Manvi's POV

It has been a month since I have been orphanage. It was sunday afternoon. We were at the India gate for a picnic. My eyes fell on Ahana. She was with her parents.

She seemed to be happy, a smile appeared on my face with my eyes turning teary. I then saw Virat coming with ice-cream to them. I looked at the girl and said something to her. She ran nearer and listened to the conversation pretending to be waiting for someone.

After 5 minutes, she came back and informed me something. My eyes were filled with joy hearing this. Our mentor called and we boarded the bus.

I arrived at the orphanage and was shocked seeing Virat. I ignored him and walked ahead.

He held my wrist to stop me.. "Ruko.."

I stopped and turned to him. I gave him a tough look.. "Kya hai??mujhe bahut kaam hai.." I gave a rude reply.

"Thik se baat nahi kar sakti ho kya tum?" he asked in a calm tone.

I smiled "main toh aise hi baat karti hun.. Kaise hai aap?" I asked in a normal tone.

"Khush ho tum yahan?" he asked.

I smiled more "bahut khush hun.."

He handed me a card "rishta tumse banaya tha.. Ahana se shaadi kar raha hun.. Tum aaogi toh usey acha lagega.."

I was shocked hearing this. I laughed sarcastically "Aap aur Ahana Goenka se shaadi? Please.. Dosti tak toh hui nahi thi aap dono ke beech"

"Kya kare waqt sab badal deta hai Manvi.. Pyar karta hun usse.. Tumhari tarah use akela toh chod nahi sakta na" he said meaningfully.

I returned the car and gave a rude reply "na mera aapse koi rishta hai na unse.. Aur mujhe koi shauk nahi shaadiyon mein jaane ka.. And main waha aau soh baatein suni no.. main phirse ye sab tolerate nahi karna chahti hun samjhe aap please don't interfere in my life sukoon se hun rehne do"

"Tum wo manvi nahi ho.. Masoom si jo akdu uncle kaha karti thi mujhe zid karti thi.. Paagalpan karti thi.. Par dil ki achi thi.. Tum aaj bhi Ahana aur mujhe hurt kar rahi ho Manvi.. Main toh ye sochke aaya tha shayad tumhare mann mein Ahana ke liye pyar hai thoda bahut par nahi.. Tum toh khush ho apni iss duniya mein.. Samajhna chahti hi nahi kuch.. Aisi baatein karti ho jinse takleef hoti hai.." he sighed deeply and left from there.

I looked on at him and moved back into the orphanage.

I came into the room and locked the door. I sat on the floor and recalled my behaviour towards Ahana and Virat. I started to cry out loud. I hated myself for doing this. I could not hold my emotions anymore. I broke down completely.

I stood up and opened my bag, I threw away all the things and took out the picture. It was a picture of mine and Ahana. I caressed it and attached it near to my heart. I cried hard and shouted.

"Chali jaye wapas apne ghar aur chod pe mujhe anath ashram mein.."

"Mujhe aapki zaroorat nahi hai ab.. Jao aap yahan se"

"Please aap door raho mujhse.... I hate you.. Aapki wajah se ye duniya mujhe itna sunati hai.."

"Please.. Aap hamare beech mein mat aao.. Aapka rishta nhi hai unse aur mujhse.."

"Acha hota agar wo mujhe sadak pe rehene deti.. Kamse kam mujhpe iss tarah koi iljzam toh nahi lagte jo aaj lag rahe hai.."

"Aur wo Ahana Goenka kitni possessive thi mujhe leke mujhe na ghutan hone lagi thi waha.. Jo apne maa baap ko chod sakti hai wo future mein mujhe bhi toh chod sakti thi na.. "

I recalled my own words, how harsh I had been. I intentionally hurt her. I held the bed sheet tight "I am sorry.. Sorry.."

Nilima, the caretaker of orphanage entered inside. I looked at her and hugged her tightly. My sobbing increased. "Bahut buri hun main.. Bahut zyada buri.. Maine uss insan ko takleef di jisne mujhe nayi zindagi di"

"Shh.. shant ho jao.. Tumne jo kiya wo koi apni beti bhi nahi karti Manvi.." nilima said.

I glanced at her and said "kya kiya maine? Ek mahina mumma se rudely baat ki maine.. Akdu uncle se bhi phir unhe chodke yahan aa gayi aur uss din wo jab yahan aayi tho toh maine wo sab kah diya.."

I held her hand and said "but aap jaanti ho na.. Agar main wo sab nahi kehti aur karti toh wo mujhe kabhi nahi chodti... aur apne mumma papa ke paas wapas bhi nahi jaati.." I smiled with tears "aur ab to wo zindagi mein aage badh rahi hai.. Shaadi wo bhi akdu uncle se"

"Ab koi mujhe nahi kahega na.. Maine unhe unke maa baap se door kiya? Wo meri wajah se aage nahi badh paayi life mein? Haan aunty batao na.. Ab koi nahi kahega na.. Ki ek ladki ko unhone adopt kiya jiska koi wajood nahi, paap hai ya kaun hai.." I closed my eyes.

"Rona band karo manvi.. Shh.. bahut pyar karti ho na apni mumma se?" she asked.

I opened my eyes and smiled "bahut zyada.. Jab mujhe pata chala wo meri mumma nahi hai.. Kisi kachre se uthaya mujhe gussa aaya mujhe.. Lekin unka sacrifice dekha maine.. Mere liye unhone apne maa baap chod diye.. Shaadi nahi ki din raat mehnat ki.. Itna pyar diya mujhe ab meri baari thi na karne ki.. Nani nanu ko unki beti wapas karne ki shaadi kar rahi hai wo.. I am so happy aunty.."

She cupped my face.. "Sach kaha hai kisine dil ke dhaage ek baar jud jaye toh toot nhi sakte.. Par kya tum khush ho unse door haan?" she asked.

"Wo khush hai.. Toh main khush hun.. Lekin main unke paas nahi rah sakti ye iljam ke saath maine unki zindagi barbaad ki.. Unhe unke maa baap se door kar diya.." I said sighing in grief.

"I miss her.. Roj karti hun unhe miss.. Hamara rishta kisine nahi samjha aunty.. Aur koi kabhi samajh hi nahi paayega.. Aap mujhse promise karo aap ye sab kisiko nahi kahogi" I asked.

She nodded in yes and hugged me tight.

"Hamare desh mein khoon ke rishte bade hote hai.. Dil ke rishton ki ehmiyat nahi hai nanu nani kabhi mujhe nahi apna paate aur mumma phir naya sacrifice karti mere liye.. Isse acha hai ki main hi unse door ho jau.. Bas yahi soch ke maine wo sab kiya jo mujhe nahi karna tha.. Unhe rulaya.. Itna tadpaya.. Maine galat nahi kiya na aunty?" I asked while shedding tears.

She rubbed my back... "nahi tumne kuch galat nahi kiya.. " she assured me.

Yes, I intentionally said harsh words, I pretended to be happy in an orphanage but I know the nights I have cried. The night when Virat came to take me back to Ahana, I pretended to be asleep and listened to him. I wanted to run to Ahana but I controlled myself. I wanted to hug her, I wanted to cry in her arms. I missed her scoldings, the moments I spent with her.

I never wanted to leave her, but this had a good effect. Virat and Ahana came closer to each other and now they were getting married. "Akdu uncle" and my mother together this is a dream come true. 

To be continued.

Hope you all liked it.