"I am his brother." Arnav's head snapped towards Aman who said that.

"Ohh ok. I need to talk to you about her. Please follow me to cabin." Saying this, doctor left.

"Thank you so much Aman." Arnav hugged him tight.

"Don't thank me. Thank God who again brought her in your life Arnav. I think you know what to do now?"

"Definitely, I am not leaving her this time at any cost. But before that ask Rohan, what was she doing on the stage?" Aman only nodded his head at it.

"Before that, I need to see doctor. I shouldn't be saying this, but take care of her." Patting his shoulder Aman made his way to the doctor's cabin.

Pushing the door, he entered. Doctor asked him to settle himself down. Upon having a seat, he asked.

"Is anything serious doctor?"

"Actually yes! I don't know you know about this or not but she had been tortured badly. Examining her, I had seen many marks on her skin. Some had turned purple, while some seems to be fresh. On seeing the symbols of marriage she wore, I concluded that may be she is tortured at her in laws. Do you know anything about it?" Doctor had her hands joined and kept on the table. She looked quite serious at the moment.

"What? Tor-Tortured!!!" Aman widened his eyes in disbelief. He could never have imagined that.

"Yes. So I assume you aren't aware of it. And being dutiful Indian wife, your sister must not have told you. That's what the problem is with the youth. They believe they can make everything alright. And take everything in their power. Sorry to say but I need to involve police in this."

"I agree at it but please let me handle this my way and doctor, no police case please." Aman pleaded.

"I am sorry but her health is not good. She has many black and blue marks on her body. She seems to turn lean and pale with time. We need to inform police and get the criminals arrested. Why don't you understand? Are you even her brother?" Doctor raised her tone till the end of her sentence and banged her hands in annoyance.

Being a women, she couldn't help but feel pity for the victim. She is familiar with these type of cases. Every family comes and asks to not involve police. They never want to file a case against the inlaws and yet keep bearing their tortures.

The law of India may has strengthened itself but still there are women's out who are afraid to take help. Who believe that bringing the situation out in open will spoil their image. They keep bearing till the end and die at the hands of monsters.

Seeing this case, she believe that this girl needs help and she will get it no matter what.

"I agree doctor but i need to cross check first. Please. Even I want those bastards punished but lets stop reading in between the lines. May be its not what we are thinking. Let her answer and clear the doubts. I promise to punish the culprits."

After a moment of thought, doctor agreed.

"Fine. But she needs rest for now. Please don't disturb the patient."

"Yes doctor. Thank you very much."

After coming out, he saw Arnav standing outside her cabin and glancing at Khushi through the small glass pane. Stepping towards him, he kept his hand on his shoulder.

"What did she say?"

"She is fine. Nothing serious. Umm.... Arnav I need to tell you something."

"Yes?"

"She has been tortured badly Arnav. Doctor has said that she has seen various marks and bruises on her body. Like she has been beaten badly, tortured for days. I don't know what to say but she was adamant to call police. Somehow, I handled the situation at the moment."

"Tor-Tortured?" Hearing the word, Arnav stepped back in shock.

Moving forward, Aman held him and made him sit beside him.

"Yes Arnav. You have to stay strong for her sake now. I am going to investigate on the same. And yes call ma, she has been worried since you left."

"Please Aman, find something soon. I will not leave the bastards who has been torturing my Khushi. She is my life and my life has been through so much. I can't imagine. How would have she been bearing all this. Why hasn't she taken any help. Where are her parents?-" Suddenly a realization struck him. "-Yes parents. Contact them. Tell them about their daughter. And then about the man whom they married her off to."

"Calm down. I am on all work now. Don't worry. I will come up soon with a news. But before that go and freshen up. Till then I will be here."

"I won't and I can't Aman. How do I leave her here. Nah!! I am not going anywhere."

"You are going chotte" They both turned to see Ratna and Anjali standing there.

"Maa.."

"Go and have some rest. Till then I am here." Ratna said, her voice cold and firm.

"No. I won't ma. She needs me."

"Who is she to you?" She cocked her eyebrow at him, with a loud and clear tone.

"She-She is Khushi. Khushi, my...-" he paused not having any words to tell.

"Your?" Ratna folded her arms at her chest waiting for his answer, tapping her feet impatiently.

"Maa. Please we will talk about this later." Aman interwined.

Ratna looked at his son with hurtful eyes. He looked down too ashamed to meet her eyes.

"Arnav. Go" Aman said and he nodded.

Aman had been searching since then about her. Making all his contacts to know about her husband. But it seems that he has made himself underground. When ever Aman thinks that he had got a lead on him, the next moment he meets with disappointment.

"Fuck! Not again. Rajeev, why aren't we getting anything against that bastard. Why dammit" Aman said, pulling his hair.

"Because I guess he doesn't want us to find him. He is very clever. He everytime gets to know our motive and back fires our plan." Rajeev, the detective Aman hired, said

"Rajeev, find soon. I need his details on my desk sooner."

