend se keh kar saara intezaam karwa dunga.

Antara: Aap ko jo sahi lage!

They both looked at Guddan who was sitting, holding her parent's photo frame and shedding silent tears. Antara and Sahil sat beside her.

Sahil: Guddan ham sab kal Delhi jaayenge.

Guddan: Mujhe kahin nahi jaana apne Mummy Papa ko chhod kar, is ghar ko chhod kar.

Sahil: Tum chahti ho na ki ye ghar sirf tumhari family ka ho, ye A&G palace safe ho? (She nods) To tumhe ye karna hoga. Tumhare Papa ki poori property yahaan safe hai, jab tak tum donon apni marzi se use kisi aur ke hawaale nahi kar dete. Tum donon to aisa nahi karoge na? (She shooks her head) To chalo packing karte hai. Kal ham teenon Delhi jaayenge. Ok???

Guddan nods.

Sahil: This is my good girl!

The trio packed the important stuff they would need.

NEXT MORNING,

Sahil along with Antara and Guddan left to Delhi from Chandigarh. After a long drive of approximately 5 hours they reached the apartment. Sahil bought a flat for both the girls.

Sahil: Itne se time me bas isi ka intezaam kar paaya mai. Ye ek achhi society hai, tum donon yahaan safe rahoge.

He said stepping inside the flat.

Antara: Kaisi baatein kar rahe hai aap? Pehle hi aapne ham logon ke liye bohot kuchh kiya hai. Aunty se bhi jhoot bol kar ham logon ko Delhi le aaye. Jis waqt hamare khoon ke rishtedaar ne hamara saath nahi diya, us waqt aap hamare saath the. Thankyou so much!

Sahil: Tum donon mujhe apna Sahil Papa nahi maante, sirf kehte ho na!

Antara: Aise kyun keh rahe hai aap? Sirf aap hi to hamare apne hai.

Sahil: To koi apne Papa ko Thankyou bolta hai kya??? C'mmon cheer up girls!!!

They see Guddan lost in observing her surroundings.

Antara: Guddan, I know ki ye hamare ghar jitna bada nahi hai but you know ham adjust kar.....

Guddan: Di, 5 saal ki chhoti bachhi nahi hun mai. Sab samajhti hun. Aur kya kaha aapne? Bada ghar?? Kya karenge ham us bade ghar ka jisme hamare saath hamare Mummy Papa hi nahi hai. Ham log yahin thik hai. Mai washroom dekh kar aati hun.

Antara: Ek hi din me kitna badal gayi hai Guddan. Mujhse use aisa nahi dekha jaayega.

Sahil: Himmat se kaam lo Antara. I know tum donon ke liye bohot mushkil hai ye lekin tumhe Guddan ke liye strong rehna hoga. Use phir se pehle jaisa banane ke liye tumhe pehle jaise banna hoga. Ab sirf tumhe uski badi behen ka hi nahi balki uske dost hone ka, uske Maa hone ka, uske pita hone ka farz nibhaana hoga. Tumhare liye itni chhoti umar ye sab karna aasan nahi hai lekin just give it a try. Ab sirf tum donon hi ek doosre ke liye ho. Mai hun, you can call me anytime. I will be there for both of you lekin hamesha ke liye saath to tum donon ko hi rehna hoga na. Are you getting me??

Antara nods in yes. Guddan comes out and senses the tensed environment.

Guddan: Kya ho raha hai yahaan?

Sahil: Kuchh nahi! Maine khana order kar diya hai, aata hi hoga. Tum log fresh ho jao. Mujhe abhi nikalna hoga.

Guddan: Itni jaldi??? Thodi der aur ruk jaate.

Sahil: I understand lekin tumhari Aunty se bhi jhoot bol kar aaya hun na. To jaldi jaana padega.

Antara: Ok!

Sahil: Antara, ye lo, tumhare Papa ki gaadi ki chaabhiyan. Maine tumhaare driving license ke liye apply kar diya hai, jaise hi uska procedure complete ho jaata hai aur card aa jayega mai post karwa dunga.

Antara: Ok, Thanks!!

Sahil: Bye, take care!!

A WEEK LATER,

Antara and Guddan were adjusting themselves with the sudden turn of events in their life. Even though, they couldn't forget the tragic incident they were trying come up with that together.

Antara: Guddan, maine yahaan ke sab se achhe Business college ke baare me saari information nikal li hai. Mai jald hi admission bhi karwa lungi. Bas ye 3 saal kisi tarah ho jaaye phir Papa ka sapna, unka business handle karne ka, mai poora kar dungi. Jab tak ke liye Sahil Papa ne unhe apne kisi friend ke under de rakha hai. Ye dekh, maine tere science ke liye bhi kuchh junior colleges ka research kiya hai. Mujhe science ke baare utni information hai nahi isiliye tu check kar ke decide kar le ki tujhe kis college me admission karwana hai. Yaad hai na Mummy Papa ka sapna hai tujhe Doctor banta hua dekhna. Cardiac surgeon!

Guddan: Maine already decide kar liya hai Di!

Antara: Arey waah! Meri behen to mujhse bhi zyaada tez hai.

Guddan: Maine ye decide kiya hai ki mai padhai nahi karungi. Nahi padhna mujhe. Nahi banna mujhe koi doctor, surgeon!

Antara: Ye kya keh rahi hai tu?? Mummy Papa ka sapna....

Guddan: Kaisa sapna Di??? Kiske liye poora karun mai ye sapna? Wo jo is duniya me hai hi nahi? Aise hi thik hun mai, nahi karna mujhe padhai, na hi mujhe kuchh banna hai, na hi kisi ke sapne poore karne hai!! That's final!!!