Mahir's POV:

Vish and Yuvi got married today in presence of all our relatives and friends.
It was all a happy atmosphere. Bela looked like a beautiful doll in that lehenga we bought for her and I adored that smile on her lips. But next minute I realised what she has to face tomorrow.

Yes it was the court hearing tomorrow!!!
I feared thinking how would Bela react once she recalls about the court hearing.

It's painful for a woman to recall such a horrible incident in a court room and answer questions about the worst nightmare of her life. It took really long for Bela's smile to return back and now again going back to that trauma...my heart was bleeding thinking about it. Darshan my friend who was also the witness in this case had attended the wedding who reminded me about tomorrow's hearing.

He patted my shoulder saying...
'Mahir .. Bela bhabhi looks so happy. I know it's never easy going back to something that pierced your soul but Bela bhabhi must do this...Not for her alone but also for that every single Bela who is a victim of domestic violence. I can't even imagine if she had married that animal Rehaan what would be her condition yaar... You know what Mahir... she's a brave girl and you are a lucky man.'

I smiled looking at Darshan and said..
'That I am...'

Post wedding I wanted to talk to Bela. We still had a lot of relatives at home mostly who would leave tomorrow post wedding reception.

I saw Bela was sitting with Maa and other relatives... while I went there to call her as I wanted to talk to her. All the aunties teased us and Bela blushed however today Maa was silent. She remembers!!!

She said to Bela softly... 'Go Beta....'

Maa looked at me and blinked assurance and I understood I had to handle this carefully....

I took Bela to the duct and pulled her closer by her shoulders...

'Bela...I just wanted to ask you if you remember that we have to go to'

'Court tomorrow? I know Mahir...I remember'

I looked at her as she had a light smile on her face.

'Its going to be tough...I know Mahir...but I want to do this ... I can't let those bastards go!!!' she said eying the sky while I saw a hint of tear lingering at the corner of her eyes and I pulled her into my chest.

'Im proud of you Bela...'

While I heard Maa say...

'We are proud of you Beta ..'

And next minute Bela hugged my mom.

***

On the breakfast table there was hush hush gossips. Our relatives had 'Bela's case!!!' as the hot topic.

'You are married now na Beta...why are you running behind this matter now'

'Yeah Raksha bua is right Bela beta...I mean nothing happened na...see Mahir saved you...'

'Exactly my point...I mean who will run behind this court case and things ..they are boys and that's their nature'

'Yaaa...I mean Bela beta see you are a girl and beautiful also...it happens na'

'Exactly and come on nowadays girls and their backless blouse, skirt, thin sarees.. they might have got excited'

I was hearing one by one regressive talks from a bunch of aunties on the breakfast table who were trying to convince Bela that

'SHE MUST NOT GO TO COURT!!!'

And

'IT WAS JUST AN ATTEMPT'

I was quiet until I saw Bela was ok but the minute I saw a drop of tear into Bela's plate I went mad in anger!!!

I screamed at once...

'Stop!!! Enough aunty!!! You..you or you Aunty...I'm sorry if I'm misbehaving with you but when elders like you that too women speak such regressive shit I can't handle it!!!

So listen!!!

No it's not ok!!!

No it was not just an attempt! It was a rape attempt! It was an attempt to tarnish her virtue! And it's never about the process!

It's about the mentality!!! And it is NOT OK to let go!!!

Because this time my Bela survived it not necessary the next Bela survives it. And we cannot let such mosquito larvae to live so they spread more diseases! They must be punished and they will be punished!

My Bela will fight back to make sure they rot in jail! They fear to touch another girl! They know a woman is not just a toy!
Men must know if they have a d*** then women have a womb!
They are born from there and trying to tarnish a woman's virtue is liking spitting on themselves!!!

And yes my wife is beautiful!!!

She can wear anything she likes!!

But how does that give anyone a license to attempt something inhuman like this?

Even men are handsome!!! Why aren't they hiding themselves into something ??? Oh wait... because they are men and women are flesh!!!

You know what aunty you guys must be proud of Bela as she is taking this brave step. Today's this step will keep your daughter's safe from dogs like Rehaan. You must be proud of her but it's shameful to see you folks discourage her!!!

But you know what we don't care!

Yes aunty.. my wife is fighting this like a warrior and we Sehgals stand by her side.'

Bela's parents were looking down like I spoke something wrong.

But next minute...

I see Maa and Dad stand next to us. Dad side hugged Bela by her shoulders saying...

'Beta you are our pride...our warrior daughter.. go fight back! We are here for you'

And next minute Bela broke down in dad's arms. Maa caressed her hair and she was holding dad's blazer collar and crying badly.

I knew she needed this the most. Parents support!!!

Her own parents discouraged her thinking of family name and crap! Irony in our society!!!

Who face this crime as asked to Shutup and
Who do this crime are let go thinking

'Its ok!!!'

But until our own family understands and speaks up that...

IT IS NOT OK!!!

Things won't change!!!

We went to the court room. My brave Bela fought back against every odd like a warrior without any fear.

And the culprits were behind the bars !!! This time for a long term!!!

Lawyers and inspectors appreciated Bela's bravery and I was proud of my woman.

Once we were out from the court I saw she looked dull but there was a sense of satisfaction on her face. We reached home and began getting ready for the reception party. I pulled her in my embrace and kissed her forehead.

'Im proud of you Sweetheart'

And before I could say anything...

'I love you Mahir...I really do...And... thank you'

I smiled and pulled her into a warm hug.

The reception party went on however Bela was a little low. Soon relatives began leaving and I wanted to stay here with Bela for some more time but Maa asked me to leave to Bangalore.

I looked at Maa and she explained...
'Mahir... Bela needs you.... here the atmosphere will remind her of the same incident... Take her to her house. You are her medicine. Take care of her. Love her. Once she gets back to her work she will forget all this. She's a brave girl Mahir but then what she went through is a permanent scar. It may heal but the mark remains Beta!!!'

And I felt what mom said was right. I decided to leave next day back to Bangalore. I expected Bela would object but she didn't.

Our car wasn't repaired so I took Yuvi's car to Bangalore leaving mine here and same day evening we reached home.

Bela was tired so I asked her not to cook anything. I ordered Andhra tiffin meal and we finished our dinner silently.

I wanted to lighten her mood so I proposed to her that we must watch a movie. Bela wanted to watch something romantic and I wanted to watch comedy. Finally we zeroed upon romantic comedy 'The Ugly Truth' and began watching a movie by settling on our cozy sofa with homemade popcorn, coke and fries.

Bangalore winters are extremely cold. So I went and got a quilt for us. While coming back she was laughing at a funny scene and soon I noticed my wife was drooling over Gerald Butler!!! I narrowed my eyebrows...

While she said 'Uff he's hot!!!'

And next minute I jumped on the sofa. She asked 'Where is my quilt'

To which I asked her 'He is hot huhh?'

And she dreamily said... 'Veryyy ...my crush since 300...his abs...his body...his eyes...his'

And before she could continue I smashed my lips on hers and she was shocked. She was clinging on to my t-shirt collar attempting the breathe but I kissed her so damn tightly that she couldn't move. She tried to push my chest and I lifted her lightly pulling her on my lap and covered us with the quilt.

It was an intimate position now...

Just me...my wife... kissing in our house living room...no one to disturb...

A cosy evening!!!

On a sofa...In a single quilt!!!

She in my lap grinding me warm and I kissing the hell out of her lips like she was the potion of life I needed to live.

Our desires began burning!!!🔥🔥🔥