When Aastha met Veer, she knew they had a connection.
However, the connection would be from two centuries ago, she never could have imagined.
A love story that remained unfulfilled, broken by evil, and destroyed to ashes - whose reference hide...
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"Where are you taking me?" Aastha asked as Gouri Devi dragged her out of the room and down the stairs.
Even though Aastha wasn't entirely resisting, she was still hesitant. "To the police station. They need you to sign some documents."
Aastha stopped on the steps, forcing Gouri to release her grip. "I don't want to go."
"Why?" Gouri asked, meeting her gaze.
Aastha swallowed hard. "I'm the victim here. Why should I have to go?"
"To make sure your attacker is behind bars and to sign the official documents for his arrest," Gouri said, raising an eyebrow. Meethali and Kanika, watching from the living room, knew this was for the best.
"Why can't the police come here?" Aastha crossed her arms defiantly.
Gouri scoffed, "They're not our personal servants; they work for the government. And didn't you say you were strong enough to make sure he gets the harshest punishment?"
Aastha wanted to argue, but no words came out. Earlier, when she heard Veer had been arrested, she was ecstatic. She had given her statement to the police before being discharged from the hospital and had called them repeatedly for updates. It wasn't until today that the police finally arrested Veer. She knew the system was flawed and feared his family's influence would let him escape justice. But thank God, justice had prevailed.
So why couldn't she feel completely happy?
"Aastha, I won't force you. But it might give you closure," Meethali said from behind. Aastha glanced at her mother. "Closure?"
Meethali shrugged. "Any second thoughts, any regrets, any doubts you have will be laid to rest. You'll have peace knowing your attacker will suffer."
Aastha swallowed hard again. With everyone encouraging her, she finally decided to go.
***
"Do you still hate us?" Gouri Devi asked once the car was on the road. Their trusted driver, Kishan, was behind the wheel.
Aastha didn't look at her grandmother; she stared out the window, her heart in turmoil. "Why should I hate you?"
"Didn't you say so?"
Aastha sighed. How many times had she screamed at her family? How many times had she thrown tantrums and called them murderers? She couldn't even talk to her sister Saanvi like before. She had kept Suraj at a distance, despite knowing he was innocent and had always cared for her beyond his abilities. She constantly saw her family, the people she trusted, the house she grew up in, and the love she was given as a facade. She couldn't believe any of them, though a part of her questioned if she was doing the right thing.
"I didn't really mean it," Aastha said softly.
"Then why have you been holed up in your room? Why have you been avoiding us?" Gouri Devi asked.
