"Maa, papa!" Sanyukta mumbled under her breath. She was too shocked to see them as well as happy too.

"Maa, papa aap dono!" She said happily and hugged her mom.

"Maa aap kaise ho, papa aap?" She asked with a smile.

"Jaisa tune rakha hai hume!" Kishor ji murmured which was inaudible for others but Sanyukta's smile vanished after listening to this, she looked at him surprisingly.

"Aare mummy, papa; aap dono achanak?" Randhir asked and about to touch their feet but stopped by Kishor ji.

"Nahi nahi beta, tum humare damad ho, tumhari jagah humare pau mein nahi hai." Kishor ji said in an ubar sweet voice thus Randhir smiled a little.

"Ji aap log achanak?" Randhir asked, stealing a glance of Sanyukta.

"Haan beta, beti ka baap hu issi liye aana hi pada!" Kishor ji said thus fastened his heartbeats.

"Kahi Sanyukta ne apne parents ko sab kuch bata toh nahi diya!" He gulped hard.

"Sanyukta ne jo kiya uske liye hum tumse maafi mangna chahte thay beta, please hume maaf kar do." Kishor ji joined his hand thus Randhir got shocked.

"Aare ye aap kya kar rahe hai papa?" He asked, holding Kishor's hand.

"Aur aap mujhse maafi kyun mang rahe hai?" Randhir asked confusingly.

"Beta humne news mein dekha sab kuch, ke kaise wo press aur media wale tumhara aur samdhi ji ka insult kar rahe thay! Unke ware mein galat baatein kar rahe thay, aur ye sab kuch Sanyukta ki wajah se. Please use maaf kar do bete, main promise karta hu uski wajah se tum sab ko phir koi takleef nahi hogi." Kishor ji pleaded with moist eyes when Sanyukta stood there numb. She can't even imagine that her parents came here to accuse her.

"Nahi papa iss mein Sanyukta ki koi galti nahi hai, jo kuch bhi hua accidentally hua. Aap log please tension mat lijiye." Randhir replied hesitatingly.

"Haan Kishor bhai sahab, Sanyukta ne hi toh situation ko sambhala hai, warna pata nahi kya hota! Waise Sanyukta ne aaj se college join kar liya hai, maine bataya na aap logo ko." Renuka said with a smile.

"Waise shaadi ke baad ladki ki dhyan sirf apne pati aur ghar sansar mein hona chahiye. Harsh bhai sahab ne tujhe padne ki izazat de diya hai iss ki ye matlab nahi ke tu apna saara time kitabo mein hi barbaad kare!" Anju said sternly, thus Sanyukta looked down.

"Nahi Anju ji, Sanyukta toh sabka kitna dhyan rakhti hai, mujhe toh ek bhi kaam nahi karne deti. Sanyukta jau bhai sahab aur Anju ji ko apne room mein le jau." Renuka smiled at her, thus she nodded.

"Nahi bhabhi ji, hum toh bass samdhi ji aur damad ji se maafi mangne aaye thay, ab chalenge. Hum itne bhi gaye guzre nahi jo beti se akele mein baat karke aap ka apmaan karenge. Sanyukta ab hamari beti nahi aap ki bahu hai, uss par ab hamara koi haq nahi." Kishor ji said straight, thus breaking Sanyukta's heart in a thousand pieces.

As if girls were mere objects, not living beings, to be sacrificed by their parents to another's whims and forgotten like ashes in the wind. Sanyukta's heart seethed with anguish as she swallowed her pain, the bitter taste of abandonment lingering within.

"Achchha toh hum chalte hai." Kishor ji said.

"Ji driver aap dono ko chhod aayega." Randhir said.

"Nahi beta uski jarurat nahi, khush rehna." Kishor ji said and this time Randhir touched their feet.

"Jeete raho beta." Anju blessed him. Sanyukta also touched their feet.

"Sab ka dhyan rakhna, yaad rakhna sab ki khushi mein hi tumhari khushi hai." Anju said slowly.

"Ab tum iss ghar ki izzat ho, iss baat ka dhyan rakhna." Kishor ji said coldly and they left when Sanyukta went to the room quickly.

                              ***************

Sanyukta was sitting on the balcony attached to their room and was crying silently. She was hurt by her parents' behavior. Can't she get a loving gaze from her parents? Can't she expect their love, their care for own the way she got in the past? What's her fault which made her guilty in front of them? She was crying when she felt someone's presence there, she turned her face and saw Randhir standing there.

