HOPE

Chapter Ten

Janhvi wanted to ask what bothered Susheela so much after she spoke on the call but didn't want to seem like a prying old neighbour. Susheela kept on staring at her phone but then shook her head to clear her thoughts and dialled her mother's number. In the next two seconds her mother had picked up the phone and was barrelling her with question after question.

"Relax mummy. Main thik hu. Haa main pohonch gayi thik se. Ghar bhi bohot sundar aur bada hai. Yaha ke log bhi bohot acche hai aur toh aur main Janhvi se bhi mili aur usne hi mujhe ghar set karne mein meri help ki hai. Aur haa mujhe mera appointment letter bhi mil gaya. Aur kuch?", Susheela chuckled as she gave replies to her mother's rapidly fired questions.

"Nahi nahi aur kuch nahi. Susheela, tu thik toh hai na?", Kusum asked after a long pause.

Susheela tried to bring a cheer in a voice but failed miserably, "Kya hi fark padta hai ab mummy. Wo sab choro aur batao ki ghar par sab thik toh hai na? Papa aur Garima bohot naraz honge na?", Susheela asked, but deep down she knew the answer already. Her sister and father must have been throwing hands by now, ready to disown her.

"Tujhe pata hai yaha kya ho raha hoga. Kher, thode dino mein sab shant ho jaayega. Tu bas apna khayal rakhna, thik hai? Chal main badmein call karti hu, abhi tere papa neeche hi aa rahe hai.", Kusum rushed out her words and quickly kept the call.

Susheela sighed in disappointment, to save one life she had hurt her father and family in that process. But then again, how much ever she tried to protect everyone around her, someone or the other would always have complains about her.
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"Kis ka phone tha Kusum ji?", Dharampal asked in a tired voice, as he came and sat down on the dining table.

"Ji wo ek rishtedar ka tha.", Kusum replied looking down at her phone. Dharampal nodded but groaned loudly as he head his elder daughter's footsteps coming down. He was already having a hard time wrapping his head around all the things that happened in the matter of just two days and he was honestly very tired of his own daughter Garima.

Garima banged her hand on the dining table to gain her father's attention. Her father didn't even give her a spare glance, but she was adamant. "Papa! Hum Susheela ko dhoond kyu nahi rahe hai?", Garima was frustrated beyond belief. She couldn't believe that her father would neglect Susheela running away in such a calm manner.

"Maine tujhe kaha na ki jab uska dimag shant ho jaayega tab wo wapis aa jaayegi.", Dharampal said taking a deep breath.

"Lekin papa-", Garima tried again but was cut off because of Komal Devi's booming voice. Garima and her family looked towards the entrance of their home and were instantly on their feet as they saw Komal Devi and her son Agni coming inside.

"Mummy ji-", Garima started but Komal Devi just showed her hand, silencing her.

"Jayda time barbad karna manne naa aata, wo toh parso ke din bohot kar liya.", komal devi said glaring at her son who was shifting from foot to foot in nervousness.

"Hum Garima aur Agni ki shadi ki baat karne aaye hai.", Komal devi said, her each word dripping with venom. Her son had begged in front of her to let him get married to the girl he loves, and finally his mother had given in to his wishes.

"Ji ji Komal ji, aaiye na beth ke baat karte hai.", Dharampal was happy that atleast Garima's life won't be destroyed like his younger daughter. Komal Devi nodded in a no and let a wicked smile grace her face.

"Yo shadi sirf ek hi shart pe hogi bhaisahab.", Komal Devi said menacingly. Dharampal looked at his daughter in confusion.

"Kaisi shart?", Kusum asked bravely.