The most unexpected things happen when we least expect them or unprepared. It happens all of a sudden making us get away from the usual work making us focus on the newly arrived things. That is not exactly we crave for. Sometimes the usual chores keep us happy and satisfied. But few challenges keeps engaged and excited.

Well, for sudha challenges have been a part of her life. Since her birth she has fought many battles, the most important one being fighting with her innerself to become strong. The comments and hate she recieved from the outside affected her in the beginning due to her innerself mocking her first being inable. But with time she realised it was her insecurities that made her weak and dependent. So she made her head so strong that she paid no heed to the others opinions or voices. She thought fighting her innerself was her biggest achievement as she never felt less or lower to others. She never tried to compare herself with others or match the expectations of others. Even when her father opposed her for studying further after school, she and her dadi stood strong and convinced her father. She used to go by bus like others not wanting to be dependent on anyone. Even then people used to mock her but she made her mind strong that the negativity never disturbed her studies.

And now when her husband is being made suffer for an unnecessary grudge she cannot keep quite and wait for something miraculous happen and save him and family. She would fight with anyone in the world to make them apologise for what they did to her husband.

While she stood confident in her words both her maaji and vikas were tight lipped not wanting to talk to her as zamindar sahab has already heard her clearly. They waited patiently for him to say something and he did after few moments.

" I must admit that you have confidence " he said.

" You mean voice? " She said but it came out as a question.

" There will be a gathering tomorrow with the remaining people of the panchayat and the villagers. We shall discuss about this there " he said after thinking for sometime. He understood that she was not going to stop her fight if he denied her as he already knows who is behind Shyam's condition. He thought discussing with the other people will be the wisest choice for now.

" Thank you sir. We will be there " she said and turned away from him. She walked with the two following her behind.

" Sudha what you are you planning? You said gangadhar should apologise but you never mentioned it would be in front of the villagers " vikas said as soon as they were out of the gate.

" Yes that is what I exactly want. Do you think he will ever apologise to my husband as soon as we tell him? No. He will not do that and moreover everyone will try to convince us by saying how rich they are and how small we are in front of them. So it will be in front of the villagers then " she said with a stern expression.

" Sudha I feel this is not going to end well " Devamma said tensing up. Sudha held both of her hands in hers and looked at her.

" Maaji I know what you are thinking. But trust me if we succeed in doing this all the villagers will get confidence that no matter the caste or religion everyone are equal before the truth. I am trying to make changes not for ourselves but for the villagers as well " Sudha said.

" Only time will tell that sudha. Let's hope nothing goes wrong " vikas whispered the later part.

" Sure bhaiya. And we will pray to God " she said and the trio went to hospital.

Shyam was feeling much better than before. He was able to walk slowly without anyone's help and was also able to eat by himself. Doctor did the checkup and said he will be discharged today by afternoon. His friends were taking care of the formalities for the discharge while vikas said him what happened in the zamindar sahab's house in the morning. He looked tensed but when he thought from her perspective he understood that she was indeed right.

After discharge everyone left to village. Shyam was sitting with his mother and Sudha. While his friend Kalyan was riding the cart. The remaining people are in another cart talking about the incident earlier.

" Shyam be careful man " vikas said when he accidentally tried to hit himself with the stool while sitting on bed.

They all reached home and now shyam was in room taking rest. Everyone gathered in the hall while sudha started to prepare tea for everyone.

" We don't know what will happen tomorrow but we should all be united in this and show them that we are not going to back off until gangadhar himself will apologise " vikas said to which everyone around nodded.

After drinking tea and talking for sometime they all left bidding bye to shyam. Shyam was deeply thinking about tomorrow's panchayat when sudha came to give him medicines.

" Don't worry too much. Everything will be alright " she said placing her hand in his. He nodded and took medicines.

.....

Next day his friends came to Shyam's house to take him to the panchayat as he was still not completely recovered.

They reached the panchayat on time and all the members and gangadhar were waiting for zamindar sahab to show up. All the villagers were astonished when they heard about today's panchayat issue. Deep down they believed shyam was not right in raising his hand against that gangadhar but they just awaited for the outcome.

Meanwhile the car came in which the zamindar sahab along with his son kishore came. They settled themselves in the place where they usually sit, in the middle of all the other members. Zamindar sahab looked at everyone and they all bowed in front of him in respect. Then his gaze landed on gangadhar who was least bothered about the whole situation. He internally snarled at him before he turned his attention towards shyam and his family.

" You may start now " he said to the person who was standing.

