Anushka and Kirti carefully draped Sanyukta in a maroon saree, its intricate embroidery shimmering under the soft light. Heavy jewelry adorned her neck and wrists, completing her look for the Muh Dikhai function.
Little Avu stood beside his mother, wide-eyed and filled with wonder.
"Mummaaa... you luk soooo petty... like a pincessss!" Avu exclaimed, his voice laced with innocent awe.
Sanyukta's smile widened as she scooped him up in her arms, planting playful kisses all over his chubby cheeks. His giggles filled the room, momentarily easing her nervous heart.
As the guests started pouring in, Sanyukta was ushered to the center of the hall, seated regally on a cushioned seat. Avu sat beside her, fiddling with her bangles and refusing to leave her side.
Pushpa's friend couldn't contain her admiration. "Pushpa! Bahu toh sundar hai tumhari," she said, her gaze lingering on Sanyukta.
But another woman's inquisitive voice cut through. "Aur yeh chota bacha kaun hai?" she asked, pointing at Avu.
Sanyukta's heart clenched, but she answered confidently, "Mera beta hai, Aunty ji." Her eyes flickered to her mother-in-law, Pushpa, who looked hesitant about disclosing Avu's identity.
A ripple of gasps spread through the room, followed by hushed murmurs. Sanyukta instinctively pulled Avu closer, her protective arms wrapping around him. The little boy, blissfully unaware of the judgmental stares, smiled up at his mother with innocence.
One of the women broke the silence, her voice laced with condescension. "Pushpa, maine itne rishte bataye the Ranvijay ke liye. Meri behan ki beti, Tanvi-fashion designer hai, ekdum model jaisi dikhti hai. Uske liye bhi Ranvijay ka haath maanga tha. Par humein kya pata tha tumhe bahu ke saath pota bhi chahiye!"
The room erupted into laughter, and Pushpa's face burned with embarrassment. Just as Indira Devi opened her mouth to retort, Sanyukta's firm voice silenced the crowd.
"Agar mera ek beta hai aur yeh meri dusri shaadi hai, toh koi bohot bada crime toh nahi hai, Aunty ji," she said, her voice firm.
"Ab tak aapko mein sundar lag rahi thi... but all of a sudden you're making fun of me just because I'm a single mother. Kya agar kisi aurat ko acha jeevan saathi na mile, toh kya usko chhod dena galat hai?"
Sanyukta's voice quivered with emotion as she continued, "Mere chote se bache ko kyun judge kiya jaa raha hai? He doesn't even take a minute to accept everyone as his own... but he's not getting the same acceptance. Agar meri jagah aaj aapki beti hoti, Aunty ji, toh kya aapki soch tab bhi aisi hoti? Aap tab bhi hasti uske haalat par?"
She paused and looked at the crowd, her eyes filled with determination. "Kyun humari society ek aurat ke liye sab kuch mushkil bana deti hai? Kya mujhe aur mere bete ko khushiyon ka haq nahi hai?"
She turned toward her mother-in-law, her voice soft but strong. "Ranvijay ne hum dono ko apna liya hai, toh everyone is taking it like a taboo... jese hum koi bimari hain... Ek aadmi dusri shaadi kar sakta hai, ek aurat nahi. Aap log khud aurate hoke aisi baatein kaise kar sakti hain?"
The room fell silent as her words hung in the air.
Dadi, seeing the mood shift, spoke up, "Bilkul thik kaha Sanyukta ne... Aap logon ko yahan humari khushi mein shamil hone ke liye bulaya tha, na ki aapki raayi jaane ke liye. Agar kisi ko achha nahi keh sakte toh chup rehna behtar hota hai."
An old woman, who had been watching the scene unfold, nodded approvingly. "Thik kaha aapne, Indira ji," she said, clearly impressed by Sanyukta's strength.
She walked toward Sanyukta, gently caressing her head. "Aaj ke din mein aurat hi aurat ki sabse badi dushman hai... Hum sab ko iss bachi ki taarif karni chahiye. Hum log yahan usko neecha dikha rahe hain," she said, her voice kind and loving. She handed Sanyukta a gift and then took a chocolate from her pouch, offering it to Avu.
"Tum bhi mere pote jaise ho," she said warmly, making Avu grin.
"Thank you, Dadi maa!" Avu exclaimed, making the woman smile widely, her heart warmed by the little boy's innocence.
After that, the other women came forward to complete the ritual, but this time, they did so in silence, with no further comments or judgments. The air had shifted, and the earlier tension seemed to have evaporated.
Avu got busy playing with Aarvi, his tiny laughter filling the room, while Sanyukta sat chatting with Anjali in a quieter corner.
