Aarav asked "Deep ne kabtak acha pati hone ka natak kiya?"

Manvi closes her eyes and recalls all the incidents. She tells him how he confronted his family for dowry demand first pretending to be by her side.

"Unn logo ne mujhe ghar se nikal diya! Kaha jabtak paise leke nahi aati mujhe ghar mein ghusne nahi denge... main bahut darr gayi thi janti thi papa aur mumma aur nahi de payenge isliye unse baat nahi kar sakti thi.. To subah ghar aa gayi mai.. Socha Deep toh saath de rahe hai wo samjha denge parivar waalo ko! Lekin kuch nahi kiya unhone..." she said in stammered tone.

"Mujhe samajh hi nahi aa raha tha.. Deep ache hai ya bas abtak natak kar rahe they? Main wapas ghar gayi ye sochke ki jaise papa ne mumma ka hamesha saath diya Deep mera denge..." she said in broken tone.

"Khali haath gayi toh haath jala diya.. Jawab diya toh haath utha diya lekin Deep unhe sunate they laga.. Jabtak wo saath hai koi parwah nahi mujhe.. Isliye mumma papa ko kuch kaha nahi maine.." she smiled with pain.

"Phir kya hua?" Aarav asked softly.

"Phir.. pareshan ho gayi thi main unki baar baar maang se.. Deep se kaha maine samjha dijiye inn logo ko nahi de payenge mere maa papa aur phir unka baat karne ka tarika hi badal gaya.. Aur usne mujhe.." she closed her eyes and recalls how he first time raised his hand and gave wounds on her body.

"Mumma.. Ka phone aaya tha main batana chahti thi par wo saamne tha uske haath mei.." she shivered.

Ruhana had tears in her eyes, that day her instincts weren't wrong. Vineet kept his hand on her shoulder and she hugged him as she couldn't hold her tears anymore.

"jab bhi mumma se baat karti toh koi na koi mere saamne hota tha chahke bhi kuch nahi bata pati thi main..  Jo sab mera tha wo sab le liya.. Maine mana kiya toh haath uthaya ya phir Deep ne.. Aur phir usne kaha uske promotion ke liye 5 lakh rupee main mangu mumma papa se.. Usse hamara hi future set hoga main nahi.. Toh usne mere saath zabard.." she paused not meeting her gaze with him.

"Mard ka ego!! Phir kya hua?" He asked.

She tells him everything and then how her parents arrived and witnessed everything. Aarav saw her getting reckless. He picked up the water glass and made her drink some water. She held the glass with trembling hands.

He kneels down in front of her and said "Calm down! Sab thik hai.."

"Aap.. unhe saza dilayenge na? Mujhe wapas nahi jaana hai waha" she asked in a trembling voice.

"Aap wapas nahi jayengi ye mera wada hai aapse.." he assured her.

She eyed him and his eyes were moist. He composed himself and gets up. He places the papers into the bag and turns off the recorder. He saw Vineet and Ruhana sitting on the couch in complete disbelief hearing their daughter's words.

"Sir mam.. Mujhe aap logo se bhi kuch pucha tha.." He said.

They remained silent for a moment. He knows they are hurt with the truth but he must find out everything to build a strong case. He thought of giving some time to them and come back later.

"main kal aata hun" he said and turned to leave.

"Nahi.. aur waqt nahi! Pucho Aarav" Vineet said with anger gaze. He wanted to kill Deep and his family for whatever they had done to his daughter but remained calm. Aarav looked at him and he signalled him to sit.  Aarav sat down on the opposite couch. 

"Sir jab rishta hua tabse leke abtak jo aapne dekha suna sab mujhe batayie..  Aapki beti ki sachai aur aapko dikhaya gaya jhooth dono janna bahut zaroori hai mere liye" he explained.

"hmm sab batayenge tumhe" Ruhana replied. 

Aarav asked questions related to Manvi's statements and they told everything to him. How they behaved in front of them, their act, and other important information.

"aapko uss parivar ki sachai kaise pata chali?" He asked

Vineet smiled a bit "kaise pata chalti? meri beti ko kuch batane layak choda hi nahi unn logo ne.. aur agar uske bank se letter nahi aata toh humhe shaq hota hi nahi" he sighed deeply while Ruhana kept her hand on his shoulder. 

