𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆

PART-20

Anusuiya, with her eyes and lips shut, sat on the sofa, cradling her head in her hands, elbows resting on her lap.

Nearby, Yashoda gently caressed Vardhaman's hair with her wrinkled hands. His head rested on her lap as he looked up at her, worry etched across his face.

"Dadi, will Dad beat Bhaiya?" Vardhaman whispered, adjusting his head on her lap. "Last time, when he came home after a fight, he got six slaps straight to his face. The marks were visible for a whole week."

Anusuiya lifted her head, a tear rolling down her cheek. Her lips trembled, and her voice broke as she spoke, "Why does he not listen to me? What should I do? He doesn't even talk to me properly. It's been decades since I last heard the word 'Maa' from his mouth. What can I do? What can I..." Her words trailed off as she broke into sobs, her body shaking uncontrollably.

As she cried, her expression shifted; her jaw clenched. "Everything is happening because of that witch," she spat, her fists tightening, her body tensing with suppressed anger.

"Careful, Balwant."

Hearing Aanand's concerned voice, all three of them froze, their mouths falling open in shock.

Balwant stopped in his tracks, exchanging glances with everyone before his eyes landed on Aanand.

Aanand gestured toward the stairs. "In his bedroom."

Balwant nodded and hurried upward, Rudraksh's limp form in his arms shaking with each step.

"What happened? How is he? Why is he unconscious? What did you do?!" Anusuiya's words tumbled out rapidly, one over the other.

Aanand snapped his head toward her, his eyebrows furrowing. "Why do you always think I've done something? He's my son too. And I don't love him any less than you."

"Then why is he unconscious?!" she demanded, glaring at him.

Aanand mirrored her glare. "What do you expect him to be after drinking the whole bar?"

He paused, taking a deep breath to rein in his anger. "Go, bring some warm water and a clean cotton cloth. I'm in his bedroom."

Anusuiya scowled and rushed to the kitchen, her firm steps accompanied by the jingling of her payal.

Aanand turned toward Vardhaman and Yashoda, his expression stern. "Vardhaman, take your grandmother to sleep. You too. You both can meet Rudraksh tomorrow."

Both grandmother and grandson stood frozen, uncertainty written on their faces.

Aanand narrowed his eyes and commanded firmly, "Go!"

Vardhaman nodded hastily and held Yashoda by her arm. "Come on, Dadi. We'll meet Bhaiya tomorrow. Let's go to sleep. But before that, tell me more about Lord Rama and Lord Krishna's stories."

Yashoda nodded softly, a faint smile on her face. Together, they made their way toward her bedroom, the sound of their footsteps fading into the distance.

💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

Her jewelry jingled a soft tune as Anusuiya made her way toward the staircase. She held a medium-sized steel vessel, a cotton cloth pressed neatly around its rim.

Just as she lifted her foot to step onto the first stair, the landline rang-its sharp tone echoing through the quiet room, halting her movement midair.

Anusuiya's eyebrows furrowed. After a brief pause, she turned on her heel and walked toward the phone.

Setting the vessel carefully on the glass table, she picked up the handset and pressed it to her ear. "Hello?"

"R-Rudra?" A trembling, high-pitched voice came from the other end.