"Yaha kyun aaye ho, mera tamasha dekhne?" She got up from the couch.

"Sanyukta wo… main...wo..." He was stammering.

"Ya phir mere maa-papa mere against chale gaye uss baat ki khushi manane aaye ho?" She hissed in anger.

"Nahi Sanyukta main toh bass..."

"Bahut khush ho na ke mere apne hi mere khilaf ho gaye hai! Mere parents mujhe aise treat karte hai jaise ki main koi criminal hu." She said in between her tears.

"Aisa image bana diya hai tumne mara unke samne ke ab wo log mujhe apne pyar ki kabil hi nahi samajhte. Maa ne kaha tha ke pati bhagwan hota hai, par unhe kya pata ke mera pati toh janwar hai janwar. Main toh unse apna dard bhi nahi baat payi. Kyun kiya aisa Randhir haan, kyun kiya?" She asked holding his collar and broke into tears again when Randhir hugged her impulsively.

"I am sorry Sanyukta." He started caressing her back.

"I am really very sorry. Maine galti ki, apni zindagi ki sabse badi galti." She struggled to get out of his hold but he hugged her even more tighter.

"Nahi karna chahiye tha aisa, tumhe chot nahi pahuchana chahiye tha, dard nahi dena chahiye tha, chhuna nahi chahiye tha tumhe Sanyukta. Mujhse galti ho gayi bahut badi galti, please mujhe maaf kar do!" His voice broke when she was crying uncontrollably.

"Last night I was not in my senses, gusse se pagal ho geya tha, janwar ban gaya tha! Tumne sahi kaha, main insaan nahi janwar hu janwar!" His eyes got moist also.

"Randhiiirrr!" She stammered and slowly responded to the hug, their hug deepened.

"I am responsible for all this, please forgive me." He was stroking her hair when she was crying continuously.

But that was their moment. The storm which broke them apart suddenly brought them together. The cool air soothed them and they stood like that for god knows how long but suddenly she jolted out of the hug and turned her face, when Randhir wiped his face and went out from there. For the first time, he did his duty as a husband - to wipe away his wife's tears and heal her wounds, wounds that he himself had inflicted upon her.

                              ***************

Sanyukta collapsed onto the couch, clutching her head. The past hour was the most magical hour of her lifetime. Where she got soothed by the same person who was the reason behind her every grief. Her so-called husband. She was surprised by his gesture, how can a person be the reason for her wounds and healing both! She was assaulted by her husband last night and she was also soothed by him sometimes before.

"Who was the real him, whom I saw last night or which I felt in the last hour?" Her mind asked unknowingly.

There was a wife who found solace in her husband's embrace but there was a woman too who had been humiliated by the same person. Her inner mind was in a grave turmoil and she lost in her thoughts.

Randhir came out from their room, for the very first time he felt so much calm and peace too. He was confused by his own feelings now. He was on a mission to quench all her happiness. He used to love to see her moist eyes but what happened to him suddenly thus her tears pained him the most! He soothed her but to his surprise he got the peace of mind which he never got while torturing her bit by bit. Randhir came down and saw Rehan and Mishti were fighting.

"Mom iss ne meri drawing kharab kar diya main isse nahi chhodunga!" He runs behind Mishti when she hides behind Anjali.

"Mishti tumne bhaiya ki drawing kharab kyun kiya?" Ragini scolded her.

"Aare Ragini calm down, galti se ho gayi hogi." Anjali said and looked at Rehan.

"Beta usne jaan bujh kar nahi kiya hoga, galti se ho gaya hoga, chhoti behen hai tumhari maaf kar do." Anjali smiled at her son.

"But kal main school mein kya dikhayunga teacher ko? Teacher mujhe punish karenge aur puri class mujh par hasega. Sab iss chuhiya ki wajah se, main iska choti kaat dunga!" Rehan said angrily, thus Mishti started crying.

"Aare beta rote nahi." Anjali said, taking Mishti on her lap.

"Dekha darra diya na behen ko, chachi ne kya sikhaya hai ki ladke kisi ko darate nahi aur aap toh big boy ho na sabko protect karne wale, phir!" Anjali said thus Rehan started thinking.

