rehmat

chapter 7

It was around 2 in the afternoon when Pari returned home from school. Rudra had told her earlier to head back home since he planned to come home early that day. Meanwhile, Anju entered the house with her usual burst of energy, hopping and running as she made her way toward the stairs. In her haste, her hand accidentally hit the delicate vase perched on a table, sending it crashing to the floor with a loud shatter.

The noise startled sakshi, who rushed out of her room to find shards of her favorite vase scattered across the floor. Her face tightened with anger as she saw Anju standing nearby, looking guilty.

Sakshi stormed over to Anju and grabbed her shoulder firmly. "Ye kya kiya, Anjali? Woh mera favorite vase tha!" she snapped, her voice filled with frustration.

Tears quickly welled up in Anju's eyes. She lowered her head, mumbling softly, "Sholly... mumma..." Her small voice was barely audible over her sniffles.

Sakshi eyes flashed with impatience. "Kya sorry, huh? Kitni baar kaha hai bacche jaise behave mat karo, par nahi!" Her voice grew louder with each word. "Aur woh Rudra bhi tumhare saare tantrums uthata hai," she added bitterly, anger now aimed at both her daughter and her son.

"Mum...ma..." Anjali stuttered, tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried to find the words to calm her mother.

But sakshi cut her off sharply, "Chup, bilkul chup! Age kya tumhari?"

Anju wiped her tears, still looking down, "Fifteen..." she whispered.

Sakshi gaze hardened even further. "Kabhi dekha hai 15 years ki ladki ko aise dudh peete hue, huh? Aur woh bhi apne bhai se!" Sakshi voice was filled with disbelief, the frustration of years boiling over.

Anju continued to cry, her shoulders shaking as she stood there helplessly, too overwhelmed to respond. The tension in the room was thick as Sakshi scolding hung in the air, leaving Anju feeling more like a child than ever.  Anjali, her voice trembling with guilt and fear, pleaded softly, "Mumma, sorry... galti se..."

But sakshi frustration had reached its peak. Her eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line as she responded coldly, "Tum aise nahi samjho gi. Aaj tumhe punishment dena hi padega." Her voice carried a finality that made it clear she wouldn’t be swayed.

Without another word, sakshi grabbed Anjali's wrist firmly and began dragging her toward the storeroom. Anjali’s cries grew louder as she stumbled after her mother, desperately trying to free herself.

"M-mum...ma... please... Anju ko nahi chaiye punishment!" Anjali sobbed, her voice breaking between gasps as she pleaded, her heart pounding with fear.

But sakshi remained unmoved. She ignored her daughter's frantic words, her grip on Anjali’s wrist tightening as they reached the storeroom. With swift, determined movements, sakshi opened the door and roughly pushed Anjali inside. Anjali, now panicked, continued to cry, her small hands reaching out in desperation.

Sakshi, without a glance back, slammed the door shut and turned the lock with a sharp click. The sound of the bolt sliding into place echoed in the now silent hallway, leaving Anjali’s muffled sobs trapped inside the dimly lit storeroom. Seema stood outside, her chest heaving as she paused for a moment, her heart hardened, before walking away, leaving Anjali alone in her tears.
Anjali’s voice quivered with fear as she banged on the door, her tiny fists hitting the wood in desperation. "Mumma, door open karo, please! Anju ko darr lag raha hai!" she cried, her voice breaking as panic set in.

But sakshi, resolute in her decision, ignored Anjali’s pleas. She locked the door from the outside with a firm twist of the key and walked away, her footsteps growing softer as she headed back to her room.