After having his breakfast Randhir went to the room to take a shower when Sanyukta helped Renuka in the kitchen. After some time, Sanyukta also came to the room. She didn't see Randhir there and thought he must not be there, so she took a saree from the cupboard and was about to unpin her saree when Randhir came out from the washroom wearing only a towel.

"Tum!" Both of them said in unison.

Sanyukta was shocked to see him as well as Randhir also to see her like that. She was busy rearranging her saree when he was busy staring at her.

"Stop staring like that and please for god sake wear some clothes." She said irritatingly.

"If you are forgotten this is my room toh main yahan jaise chahu reh sakta hu!" He said with an attitude.

"Excuse me, if you have not forgotten this is my room too! You aren't living here alone so have some shame!" She replied back.

"Achchha! Tum shame ki baat kar rahi ho, jo aise mere presence mein change kar rahi thi!" He mocked her.

"Ohh just shut up, mujhe nahi pata tha ke tum room mein ho!" She said annoyingly.

"Achchha pata nahi tha ya phir jaan bujh ke kar rahi thi, control nahi hua hoga tumse itna hot and handsome hubby ko dekh kar!" He smirked at her.

"I am not like you, jo kisi ko bhi dekh kar out of control ho jau. Aur hot! Huhhh, kyun oven par baith kar aa rahe ho kya!" She mocked him when he rolled his eyes and took steps towards her.

"Tu-tum ye kya kar rahe ho?" She was stammering and took steps back when he took slow steps to her.

"De-dekho dur raho mujhse, khabardar jo mere paas aaye toh!" She stopped as her back touched the cupboard when he came to her and placed his both hands beside her to block her way.

"Ye tum k-kya kar rahe ho, chhodo mujhe!" She was short of breath as their close proximity when he looked at her with a smirk.

She tried to push him but couldn't as he was more stronger then her but the next moment he distanced their frame by himself. Sanyukta saw there was a pair of jeans and shirt on his hand, she felt embarrassed as she understood that he came there for his clothes, when he was smirking at her.

"What!" She raised her brows.

"Ummm...tum thik-thak ho..." Randhir checked her top to bottom. "But unfortunately meri standard ki nahi ho! So you and me, sochna bhi mat!" He said with an attitude.

"Huhhh! Mujhe koi shauk bhi nahi hai, just move." She pushed him and dashed inside the washroom.

After getting ready both came down. Sanyukta touched Renuka's feet when Randhir rolled his eyes.

"Hum chalte hain mummy ji." She said.

"Haan beta jao, shaam ko dono jaldi wapas aa jana." Renuka also said.

"Dono!" Randhir raised his brows.

"Mujhe kya phir se jana padega isse pick up karne ko! Driver nahi hu, aap driver ko bhej dena mom." Randhir said irritatingly.

"Nahi tum dono ko saath mein hi aana padega. Rasam hai, toh tum hi jaoge Sanyukta ko lane, samjhe!" Renuka eyed Randhir and he agreed became disheartened.

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

The journey was silent as Sanyukta was not in a mood to talk with her soul enemy. Randhir tried to irk her but after sometime he gave up as she was totally silent. Soon they reached Sanyukta's place. Sanyukta came down from the car and was about to go when Randhir stopped her.

"Shaam ko ready rehna and don't be late, mujhe wait karna pasand nahi." He said and left when Sanyukta pressed the doorbell.

The door opened the next moment and her heartbeat was getting faster as she saw her mother standing at the door.

"Maa..." Sanyukta hugged her mother instantly.

"Kaisi hai, damad ji nahi aaye?" Anju asked Sanyukta, looking at her back.

Sanyukta's smile faded away while listening to Randhir's name. She informed that he will come in the evening. Just then Kishor ji came there, saw that Sanyukta rushed to him and hugged him. She was really very happy to see her papa when Kishor ji acted opposite. He told Anju to take care of her and went inside. It's clear that he was not happy to see her. Sanyukta was hurt to see her papa's cold behavior but she chose to keep mum.

Just then all the aunties from their neighbour came and started chatting with Anju. Some were praising Sanyukta's saree while others were praising her jewelry. All were talking about her beauty, good nature and behavior. In their eyes Sanyukta was the most ideal daughter and girl in this world.

Sanyukta smiled inwardly to hear all those. They were the same people who passed sarcastic comments about her family. They used to taunt her and her family and used ill comments about her nature and character every now and then just a few weeks before.

Sanyukta wants to laugh at them and wants to ask them if money buys good character too! But she chose to keep mum again. The rest of the day was painful for Sanyukta as her family behaved coldly and formally with her. She prepared tea for her papa but Kishor ji refused that and said she should not have done something like this as she was a guest here only. Sanyukta got hurt as her own father considered her as a guest but not his daughter, but she was determined to melt his father's heart so she decided to cook for her father. At lunch time they all gathered for lunch.

"Anju damad ji shaam ko aayenge dekhna unka swagat mein koi kami na rahe. Koi shikayat ka mauka mat dena unhe." Kishor ji said firmly.

"Ji aap chinta mat kijiye." Anju assured him.

