Nitya’s POV

In the morning, I opened the door. The house was still. Too still. No clinking utensils, no shouting for chai — not even the rustle of Maaji’s old saree dragging across the floor.

Of course it’s silent today… After what happened last night, how could it not be?

I tied my pallu tighter around me and tiptoed to the kitchen, the cold floor sending a shiver up my spine. I made chai — automatically. Like every morning.

The rhythm of routine was the only thing keeping my hands from trembling.

After preparing it, I walked to Maaji’s room.

But the door was locked from inside.

I knocked lightly. “Maaji…?”

A pause. And then —“Ja yahan se… kamini randi!”

Her voice was sharp, cruel — louder than usual. Like it was meant to pierce. For a moment, I just stood there. Blinking.

I knew what the words meant. But hearing them? Like that? From her?

I turned without a word and walked back to the kitchen. My feet felt heavier than they should’ve.

The cup in my hand had gone cold by the time I sat down.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and hid my face in them.

A few shaky breaths in — and then the tears started.

Silent. Salty. Stubborn.

Why can’t I just be happy? Why does even a moment of peace feel like I’ve stolen it? Is it all my fault? Everything that’s happened to me?

“Kya hua?” Mayank’s voice came from behind me — low, cautious.

I looked up sharply, wiping my face with the edge of my saree. “Kuch bhi nahi…”

He stepped closer. “Maa ne…” he began, voice low but tight, jaw clearly clenched.

“Arre… kuch bhi nahi hua,” I interrupted quickly, forcing a weak smile, avoiding his eyes. “Aapko der ho rahi hogi na? Jaaiye…”

I turned away and began preparing lunch — just like always. Like nothing had happened.

He sighed behind me. “Suno… aaj main jaldi aa jaunga. Tum Maa se baat mat karna, warna phir se kuch ulta seedha bol degi.”

His voice was soft this time. Almost guilty.

“Main sambhaal lunga. Par tum kuch mat kehna. Theek hai?”

I nodded without turning back. And then he left.

Today is going to be a long day.

After feeding him and cleaning the breakfast plates, I swept the angan, the silence broken only by the rhythmic swish of the jhaadu. I began cleaning the utensils — my back bent, hands soaked, lost in my own thoughts.

That’s when I heard it. The click of a door opening.

Maaji.

My stomach turned. I didn’t dare look up. I kept scrubbing the same plate again and again, hoping she would walk past.

But she didn’t.

Suddenly — a sharp tug on my hair.

“Aahh!” I screamed, the pain searing through my scalp as she yanked me back.

She grabbed a tight fistful and dragged me across the floor. I could’ve pushed her. But I didn’t. Because if I did… she’d probably fall. Hurt herself.

“Maaajii… nahi… aahhh!”

“KAL toh badi chhila rahi thi na? Huh?” she hissed, eyes red, voice venomous. “Aaj kya ho gaya?”

She shoved me hard into the middle of the angan — like I was dirt. I fell, my elbows scraping the cold stone floor.

“Ye kya kar rahi hain aap?” I gasped, tears now stinging my eyes — more from shock than pain.

“Jo bohot pehle kar dena chahiye tha” she snapped. And then she gripped the end of my pallu. She pulled. Hard.

The cotton fabric slipped, exposing my blouse.

“MAAAji— BAS kijiye! Aapko jo kehna hai keh lijiye, lekin… yeh sab— yeh sab kyun?” I pleaded, my hands clutched at my chest, trying to hold the pallu in place.

Her breathing was heavy now, wild with rage.

“Wahi jo tu chahti hai!” she spat, still yanking at my pallu.

But suddenly, a pang of anger surged through my chest like fire. My hands shot up — and I snatched back my pallu, clutched it to my chest, covering myself again. My breaths were heavy, uneven.

She staggered back a little, eyes widening with disbelief.

“Dekho, dekho! Ab randiyon mein bhi ghamand aa gaya hai!” she shrieked, tears forming in her eyes now — not from pain, but wounded pride.

