''Trust'! 'Faith'! 'Belief'! have these words ceased to exist? Can't we trust someone without worrying about all negative things? Can't we lay our faith in someone? Belief, is it that difficult to believe someone today?',

thinks Meher resting on her bed.

She is fed up of crying.

He after doing the shameful offence, waited for her to fully gain back her consciousness. Then he dropped her to her home!

Meher having zero courage and strength after going through the most painful and life shattering event of her life, submitted to his decision of dropping her to her house. She obviously kept quiet throughout the ride to her home. Truth be told she didn't even know where she is going and with whom - the culprit!

Dropping her at the front of her home, he doesn't even care to make sure whether she reached inside her home properly or not, and he leaves, caring less about her.

What it took for her to cover the short distance to get inside her home, only she knows! The pain; the burning sensation don't seem to cease ever!
Bruised and hurt, Meher is completely shattered! Slowly she reaches her room making sure no one get hold of her. She needs time to calm down. She is not in a state to react. She wants to stay quiet and think about it. Accept it! Because acceptance is necessary for moving on with her life. But life? Does it even have any value for her right now?

Suicidal thought is out of the list because being a dotted daughter she can never betray the entrusted faith of her father. She cannot abandon her family! Despite the fact that her Ammi and Khala look after most of the family matters but that doesn't mean she is freed from all the responsibilities towards her family. In fact her getting matured much earlier than her age, binds her all the more to her family and becomes a restrain from trying suicidal attempts.

She cannot even share this incident with anyone! The reason is somewhat the same as to her not attempting suicide! And then, it's a shame isn't it? And also will they understand? From where would she start dictating? How much would she share and how much would she keep from them out of guilt and shame, she knows not!

She shuts her eyes tight in order to refrain her mind from stop thinking over and over again! Not just physically but she is mentally tired too. Taking a deep breath, the first thing she decides is to change her clothes. The clinging of the clothe to her skin is giving her a sense of disgust! She is going to discard this dress of hers, she decides! Slowly she walks to her cupboard, bringing out her white night dress she goes into the bathroom to change. She also needs to wash, it's burning like hell! She needs to take bath too, her mind is clouded with all dirty thoughts about herself and to think rationally, she needs to calm herself down. She knows bath will work for her!

Standing under the shower, she couldn't control herself any longer and bursts out into cry! And why won't she? She has all the rights to cry! To bring out all her pent up frustration! Anger? there is none! Because she is left with zero stamina to shower her anger on to the culprit! She knows even to think about him and boiling her blood out of anger for him; cursing him, needs stamina! At this moment she is in a state that if anyone pushes her a little, even with her or his finger, she might collapse on the floor! Because she is not only physically tortured but mentally broken too! Her mind at this moment is blank out of over thinking. She cries hard!

Turning off the shower, dressing up slowly she gets out of the bathroom. The constant burning sensation makes her to feel the urgency to use the washroom. Placing the changed dress and her towel on the bed, Meher gets into the washroom. After having washed, even after which the residue of burning sensation persists, she ends up crying again. Resting her back against the wall of the washroom, she slides down crying throughout, soundlessly.

Jannat who was sharing the bed with her, happens to turn around and out of habit she stretches her hand to place it on Meher's tummy, this is her best sleeping position, she feels secured this way, secured that Meher is there for her and relaxed that she is there for Meher. Her eyes springs open as she instead of feeling Meher's presence, feels the empty bed! As Jannat opens her eyes and searches for Meher, still in her sleeping position, Jannat discovers a vivid red spot on the bed!

She quickly gets up and walking to the washroom of their room, knocks the door softly,

"Badi..!"

When no replies come from the other side, she knocks again,

"Meher!"

"Bohot heavy flow ho raha hai? Main badey waley pads le aun?",

asks Jannat, when she doesn't get any reply from Meher, she presumes that she must not be feeling well enough to reply and hence asks further.

"Main... theek hun...!",

comes Meher's shaky voice.

"Ro rahi ho?",

asks Jannat, concerned, who still takes the reason behind her crying to be the monthly pain.

"Cramps ho rahe hain?",

asks Jannat, softly, concerned.

"Main na Ammi ko bula kar lati hun!",

saying so she turns to leave.

Meher gets scared on her mentioning of their mother. She somehow quickly manages to get up and opens the door, revealing herself in front of Jannat.

The demeanor of Meher, her crying... everything, takes Jannat by shock! She widens her eyes and exclaims,

"Meherrrr!!!"

Her loud voice wakes up Bano and Amaal too.

Getting into the bathroom, in shock, Jannat whilst asking her further, holds the sleeves of Meher's top to check properly,

"Meher ye... kya hua???!!!"

