Riddhima started shivering & sweating in sleep. Her hold on Ajay & Uma's hand tightened.

RIDDHIMA: Ple.... please vishwas karo maro... pl...please ma....main kae....kae... j na...nathi kar....karyu. Mane no maro please..... (Please trust me I've not done anything. Don't beat me please)......

UMA: Ajay she's speaking in other language......

AJAY: It's Gujarati......

UMA: Aryan knows call him.

Chanchal immediately called him. Trio brothers' sleep got disturbed due to phone call. Rehaan threw pillow at Aryan.

REHAAN: Bhai tell your Bub to call in the morning.

ARYAN: It's not her yaar. She'll be at hospital right now.

Both said in irritation & slept as phone went off. Vansh threw pillows at both breaking their sleep & they groaned. Aryan & Rehaan were in shock & Vansh raised his eyebrows asking what's cooking. Before anyone can speak the door opened with a thud & Chanchal came inside.

CHANCHAL: Aryan come fast with me.

She pulled him holding his hand without giving him time to ask. Rehaan & Vansh too went behind as she hurriedly took him to Ajay & Uma's room. Trio's eyes fell on Kiyaan, Angre, Siya, Uma, Ajay & Rudra trying to calm down Riddhima but as she was in effects of medicines it was difficult. Vansh ran to her so Uma thought to give him space but her hold was too tight.

AJAY: Aryan you know Gujarati na please tell us what she's speaking.

Aryan heard & she was speaking the same thing & he stumbled but spoke. Hearing it Kiyaan & Angre closed their eyes tight & Siya was crying in Kiyaan's arms knowing the reason behind it. Vansh was numb not knowing how to react. All were in deep shock hearing the things she was speaking in her nightmares.

KIYAAN: Voti Saheba sambhaliye khud ko yeh waqt tut ne ka nahi hain.

SIYA: Why her? Why can't she have peace in her life despite doing only good to others Raja Saheb?

She asked with teary eyes, her voice hoarse.

KIYAAN: Humein woh hi karna hain. Hum sab hain ab bas kuch nahi hoga.

SIYA: Kehna aur sun na asaan hain Kiyaan par sehna aur bhulna nahi.

Kiyaan hided her in his embrace giving her much needed strength. Her fingers started moving & eyes were showing movements.

AJAY: Bache sab apne room mein jao.

VANSH: Main Riddhu ko chod ke kahi nahi jaunga Papa.

Siya knew his condition so she went to him.

SIYA: Bhai please let parents be with her. She needs them right now more than any of us.

VANSH: Tu jaanti hain kya hua hain?

Siya nodded.

SIYA: Aap agar Bhabhi Maa ki takleefein dur karna chahte ho toh please chaliye Bhai.

Vansh looked at everyone & Ajay blinked his eyes assuring he'll handle it & will share to him afterwards. He looked at Kiyaan & Angre who were already out of the room. Nodding younger clan closing the door left the room. After couple of minutes she woke up with a jerk with frightened & sweaty face. She looked around & saw Ajay & hugged her tight while sobbing.

AJAY: Bas bas bacha ab rona nahi hain. Kya pareshaan kar raha hain tumhein itna?

RIDDHIMA: Pa...Papa I'm sor...sorry Pa...Papa....

Ajay wiped her tears.

AJAY: Shh...bas bas rona nahi gudiya. Aap ache bache ho naa apne Papa ke toh rona nahi....

She immediately bobbed her head saying she's his acha bacha. He made her drink water & calmed her a bit. Cuddling & snuggling in her father's embrace her hiccups were getting calm & so was her mind & heart. Once she was bit better Uma spoke,

UMA: Riddhima beta we're really sorry.

CHANCHAL: Haan beta, we really failed to protect you as a mother.

Breaking the hug with Ajay she turned to Uma & Chanchal & wiped their tears who were crying for their daughter. She holded her hands & said,

RIDDHIMA: Maa, Choti Maa aap sorry mat bolo. Infact you both toh took stand for me but I took whole thing in a wrong way & reacted like this. It was so bad & immature of me. I'm sorry meri wajah se sab ko itni takleef hui, maine sab ko itna hurt kiya.