"main janti thi phirse darr se mannu jhooth kah deti phone par isliye hum khud gaye usi raat usse milne jo dekha wo kisi bhi beti ke maa baap dekhna nahi chahenge kabhi bhi" she replied recalling the day. 

He noted down all the important facts. 

"Matlab uss raat bhi wo Deep se bhaag rahi thi! Mujhe Manvi ki dost ka number mil sakta hai?" he asked.

"Haa.. mere phone pe hai" Ruhana nodded. She picks up her phone and sends him the number.

"Thank you mam.. Aap bharosa rakhiye divorce bhi milega jo inn logo ne rasamo ke naam pe liya hai na wo bhi wapas aayega!" He assures them 

"sirf azaadi chahiye iss khokle rishte se Aarav" Vineet replied

Aarav shook his head positively "hoga Sir aur ek baat kahun" 

Vineet blinked his eyes in a yes. "agar yeh ladai aapko jeetni hai na toh sabse pehle khudko dosh dena band karna hoga. Aapne toh ek pita hone ka farz nibhaya tha niyat unn logo ki kharab thi" he said with a light smile on his face. Vineet was kind of surprised at his observation but then realized he was a lawyer and could easily read the facial expressions. 

He gets up from the couch, picks up all the papers, and places them into his bag "Acha ab main chalta hun aur kuch hoga toh shayad dubara aau aapko pareshan karne khayal rakhiye" he added and leaves the house.

Vineet followed him and said "Aarav.."

He turns and smiles "Ji sir.."

"Wo police jab usse puchne aayi thi toh usne kuch nahi kaha.. Tumne aasani se usse sab bulwa liya! Thank you.." Vineet said.

"Sir please ye mera kaam tha! Aur aapki beti pehli nahi hai main saalo se ye cases handle kar raha hun isliye janta hun kis tarah se baat karni hai.. Aur haan Manvi ka statement main khud police mein jaake submit kar dunga! Taaki wo log arrest ho sake.." Aarav concludes.

Vineet smiles, Aarav takes out some papers "are haan ye kuch important documents hai ispe Manvi ke sign chahiye honge main ek do din mein aake collect kar lunga aapse" He forwards him the papers.

"Do minute do main abhi sign karwake laata hun" he said.

"Nahi Sir.. bahut sensitive matter hai aap jaldbaazi mat kijiye.. Jis dard se aapki beti guzar rahi hai uska andaza bhi nahi laga sakte hai hum! Sirf jispe guzarti hai wahi jaan sakta hai kitni takleef hoti hai.. Lene dijiye unhe apna waqt" Aarav added and leaves from there.

Vineet turned and saw Ruhana standing there lost in her own thoughts. Vineet asked her "kya hua Ruu??"

"Koi bhi lawyer itna understanding nahi hota hai Vineet.. Ye alag hai ek dum.." Ruhana said.

"Sahi kaha tumne Ruu.. yahi hamari aakhiri umeed hai" Vineet replies.

Ruhana nodded and they went back inside the house closing the door.

Vineet sits on the couch with a thud recalling whatever his daughter said. He closes his eyes a tear escapes down his eyes. He himself gave his daughter to such a greedy family and the guilt appeared on his face.

Ruhana grabs her place beside him and held his hand tightly. He looked at her and said "kyun Ruu?? Kyun maine ache se puch taach nahi ki unn logo ke baare mein? Deep itna gatiyan kaise ho sakta hai? Meri hi beti pe itna galat ilzam lagaya usne wo bhi sadak pe.."

"Ki thi na humne Vineet.. Bharosa bhi kiya tha! Aur jo ankhon ko dikha wahi sach mana.. Main jaanti hun jo hua use hum nahi badal sakte hai lekin aane waala kal hamari beti ke liye behtar bana sakte hai na hum.. Hmm" Ruhana said wiping tears from his eyes.

"Mann kar raha hai inhi haathon se unn sabki jaan le lun main.. " he spoke with anger in his voice.

"Nahi.. aisa kuch nahi karoge tum main bhi karna chahti hun par abhi zaroori hai mannu ko sambhalna.." Ruhana said.

