Next morning

Anamika woke up in his arms only to be ashamed of her own act of yesternight. She doesn't know why she felt so weak that she ended up holding him and acknowledging him of her emotional breakdown when all he would do is stay mute and unaffected, then why? Why does she end up doing such a thing every time she feels weak? Probably she's still somehow dependent on him or wants him to comfort her, to hold her and console her. But she needs to grow past it! She can't rely on him because he's never going to do what she desires. Though she doesn't want him to fight his family, instead she wants him to take a stand for her when his family is wrong and she knows that's not happening. So, she needs to make some room for her emotional breakdown instead of sobbing in his arms. 

Anamika lets out a sigh and leaves the bed, she has a pile of work waiting for her. 

……

A busy day has already started, Anamika was busy preparing breakfast and tiffin. She, though, woke up early today and thought about winding up her work as she wanted some free time for herself. Also she had a meet up with one of her friends so she wants to complete her work as soon as she can and pay a visit to her friend. 

It's 7, most of her work is already done. She had finished preparing breakfast for everyone, tiffin for kids and Vineet, tea for bua and Dadi, coffee for Vineet and Aarnav, chocolate shake for kids and green tea for her mother in law. 

Chalo, ye toh ho gaya aab bachon ko utha deti hoon. She thought and moved to their room. 

Her kids were sleeping peacefully holding each other's hand, Anamika smiles at the scenario before her eyes. Many times, she feels like taking them far away from the family so that they don't adapt to their features. She doesn't want her kids to be like Bua aur Dadi either like Vineet who never takes a stand for the right, not just for her but even for his mother. The guy silently let things happen, not bothering to stop the wrong one.

Most of the time he expects her to let things go but it's never that easy. How can she bear or let go when people poked her for no reason or taunts her all the time? She cannot take their rants always but her husband least cares. He has forgotten all his promises that he made to her but she hasn't though things seem to be different now. Her kids have started to question her, compare her with others, doubt her love for them and that's all because of the environment they are living in. 

Anamika lets out a deep breath and walks inside, she nudges the boys gently in order to wake them. The brothers roll over and keep their head on her lap, she smiles at their act and pecks their head.

'’Good morning my babies.'’ She greeted them with a joyful voice, her son chuckles and reciprocates and kisses both cheeks from both sides, Anamika giggles. 

'’Kya baat hai aaj mumma pe achanak itna pyar lutaya jaa raha hai?” She inquires, gazing at them suspiciously. 

Little Ansh stood up on the bed and hugged his mother, surprising Anamika to the core as they hardly spent such a moment. The two old ladies of the house never let her in peace or spend any time with her kids.

'’Kal Ansh ne Mumma ko shad kar diya tha na, fir mumma ko badi Dadi aur Bua Dadi ne bhi danta par galti toh Ansh ki thi. Shorry mumma, abse Ansh kabhi aise nai karega.'’ The little boy apologized to his mother, Anamika could see the guilt in his eyes. 

Advay too cling on her from other side'’haan, aur humko Vedika aunty ke pass bhi na jaana, humko aapke aur papa ke saath hi rehna hai, abse hum kabhi nahi jayenge unke pass.'’ The boy assures his mother, maybe they noticed her sullen face last night and realizes their mistake.

Anamika was spellbound, her sons seemed to know the truth she had hidden in her heart. She pulls the boy in her embrace, tears roll down her cheek with their warm gesture. 

Ansh gazes at his mother, he rubbed off her tears with his little hand asking her not to cry. Anamika shook her head, and the mother and sons spent some time together. After all, they don't get such days often so why not enjoy the moment!  Later Anamika took them to the washroom, helped them take a shower and got them ready for school. As they still have a little time she asks the boys to study for a while and joins the family for breakfast when everyone will gather for the same. The boy nods several times, making her chuckle. 

Anamika ruffles their hair and takes her leave. Her day has surely started with positivity and love. She hopes for the same for the rest of the day as well but her smile fades when she finds Vineet standing at the doorstep of their son's room. 

He gazes at her with stern eyes and heads to their room without saying a word, Anamika follows him. When she enters the room, she finds him pacing in the room, he seems to be uneasy.

