BANARAS GHAT,
The sun was beginning to set, and the entire ghat glowed golden.
Vani walked down the steps slowly, holding her dupatta close to her chest.
She had come here to find peace...
...but instead, the moment she reached the lower steps, she froze.
Her entire family was gathered there.
Her mother.
Her father.
Her brother.
Her Nani
Her Mama
Her Sister
And every family member
All standing together.
And all of them... angry.
Vani's heartbeat quickened.
She walked toward them quietly.
The first to turn around was her mother.
Her eyes were swollen from crying, and the moment she saw Vani, she said sharply:
"Vani! Tum yaha ho? Tumhe pata bhi hai kya hua?"
Vani stepped closer, confused.
"Kya hua, Maa?"
Her father's voice came next-cold, disappointed.
"Vidya ka result aaya hai."
Vani's eyes widened.
"Result? Par-"
Before she could complete the sentence, her mother cut her in between:
"Fail ho gayi hai Vidya!"
Vani stepped back in shock.
"Fail...? But Vidya toh-"
Her father shouted, "Use padhayi kisne karwani thi? Tumne!"
Vani's throat tightened.
"Maine...? Par Papa main toh-"
"Chup!" her mother snapped.
"Teri wajah se na uska dhyaan kahin aur lag gaya. Tum dono behne jo har waqt ladti rehti ho... uski padhayi toh bigadni hi thi!"
Vani felt her eyes sting with unshed tears.
She tried explaining softly:
"Maa... Vidya mujhse baat hi nahi karti. Woh khud-"
Her father glared.
"Toh tum badi behen ho ya nahi?! Tumhari zimmedari thi! Tumhari!"
The blame hit her like a slap.
Before she could gather herself, her Nani stepped forward, her face full of anger.
"Aur tumhari wajah se aaj Ghat par jo tamasha hua... uska kya?"
Vani froze.
Nani continued, voice loud, making everyone nearby look at them:
"Singh family aur Yadav family sab dekh rahe the!"
"Hamari izzat ka kabada kar diya tumne!"
Vani's heart sank.
The memory of her torn blouse flashed again.
Her fingers trembled.
She whispered,
"Nani... woh meri galti nahi thi. Woh... accident tha."
Nani laughed bitterly.
"Accident? Sab ke samne blouse phatna accident hota hai?!"
Her mother added,
"Log kya kahenge? Kis ghar ki ladki aisi hoti hai?"
Vani shook her head desperately,
"Woh... kisi ne mere piche se..."
But before she could explain, her Nani yelled,
"Bas! Bahane mat banao!"
People on the ghat started staring.
Whispers spread around them like smoke.
"Yeh wahi ladki hai na jiska blouse phat gaya tha..."
"Arey dekh, uspar hi baat ho rahi hai..."
"Singh family bhi vahaan thi na..."
Vani felt small.
Embarrassed.
Shattered.
Her father turned away in disgust.
"Chalo. Yaha aur tamasha mat karo."
Her mother added,
"Hume yaha aana bhi nahi chahiye tha. Sirf sharam mil rahi hai."
Nani's final words hit her hardest:
"dekh teri wajah se poore parivaar ki izzat mitti me mil gai."
Vani stood still.
Silent.
Tears finally falling.
It wasn't her fault,
But no one wanted to hear her.
No one wanted to understand.
.
.
.
.
.
.
When they reached home, the silence was heavier than thunder.
Vani stood quietly, her hands trembling, still shaken from the blouse incident.
Her mother looked embarrassed.
Her father looked angry.
And Nani... she was ready to explode.
Nani pointed her finger at Vani:
" Yadav aur Singh family ke saamne hamari izzat mitti me mila di!"
Vani's voice was barely a whisper:
"Nani... woh accident tha-"
"Chup!" Nani shouted.
"Har jagah bas tum hi problem ho!"
Her mother lowered her head, feeling ashamed.
Vani's father exhaled sharply, fed up.
Then Nani sat down heavily and said the harshest words:
"Mujhe toh seedha seedha lag raha hai... Vani hum sab par bojh ban gayi hai."
Vani's heart dropped.
Her mother looked shocked.
Her father stayed silent.
Nani continued mercilessly:
"Na rehna aata hai, na sambhalna. Har jagah musibat. Isse ghar me rakhe rakhe main thak gayi hoon."
Vani blinked rapidly, trying not to cry.
Suddenly Nani turned to vani parents:
"Bas. Ab iski shaadi kar do."
Everyone froze.
"Jitni jaldi ho sake utna achha. Hamare ghar ke liye bhi achha, iske liye bhi."
Then she added:
"Kal se ladka dekhna shuru kar do. Koi accha, sundar, thoda ameer ladka pakad lo. Vani ka zimmedari hum nahi sambhal sakte."
Vani stepped back in disbelief.
Pakhi stood near the door, pretending to be concerned.
But inside, she was glowing with satisfaction.
"Perfect," she thought.
"Ab ise main sabse alag kar ke hi rahungi."
She watched Vani's tears with hidden joy.
Every accusation...
Every blame...
Every harsh word...
...was exactly what Pakhi wanted.
.
.
.
.
Vani closed her room door softly and sat on the floor.
The moment she was alone, her emotions broke like a dam.
She cried silently but painfully, trying to muffle her sobs with her hands.
Her mind kept repeating Nani's words:
"Bojh hai... bojh."
Her chest hurt hearing it again.
She whispered to herself:
"I earn for myself...
I pay my college fees...
I take Vidya's responsibility...
I manage everything..."
Tears flowed again.
"Pakhi di was allowed to study... to finish her post graduation...
She got married at 26...
No one said a word to her."
Her voice broke:
"Then why me? I'm just 19... why is Nani forcing marriage on me?"
Her heart felt crushed.
With trembling hands, she picked up her phone and wrote:
Vani:
Charu... I want to go with you to Lucknow.
She waited only 10 seconds before Charu replied:
Charu:
I'm coming tomorrow morning at 5:00 AM.
Pack your bag.
We'll go together.
Vani felt relief for the first time that day.
She wiped her tears and whispered:
"Thank you, Charu..."
.
.
.
.
.
NEXT DAY
At 4:45 AM, Vani quietly stepped out of her room.
Everyone was still asleep.
The house felt silent... cold... distant.
She looked around one last time -
not with anger, but with sadness.
At 5:00 AM, Charu arrived in an auto.
"Ready?" Charu asked softly.
Vani nodded, holding a small bag.
TO BE CONTINUED
.
.
.
__________________________________________
Write a comment ...