He nodded yes "haan sambhalna hai use aur wahi nahi kar paa rahe hai hum.. pehle toh mujhse aake sab keh deti thi lekin ab kuch nahi kehti hai na apna dard takleef kuch nahi Ruu aise toh ghut ghutke.." he was concerned about his daughter's mental health. 

"ek chote se ghav ko bharne mei bhi ek hafta lagta hai Vineet yahan toh hamari beti ki aatma pe ghav lage hai bharne mein waqt toh lagega.. waqt pe bharosa rakho jaise jaise waqt guzrega hamari mannu bhi thik hoti jayegi" she responded 

"lekin.." He paused when there was a knock at the door. 

Ruhana gets up and opens it. It was Sharda at the doorstep. "aap aayie andar" she said and stepped aside. 

"are nahi nahi.. Ruhana chintu ka birthday hai aaj! Aur shyam ko ek choti se party hai chintu chahta hai tum aao aur uski manvi di bhi.."

Ruhana thought for a moment, she said "mannu nahi aayegi.."

"Tum janti ho na chintu ko wo nahi aayegi toh cake nahi katega.. Please aa jana uske saath" she requests her 

"Aap Chintu se kahiye uski Manvi Di ki tabiyat thik nahi hai" Ruhana tries to make her understand

"tumhe pata hai na Chintu kitna ziddi hai.. aur aayegi toh uske hi acha hai na Ruhana main intezar karungi" Sharda replied and left. Ruhana closes the door and sighed in disappointment.

Vineet said "le chalte hai Ruu.. aise kabtak ghar mein baithi rahegi"

Ruhana turns to him and said "main bhi chahti hun mannu ghar se bahar nikle lekin sunti kaha hai ye ladki.."

"Sunna hoga.. Galat wo log kare aur hamari beti ghar mein baithke suffer kare! Kabhi nahi.." Vineet denies. 

"haan sahi kaha tumne hamari beti kyun suffer kare  main usko bolti hun.." Ruhana nodded and went to her room.

Manvi was sitting on the bed and trying to apply ointment to the wounds. Ruhana enters and sits beside her. She held the ointment from her and Manvi turned to the other side. She took some cream on her tips and glanced at the marks on her back. She applied the cream and Manvi closed her eyes. 

"Aaj.. chintu ka birthday hai wo chahta hai tu aaye.. Chalegi na?" Ruhana questions.

She hugs her tightly and denies "mujhe nahi jana.. Aap aur papa jao"

Ruhana caressed her head "Tujhe pata hai na.. Tere bina cake nahi kaatega.. Acha jab mann ho hum wapas aa jayenge.." she tried to convince her.

Manvi hesitated, but then agreed "Thik hai.."

Ruhana kissed her forehead and left the room.

After some time, they got ready for the party. Ruhana walked into Manvi's room and found her standing in front of the mirror.

She was lost somewhere, Deep words again echoed in her ears "ye ek bhi nishaan nahi dikhna chahiye samjhi!"

She tried to cover the marks on her neck with her dupatta but they were visible. Ruhana walked to her and hugged her from behind. Manvi glanced at her through the mirror with a pale face and tears in her eyes. 

"mat chupa mannu inhe.. sunane de inhe tere dard ki dastan" she said

"mumma.. par phir bhi galat toh main hi hun na? why??" She asked 

"ye samaaj galat hai Deep galat hai uske parivar waale galat hai.. meri mannu bahut bahadur hai itna sab akele sah gayi" Ruhana said with pain reflecting in her eyes. 

"toot gayi aapki mannu mumma andar se" she said and Ruhana hugged her tightly. Ruhana caressed her head and consolder her broken daughter. Her heart had been crying seeing the condition, she had been feeling so helpless. "shh.. mumma hai na sab thik ho jayega" she could just say soothing words to her. 

Vineet was standing at the door and watching the scenario. A tear escaped down his eyes, past 25 years he hadn't let his daughter break and those creepy people shattered her soul. 

"chahe mujhe ye ghar bechna pade.. lekin Deep aur uske parivar ko chodunga nahi main.. " he promised himself to get those greedy monsters punished.