Kokila, determined to converse with Anamika, reaches her room. It seems she's in some kind of hurry to express her thoughts. When Anamika saw her standing behind, she was scared at the first instant with the closeness and the heavy look on her face.

''Maa aap yahan!?" She questions, a little scared to even ask this simple question.

''Haan, mujhe tumse kuch ati avashyak baat karni hai!" Kokila informs her, Anamika nods and offers her seat which the lady straightly denies to take.

''Main yahan baithne nahi aayi hoon, na hi main ghooma ke koi baat karungi tumse kyunki wo meri fitrat hi nahi hai. Jhooth bolna, dhong rachana, ghoomna fira ke baat karna tumhari aur tumhare pati ki aadat hai!" She taunted Anamika, who had nothing to say for she knew it would only add fuel to fire.

''Aapko kya baat karni hai?" Anamika questions, directing her mother to be on point.

Kokila gave her a sarcastic teasing look,''main bas tumse itna hi kehna chahti hoon ki tum chahe jitni koshish karo par tumhara kala sach tumhara picha kabhi nahi chhodega. Bhale hi tum Vineet se na kaho ya wo pyar mei paagal ho iss chij ko na maane par sach yahi hai ki tum apne saath apna kala saya aur manhushiyat leke hi jaati ho. Pehle mere haste khelte parivaar mei tumhare aati hi khalal padd gayi aur aab tum dono ka rishta bhi bigad gaya.'' As Kokila stated that, it brought instant tears in Anamika's eyes. Why on earth does her mother consider bad luck? What wrong had she done to earn the tag?

''Maa aap!!" Anamika tried to defend herself but Kokila stopped her by showing her hand.

''Mujhe tumhari koi baat mei dilchaspi nahi, main bas tumhe itna bata dun ki tumhari tarah tumhara ye bacha bhi manush hai jiske aane se pehle hi uske mata pita mei phut padd gayi toh main nahi chahti iska kala saya mere ghar pe pade, behtar yahi hoga tum isse iss char deewari tak hi rakho, mere ghar aur meri bahu pe iss manhus ka saya bhi nahi padna chahiye. Asha karti hoon tum meri baat ache se samajh gayi hogi!!" Kokila asserts and takes her leave without waiting a second while Anamika shattered in pieces.

She fell on the bed with a thud, her hands reaching on her belly, protecting her child. How can Kokila call her child by such a name? Is she heartless to talk to her own daughter in such a way? First her husband refused to accept the child and now her mother, why? Why is God being cruel to her?

Anamika feels immense pain in her chest and stomach, the more she thinks about her mother's words, the pain worsens. Tears of sorrow continuously rolled down her cheeks. She laid down on bed trying to console herself when feel the pain increasing but then, it was out of her control. In a fraction of a moment the pain worsens so much that she felt she won't survive and she was happy about it. She wriggles on the bed, refuses to shout and calls for help but fortunately Shakshi came to call her for breakfast and found her in a breathless state.

Shakshi called the family members who assembled in no time. Seeing Anamika's condition they all grew worried and immediately took her to the hospital. On the way, Avantika made several calls to Vineet which he didn't take.  It frustrated her but she thought to give it a last try, luckily he received the call and panicked hearing his darling sister's worried voice.

''Choti!! Kya hua tujhe?? Tu itni pareshan kyun hai!!" He throws the question before she could say anything.

''Bhai aap call kyun nahi utha rahe the?? Aap jaldi wapas aa jao please, Anamika ko labor pain start ho gaye hai, hum usse hospital leke jaa rahe hai!!" She informed him, expecting him to be panicked but just a long deep sigh came as a response which amused her.

''Main aata hoon!!" He says and disconnected the call, not bothering to ask even once about his wife who's in pain and it disturbs his sister that why would his brother who loves his wife so much not ask about her condition and act so cold? Is there something going on? Is her brother not happy? But why?? The question started to hunt her at the very instant.

She came out of her trance when Sachin nudged her to ask about Vineet. She stared at him for a moment but told him what Vineet had said to her.

