Our Defeat!

Resolve?

As the driver applied the brakes at Pushpa ji's house, Karishma came out and stood silent for a while glancing at the threshold of her mother like figures home, her heart heavy with guilt and regret.

The early morning air was cool, but it did little to calm the storm raging inside her. As soon as she stepped inside, she was met with the stern gaze of Pushpa ji, who had clearly been waiting for this moment.

"Karishma ji" Pushpa ji's voice was a low tremor, vibrating with suppressed anger and deep disappointment.
"Aap yaha kya kar rahi hai? Kuch reh gya tha kya?" She asked in a questionable cold tone.

To which Karishma shook her head as she gently started to mumble - mana pushpa ji yeh apka ghar hai, par ap bhi toh humari maa, aur koi apni amma ke ghar kuch rehne jane pe thori jata.

Hum toh bass apse baat karne aaye hai, apne paapo ka parichit karne aae hai, kya apke pass thora sa samay hai, humare liye? She asked with tears forming her eyes.

"Chaliye maa bola hai toh haq bhi dengi, yeh sab aap kaise kar sakte haein? Sharam nahi aai apko?Pushpa ji scrambled.

"Apko shayad pta nahi ki apne sirf apne pati ko nahi, balki hum sab dhoka diya hai. Apne parivaar ke parti jo kartavy banta hai usko khud se dur kia hai. Apne kaam shabdo mai kahe toh hamare sar sharam se jhuka diya hai."

Karishma's shoulders slumped, her eyes welling up with tears as she felt the weight of her mother's words.
Pushpa ji continued - aur uske liye hum apko maaf nahi kar sakte, shayad hum koi hote hi nahi apko maaf karne wale..

Though Karishma opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The guilt was too overpowering, silencing her before she could even attempt to defend herself.

Pushpa ji grabbed Karishma's arm, her grip firm and unyielding. "Apko sach mai farak nahi padhta nah hum kya bol rahe haina? Hum bhi kya topa hai, dewar pe saar maar le toh shayad usse humari baate samajh aa jae..apko kahe ayegi..

To which Karishma interrupted - hum.. Sabke ghunegar hai, Amma aur hum sabse hath jodkar maafi mangte hai, apse bhi..kripya hume maaf kar dijiye.

Which only fared Pushpa ji's anger as she distorted - Aap samajhti kya khudko apki maafi se sab thek ho jae, apne Aly jaise zimmedaar aur imandar insaan ke pyar ko thukraya, sirf apni khudgarzi ke liye?

Aap bataiye hum kaise vishwas kare ki ab aap sudhar gayi hai, apke dil mai hariye parivartan hua hai? Kaise maan le ki aap fir se apni galti ko nahi dohraegi?"

Karishma's tears fell freely now, her voice a broken whisper. "Amma... humein sach mai apni galti ka pura ehsaas hai... humne jo kiya uska dukh hai... par hum Aly se saccha pyaar karte hain... hum apne bache ke liye, Aly ke liye, sab kuch theek karna chahte hain... bas ek mauka dijiye..."

Pushpa ji's expression softened ever so slightly, but her anger was still palpable. "Prayashchit?" she repeated, her voice laced with skepticism.

"Apko sach mai lagta hai maafi se sab theek ho jayega? Aly ne chahe apko maaf kar diya hoga, par hum itni aasani se nahi kar sakte. Apne us aadmi ka pyaar thukraya jisne apni zindagi apke liye vaar di thi. Usne apni har khushi, har sapna apke liye kurbaan kiya hai Karishma ji, aur apne uske hi pyaar ko dhokha diya."

Karishma's sobs grew louder, her body trembling with the intensity of her grief. "Amma, humne jo kiya uska humein dukh hai, sach mein. Hum apni galtiyon ka bojh uthane ko tayaar hain. Hum apni zindagi dobara se shuru karna chahte hain, Aly ke saath, apne bache ke saath..."

Pushpa ji's grip on her arm loosened slightly, but her gaze remained stern. "Karishma ji, yeh raasta asaan nahi hoga. Apke har kadam par apko apne inn galat faislo ka samarthan karna hoga. Agar aap phir se kabhi galat chali gayi, toh is baar aap humesha humesha ke liye akeli rah jaegi."