"Doll..." All her mother did after Sanyukta managed to open the door was to hug her tightly. She was taken aback. Sanyukta heard her mother sobbing silently with her head in the crook of her neck. She held her mom tightly in her embrace.

"Mumma.. What's wrong..? Why are you crying..?" Her tone sounded worrying when she felt that her mother was burning with fever. Her mother couldn't hold back her cracking voice and she broke down instantly in her arms.

"I... I couldn't save my family doll.. I couldn't take the pain anymore.. I quit..." She cupped her daughter's face and fresh tears dribbled down her weary face, looking into her innocent orbs. Sanyukta felt her heart ripping out watching her mom so helpless and worn out. She obviously knew what her mother was talking about. That had to happen one day. She was proud of her mom for being so patient and calm for all those dreadful years. She admitted that her mother had ounces more courage than her for being able to stay with that man all those years. She was also proud of her mom for gaining the confidence of walking out of that house, leaving that man to die alone.

"Shhhh.. Mumma.. It'll be fine.. I am still here with you... I am so proud for being your daughter.. I am so so proud.. I am so glad that you finally decided to fight back.." She wiped her mother's tears and voiced out. She knew it would be tough for them. But the situations were never easy for them in that house. She, like any other girl, wanted her mother to have all the happiness in the world and leaving that man behind would be the first step for her mother to achieve her peace of mind.

"I am so sorry my baby.. I couldn't give you a happy life..." Her mother clasped her in her arms once she settled her on the couch.

"Don't be sorry mumma.. What are you sorry for? Anyone who should be sorry would be that man... You did the right thing... We'll live happily here.. Only me and you... I have never been this happy.. Look at me..." Sanyukta smiled through her already flowing tears and assured her mother that everything would be fine.

"And now.. Just don't strain yourself... You're burning with fever mumma.. Lie down..." Sanyukta unclasped her arms and made her mother lie on the couch. She unwillingly left her mother's palms which were caging her palms tightly and ran towards the kitchen. She returned with a bowl of water and a handkerchief. She saw her mother, curled up on the couch and sobbing. She felt herself welling up watching her mother so vulnerable. She was such a strong person but underneath that strong facade, lied a caring wife and mother, who had to suffer a lot. Her dreams were shattered, her life was ruined and her hopes were marred and the person at fault might not even be aware of her absence from the house. She pitied her father. That man had such a loving family, only if he cared to love them a tad bit. She wiped her draining eyes and took a deep breath. That was ought to happen someday. She had already prepared herself for that day and she knew she had to be strong, at least in front of her mother.

"Mumma.. Don't cry please.. I don't want you to cry over leaving that man.. He deserved that.. Please mumma.. You have to be strong.." She sat on her knees in the floor and caressed her mother's dull face.

"But he wasn't like that doll.. He's your father and my husband.. How can.. How can I forget that he was the reason for my life.. He was the one I left my father's house for.. He was the one to whom I had promised to share my life with?" Her mother's voice cracked as she voiced those while getting up. She was shivering. Sanyukta prevented her from sitting upright and lied her down on the couch forcefully.

"You have to forget that mom.. .. You have left everything behind... Please mumma.. For me.. You have to forget him.. Let him lead his life like he wants.. Let me have the part of you still left..." She bent her head towards her mother's face and placed a feathery kiss on her forehead and her mother could only ponder over how quickly her daughter had grown mature.

She was still in her bathrobe and her hands were busy soaking the warm handkerchief with water. Her mother had fallen asleep while sobbing due to the high fever. She placed the handky on her mom's forehead and caressed her tired face. The glow of her mom's face had faded with time. The fever was pretty high and her teeth were jabbed due to the jittery shivering. Sanyukta covered her body with the blanket properly and she felt her eyes welling up instantly as she heard her mother mumble her name in sleep. 