Both mothers were proud at her maturity & hugged her tight.

AJAY: Riddhima beta tumse kuch baat karni hain.

He said being impatient to know the reason because he knew something is there behind it otherwise his daughter won't react like this. They broke the hug & she turned to him. He cupped her face & asked,

AJAY: Acha yeh batao maine bhi pucha tha, Vansh ne bhi pucha tha toh phir bataya kyun nahi?

She bit her lips not knowing how to answer. Rudra sensed her nervousness so spoke,

RUDRA: Beta we are your parents & parents never judge their children. Don't be nervous aur jo dil aur dimaag mein hain woh bol do.

His words gave a little courage to Riddhima.

RIDDHIMA: Woh Maa aur Choti Maa se bahot pyaar karte hain aur sab bhi. I didn't wished ki meri wajah se family ki unity aur bonding mein koi aanch aae. I'd never like to be the reason behind family's break. I've always adored Vansh's this quality & respect it - the way he loves his family. I don't want him to face a situation jahan usse apni family aur mujhe kisi ek ko chun na pade.

All were numb hearing her reasons. Any other girl would have fought for her image, her self respect, some might have even spoke adding few more words but here she thought about others first. Ajay hugged her tight.

AJAY: I'm so proud of you bacha but don't be this selfless gudiya.

She tilted her head & looked at him with her innocent smile that took everyone's heart. But somewhere her eyes had lots of questions a very deep pain which she's trying to hide.

AJAY: Beta itna toh main apni beti ko janta hu, itna toh bharosa hain ki meri beti ese hi react nahi karegi. Kuch toh wajah zaroor hain jo tumne ese react kiya? Humein nahi bataogi.

Hearing his words her chin wobbled & again her eyes became glassy.

RIDDHIMA: Pa...Papa aap mujh par bhar....bharosa kar...karoge????

AJAY: Apni jaan se bhi zyada bharosa hain mujhe apni gudiya par. Agar bhagwan bhi aake kuch bol dena toh bhi naa manu.

RIDDHIMA: I... I was... thir....thirteen. Some....someone tol...told the....them... some....someth....ing about me... & .....

She spoke stuttering with choked voice.

AJAY: them???

RIDDHIMA: Th...the on...one who...gave bir....birth to me.

She said with disappointment, anger, disrespect, disgust, pain, hurt & many other negative emotions. Ajay nodded at her telling her to continue.

RIDDHIMA: The....they beli...believed the...them. Papa th...they us...used to accu....accuse me th...that I'm chara....characterless. They said I don't g...go sch...school to stu....study b...but.... to do rel..rela...relationships wi...with bo...boys....

UMA, AJAY, RUDRA & CHANCHAL: What??? (shocked)

She crying continued,

RIDDHIMA: I...In star....starting... th....they us...used to ta...taunt m...me... accu....accuse me.... ab...about it. Then they stopped send....sending me to sch....school...

All gasped in shock hearing her words. She holded Ajay & Rudra's hand. All were crying hearing the pain she went through.

RIDDHIMA: Pa....Papa, Cho....Chote Pa...Papa I.. I was hou...house cag...caged. No one us...used to spe....speak wi...with me, ea...eat with me, sit with me. Th...they abandoned me Maa. I...I... wa...was alo...alone des...despite of hav...having so man...many peop...people arou...around. Som...sometimes the...they didn't even co...cook for me. O....one da...day I wa...was hun...hungry b...but no...none coo..cooked or gav...gave me foo.....food. I did....didn't kne....knew coo....cooking so I ma...made Magggi but go...got bur...burnt but no....none ask...asked me whe...whether I was fine or not. I ask...asked for medi...medicine but no one replied.....

She showed her hand & with actions displayed how much big mark she got due to burn & where.

