Thank you for all your love and comments. I haven't had time to respond but your love is really appreciated.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Bani felt her eyes were frozen. She could not open them despite how much she tried. Eventually she did open them and the first thing she saw was white bright light.

B: Where am I? Veer? Where is Veer!!??

She started to scream for him but her voice sounded raspy and strange.

B: Koi hai???

Soon a pool of doctors entered.

B: AAP LOG KON HO? VEER KAHAN HAI?? VEERANSHU??!!

D: Aap shant ho jaiye ms Sharma. Aap city hospital me ho. You are safe.

B: And- and Veer???

Her breathing was getting laboured and she was weak. The nurse quickly gave her a sedative and she dosed off again whispering for Veer.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Bani started to gain conscious again. This time she heard the nurse speak. Bani laid still and did not open her eyes.

N: Thakur ji dhamka kr gaye hai doctors ko. Ye ladki ko hosh nahi aana chahiye. Hume isse sulaye rakhna hai aur aise dikhana hai jaise ye coma me hai..

N2: Pr kyu?

N: Hume kya ptaa? Pr vo itne khatarnaak admi hai, kon mana krke panga lega? Pr suna hai iske saath jo ladka bhi tha, usse police wale le gaye. Is ladki ki kidnapping ka arop hai.

N2: Veer naam hai na uska? Bechara! Is ladki ki zuban pr toh bs uska hi naam hai...mujhe lagta hai ladka bekasoor hai..

N: Hume kya?

They gave another shot to Bani and slowly she dozed off again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next time Bani woke up, it was the middle of the night. Bani saw that a nurse was sleeping next to her bed with a sedative ready. Bani laid there recalling everything and then woke up as quietly as she could. She did not know how to fill the injection properly and thus, did not give it to the nurse. It could be dangerous and she was not going to risk someone for it.

She slowly slipped out of the hospital and once out, she rushed to the nearest police station.

B: VEER!!!!!

P: Ma'am, aap yahan aise nahi aa skti....kya hua hai..

B: BEKASUR HAI MERA VEER...AAP SUNO MERI BAAT..

P: Ma'am, yahan koi Veer nahi hai...aap mujhe batao hua kya hai..

Bani quickly told the police officer her story. He found Veer was in the custody of a different station and took Bani there.

B: VEER!!

Bani rushed to the bars and cupped his face.

B: I AM SO SORRY VEER!! SO SORRY..

She sobbed. Veer smiled despite the cut on his lip.

V: Hey sweetheart! Shh don't cry. It's not your fault.

B: Tumhe toh chot ayi hai...

V: Thik ho jayengi pr jb tum roti ho na..tb dil me chot lgti hai..

Bani smiled despite her tears and Veer smiled back. The police in-charge of that station came.

P: Ye maanjra kya hai..

The police officer who bought Bani there told him everything.

B: Haan! Isne mera kidnap nahi kiya hai...aap isse jaane do..

That police officer nodded and left. Once in a secluded corner, he called Jatan.

JT: Itni raat gaye kyu phone kiya hai? Wardi pyaari nahi hai kya??

P: Thakur ji, vo ladki aa gayi hai station aur apne mu se bolli hai ki vo ladka kidnap nahi kiya...ab hum usse nahi rakh payenge yahan.

JT: VO LADKI WAHAN KAISE PAHUNCHI!!!??

P: Pata nahi Thakur ji ..pr uske saath doosra ek officer bhi hai...ab baat khali mere aur uske beech nahi hai jo mai daba doon..

JT: Hum kuch krte hai...aap bs subah tk usse wahin rakho..

The police officer sent the other one back saying he will handle this. To Bani, he asked to wait as he needed to do some paper work and left.

B: Tum bahar aa jaoge Veer..jld hi..

Veer sat behind the bars and Bani sat in front. They both stared at each other with love, both in pain of seeing the other upset. Soon, they dozed off.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning rolled in and Bani woke up first. She saw the time and wondered why the officer wasn't done with his paper work yet. She softly moved her fingers on Veer's lip cut and studied it sadly. She looked around and saw the officer was sitting at a table.

B: Sir!!! Aap Veer ko bahar kyu nahi aane de rahe??

P: I am sorry for what happened to you Miss Sharma but we cannot let him go.