"Okay thik hai but mom, what about my drawing?" Rehan cringed.

"Don't worry champ, I'll help you." Randhir said suddenly.

"Chachu aap, but aap ko drawing aata hai?" Rehan asked confusingly.

"Why not, ye toh champion tha na drawing mein!" Parth said teasingly.

"Solly bhaiya." Rehan is about to go when Mishti says with her cute accent.

"Main bhi aap ko drawing mein help karungi aur chocolates bhi share karungi." She said, forwarding a chocolate to him.

"Champ Mishti sorry bol rahi hai, ab toh maaf kar do!" Randhir said thus he nodded.

"Okay okay, roo mat maaf kiya, teri choti nahi katunga." Rehan said thus Mishti wiped her tears and smiled when Rehan took the chocolate and kissed on her chubby cheeks.

"Beta badla lene se kabhi dil ko shanti nahi milti, maaf karne se milti hai. Kisi ko rulane ke wajah uski aansu pochne mein jo khushi hai wo kisi aur cheez mein nahi hai." Renuka said that to both kids when Randhir was surprised by his mom's words. His mom said those things which he actually felt right now.

Randhir was lost in his mom's words, he was so confused about his own feelings now when Renuka called everyone for dinner.

"Aare Randhir, Sanyukta ab kaisi hai?" Parth asked, sitting beside him.

"Kyun, Sanyukta ko kya hua?" Renuka asked surprisingly.

"Wo badi mom Sanyukta ko achanak chakkar aa gaya tha college mein." Parth replied.

"Kya, tum logo ne pehle kyun nahi bataya?" Renuka asked worriedly when Randhir kept mum.

"Toh phir Sanyukta ka dinner uske room mein bhej deti hu, use niche aane ki jarurat nahi." Renuka said and served a plate for Sanyukta and sent it to the room.

"Aare badi mom chill, don't panic. Kya pata kahi wo wali baat ho!" Parth said playfully thus Randhir looked at him.

"Wo wali baat matlab?" He asked curiously.

"Matlab tu papa-sapa, main chacha-sacha!" Parth grinned at him when Randhir's face got all red.

"Shut up Parth!" Randhir said became embarrassed when everyone chuckled.

"Kyun, kya hua?" Parth asked naughtily when Randhir got up.

"Main abhi aaya." Randhir said and almost ran away from there.

"Kya Parth, bechara sharam se bhaag hi gaya!" Anjali chuckled.

"Aare bhabhi waise bhi uski sirf body yahi tha but mind room mein chhod ke aaya tha na." Parth said in a teasing way thus everyone laughed.

"Ye Parth ek din mujhse jarur pitega, idiot kahi ka!" Randhir groaned in mind and went to their room but saw the maid was coming back with the dinner in her hand.

"Aare kya hua, Sanyukta ne dinner nahi kiya?" He asked curiously.

"Ji wo maine knock kiya lekin bahurani ne jawab nahi diya!" The maid replied.

Randhir thought a second then said, "Okay, lau mujhe do."

Randhir said and took the plate then entered their room. He saw the bed was empty. He checked the washroom but that was empty too.

"Sanyukta kaha gayi?" Some confused lines appeared on his face. He then went to the balcony and saw her sleeping soundly in her sitting position.

"Sanyukta?" He called her hesitantly but didn't get any answer.

"Kya puri raat bhukhi rahegi! I am sure lunch bhi kiya nahi hoga usne!" He thought and shook her hand slowly.

"Sanyukta get up and take your dinner." He called her again.

"Umm sone do na!" She was blubbering in her slumber.

Randhir then sat beside her and patted her cheek, "Sanyukta?"

He called her once again and this time she kept her head on his shoulder. Randhir hesitated for a moment but didn't move an inch.

"But iss ka kya karu?" He said, looking at the plate. Suddenly an idea came in his mind. He tore a roti and dipped it in the curry then took that near her lips.

"Sanyukta ye kha lo." He said and brushed the piece of roti on her lips and next she opened her mouth while sleeping and took the food and started chewing it when he smiled a little. But after some time Sanyukta stopped chewing as she was in deep slumber.

"Sanyukta, kha lo." He said which was unheard by her.

"Kya karu?" He thought then caught her jaw slowly and shook it smoothly, as a result she started chewing again and he took a sigh of relief.

