The Shekhawat Mansion was bathed in the golden light of dusk as Suman sat cross-legged on the couch, waiting for Amay to return from work.
A soft smile played on her lips as she scrolled through her phone, pausing now and then to glance at the clock.
This had become their little routine-waiting for him to return, then talking about their day as though no one else existed in the world.
The jingle of keys at the door made her heart leap. She quickly placed her phone down and walked to the door, her face lighting up as Amay stepped inside, looking a little worn but undeniably handsome in his office attire.
"Welcome home," she said, as he ran a hand through his hair, loosening his tie.
"Thanks, Sumi," he said, offering her a tired smile. "Long day."
"Coffee or tea?" she asked, already heading toward the kitchen.
"Coffee, please."
Within minutes, they were seated on the couch, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air.
Suman placed her cup on the table and turned toward Amay, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Okay, now tell me-how was your day?"
Amay chuckled, leaning back. "Typical office stuff. Meetings, reports, a lot of emails. But-" he paused, his eyes twinkling as he leaned forward. "You know that big project I was talking about? We finally wrapped it up today."
Her eyes widened with delight. "That's amazing, Amay! I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks," he said, his smile softening as he looked at her. "Now, your turn. What's the 'Suman Report' for today?"
Suman grinned, taking a dramatic pause before launching into her day. "So, you know how the school renovations were finally completed? We got to see the new classrooms today. Everything is so perfect now-bright, airy, and the kids loved it! I even got emotional for a moment."
Amay listened intently, his chin resting on his hand, as she narrated her day with her usual animated expressions and hand gestures.
Her joy was infectious, and he couldn't help but smile at her excitement.
"And," she added, her tone softening, "I got a call from Namita today."
"Ah, how is she?"
"She's fine," Suman said, her voice tinged with melancholy. "But I miss her so much, Amay. Kolkata feels so far away. I used to see her almost every day, and now... it's just calls and texts."
Amay reached out, placing his hand over hers. "I know you miss her, Sumi. But think of it this way-she's happy in her new life, and you're happy in yours. And whenever you want, we can visit her. Just say the word."
Her heart warmed at his thoughtfulness, and she squeezed his hand in gratitude. "Thanks, Amay. You always know what to say."
He shrugged with a playful smile. "That's what best friends are for, right?"
Suman's chest tightened at his words, her feelings for him bubbling just beneath the surface.
Though she hadn't yet voiced her love, her actions spoke volumes.
From ensuring his favorite meals were ready to listening to his smallest complaints, she showed her care in every little thing.
As they sat there, the quiet hum of their life together filling the room, Suman felt a deep sense of contentment.
They hadn't consummated their marriage, and she hadn't confessed her love yet, but their bond was growing stronger every day.
She leaned back, sipping her coffee as Amay flipped through a magazine.
This, she thought, looking at him out of the corner of her eye, this is happiness.
Little did she know, Amay was thinking the same thing, sneaking glances at her as the evening melted into night.
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The Agrawal living room was bustling with chatter as Meena's sister introduced the prospective groom's family.
Meena beamed with pride, ignoring Aarushi's discomfort as she sat stiffly beside her mother.
The groom, Rohan, was every bit the sleazy stereotype Aarushi dreaded.
His eyes never stayed on her face, constantly darting over her body, making her feel exposed and vulnerable.
"Such a good match," Meena whispered to her sister, ignoring the clear unease in her daughter's expression.
Aarushi shifted uncomfortably, trying to avoid Rohan's gaze.
He leaned back lazily, his grin widening every time their eyes accidentally met.
Her heart sank; she had told her mother repeatedly that she wasn't ready for marriage, let alone to someone like him, but Meena dismissed her protests.
Meena caught Aarushi's eye and gestured sharply toward the hallway, her meaning clear. "Take him to your room, talk privately."
"I don't want to-" Aarushi began, her voice shaking.
"Go," Meena hissed through clenched teeth, her fake smile firmly plastered on for the groom's family.
Aarushi reluctantly obeyed, her stomach churning with dread as she led Rohan to her room.
As soon as the door closed, Aarushi's fears were confirmed.
Rohan leaned against the door, locking it with a soft click that sent a chill down her spine.
His gaze roamed over her shamelessly, and he smirked.
"You're even prettier up close," he said, taking a step toward her.
Aarushi backed away, her voice trembling. "What are you doing?"