"Why don't you ask Khushi Mam about him."

"She isn't opening her mouth. We all tried all the tricks."Rajeev nodded thoughtfully at him.

Ratna and Anjali sat beside her as she silently had her soup. She has been discharged from the hospital last night and it has been almost 5 days since that incident.

Everyone tried asking her, talking to her but she stayed mum. As requested, the police isn't still involved in the matter much to doctor annoyance. The doctor is still bent to involve the cops.

"Khushi dear, how are you feeling now?" Ratna asked politely.

As a reply she just smiled at her to which Ratna let out a sigh.

"Why don't you tell us Khushi? What has happened to you. How did this all happen and more likely who did this to you?" Anjali asked, rudeness quite evident in her voice.

Khushi though felt bad with her tone of conversation but looked down, not giving an answer.

"Anjali!" Ratna scolded her daughter for her behaviour.

"Go and look for the dinner. I will come soon." Waving her hands in exasperation, she left.

It isn't she is uncomfortable or annoyed or angry with Khushi's presence. It's just that she want to help the poor girl. She can't see someone sad around her. Being a short tempered girl, she couldn't accept rejection at once. So getting annoyed and irritated is well expressed by her.

"I am sorry for her behaviour. She is limited mad. Be comfortable and feel free to ask anything you need. Ok?" Saying so, she held the now empty bowl from her. Getting up, she caressed her hair and started to leave.

"Aunty?" Khushi called.

"Yes dear" she smiled sweetly at her.

"I- I am sorry." She looked down.

"What for?" Coming around she sat in front of her. Holding her hand she slightly rubbed it, giving silent support and courage for her to continue.

"I-I can't make myself to tell you all about what has happened with me. I feel that you all will hate me later. Its just that I am being greedy, greedy for the love I am getting from you all people." She sniffed.

"Hush!! We will never judge your beta nor hate you. Okay? Don't rush, tell us whenever you want to. Hmm?" Khushi simply nodded at her.

Patting her head lovingly, she left her to rest.

"Anu you can't be rude to her. Stop being annoyed every time. We have guest over here. Why can't you work on your anger." Ratna scolded her daughter for being ride with Khushi.

"Maa, she isn't telling anything. How can we help her then? And I am not annoyed every time." She defended her herself.

"Yeah! Not everytime, but just 24 hours a day." Arnav comments to which everyone supress their laugh.

The whole family has been sitting in the lawn for evening snacks. Chit chatting and discussing nothing in particular.

"How mean chotte!"

"What! I speak truth. Always annoyed and that anger is always on your nose. Like you will kill someone who piss you off any moment." He shrugged after commenting.

"Haww!! Maa... Tell your son to be in limits. Otherwise-"

"Otherwise? What?" Arnav cocked his eyebrow at her.

"I will kill you." She raged.

Everyone bursts into fits of laughter. No doubt she had inherited the anger from her father. Ratna went down a memory lane whenever her husband used to be this angry.

"See, always angry! Don't know how Aman handles you. Poor lad!" Ratna shook her head at her.

"Ma you too!" Anjali pouted at her.

"Include me too" Nani and Aman said simultaneously. Throwing a glare at her husband, she stomped her feet and left.

All the happening were noticed by Khushi who stood at the gate farther from everyone. She had been too immersed in her thoughts, to not see Anjali coming her way.

"Oh Khushi. How are you now" She asked.

"I am good Anjali ji."

"Just Anjali. Anjali ji make me fell old!"

"Oh okay. Anjali?"

"Good!" She smiled at her.

"What are you doing here. Come, join us for snacks." She held her hand and made their way to the lawn back.

"Didn't her anger vanished sooner maa!" Arnav comments without looking at her, typing on his cell.

"Oh yeah! Ain't like you who would be angry for whole 2 days in a row and For what? Just because of a movie."

"Hey!-" he stops looking at Khushi. He kept looking at her and gets zoned out.

"Cat got your tongue, eh?" Anjali smirked folding her arms.

Feeling embarrassed, he looked away and lied back in his mother's lap.

"Come dear. Have a seat." Ratna patted the place beside her, gesturing her to sit.

"Ji aunty ji." Khushi made her way towards her and sat beside her,with Ratna in between them.

"How are you feeling now!"

"Perfectly alright!" She smiled at her. Forwarding a plate of snack, She asked her to have. She reluctantly took and ate little out of it.

"Um.. if you don't mind, can you tell us now." Anjali asked politely, her voice low. "If you are comfortable!" She added.

"Anu!" Almost everyone gave a glare to keep shut. Huffing she sat straight. Khushi who looked down at her plate, started playing with the food.

"Its ok! You don't have to." Ratna politely said and cupped her cheek.

"I want to" Khushi whispered. Taking a deep breath, she said "I am ready."