Sanyukta entered her room and locked it from inside. She felt her heart explode that instant and she collapsed, on the floor, crying. She was cold and wailing. She blocked her constant sobs by clutching her mouth with her cold palms and her head leaned onto the door for support. She had tried hard not to break down in front of her sick mother. She wanted to show her mother that it wasn't a big issue to leave the house, totally not an offensive issue from her point of view.  Although, there wasn't much left inside her to get tattered. She knew that right then, she was her mother's only support. She wouldn't want her mother to repent over her decision of leaving the house. There wasn't much she could do then, other than providing her mother with mental support. She knew it had been hard on her mother to take such a drastic step but she was glad that at least she wouldn't have to go through the regular torments and tortures then. She wailed until she felt herself sobering up and up until her heart had permitted her to break down. She closed her eyes and yet again a fresh set of tears made their way down her face. Sitting on the cold floor in her cold bathrobe, she felt a sudden feeling of warmth embrace her and her heart instantly knew who it was. Randhir encapsulated her in a warm hug and placed her head over his chest, where his heart resided. She clutched him tightly and let go all her inhibitions before breaking down in his arms.

"She...she is so sick... Ran.. Randhir.. She..  She is so devastated... I... I don't know.. I dont know what to do..." She cried on his chest. Randhir caressed her head and held her closer to himself.

"Shhh.... Everything will be fine..." All he could say then were those words. He knew he could never ever feel what she was feeling then but she could at least share her pain with him. Seeing her family break up in front of her eyes was totally not tolerable for her but he indeed admired her for her undoubtedly strong demeanor in front of her mom. She was so brave not to break down in front of her devastated mother even when she knew that her small family was shattered forever. 

"Sanyukta.. Baby.. You're cold.. Get some warm clothes.. You can't catch cold at this point of time when you are the only support system of your mother.. She needs you.. You are such a brave daughter..." Randhir detached their frames and cupped her face. She looked up to match his gaze and he wiped the tear stains off her chubby cheeks with his thumb. His eyes, beholden with a warmth of assurance cast magic upon her being as she felt a surge of strength dawn upon her at once, looking into those chocolate brown orbs. She could never interpret what induces such a charm in his eyes which makes her heart flutter in any situation.

"Everything is going to be alright... Take this phase of your life as a test... Show the people what's your worth... You need to keep yourself strong.. Both mentally and physically.. You know that more than anyone else.. You're already so strong..." Randhir smiled a little eyeing her dripping nose and she sniffed looking into his eyes. He then pulled her up from the floor and  made her sit on the bed and turned towards her wardrobe. Sanyukta took a deep breath, assuring herself that all will be fine someday. Randhir was indeed right. She never failed to show her astounding capabilities in any of the tests in academics. She just had to take this phase as a test, a test of life, and flourish with flying colours.

"Wear these and take care of your mom..." Randhir handed her one of her shirts and a track pant and pushed her towards the loo. Sanyukta stopped in her tracks at the door of the loo and turned back to see him gathering his stuffs.

"You're.. You're leav..leaving...?" She sniffed and managed to utter in between the hiccups.

"Yeah... I have to go.. You take care and call me if there's something I could be helpful for.." Randhir smiled nodding his head and turned to leave. He knew Sanyukta needed someone right then but his heart forced him to let her handle the stuffs by her own. One reason being that he didn't want to interfare in her family matters and secondly, she'd only gain strength to fight back if she managed to handle the issue alone.

Sanyukta never knew what made her run towards him and engulf him into a tight bear hug making Randhir stumble two feets back in surprise. She was clinging onto him as if he was her life supporting system. She wounded her legs around his waist and he clutched her tightly by her waist. She dug her face into his neck and inhaled sharply. The thought of being alone in such a situation made her heart rumble with fear. It was strange though, she had already prepared herself for that day since the time she walked out of the house but right then, she felt so weak and scrawny, as if the only ray of sunshine in her dark life would elope out if Randhir stepped out of her house then. Maybe being a girl with almost negligible  number of friends, she was actually feeling a friendly, warm and kind vibe from a person for the first time in her life. Nonetheless, she could undoubtedly say that she had started to believe him. Maybe like him too?

**************************
TBC