Randhir continues feeding her in the same process without disturbing her sleep. He took the pieces of roti one after one then dipped them in the curry and brushed it over her lips and she opened her mouth and ate that. And when she stopped chewing he made her chew with his new new gestures and she ate unknowingly in between her sleep. He made her drink water and get up but stopped next. He looked at her sleepy figure once then picked her up in his arms and placed her on the bed. He looked at her sleepy face which is calm now and felt satisfied. Now he understands the meaning of his mom's words. He took the plate and came out from their room.

Randhir was walking through the corridor when he met with Parth.

"Hmm, biwi ka seva!" Parth said mockingly, eyed the plate.

"Don't you have any common sense Parth, sabke samne wo ghatiya joke karna jaruri tha?" Randhir asked angrily.

"Ab maine kya kiya?" Parth asked confusingly.

"Don't pretend, sabke samne wo papa wali baat bolne ki kya jarurat thi, nonsense!" Randhir said irritatingly.

"Aare iss mein nonsense wali kya baat hai! Tum dono husband-wife ho, toh aisa hona toh normal hai." Parth said teasingly.

"Ohh for god sake Parth we got married only 10 days ago, how can be it's possible now?" Randhir groaned.

"Don't tell me that you guys don't do it before marriage!" Parth winked at him.

"What?" Randhir asked confusingly.

"Umm… ding-dong!" Parth smiled naughtily when Randhir smirked at him thus Parth got confused and next moment Randhir threw the remaining curry from the bowl on his shirt.

"Ohh shit, ye kya kiya?" Parth asked shockingly.

"Aare chacha banne wala hai na, abhi se practice kar le! Kal ko tera bhatiji ya phir bhatija jab susu karega tab kya karega?" Randhir made an innocent face and was about to go when Parth said.

"Teri biwi se hi wash karunga ye shirt, dekh lena." Parth rolled his eyes and Randhir laughed.

"As if main use wash karne dunga, meri biwi hai washing machine nahi!" He winked at him and left immediately with a smile.

Randhir went back to their room after taking his dinner. He entered and saw Sanyukta was shivering in the cold as the AC was at its lowest. He took the duvet and covered her properly. Just then his eyes fell on her bruised skin, he noticed those marks and felt guilty. He slowly touched her wounds when she winced in pain, he withdrew his hand immediately.

"Did she apply any medicine on it?" He thought.

"Of course not. Mere saath game khel sakti hai, sab ko slap kar sakti hai but apna khayal nahi rakh sakti!" He murmured under his breath then brought the cream and applied it on her wounds, she stirred in sleep thus he applied it gently.

"But beauty cream se kya hoga, she needs proper care." He thought and went to his side of the bed.

He arranged the pillow and made a wall in between them then lay down. He looked at her sleepy face once and switched off the light after murmuring a good night to her.

                              ***************

Dawn appeared, Sanyukta slowly opened her eyes and found herself on the bed.

"Main toh balcony mein thi, yaha kaise aayi?" She was surprised but next she remembered their hug, their moments.

She turned to his side but found him sleeping soundly. She looked at his sleepy face once then got up from the bed and dashed to the washroom. She came out after taking a bath and saw him still sleeping. Sanyukta started drying her hair with a towel when some water droplets fell on his face thus he blinked his eyes and looked at her and next moment he was lost in the most beautiful scenario in front of him.

Water droplets fell from her hairs when she was busy wiping them. She combed her hair after drying them and applied a pinch of vermilion on her parting when Randhir just gawked at her. Sanyukta noticed his gaze on her and looked at him curiously when he looked away. He got up from the bed and dashed to the washroom avoiding her curious gaze.

"Sanyukta ab kaisi ho tum, Parth ne bataya ke tumhe chakkar aaya tha kal?" Renuka asked her at the breakfast table.

"Main thik hu maa, wo garmi thi bahut, iss liye." She replied hesitantly.

"Ohh garmi, mujhe toh laga..." Before Parth could complete Randhir started coughing.

"Aare Sanyukta pani do Randhir ko." Renuka said thus she forwarded a glass of water to him.

"Beta tum thik ho?" Renuka asked, thus he nodded, then glared at Parth who grinned at him.

"Toh jiji hum kab jaa rahe hai?" Maya asked Renuka.

"Aaj shaam ko hi, tickets aa gaye hai." Renuka replied thus Sanyukta looked at her confusingly.