Her touch hurts Meher all the more, she cries in pain,

"Aah!"

Amaal and Bano shocked to find her sister in this state stares her in horror!

Amaal calls out to Meher in shock,

"Didi!!!"

Unable to control herself, Meher burst into cry again!! Fresh tears roll down her cheeks. She looks heavenwards and cries bitterly. She has never felt so helpless ever in her life! She who always tried keeping check on ever move she makes in her life, aware of the fact that her younger sisters would learn from her and follow her path, feels herself as a big failure at this moment! Henceforth, she might not be able to give them any good lesson through her deeds! She feels ashamed of herself! The guilt engulfs her all over again. Her legs turn jelly. Had it not been Jannat supporting her body weight she would have collapsed on the floor right at that moment.

"Ye chont kaise lagi?",

asks Jannat in urgency, her eyes widen open. Her heart beating at tremendous pace. By the look of her, her sister Jannat had already subconsciously understood the reason behind it. But sometimes we reject to accept an ill thought of ours until and unless we hear it from the person himself! That's what Jannat is doing too. She wants to hear it from Meher, not because she would enjoy hearing it from her but because she wants to believe yet that where her mind is going towards, seeing her sister, is all rubbish! This has to be something else. Breathing frantically out of anxiety, trying to control her throbbing heart, Jannat asks again, raising her voice a little to bring out the truth from Meher,

"Meher kisne kiyaaa???"

Meher not in a state to say anything continues crying. Resting her back against the wall she slides down slowly, not having energy to stand for longer period.

"Meher!!!",

calls Jannat, wanting her to speak up. Understanding Meher's state properly but she also knows that Meher needs to speak up only then Jannat would be able to take some step.

She knows if Meher is strong, she is also fragile! Jannat also knows that only she - Jannat, can teach the culprit the right lesson, that he deserves to be taught! But for that Meher needs to speak up in front of Jannat, which she knows would be a tough job!

Surprisingly, this incident not only turned Jannat all the more matured but it also affected her three sisters! With her, even they got matured today.

Amaal who was only known for doing crazy stuffs, too understands the situation of her eldest sister. She chooses to stay by Meher's side and support her! She quickly, changes the bedsheet. As for Amaal she washes the previous bedsheet, as a measure to hide it from their family! Of course it wasn't a big deal even if it weren't washed by her, but sometimes even if it's a minor thing for others to notice, but the guilt inside you, makes the matter to look wider than it is! There is this constant tension that you go through of getting caught even if for others the matter seems to be negligible, and they actually neglect it!

Bano noiselessly leaves the room, entering the kitchen she boils milk and mixes kesar, baadam and sugar into it, so that it gives Meher strength. Bano cries noiselessly, whilst preparing the milk. She is the most sensitive one amongst the four sisters. She literally shivers thinking about what her Meher Didi must be going through right now! She wipes off her tears quickly. Carrying the tray bearing the glass of milk for Meher, she leaves for her room.

As Bano enters with the milk, Meher's eyes fall on her. Bano notices Jannat applying medicines on Meher's wounds and Meher's hissing in pain.
Amaal is busy putting the bedsheet to dry in the varandah. Meher notices all her sisters and suddenly a knot forms in her throat as a realization dawns upon her - this incident not only affected Meher but her sisters alike! This incident not only turned her more matured but made her sisters matured too! It hurts her all the more. She of course wanted her sisters to get matured on few things like fighting with each other over minor stuffs, but she never wanted them to get away from their innocence which she knows they still possess! But today she could see the innocence leaving her girls, and hurts her to the core! And the fact that it is on her account, takes the feeling to another level!

They all help Meher to rest back into the bed. Her whole body aches doing so. They adjust the quilt on to her. Jannat knits her brows secretly and gets adament about punishing the culprit!

Unable to control her anger, Jannat walks to the bedside table, pulling a drawer open she brings out a diary and forwards it in front of Meher and asks,

"Isne kiya na ye sub?"

This skips Meher's heartbeat. She stares Jannat, shocked! She slowly gets up and sits on the bed, Bano and Amaal help her in doing so.

Staring Jannat throughout, she asks,

"Sub parh liya tumne?"

Jannat stares back silently. Her silences is the answer to Meher's question.

Feeling ashamed and heartbroken, Meher bows her head and starts crying again.

"Usse pyar karti ho?",

asks Jannat, politely.

Meher adjusts on the bed. Amaal helps her to set her back against the pillow behind. Whilst all this Meher shares her juzzbaatt regarding the culprit with Jannat and her other three sisters,

"Karti thi! Bohot arse pehle!"