"It's okay, Sanyukta. Log toh baatein banayenge hi. Don't let it get to you. Don't spoil your mood for people who don't really matter," Anjali said, gently patting her arm.
Sanyukta sighed, her eyes briefly drifting toward Avu. "I know, Bhabhi. But when it comes to Avu, I just can't hold myself back. Agar baat sirf meri hoti, I might have let it go. But when they target him... it's unbearable," she said, her voice laced with emotion.
Anjali nodded, her heart going out to Sanyukta. She side-hugged her, offering silent support. "I understand," she whispered.
The two women shared a quiet moment of camaraderie, their bond strengthening with unspoken understanding.
Suddenly, a loud cry echoed across the hall, breaking their conversation.
Sanyukta's heart sank, her blood running cold. "Avu!" she exclaimed, bolting up from her seat and rushing toward the dining table where a small crowd had gathered. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw Avu sitting on the floor, clutching his forehead, blood streaming down his face.
Her hands trembled as she knelt beside him, scooping him into her arms. "Avu, baby, Mumma's here. It's okay, it's okay," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Avu cried inconsolably, his small hands gripping her saree. "Mummaaa..." he whimpered, his voice shaky from the pain.
"Sanyukta, don't panic!" Anjali instructed firmly. She quickly grabbed a clean cloth and pressed it against Avu's wound to stop the bleeding. "We need to take him to the hospital. Ranveer ko bulao jaldi!" she called out to one of the family members.
Sanyukta, however, was too distraught to speak, her focus entirely on her son. "I'm sorry, Avu. Mumma is so sorry," she murmured repeatedly, her voice breaking.
Ranveer , who had been working upstairs, came rushing down upon hearing the commotion. His eyes widened at the sight of bloodied Avu and a visibly shaken Sanyukta. Without a word, he took Avu into his arms, his demeanor calm .
"Let's go," he said, his voice firm but laced with urgency.
The drive to the hospital was silent except for Avu's soft sobs. Sanyukta sat beside him, holding his tiny hand, while Anjali provided updates to the doctor over the phone.
At the hospital, the doctor examined Avu's wound and informed them it required stitches. "The cut is deep, but he'll be fine. He's a brave boy," the doctor assured.
Sanyukta stood outside the treatment room, tears streaming down her face as she blamed herself for not keeping a closer eye on Avu.
"It's my fault, Anjali Bhabhi. I should've been more careful. This wouldn't have happened if-"
"Stop it, Sanyukta," Anjali interrupted gently. "Children fall and get hurt; it's a part of growing up. Don't be so hard on yourself. Avu will be fine."
Ranveer emerged from the room, carrying a drowsy Avu in his arms. His forehead was now bandaged, and he seemed calm after the influence of the medicine.
At home ......
Pratap walked in, his eyes immediately catching sight of Avu's bandaged forehead. His expression hardened as he looked at Ranveer.
"Chot zyada aayi hai kya bachche ko?" Pratap asked, his voice sharp with concern.
"Jee, Papa, cut thoda deep laga hai," Ranveer replied, his voice low.
Pratap's anger flared, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Itne log ho tum sab ghar mein... bacho ka dhyan nahi rakha jata?" he questioned, his frustration evident.
Everyone in the room fell silent, not daring to speak, sensing the growing tension in Pratap's voice.
Dadi, ever the calming presence, placed a gentle hand on Avu's cheek and patted Sanyukta's head. "Koi baat nahi, bachche gir jaate hain... khelte, bhaagte. Iska baap bhi aise hi chot khata tha," she said, her tone soothing, attempting to ease the mood.
"Jaao beta, aaram karo," Dadi added to Sanyukta with a warm smile, gesturing towards the room. Sanyukta nodded, looking at her baby one last time before carefully lifting him into her arms and walking towards their room.
As they left, Pushpa sent some juice and snacks with Anushka to Sanyukta's room.
Once inside the room, Sanyukta sat beside her baby, kissing his tiny hands repeatedly, her voice filled with regret. "I'm so sorry, Avu. Mumma is so sorry, beta," she whispered, her tears falling onto his soft skin.
Anushka, standing in the doorway, felt a lump form in her throat as she watched Sanyukta break down. "Bhabhi... please, aap mat rooiye. Avu thik ho jaayega," Anushka said softly, walking towards Sanyukta and placing a hand on her shoulder in comfort.
Sanyukta looked up at her with tear-filled eyes. "Aapne Ranvijay Bhai ko bataya Avu ke baare mein?" Anushka asked gently, sensing that Ranvijay might not yet know the full extent of what had happened.
