She, Anamika Thapad, a reporter, one of the best reporters of The Mumbai. She had made her name in her form, her passion for work is one remarkable degree on her head. 

But ever since she married, she's trying hard to keep her marriage life smooth and happy which seems impossible because her husband, Vineet Kumar, being a CID officer, is mostly busy. She never complains about his busy schedule though but when he tries to rectify his mistake in bed, getting intimate, she feels vulnerable. She wants him to come over and converse but all he does is intimacy. 

Though, in the initial time of their relation she tried to find happiness, love and affection in his touches but couldn't. How can one find love when the other is doing it out of formality and not love? 

She often cries about her fate, she never wanted such a life. She never wanted a marriage with no love but she's cage now - - cage in his world. 

Though, everything wasn't good. Her parent's fixing her marriage without her consent because they thought she'll be happy wasn't a good decision even. She still didn't back off and married her father's childhood friend's son thinking her parents will do things for her good only but she was wrong. 

Her husband doesn't care about her feelings though he often confesses that he loves her since the day they first met but she highly doubts that. She had never seen any kind of affection in his eyes for her, even when he says he loves her his eyes are numb and cold!! 

His coldness makes her want to run away, to divorce him but at the same time she loves him and can't imagine leaving without him. She tried to convince herself that it's just attraction as they are leaving together for more than a year, ges always around her and so it's obvious that she gets her to him but her heart doesn't agree. 

All she hopes is some good change in him but that too seems impossible. He's turned rude and dominant from the past few weeks. He doubts her for no reason. Always checking on her and keeping an eye to see if she meets or befriends any men. She is more disheartened to know his actions. He has been spying on her and she can't take it. 

She asked him the matter straightly and wanted an answer - - an absolute reason for his behaviour. 

But he shouted at her and asked some questions which she could hardly understand. He had checked her phone, she could make it out by his statement. 

She questions him that what made him check her phone without her permission? Is he doubting her? Does he think she has any extra marital affair? 

He didn't reply to any of her questions but left the house in anger. She tried to stop him, she herself couldn't understand why she attempted to stop him but she did and he left from there not even giving a mere look at her efforts. 

She was shattered, she cried, she wanted to prove that she's innocent she isn't cheating on him but he's gone. 

It's been two days, he didn't return home. She called him several times, sent thousands of messages but not even a single reply came from his side. 

Her heart pains, what was her fault to deserve this insult and pain. Is she not capable? Does she fail as a wife? Does her love fail? 

She cried out louder, thousands of thoughts running in her head and she doesn't have anyone to convey with, she feels suffocated in the room. 

It's been two days and she has to visit her office. She made up her mind to go on with her work, it may help her. 

She called her friend to pick her but got to know that their office is shut down for some days because a case has been filed against the channel and police have seized the office. 

Anamika sighs and cuts the call. She has to be in the house, there isn't any escape. 

Taking a deep breath, she leaves the bed and steps out of the room. Last time she stepped out of the room was two days back when, after that, she locked herself in the room. She hasn't had even a drop of water from the past two days. 

Her self respect doesn't permit her to devour anything after being insulted and she is not able to clear her name. She was dying with the accusation. Never in her life, she ever thought that she would be insulted and accused like this too by her own husband. But it happens and she's shattered into pieces. 

She had felt her heart breaking in pieces when he asked why it takes her two hours to return home when the journey to home can be easily covered in 15 minutes? Why is she so desperate to hangout with her teammates who's collectively a group of men and she being the single woman? 

Isn't that insulting? Isn't it a tight slap on her self respect? Isn't she shameless to stay here, still trying to prove herself to him? 

Her body temperature rises, she ties her hair in a bun and begins to clean the house. She changed the setting of the living room, pushing all those hard couches which weren't her cup of tea but she did it. The living room seems to be a different place now. 

She then ran to her room and took out the bed sheet, pillow covers and her party dresses. She enters the washroom with all that and throws her dresses on the floor while putting the other in the washing machine. 

She gazes at her dresses which he never liked. He never complimented her when she wore those dresses, instead she had seen some kind of discomfort, disappointment in his eyes when she wore them. 

In a fraction of time,not giving it a second thought, she cut down all her dresses in pieces and flush them. 

Flushing them all, she again ran in the room and changed the pillow cover and bed sheet, also the curtains and cushion. 

She doesn't know what she's doing? What is the need in changing all this? Why is she reacting this way? She doesn't know anything, all she wants to do is make things proper, why she don't know!? 

***

She settled down the whole house in another way, changing every single thing, washing all the clothes and utensils, cleaning the floor, the doors and windows, even the small garden area and terrace but still she isn't satisfied. 

Her body aches, she is exhausted but unsatisfied, her body tired and mind restless. 

She laid down on the floor in the hall, beside the couch, her body doesn't permit to move even a single bit. She doesn't remember when she fell asleep on that cold hard floor. 

