I am so very sorry for delaying this... But life has become very hectic for me and often my schedule doesn't permit me to devote time to writing...
So I'd be highly irregular but I promise I will complete this and my pending story anyhow.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your love and comments. I wish I had the time to reply to each one of you.
Sorry in advance if I couldn't meet upto the expectations in this update as I write this in time constrain and was a bit stressed out.
Suman tightened her fist. She couldn't spend her time sitting at the park bench and shedding salt water. It was time for action and not being emotional.
She wiped her tears and with a renewed vigour set off for the Malhotra Mansion.
She managed to pay the Rickshaw Fare by the small amount she had in her pocket.
She quietly slipped into the House. It was dark and it seemed that everyone had retired off to sleep in their respective rooms.
"Good for you Sumo", she thought as she tiptoed towards Shravan's Room.
As she was moving up the staircase, the lights of the Hall suddenly glowed, showing her face quiet prominently.
" Suman? Tum?", came a deep voice. It was Kamini Chachi.
Sumo bit her lip. She was in for trouble. This Chachi - Mami pair were getting too much to handle, for her pour soul.
She turned back, with her eyes winced, in anticipation of harsh words. And she was proved to be quite right.
"Pet nahi bhara tumharaa Abhi, ki yahan muh uthaakar chali aayi? Mujhe andazaa nahi tha ki tum itni besharam niklogi Suman. Kamsekam Tiwariji ka toh lihaaz kar liya hota?"
"Kaun hai Kamini?", entered Ramnath. " Suman, Tum? Beta sab theek toh hai? Itni raat ko tum akele yahan Aayi?"
"Sab theek kaise hoga Bhaisahab?", taunted Kamini. She very well knew her situation and her sole motto was to keep Shravan and Ramnath's sympathies out of her reach.
So, she continued with what she was best at- Taunting Others.
" Ab yahan Kyun Aayi Ho? Ab kya chahiye tumhe Ms. Suman Tiwari? Humaari izzat se toh tum khel hi chuki Ho..."
"Par Chaachiji Ek Mauka toh dijiye explain karne ka. Aap, Mamiji sab galat samajh rahein hain"
"Yahan kya Ho raha hai, koi bataayega bhi?", pleaded Ramnath.
" Bhaisahab aapko kya pata?", sobbed Kamini. Her melodrama was at its peak.
"Bhaisahab Humaare bacche Bade Ho gayein hain ab. Aapko pata hai, Shravan Humaare saath Chandigarh Kyun nahi aaya?"
"Kaisi baat kar rahi Ho Kamini?! Hum sabke saamne hi toh Shravan ka paoon twist Ho gaya tha. Sprain aaya thaa use paer mein"
"Yeh toh aapne sirf dekha. Par Sach yeh hai ki Shravan ne family ke saath time spend karne se zyaada Sumo ke saath time spend karna theek samjhaa!"
"Kamini!", shouted Ramnath.
" Yahi Sach hai Bhaisahab! Shravan ne naatak kiya tha... Taaki woh Ghar mein Akela Ho jaaye aur Phir Suman ko bulaakar yeh dono time spend karein... Kyun, main theek keh rahi hoon naa?", she looked at Sumo.
"Chaachiji yeh sab galat hain. Jo hua hai, woh main samjhaati Hoon, mujhe Ek Mauka toh dijiye! Please"
"Bass, ab bohot Ho gaya. Ab agar tum yahan se nahi gayi toh Mera dimaag phat janaa hai. Tum please nikal jao yahan se"
"Chaachiji please, Ek baar bass mujhe Shravan se baat karni hai... SHRAVAN!!", She called out, at the top of her voice.
The commotion outside shook him out of his sleep and Shravan instantly woke up on Sumo's call.
He grabbed his shirt and wore it while moving towards the door.
" Sumo! Kya hua?", he asked tensed.
He swiftly moved down the staircase to stand beside her.
"Dekha Bhaisahab, Maine kaha thaa naa!?", Kamini pointed towards Shravan's leg. It seemed quite OK.
Shravan himself peeped down to feel the diminished pain.
" Lagta hai Sumo ke ice lagaane se pain chala gaya", he smiled. But little did he know that it was the worst statement he could've made.
Kamini grabbed Sumo's arm and dragged her towards the door.
"Chaachiji! Yeh aap kya kar rahi hain?", shouted Shravan.
He moved forward to free Sumo when Ramnath spoke:
" Agar tum mere ladke Ho toh tum abhi kuch nahi bologe,samjhe?", said Ramnath, in a low voice. He seemed hell angry.
"Papa, par yeh..."
"Go to your Room!", shouted Ramnath.
By now, Kamini already had left Sumo outside the House. And Shravan had no option but to go into his room.
He ran towards his window and saw Sumo leaving. Undoubtedly, she was crying uncontrollably. He could see her tears gleaming in the moonlight, on her fear struck face. He wanted to call out to her, but his brain simply couldn't. Ramnath had bound him in his words. And he could do everything but break a promise to his father. So he had no option but to silently see whatever happened.