RIDDHIMA: Itna bada nish...nishaan ban ga...gaya tha Maa, Choti Maa par kis...kisine nahi pu..pucha. The...then the....they use...used to bea...beat me... ja...jab bhi...man...cha...chahe. Eve..even the...they us....used to wak...wake me....me up.... at nig.....night, acc....accuse me, as....ask me...with ho...how man.....many bo...boys I ha...have relatio....relationship, fr.....from ho....how muc....much ti....time it's goi...going & a...all. Th...they us...used to ki...kick me, sl...slap me, bea... beat me wi...with belt, sho...shoes, ba... bat, wit...with any....anything & every....everyhting. Like the....these days pass,,,passed but I gath...gathered cou..courage & ...hard....hardly conv....convinced & mana....managed the...them to le....let me gi...give my fin....final exa....exams. After exa...exams they took leaving cer...certificate of mi...mine fr...from sch....school & wan....wanted to se...send me to gir....girls hos...hostel but the admi.... admissions we... were full. No....not having any option they send me to day school. The...they used to mak....make me do all hous....household cho...chores alo..alone. I did....didn't go...got my peri....periods so a ne...new accu....accusation wa...was star...started. Th...they us...used t...to wo...woh... Pa...Papa.. w..woh Maa... wi...with how man...many ha...have I...I sl...slept. Who...whose si...sin I....I'm carr...carrying i....in m....my wo....womb.... & th....then o...one da....day sh...she di...did my...preg....pregnan....pregnancy te...test sa....saying it's a te....test ho...how mu...much int...internal bod...body temp....temperature is.... bec...because I us...used to get ulcers. Sh...she did by ly....lying it to me bu...but I kn...knew abou...about it beca.....because I sa...saw wrap...wrapper & in tha....that it wa...was written. They used to say ki main mar kyun nahi jaati, I'm the worst daug...daughter, they made mis...mistake giving bi....birth to me. Th...they fe...feel ash...ashamed be...being my pare...parents, I'm a sha...shame to them, burd...burden to them. They'll be at pea....peace of I'll die.

Everyone's mind went blank, they couldn't absorb what all she said. They became numn, didn't know how to re....react. Riddhima by their reaction thought they'll also don't trust her like her biological parents did. This made her heart crumble. She holded everyone's hand taking their attention.

RIDDHIMA: Ple....please bel...believe me. I'm not tha...that type of gir...girl. I eve...even nev....never spo...spoke wit...with n...any bo...boy.

She said weeping. Tears rolled down everyone's eyes but were so shocked, so hurt, so horrified to give any reaction. Fear gripped her heart & mind. Her fragile heart was beating wildly at the thought of again facing all those worst phase & her overthinking mind has started giving her many negative thoughts. She turned to Ajay & sat on her knees & holded his both hands.

RIDDHIMA: Pl...please Pa...Papa bel....believe me.... I'm no...not tha....that ty....type of..... gir.....girl.. How ca....cn I ma...make you tru...trust me...... Pa....Papa I...I... wa....was a go....good gir.....girl. I'm no...not chara.....character....charcterless..... I'm not sl...

But before she could complete those words Ajay hugged her tight, hiding her in his embrace, making his heart believe his daughter is with him. Anger rising in his heart for all those people who made her go through this, who hurted this pour soul & broke her into pieces. He promised himself to never any pain, any harsh realities of life come near her, he vowed to protect her in every manner, shower her with all the love, care, respect, happiness & warmth. He promised to make a fairytale world for her where no hurt, pain or any sadness reach her & will fight with whole world for her. While for Riddhima the moment he hugged she started blubbering feeling peace, calm & let that pain & hurt go away.

RIDDHIMA: Ho...how cou...could any...anyone do....this with thei....their chi...child Pa...Papa..... The....they we....were so cru....cruel to me...... Why me Papa why me.....I wa....was ju...just 13 Papa......bac...bachi thi ma...main I did....didn't kn...knew any...anything...... ho...how cou...could they...they think so...low of me Papa. Th...they nev...never tru...trusted me Pa...Papa..... Papa why... me????? Am I really that bad Papa? Don't I deserve love of a parents, Mumma aur Dadda bhi mujhe chod ke chale gae....