'’Kya hua Vineet? Kyun aise react kar rahe ho?'’ She questions.

He rolls his eyes on her,'’tumne mujhe kal kyun nahi bataya Ansh ne Vedika ki baat ki? Maine tumse itna pucha par tum muh pe tala laga ke baithi thi, kyun?'’ He questioned her, his questions were less inquiring and more accusing. 

'’Kya karte tum jaan ke? Sabko toh pata hi tha kya hua par fir bhi sab Ansh ki side the, main hi galat lagi unhe fir tumko bata ke kya karti main? Tum kaunsa kuch alag bolne wale the? Kab sahi lagi tumhe main jo kal lagti? Jaan ke bhi galat hoti aur nahi bataya toh bhi galat hi rahi na fir kya fark padta hai.'’ She backfires, she may not able to say out her heart to the family but can't take any harsh words from him because she’s here in the house because of him, he married her fighting everyone, convincing his family and her that everything will be settled one day but it seem to be a dream only, his grandmother and aunt doesn't want to even see her face then accepting her heartly is a misconception only.

'’Haan, sab kuch tum khud decide kar lo, main kya sochta hoon ya kya karne wala hoon sab tum khud soch lo. Mujhe samajh nahi aata tumhari problem kya hai? Tum koi baat seedhe muh nahi kar sakti kya?'’ He questions , a bit irritated. 

'’Nahi, main koi baat seedhi nahi keh sakti kyunki tumhe aur tumhari family ko seedhi baat samajh nahi aati. Tum ne aaj tak kaunsi chij ke liye mera stand liya hai jo aab loge? Ansh toh bacha hai, usne wahi bola jo Dadi aur bua har roz ratt – ti rehti hai, uski koi galti nahi. Usne wahi kaha jo usne suna aur mehsus kiya. Kyun na ho wo Vedika ke taraf attract, wo jab bhi aati hai unke liye dhero chij lati hai, bacha hai use acha lagta hai. Tumhari Dadi aur bua waise bhi intezaar kar rahi hai main kab jaun iss ghar se jo wo Vedika ko yahan byah laaye. Aur mujhe pura yakeen hai tumhe uss se shadi karne mei bhi koi objection nahi hoga kyunki tumhare liye aur baki ke liye iss ghar mei kaam karne wali se jyada ahemiyat toh hai nahi meri.'’ She blurted out in anger, her pain clearly visible in her eyes and words. 

'’Enough is enough Anamika!! Meine tumse pehle bhi kaha hai mera naam Vedika se mat jora karo. Dadi aur bua jo kehti hai uska mujhe pata nahi par main tumhe hazaro baar bata chuka hoon Vedika sirf dost hai meri aur kuch nahi, mujhe uss se shadi karne mei koi interest nahi hai. Itni si baat tumhare samajh mei kyun nahi aati? Kyun tumhe har baar ye baat uchalni hoti hai!” He shouted, for he doesn't want to be linked up with Vedika. 

'’Oh really!? Main iss baat ko uchal rahi hoon? Har roj jab ye baat chikh chikh ke bua aur dadi kehti hai tab tumhe nahi sunai deta ya fir tumhe sunna nahi hai? Vineet main thak chuki hoon aab!! Har roz mujhe ye jataya jata hai ki meri wajah se wo Vedika ko yahan nahi laa paaye, usse apni bahu nahi bana paaye. Do you think it's that easy to let that go? Meri bhi feelings hai, apni family ke against jaa ke, unse rishta todd ke tumhara haath thama tha meine par mere iss faishla ko har roj challenge kiya jata hai aur yakeen dilaya jata hai ki meine galti ki aur ye yakeen dilane mei tumne bhi koi kasar nahi chori hai. Main…main..'’ She choked and down her gaze, tears rolling down her eyes.

While Vineet stares at her, he doesn't know what makes her think that he would marry Vedika. Things are getting way too high and he needs to control them. 

At first, he couldn't let her go leaving him. Yeah, he had done some wrong but he's gonna fix them and secondly, he will definitely end Vedikas chapter today. 

Without uttering a word to her, Vineet left the room, Anamika let him go, she didn't want to stop him and have any kind of conversation or argument with him, she's too broke to do that!!

.

To be continued