Chapter 24

A day passed by and I decided to keep the papers back. All night I was on my toes afraid of getting caught.

And I thought about it all night. It isn't safe for me to betray him. He could do anything to me. And he would harm them as well. And I'm not going to betray him when the property is his own. I have no right to do that. That's not my business to meedle in. All I should do is get away from him. They can fight for the property legally if they want.**

It was the next day early morning at 4 AM when she sneaked into his office room after checking that he was in his room sleeping through the crack of his room. Taking the familiar file she placed the papers in and put back the folder in the see-through Almar. A doubt struck her mind as she thought about the random papers she put in the file back then which weren't there. Tension sprouted in her thinking if he realized that the papers were stolen. Immediately closing the Almar door she turned to her right ready to leave and her eyes widen as her heart almost came out of her mouth she looked at him with shock morphed on her face.

There. He stood there at the frame of the door leaning on his sideways to the door frame as he gave that calm composed smile on his face looking at her.

"Caught you".

That alone word sent chills down her spine as she stumbled in her place and her eyes became misty.

****

She stood by the pillar crying her eyes out as she glanced at her in-laws who were standing opposite to her in the distance. Hesitantly she glanced at him who sat on the table calmly as he put the cigar to his lips and took the cigar cutter as he chopped the end of it. Taking the lighter he lit up the cigar and his eyes snapped at her. Flinching she averted her eyes away. She secretly rubbed her hands to the saree as her hands became wet with sweat. Her body jerked with each hitching as she cried fearfully. And the ire silence is making her more tense about what he is going to do next. What worse is he going to do to her?

Her body visibly flinched as her ears perked up in alert when he heard a lot of slam of papers on the table. She folded her lips in to keep her sobs at bay. Her body shook in terror when she saw him glaring at her.

"Today I caught a white mouse red-handed in my office".

He said as he got up from the chair and she moved more into the pillar trying to hide away from him.

" And the mouse confessed to me that she was told to bring the papers for her freedom. But in the end. Both the cat and mouse were caught by the owner".

Saying that he released a puff of smoke in the air he looked up and then glanced at her in-laws.

" And guess what punishment I was going to give to you all".

He eyed them and all of them ogled at him with curiosity with a hint of nervousness while Aasha sniffled silently with her eyes closed.

She knows it already. Let it be any mistake for her he always comes physically. And that alone thing made her cry more as her heart wrenched. And she does not know how to escape from him. But this time she will make a run outside the house if he tries to touch her and from there she will run away to anywhere possible. She can't let it happen all the time.

"You know what? Let's end this all".

He said as he walked forward.

"Let's end this all. Enough of this torture, revenge and all. We'll just finish it. Seriously. How long am I going to hold up on my revenge. I'm going to marry soon. I should end this all".

" So get out of this house right now with your luggage".

Shock morphed on their faces as Samira looked at her mother expectantly while Mira was grasping what he said. Was he really saying them to leave shike holding them hostage in their own home for this long? She didn't leave the house till now because he wasn't allowing her. Yamini tried to send Samira away from this house as well but he was their obstruct. Except for Yamini, no one was willing to stay in the house for the things he did to them.

As if their poor-conditioned room wasn't enough he threw all of them in a cattle while he got to know that Aasha was talking to them and providing them food. He put them there for three days and three nights and they were sleep deprived except once they slept in a noon behind the well. It was their first time to have their comforts stripped off and for all three days, Samira was sick to her stomach living there while others too weren't less but just not as worst as Samira.

The worst is Yamini's name-sake friends who were high-class ladies were invited to a small gathering at the house for no reason and Yamini and her daughter remained their servers. It was a surprise for them as well. They were asked to bring juices and when they came into the hall they froze in their spots looking at her kitty party friends. Her pride broke as humiliation hit her face and tears welled up in her eyes as all those women dressed in elite sarees looked at Yamini with shock before they started to humiliate her for their fun. As it should be because they weren't friends in need but friends because of money. On the top Ridhima who is the keeper of the house under Arnav has hosted the small ladies gathering sitting among them while she put the tray on the table and left the place.