Blubbering her heart out she let her emotions flow. All were crying hearing her pain through which she went alone at such a tender age. Seeing her in this vulnerable state his soul & heart was tearing apart but understanding how difficult it would have been for her & still is, he gathered himself to collect the broken pieces of her daughter's heart & to collect her & be her safe place.

AJAY: No bacha don't cry for them. They don't deserve your tears. Your parents, your family are here. We trust you above everything & anything beta.

RIDDHIMA: What wa...was my.. fau...fault Pa...Papa.... I ju....just wis...wished to d....do t...the gir...girly thin...things wh...which I sa....saw eve...every gir....girl o...of my ag....age do...doing. I to...too was fasc...fascinated b...by n...nail pai....paints, do...doing hair...hairs...hairstyles, wea...wearing cu...cute acc...accessories, lear....learning ga...garba, da...dance, dra....drawing..... Is this a wrong thing to do Pa...Papa..... I kn....knew ou....our fina...financial cond....conditions & I...I neve.....never ask...asked fo...for an....any ne...new thi...things. I wa....was hap...happy wi...with the ol...old thin....things th...that oth...other fam...family memb....members ga...gave me. Sti...still th...they alw.....always beha...behaved lik....like thi...this wi...with me. I alwa....always tri...tried my....my be...best t..to be a goo...good daug....daughter eve.....even forg...forgetting myse....myself. I don....don't kno...know whe....where I...I lacked.

AJAY: Never ever let your heart break for people like them. You're a very pure soul, very brave because despite of everything you're still pure & good at heart & soul. You have these high morals & ethics which reflects in you, my daughter is a true princess & a queen. I'm so lucky to have you as a daughter Riddhima, thank you so much for coming in our life, for giving us the love. You're the best blessing which God has gifted us beta.

These words somehow was healing the scars she has on her soul. His words also gave her courage to share a bit more.

RIDDHIMA: You know Papa all these was so much to me. I was sent to new school. It was a sudden change & also from state board to CBSE board. I wasn't allowed to make friends. It was compulsory for me to wear dress with dupatta. All used to make fun of me at school. I didn't liked the food of the school so I used to starve whole day & also bein alone at house made me weak emotionally & mentally & I slowly slept into depression. Not able to handle much I tried to do suicide by drinking mosquito repellant liquid but my bad luck I didn't died. It surely effected my body, my whole body was burning like hell, had body aching & horrible vomiting issues. Already I was weak so I was not even able to.walk properly. But still none cared whether am I okay or not, asking is a far way thing Papa they didn't even knew or realised that my health is that bad.

She while saying this chuckled dryly at her fate. These words from her mouth scared everyone like hell. Ajay pulled her more close fearing for her life which made her feel protected. Uma & Chanchal were crying in each other's arms & Rudra was handling them keeping stone on his heart which was in pain for his daughter but he knew now both the ladies need him. Ajay squeezed her in his fatherly embrace protecting her from the cruel world. Kissing her head he spoke,

AJAY: Cry as much as you want beta none is going to judge you, let us see your scars, let us heal it. Your parents, your family is there, let your vulnerability come out & let us give a chance to vanish it from your soul & heart.

She cried & cried till her heart wanted. Ajay let her do & said to Rudra,

AJAY: Rudra take Chanchal to your room & sleep. Kuch hoga toh I'll call.

Rudra & Chanchal knew they need strength which needed time to absorb these things & also knew Riddhima will need them & will take time to gather herself & they had to be her strength. They kissing her head who was crying in his fatherly embrace left the room but not before making Uma sleep. Silent tears were flowing from Ajay's eyes feeling the wetness on his kurta. It was early morning & her cries turned slow. She was hiccupping a lot & her eyes had started burning & had turned small & red & was also swollen. Ajay made her drink water wiping her tears. She still stayed in his arms making herself believe that her father is there with him. After sometime she tilted her head & looked at him. The innocence in her eyes, on her face made his heart skip a beat.