" Sahab, Sudha, Shyam's wife lodged a complaint against gangadhar criticising him for beating her husband for no reason. She claims that he must apologise to shyam in front of the villagers " he explained briefly regarding the case while everyone gasped visibly after hearing the last part as they were aware about the previous statement.

Gangadhar smirked after hearing the allegation against him and raised his brows when mentioned about the apology part. He thought this was a joke and didn't mind at all.

" Okay. Now shyam you can tell us what really happened with you " zamindar sahab said.

" Sahab that day I was going back home after briefly meeting you. As soon as I was out of your gate, gangadhar and his men held me captive and hit me leading to me admitting in the hospital. For that my wife, sudha has lodged a complaint and I do believe he must apologise for what he had done " shyam said.

" Very well then. Let me tell you that it is in his own will to apologise for his actions. Am I right? " Zamindar said and turned towards gangadhar who was still standing without any emotions.

" If you say so. But I don't have any will to apologise him. He had hit me in the village as well and for that he is ought to apologize first " Gangadhar said and looked towards shyam.

" Is it shyam? " Zamindar asked shyam now.

" Yes sahab but he talked ill about my wife and I do not stand someone talking about my wife with bad intentions and for that reason I had to raise my hand on him " shyam said with full of confidence and self defence.

Sudha's heart filled with happiness and eyes with tears after hearing his words. He literally took her to a stage where she never imagined will be given to her.

" If he had talked ill then does that give you the right to hit him? " Zamindar asked after sometime. Shyam was unprepared for this question and he was silent. Slight murmuring started among the villagers and sudha came in front.

" Sahab I think I would like to answer your question. As you mentioned he doesn't have any right to hit him but who gave him the right to talk ill about me in front of my husband. Afterall he was right all along? " She questioned answering his previous statement.

" Look lady we are rich people and you are just labours and daily wagers. We are the one who provide you with employment. What if we say something to you huh? Does that change your profession or will you leave your job and live your lives on your own without our employment? " Gangadhar's father spoke up now looking furious.

" We might be workers but does that mean we should hear your bad intended words? What if we leave your job? We can find somewhere else and get our stomach filled. It is not like we pawned our hardwork and life to you " sudha said feeling sad(for his words) yet determined.

" Really? If you are so eager to earn on your own and in your way then show it. Now by words but by actions. Then I am ready to apologise to your husband in front of the whole village " gangadhar said making everyone shocked.

" What does it mean? " Sudha asked confused.

" It is very simple. Your husband had taken money from me. With that he bought his home and the land in which he does agriculture. For the home there is no money to be paid and as of land there is still a lot of money to be cleared. And if you are able to clear the debt within a month of time then he will apologise your husband and you are free to live your lives. There is no one who will raise their finger towards you " zamindar sahab explained. Shyam's forehead filled with sweat and sudha pursed her lips thinking deeply. She looked at her husband who was looking at her.

" Sudha we don't have any money right now. And clearing the debt within a month is completely stupid. I don't want to do all this for a mere apology from him. We can just leave the matter here " shyam whispered desperately to sudha.

" And what? Get humiliated again and again from everyone? No, I am not going to back down. I don't want anyone raising their fingers at you anymore. I will deal with this. Just trust me " she whispered back.

All the panchayat members and the villagers were talking to each other and gangadhar smirked knowing that shyam will not be able to pay so much sum in a month.

" We will pay zamindar sahab " sudha said out loudly shocking everyone. Gangadhar's mouth opened wide with shock and few people were still processing her words.

" Good. Then on the same day of next month you shall be repaying my debt and get an apology from gangadhar and if you fail to repay then you will be apologising the whole panchayat and gangadhar. Do you accept it? " Zamindar asked sudha. She nodded and they declared the end of the panchayat.

Shyam stood there itself thinking about the money and the declaration. He was not understanding how to manage so much money.

" Don't think too much. I have given my word to them. So it will be me who will take care of arranging money. You just take care and get well soon completely " she said to him holding his hand. He was astonished for a moment to realise that his wife was speaking to him with so much confidence yet he was still in dilemma. He would never admit it in public but he was surely not proud of himself for being a coward. He was very weak and vulnerable compared to his wife who being a handicapped still managed to give a word to them without a second thought.

Ah finally an update. I know I am late again but my dear husband made some unplanned plans on our wedding anniversary (23rd December) and also there was a family gathering we had to attend. So I couldn't make time to give an update.
By the way thank you so much for your patience and love 😘 ❤️
So let me know your thoughts.
Till then bye...