Astha as usual got ready first and went down to prepare the breakfast. The brothers came down on time. Niranjan finished the puja and went to the table. Both Shlok and Varad came to the dining. Neither attempted to sit. Niranjan saw both of them standing. Anjali was as usual by his side. Today she covered her pallu over her other arm and shoulder.
Shlok noted that with despair. How he had misjudged his own mother. All because of his blinding faith and misguided love. Shlok and Varad faced Niranjan. Shlok spoke first. "So Baba, what have you decided about Astha working?"
Niranjan as usual gave the perfect answer in that polite tone of his. "I have told you beta, she is talented and she should work. She is not my daughter in law but she is my daughter."
"So that you can beat your daughter just like your wife? So that you can kill this daughter too?"
"What are you blabbering Shlok?" Niranjan's tone immediately changed and his eyes turned stern. Anjali's eyes darted from Niranjan's to Shlok's. And then her husband looked at her, gave her that chilling, all knowing look.
Anjali stumbled into speech the next minute. "Shlok! Watch what you're saying and to whom you're saying. Have you gone mad?"
"Ayi, we know everything." This time Varad spoke and his tone was gentle. Anjali looked at both her sons in confusion, not knowing how to respond.
"His games are over Ayi. You need not fear this man anymore. You have two sons who are going to take care of you." Varad looked at Niranjan while he spoke to Anjali. Anjali's eyes were brimming with tears of relief. Yet years of being a victim didn't get washed away in a second. Anjali was consumed with self doubt, whether she has to take the escape route or not.
Shlok continued after this brother. "Ayi, just say one word and we will get him arrested. Arrested for domestic violence, physical abuse, murder of his daughter in law." Anjali visibly shuddered hearing Shlok's words. "No beta. Please don't. Don't do any such thing. Had I wanted to walk out I would have done that years ago. But all three of us would have faced the same fate as my parents."
"Parents?" Varad asked.
"Yes. I don't know where they are to this day. The only mistake they did was to give a complain against your Baba for domestic violence. He came out and banished them from my life. I have not seen them till this day. That's the reason I am saying. Don't spoil your lives for me. Had I done the same thing you people would have not had a good life as the son of the respected Niranjan Agnihotri. I have been harsh and bearing all this for you both so that you don't take the brunt of his anger."
"Even then I was instrumental in killing a poor girl and my own grandchild." Tears spilled over her cheeks. "To this day I cannot sleep without that guilt."
Shlok swallowed hard and went to his Ayi. He put his hand around her shoulder. "Am, am sorry Ayi." His tone was humbled and deeply apologetic. She kept her hands on his head. She turned around and started leaving in a defeated posture when Astha stopped her. "No Sasubhai, it is not fair to you anymore. All your life you have been living the life of a prey. Not anymore."
"Come. Let's leave."
Varad too urge Anjali. "Yes Ayi, Astha is right. There is nothing more left here. Both of us are self contained. Come with us and we will take good care of you."
Shlok looked at Niranjan who was shell shocked by everything that was going around him. He knew he had no hold over them anymore. Niranjan had bounded all of them using his clever ways and dominating personality. All that was broken in a second. Shlok spoke to him "All your life you were living only for your false prestige and ego. Now live with that alone. Let us see if you are as happy as ever. How could you? I considered you as my God." Shlok's voice almost broke in emotion at the last word.
Astha and Varad went to him to offer their support. They all saw him one last time before going to their rooms to take their packed luggage. All three of them had packed a bare minimum and they brought that down.
Again it was Shlok who spoke. "We are leaving and we want nothing from this house. Enjoy the wealth, the status, the money all by yourself. But this time spare my mother. Already all of us have tortured her too much. At least let me take care of her now."
Astha held Anjali's hand. She asked her if Anjali needed something from here. "I don't need a single thing from here. She removed all her jewellery and went back to her sons. At last she was free to her live. Anjali felt as if she had developed wings and she could fly.
She left with her sons and her daughter in law. At the door she looked back one last time to see the man she had once loved. Anjali didn't know what went wrong where. The possessive love had turned into dominance and physical abuse over the years. She wanted to help him but was unable to do so.
Anjali looked ahead and went out of the dark house into bright sunshine. Niranjan Agnihotri looked at his family leaving him stranded and alone.
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