Madhuri turned to Anupriya with wide eyes, lined with confusion, before glancing at Vartika, silently seeking her reaction to her brother's statement. "Abuse?" Arjun nodded, affirming the grim truth. Her eyebrows furrowed, knitting together into a frown, and her nose crinkled. "He never raised his hand to beat me. She did. A few times. I think you misunderstood my words."

Anupriya heaved a sigh of relief to hear her friend had escaped from physical violence from her husband, yet her forehead remained marred with tension lines. "Okay. So, he never beat you. That's a relief. Let's set aside the punishment aspect for now. Could you tell us about what might trigger his anger?"

Madhuri's fingers fidgeted, and she tucked a stray tendril of her disheveled hair behind her ear. "Well, he's a busy man, and I think that made him impatient. Also, after a tiring day at work, he expected better food at home. But somehow, I could never get it right. It's all my fault!" She said, burying her head in her hands, her voice quivering.

Anupriya placed her hand over her friend's shoulder, offering a sympathetic smile to the others in the room. Arjun shook his head and shot a knowing stare at Vartika, who let out a disappointed sigh and averted her eyes from her brother.

A little girl stomped her way towards Arjun with a fluffy white kitten tailing her. "Mamu! You so mean! My chocolate!"

Madhuri looked up from her hands at the furious young lady with eyes filled with tears. Arjun's eyes widened and resisted the urge to slam his palm against his forehead. He gulped and offered an apologetic smile to his dear niece. The kitten sat near the child, wagging its tail, and cleaning her paws by licking them without a concern for the other occupants of the room.

"Doll..."

"Jiya, come here!"

"Mean! You so mean!" she exclaimed, turning her face away from her perplexed and perturbed uncle, who mentally scolded himself for taking her chocolate on account of his own late-night craving.

Her narrowed eyes turned wide open when they fell on the pale face with fresh tear stains of Madhuri. She alternated between the unknown woman and her uncle before giving him a weak smile.

"She was crying, so you give chocolate. Not mean! Sweet Mamu!" she said, pulling her uncle's cheeks before she turned towards Madhuri, whose frown had given way to smile after listening to Jiya's kind words.

"No cry, Didi! I will get you one more! No cry!"

Vartika smiled at the exchange between her daughter and her patient, and the sense of pride made her shoulders wide. Madhuri's heart swelled with warmth as she basked in the soothing light of Jiya's innocent and selfless concern. Joy dawned over the horizon of desolation, and the corners of her lips twitched upwards. She nodded at the pouting child, who clapped in joy in response to her affirmation.

"Good girl! I'm Jiya Malhotra Solanki and this is my kitty, Lily. You?" she asked, forwarding her hand for a handshake.

Madhuri shook her tiny hand. "Hi, Jiya! I'm Madhuri Shu..." Her lips trembled and fresh tears whirled in her eyes, struggling to complete her name. "I'm Madhuri."

"Nice! No cry! If Mamu makes you cry, I make him cry! And Mamu, get me treats!" said Jiya, turning to her amused uncle, who nodded at her order like an obedient student punished by their teacher.

"Sure, Doll! I will get it when I go out later. Extra treat for you because you are such a sweetheart," said Arjun, ruffling her hair and chuckling as she huffed in annoyance at him for messing with her hair.

"Bye, Didi! Come on, Lily!" Jiya bid her farewell with a final smile before sauntering off to her room. The kitten paused its grooming, gave itself a good shake, and then followed its young companion.

"Sorry about that, Madhuri. My daughter can get over enthusiastic!" said Vartika, giving an awkward smile to Madhuri for the interruption Jiya had caused. Vartika felt sure it was a welcome distraction from the anguish experienced by her crestfallen and shattered patient.

"She's adorable and kind! Just like you!"

Vartika beamed at Madhuri. Arjun turned to Avantika and gestured to check her phone. Avantika nodded and dug her phone out of her handbag to read the message from her boss. She shot an incredulous look to her senior with an arched eyebrow and narrowed eyes. Arjun shook his head in disbelief and rolled his eyes.

