Happy Vijaydashmi 💫

💙

|The darkness when seeps, I search for my home that was standing no more|

by medicallymessedup

•recent past•

Geetika Vohra narrowly witnessed the entire quandary piloted and presented by Ruchi's diabolical aunt just because the illogical lady presumed her sinful character by the sense of her dressing. It wasn't the first time that Geetika had been looked down upon but being harassed verbally was the first and all due to a short romper she wore.

And the funny thing she thought was, usually shallow women like her were biased towards others but it was they who upheld the so-called rights of women in the society.

'The ones who spit venom for their blood relations, were proud to be called as liberals. Wow! What actual fucke' up logic is that!?' She thought.

"Bloody, hypocritical bitch!" Geetika cursed the lady along with Ruchi's desolate father who stood there like a coward without uttering a word to his sister in his daughter's defense. The man did not even open his mouth or try to prevent the baseless accusations barked by his evil sister. She had mistreated his daughter by literally abusing her mentally and physically. If not for Mamta saving Ruchi, God knows what they would have dumped her into due to their flimsy assumptions.

"If they abused her openly outside then what did Ruchi have to bear inside her house?" Geetika gasped, frightened thinking about her impoverished circumstances.

'What kind of a toxic family does this nerd live with?' She couldn't help but wonder in ruth, 'Is it always like this? How does Ruchi respire among such lethal beings? Shit! Why did I even target this poor thing out of fun!'

"Shit! What did I even do!!??" She muttered angry with herself.

When a voice belonging to Prashant dessimented Geetika, "Excuse me! You're standing in the way."

Geetika glared at the man in front of her unbelievably. "Kyu? Yeh road tumhari hai kya?"

["Why? Do this road belong to you?"]

"Nahi, par aap beech mein khadi-"

["No, but you are standing in the middle of the road-"]

"Ya phir tumhare khandan ke naam par iss sadak ka naam hai?" Geetika asked sarcastically while Prashant looked confused. "Ab khade kya ho? Ignite the engine and get lost with your scratchy car!"

["Or is this street named after your kin? Now what are you waiting for?"]

Prashant irefully stepped out of the car and stopped in front of Geetika who stared at him in vexation. An unknown girl had the audacity to accuse him for really nothing.

"Miss, whatever-is-your-name!" He began crossing his arms over his chest, "I never claimed to own this road or it being named after me or my forefathers but the residential property you're standing at belongs to my maternal khandaan!" He responded amiably. His voice strained on the word 'khandaan'. "Aur waise bhi galti aapki hai. Aap iss road ko apna samajh ke block kar rahi hain."

[Khandaan - Kin]

["And it's your fault anyway. You are blocking this road thinking it as your own."]

Geetika's eyes widened in realization and fury replaced the previous irritation, "Maternal-What? Khandan-? Bloody hell! Woh jallad budhiya tumhari maa hai!!?" She glorified in shock, "I should've known beforehand! Even your crooked faces match. I understand now why because you're her blood after all!?" She chided.

["That crude old dime is your mother!!?"]

"Oh hello, madam! Zara tameez se baat kariye." Prashant preached, pushing up the glasses on his nose, "Aapko koi bhi haq nahi hai meri maa ko in sab ke beech mein lane ka. Main kuch nahi bol raha hu toh kya kuch bhi bolengi aap!"

["Excuse me, Madam! Talk a bit civilly. You have no right to bring my mother in between this. If I am not saying anything that doesn't mean you can speak anything!"]

"Abe bolega toh saara zamaana jab main tumhari maa ko saza-e-kaala-paani dungi. Samajhti kya hai wo khud ko!?"

["The whole world will be speaking when I will punish your mother to her death."]

"What are you even blabbering?" Prashant growled bristling.

"Oh, wow! I am blabbering now!?" Geetika absconded, "What about your mother who's been a living trauma to your cousin."

"You know my mother?" He was at a loss. "And how do you know my cousin?" He questioned.

"Main kya puri duniya jaanti hai tumhari maa ke dhayen zulmon ko!" She scoffed haughtily, "Afterall, she's a troubling bone in Ruchi's life! Is she even a woman to start with-?"

["Not just me but the world knows about your mother's barbarism!"]

"Kya kuch bhi bol rahi ho tum bina soche samjhe. Janti kya ho tum aakhir-"

["What nonsense are you sprouting without thinking? What do you even know-"]

"You!" Kartik interrupted who just then returned back serving his office hours. "You're from Ruchi's batch, right? What are you doing here?"

"Gladly you came!" Geetika sighed, familiar with Kartik who dropped and picked Ruchi at times. "That bitch-"

"Mind your tongue, girl!" Prashant rebuked.