"Ussi ke kehne par..."

It becomes difficult for Meher to control her tears, she cries afresh, and forces her voice out of her choked throat, which hurts her throat so much but she endures, after all when she has endured so much, this is nothing in it's comparison!

"Aaj bhi main... usse milne gayi thi, ye sub khatam karne ke liye!",

she cries bitterly, as the feeling of being fooled and being foolish enough to go to meet him, engulfs her. It feels as if the guilt would strangle her to death!

Jannat unable to bear seeing her hurt and crying sits on the bed moving her hand lovingly on Meher's knees to calm her down. Jannat's heart breaks into million pieces. She is closest to Meher! It becomes difficult for her to endure seeing her in pain!

Standing at corner, Bano weeps silently staring her sisters, especially Meher!

Crying, Amaal asks Meher lovingly,

"Ye kon hai Didi?"

"Mere... mere professor!",

says Meher, nervously.

"Shadi shuda the. Mujhe pata nahi tha.",

says Meher, shaking her head into negative.

"Sharam aati hai....",

she trails off and bursts into tears again.

"Nahi Didi!",

console Bano and Amaal in unison.

Rubbing their hands on Meher's back lovingly. Giving her strength.

Jannat stares Meher, knitting her brows, feeling sorry for her and silently getting prepared to take revenge! Because she knows the juzzbaatt of the Mirza sisters at this moment can only be soothed when they do something major! Takes a major step!

They all cry silently with Meher!

Controlling herself, she looks towards Jannat and says,

"Isliye Khala jab Salman Beigh ke saath thi.... tumhe lagta hai main unke khilaf hun?",

she asks Jannat.

"Jannat meri rooh kampti thi ye soch ke ki iska hashra acha nahi hoga!",

she says shaking her head into negative, crying throughout.

Getting up out of anger, Jannat says with full power, feeling the adrenaline rush,

"Abhi police ke paas jakar iske khilaf F.I.R. likhate hain!"

Meher gets scared! Looking towards Jannat, she shakes her head into negative in quick succession,

"Na..hi... nahi... Jannat... nahi... police... nahi... please... Jannat...!",

Meher gets anxious, as she knows how Jannat is! When she decides something, it gets difficult for others to change her decision. And Meher doesn't want to complain to police at all!

Amaal and Bano hold Meher, concerned.

Jannat gets pissed off by Meher's foolishness. She raises her voice to put brain into her sister,

"Meher he raped you!"

"Humare paas abhi bhi waqt hai, hum usse ander karwa sakte hain, taki wo kisi aur ke saath ye harkat na kare!",

says Jannat.

Meher shuts her eyes tight, crying. Bano cries along.

Opening her eyes, Meher pleads Jannat, crying,

"Nahi Jannat, subko pata chal jayega!"

"Main Ammi-Abu se kabhi nazrein nahi mila paungi!"

"Meri zindagi, mera carrier... sub kuch khatam ho jayega!",

says Meher, whilst crying bitterly.

Jannat hearing her Meher, falls into dilemma and looks heavenwards.

"Nahi Didi, Ammi-Abbu aise nahi hain!",

assures Bano.

Her voice drags Jannat's attention and she looks towards Bano, still puzzled.

"Nahi... subki nazron mein main gunhegar banungi!",

says Meher.

Her voice makes Jannat to shift her attention back to Meher.

"Aur meri qualifications! Uss pe bhi sub shaq karenge kyunki wo mera professor tha!"

"Please Jannat please.... Jannat.... Jannat please... no...!",

pleads Meher.

Helpless, Jannat finally accepts,

"Theek hai Meher! Lekin tumhe insaaf zarur milega!",

she promises her, determined.

"Iss tarah se nahi to... kisi aur tareeke se!"

~*~*~

Reaching Azi and Raghu, Jannat blazing with anger says,

"Ek rapist ko phodna hai, saath dogey?"

They don't take even moments to think about it and readily volunteer themselves!

Together they reach the rapist's house and knocks the door.

The moment he opens the door they don't even give them time to say anything and beat him black and blue!

Jannat tries to go to beat him but Azi stops her while Raghu continues beating him.

Jannat warns him whilst trying to get out of Azi's hold to beat the culprit,

"Meher ke kareeb bhi mat ana else I'll kill you!!"

Azi keeps dragging her out of the house.

As they leave him bruised on the floor, just where Meher was when he forced himself on her, he laughs devil's laughter!

~*~*~

Amaal gives soft massage to Meher's wound on her face using a towel. Meher notices how her little sister is holding back her tears. A person who spends most of her time in watching movies, hasn't left her side even for a moment since the time she discovered everything. This touches Meher's heart. Suddenly by mistake Amaal puts a little more pressure that makes Meher to hiss in pain.