“Main nahi hoon randi!” I shouted, my voice breaking. “Chup ho jaayiye… bas kijiye!”

“Kaam toh wahi karti hai TU!” she snapped.

“Kyun?!” I screamed, voice hoarse. “Aisa kya kar diya maine? Kaunsi galti ho gayi mujhse?!”

She stood still, eyes burning into mine.

“Tujhe nahi pata tune kya kiya hai?” she asked with venom.

“Nahi…” I whispered. “Maine aisa kuch nahi kiya…”

She shook her head, grabbing her forehead with both hands as if in disbelief.

“Tujh jaisi ko toh nanga karke beech bazaar mein chhod dena chahiye… aadmiyon pe doren dalti… mere itne honhaar bete ki zindagi barbaad kar di!”

She sat down on the floor dramatically, rocking herself, sobbing.

I stood there, trembling… but not with fear this time. With clarity.

I took a deep breath. Looked her straight in the eyes.

“Main nahi… Mayank aaye the mere darwaze par,” I said, voice low but steady. “Main nahi gayi thi unke paas.”

Her cries quieted slightly. She looked up at me. "Aapka bada beta Raj chhod ke gaya tha mujhe — suhaag raat ke baad. Toh agar kisi ki parwarish mein kami thi… toh woh aapki thi."

The silence that followed… was deafening.

She looked up at me. Her breath uneven. Her pride — cracked.

“Kadwa hai… par sach hai. Sun lijiye,” I continued, voice trembling, eyes wet. “Aapke bade bete ki wajah se meri zindagi jahanum ban gayi. Par aapko wo kabhi nahi dikha. Aapko sirf meri galtiyan dikhti hain —Maine ye nahi kiya, maine wo nahi kiya… Par kya aapko kabhi dikha... ki maut se bura jeevan jee rahi hoon main?”

Her face hardened.

“Tujh jaisi auraton ko pata hai log kya kehte hain?...Rakhel,” she spat.

I didn’t flinch.

“Aur un aadmiyon ko jo apni biwiyon ke saath suhaag raat manakar bhaag jaate hain? Unko kya kehta hai aapka samajh?” I asked quietly.

She looked at me.

“14 saal ki thi main jab aayi thi yahan,” I whispered. “Us raat… jis dard se meri zindagi likhi gayi… wo dard ab jaake thoda halka hua hai. Thodi si khushi mili hai… bas thodi si.”

“Teri toh chhodo… meri toh 10 mein shaadi ho gayi thi,” she snapped. “Mujhe kab dekha tumne rote hue?”

“Aap mazboot hongi… par main nahi hoon!” I screamed — and finally collapsed onto the floor, sobbing.

“Sach toh kaha hai Mayank ji ne. Jab pati hone ki saari zimmedari unhone nibhayi hai — toh mera bhi farz hai ki main unhe sukh doon. Ab agar iske liye mujhe koi randi kahe… rakhel kahe… kuch bhi kahe… Toh kehta rahe,” I said softly.

Then I stood back up. Tears streaming silently. And went back to scrubbing the dishes.

I don’t know when she got up and walked away into her room. But I kept working.

The pain didn’t burn anymore — it had dulled into numbness.

Enough harshness. I’ve had enough.

Later, I made lunch — as usual. I served and placed the plate quietly in her room. She didn’t say a word. Neither did I.

And just like that, the day moved on.

The routine resumed.

Only now… silence had become a part of everything.

By evening, Mayank came back.

“Maa ne kuch kaha?” he asked.

“Nahi…” I said quietly.

He went into Maa’s room. They talked for a while. I couldn’t hear what was said, but when he came out, his face… was calm. Surprisingly calm.

He looked straight at me.

“Maa bula rahi hai tumhe andar,” he said, and walked off.

I wiped my hands and went in. She was sitting back, eyes closed — swollen, tired, but softer.

I stepped in, unsure.

“Aapne bulaya…?” I asked.

“Baith,” she said.

I sat on the edge of the cot, hands clasped together, my heart racing.

She opened her eyes and looked at me. Long. Quiet.