"Why don't you advise the same to your mother?" Geetika retorted.

"Wait a second, Prashant!" Kartik instructed him and asked her, "What brought you here?"

"I dropped Ruchi back at home-"

"My sister was with Aakash." Kartik replied as a matter-of-fact, "I know neither Ruchi or her friends share a great bond with you. So, do not try to make up things. I'm warning you because I won't tolerate any nonsense against my sister."

"I am not! You think I'm lying?" She was offended, "Mr. Batra, kindly go and see your sister. She must be still weeping over the things your vile aunt accused her of. She insulted Ruchi standing right outside your house."

"What if she's lying, Bhai?" Prashant suggested.

"Yeah, afterall why will he believe me? Isn't he his goody mommy's little piece of junk!" Geetika snarled, shutting up Prashant who was familiar with his mother's wicked nature and by now the strange girl's staunch allegations seemed truthful.

"Look, Prashant had always been passive to Bua's deeds." Kartik defended his cousin and then turned back to Prashant, "I need to check up on Baby." He rushed inside the house leaving Prashant and Geetika to themselves.

"And you mister junk-" Geetika apprised impassively, "Warn your mother to stop bothering about girls around her and rather think about her own sins. Warna jis speed se wo ja rahi hai na swarg to door use narkh mein bhi ek kona naseeb nahi hone wala."

["Otherwise, the speed with which she is heading, she is not going to get a corner, neither in heaven nor in hell."]

Prashant apologized sincerely, "If she caused you any trouble then I'm sorry on my mother's behalf." He was getting sick of his mother's inhumane acts.

"You should be." Geetika discerned plainly.

Prashant was drowning in guilt so he just walked inside the gates passing Geetika an embarrassed nod oblivious about her following him inside the house meanwhile Kartik entered the living room to see Sushma and Sunil settled on the sofa and gossiping among themselves strifed about their surroundings. Their relaxed stances did not give away about any mishap but that itself is the biggest seed of doubt.

"Maa! Maa!" Kartik called out walking towards the kitchen, "Maa! Where is Baby? She returned home right-"

[Maa - An Indian word for addressing mother]

"Firstly, have a seat, my son." Sushma probed, "Abhi aaya hai tu kaam karke saans to le-le pehle." She laughed at his worry normally.

["You have just returned after work, take a breather."]

"Where's Maa?" He asked, ignoring her words and waiting for an appropriate answer.

"Kaha hongi Bhabhi bhala!" Sushma taunted shuffling through her bags, "Must be busy giving wings to that freeloader! Pata nahi kya milta hai bhabhi aur tum sab ko use jhar pe chada ke-"

["Where will be Bhabhi! Don't know what the sister-in-law gets by fostering her wings-"]

[Bhabhi - Brother's wife]

"She has a name, Bua. Use it or don't say anything about her at all." Kartik sought clenching and unclenching his fist to sustain his building fury.

[Bua - Paternal Aunt]

"That's not a way you talk to your elders, Kartik." Sunil was displeased by his action.

"Where is Baby, Chachu?" Kartik inquired instead.

[Chachu - A word used to address younger paternal uncle]

"Kartik, son-" A teary-eyed Mamta who just then descended the stairs hearing Kartik's calls disturbingly invocated. She ambled closer to her son with chagrin written all over her face, "Where's Baby, Maa? I saw one of her college mates outside. Her classmate said she dropped Baby off today-"

"Oh, so you met that wench too. Stay away from such girls, Kartik. Young boys are easily trapped by pompous girls like her-"

"Mind your words, mother!" Prashant badgered Sushma. "Don't disrespect someone who you don't know!" This repulsed his mother who heard the boys in her family dare talk back to her especially when one of them was her own son.

"What kind of magic do girls these days know?" Sushma mocked with pessimism, "Shakal dekhi nahi ke lattoo kar liya tum dono ko. As all they know is how to grab respectful men with filled pockets to flock around as per their needs-"

["Both of you got fooled just by looking at her face."]

"You seriously need to get that gutter mind of yours checked, you screwed vixen!" Geetika grouched by sharply cutting her off for she couldn't keep the urge to not get involved hearing the latter utter shit, "Tum hoti kaun ho mere charitra ka anklan karne wali? In fact, kisi ko bhi judge karne ka theka tumko kisne diya?"

["Who are you to evaluate my character? In fact, who gave you the license to judge anyone?"]

"Iss ladki ki itni himmat, ghar ke andar tak aa gayi ab-" Sushma vouched ballistically, "This Ruchi, I tell you!" She groused, "Now she will take advantage of her freedom by hanging out with such immodest girls-?"

