It was the time of the evening, the sun was shining over a small house and a small garden was outside it. It was a single-floor home with a terrace. A tree was in the garden.  Someone was standing outside the main gate and it was a male. The face of the person shown and that was Neil. He looked at the home.

Neil: Avni, yahan rehti hai?

Yes, Neil was standing outside the Mehta house. It didn’t take a day for him to get Avni’s address. After all, he is Neil Khanna and it is not a big deal for him to get addresses because he is the son of Prakash Khanna and Neil uses his father’s name without any hesitation. He got Avni’s address from the college records.

Neil thought and he heard the shouting of a lady so he looked at the home.

Lady: aray o, Neela, kahan reh gai? Meri chai laegi ya mujhe bhukha maarna ka irada hai.

Neil was standing outside the home and could clearly hear the lady’s voice. Neil thought.

Neil: I think, yeh Avni ki kharus dadi hain.

Neil thought.

Neil: kya karun? Andar jaun ya nahi?

Neil thought. He moved forward.

In the Mehta house, a lady of mid-60s was sitting on the couch and was wearing a light blue saree and a lady of mid-40 came to her carrying a tray and a cup was on it. The old lady is Avni’s greedy grandmother, Dayawanti Mehta who doesn’t love Avni because Avni is a girl and she doesn’t like his daughter-in-law, Neela because according to her, Neela Maa was failed to give them their heir. They are not so rich but have enough to eat well but they are also miser with greediness.

Avni’s father, Ashish Mehta is also like her mother and he always doe what his mother tells him. For Ashish, his mother is the only honest and humble person in the world and she can never make any mistake

Nm: ye lijiye, Maa ji, aap ki chai.

DM: itni dar kahan laga di?

Nm: woh chai banane main time lag gaya.

Dayawanti Mehta took the cup from the tray while saying: time lag gaya. Hmm, kaam chor.

Neela maa looked down and she went.

On the other side, Neil was standing outside the door. He was about to knock on the door but he stopped and thought.

Neil: nahi, nahi, main ase andar nahi ja sakta. Aur main kahun ga kya ke main kyun aya hun.

Neil thought.

Neil: koi window wagera to hogi na wahan se dekhne ki koshish karta hun.

Neil walked to the side and he was finding a window. The plants were disturbing him. Neil got irritated.

Neil: What the hell?

Neil moved away the plants and he heard the sound of the vessels. Neil frowned and he saw a window. Neil went to the window slowly and peeked from there and what he saw there, just pulled the ground from under his feet.

Neil in mind: Avni.

Avni was standing near the sink and a mountain of vessels was kept in front of her. She was washing the vessels. Neil was seeing her from the side. Avni was looking sad. Neil couldn’t believe his eyes that the topper of the class was in this state. He had not even kept the vessels in the kitchen after eating even,
he gets everything at the dining table and his mother manages everything. Servants come by running on his one call and her Avni is living this life. Avni was rubbing the vessel to clean it and she was frustrated now because she had been caged for days. Avni wanted to study more but because of Juhi and Neil’s gang, her dream of becoming IPS broke. Avni looked at her hands and she rubbed the vessel in anger and then she threw the vessel in anger on other vessels and Neil flinched. Neil looked at her.

DM: kya tor diya?

Avni turned her face and Neil looked in that direction. Avni felt someone was looking at her. She looked at the window and Neil moved back at the right time. Avni saw no one was there. Avni frowned and she was about to go but Dayawanti Mehta came there.

DM: kya tor diya.

Avni looked at her. She looked at the vessels.

Avni: kuch, kuch nahi, Dadi.

Dayawanti Mehta came to her and she looked at the vessels.

Dm: abhi tak bartan nahi dhoe? Raat ka khana kab banega.

Dayawanti Mehta beat Avni while saying: ek kaam nahi hota tujhse, han. Jaisi maa kaam chor waisi beti. Jaldi saaf kar bartan.

Neil got angry to see that. Dayawanti Mehta went from there. It was a daily routine that’s why, Avni wanted to become an IPS but now everything shattered. Avni held the slab and her eyes got moist. Avni cried and sat down while holding the slab. Avni was crying badly. Neil felt bad to see her and his eyes got moist. Avni wiped her eyes.