Sanyukta shook her head, her voice filled with guilt. "Nahi... sab ekdum se ho gaya... mujhe dhyan hi nahi raha," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.
"It's okay, Bhabhi," Anushka said, taking out her phone. "Let me just call him."
Sanyukta quickly reached out, placing her hand on Anushka's arm. "Nahi Anuu... rehne do. Vo pareshan ho jaayenge. Unki kal koi important hearing bhi hai. Avu ke saath hum sab log hain. Ab thik hai, Avu," she said, trying to reassure Anushka and herself, as she gently rocked Avu in her arms.
Anushka nodded understandingly, putting the phone away. "Theek hai, Bhabhi. Par agar kuch chahiye ho toh hum sab hain," she said, offering a small smile before leaving the room to give them some privacy.
Sanyukta sat there, holding her baby close, silently promising to never let go of him. Despite the chaos and worries, she knew they would get through this, together.
Meanwhile, Ranvijay was deeply engrossed in his work, surrounded by piles of files that demanded his full attention. The clock read 8 pm, but there was no sign of him slowing down. His focus was absolute, his mind racing through every possible angle of the case.
"Satyam, this is simply not just a hit-and-run case, and it's not a coincidence either," Ranvijay said, his eyes sharp as he marked various points on the whiteboard. He circled the names of two people, drawing connections between them, adding notes on their backgrounds. "I need the whole history of these two people-workplace, family, friends... sab se puchna padega."
Satyam nodded, his pen moving swiftly across his notepad. He had grown accustomed to Ranvijay's intense, almost obsessive work style over the past three years, but today felt different. Ranvijay was on a mission, and the usual ease of the job had turned into something more complex.
"You can go home now," Ranvijay said, noticing the time, his voice almost casual, though his gaze never left the whiteboard. "It's already 8."
Satyam sighed in relief, his exhaustion finally catching up with him. He had been working tirelessly, briefing Ranvijay on the research the team had done over the past week while Ranvijay had been on leave. Yet, nothing seemed to satisfy his boss. Everything they had compiled was incomplete, not detailed enough, or simply off-track. Ranvijay had sent them back to square one, forcing them to redo an entire week's worth of work in a single day.
Satyam had seen it before-the way Ranvijay could look at a case and instantly recognize something others might miss. What seemed like a simple hit-and-run was, in Ranvijay's mind, a much deeper conspiracy. He had a way of thinking that was beyond comprehension at times, finding patterns where others saw none. His mind worked in twisted ways, pushing the limits of logic, but always leading to the most surprising conclusions.
As Satyam hurriedly gathered his things, he couldn't help but admire his boss's brilliance. Ranvijay was a genius, no doubt about it, but he was also a bit of an enigma. His thoughts were never predictable. Satyam couldn't understand how Ranvijay's mind worked, how he could unravel complexities in a way no one else could.
He often wondered how Ranvijay could stay so absorbed in a case, hours passing without him noticing. The same case that seemed unsolvable in the evening would somehow unravel by morning, with Ranvijay piecing together the scattered clues in ways no one else had thought of.
As Satyam left the office, he glanced back at Ranvijay, still immersed in the files, his sharp gaze analyzing every detail. Ranvijay was lost in his world, where the smallest detail could turn everything upside down.
Ranvijay's phone rang, breaking the silence in the room. He sighed, looking at the caller ID, and a small smile played on his lips as he sank back into his chair, twirling the paperweight between his fingers.
"Missing me?" he asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes, his voice teasing.
"Kaha hai aap? It's 11 pm... abhi tak aaye nahi ghar?" Sanyukta's voice was filled with concern, but she ignored his teasing tone.
"Kyu, mere bina neend nahi aa rahi meri biwi ko?" Ranvijay smirked, his playful tone lingering as he waited for her response.
Sanyukta facepalmed herself, shaking her head in disbelief. "Ranvijay... just answer my question. Pareshan mat kijiye mujhe," she replied, trying to get him to focus.
"Mei kaha pareshan kar raha hu... Tumne hi toh kaha tha agar mei ghar pe nahi rahunga toh tum relaxed rahogi... Tumhe koi pareshan nahi karega. Ab mei nahi hu, toh bhi tum pareshan ho rahi ho..." Ranvijay's words dripped with humor, and he added, "Kahi pyar vaar toh nahi ho raha hai tumhe mujhse?"
Sanyukta rolled her eyes. "Ho gaya aapka... ab please batayege aap?" she asked again, her patience running thin, though a smile tugged at her lips.
"Yrrr Sanyukta, mei ek case mei busy hu... Mei nahi aa sakta. Kal morning mei hearing hai... 1 hafta tumhare peeche ghum ke nikal diya mene, now I have to overwork," he said, playfully putting the blame on her.