"Don't be shy, sweety," he cooed, his tone dripping with sleaze. "Give me a kiss. I know you've been dying to."
Her eyes widened in horror. "What the hell? Stay away from me!" she shouted, but her voice was muffled by the noise downstairs.
Rohan smirked, undeterred, and kept advancing.
Aarushi's heart raced as she tried to maintain distance, stepping back until she hit the edge of her bed.
She felt trapped.
"Please, someone help!" she screamed, gathering all her courage.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Aarushi's heart leaped.
She pushed Rohan away with all her might and rushed to open it.
Standing there was Tina, her sister-in-law, looking confused but concerned.
"Kya hua, Aarushi? Sab thik hai na?" Tina asked, but Aarushi couldn't hold back her sobs.
("What happened, Aarushi? Is everything okay?")
She threw herself into Tina's arms, trembling.
"Bhabhi," Aarushi choked out, pointing at Rohan, who was still smirking like a bastard. "He... he misbehaved with me!"
Tina's eyes darkened with fury.
She stepped forward, her hands balling into fists.
"Ohh," Rohan sneered, looking Tina up and down. "You didn't tell me your bhabhi's a bombshell too. How about we try a threesome, girls?"
The words barely left his mouth before Tina's heel connected with his groin.
Rohan doubled over, a pained scream escaping his lips.
Tina leaned down, her voice dripping with venom. "Threesome karna hai tujhe? Aaja, bataati hoon kaise karte hain!"
("You want a threesome? Come on, I'll show you how it's done!")
She kicked him again, harder this time, and Rohan crumpled to the floor, clutching himself in agony.
Without missing a beat, Tina grabbed his hair and dragged him out of the room.
"Bhabhi!" Aarushi gasped, following closely, her tears now replaced with awe.
The scene downstairs froze as Tina hauled Rohan down the stairs, throwing him on the last few steps so he rolled and landed at his parents' feet.
Gasps filled the room.
"Tina! What is the meaning of this?" Meena shrieked, her face pale.
Rohan's mother rushed to her son, wailing as she saw blood trickling from his forehead.
But Tina was unrelenting.
She kicked Rohan in the stomach, making him groan. "Apne iss ghatiya bete ko yahan se leke jaaiye!" she snapped at his mother, her voice thunderous. "Aur sun lo, aaj ke baad yeh ghar ke aas-paas ya Aarushi ke paas dikhayi diya na, toh aaj sirf laat-ghusse maare hain-agli baar seedha gala kaat dungi!"
("Take your disgusting son away from here!" "And listen, if he is seen near this house or anywhere near Aarushi again, today it's just kicks and punches-next time, I'll slit his throat!")
Her words sent a chill through the room.
Rohan's mother flinched, her face pale with fear.
Without another word, she scrambled to pull her son to his feet, dragging him out of the house with his father following close behind, muttering apologies.
The living room fell silent.
Tina turned to Meena, her eyes blazing.
"And you," Tina said coldly, "stop treating Aarushi like a bargaining chip. She's your daughter, not some property to sell off to the highest bidder."
Meena opened her mouth to argue but fell silent under Tina's withering glare.
Aarushi stepped closer to Tina, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Thank you, bhabhi," she whispered.
Tina softened, placing a reassuring hand on Aarushi's shoulder. "You're not alone, Aarushi. Never forget that."
And with that, Tina led Aarushi out of the room, leaving the rest of the Agrawals to sit in stunned silence.
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Ayush walked out of his office, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension from a long day.
Just as he was about to head to his car, he noticed his father, Bhupendra Agrawal, stepping into a black car with none other than Bhadresh Rao.
His brows knitted in confusion. "Papa aur Mr. Rao ek saath? Yeh dono kaha jaa rahe hain?"
("Papa and Mr. Rao together? Where are they going?")
Something about the scene felt off, and his gut urged him to follow.
Without wasting a second, Ayush slid into his car and started trailing them, making sure to maintain enough distance to avoid suspicion.
For the next hour, the cars weaved through the city and eventually reached the outskirts, stopping in front of a large bungalow.
Ayush parked his car a fair distance away, far enough to stay out of their sight but close enough to observe.
Stepping out quietly, Ayush muttered to himself, "Yeh dono yaha kya kar rahe hain?"
("What are they doing here?")
The bungalow appeared eerie, its high walls and guarded entrance adding to the ominous vibe.
He watched as two guards let Bhupendra and Bhadresh inside without hesitation.
