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Anshul Sehgal, once again her savior, stood before her, his presence a formidable shield. Aarushi hurriedly covered herself, trembling as he pulled her protectively behind him. The older man, recovering from Anshul's initial blow, roared in outrage, but Anshul's eyes were aflame with righteous fury.

"How dare you touch her?" Anshul bellowed, his fists landing with punishing force on the man's body. Blood sprayed from the man's mouth, and he coughed violently, struggling to defend himself.

"Stop, please! He might die!" Aarushi pleaded, her hands clutching Anshul's arm in a desperate attempt to pull him away.

But Anshul was relentless, his anger unquenched.

"She's young enough to be your daughter! You vile creature!" he roared, his blows raining down with unbridled rage.

Aarushi was stunned by the intensity of his actions. Her heart pounded with a mixture of fear, gratitude, and something deeper—an emotion she couldn't yet name. She knew then that Anshul was her protector, her guardian.

Siya appeared, followed closely by her parents, their faces a mix of shock and confusion. Anshul's fierce gaze turned to Siya, burning with accusation.

"Why do you harbor such filth in your home?" he demanded.

"Who the hell is he? How dare he think of molesting her? Is this a livable place or a hellhole? What kind of people live here?"

Siya's parents, their expressions mortified, tried to intervene, but Anshul cut them off with a withering glare.

"Your daughter knows nothing of manners, and you," he said, his voice dripping with contempt, "you don’t even know what’s happening in your own home. Your daughter abuses her power, assaults her maids, and you do nothing to teach her the basic decency of being human."

Before they could respond, Siya snapped back, her voice tinged with arrogance and anger.

"Aarushi is a widow. So what if my uncle liked her? He has every right to make her happy. She couldn’t find any better man anyway. She should be thankful that he’s even interested in a lowly girl like her."

Anshul’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, it looked as if he might strike her. But he restrained himself, his hand curling into a tight fist.

"You’re disgusting," he spat. "I would never raise my hand against a woman, but you test the limits of my restraint."

Siya’s parents stepped forward, attempting to diffuse the situation. "Mr. Sehgal, please, let’s resolve this peacefully. We value you and—"

"Enough!" Anshul interrupted, his voice like thunder.

"You don’t value anyone. You only see status and power. Aarushi doesn’t deserve to serve such despicable people."

He turned to Aarushi, his expression softening.

"Come with me. They don’t deserve you, and you don’t deserve to suffer here." He held out his hand to her, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.

Aarushi, her heart pounding, placed her hand in his. As they walked out together, the mansion that once felt like a prison now seemed far behind. Anshul had shown her kindness and respect—something she had almost forgotten existed.

Anshul looked back one last time, his eyes meeting Siya's. "You don’t deserve happiness, not with a heart as cold as yours. And I will make sure everyone knows the kind of people you are."

With that, he led Aarushi away, leaving Siya and her parents in stunned silence. The oppressive weight of their home lifted from her shoulders as she stepped into the sunlight, her heart filled with newfound hope. Anshul had saved her, not just from physical danger, but from a life of servitude and despair.

***

Anshul guided Aarushi to her home, as they reached her doorstep, she turned to him, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Thank you," she said, the gratitude in her tone unmistakable. She was truly grateful for his intervention, for saving her dignity and perhaps her life.

He looked at her with a mixture of concern and resolve.

"You shouldn't tolerate their abuse," he said firmly. "You have to voice out when you experience injustice. Staying silent only emboldens them."

Aarushi nodded meekly, her eyes downcast. Anshul could see the weight of her quietude, her reluctance to engage in conversation. He sighed inwardly, cursing a society that conditioned her to such submissiveness. She couldn't roam freely without her dupatta simply because she was a widow, and she felt she had no right to speak against violence because she was just a maid. The thought of it all ignited a fire within him.

"Stay safe in the future," he urged, his voice gentle but insistent. "Stay away from those kinds of people."

Gathering her courage, Aarushi looked up at him through the sheer fabric of her dupatta, her eyes glistening.

