It was Sunday morning. Sidharth was reading newspaper in the front yard. Sulochana comes and sits beside him.

Sulochana: What are you reading beta?

Sidharth: I am done with reading the news, maa. I was searching for matrimonial advertisement for Renuka. I have spoken to few panditjis as well.

Sulochana: Sidharth, I have found a groom for Renuka.

Sidharth: (Happily) Really?

Sulochana: Yes, he is a lecturer.

Sidharth: Wow!! That's nice.

Sulochana: It will be his second marriage though.

Sidharth: If he is a good person, this things are very minor maa. Renuka is also a widow, so I don't think she will have any problem with a widower.

Sulochana: There is no doubt about the boy's character. He is as pure as 24 carat gold. But he isn't a widower.

Sidharth: Oh!! Divorcee!! If you are so sure about his character then we don't have to think about this as well. I am sure Renuka will agree.

Sulochana: Yes, she is happy to marry him.

Sidharth: That's a great news. Sana will be so happy to hear it. Maa, fix a meeting at the earliest with him and will get the marriage done without further delay.

Sulochana: Hmmm.. Yes, will do. Even I want this done as soon as possible.
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Arvind: Sana, whatever happened is not right. I can't believe that you left Sidharth citing the reason that he is impotent. It is the worst allegation a male can ever what to take it. This will close all the routes of you returning to him. What if he marries someone?

Sunaina: Sana, is this all because you know that you have a home to return?  This is not your house Sana. This is my husband's home. Go back to your house. Your husband's house now.

Sana: (nods no) Jijaji, please can I stay here in your house until I get the divorce paper signed from him? I promise I won't stay here even a minute extra after getting the paper.

Arvind: Divorce? Sana, you are overreacting. What if the problem is in you? He had been so supportive and never offended you for not conceiving. As far as I know you, you aren't the kind of girl who breaks the relationship. What is it Sana?

Sana: It is what it is Jijaji. Please tell me if I can stay here until I get the papers?

Arvind: I have no problem in you staying here Sana.

Sunaina glares at him and he goes away. All she wanted was to put some brain in Sana to stay with her loving husband instead of taking decision in haste.

Sunaina: But I am not ready to cook food for you or do any of your work. I have had enough.

Sana: I won't ask for anything didi. Don't worry. I just need an address until the paper arrives. I will not trouble anyone after that.

Sunaina: I know, after that you will trouble Amma and Bapu. When will you understand Sana, already Bapu had suffered a lot in those past 5 years when you stayed with us. Do you want to kill them with this shock?

Sana: No didi. I won't go to Lakhanpur as well. I won't burden anyone.

Sunaina: (shocked) What are you going to do? Sana, what's in your mind?

Sana looks away avoiding eye contact. Sunaina held her arms and shook her to compel her to answer.

Sunaina: Tell me Sana, what do you plan to do? Tell me.

Sana: (breaks into tears) To die. I can't stay away from him, I love him so much. I feel incomplete without him.

Sunaina couldn't see her little sister cry. She hugs her tightly.

Sunaina: What is it Bachcha? Why are you doing this? If you can't stay away from him then why did you leave him?

Sana explains her what had all happened and the reason behind her taking this extreme step.

Flashback:

After Sidharth had gone to college, Sulochana asks Renuka to call Sana to her room. Renuka goes and informs Sana to meet Sulochana.

Sulochana: Sana, keep yourself in my place and tell me what would you do if your daughter-in-law can't give you a grandson?

Sana: (nervously) Sa... Saa.. Saasumaa, I.. I.. don't know.

Sulochana: You won't know as well. You don't have a child of your own so won't know the pain of a mother. After Anand's babuji left us, I faced so many difficulties and so much pain in bringing up Anand, Sidharth and Sukanya. Losing Anand furthermore was excruciating. But I survived looking at Sidharth's face. I thought all my dreams will be fulfilled by him. But now I feel like killing myself because I can't imagine him being childless. With you in his life, he can never have his own child.

Sana was so mortified that she literally felt like burying herself inside the earth. She didn't know what to say.

Sulochana: Hence, I have decided to consume this poison. (Keeps a bottle of rat poison on the table infront)

Sana looked at her in shock. Renuka smirks from far.

Sana: No Saasumaa. What are you saying?

Sulochana: Yes, he may be quiet now but soon as the year passes, even he will start feeling that he doesn't have a child of his own. He will go into depression or become mentally ill. I can't see my son suffer so I don't want to stay alive until that day.

Sana: Please Saasumaa. Don't say such things. He loves you a lot, he will be heart broken even if he learns that you had to speak such words.

Sana moves towards the table and picks up the bottle in her hand.

Sana: Please Saasumaa, don't ever think of doing anything like that. I will do my best to conceive and give you a grandchild you've been craving for.

Sulochana: If you had to conceive, you would have conceived long back. You are as good as a barren land. Now there is only one way through which I can see my grandchild.

Sana: You tell me Saasumaa, I can do anything to stop you from taking such extreme step.

Sulochana: Sidharth's marriage with Renuka.

Sana: (shocked and looks at Renuka) Renuka didi?