Sanyukta chuckled, deciding not to tell him about Avu just yet, knowing he was already buried in his work.
"Thik hai... do your work. I won't disturb you. But khana khaa lijiyega time se," she said with a soft tone, her caring nature shining through.
He hummed, smiling at her concern. "Avu kaha hai? Soo gaye kya vo?" he asked, shifting the conversation.
"Jii... soo raha hai," Sanyukta replied, glancing over at her baby, who was peacefully asleep.
"I was expecting a call from him in the evening... but that little minion got so busy in playing ki usne mujhe call hi nahi ki," Ranvijay said with a playful tone, making Sanyukta smile.
Her heart swelled, but there was a hint of sadness too. "Good night, Ranvijay..." she said, her voice thick with emotion.
"Good night, biwi... see you in your dreams," he teased, lightening her mood just as she was about to get lost in her emotions.
He really is something else, she thought, wiping the corner of her eye as she lay beside Avu, kissing his chubby cheeks repeatedly, feeling both love and longing for her family.
The next day, Avu's fever had worsened due to the pain, and he was glued to Sanyukta. His discomfort only made him more dependent on her, and she didn't leave his side for a minute. The doctors came and reassured her that a slight temperature was normal due to the injury, but she had to keep the wound clean and dry while ensuring Avu didn't touch it. They also advised against giving him any painkillers unless the pain was severe, as he was still just two years old.
Sanyukta did everything to make him feel comfortable, but Avu, being a child, was becoming increasingly whiny and irritable. He didn't want to stay in bed any longer, and his frustration soon turned into tears as he began asking for Ranvijay. He refused to go to anyone else, making it even more difficult for Sanyukta.
"Avu ko hall mei le chalo... sab log dikhege toh iska mann bhi laga rahega," Pushpa suggested.
Sanyukta nodded, agreeing to take Avu downstairs. Even though Dadi tried to distract him with stories, Avu refused to leave his mother's side. His voice was barely above a whisper as he pouted and asked, "Dady kahaa hai mummaaa...?"
"Kuch der mei aa jaayenge, baby... but Dady ne kaha hai, agar Avu good boy banke rahega, medicine le lega, aur khana finish kar lega, toh vo Avu ko drive pe leke jaayega shaam ko. You like it, naa?" Sanyukta tried to reassure him.
He nodded slightly, but when it came time for his medicine, Avu couldn't tolerate the bitter taste. He vomited everything, causing Sanyukta to get covered in the mess. Avu cried uncontrollably, and Sanyukta, overwhelmed, rushed to change her clothes.
Pushpa took over holding Avu, urging Sanyukta to change quickly and take a breather. Exhausted from the sleepless night and constant care, Sanyukta did as she was told. She managed to get Avu to sleep with Dadi for a while and then went to her room for a quick bath, hoping it would help her relax.
When she returned to Dadi's room, Ranvijay was already there. He didn't speak immediately, but Sanyukta noticed a different air about him-serious, almost distant.
"Ab thik hai vo... doctor ne dawai di hai..." Dadi reassured him.
"He is my strong boy... he will get better soon," Ranvijay said, kissing Avu's small palm with a soft smile. He carefully picked him up and headed to their room, while Sanyukta quietly placed their lunch on the table.
"Aap fresh ho jaaye, mei hu uske paas..." she said softly, but he barely acknowledged her, instead getting up to take a bath.
After a while, Ranvijay changed into his shorts and T-shirt, and they sat down for lunch. During the meal, he asked how Avu had gotten hurt.
Sanyukta explained everything, and although Ranvijay didn't say much, she could see the tension in his jaw and the anger that simmered in his eyes. He asked how many stitches Avu had, and she replied, "Two."
After lunch, Ranvijay took off his T-shirt, carefully laid beside Avu, and fell asleep cuddling with him. Sanyukta sighed in relief and lay beside them, watching Ranvijay.
"Acha hua kuch kaha nahi... Varna aaj bohot kuch sunn lete mujhse..." she thought, furrowing her brows at him, amused by his quiet anger.
She smiled at the sight of both of them, thinking, Gussa toh aa raha tha Papa ki tarah inhe bhi... but bachcha hai, gir gaya... it happens... Avu and Ranvijay looked adorable as they slept peacefully together.
Sanyukta gently covered them both with the blanket, feeling an overwhelming sense of love. She herself was exhausted, but the sight of her family gave her comfort, and she closed her eyes to rest, knowing everything would be okay.
A long chapter ...🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧
Will try to update in the evening as well ....
What you think what will happen next ...do tell me your views on the story ..so far ....
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