"Aaoo!",

cries Meher, getting out of her thoughts.

Amaal gets nervous and quickly removes the towel.

"Sorry Didi, bohot zor se kar rahi hun?",

she asks, apologetically.

"Nahi theek hai.",

assures Meher, smiling a little.

Anger surges through Amaal, and she says, whilst massaging,

"I swear Didi, main usse maar dungi!"

This is the first time Meher witnesses this side of her youngest sister Amaal! She stares her, reading her level of anger.

Reaching her, Jannat says,

"Ab wo tumhe pareshan nahi karega!"

This skips Meher's heartbeat. She doesn't believe her sister Jannat when it comes to teaching someone a lesson politely! But that monster doesn't deserve politeness Meher, period!

"Kya kiya tumne?",

asks Meher, nervous, looking towards Jannat.

"Tum uski fikr mat karo!",

says Jannat.

Giving Meher a stern look to dare her to scold her for doing that! When Meher remains quiet and puzzled, Jannat leaves.

Thinking about it for some moments, Meher gets up.

"Kahan ja rahi ho Didi?",

asks Bano.

Collecting her files and other stuffs, Meher replies,

"Hospital!"

Shocked on hearing her, Bano and Amaal get up in hurry.

"Didi please, aaj mat jao na...",

requests Amaal.

"Aaj rehne do!",

requests Bano.

"Jana parhega!",

says Meher, with no feeling what so ever!

Suddenly Meher remembers, she turns and says to Bano,

"Oh han Bano tum mera ek kaam kar dogi...",

saying so Meher forwards a chit to her.

"Janey se pehle ye contraceptive pills le aogi, main le leti hun fir chali jaungi hospital.",

she says, her eyes lowered out of hesitation.

Walking to her Amaal volunteers,

"Lao Di main le aati hun!"

Meher takes her hand back and says,

"Amaal, contraceptive hai."

She doesn't care and takes it from her,

"Koi baat nahi! Main le aungi. Aap baitho yahan, main bus panch minute mein aati hun.",

saying so Amaal leaves for the market.

It takes her time to return back. Meher gets restless.

"Ye Amaal kahan reh gayi?",

she says, staring towards the door of their room.

"Bus aati hi hogi.",

assures Bano.

Amaal enters the room right at that moment.

"Amaal kitni der...!",

says Meher.

"Sorry Didi wo actually dukaan khuli nahi thi to dukaan khulne ka hi intezaar kar rahi thi. Pehli customer main hi thi.",

she assures her that she tried her best to hurry.

Meher smiles and pats Amaal lovingly on her left cheek.

"Abhi bohot der ho chuki hai mujhe, main ye hospital mein jakar le lungi!",

assures Meher.

"Par Di jaldi le lena... warna...",

says Bano nervously, then holds her tongue.

Meher smiles and assures her,

"Pakka! Ab main chalun?",

she smiles again, just to bring smile on their faces.

They nod in affirmative, not really wanting her to go.

They walk after her and make sure that their Meher Didi is fine.

Meher slowly climbs down the stairs.

She doesn't realize that her Ammi is sitting at the veranda and reading newspaper.

"Meher, apko der ho gayi beta!",

her mother calls from behind, as she finds Meher crossing by.

Her voice drags Meher out of her thoughts. She quickly draps her shawl especially covering her face, hiding her bruises.

"Haan Ammi... wo subah... ankh zara.. der se khuli...! Der ho rahi hai Ammi chalti hun!",

she quickly makes excuse and slowly climbs down the three stairs, although she tries her level best to increase her speed in front of her mother to not let her know about her state!

Her mother does find her being late weird but shrugs it off thinking that she must have been tired last night.

"Khair se jaiyega!",

calls out her Ammi, while she leaves.

Amaal and Bano bearing the feeling of sorrow in their voices, call out to Meher,

"Khuda hafis Didi!"

Meher takes a deep breath as she gets away from her home's premises.

As she leaves, Meher's mother turn to look towards Bano and Amaal and asks them,

"Aap dono abhi tak nahayi nahi hain? Aur subah subah ro rahi hain?"

"Itni badi ho gayi hain aap dono, lekin akal ratti bhar ki nahi ayi hai!",

says their mother, showing herself to be fed up of them.

"Ab kisne jhagda shuru kiya?",

asks their mother.

Amaal replies to it,

"Ammi galti meri hai!"

Baano stops her and takes the blame on her,

"Nahi Ammi galti meri hai!"

They say sorry to each other. Their mother finds it weird!

Together they get into the house.