THE BROKEN STAR ✔

CH5. THE BETRAYAL

The Live Interview

Reporter1 : You seem to have a lovely family. Where are they now?

Annie (chuckled) : I don't know.

Reporter: You are not with them anymore?

Annie: No. I am dead for them.

All the people present there gasped at hearing this.
They were shocked to hear this. After all, why won't they? The Great Annie is dead for her parents. How can a family disown a child like Annie? They should be proud of her.

Annie : I know, there must be many questions in your mind. Let me answer you all...

Annie's POV

18 Feb, 2018
12.50 p.m.
Satara Railway Station

            Tomorrow was my audition for Hustle. I was going to reach Mumbai after 8 hrs. Approx. I couldn't state my excitement in words. I was super childish that days. There were still few minutes for the train to arrive.

          So, as I had decided that I'll make the video of the whole journey, I started my phone's camera. I was recording everything on the station.

          "Annu, what are you doing? Spend some time with us. You are going for three days. Won't you miss us?" Maa said.

        "Maa, it's just three days. It is not like I won't be coming back home ever. I'll be back, Maa. And if I got selected in Top 15, then I will be going to stay away from you more than a month. How will you manage then?" I told her.

       "Ohho, come to earth. Stop flying so high." Di said.

      "It's not called flying. It's called dreaming. If I won't dream then how would I achieve them." I looked at her with a smile.

      "She is right. Now come on, the train is about to arrive." Baba said.

     "Yeah. Yeah. Keep dreaming." Di sarcastically said. I just smiled.

         Just in few minutes, the train arrived. We stepped in with our bags. I was holding my guitar on my shoulder with my bag on my hand. Di was carrying her bag. We looked at Baba and Maa. I hugged them tightly.

         "Wish me luck. Maa. Baba." I looked at them with with teary eyes. They were the best parents.

       "Our wishes are always with you. Take care of yourself. Come back with a good news." They told me.

5 hrs later.
6.00 p.m.

        My phone's battery was low. It has just 30% charged. Di was having my charger, so I couldn't ask her back. I was looking around for something to pass my time.

        Suddenly, a kid caught my attention. Her eyes were stuck to my guitar. I raised my eyebrows at her.
She looked away. I have always loved kids. They are so innocent. I couldn't stop myself looking at her continuously.

      "Mumma, please I want her to play that guitar. Please ask her." She cutely asked her mumma.

      "No beta. We should not disturb someone like this." Her mumma told her. She lowered her face in sadness.

     "It's okay aunty."  "I'll sing a song for you baby. What's say, you bundle of cuteness. Come here." I said and she came running toward me.

      I took my guitar and placed it on my lap. I started singing one of my favorite song 'hai junoon' from New York.

"Kahin jaise koi dhun baje
Raahon mein dekho hai manzil saje saare

Humi hum jahan mein Har jagah
Sapne sajane ki humko mili vajeh

Yeh agar sach nahi
To sach bhala hai kya

Yaaron!
Apne hisab se dil ki kitab pe kuch to naya likho

Yaaron anjano ki fikar
Na karti yeh umar
Phir bhala kyun daro

Hai junoon
Hai junoon sa jeene mein"

         Everyone present their, started clapping for me. I was smiling a lot. That kid started dancing.
"Di. You are a rockstar." She said. "Thankyou beta."
The train was stopped on a platform now. I didn't knew the name of station.

         "If you're done with all this. Go and bring something for me to eat. The train will depart from here after 15 mins." Di asked me. I couldn't refuse her. She looked uneasy.

         I got down from the train and headed toward the stall. I ordered 2 cokes and 3 chips packets. There were many customers. I decided to continue my video for the memory till he packs my stuff. I heard the sound of train. I thought it might be some other train.

        The video was on, I turned to record the train. My jaw dropped when I saw it moving. I looked at the direction from where I came. I saw her throwing my bag and guitar out of the train. I ran toward her. I picked my stuff and tried to run behind the train. Di was standing there. The train was speeding slowly.

        "Di hold me. I'll miss the train" I requested her.

        "If I had to save you. Why would I've sent you at first place?" She smirked.

         "Di why are you doing this. We will discuss everything but please help me now." I gave her my hand while running.

          She raised her hand but instead of holding mine, she pushed me away. "I've been always in bad books of our parents because of you. Let me show you how it feels " she said. And the train left the station.

After two days...

         It's been two days, I couldn't contact my parents. My phone was dead. Di took my charger with her. When I tried to call them from PCO, their phone was off.

           Yesterday, I completed my audition. The result will be announced after three days. Right now, I am on the train to Satara. I'm going back home. I  don't know why she was so bothered by me. I never intended to hurt her. I'll make everything alright.

         I reached my home. I knocked on the door. Baba opened it. Maa and di were standing behind him.

         "Why are you here now?" Baba asked folding his hand. I got confused.

         "Umm. I- " before I could complete it Maa started shouting at me. "Why are you here after betraying us. Go and enjoy your life with your boyfriend." It shocked me. I couldn't understand anything.

          "Maa. Baba I didn't-" again they stopped me in between. "Dont call us by that. You're not our daughter anymore. You're dead for us." Baba said.

          "Baba what are you saying?" I asked him. I had tears in my eyes after getting such welcome.

          "Did you thought once before betraying us by running away with your boyfriend?" Maa shouted at me.

            "We had to face so much humiliation by the society because of your deed." Baba shouted at me.

            "You are dead for us. You are not an Ishwar anymore. You can't be my daughter" Maa said. I started understanding what might have happened.

             "I didn't do anything. I can prove you. My battery is low. I have evidence." I  tried to convince them.

          "Maa, what will she prove. I have seen her running away with my own eyes." Di said. So it was her plan to replace in their good books. I couldn't believe.

         They pushed me and shut the door. I knelt down there. Holding my head. Crying my heart out. I thought it's over now.