"Ankit tum meethai aur gifts sab lekar aaye ho na?" Kishor ji asked again.

"Ji papa main sab lekar aaya hu, aap chinta mat kariye." Ankit replied.

"Jab baat izzat ki hoti hai tab chinta hoti hai!" Kishor ji said eyed at Sanyukta.

"Papa paneer, maine banaya hai. Aap ko bahut pasand hai na!" She smiled and was about to serve Kishor when he stopped her.

"Anju maine tumhe kaha tha na iss ka dhyan rakhne ko toh phir ye kitchen mein kya kar rahi thi? Ek kaam thik se nahi hota tumse!" Kishor ji shouted thus Sanyukta's face fell.

"Papa maa ne mana kiya tha but maine zid kiya..." Sanyukta tried to say but Kishor ji interrupted.

"Aur tum bandh karo apni manmani, mehmaan ho mehmaan ki tarha raho!" Kishor ji said and that's it Sanyukta lost all her calm.

Since that college incident her family went against her, all were angry with her. Their rude and cold behavior made her broken from inside. The taunts of their neighbors, the mocking words of her friends made her fragile from inside. She was bearing all the pain and sorrow silently, but today all her silence was broken by herself.

"Mehmaan! Ab main sirf ek mehmaan hu aap ke liye papa, aap ki beti nahi!" She was shocked.

"Boliye papa, bolo na maa! Jab Se aayi hu aap logo ne mujhse thik se baat tak nahi kiya! Mujhe laga aap naraz ho main mana lungi aap ko, lekin aap ko toh uss Randhir ki padi huyi hai meri koi parwah hi nahi aap logo ko!" Sanyukta said bitterly.

"Ye kaise baat kar rahi hai Sanyu! Tamez se naam le, pati hai wo tera!" Anju scolded her.

"Aur main beti hu aap logo ka, lekin lagta hai aap dono ye baat bhool gaye ho?" She yelled at them.

"Anju iss ladki se kaho ke awaz nichi kare aapni, itna kuch karne ke baad bhi jawan chala rahi hai ye ladki!" Kishor ji said angrily.

"Kya...kiya kya hai maine jo aap log itni nafrat karne lage mujhse?" She yelled again.

"Sharam nahi aati puchte hue, tujhe achchhe se pata hai ke kya kiya hai tune!" Ankit said this time.

"Aare tune toh hume kisi ko muh dikhane layak nahi chhoda tha! Ye toh Randhir tha jiss ne aage aake tujhse shaadi ki warna pata nahi kya hota!" Kishor ji shook his head.

"Achchha toh Randhir ki ware mein kya kehna hai aap logo ko? Agar aap logo ki nazar mein aapki beti galat hai toh phir Randhir kyu nahi! Wo bhi toh tha na waha uss room mein mere saath?" Sanyukta asked furiously.

"Anju chup karwaun is besharam ladki ko warna main bhul jaunga ki ye meri beti hai." Kishor ji said angrily.

"Wo toh aap kab ke bhul chuke ho papa ke main aapki beti hu, warna jo galti maine kiya hi nahi uss galti ke liye aap mujhe kabhi saza nahi dete!" She said with moist eyes.

"Sanyu chup kar, kya bol rahi hain tu ye sab damad ji ke ware mein! Ye mat bhul ke usne apne papa ke khilaf jake tujhse shaadi kiya hai, humare liye toh wo bhagwan hai, aur tere liye bhi tera pati hi tera bhagwan hai beta." Anju said thus Sanyukta rushed towards her room.

Sanyukta fell on the bed and started crying, hiding her face in the pillow. Her mother said that her husband is her "GOD" but the truth is her husband is not her god but a "DEVIL" in her life.

She was crying, hiding her face in the pillow when Anju came there to console her. She touched her shoulder and Sanyukta hugged her mom instantly.

"Maa..." She was crying.

"Tu aise kyun roo rahi hai Sanyu? Ab jab sab kuch thik ho raha hai toh phir ye sab!" Anju asked her surprisingly.

"Kuch thik nahi hai maa, kuch bhi thik nahi hai. Maine pehle bhi kaha tha ke main galat nahi hu, Randhir ne ye sab sirf mujhse badla lene ke liye kiya hai. Jante ho maa wo mujhe kaise treat karta hai?" And Sanyukta told her mom everything.

"Maa mujhe uss ghar mein nahi jana." She was sobbing badly.

"Nahi Sanyu aisa nahi bolte, chahe kuch bhi ho wohi ab tera ghar hai aur Randhir tera pati. Tujhe wohi rehna hai, humesha." Anju replied.

"Maa mujhe nahi jana, yahi rehna aap ke paas." She pleaded.

"Beta mayke se ek ladki ki doli uthti hai aur sasural se arthi, iss ghar ke darwaja tab tak tumhare liye khula hai jab tak tum ya apne pati ke saath aayegi warna yaha mat aana!" Anju said this and left from there when Sanyukta was stunt to listen to her mom. She got numbed, she froze right there, she was astonished to listen to her mother's words.