…

Entering the hospital, Anamika's gynecologist was shocked to see the condition of her patient, moreover she was surprised to find that the lady, though being in much pain, was trying not to scream out loud like any other normal ladies' do at the time of labor.

They took her to the emergency ward to first check her, obviously they just couldn't take her to OT and stated pulling out the baby at the first instant. They first need to analyze if it's really a labor pain or just a normal pain.

''Anamika, don't stress yourself, breathe and relax!! You're going to be fine, don't worry!!" The doctor tried to calm her, but how can a mother be calm when the father of her child refuses to accept her unborn child and her mother calls it a curse, a bad luck?

Analyzing her, they discover that she needs to be treated and operated immediately but her child is premature and weak and so they need her cooperation.

The lady doctor holds Anamika's hand, by now she has realized that there is something serious that Anamika is hiding. She's fighting a battle of her own, probably for her child.

''Anamika!! Main nahi janti kya baat hai jo tum dil mei dabaye baithi ho par itna jarur kahungi jo tum yahan tak apne bache ke liye aai ho toh aab himmat mat haaro. Take a deep breath and relax, main vaada karti hoon tumhare bache ko kuch nahi hoga, bas tum datti raho kyunki tumhare cooperation ke bina ye nahi ho sakta!!" The doctor tried to encourage the lady and her words surely did magic to Anamika, she shook her head agreeing with her.

The doctor smiled, they shifted her to OT while a nurse got the papers ready and asked for the signature of the patient's husband who wasn't there. Anupam signed the papers on his behalf.

''Nurse!! How's she!?" Shakshi questions, holding tears in her eyes.

''Critical condition hai, pehle hi complications thi abb premature delivery honi hai toh hum kuch keh nahi sakte. We're hoping for the best!!" Saying so, the nurse disappeared in a certain direction.

The family was left in a situation of hue and cry. Anamika had complications in her pregnancy!! Why did she never disclose it to them? Does Vineet know about it? What will be the outcome now?

While they were tense, nothing affected Kokila. She wasn't concerned about it but her own daughter - in - law. She doesn't want her to be there, to witness such things and so she asks Sachin to take her home as it would stress her.

''Nahi maa, main nahi jaungi!!'' Avantika starightly denies, how can she leave Anamika in pain? She can't, she won't!

Kokila tried to be authoritative but it didn't work, Avantika didn't move an inch. Rajat and Sony, too join them. They came by other car as there wasn't much space in the first car, also the doctor had advised Sony not to have rough driving in this stage of her pregnancy.

…
Hours passed, all the family could hear or get is Anamika's painful screams. Few nurses pass by them, when enquired they mostly scolded them for stopping for no reason. Also, they had asked about Vineet for they feel that his presence may give strength to Anamika. But unfortunately he wasn't available.

''Aise waqt mei wo jaa kaise sakta hai!?? Aur kitni der ho gayi usse call kiya, aaya bhi nahi aab tak. Pune se toh har ghante flight hai Mumbai ki, itna waqt toh nahi lagta aane mei. Yahan aaye 4 ghante ho baje aur uss mahasaye ka kuch pata hi nahi!!" Anupam mutters in anger.

Luckily, Vineet enters the scene at the same time and inquires about Anamika.

''Badi jaldi aa gaye, kuch ghante aur reh jaate wahin. Vineet tum mei jara bhi samajh hai ya nahi? Tumhari biwi yahan tadap rahi hai aur tumhara aata pata hi nahi!!" Anupam almost shouted over him.

''Main conference ke liye gaya tha Dad, mujhe kya sapna aayega aisa kuch hoga?" He snaps at his father.

Anupam glared at him and turned away. He doesn't want to stretch it at the moment. He knows, it's totally useless to even try to confront his son who would surely have excuses to defend himself.

Vineet just stood at a side not knowing what to do. Rajat though knows everything was silent for he doesn't find it appropriate to interfere between them at the moment. Sachin was worried for his sister, Avantika was tense with Vineet's cold reply over the call while Kokila and her husband were totally unaffected but Shakshi was crying for her daughter - in - law. The moment Anamika was taken in OT, she had been sitting near the temple praying for her wellbeing.

They all were lost in their own pool of thoughts and emotions.

….

To be continued..