Ayush clenched his jaw, knowing he wouldn't be afforded the same courtesy.
Scanning the perimeter, he noticed a back door with no guards in sight.
Moving swiftly and silently, he slipped toward it, his heart thudding in his chest.
The door creaked slightly as he pushed it open, and he froze for a moment, listening for any sounds.
When no alarm was raised, he stepped inside, navigating through the dimly lit halls.
Voices reached his ears, muffled but growing clearer as he moved closer.
What he saw next froze him in his tracks.
His father and Bhadresh Rao stood in a large room, the air thick with desperation and fear.
A group of young women, their hands tied and tears streaming down their faces, were huddled together, pleading for freedom.
Ayush felt his blood run cold as he took in the scene.
Bhupendra's voice broke the silence. "Rao Sahab, main ab aur nahi kar sakta."
("Mr. Rao, I can't do this anymore.")
Bhadresh turned to him with a scowl. "Kya matlab hai tumhara?"
("What do you mean?")
"Yeh sab jab shuru kiya tha, tab sirf ek hi maksad tha-paisa kamana. Lekin ab nahi. Mujhe lagta hai hume police ko sab bata dena chahiye," Bhupendra said, his voice trembling.
("When all this started, the only purpose was to make money. But not anymore. I think we should tell the police everything.")
Bhadresh let out a dark, mocking laugh. "Tum pagal ho gaye ho? Itne saalo ki mehnat par tum paani pherna chahte ho? Bhupendra, yeh business illegal hai, aur yeh aurat-bechne ka dhandha hai!"
("Have you lost your mind? You want to ruin years of hard work? Bhupendra, this business is illegal, and it's women trafficking!")
Ayush felt like the ground beneath him had vanished.
Women trafficking?
His father?
His hands trembled as he clenched them into fists, trying to process the horror before him.
Bhupendra's voice broke through his daze. "Main jaanta hoon, aur issi wajah se maine apne bete ko force kiya ki woh Tina se shaadi kare. Lekin main jaanta hoon, woh khush nahi hai. Issliye ab aur nahi."
("I know, and that's why I forced my son to marry Tina. But I also know he's not happy. That's why I can't do this anymore.")
Bhadresh's laughter grew louder, colder. "Wah, kya baat hai! Bahut pyaar aa raha hai apne bete par. Aana bhi chahiye! Poor guy. Usse toh khud uska pyar nahi mila. Aur Tina?" He smirked cruelly. "Usse laga main uski zidd puri kar raha hoon. Balki sach toh yeh hai ki main usse bhi bechne wala tha. Lekin uska sahi daam nahi mila, issliye tumhare bete se shaadi karwa di."
("Wow, how touching! So much love for your son. Well, it should be! Poor guy. He didn't even get his own love. And Tina?. She thought I was fulfilling her stubborn demands. But the truth is, I was going to sell her too. However, I didn't get the right price for her, so I got her married to your son instead.")
Ayush's vision blurred with rage.
"What the fuck?" he whispered under his breath.
The revelation left him stunned.
Bhadresh Rao had intended to sell his own daughter?
The thought made Ayush's stomach churn.
Tina had been blissfully unaware of her father's monstrous plans.
Bhadresh wasn't done.
He stepped closer to Bhupendra, his tone threatening. "Tumne bhi koi sadhu wala kaam nahi kiya hai, Bhupendra. Issliye ab iss khel se peeche nahi hat sakte. Varna tumhari beti ki keemat lagane mein mujhe zyada waqt nahi lagega."
("You haven't done any saintly work either, Bhupendra. That's why you can't back out of this game now. Otherwise, it won't take me long to put a price on your daughter.")
Bhupendra paled, his feet seemingly glued to the ground.
From his hiding spot, Ayush's rage boiled over.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. "Aarushi aur Tina ke saath yeh sab? Never! Jab tak main zinda hoon, in dono ko kuch nahi hone dunga."
("Aarushi and Tina going through all this? Never! As long as I am alive, I won't let anything happen to them.")
But rage wouldn't suffice.
Ayush knew he needed evidence-solid proof to bring down Bhadresh Rao and end this heinous operation.
He slipped out the way he came, his mind racing.
He wouldn't act impulsively; he'd build a case, expose everything, and ensure that Bhadresh Rao and his network of horrors were punished for their crimes.
For Aarushi.
For Tina.
For every woman who had suffered because of these monsters.
Hello Everyone!
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