"Maa bhi!" Sanyukta mumbled that only when her eyes were flooded.

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

As dawn disappeared Sanyukta was getting ready to leave but there was no sign of Randhir.

"Maa main chalti hu." Sanyukta said in short.

"But damad ji ko toh aane de." Her mom said impatiently.

"Main aur wait nahi kar sakta. Mummy ji ne kaha tha shaam se pehle wapas aane ke liye. Ankit ek auto bulana please." Sanyukta said to her brother.

"Ankit ek taxi bula lau. Kisi ko humari izzat ki nahi kam se kam apne sasural walo ki toh fikar kare! Wo bade log hai ye auto mein jayegi toh kya izzat rahe jayegi unn ki!" Kishor ji groaned when Sanyukta chose to keep mum. Taxi arrived and she got inside the taxi after taking a quick glance at her family.

Soon the taxi arrived at the Shekhawat Mansion. Sanyukta came out from the taxi and went inside. She was about to press the bell when someone pressed it for her, she turned her face and saw Randhir standing there with a grin.

"Kya socha tha wifey aakele aake mujhe daat khilaugi mom se! But your mom was so much loyal than you. She called me and told that you left, thank you SAASU MAA!" He emphasized the word when she kept mum. An attendant opened the door and they came in.

"Surprise..."

A guy screamed to see them when Randhir became shocked to see that person.

"How are you Randhir?" The guy asked and hugged him.

"Aare Parth tu, kab aaya America se? Call bhi nahi kiya!" Randhir asked, hugging him back when Sanyukta was watching them curiously.

"Tujhe surprise dena tha na iss liye, actually tum dono ko." Parth said looking at Sanyukta then went towards her.

"Hey senorita." Parth said that thus Sanyukta looked nervously at Randhir once then again looked at Parth. He was about to hug her too when Sanyukta took her steps back.

"Parth don't try to mixing up with her, she won't worth it." Randhir said casually thus Parth looked at him confusingly.

"What!" Parth asked confusingly to hear him, thus Randhir cursed himself for his carelessness.

"Umm...I mean she is from a middle-class family, so she is not habituated with all this, you know Indian values and all!" Randhir somehow managed the situation.

"Yeap, you are right Randhir, my fault, Sorry." Parth said looking at Sanyukta thus she smiled a little.

"But Randhir I must say you got really a beautiful wife, a gorgeous one." Parth smiled looking at Randhir.

"Yeah sure." Randhir shrugged his shoulders.

"Hi, I'm Parth. Randhir's cousin." Parth forwarded his hand to Sanyukta which she held after a moment.

"Hello." She smiled a little.

"Parth bhabhi se haath nahi milate unn ke pau chhute hai." Anjali teased from behind.

"Badi mom Sri Krishna ne kabhi Draupadi ke pau chhuye thay kya!" Parth asked when smiled naughtily.

"Sanyukta Parth meri chhoti behen Maya ka beta hai, lekin umar mein Randhir se bada hai." Renuka said joyfully.

"Sirf kuch mahina badi mom, aap toh aaise bol rahi ho jaise main buddha ho gaya hu!" Parth made a face when Renuka laughed.

"Dramebaaz!" Randhir said and shook his head.

"Sanyukta Parth bachpan mein mere paas hi rehta tha, baad mein jab uske parents America mein settle ho gaye tab ye unke paas chala gaya. Ye bhi mera beta hai, tum dono ki shaadi mein aa nahi saka tha ab aaya hai." Renuka said and smiled at Parth.

"Iss mein mera koi fault nahi hai badi mom, aachanak se Randhir ne shaadi kar li main aa hi nahi paya. Main kitna miss karta hu aap sab ko waha." Parth pouted.

"Haan haan jaanta hu kitna miss karte ho tum! Aana toh dur phone bhi nahi karte aaj kal!" Renuka made a sad face.

"Main kya karu college ki wajah se time hi nahi milta, warna kaun hai jo aapni itni beautiful girlfriend se dur rahega!" Parth said, hugging Renuka.

"Achchha!" Renuka hold his ear tightly.

"Aahhhhh...sorry sorry badi mom, masti kar raha tha." Parth said thus Renuka left his ear. Sanyukta saw them curiously, she never saw a mother-son bond like them.

"Sanyukta don't get surprised. Parth aisa hi hai open flirt but harmless." Anjali said to Sanyukta.

"Aare kyun mera reputation bigad rahi ho bhabhi! Mera intro main khud dunga, what say senorita!" Parth said looking at Sanyukta and raised his brows.

"I have a name, Sanyukta." Sanyukta said slowly.

"Aare wo toh hum sab ke pass hota hai, lekin main tumhe uss naam se kyun bulaun!" Parth said playfully.

"Kyun nahi?" Sanyukta was confused by his question.

"Kyun ki hume humare naam se toh gharwale bulate hai, lekin jo dil ke kareeb hota hai wo koi special naam se bulate hai, kyun hai na senorita!" Parth said and winked at Sanyukta and her lips curved into a smile when Randhir rolled his eyes to see their proximity.

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

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