Vineet had a hard time comforting Anamika. He has never seen her crying this bitterly, after a moment she had even started to hiccup, but her cries continued until they heard Ansh meek voice, calling for them. She cleaned her face and ran inside without bothering what they were conversing about. He had never seen her like this before. Years back when they were dating, she was a confident girl, ready to fight every odd but now, she's scared of even stepping outside the house without a reason, why? 

He let out a sigh and moved inside only to find Anamika holding Ansh in her arms, patting him warmly. He headed to them and caressed his wound. 

"You okay Ansh?" He enquires to which Ansh shook his head lightly while clinging closer to his mothers chest. 

"Anamika!!! Anamika!!!" they heard Bua calling her. 

Anamikas brows clouded with tension, Vineet patted her shoulder assuring her that he will take care of it. Anamika nods and he moves downstairs. 

"Kya hua bua?" he asks his aunt, who gave him a look. 

"Meine tumhe nahi, Anamika ko bulaya hai. Kahan hai wo jo tum aaye ho uske badle, so rahi hai kya aab tak?" bua questions sarcastically. 

"Bua aap seedhe muh kuch kyun nahi bolti? Kya kaam hai batao, ya maa se boliye, wo nahi aa sakti." He told her aunt, who started to scream at him, his grandmother and parents, gathered instantly hearing Shantis loud voice. 

"Kya hua Shanti, tum chilla kyun rahi ho?" his grandmother asks his daughter. 

"mujh se kyun puchti ho maa, iss se pucho na, apne ladle poote se. Iski biwi ko bulaya toh ye jhagda karne aaya hai mujh se." Shanti twisted the incident. 

Vineet was left shocked at his aunt's words. 

"ye kya bol rahi ho bua? Meine bas itna hi kaha na wo nahi aa sakti, ismein itna kya bawal macha rahi ho aap?" he retorted. 

Kaushalya scolded her son for misbehaving with his aunt and grandmother. 

"maa please meine kya hi galat bol diya? Ansh ki tabiyat thik nahi, wo bed se gir gaya usse chot aai hai, Anamika uske pass hai yahan nahi aa sakti. Itna hi toh bola meine bua se uspe ye itna bhadak rahi hai." He scoffs. 

Knowing the reason for Anamika's absence, the family was taken back because they may not like Anamika but don't hold any grudges for the kids. Without wasting a minute, they were all in their room, surrounding the mother son. 

"kaise hua ye? Tum thi kahan jo wo bed se gir gaya aur itni chot lag gayi usse? Tumhe pata hai na bachon ke saath aisa aksar ho jata hai toh dhyan rakhna chahiye na, dekha abhi tumhari galti ki wajah se bache ko kitni takleef ho rahi hai." Shanti Bua scolded Anamika, she lowered her head.

"Arey ye kya baat hui bhala, Ansh gir gaya uss mei uski kya galti hai Bua? Bacha hai wo, gir gaya baat khatam ismei aap Ana ko kyun suna rahi ho?" Vineet questions his aunt, who glared at him. 

"dekh lo bhabhi, tumhara beta aaj mere piche hi pada hai. Jaane kyun main kuch kahun to itna bhadak raha hai. Iski biwi ko kuch kaho toh chillane hi lagta hai, iss budhi bua ki toh kadar hi nahi hai. Arey main apne liye thodi bol rahi hoon kuch, iske hi bête ke liye bol rahi hoon, par isko toh bas biwi ki baat hi sahi lagegi meri thodi." Bua states, tears rolling down her cheeks – the fake tears which have always been her rescue. 

Vineet tries to speak again but before he could say, Dadi reaches her daughter to support her. 

"Chup ho jaa meri bachi, tu kyun iske liye bol rahi hai, isne humari suni kab jo aab sunega? Das saal pehle bhi apne mann ki kari, iss nalayak ladki ko laa ke humare sar pe bitha diya jo roz humare sar pe tandav karti hai, humari kuch sunti toh hai nahi bas kuch na kuch karti rehti hai, uspe ye ladka iska hi paksh le ke daudta rehta hai. Hum hi har waqt iske samne ghutne teek dete hai aur ek ye hai ki isko kadar hi nahi humari, iss ladki ke piche dumm hilata rehta hai. Jabse ye ladki iss ghar mei aai hai, iss ghar ki sab shanti chali gayi hai." Dadi criticizes Anamika, glaring at her hatefully.

"Dadi!!" Vineet shouted.

"Vineet!! Aise awaz unchi kroge Dadi ke samne? Tameez bhool gaye apni?" Aarnav scolds him for raising his voice against his mother.

"papa aap mujhe kyun bol rahe ho? Dadi kya kya bol rahi hai unhe kyun nahi rokte aap?" Vineet shows disappointment towards his father. 

"Wo badi hai, kuch bol de toh itna react karne ki kya jarurat hai?" Aarnav reasoned. 

"Badi hai iska ye matlab nahi kuch bhi bole!! Kyun ghari ghari mujhe ya Ana ko sunati rehti hai purani baton ko le ke? Dadi ke kehne ne usne apna career chod diya, uske khud ke ghar mei ek glass pani tak nahi uthaya tha usne, yahan saare ghar ka kaam karti hai, sabki sunti hai, uspe bhi usse hi kyun sunna pad raha hai? Mujhe samajh nahi aata sabki problem kya hai?" Vineet screamed at his family, Anamika was dismayed, she didn't want this thing to happen this way, when her son is suffering, in fact she doesn't want this to take place for she knows the next day or after a few hours only she would be blamed for the banter. 

"Aap log please ladna band karenge? Ansh ki tabiyat already kharab hai uspe sab aise shor macha rahe hai, usse takleef hogi." Anamika reasoned to calm the environment but it didn't make any difference. 

"Lo ho gaye maharani ke order suru!! Bas yahi reh gaya hai aab, iss umar mei main iske aage piche jee huzuri karun, gulami karu iski." Dadi shouted and left the room in anger. 

"Par gayi kaleje mei thandak? Aa gayi shanti? Subha subha hum sab ka mann toh kharab kar hi diya hai tumne aur iss masoom ki aar mei aab koi kaam bhi nahi karogi, aab toh raaj hi hai tumhara tang faila ke so jao." Shanti bua too shouted at Anamika and followed her mother. 

"This is not done!!" Aarnav exclaims and leaves the room, he too indirectly accuses Anamika while Kaushalya just moves out silently. 

Anamika let out a sigh, there is nothing new in it for its not first time the family has accuse her or shouted at for an accident where she isn't involve but had to take the yelling and screaming of all, though it is probably the first time in ten years that Vineet took her side but then, it doesn't make any difference instead the taunts and accusation only increases. 

"Ye sab paagal ho gaye hai kya? Inko samajh mei bhi aata hai ye kya bol rahe hai?'' Vineet states in dismay but Anamika chooses to remain quiet about the matter, she doesn't want to say anything which may ignite the argument. Sometimes, silence can save many things which words can destroy. 

… . 

To be continued..