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“What the…!” he woke up with a start and picked up the wrist watch from the side table… All the lights in the room were on and the stumbling sound was louder and louder…

“Khushi…!” he yelled, irked at the wee hours.  She came out of the bathroom half dressed and covering her upper body with the while towel.

“Aray… Uthiye… Come on get up…!” she pulled him out of the bed.

“What the hell, Khushi.. its only 4:30 in the night…!” he said irritated turning back to the bed.

“No.. Its 4:30 in the morning and get ready… We must reach there by SIX” she showed six fingers.

“Where?” he asked flabbergasted.

“Oh! God…! Hey Devi Mayya… Please knock some sense in his head…” she said dramatically and coming over to him said calmly…

“Its Di’s wedding today… hope you remember… and on Bramho Moohurt… Early morning…! Come on … get ready….” She waved at him going towards the table to pick up her dress for  the occasion.  In the corner, her bag was ready with her and she Laad Governor’s clothes to be changed according to the occasions….!

“Khushi…” He couldn’t stop himself from holding her from behind.  She turned in his embrace…

“Arnav ji… its Di’s wedding…. And you must be ready to welcome the guests… Dulhan kay Bhai…” she pulled his nose, as he repelled.  She smirked and pushed him into the bathroom.  There was no time to ruminate on anything now.  The wedding was all set….!

****   ****  ****

“Oh God! Seema… Ab Bas bhi karo… Stop crying…!” Akhilesh tried to pacify her over and over again over the phone.  She was crying her heart out.

“Ok. Listen to me… I am coming there….. now… Be ready.. I will give you a miscall…you come out…We will come home…Our home…” he said making up his mind.  She looked at the time and sucked her breath…

“Its only two in the night…” she sobbed.

“Yes I know… but I can’t let you cry in this condition for the whole night…” he said calmly.. 

“No…No… don’t come here  in the night… I… I will stay… but come early morning… I can’t stay a second here now… How could he…?” she again broke down crying…!

“Seema… Please… stop crying… I will come there… don’t worry… you be ready, Ok? Now go to sleep…. Keep the phone on… I will put you to sleep…ok? As usual.. talking to you…. ?” he said huskily and she blushed stopping her sobs.

“Humm…” That’s like a good girl… ! He said softly and she closed her eyes….

She had come out to find her father nowhere… The old maid had said he had gone out.  She had taken her bag and the basket and had taken an auto to reach Thakur Mansion….!

“Amma…?” she called out entering the mansion passing the security gate.   She saw a middle aged person sitting on the sofa, humming and shaking his leg.  He stopped to gaze at her.  Then recognizing her silhouette exclaimed….

“Aray Seema bitiya… come… come in…” he hurriedly moved forward to hold her shoulder and bring her in.  She looked around in the empty hall.  A Portrait of Shamsher Singh was staring at her.  She somehow felt at peace.  His portrait … his body posture… his grandeur… his handsome figure… his piercing eyes…. Somehow always calmed her…! She always felt better looking at the portrait.  She had taken a photo of the portrait in her mobile when she had visited the Thakur mansion last time…!

“How are you, beti? Aapney toh yahan aanaa hi chod diya…!” he pulled her closer guiding her inside.  She shrunk nervously.  Akhilesh, her husband had warned her not to enter Thakur Mansion but the pull to meet her mother had brought her to the mansion again.  Manek, Rattan’s cousin was maneuvering with her to his room…! Oblivious to his intentions, she asked..

“Where is Amma?”  A scornful smirk gave her shivers.  She tried to free herself.  He had held her with an iron grip.  She felt someone was sucking her breath out…! She stopped just below the portrait…! He looked at her and then moved his eyes to where she was looking…! Disgust appeared in his eyes…! His hand moved to her waist.  She shuddered in fright. 

“I… I came here for Amma….!” She stammered.  He gave her a sly smile.

“Yeah.. your amma is busy…. Hamare saath bhi kuch batain karo…” he again tightened his grip around her waist.  She lost her balance and he pulled her in his arms…!

“Amma…” she dashed forward freeing herself seeing her amma coming out into the hall with another tall person… Motiram…!

“What are you doing here?” her amma gripped her wrist and she stuttered….

“A.. Amma…” But her amma had already dragged her aside. 

“Aray… your daughter looks more beautiful after her marriage…” Manek said smacking his lips … !

“Amma…” her amma slapped her square on her face.

“Go home..” she ordered showing her the main door.

“But Amma…” she sobbed clutching her cheek. 

“I said go home…” her amma hissed in her ears and she smelled that pungent strong smell…! She turned and was suddenly lifted by strong hands…!

“Aray… why are you so strict on her…? She is such a sweet girl…” Manek had put his hand around her waist again.  She pushed him away looking at her mother expectantly but her amma just stared at her expressionless….! She ran the length of the hall to escape and heard him laugh at her helplessness….! She hit the wall just below the portrait closing her eyes in fright, holding her frame tightly for her dear life…! There was no way out.  Manek had closed the huge main door.  Her mother had vanished somewhere inside leaving her to her fate. 

“Aray… beti… Don’t be scared…” he came forward and before he could touch her again, she moved pushing him on the wall…. She screamed in fright… the portrait hung on the wall had landed on his head with a crash….! She ran towards the main door and with efforts had opened it to run down the length of the garden.. out of the main gates.. on the roads… crying… sobbing…! She just wanted to go back to Akhilesh… who loved her more than his life….! The portrait had saved her…. !

Her mother came home fuming with rage…!

“Who asked you to come to Thakur Mansion?” she roared in rage and Seema cowered in the corner…!

“I… I… thought…” she started off weakly.

“Shut up…” her amma screamed slapping her again, fuming, breathing fire…!

“Where is your babuji?” she asked in a calmer voice after a while waiting for Seema’s sobs to subside.

“D..Don’t know…” she said between hiccups….  Her Amma took out the something tucked around her waist and carefully kept it in the cupboard, locking it securely.  Seema gaped with curiosity….! Her Amma went out dialing her babuji’s number.  Seema couldn’t stop her tears… She dialed Akhilesh’s number sobbing in the pillow….!