"Maa aap log kahi jaa rahe ho?"

"Haan beta Rajasthan, hum sab ja rahe hai." Renuka replied.

"Achanak?" Sanyukta asked surprisingly.

"Haan, waha par hamari haveli hai. Main toh haar saal jati hu but Maya barso se nahi gayi hai. Toh abhi jab wo yahan hai toh socha ke ghum aau. Tum sab apna apna packing kar lena." Renuka said thus she nodded positively.

"But college ka kya hoga, aur exams bhi toh jaldi hai but maa ko na kaise bolu?" She mumbled slowly.

"Maa aap log ghum ke aaiye, main aur Sanyukta nahi aa sakte. Abhi bahut important classes hai, college miss nahi kar sakte." Randhir said suddenly, thus Sanyukta looked at him surprisingly.

"But beta Sanyukta ka toh waha jana jaruri hai, bahu hai wo iss ghar ki! " Renuka tried to convince him.

"Toh phir hum baad mein chale jayenge but abhi nahi please." He replied.

"Haan haan, ye bolna Sanyukta ke saath honeymoon par jane ka plan kar raha hai!" Parth murmured near his ear thus Randhir's eyes fell on Sanyukta who already looked at him curiously. Sanyukta was too shocked after listening to him.

"Why is he doing this, for me?" Her mind asked.

"No way! Why is he doing anything for me when he loves to create trouble for me! Wo toh khud nahi chahta tha ke main college jau toh phir mera help kyun karega?" Her inner mind groaned.

After breakfast Sanyukta went to their room. As soon as she entered her gaze fell on a medicine kept on the table. She took the tube and looked at it confusingly.

"Aare ye medicine yahan kisne rakha? Maine kisi ko bola bhi nahi ke I need this!" She said confusingly, just then Randhir entered the room and their gaze met.

"Tum abhi tak ready nahi huyi, college ke liye late ho raha hai!" He said slowly.

"Ye medicine yahan kisne rakha?" She asked straight.

"Wo-wo maine, thought you need it." He replied hesitantly.

"Why so much favor Randhir? Achanak se itni help kyun kar rahe ho meri? Pehle maa ko convince kiya Rajasthan na jane ke liye, aur abhi ye medicine, kya koi new game plan kar rahe ho?" She asked in a sarcastic way which pained him.

"I know Sanyukta, you are angry with me and I deserve your hatred too. I-I am sorry for what I did, if you want you can punish me but please don't punish yourself." He said and left the room immediately.

Sanyukta was surprised after listening to him, she applied the medicine to her bruises then came down. Randhir was waiting for her, she opened the door of the car and sat beside him when he started the car. The journey was silent, Randhir was stealing glances of her when she was looking outside only. Soon they reached the college, Sanyukta was about to open the door but stopped.

"We have to go back home before lunch, maa ne aaj jaldi wapas aane ko kaha hai." She said not meeting their gaze.

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you here." He said thus she left.

                              ***************

After college Randhir was waiting for Sanyukta in the parking lot. He checked the time, it's 1.15 PM.

"Kaha rahe gayi?" He said and took out his cell but hesitated to call her.

"Ab kya driver ban gaye uss Sanyukta ka?" Randhir turned to hear this and saw Laila there.

"Just go from here Laila." Randhir said annoyingly.

"Dekho kaha lakar khada kar diya tumhari so called wife ne tumhe!" Laila mocked him.

"Laila isse pehele ke main bhool jau tum ek ladki ho just leave from here." He said coldly.

"Randhir why don't you understand that she doesn't match with your label, that bloody middle-class girl." She gritted her teeth.

"Don't say a word against my wife Laila." He hissed in anger.

"Wife! You will be regretting your decision, Randhir." Laila said bitterly.

"If you don't leave right now then you will definitely regret it!" He said in an icy cold voice. There was a raze in his voice thus Laila shivered and left immediately. Sanyukta came after sometimes.

"Sorry wo admin office mein thoda kaam tha." She said slowly.

"It's okay, come let's go." He said and opened the door for her when she was surprised by his gesture.

*******************************************

So what do you think will Randhir be able to gain Sanyukta's forgiveness?

Will Sanyukta be able to forgive Randhir for his deed?

Keep commenting, sharing your views, keep voting.

Thank you.

Words : 3724

#Bandita 🌹🌹