Kokila sat alone in the living room, her eyes filled with unshed tears. The once chirping house felt eerily quiet, devoid of the laughter and chatter that had once filled its walls.

Sachin, had left home, his departure a stark reminder of the consequences of her cruelty towards her Anamika. But was it really cruel? Wasn't all that true? Didn't she bring bad luck to them? Their business sank right after her birth, Parag met an severe accident because of which he was bedridden for months and it was only after her birth that Parag's elder brother parted ways, separated his business line and never turned back. Who's to be blamed for all this? Of course Anamika, she took birth and their life turned upside down, destroying everything that they had.

But now her son is angry because she said the truth, even though her husband holds her guilty but she knows she's right at her place. She didn't do anything wrong.

....

Anamika and Vineet were in a multiverse where now love doesn't exist, at least for Anamika who has lost the faith to even think of love but Vineet? Realizing the blunder he  made things most vulnerable when she refused to now accept him, their conversation tense and fraught with emotion. Vineet was sobbing uncontrollably, his words muffled by his tears. "Please, Jaan, forgive me," he pleaded, his voice filled with desperation. "I was wrong. I didn't know what I was doing. Mujhe toh yahi lagta aa raha tha ki i was doing good, mera intention kabhi tumhe dukh dene ka nahi tha Ana, kabhi nahi! I was doing all this for you!" He tried to convince her.

Anamika remained silent, her heart hardened by the pain she had endured. "It's too late, Vineet," she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her. "You had your chance, and you blew it. I don't need a man who can't support me when I need him most. Aab inn saare explanation ka koi faida nahi. Mujhe nahi janna tumne ye sab kyun kiya par wo mere liye toh bilkul nahi tha kyunki jis chij se mujhe hi dukh ho wo kaise mere liye wo sakta hai. Nahi Vineet, you did it for yourself! Tumhara swarth chippa tha usmei. Tum chahte they main tumhara adhura sapna pura karun. Jo tum nahi kar paaye wo main karun. Tum chahte they tumhari waah waahi ho. Sab tum chahte they Vineet, apne liye, mere liye nahi kyunki mujhe kabhi wo chahiye hi nahi tha toh please, ye bakwas mat karo ki tumne mere liye kuch kiya, nahi! Tumne apne liye kiya!" She bellowed.

“Kya tum ye sab bhula nahi sakti? I know it's hard, but please, at least give me one chance!” He begged.

Anamika let out a laugh through tears, “kya bhula dun main? Kaise tumne ek jhatke mei meri khushiyon ko chakhna chur kiya? Tumhe andaza bhi nahi hai mujh pe kya beeti jab tumne abortion ki baat ki, narazgi se jyada chhot pahuchi mujhe. Maine kitni koshish ki ki tumhe mana lun, tumhe samjhau ki sab thik hai, I'll do what you want after all this par tum toh kuch sunne ko hi taiyaar nahi they, in fact tumne toh ghar aana band kar diya taki main kuch kahun na, mujh se dur rehne ke bahane dhundhne lage tum. Do you even realize tumne mujhe kis halat mei chhora? Jab mujhe sabse jyada tumhari jarurat thi! Meri pregnancy mei complications thi par tumhe kahan koi fikar iss baat ki, probably tum khush hue hoge ki chalo aise nahi toh waise par ye bache se peecha toh chutega aur wahin jab tumhari khud ki behan ki pregnancy mei problem aai toh tumne kya nahi kiya, do you think it doesn't hurt me? It did!! Main tumhe inn sab ke liye kabhi maaf nahi karungi. Tumne mujhe tadapta hua bich rashte mei chhoda hai Vineet, uske liye main tumhe kabhi maaf nahi karungi chahe jo ho!” She muttered, keeping her voice low as her little boy was busy playing and she didn't want to disturb him.

Vineet tried to touch her but she pulled back.

“Don't! Don't you dare touch me! Ghin hai mujhe tumse, tumhari baaton se, tumhare touch se, wo har ek chij jo tumhari hai!” She exclaims, shattering his heart in pieces.

"Ana, ek..." Vineet began but his words remained incomplete as the door creaked open and Sachin stood in the doorway, his face etched with concern. "Anu, pack your bags," he said, his voice filled with urgency. "You can't stay here with him, main nahi chahta tum aur suffer karo iske jaise aadmi ke saath." He growled.

Anamika's gaze met Sachin's, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and defiance. "Iski jarurat nahi hai bhai," she replied, her voice barely a whisper. "Main aab kissi pe depend nahi hona chahti na kissi aur pe, na aap pe. I have to do this on my own." She states, firmly.

Sachin's heart ached for his sister. He had always felt a deep sense of guilt for not standing up to their mother sooner. "Lekin Anamika, I-"

"Please Bhai," Anamika interrupted, cutting him off. "I know you're worried par uski jarurat nahi hai bhai, main apna khayal khud rakh lungi kyunki ek baar aur main jhoothi umeed nahi palba chahti." She sighs.

“Main janta hoon tu khud ka khayal rakh sakti hai, par main tujhe apne saath le jana chahta hoon! Main wo ghar chor aaya hoon Ani, hamesha ke liye aur aab main apni zindagi ka faisla khud karna chahta hoon aur saath hi tere liye wo sab karna chahta hoon jo aaj tak mujhe karna chahiye tha!” Sachin expresses, revealing the truth.

Anamika was a little surprised but then it was for his good and much needed.

“Bhai, aapne wo ghar chhor ke bahut acha kiya, ye shayad aapko bahut pehle kar dena chahiye tha par it's okay, abhi hi sahi. I wish aab aap apne liye, bhabhi ke liye aur apne baby ke liye sahi faisle hi lo. Par main aapke saath nahi aa sakti bhai, mujhe apni manzil aab khud dhundhni hai, apna rasta khud banana hai. But I promise, jab bhi aapko jarurat mehsus hogi, main aapke paas jaroor aaungi!” she assured her brother, a smile on her lips, years filled in the eyes.

As Sachin watched his sister, a wave of admiration washed over him. He realized that she had grown into a woman of immense strength and resilience. While he wished he could be there for her, he knew that she would be okay. And obviously he's always going to keep an eye over her.

With a heavy heart, Sachin turned and left the room. As he walked away, he couldn't help but wonder if he had made the right decision. Had he truly protected his sister by leaving home? Or had he simply abandoned her when she needed him most? Maybe yes! He has always left her hand when she needed him the most and now she doesn't need him. He knew he couldn't be a good brother but he had hoped Vineet would be good to her. He had trusted Vineet with his sister but he broke his trust, he'll never forgive him for doing this to his sister, never!

While Sachin leaves the place, Vineet gazes at Anamika who seems determined, her words rebellious. He knows she's up to something, something that will distance her from him. He has ignored her much, now it's her turn to leave his hand and walk to the brighter side of her life which she'll definitely do for her child!

… ..

To be continued…