["This girl has got so much courage, she has come inside the house now-"]

"Abhi to sirf ghar me aayi hun aur itna gussa, jab zindagi mein aaungi toh maar hi daalogi kya?" Geetika rebuffed getting onto Sushma's nerves. "And thank goodness, I accompanied Ruchi else I wouldn't have known about your hostility towards her."

["I have just stepped inside the house and you are so angry, will you kill me when I enter your life?"]

"Maa!" Kartik meddled impatiently, "Tell me how's, Baby?"

Mamta let out an uncontrolled sob scaring Kartik's gut, "Maa! Maa! Please, rona band karo aur bolo na Baby kaha hain?" He deemed, ardently waiting for her to answer, "Why are you not speaking anything, Maa? Fine, don't tell! I'll ask her myself-"

["Mother! Mother! Please, stop crying and tell me about Baby's whereabouts."]

"Kartik..." Mamta stopped him mumbling to herself in uncertainty, "She..Ruchi, she was crying, her voice refused to come out, she was pathetically shivering-"

"How's she now?" He questioned brusquely, "Did you-" His eyes grew red, "Did you give her the-"

"I had to, Kartik!" She confirmed, "I had to give her the pills." Mamta informed despairingly.

"What the heck, Maa?" Kartik demanded, malignly, "You could've talked to her, maybe even tried a little more to calm her down. Why did you give her the pills?"

"She was hyperventilating." Mamta informed distressingly, "Her state was worsening. Her breathing came out labored-"

"What did you say to her, Bua?" Kartik quizzed, leaving the talk with his mother in the air and pinning Sushma under his accusing gaze, "Aur sach boliye."

["And speak the truth."]

"What did I even say?" She defended, "The truth is bitter and what can anyone do if she can't stand up for her mistakes."

"What precisely was my sister's mistake?" His voice challenged both the brother-sister who looked upon slacked by his acerbicity. "Kya bigada hai meri behan ne aap dono ka?" He screamed, unable to put control over his overthrowing emotions.

["What harm has my sister caused to both of you?"]

He rubbed his hand over his face ferociously, "Jaldi bataiye Ruchi ka kasoor kya hai?"

["Tell me quickly what was Ruchi's fault?"]

"Ab bolo bhi Maa. Tum sab kuch apni marzi se karti ho to ab jawaab bhi de hume." Prashant insisted, done with his mother's cruelty.

["Tell us mother. You do everything as per your wish, so now answer us too."]

"Itni patience dikhaoge inhe?" Geetika laughed, "Even if one percent of such respect and kindness she would've relented on Ruchi then maybe she wouldn't have been feeling horrible-"

["Will you deal with her with so much of patience?"]

"Who the hell are you to question us-" Sushma jeered pointedly glaring at Geetika who didn't let her complete her admonishing.

"I haven't finished speaking yet." She primed, "And what will this woman speak, huh?" She budged Kartik and Prashant. "I think it would be a huge insult to womankind if she's being paid respect." She phrased, "She slaughtered a girl's reputation with her mere words, the girl who was her niece to be certain. She indirectly called her a whore-"

"If she goes around with characterless whims like you then she'd definitely be one kind of a who-"

"Shut your mouth, Bua!!!" Kartik shouted aghast, anger ripped his mind hearing such degrading words for Ruchi. "Just shut up your mouth!!"

"How could you even say that, Maa?" Prashant pondered detached. His mother was heartless indeed.

"What venom are you feeding upon, Sushma!" Mamta mulled over in disbelief, "Kya ber hai tumhara meri bachi se?"

["What animosity do you have with my girl?"]

"She led to every mishap in each one of our lives!" Sushma hollered madly, "My and Srinija's years old friendship turned sour and adversely ended up! Just because of her-"

"Ruchi ne bolna bhi nahi seekha tha, tab se tumhari woh dost planning kar rahi thi." Mamta sorted, "Usne akhen bhi nahi kholi thi when Srinija slept with another man severing on the ties of your so-called friendship, Sushma." She hopelessly clucked, "Kab manogi tum sach ko?"

["Ruchi didn't even learn to speak, since then your friend was planning to end everything. She didn't even open her eyes properly when Srinija slept with another man severing on ties of your so-called friendship, Sushma. When will you accept the reality?"]

Sushma avengefully shook her head in denial, "Aisa aapko lagta hai, Bhabhi. Aap us ladki ko sahi sabit karne ke liye baatein bana rahi hain." She authenticated. "Srinija told me everything before leaving-" Kartik, who was devastated, stopped her from saying anything further.

["You think so, Bhabhi. You're making things up to prove that girl right."]