RIDDHIMA: Papa....

He smiled & kissed her forehead.

AJAY: Hmmm...

RIDDHIMA: Am I a good daughter?

AJAY: World's best daughter.

Hearing his answer the sadness flew from her eyes, from her face.

RIDDHIMA: You will always trust me na Papa?

AJAY: Humesha over everything & anything.

This brought a shine in her eyes.

RIDDHIMA: You will always be there with me na Papa?

AJAY: Always meri gudiya. Never forget your Papa is always there for his gudiya, I promise I'll be your safe place, your home. Your Papa will always protect you from the world. Fly as much as you want, wherever you want without any fear. Your Papa is there for you & will never let you fall.

His words brought a small smile on her face. She with choked voice & a lot of expectations asked him,

RIDDHIMA: You will always love me na Papa?

AJAY: From the bottom of my heart beta, with all I have. I love you so much my pride.

She smiled fully, her red crying face had a beautiful glow, her eyes had a twinkle & for that Ajay was ready to pay any price to keep it intact & protect it. His heart fluttered at the thought that his love, his care, his little assurance made this pure soul's heart light with these much happiness & peace. She with happiness chirped,

RIDDHIMA: I love you too Papa, your gudiya loves you so much.

Ajay pinched her nose making her giggle.

AJAY: Chocolate khaogi?

She immediately nodded with a smile. Ajay went downstairs & came back with chocolates & both had it. He sat beside Uma leaning on bed back in half lying position & patted otherside saying Riddhima to come & lay down there. She immediately laid down keeping her head in his lap. Ajay's one hand was on Riddhima's head while other on Uma's head.

AJAY: It's sleep time bacha come on close your eyes.

She nodded & tried but sleep was far away from her eyes. After couple of minutes she again looked at him & he raised his eyebrows asking what?

RIDDHIMA: There are still many things that are haunting me Papa but I need time to share. But....

AJAY: But???

RIDDHIMA: Usse jaan ne ke baad bhi mujhse ese hi pyaar karoge na????

She asked with fear. Ajay kissed her forehead & said caressing her hairs.

AJAY: Nothing could change my love & trust for you beta. I promise you & swear on all the children.

Riddhima knew how much all the children matters to Ajay & the swear on them gave a relief to her doubts. She wishing good night closed her eyes trying to sleep. Ajay patted head of both the families till they drifted to deep & peaceful sleep. He too closed his eyes welcoming the sleep.

For parents it might be a small thing to accuse, throw allegations & distrust in their child but these little things break the child from inside. Children who have faced bad parenting lose their innocence, their goodness, their ability to trust, their belief & trust in relations & family. Emotional abuse is just as bad as physical abuse. Worse! You can heal broken bones; you can't heal a broken mind, heart & soul. For parents they think they've right to say whatever comes to their mind to their child. For them emotional abuse, children's feelings doesn't matter. Having toxic parents or a toxic family is more challenging than those with relatively functional families can imagine. Nothing is ever a simple conversation. Almost everything is riddled with passive aggression, subliminals, trauma & projection. Children who have childhood like Riddhima didn't grow up having role models. They grew up having people they didn't want to be like & seeing situations they'd never want to be in. No one understand children don't get traumatised because they get hurt, they get traumatised because they're alone with the hurt.

Hey guys I hope you all liked the chapter. I also want to share an important thing. This chapter is not just a part of story, but it's a real life story of a girl, it's a true story, every situation, every pain, every incident through which Riddhima went is a true story. I've tried to portray her emotions in the best way I could. I really want inline comments & views on this chapter. I very rarely demand it but I guess as a support to that girl please do it, be her courage & also to others who goes through such humiliation in their own home. Stand for girls equality & right. Vote, comment & share to create awareness about right way of parenting & to make people aware & about the consequences of toxic & orthodox parenting..... No child should go through all these things rather has every right for a happy, safe & peaceful childhood which is full of love, care, trust, respect & warmth. Please share, vote & comment. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Amaira Parth