Jo Ik Pal Tumko Naa Dekhein,

Toh Mar Jayein Hum,
Jo Ik Pal Tumse Door Jayein,
Toh Mar Jayein Hum

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Two days has already passed since I heard about Anay's murder I'm trying to collect myself but each moment I'm alone reminded me of he is not with me and never will be and since I was threatened by those goons Viraj told me his friend Kabir is trying to track them down.

I was sitting in the living room when I got a surprising call from Maa, "Hello Maa!"
"Mihika, how are you?" She asks sounding a little low.
"Umm I'm fine, how are you and everyone at home?" I ask.
"Oh they are good, so the reason I called you today is your Papa Ji and I spoke to Mummy Ji she said we can bring you back home, as you already know Aaryah's alliance is been fixed, and tomorrow is her engagement" she explains, I didn't know what to say but I'm sure there will be some kind of catch.

"But?" I jumped right to that because if Dadi Ji agrees to something there has to be some kind of conditions to it.
"But, you have to stay in your room during all the functions and you can help around with the preparations," she says sighing.
"It's okay Maa, at least she has allowed me to be back home" I assure her I know Maa and Papa Ji wouldn't have wanted me to leave.

I'm glad Aaryah is getting married, she is Papa Ji sister's daughter, Bua Ji died, and soon after her husband died he couldn't bear the absence of his wife I wonder will happen to me too because I have heard it is hard for women to live on without their husband.

Aaryah stays with Dada Ji and Dadi Ji so they wanted her to get married as soon as possible now that she has completed her studies, her groom Veer is a businessman Maa sent me his picture earlier he seems like a good looking guy, I just hope he keeps Aaryah happy.

"You are right, uh Jai wouldn't be able to pick you up so we will send the driver in the evening maybe" Maa pulls out of my thoughts.
"No problem Maa, I'll see you tonight," I said we bid our goodbyes and hung up the call.

I went into the kitchen made some tea for Maa and Baba, he's been doing well now which I'm glad about I was thinking of started doing something like have some kind of hobby because if I'm going to sit in the room I should know something I never really had any kind of hobbies before, doing mostly the household work, day uses to went quickly and same is here, but now there I will most of the time sitting idle in my room so I should adopt some kind of hobby I was thinking painting I was always fascinated by the colors and paints bringing out my emotions and thoughts on the canvas or maybe dancing I was happy around music.

"What are you doing Mihika?" Maa asks walking into the kitchen.
"Making tea Maa, and yes Anay's mother called she told me I can go back home Dadi Ji has allowed but I cannot attend any functions," I told her while pouring the tea in the cups.
"It's alright Beta, we all know how is it in our society widows aren't treated respectfully and with love, they are always seen as some kind of bad influence" she sips on her tea.
"It's okay I'll go and give tea to Baba then I'll start the preparation for dinner later I have to do the packing also" I gave her a forced smile.

After giving tea to Baba I went to prepare dinner, I know I have to adjust a lot while I'm there but I'm willing to do everything just to be near Anay's memories and everything else it's not that I don't want to stay with my parents I want to be there for Maa and Papa Ji also.

I was done with the dinner so I decided to do the packing keeping all the clothes in the bag and other necessary stuff I glance at the clock it was time for dinner, I made my way downstairs I saw Viraj sitting there having a time of his life with my parents, the nerve of this man.

"What are you doing here?" I ask sternly.
"Oh I wanted to talk to you about something," he says, walking towards me the way he talks to me as if we have been friends for years make me want to punch him.
"What is it?" I shoot the question.

"No, how are you or anything?" He says laughing.
I looked at him with a wryly look on my face "continue with whatever you want to tell me and leave".
"Okay, so I'm not sure yet but we as in me and Kabir found that there was a huge amount of embezzlement was happening in the company," he blurts out, I swear if I was drinking water right now I would've choked on it, my body posture stiffened a little at this revelation.

"And it's quite hard to find that because usually, people like these use different kinds of networks meaning they don't reveal their identity that easy, there are people in front of them more like a funnel through which it happens so I'm assuming Anay found that out in the last audit and maybe that's the reason that person got him killed " he explains his theory while my parents looked at us in confusion because Viraj was whispering the whole time.

"So how are we going to catch them?" I concluded.
"Kabir and his team are working on that, by the way, I heard you are coming back to the house," he says back to his normally deep voice.
"Yes, leaving in a while now" I reply walking past him, he gave me a look I know what he is thinking that how can I be calm and ignorant to this but inside I'm yelling and screaming on the top of my lungs I just don't want them to know that bit by bit I'm losing it.

"Okay be careful around your family I hope now you would believe what I said about not trusting everyone" he repeats what he said earlier to me.
"Yes, yes I know, and don't worry I'll be careful now you may leave please," I told him off.

"Bye, bye Uncle Aunty looking forward to meeting you soon" and with that, he left.

I sat down with Maa and Baba "what is going on Mihika?" Baba asks concerned, I have told them only about the murder of Anay nothing about the threatens I got that day, I don't want anyone to worry about.

"Nothing to worry about Baba, just trust me on this okay" I reply smiling encouragingly at him and Maa. The driver walks in bidding my goodbyes I left.

