HOPE

Chapter Three

"Kaise bata du mummy? Pramod ki puri zindagi ka sawal hai. Aap jaante ho ki aise cheezo se kitna negative impression padta hai sab par. Main Pramod ko dard mein nahi dekh sakti mummy.", Susheela turned around and tightly hugged her mother.

"Beta, dard toh tune diya hai. Sirf Pramod ko hi nahi balki Mini ji ko, Jay ji ko aur apne papa ko bhi diya hai.", Kusum said lightly caressing her head.

"Mere pass aur koi option nahi tha mummy. Main unhe hurt nahi karna chahti thi, magar main majboor thi, hu, abhi bhi majboor hu.", Susheela broke the hug and looked down at her feet. Kusum held her daughter's chin and lifted it up to match her eyes.

"Mujhe tujh par garv hai beta. Maine kabhi socha naa tha ki meri yo bailbuddhi beti itni samjhdari wala kaam karegi. Bhale hi tera pyar tujh se cheen gaya ho beta, magar tune kisi ki zindagi barbad hone se bachayi hai. Tune ghusse mein aakar ek bhi faisala nahi liya, tune thande dimag se apne pyar ko chuna hai. Mujhe sach mein tujh par bohot garv ho raha hai beta.", Kusum said with a warm smile, the pride shining brightly in her eyes for her daughter.

Susheela didn't say anything, she just hugged her mother and cried her heart out. Only her mother knew how much pain she was bearing, and how much she was suffering. Susheela cried and cried until her eyes were swollen and red and no tears came out of her eyes. Kusum cried silently at her daughter's misery and wrapped her arms protectively around her.

"Mummy, aaj raat ke baad shayad sabhi log iss ghar mein mujh se nafrat karne lagenge. Lekin aap promise karo ki aap mera ye sach kabhi bhi kisi ke samne nahi aane doge, promise karo mummy.", Susheela broke away from the hug and laid her palm out.

"Par beta-", Kusum started to protest but Susheela just shook her head through visible tears in her eyes. Kusum sighed and placed her palm on her daughter's hand, promising her that she won't utter the truth in front of anyone.

"Tujhe job mil gayi?", Kusum asked sighing.

"Haa mil gayi. Meri online friend Janhvi ne mere certificates submit kar diye hai. Mera job offer letter filhal uske pass hai. Maine jo ghar dekha hai uska bhi down payment online pay kar diya hai. Meri train ki tickets bhi book ho chuki hai aur raat 2 baje ki train hai.", Susheela informed as she went towards her packed suitcases. She bent down and picked them up and kept them near the balcony.

"Air kitne dino ke liye jaa rahi hai?", Kusum asked sadly, even though she very well knew the answer.

"Dino ke liye nahi mummy, saalo ke liye. Apni zindagi ki ek nayi shuruaat karna chahti hu. Apne aap ko apne pairo pe khada hote hue dekhna chahti hu. But most importantly, Pramod se dur jaana chahti hu.", Susheela said turning around to face her mother.

"Magar wo sab toh yaha reh kar bhi kiya jaa sakta hai na beta? Tujhe hum sab se dur jaane ki kya jarurat hai?", Kusum asked sadly, her eyes moving towards the packed bags.

"Mummy, ye hum pehele bhi discuss kar chuke hai. Jitna main Pramod ke kareeb rahungi, utna hi usse dard hoga. Aur usse mujhse nafrat karte hue main nahi dekh sakti. Papa aur Garima bhi toh naraz hai mujhse. Main iss toxic environment mein ab jeena nahi chahti.", Susheela said sighing. Her whole world was falling apart and she couldn't do anything to stop it.

"Thik hai. Magar, main aati rahungi tere papa ko le kar tujhse milne.", Kusum said stubbornly.

"Bilkul bhi nahi! Papa se mujhe nahi milna hai aur naa hi kisi se bhi. Main kaha hu, kya kar rahi hu, kaisi hu, ye kisi ko bhi pata nahi chalna chahiye. Main sab se dur jaana chahti hu. Sab se.", Susheela said with a determined look in her eyes.

"Thik hai. Jo karna hai wo kar, magar mujhe toh tu rokh hi mat tujhse milne se!", Kusum said glaring at her.

"Thik hai mummy, aap ke bina toh raha bhi nahi jaayega waise bhi.", Susheela and Kusum chuckled together.