The Sacred Alliance

• Chapter 8 •

Past

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After being under the doctors’ supervision, Abhay was discharged from the hospital two days later as there was a slight improvement in his health, indicating that he could now receive suitable care at home.

Abhay and Jaanvi reached their home after wrapping up all the remaining formalities at the hospital with Samir also accompanying them.

Samir: Acha Jaanvi puttar jao aap jakey aaram karo. Ye do din aap ne ek baar bhi rest nahi kiya. Mai yeha hu Abhay ke pass, aap jao

Samir asked Jaanvi after settling Abhay in his room 

Jaanvi: No dadu, it's fine. I am not tired at all.

Abhay: Haa dikh raha hai, Samir dekh rahe ho na aakhon ke niche yeh dark circles aur yeh utri hui shakal.

Samir: Haa yaar tujhse jyada toh yeh bimaar lag rahi hai. 

Abhay: Khud ka khayal rakhna bilkul bhi nhi janti hai yeh naadan ladki.

Jaanvi: Ohoo mere nanu aur dadu, pehle na aap dono khud ka khayal rakhna sikho, phir mujhe kehna.

Aur mai na freshen up ho jaati hu, phir dekhna aap dono ki kaise mai bilkul pehle ki tarah lagungi.

Jaanvi then went up to her room to freshen up, then after completing all the necessary chores, she proceeded directly to the kitchen to prepare a meal for everyone. While she was cooking, the doorbell chimed. 

She walked towards the door and swiftly opened it, hoping it might be Abhimaan, whom she hadn't seen after she entered inside the ward to see her nanu two days back

As soon as she opened the door, the small smile which was playing in her face disappeared and she got anxious upon seeing the couple in front of her. It's Anish and Sakshi, her bade mama and mami

Jaanvi: Ma-maa….mama 

Sakshi: Ma ma ma kya kar rahi hai tu, huh? Darwaje se hi lautane ka irada hai kya tera, taaki apne nana ko ache se maar sakey.

Tears started pooling up in Jaanvi's eyes upon hearing her mami's untrue biting words

Anish: Ab hatogi raaste se Jaanvi ? 

Anish's annoyance was evident in his tone as he asked his niece, who meekly nodded in response and let them enter the house

As they entered, Anish hurried inside to meet his father while Sakshi remained in the hall and kept shooting angry, piercing glares at Jaanvi 

Jaanvi: Mami, kuch chahiye aapko ? 

She asked her aunt in a gentle tone but she got no answer from her. Rather, a harsh slap landed on her cheek, making her shudder in shock

Sakshi: Sharam naam ki koi cheez nhi hai na tujh mein, Jaanvi.  Lakh baar mana kiya tha koi jarurat nhi hai Mumbai aane ki, par tujhe toh Mumbai aana tha taaki yeha aake aish kar sakey apne nana ke paison pe, padhai toh bas bahana tha tera.

Aur yeh baat papa ji ko kaha pata thi; aa gaye tere saath aur aaj teri wajah se hi yeh huwa hai papa ji ke saath. 

After making those facetious remarks, Sakshi also headed inside to meet her father-in-law without giving the girl a chance to say anything for her own self

Jaanvi, who was weeping quietly not due to the physical attack; she was used to it from her aunt, but because of the mental attack which her aunt did through her caustic words.