Bani was confused till she saw a doctor standing there.

B: YOU!!! YOU WERE KEEPING ME SEDATED AT THE HOSPITAL!!

D: Sorry Ms Sharma. (turns to the officer) I have given my statement. Ms Sharma has been abused by the man and she is suffering from Stockholm Syndrome.

B: WHAT!!??

The men ignored her and continued to file things. She turned and saw Veer had heard all this and had a sad look on his face.

B: Veer! Don't worry!! I will get you out!!

V: Bani! Vo log itne powerful hai!! Kuch nahi ho skta..mai shyd yahin rahunga aur...aur...tum please bhaag jaana ..inke haath mt aana..tum khush ho ye sochkr mai yahan reh lunga Bani..

B: Nahi Veer..

She cupper his face and sobbed. He cupped her face too.

V: Maybe I'll never get a chance to see you anymore but I love you sweetheart. I do.

B: I love you too Veer (cries)

The doctor came there and tried to take her away.

D: See! She is not stable!

They tried to forcefully bring her away from Veer. Veer saw her struggle and punched the doctor from behind the bars.

D: ouch!!!

V: Be happy I am behind these bars! Wrna Bani ko haath lagane wale ke mai haath tod doon.

B: (thinks: aise toh ye Veer ko aur fasa denge aur mera bhi bura haal kr denge)

She pushed them and rushed out. Reaching outside, she started to cry and shout for help. The officer rushed to quieted her down but a mob for woman that had gathered there thought he was harassing her and beat him to pulp.

W: BACCHI CHEDEGA!!? RUK

W2: CHAPPAL SE PADEGI TUJHE..

The doctor saw this and gulped. He quietly slipped away. Bani told her story to everyone present there. Soon, a large crowd gathered. The news reached Jatan Thakur and he sent his goons to diffuse the situation but a famous Instagram influencer saw the incident and recorded it. She put this on her story and it went viral very soon. A news channel grabbed the opportunity of being first and reached there. Also, many young people saw the influencer's story and reached there to help Bani and Veer.

Bani told her story on the news and media started to pressurize the system. The matter caught so much public attention that Jatan's paid government officials and goons could not suppress it.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Jatan's doctor put out another video explaining what Stockholm Syndrome is and claimed Bani was suffering this syndrome post trauma. All her marks due to Ritu's beating were blamed on Veer. Now the crowd was conflicted. Some supported Bani, some did not. #vani was trending on twitter.

Meera came forth and bore witness. She said that Bani was abused by Ritu and that she spoke to Bani when she was with Veer. Her statement twisted the case and made everything clear. #lovenotstockholmsyndrome was trended.

Due to media influence and public outrage, Veer was released. The political party dismissed Jatan as it was bad for their image. Ritu was arrested on abuse charges. Jatan returned Veer his cottage in return of him taking back the case against him.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Vani were in a government guest house.

B: Humne uske against case wapis kyu liya??

V: Nahi liya..

B: Mtlb?

V: Aise char-so-bees logon se sach bolkr nahi nipat skte..maine kaha case le lunga aur papers le liye...but I won't ..

Bani giggled and continued caressing his wounds.

B: I wanted to ask you something.. Did..did you mean..

V: Did I mean what I said or said it in the heat of the moment?

Bani nodded. Veer cupped her face.

V: I meant every word. I love you sweetheart..

B: I love you more..

Bani said and hugged him tight. The two souls, alone in the world- found each other. Vani got married in a simple ceremony two months after. Meera posted a picture and it went viral. The public was glad that they could save a love story.

Life is not a fairy tale and evil people do gave powers but that should not prohibit your happily ever after. Veer realized that despite Jatan falling Veer, chances for his son extracting revenge were high. He took up a job in London and left with Bani. Together, they lived happily forever.

~~~~~Fin~~~~~~

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With this, no track on 'Tales of Vani' is ongoing. All posted tracks are complete. I will post a new track whenever I can but will prioritize publishing 'Bin Tere'.

Pending Tracks

1. Lamb To the Slaughter

2. I spy

3. Queen of the Sea

4. A Cinderella Story

5. Chef Veer

I will update whichever track interests me first and when I can. Thank you for being so understanding yesterday.

Stay Safe, Take Care
Love~