"Why are you telling me this now?" she asked, a slight tremor in her voice.

Anshul's expression softened, and he sighed. "I'm going back to Mumbai," he said quietly. "I was here for some important business, but now there's no reason for me to stay."

A small tsunami of emotions welled up in her eyes, but she blinked back the tears. She didn't fully understand why his departure affected her so deeply, but the sadness was palpable.

"I see," she said, her voice barely audible.

Anshul's heart ached at the sight of her sorrow. He had only known her for a brief time, but in those moments, he had felt a connection, a need to protect her.

"Take care of yourself, Aarushi," he said, his voice full of sincerity. "You deserve better than what you've been given. And remember, you're stronger than you think."

She nodded, biting her lip to keep the tears at bay. "Thank you again for everything.", she said, her voice quivering slightly.

He gave her a reassuring smile, one that spoke of hope and resilience. "Goodbye, Aarushi," he said softly, turning to leave.

As he walked away, Aarushi watched him go, her heart heavy yet hopeful. Anshul had shown her a glimpse of kindness, of a world where she could be more than just a maid or a widow. And though he was leaving, his words and actions had planted a seed of strength within her. She would carry that with her, no matter where life took her next.

Anshul glanced back one last time, seeing her standing there, a silhouette of quiet dignity. He made a silent vow to himself: one day, he would help change the society that oppressed women like Aarushi. But for now, he hoped his small act of kindness had made a difference. And with that thought, he continued on his path, the sun setting behind him, casting a warm, hopeful glow on the world ahead.

******

The next morning, Aarushi found herself at the temple, her heart heavy with gratitude and hope. She knelt before the deity, her hands folded in earnest prayer.

"Please grant Anshul all the happiness in the world," she whispered. "He deserves it. In a society where goodness is rare, he stands out." She poured her heart into the prayer, hoping that the divine would listen and bless the man who had shown her kindness.

After her prayers, Aarushi stepped outside, sliding her feet into her worn slippers. She adjusted her dupatta, allowing it to drape loosely over her head, and began to cross the busy street. The morning hustle was in full swing, with vendors hawking their goods and vehicles honking impatiently.

As she navigated the chaotic street, she noticed a middle-aged woman attempting to cross. The woman seemed overwhelmed, her path obstructed by the throng of people and the relentless traffic.

Just then, a motorbike sped towards the woman, its driver oblivious to the potential disaster. Aarushi acted without thinking. She sprinted forward and yanked the woman out of the bike's path, both of them tumbling to the ground. The bike swerved and zoomed past, narrowly missing them.

Breathless, Aarushi helped the woman to her feet and guided her to a nearby bench. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice full of concern.

The woman, still shaken, nodded. "Thank you," she said, her voice trembling.

"I... I was just trying to get to my car across the street, and then this happened."

Aarushi offered a reassuring smile. "Would you like some water?"

The woman shook her head. "No, thank you. I just need to catch my breath."

Aarushi looked around and then back at her. "I can help you get to your car, if you don't mind."

The woman smiled, a glint of gratitude in her eyes. "That would be wonderful. Thank you."

Aarushi offered her arm, and the woman took it gratefully. They made their way across the street, Aarushi's presence providing the stability the woman needed. As they approached the waiting car, the woman patted Aarushi's head affectionately.

"You're very kind," the woman said, her eyes soft with warmth. "May God bless you."

Aarushi smiled, her heart swelling with the simple joy of having helped someone. "Thank you. I'm glad you're safe."

Before the woman stepped into her car, she turned to Aarushi. "What is your name dear, dear?"

"Aarushi," she replied softly.

The woman nodded thoughtfully. "Aarushi, my name is Sakshi. You have a beautiful heart. Take care of yourself."

Aarushi watched as Sakshi got into her car and drove away, feeling a strange sense of fulfillment. It was moments like these that reminded her of the inherent goodness in humanity, even in the face of adversity.

As she walked back home, she couldn't help but think of Anshul and the small acts of kindness that connected strangers, creating ripples of goodwill in the vast ocean of life.

*****

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