“Dekho Nitya… main jaanti hoon, tune bohot kuch jhela hai. Jo tune bola… woh sab sach tha,” she said. “Par ye bhi sach hai… ki agar ye baat bahar chali gayi na, toh ye duniya hume jeene nahi degi.”

I nodded. Silently.

“Maine Mayank se bhi kaha hai. Aur tujhse bhi keh rahi hoon — jo bhi karna hai, band darwazon ke peeche karo. Bahar nahi.”

“Ji,” I said, staring down at my hands.

“Ja… khaana laga de. Wo thak ke aaya hai,” she said.

I stood up, turned around to leave.

“Sunn…”

I stopped. Turned.

“Ji?”

“Aaj se… Maaji nahi. Maa kehna,” she said.

Those words. Just those simple words… shattered something inside me.

I rushed back to her and hugged her tightly, breaking down in her arms.

“Maa…” I whispered, sobbing.

She said, stroking my head gently. “Ab ja… warna wo pagal ho jaayega.”

I wiped my tears, nodded, and walked back into the kitchen. I plated the food. First served Maa, then took Mayank’s plate to him. We all sat in her room and ate together.

Like a family.

Broken… flawed… but finally at peace, in our own little world.

After dinner, Mayank and I kissed Maa on the forehead and walked back to our room — hand in hand.

Inside the room, he didn’t let go.

Instead, he tugged me gently — I stumbled a little, almost falling, but he caught me. His arms wrapped around my waist as he steadied me, and before I could say anything, he leaned in and softly pecked my lips.

I blushed.

“Kal se mujhe tum par sundar-sundar saariyan dekhni hain,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

“Hmm?” I raised a playful eyebrow.

“Aur haan… payal bhi. Mujhe uski awaaz bohot achhi lagti hai,” he said, a small smile playing on his lips.

“Acha ji? Aur?” I teased.

“Umm… aur baal khule,” he added, eyes still on me.

I gave a mock-serious nod, pretending to take mental notes. “Aur…?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped closer and pulled me into a passionate kiss — the kind that left no room for words.

When we finally pulled apart, breathless, he whispered...

“Aur… bache chahiye.”

“Bache?” I asked, blinking.

“Haan, aur kya! Kam se kam 6,” he said, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

I gasped. “Chhe?!”

“Haan,” he replied with a shrug.

“Do se zyada nahi honge,” I said firmly.

“Woh dekha jaayega,” he smirked.

Just like that, we were in bed, with him thrusting into me, and me scratching his back with my nails.

"Ahhh uummm..." Suddenly, he thrust deeper and faster.

"Ahh Dheereee..." I moaned.

"Chup" he said, his eyes closing deeply as he enjoyed my body.

"Uummm ssss aahhh..." I let out lustful moans.

"Tum pagal...kardogi mujhe," he remarked.

"Dheerree...kariye naa..ahh," I begged. Suddenly, he slapped my right boob.

"Aayyiii!" I exclaimed, trying to rub the sting away, but he held my hands up.

"Sirf main chu skta hoon, sirf main..." he growled.

He slapped my left boob hard from the back of his hand this time.

"Ahh!" I moaned, knowing it was better to keep my mouth shut.

He kept thrusting, the bed rocking and making sounds under our passionate bodies.

After releasing himself in me, he still stayed inside, starting to suck my nipple hard. I knew he loved them, but today was way more aggressive.

"Dard ho raha hai..." I tried to wiggle out of his intense suckling but that only made my breasts jiggle more. He didn't react, switching to the other nipple.

"Um...kya ho gaya hai aapko?" I asked, my voice husky.

"Pyar ho gaya hai," he replied simply.

"Who toh pehle se tha na..." I chuckled.

"Ab aur ho gaya hai," he said, before starting to thrust into my sensitive core again. I closed my eyes, feeling him stretching me, filling me up so completely.

"Tumhari jesi ke saath toh hazar bacche karne chahiye," he murmured. I smiled, my whole body feeling utterly satisfied and blissed out.