Kavita's Submission [COMPLETED]

Chapter 32

Kavita's POV

"Mere paas do hi raastey the, Kavita. Ek Surili aur apne bachche ko bachana, aur dusra tujhe bachana. Mujhe uss waqt jo sujha, maine wohi kiya."

Karan bhaiyya's voice rings in my ears, causing silent tears to stream down my face.

I have lost everything in the last few months. I never got babuji's love, but I had maa's love and affection, Karan bhaiyya's brotherly affection, my dream of being happily married with the person I would get married to, my hope of getting good and loving in-laws after marriage.

But, bit by bit, everything slipped from my hand.

Maa leaving me devastated me, Sameerji and his family's cruelty crushed me, and now Karan bhaiyya's betrayal is slowly suffocating me.

"Aap thik hain?"

Anirudhji's voice brings me out my reverie.

"Ji," I say in a low voice, quickly wiping my tears.

He sits on a sofa in front of me, keeping the plate of food he brought on the table between us.

"Aap khudse jhuth bol rahi hain, ya mujhse?" He asks.

I avert my gaze from him, trying my best to control my tears.

"Shaam hone ko aayi hai, Kavitaji, aur aapne shubhah se kuch nahi khaya hai. Kuch kha lijiye."

I shake my head. "Mujhe bhukh nahi hai, Anirudhji."

"Lekin, Kavitaji-"

"Kya bhaiyya ne jo kiya, woh thik tha, Anirudhji?" I ask, interrupting him. I wanted to know his thoughts about it because no matter how much I was trying, I was unable to justify my brother's actions and decisions.

Anirudhji inhales deeply, before saying, "Mujhe pata hai abhi aapke mann mein bohot sawaal hain. Agar main aapki jagah hota, toh shayad main bhi uljhan mein hota ki aapke bhai ne jo kiya woh thik tha ya nahi."

"Lekin aap meri jagah nahi hain, Anirudhji. Aapka na toh bhaiyya se kuch naata hai aur naa hi aapne uss nark mein dukh jhela hai. Par aap wahaan the, uss ghar mein. Bhale hi aapne mujhpe huye har julm naa dekha ho, par itna ko dekha tha ki main wahaan kaise din raat apne dukh mein ghut rahi thi.

"Aur aaj, jab Karan bhaiyya ne hume sab bataya, tab yeh bhi pata chal gaya ki unhe Sameerji ka asli chehra aur unka aur Surili ka sach, meri shaadi ke do mahine baad hi pata chal gaya tha. Par phir bhi unhone kuch nahi kiya.

"Maine uss nark mein lagbhag paanch mahine bitaaye hain, Anirudhji. Aur mujhe hi pata hai ki har pal mere liye ek saal ke barabaar tha.

"Agar bhaiyya chahte, toh woh mujhe wahaan se nikal sakte the. Maana ki unhe meri shaadi ke waqt kuch pata nahi tha. Par do mahine baad toh pata chal gaya tha. Par phir bhi 3 mahine tak unhone kuch nahi kiya. Aur aakhir mein bhi unhone meri madat nahi ki. Agar Smritiji ne uss raat mujhe wahaan se bahaar nahi nikala hota, toh najaane kitne aur din mujhe wahaan rehna padta.

"Aur aaj aake woh kehte hai ke woh majbur the? Unke liye kehna aasan tha ki unhone inn 3 mahine ke har pal ghut ghut ke bitaaye, par saaha toh maine na, Anirudhji. Maaji aur pitaji ke taane, Sameerji ki krurta, beijjati, sab kuch maine sahaa.

"Isliye aapse puchh rahi hoon, Anirudhji. Aap hi bataiyye. Kya mera bhaiyya ko maaf na karna galat tha? Kya mera wahaan unko chhodke yahaan aana galat tha?" I ask, wanting to know what he thought of it.

Anirudhji looks at me for a few moments, his face thoughtful.

After a few seconds he takes a deep breath and shuffles in his seat, looking uneasily at me.