Vineet ignites the engine, Anamika asks him to stop.

''Kya ho gaya?" He questions.

''Main apna purse bhool gayi andar, ruko mein le ke aati hoon.'' She tells him and tries to open the door, Vineet stops her.

''Tum ruko main leke aata hoon jhat se.'' He spoke and descended the car, Anamika smiled.

Vineet directly enters the house as the door was still open but was left shocked to hear Kokila.

Kokila was openly criticizing her own daughter and her family while others were silently standing there letting her speak nonsense.

''Acha hua chale gaye, jabse aai ye ladki tabse ek na ek pareshani hi badh rahi hai ghar mei, ek kaam toh hota nahi uss se and na hi uska pati usko kuch karne deta hai. Sab ne sar chadha baithaya hua hai usko bas chikni chupdi baatein karwa log aur kuch na hota.'' Kokila spoke out in dismay.

''Maa aapko kya problem hai iss mei? Wo unko life hai wo chahe jo kare at least aapki tarah toh nahi hai wo log.'' Sachin snaps, Kokila glares at him.

''Yahi toh seekh rahe ho tum uss Vineet se hai na? Badtameez toh ho hi gaye the aab toh sharab peena bhi suru kar diya hai kuch din mei non - veg bhi khane lagoge, sahi hai. Iss ghar ko ashudh karke hi dam lena tum par haan ek baat ache se samjha doon sabko main ki aab koi bhi usse (Anamika) ko ghar laane ki baat nahi karega, usse uske ghar hi rehne doh yahan aati hai toh uske piche uska pati bhi aata hai fir dono kamre se bahar nikalne ka naam hi nahi late, jaane sharm hai ki nahi.'' Kokila expresses meaningfully, her facial expressions show how disgusted and disappointed she is with the couple.

Sachin stands rooted hearing his mother, the lady had crossed all her limits and now he doesn't have words to confront her while Avantika had tears in her eyes. Her brother is being framed in a character that he's not even near. He has been a father figure to her taking care of her needs, likes and dislikes, her support, guide, everything. Yeah, he's a little carefree kinda person, he loves to express his feelings to those he loves truly but Kokila made him a womanizer who sees nothing beyond his woman - his wife.

Their attention suddenly shifts to the door hearing some footsteps. They find Vineet entering the house with a straight emotionless face but his eyes show thousands of emotions - hurt, anger, ashamed, disappointment, disheartened.

Sachin and Avantika gazed at him helplessly while he took Anamika's purse from the sofa and left the house without even saying a single word.

''Aaj aapne saadi hadein paar kar di hai, aapko toh maa bulane mei bhi sharm aati hai mujhe!" Sachin shows his anger and runs to his room taking Avantika along as he knows now she will be Kokila's next target but he wouldn't let that happen.

Other hand, Vineet returned with the bag and settled down in his seat. Anamika finds him disturbed and angry.

''You okay?" She asks in concern.

''As if you care.'' He taunts, accelerating the car in speed.

His parents were left surprised by his tone and so does Anamika but they chose to be quiet as they are on their way to home and they can converse peacefully. Also, he looks angry and so enquiring much can create problems.

Their journey home was completely silent. Anamika steals glances of him in between and could figure out his reason for anger, it would be her mother for sure. Only she has the capabilities to turn off his mood just in a moment. Anamika sighs and decides to talk to him once they reach home.

They reach home in around 40 minutes, Vineet directly moves to his room without waiting for anyone. Shakshi asks Anamika to converse with him and calm him before he does things which he shouldn't, Anamika assures her and follows him.

When she enters the room she finds him getting ready for the office.

''Arey, ghar mei ghushte hi office jaa rahe ho saas toh le lo thoda.'' Anamika says heading towards him.

''Kaam hai office mei!" He replied briefly, not even looking at her.

She makes him turn and helps him dress up, buttoning his shirt. Vineet wanted to remove her hand but didn't as he doesn't want to hurt her by his act.

Once done with the task she wraps her arms around him.

''Kya hua baby, tum itne gusse mei kyun ho? Kuch hua kya?" She questions straightforwardly.

Vineet gazes at her for a moment and turns away.

''Nahi!!!" He answers briefly, not wanting to converse over the topic.

Anamika makes him face her,''nazre mila ke bhi bol sakte ho tum, aise muh kyun pher rahe ho? Kuch hua kya fir? Maa ne kuch kaha?" She was getting impatient with his silence.

Vineet shook his head, denying her statement.

''Aisa kuch nahi hai! It's just Choti bahut upset laag rahi thi toh mujhe acha nahi laga, aur koi baat nahi hai!! Chalo, main nikalta hoon office se call aaya tha!" He stated ending the conversation and left the room, Anamika stared at him until he disappeared from her sight.

Anamika let out a deep breath, he lied to her she know that. It must be her mother who upset him and now he's avoiding the topic. Anamika feels helpless, she can't change her mother's mindset neither can she ever make place for herself in her mother's heart. All.she has got through her life is taunts and scolds, she was never considered to be loved, except Sachin who thinks other way. Now that she has someone who loves her immensely, her mother doesn't like that. Hash! Can't she mind her own business?

Anamika takes some deep breaths and moves in the washroom to freshen up.

...

Vineet reaches his office, he directly heads to his cabin. To his surprise Rajat was present there, waiting for him.

A smile forms on his lips to see his friend.

''Rajat!" Vineet calls his name, Rajat turns to him and smiles. They share a warm hug.

''Tu achanak yahan kaise?" Vineet asks as they part and take their respective seats.

Rajat shook his head in dismay,''puch maar bhai!! Dono aurton ne jeena haram kar diya tha mera itne hi din mei. Dono ne khudki team bana li aur mera jeena haram kar diya, saara ilzaam mujh bechare pe daal diya har chij ka. I tell you, ye aurtein jeene nahi dengi humein!" Rajat exclaims, his expressions says how tortured his mother and wife did to him.

''Toh tu ghar se nikala gaya hai ya khud bhag aaya?" Vineet asks teasingly.

''Bhai dono, wo nikalna hi chahti thi par min pehle hi bhag aaya. Aab rahe dono wahan aur main yahan sukoon se.'' Rajat states and winks at him meaningfully.

Vineet laughs,''Rajat sambhal ke kahin sukoon bhari na padd jaaye!" Vineet tells him winking at him.

Rajat laughed at his statement. At the same time Sachin enters the scene, finding him entering Vineet's face fell while Rajat smiles widely and pulls him in a warm hug and congratulates him for the good news.

''Sachin, tu toh bada tez nikla bhai. Itni jaldi sixer mara haan. Dekh Vineet, untimely disturb karne wale khandan ke hote apna banda century maar gaya!" Rajat spoke teasingly gazing at Sachin while stealing a glance of Vineet who doesn't seem to be pleased with Sachin presence and Sachin too doesn't seem happy.

''Kya hua, tum dono ka chehra ek dusre ko dekh kyun utar gaya?" Rajat asks, Vineet gazes at him for a moment and sighs, Sachin did the same.

''Arey, tum dono kya saason ki competition kar rahe ho. Bolo kya hua?? Aise kyun muh bana rahe ho ek dusre ko dekh ke.'' Rajat asks, making a face.

Sachin let out a breath and said something which confused Rajat but Vineet's reply shocked him.

....

To be continued..