*****

She opened her eyes feeling immense pain in her body and head, to her surprise she was in her room lying on her bed and when she opened her eyes, she found her parents sitting right in front of her while her husband, Vineet, was beside her. 

Finding them all present around astonished her because they never visited her, especially her father. Being the ACP of CID, he hardly has any spare time for her. He didn't even come to her birthday party. The last time she saw him was at her reception. After that she never got to meet him. He didn't even receive her calls or reply to her messages. Then why is he here all of nowhere? 

Did Vineet tell them anything? Are they here to take her along? Or are they here to accuse her? 

Anamika was scared now. She doesn't want to be the prey of her father's anger, not even being at fault. She gulped down and tried to sit, Vineet helped her and adjusted a pillow behind her. 

She took a glance at him, he was calm as always. She had never seen him in anger before that day. He's a calm headed person. 

Anamika sits calmly with her restless mind wondering thousands of thoughts, her gaze never lifting, not wanting to meet her parent's gaze. They must be ashamed of her, for the things she never did but still she's shameful to meet their gaze and clear her name that she's innocent. 

But looks up instantly when her father calls her and approaches her. 

''Ana! Ye kya haal bana liya hai tumne apna bache?'' He asked, tugging the loop of hair behind her ear. 

Anamika glanced at him, why is he being so sweet? 

''I'm... fine... Papa!'' She replied in her breaking voice. 

''You don't seem to be fine. Kuch hua hai kya Shona?'' Her mother, Kalyani, asked meaningfully. 

She denies,''why are you here?'' Anamika asks straightforwardly. She's a straight forward kinda person like her father. 

Pradhyuman and Kalyani gazed at her,''Vineet called us a few days back, he wanted to meet personally but your father was busy. Today we got free so thought to see you but I don't think, everything is fine between you two!'' Kalyani exclaims, gazing at them. 

Anamika's heart skips a beat. So he called them to take her back. How can he do that without even giving her a chance to give her view, to clear her name?  

''Everything is fine Maa. You don't need to worry.'' Anamika says convincingly. 

Her parents stare at them for a few minutes. They can make out things are not going great and their daughter is trying to normalise things. They need to give her a chance, to make her efforts helpful. 

Blessing them, they take their leave. Vineet accompanies them to the main door, when he returns to his room he finds her sobbing bitterly, hiding her face between her knees. 

He approaches her and secures his seat beside. Anamika looked up at him with her smoky red eyes, her hair messed up. 

He adjusted her hair properly behind her ears, cleared her tears and cupped her face between his warm hands. She feels breathless, on the edge of breakdown at any moment. 

''Why didn't you tell them anything, Shona?" He questions, softly. 

His soft words feel like burning fire and she being wax melting in him. 

She holds his hands,''at least give me a chance to prove my innocence Vineet. Ek chance toh kissi mujrim ko bhi milta hai toh mujhe kyun nahi? Why are you doing this to me? What is my fault?'' She questioned, again crying. 

He cleared her face again with his thumb,''you aren't at fault, sab meri galti hai. I should be conscious before making decision, mujhe shadi se pehle sab pata karna chahiye the but I didn't, it's my fault not yours!'' He stated, the pieces of her heart break again. 

Does he mean she's having an affair even before they meet? Why?? Why does he think that? 

''Tum galat samajh rahe ho Vineet. There is nothing like that. I.. I love you!!'' She says, defending her love, trying to hold his face but he pulls down her hand, sighing deeply. 

She feels her life shattering.

He placed a book in her hand - - a diary. She takes a glance, it's her old diary which she used to write before marriage. But he threw it long ago, so how is it with him? 

''Why didn't you tell me what you wanted? Why didn't you tell me that you didn't, wanted to marry me? You weren't ready for the marriage but agreed for your parents, why?? I can't explain how guilty I am to start up things, to take this relation to an extent without even bothering to know if you even wanted the same or not. I feel terrible to even think, I was doing all that against your wish.'' He cried. 

He had been in grief ever since he came to know that she didn't want to marry, she was happy all alone. But it was too late when he got to know. He had already been on good terms with her like every normal couple. They consummate on their first night itself. 

He had always been bad in expressing his feelings, he found it difficult to word what he felt and so he tried to express his feelings with his actions. Over every small happiness he got, he would pull her close, trying to show how happy he is. 

But ever since, he gets to know the truth he's guilty of forcing her. He finds himself dominating her body for his use and not out of love. 

The feeling is killing him internally and he can't take it any more. He want to finish it all, he wants to free her from the cage. And for that he finds this way! He thought she would leave the house seeing his rude side and accusations but she didn't, she's still here lying to him that she loves him. 