Renuka doesn't react even a bit hence Sana understood that Renuka has no objection with Sulochana's decision.

Sulochana: Yes, anyways she is my daughter-in-law, she will continue to be my daughter-in-law. Sidharth wanted her to remarry. Why can't she marry Sidharth? What you couldn't fulfill as Sidharth's wife, Renuka will fulfill.

Sana's whole world was collapsing infront of her own eyes. The mere thought of seeing her husband with someone else was unbearable. Sulochana didn't for once spoke about what should Sana do after that? Sana's eyes were glued onto Renuka.

Sulochana: I already spoke to Renuka about it, she has agreed to it as well. I know that I can't convince Sidharth but you can. Ask him to marry Renuka.

Sana couldn't believe that Renuka said yes for this marriage. She wanted her to remarry and spend a happy life but little was she aware that her idea was used to break her own home and give Renuka the shelter.

Sulochana: Will you convince Sidharth? If your answer is no then return me the bottle and I will happily consume it.

Sana nods no with tear filled eyes hiding the bottle behind her back.

Sana: I will convince him...

She said those words and ran back to her room to sit in a corner and burst out crying. Renuka and Sulochana pass a victory smile looking at each other.
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In the evening, Sidharth returns home and finds Sana sitting on the bed. Her eyes were red and she was staring at a wall blankly without even knowing about his arrival. He goes close to her and hugs her from side. She closed her eyes to feel him for the last time but doesn't reciprocate.

Sidharth: What happened sweetheart? Why are you so sad? Did anything happen?

Sana: Nothing (dull)

Sidharth: I am your husband and I can tell by looking at your face that something is wrong. What happened? Did maa say anything?

Sana: No. Why would she say something to me? I am upset with my fate.

Sidharth: What's with this fate now?

Sana: I have tried so many things from almost a year and half now but I still didn't conceive.

Sidharth: Sana, why do you take so much tension? Just calm down, things happen when it has to happen. Give time some time.

Sana: What will time do? Time has nothing to do with it. I've realized that I married a wrong person. After trying so many things, I have come to the conclusion that the fault is in you.

Sidharth: What? What do you mean? (Shocked)

Sana: I mean to say. I think you are im.. im.. impo.. impotent.

Sidharth: What the hell? I have been so supportive and considerate towards your emotions Sana and you are blaming me to be impotent. Have you lost your mind? You seem to be not in your senses.

Sana: I am very well in my senses and I am speaking the truth. My life is spoilt with you. You can't give me a baby. I can't take it anymore. I want to go away from you.

Sidharth: I have had enough of your rubbish talks. Keep quiet now.

Sana: I won't. I will tell the entire city that you are... You are impo.. impotent.

Sidharth: (slaps her) Enough.

Sana: You can't shut my mouth by slapping. How would you prove that you are not impotent?

Sidharth: I don't want to prove anything to anyone. I know what I am.

Sana: You are living in your fantasy. But I know the reality. I am going to my didi's house. Here is the divorce papers.

Sidharth: What? Sana?

He looks at her in shock and then at the paper. Sana was already broken from within and everytime she said the word impotent, the broken pieces of her heart, broke further.

Sidharth: You got it written on this paper as well that I am impotent? I didn't expect this from you Sana. I thought you were speaking out of impulse but you proved me wrong. You want to leave right? Then please leave. I'll get you the horse cart.

Sana: (picks up the trunk) I've already arranged one. He would be arriving shortly. Please sign the papers and send it to me.

Sidharth looked at her in frustration. She dragged the big trunk near the door and the horse cart driver picked it up and kept it in the cart.

Sana went back to the room to get her purse. She looked at him as she picked up the purse. He was sitting with his head down in anger. Her eyes were filled with tears. She walked back to the door. He lifted his head up to find her walking out of the door. His heart ached looking at her go.

Sana looked around the house once, the house which she had arranged and decorated with her own hands and which she was now leaving for someone else.

Sulochana and Renuka stood near the main gate watching her leave. Sana was about to board the cart but she comes back and touches Sulochana's feet to take her blessing.

Sulochana: Khush raho {Be happy}

Sana smirks at her fate as she knew she was leaving behind her happiness here itself and that her mother-in-law's blessing was of no use.

Sana: Renuka didi, please take good care of him.

Renuka: Ofcourse, I will.

Sana gets into the cart with heavy heart. She keeps looking at the house until it disappears in the distance.

Flashback ends

Sunaina: (consoles Sana) Sana, you should have told jijaji about what your saasumaa was doing? She is also a lady. How can she do this to you?

Sana: She is worried about her son. I am unable to give her what she desires. She has always thought about her son and that's what every mother does, right?

Sunaina: So, it's only about her son and you don't matter at all? I am also worried for my sister then. I will speak to jiju.

Sana: No didi please don't tell him anything. Don't make it difficult for him. He won't be able to choose between me and his mother. Please didi, you have to swear on me!

Sunaina looks at her helplessly.

Sunaina: You ain't going to harm to yourself, promise me?

Sana nods okay as she sobs.

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To be continued.. ❤️❤️