Sanyukta-"we were the perfect picture of a happy family. But all this was not easy, there was a back story to it. Mumma-Papa had an inter-caste love marriage. Papa was adament on marrying mum, and leaving his family with no option but to agree to this marriage. But they never accepted Mummy from heart, for them she was an outsider from another caste and I was Her daughter. Papa never really cared about them, they used to stay back in kanpur, while we used to enjoy our lives in Kolkata. No matter how much mummy did to please Dadi and buajis but for them it was always nothing." A deep sigh escaped my lips. Randhir was looking at me with complete attention.

Sanyukta-"you know even Papa never had any ideal days before marriage, his two big brothers were nothing but bunch of back-stabbing bastards. After marriage they could not exploit Papa much, thanks to Mummy and her jhansi Ki rani attitude." Randhir chuckled imaginibg Anju as Jhansi ki Rani.

"Everything was going fine until one day one more of those uncles mine returned back to poison my family. I was in class 8, it was too much for me at that time. That Uncle wanted Papa's money and property and the only wall in his plan was Mummy, so he started poisoning Papa's mind. Long short story Papa started to hate mummy and me too. Mummy because of that so called uncle, and me because I stood up for mummy and he thought I am against him. Everything continued, Mummy beared all of Papa's bashing, insult and manhandling, just for the sake of love. She thought her love could bring back her husband, but she failed to realise that there was no scope of that. Once happy family became a broken family. Our morning used to start with insults thrown at Mum from Papa, and night with fights. I used to crave for my father to be like he was, but I knew he is not that Father anymore." I tried to control my tears, that smile which was in my face remenencing our superb time together was now replaced by tears and more tears. I felt as if all those pain imwas coming back.

"Uncle wanted Dad's property but when he came to know everything was in mom's name and she has transferred everything in my name, he began to target me. I was in class 10 at that time, he poisoned Papa's mind to fix my marriage with his acquaintance, who was all suitable groom for me." Randhir's eyes Widened at the mention of another man. I could see his hand becoming in a fist.

Randhir-"how could he?"

Sanyukta (tears started streaming down my face)-"I simply declined the offer and Mum stood up determined not to let my life get ruined, after several fights he was gone, or so we thought. But that boy had become obsessed of me, he wanted me at all cost. Few days passed and I did not hear from him, we thought that the matter was closed once and for all. But one day, one day he tried to (I suppressed a sob) he tried to force me when I was all alone in flat. Being weak I was unable to protect mysepf from his huge monster." I shuddered remembering that day. I could feel Randhir looking at me, but I did not had courage to look back at him. Then I felt his hands gripping mine, I could feel myself calming down abit.

"God bless me, when Vardhan bhai came back from his university without informing us, with the thought to surprise us. He saw the whole scenario and he saved me from him. Yes he is our Vardhan sir. Vardhan bhai was my mom's student. Vardhan bhai's parents were our neighbours, who died in an accident and it was then mummy took him in. He used to call mummy Maa and I became his Little sister. That day bhai protected me from that monster, reported him to police. It was then maa told him about past years. As he had gone foreign to study, so he was ignorant to past activities, and turn of events. He asked Maa to report Papa in police for domestic violence, mental haressment. Maa was thinking about it, but I knew Maa loves hin too much and this will break her so, I stopped them. I thought my super-father loved me more and when I will tell him about what happened he will come back. That was my mistake. I went to tell him, only to find him standing there fuming with anger. Huh..... His brother had told him it was mummy's trap to keep me with herself and turn me against him. That day I kept on crying ,asking him to believe me, but in vain. Apparently that outsider was more trustful for him than his own wife and daughter. He tried to hit mummy brutally, almost killing her and that was the day when all dams broke. I stood in middle and warned him but he took it as a baseless warning from a class 10 girl. He stepped forward and started beating maa, it was then I realised this time I need to face the monster myself. Even before Vardhan bhai could come to help, I grabbed a nearby vase and broke it on his head. He fell down unconscious. Then bhai called police and the case began. Papa was sure he will be let off because I will supporting him, but I disappointed him by supporting mom and becoming an eyewitness for her. His exact words before going to jail were YOU DID NOT TAKE A RIGHT DECISION. YOU BETRAYED ME, I WILL COME BACK FOR YOU." By now I could fell tears running down an my eyes burning and turning red.

"Masi was Mom's best friend, almost like soul-sister. She stood with us at that time and helped Mum alot to get a hold of her life. Piya's father used to see Mummy as his sister, so he helped Mummy to get a job in a school with her teaching degree. Later aubty died and uncle shifter their business  to US and before going he gave all the responsibility of Piya to Mummy. He said, 'Anju aaj se Piya tumhari beti hai. Main janta hu main isse sab de paunga sivaye pyaar ke kyuki isme mujhe piya ki mummy dikhti hai. Main tutt gaya hu, isse nhi todna chahta. Aaj se jitna haq tera Sanyu par hai utna hi Piya par bhi hoga. Main har mahine paise bhej dunga par isse ye bhula dena ki iska ek baap bhi hai. Bus aaj se iski ek Maa hai aur vo tu hai.' Piya knew about my past life with Papa, she was my bestie, my sulport and now my sister. She had opposed that Uncle fought with him with me alot so I know that Uncle will come for revenge and will also target Piya."

Taking a deep breath I said, "ypu know I can take the whole world down alone but fighting with dad was something I could not do, it was very diffucult for me. That uncle knows now that its Me who is his target and Vardhan Bhai, Arushi, Maa, Masi and Piya are my support system. He will try to fight me and harm me and my loved ones. So I needed to protect them."

"that day I shut myself, not allowing any man in. Becoming what I am for my family. A hard-rock Sanyukta Agarwal, but you were a rebel Shekhawat. You did not climbed those walls, you broke them. I am in a mess Randhir. Sooner or later He will come back and that time it will be Me vs His whole family. Its a big mess, my life is a big shit. I understand if you want to leave me and go, there is no pressure or need to stay with a girl like me." I looked at Randhir and he was looking at me with an expressionless face.

I got up and started leaving, when he caught my hand.

He pulled me in his chest and hugged Me. I could here someone calling me for some help in food but he did not leave me.

Next words that left his mouth made me smile the biggest, "I am not leaving you. Not now, nor ever. From today I respect you and love you more. You are a true fighter, an angel, my angel. And nothing in this world can stop me from LOVING AN ANGEL, LOVING MY ANGEL. Whatever comes in future, you are not alone, I will be there with you, by you, holding you, supporting you, stopping you from falling. This is not about you anymore, its about us. I am glad you trusted me with your past, I promise not to break it. I love you truely Sanyukta Agarwal. And I am not leaving, not till the end of this life or other life."