''Tum ghutti rahi aur main ye sochta raha ki tumhe bhi mujh se pyar hai jabki sach toh ye hai ki tum kabhi kuch chahti hi nahi thi par kabhi roka bhi nahi mujhe. Pehle ye shadi ho jaane di fir baki sab chijein bhi aasani se maan li, kyun?? Tumhari chuppi ne tumhe hi til til maara aur mujhe bhi sharmsaar kar diya. Ek saal, agar ek baar bhi tumne sach bata diya hota toh shayad chije in yun na bikharati. Meine socha tha, mere chillane se, tumpe aarop lagane se tum chali jaaogi par nahi, tum aab bhi yahan ho, kyun??? Kyun tum jaati nahi yahan sey? 

He looked at her tearily, her eyes were moist already. 

''Jao!! Main tumhe azaad karta hoon iss bandhan sey. Main nahi chahta meri wajah se kissi ka sapna toote aur agar wo sapne tumhare hai toh main seh nahi payunga ki meri wajah se tumhe wo khona pada jo tum chahti ho.'' He stated, tears rolled down his eyes and he took hold of her mangalsutra to pull it away. 

That mangalsutra was stopping her here, he knows that and he will break it today to free her. 

Anamika jerks away his hand and pushes him away. 

''Kya samajhte ho tum khudko? Jo marji aaye wo karoge? Tumhare liye bhale hi kissi cheez ki ahemiyat nahi par mere liye hai!! Tum mujhe iss diary ke basis pe judge kar rahe ho?? Khudki bahut kabil samajhate ho?? Ye diary jisse meine shadi ke badh phenk di thi usse tumne kahin se utha liya aur aab mujhe blame kar rahe ho ki main chup rahi. Tum khud kitni baar bole ho kabhi yaad hai tumhe?? Tum chahte toh mujh se ouch sakte the par nahi sab faishla khud kar liya ek baar bhi socha nahi ki meine ye diary kyun phenk di. 

She holds his collar out of anger.

''Tum.mujh se keh rahe ho ki meine chup rehke sab bigad diya par sach ye hai ki sab tumne kiya hai. Ek saal, kabhi bhi tumne mere saath baith ke kuch janne ki koshish ki. Chahe khushi ho ya gum bas jatane ki koshish karte rahe aur mujh se ye expect kiya ki main bina kaahe sab samajh jaun, kya tum keh nahi sakte the?? 

He was silently listening to her while her tears were rolling down continuously. 

''Meri kya galti hai agar tumne sab galat samajh liya toh? Pehle bas apne parents ke liye jarur aai thi main par tumse jur gayi toh gunaah kiya kya?? Wo diary jisse meine atit samajh ke phenk di usse tumne utha ke hamare aaj pe shaq kiya toh kya meri galti hai ye?? Kis baat ki saja de rahe ho mujhe tum?? Tumse pyar karne ki?? Haan, bolo!????'' she shouted and collapsed in his arms breaking down in tears. 

Vineet stayed still, totally numb to the revelation. He was running around, trying to mend the problem that never happened. He misunderstood her because of the diary. 

He closes his eyes feeling more guilty. Tears leaked down from the corner of his eyes. 

He wraps his arms around her, holding her tight still doesn't know what to say, how to converse over the matter. 

She cries on his chest, pouring out her pain in the form of tears. 

****

He opens his eyes, the time has passed by. He opens his eyes and rolls around finding her staring at him - - no, actually glaring at him with her fierce eyes. 

''You know what, you're shameless!?'' She shouted and slapped him hard. 

Glaring at him, she tries to descend down the bed with all her energy but he pulls her back such that she falls over him. 

She could see fear in his eyes but she turned away trying to free herself.

''Kahan jaa rahi ho Ana!?'' Hi question, fearful of losing her. 

''Tumhe kya?? Tum toh waise bhi chahte the main yahan se chali jaun toh aab kyun fark padd raha hai? Tumhare liye waise bhi main important nahi hoon!'' She yells, struggling to free herself but his grip was tight. 

''Mujhe fark padta hai Ana! Please mujhe chod ke maat jao Ana. Main janta hoon meine galat kiya, par main sab tumhare liye kar raha tha mujhe laga tum yahan khush nahi ho, issliye chahta tha tum yahan se chali jao. Par mere dil ne kabhi na chaha ki tum mujhse dur jao. Please, Ana mujhe chod ke maat jao!!'' He states, pulling her tight in her arms. For the first time, he expresses his feelings to her and she finds him true. 

His thumping heart inside his chest seems restless. 

She looks at him for a moment, he cups her face with her one hand.

''I love you Shona!'' He expresses, she smiles through tears and gently bent down. 

She still had to prove to him that she loves him, only him! 

''I love you too!'' She reciprocated and captured his lips gently. 

His eyes enlarged in shock as she never took the first step but today she's staring it all. 

She pulled away and looked at him intently.

''I love you and only you!!'' She says again before capturing his lips in a rough smooch, this time he smiles through tears and pulls her closer, responding equally to her love. 

...

The end..