∆∆∆∆

I reached home and the whole mansion was filled with the flock of women half of them unknown to me giving them a half-smile I went to greet Dada Ji and Dadi Ji who looked at me in disgust instead with warmth well I was ready for it "how are you, Dadi Ji?" I tried to make conversation with her.
"Good, how are your parents?" She replies.
"All are good".

"I'm not sure what your mother in law told you but I don't want you around for any of the function, I don't have any problem with you Mihika but I don't want anything bad happening to Aaryah," she says with sugar-coated words, with a hidden threat.
"You don't have to worry Dado, you will have no complaints from my side," I said finally she smiles at me.
"I knew you were the smart one, better than that Jai's wife who only knows to talk back" she pats my head, with the love she doesn't hate anyone in the house it's just she likes all the traditions to be followed and she expects everyone to follow them.

I went into my room clearing up all my stuff when Maa walks in " I'm glad you are back, I was starting to lose it" she laughs. I cannot help but smile that even in such a tough situation she is finding a way to smile.

"Anyway now that you are here, freshen up and come down help me decide the menu," she says smiling at me and patting on my head, what good deeds I did to get such a mother in law.

The only thing that is bothering me right now is what Viraj told me it keeps nagging me like some stupid psychotic thought and I so want to lock it in some kind of locker or file of my mind so it would just shut up for a moment but I can't and every time I'm going to be around anyone in the family it is going to come back to haunt me. I just hope Kabir finds everything out soon.

"Yeah I'll join in a minute" I reply giving my best fake smile.

She leaves the room quickly unpacking I took a shower changing into my rose pink salwar suit I went downstairs all the women were gone now it was just family now everyone was talking laughing, how fast all of them moved on from the death of Anay, it's like he was never there.

Aaryah was sitting with other cousins of the family all the girls were teasing her while all the elders were sitting in the other area of the room it felt good but still, a pang of anger hits me because everyone was enjoying and oblivion of Anay's absence.
"I know what you are thinking, but don't worry they all miss him everyone loved Anay" it was Dada Ji who came stood beside me holding his cane.
I couldn't help but let my tears stream down "it's just...I trailed off.
"I understand sweet child you loved him we all did, it will get easier as the time passes by," he says softly smiling at me.

I wiped my tears and went to help Maa with the menu and that's when I heard someone talking I think it was some of our cousins.

"Why is she here?"

"I don't know, Dado knows what in the hell she was thinking of inviting her here, I mean she isn't any longer the daughter-in-law of this house then why bring the bad luck" another one whispers, it was girls.

"I know right I don't even like her she tries to be so perfect when she isn't" this voice I didn't recognize because there are some cousins whom I have never met.

"You girls should stop talking like that about her and it was my decision I convinced Dado to call her back, you guys might know her but she is a much better person than anyone of you ever could be" it was Aaryah.

Then she walks into the kitchen where I was sitting going through the options of food "oh God Bhabhi I'm so sorry you had to hear all of that" she comes pulling me in a hug.
"It's okay and they are right anyway I'll talk to Dado tomorrow, and will leave first thing in the morning," I said moving away from her and ran up to my room.

I don't want to be someplace where everyone thinks that I'm some kind of bad influence and hates me, what have I ever done to anyone for them to treat me like this, talk behind my back I never prayed or wanted anything bad for anyone let it be known or some stranger. It hurts me to the core that people can carry so much hate towards one person, I wonder how we human beings are capable of so much hate, is it because of our insecurities, or is it because we are hateful creatures.

Why people have to treat widows like this, though I'm grateful that now people don't treat them the way they used to before, at least I get to sit with everyone else in the family, at least I have my hair, at least I get to wear my footwear, at least I get to wear clothes besides white but still it hurts that people carry so much hate and disdain towards us.

But still, I don't like that someone looks at me and thinks oh what is she doing here? I mean family is somewhere you are always accepted and loved but would you do when that family thinks of you as some kind of bad luck. I always had a hard time believing that it's always a woman talking bad behind a woman's back, shrugging off mentally all the thoughts I lied down on the bed I just wish Anay was here to pull me in his embrace and tell me it's going to be alright Mihika.

I wish so badly he was here.

I wish we had more time together.

I just hope what everyone keeps telling me that it will get easier I hope it does or else I will die because living a life without your partner or someone you love is not easy and on top of that if you have such people around you to pull you down.

*****

So what are your thoughts on the chapter?

Not the best one I know, and I'm aware some of you might be expecting a little longer chapter but I'm quite busy with my classes and assignments so sorry about it.

But I will try to give a long update next time and let me remind you this book will also be a short story only, so I will end things pretty quickly which means will move fast, not like an express train but still.

Anyways what are your thoughts on Mihika and Viraj?

What are your thoughts on her family and the way they are treating her? I hate it though.

What do you think about her in-laws?

Do you think a widow should be treated like this? People can be so insensitive and I hate this feeling it made me emotional while writing something like this but I felt it is needed sometimes to talk on such topics I hope I didn't hurt anybody's feelings with this.

Don't shy away to share your theories with me let it be anything.

Till next time.

Keep Reading, Keep Smiling❤❤

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