Avni: Avni, ro mat. Rone se kuch nahi hoga. Ab yahi tumhara naseeb hai.

Avni looked at her hands. Neil thought and he looked at Avni.

Neil in mind: nahi, Avni, yeh tumhara naseed nahi hai.

Neil thought.

It was the time of the day, the sun was shining but the days were not much warm as it was the winter time. The trees were moving with the wind. In the wide open area, Neil was sitting in the center on the wide circular stairs and a stem of the tree was in his hands. Vidyut was sitting on the staircase on Neil’s side but on the back which was of course at some distance as the stairs were wide. Karan was also sitting on the stairs but on the right side. 

Vidyut: we made a grave mistake. Because of us, her future is at stake.

Neil was lost. Karan nodded by looking down.

Vidyut: now, what should we do? We have to do something for her. Hum ase hath per hath dhare nahi beth sakte.

Karan: Right. Hum ek kaam kar sakte hain.

Neil slightly turned his face to him. Karan looked at Neil.

Vidyut: kya?

Karan: kyun na hum police main report Karen.

Karan looked at Neil who turned his face and looked at the stem which was in his hands.

Vidyut: nahi, yaar, asa karne se kya hoga?

Karan: kyun nahi. Woh log jail chale jaenge aur phir problem solve.  Neil, kya kehta hai, tu?

They looked at Neil.

Vidyut: Neil, chup kyun hai tu? Kuch to bolo. Kab se dekh raha hun tu ase khamosh betha hai. Sachai batane ke bad se tu ne ek shabd tak nahi kaha.

Neil remained silent. Except trio, one more person was there. It was Juhi. She was standing there because she was wearing a short dress.

Juhi: oh, please, guys, stop it. Agar woh college nahi aa sakti so what is a big deal in it? In fact, it is great. Waise bhi us middle-class behanji ki humare college main koi jaga nahi thi.

Neil got angry. Neil raised his eyes. Karan and Vidyut also got irritated.

Juhi: I mean kahan hum aur kahan woh behan ji. Main to kehti hun jo howa acha howa so let it be.

Karan: oh shut up, Juhi. Have some heart. We all know how bright student she is and today, she is in trouble because of us. Us ki marriage ek 40 years old ke sath fix ki gai hai and it is not a joke.

Juhi: so what?

Karan was surprised to hear that.

Vidyut: Juhi, please.

Juhi: what? Yaar, hum sab kya chahte the ke us behan ji se humari jaan chut jaye and finally woh ho gaya. We should celebrate it. What say, guys, party?

Neil raised his eyes and looked at Juhi.

Karan: are you real, Juhi?

Vidyut: seriously, Juhi.

Juhi was shocked by their behavior.

Juhi: what?

Neil got angry and he threw the stem in anger by grinning his teeth. Everyone looked at him. Neil got up and went. He was going down the stairs.

Vidyut: Neil. Neil.

Karan: Neil, listen.

Juhi: what happened to him?

Neil went and his friends were looking at him.

Karan: Juhi, please go from here. Just leave.

Vidyut: let’s go, Karan.

Karan nodded and they got up. They went.

Juhi: what?

Juhi shrugged off her thoughts and she went from there while making faces.

Neil was standing near his bike under the tree and was thinking by keeping his hands on his waist. His friends came to him. Vidyut kept his hand on Neil’s shoulder.

Vidyut: Leave that Juhi, Bro. Don’t worry. We will find some way.

Neil: I have thought everything.

Neil’s friends were confused.

Karan: What?

Neil was looking straight.

It was the time of the night, the moon was shining over the Mehta house where Avni’s mother came to her and a glass of milk was in her hand. Avni was standing in the room.

Nm: Avni, jaldi se yeh dodh pee lo.

Avni: Maa, aap phir se dodh le aai, maine aap ko mana kiya tha ke ab se mere liye dodh mat laiyega. Dadi dekhengi to phir se danten gi aap ko. Aap ko maza aata hai kya un ki batain sunane main.

Nm: Maa hun na, tum nahi samjhegi.