"Do it!" said the next message he sent to her and turned away from her towards Madhuri.

"Madhuri, Anupriya, we need to go collect Madhuri's valuables and legal documents."

Color faded from Madhuri's face and her lips twitched back into a thin line. She clenched her fists and shook her head vehemently. Her heaving chest and fidgeting fingers made Vartika anxious about her health. "No! I'm not going there! I don't want to face them!"

"I'm afraid we have no choice, Madhuri. We need your legal documents like a marriage certificate among others to file for divorce. We'll have to go," said Arjun, ignoring the piercing stare of his elder sister.

Madhuri searched for words; her eyebrows knitted in consternation. She squirmed on the plush sofa, which now felt like a throne of thorns, the distressing memories of her humiliation at the clinic exacerbating her discomfort. Her lower lip quivered with helplessness, a visible manifestation of her inner turmoil.

Anupriya squeezed her shoulder before stroking it. Madhuri eyed her with tremulous eyes, seeking her views about the situation. "It's okay, Madhuri. We need to do it someday. Better sooner than later!"

Madhuri stared at her friend, contemplating her decision for a few moments, and exhaled from the bottom of her heavy chest before she gave a weak nod of acceptance.

****

"You?! How dare you come back here? Did your lover not accept you into his home?" asked Jaya, glaring at Madhuri as if she were the dirt on her shoe.

Madhuri gripped Anupriya's hand, who gave her a reassuring squeeze. "We have no interest in answering your questions. We just want to collect Madhuri's jewelery, other valuables, and her documents," said Anupriya, returning Jaya's glare.

"Maa, who is it?" asked Sameer, walking in to find his wife and her friend at his doorstep at loggerheads with his mother.

"Madhuri..."

Madhuri sniffled and turned her gaze away from Sameer, unable to look at his face without a thousand daggers piercing her heart for trusting him and weaving myriads of dreams of a beautiful life with him.

The voices in her head mocked her for her naivety and blamed her for the hell that had befallen her. She wanted to shut her ears and run away from the haunting voices in her subconsciousness.

"Oh, really? Why should we allow you? This ingrate woman..."

"Be careful with your words! Don't expect us to tolerate your taunts!" said Anupriya, alternating her glare between mother and the son.

Jaya took a predatory step towards the young women. "Why? What will you do, huh?"

"Maa, what are you doing?" asked Sameer, trying to stop his mother, but she shrugged his arm away.

"No, son! Such shameless and disrespectful women should learn their lesson!"

Jaya grabbed Madhuri by her forearms and raised her right hand to slap her before either of the women could react.

"Maa! NO!"

"Mrs. Shukla, if I were you, I would not do what I had on my mind," said Arjun, walking in, much to Anupriya and Madhuri's surprise, as he had told them he would stay in the car.

A condescending snigger escaped Jaya's cracked lips. "Oh, wow! So, you brought your lover with you, you disgusting woman!"

Sameer let out an agitated sigh and hung his head. "Mrs. Shukla, looks like you always have misunderstandings. Because every part of your sentence is as false as your son's fake concern right now," he said, pushing his palm into the side pockets of his pants and leaning against the wall of the lobby.

Jaya huffed in exasperation and jerked away Madhuri's arm before stomping her way towards Arjun. "How dare you come to my home and point fingers at my son? Who the hell are you?"

Arjun smirked at her. He towered over Jaya's 4'8 feet frame with his 6'4 feet height, and her annoyance intensified as his height made it difficult to intimidate him. "Arjun Malhotra."

"And who is that?"

"Your son can Google the name and tell you. Don't worry. He'll have enough time to search and tell you when he comes to meet you in the prison!"

Jaya's arm dropped to her side, and she blanched. "Prison?" she asked in a raspy whisper.

Arjun turned towards the stairway with a widened smirk. "Officer, it's your time to shine now!"

Officers in khaki uniform made their way towards the confused group. The female constable twisted Jaya's arm behind her back, despite her vehement struggle, and cuffed them.

"Mrs. Jaya Shukla, you are under arrest for domestic violence, physical assault, defamation and criminal conspiracy."