"Trust me, nobody here wants to learn about your perspectives regarding Ruchi's modesty. She definitely doesn't need to have a moral certification from you or anyone else." He groused, "So, kindly without wasting any of our time go away from the house that belongs to my sister regardless of what you or other people think of!"

Deadly silence enveloped the room after Kartik's verdict, Sushma stared at him unbelievably while her sister-in-law or son did not at all react except for her brother who sided with her.

"Kartik, what are you doing-"

"Exactly, the same thing that was supposed to be done years ago." Kartik replied to Sunil's opposition, "Aur Chachu aaj tak nahi bole ho aap Ruchi ke maamle mein toh phir aaj bhi chup rahenge toh hum sab ke liye behtar hoga."

["And uncle you have not spoken till date in Ruchi's case, then even today if you stay silent it will be better for all of us."]

His bitter words worked enough to mum him and his cowardice which remained tongue-tied to Ruchi's pain and pleas.

"Take away your mother, Prashant!" Kartik gritted furiously, "Nobody shall appreciate her presence in this house anymore."

"Ji, Bhai!" Prashant obeyed Kartik, "Maa, move!" He hissed roughly.

[Ji - Yes]

Sushma gathered her belongings scathed with the turn of events against her but made sure that she would get back for her insult just for the sake of Ruchi. She was about to walk out when Kartik's words halted her steps to raise her fury.

"Please, do not come uninvited to our house the next time, else nobody knows what consequences will follow your arrival." Kartik cautioned storming off the stairs in hope to find Ruchi and helplessly console her shattered soul.

"Sudhar jaayen warna jo uski lathi ki maar padegi na, janamo-janam tak pachtaengi aap." Geetika emphasized walking out herself towards her car and driving away. "Someday, I shall make this witch pay for her deeds." Geetika vowed to herself unknown to the future that shall bless her with a fair chance to fulfill her wish.

["Improve yourself, otherwise you will regret for life when you are hit back by karma."]

🖤🖤🖤

Kartik's heart belittled him each time a bit more when Ruchi was aimed for groundless things. He was reminded each time how he failed as a brother. How worthless he felt of himself, how defeated his brotherly love was that couldn't even protect his sister's dignity and rights. He couldn't help but condemn himself for being useless.

Kartik's eyes tore up observing Ruchi who seemed almost lifeless like that, laying immobile on the bed. He crouched on the cold floor beside her apprehensive to touch her, his mind afraid as if his single touch would shatter her like glass. The cervices suspiring through her broken being, her agony pleased the hearts of the world but Kartik felt his conscious thrashing imprudently seeking out justice for everything Ruchi had to bear since the day of her birth.

He had witnessed when first time Srinija pushed an infant Ruchi away in anger, the day she was hit by her mother, the ignorance of Sunil, the brunt left in the form of nightmares from the episode of molestation, the hatred brewing in the heart of his Aunt, the day when Ruchi lost the memories of a huge part of her life like it never existed, the day that changed the direction of her happiness to a timeless sorrow. He had seen it all.

Someday, he wished to take his sister away from the pain and build a happy place for her which would be free of those monsters chasing her. A world where she could roam freely, laugh carelessly, speak openly and even if she cried sometime, everything around her would heal her wounds as their own.

But was it even possible?

Impossibly possible to seek smiles when Ruchi could never go off of these fake relationships entangling her in the name of love. His sister, he knew, would run back leaving everything to the ones behind her ruined state regardless of what she went through.

He held her lifeless palm hoping for some warmth that radiated off her welcoming personality to engulf him but everything remained cold and stationary.

He searched for his phone through his pants, dialing onto a number he believed could prove therapeutic to her ailing sister.

A man of patience, like him, looked impatient for the ring to be answered and when it did he could only pant through the struggling sobs that bubbled through his throat.

"Wah re meri kismat!" The enthusiastic voice replied from the other end, "Aaj chanda mama kaha se nikle hai?" She probed, "Has bad luck been ending from my horoscope since now?" The dramatic voice entreated, "Aaj to maine mar hi jaana hai!!"

["Hail to my fate! Where did the moon rise from today? I'm going to die from the shock!!"]

"Samiksha!" Kartik uttered distraught, unable to scold for her childishness like other times.

"Haa, bol rahi hoon! Kem cho, party!?" Samiksha grinned, "Kaise yaad kiya apun ko bhidu log?"

["Yes, speaking! How are you doing? How did you remember me, my friend?"]

"Ruchi-" He whispered cynically, his tone ringing bells inside her head.

"What happened to Ruchi?" She countered urgently, convinced that something was wrong because Kartik never called Ruchi by her name and if he ever did, it had to be something grave.

"She needs you." He mumbled glancing at his sister who at this moment needed her loved ones the most, "Come home soon."

Lots of Love,

ANKITA