Avni made a face. She hugged Neela maa.

Avni: I love you.

Neela maa smiled.

Avni: and I am sorry. Maine aap se ase baat ki lekin Maa, mujhe acha nahi lagta jab dadi aap ko ase batain sunati hain. Aap ye sab mat kiya jaren. Mujhe konsa ab studies karni hain yaa college jana hota hai.

Nm: chup karo aur jaldi se yeh dodh lo.

Avni broke the hug and she took the glass and Neela maa went to close the door. She came to Avni who was sitting on the bed and was lost in her thoughts. Neela Maa sat beside her and caressed Avni’s hair. Avni looked at her and smiled. Neela Maa looked around.

Nm: yeh kya tum ne kal ke liye dress nikal kar nahi rakhi? Bacha, woh log kal subha aane wale hain, tumhari dadi ko pata chala to gussa karengi.

Avni was not interested.

Avni: Abhi nikal lungi.

Neela Maa: tum bhi na.

Neela Maa got up and went to the cupboard while saying: kal larke wale aane wale hain tujhe dekhne aur tu ne abhi tak koi taiyar tak nahi ki.

Avni looked down. Neela Maa opened the cupboard. Avni thought and then she looked at her mother who was choosing the dress for her. Avni kept the glass on the floor.

Avni: Maa.

Nm: Hmm.

Avni: aap se ek baat puchon?

Nm: han pucho na.

Avni: Meri shadi kis se fix ki gai hai?

Neela Maa’s smile faded and she looked up.

Avni: Mujhe to yeh bhi nahi pata ke meri shadi kis se hone wali hai. Woh, Sunehri keh rahi thi ke mera rishta ek challis (40) saal ke admi se fix howa hai? Kya yeh sach hai?

Neela Maa turned to her and she came to Avni while carrying a dress in her hand and sat beside her while sighing.

Nm: sach kahun to mujhe bhi nahi pata, bacha. Tum to janti ho ke tumhare papa aur dadi kabhi koi baat mujhe nahi batate.

Avni was looking at her.

Avni: aap ko kya lagta hai ke Papa asa kar sakte hain? Mera matlab challis saal ke admi se… meri… shadi.

Neela Maa looked down and smiled sadly. She looked at Avni.

Nm: tumhare papa aur dadi paison ke liye kuch bhi kar sakte hain. Humain bech bhi sakte hain?

Avni was looking at her mother. Neela maa cupped her face.

Nm: mujhe mauf kar do, bacha, main tumhare liye kuch nahi kar pai. Mere pass to ek phuti kori tak nahi hai jo tumhe de kar in sab musibaton se dur bhej dun. Tumhare papa mujhe kuch dete hi kab hain. Ho sake to mujhe mauf kar dena, bacha.

Avni was just looking at her mother and then she hugged her mother.

Avni: please, mamma, asa mat kahen, please.

Neela aa caressed her hair. Avni sighed by closing her eyes then Avni wiped her tears and broke the hug. Avni smiled and Neela maa held Avni’s arms.

Neela Maa: ho sakta hai, bacha ke yeh shadi tumhare naseeb badal de.

Avni: mera naseeb aap ke naseeb se alag kaise ho sakta hai. Bachpan se wahi sab to hota aa raha hai jo aap ke sath howa. Studies ki permission is liye mili ke government school tha aur logon ke samne dikhawa karna tha. Maine mehnat ki aur agaye admission scholarship per mila aur maine aur mehnat ki aur mehnat ki aur phir mehnat karti gai aur agaye barhti gai lekin kya mila mujhe? Is sab ke bad bhi aaj main apni studies bich main chor kar ghar main bethi hun.

Avni looked at the dress in Neela Maa’s hand on her lap.

Avni: larke ke samne showpiece ki tarha sajae jane ke liye dress select kar rahi hun jahan mujhse meri koi marzi nahi puchi jaegi sirf ek faisle thopa jaega jo pehle hi decide ho chukka hai. Sab mou meetha karenge meri zindagi main zehar ghol kar.

Avni thought and then she looked at her mother. Avni wiped her unshed tears. Neela maa felt bad and helpless. Neela maa cupped her face.

Nm: Mera dil kehta hai, bacha ke tumhare sath jitna bura hona tha ho chukka. Ab tumhare ache din aaenge. Bacha, ho sakta hai ke yeh larka tumhari zindagi main umeed ki ek nai Kiran ban kar aaye. Aur, aur shayad tum phir se pharhne ja paye. Woh khud parha likha hai, woh samjhega, dekhna tum. Tum, tum ek kam karo kal hi us se baat kar lena apni parhai ki, hmm.

Avni was looking at her. Avni smiled.

Avni: khair, choriye is baat ko auur…

Avni picked up the glass from the floor and said: yeh dodh pijiye.

Avni passed the glass towards her.

Nm: yeh to tumhare liye hai.

Avni: lekin, mujhse zyada aap ko zarorat hai is ki. Pura din kaam main busy rehti hain. Dekhen kitni weak ho gai hain.

Neela Maa smiled.

Nm: acha, chalo half, half karte hain.

Avni: ok but pehle aap.

Neela Maa was about to resist but Avni fed her forcefully: chaliye, chaliye, peejiye, peejiye.

Avni fed her and Neela maa drank the half.

Nm: ab teri bari.

Avni smiled. Neela maa fed Avni and they smiled. Just like this, they daily stole their peaceful time. They smiled and Avni hugged her mother. Neela Maa sighed and caressed Avni’s hair. She prayed for Avni.

The next morning, Avni was sitting in front of the dressing table and was looking at herself in the mirror.

Avni was lost in her thoughts. Avni thought.

Avni: shayad, Maa sahi keh rahi thi. Shayad is rishte se mere naseeb ka tala khul jaye.

Avni closed her eyes and prayed: God, please, please help me. Kuch bhi kar ke meri studies phir se shuru karwa dijiye.

If Avni wanted, she could run from home but she knew that after taking that step, her grandmother and father would make her mother’s life a hell so, she decided not to go.

Avni opened her eyes and looked at the mirror. She sighed. Neela maa came there and she saw Avni. Avni saw her in the mirror and smiled. Neela maa came to her and kept her hand on Avni’s shoulder.

Nm: Kitni pyari lag rahi hai meri bachi.

Avni smiled. They heard the sound of the doorbell and Avni felt butterflies in her stomach. Avni was getting nervous.

Nm: lagta hai who log aagaye. Avni, tum yahi betho main abhi aai.

Avni: maa, aap mere sath raho na, mujhe dar lag raha hai.

Nm: Bacha, mujhe jana hoga na warna tum to janti ho.

Avni nodded. Neel maa went and Avni thought.

On the other side, Dayawanti Mehta and Ashish welcomed the boy and his family.

DM: Aaiye. Aaiye.

They came inside.

DM: Bethiye.

Lady: Ji.

They sat on the couch and Neela Maa came there.

Ashish: yeh, meri patni hai Neela.

Neela Maa greeted them and she gave them water. She saw the boy and frowned but she smiled fakely. Neela Maa moved back and stood.

On the other side, Avni was standing near the shelf and was looking at her certificates and trophies. She got emotional. It is the only corner of her room that is decorated. Avni was looking at her precious things and Neela maa came to Avni and Avni wiped her tears. She looked at her mother and smiled. Neela maa came to her.

NM: maa se apne aansoo chupa rahi ho.

Avni: Aap se kuch chupa hi kahan hai. Aap ko to sab pata hai.

Neela Maa hugged her. Avni got emotional.

Nm: sab theek ho jaega.

Avni was crying.

On the other side, Ashish was sitting with the boy’s family.

Ashish: bus, Neela, Avni ko lati hi hogi.

Neela maa came by bringing Avni.

Ashish: lijiye, agaye.

Avni greeted them but she didn’t look at the boy. Neela maa made her sit and sat beside her. The boy smiled to see her.

Lady: bachi to bari pyari hai.

The Mehta family smiled.

Lady: Beta, yeh hai mere pota…

Avni looked up and was shocked to see the boy who came for her alliance.

Avni’s eyes widened in shock.

Avni in mind: yeh hai, larka?

Avni was shockingly looking at the boy shockingly.