That was a par level as she broke down that day and there is this sheer thirst of taking revenge on him but she was aware of her situation. Revenge or fun isn't for those who don't have money and power. And she is aware of that. And a part of the reason that she asked Aasha to steal the papers is because of this. The money and power. But she never received the papers and today they have to leave.

Though Yamini wasn't pleased to listen about it both Meera and Samira felt relief.

"Go and pack your bags. Hope you won't steal anything. Ridhima. Go and survey while they pack their small things".

He said and Yamini stood there frozen with her wide red eyes looking at him in range at the loss of unfilled revenge.

" Maa".

Samira called as she put her hand on her mother's shoulder but Yamini refused to look at her as if she was possessed.

" Maa please. Let's leave. It is hell living here. Here every step was on the stake of our dignity and pride".

Her daughter tried to convince her as more tears welled up in Yamini's eyes but none dared to come out without her permission.

" If we are still persistent on revenge then we will destroy ourselves. Please at least for me, let's leave".

" Yamini. Let's go to my home for now. Don't be stubborn ".

Her sister Meera offered as she clutched her hand. Yamini's lower lip trembled as if her pride broke accepting her defeat. Only she knows what she had gone through in her youth to get this house in her hand. Only she knows how many sacrifices she offered to own this house, money, and power. Only she knows what dirty tricks she has played. And today.....

"Or I may call the police. Reopen the murder case of my mother. And you'll be provided shelter in the police station".

He mocked and Yamini gulped as she blinked her tears. Taking a deep breath she spoke.

" We will leave".

Was her declaration and Aasha looked at her mother-in-law with utmost gratefulness. The last tear dropped from happiness as she breathed out in relief.

Finally. They are going to be out.

She has to do nothing anymore and she has to scare for her dignity.

She saw her in-laws going back to their rooms. Probably for packing. With happiness, she too ran back to her room and began to pack her little things in her suitcase. Picking up the suitcase she dragged it down the stairs all along the way and put it in the place she stood before and began to wait for them.

Her face was all red and she sniffled as her fingers played with each other in nervousness. The fact that she is going to be free bought her great excitement and relief. She never felt any relief as much as she felt now. Her eyes looked around the house as a sense of nostalgia hit her. She is going to miss this home. She got used to this aur pretty quickly and closely. The thought of leaving the house is surely heartbreaking. She just lived here for one year and imagine what it would be like for those who lives here for more than 25 years. That much he heartbreaking. While looking around suddenly her eyes fell on him where he was watching her still standing in the same spot. Probably waiting for them.

He looked at her and then down and his eyes fell on her suitcase. His brows rose as he snapped his eyes back at her and she immediately looked away. She heard him snickering followed by the footsteps. It felt as if he was having fun.

Soon her in-laws came out and stood at the foot of the hall.

"Don't think your punishment is over Yamini".

He boomed loudly enough for her to hear as she turned around where as he has his back to them while walking randomly.

"You killed my mother. The most saint woman in my life. And I swear (gritting his teeth). Life will kill you harder and harder and karma makes it more painful".

He turned around and looked deadly in her eyes.

"But unfortunately behind your every pain and karma, I'll be the reason. I have no fair share of gods karma. But I write my own karma for you. Fucking trust me that will be deadly. My deadly aura will always follow you".

He rested his hands on his hips as his chest puffed out as his red-rimmed eyes looked at her with full hate that it could burn her. The flashbacks fell from the back of his memories as his jaw clenched.

The death, the blame, and the name.

She gave all those to him in the worst way ever. And he alone took it all up though he got hit by several winds in his life that left marks on him.

He warned and all the three felt chills and Yamini felt fear gripped in her heart. The fear is not for her. It's for her daughter. And the fear hits hard when you fear for your loved ones than for yourself. It makes us stand on pins and needles. Complete restlessness in the heart. A dark horror where we can't see from where the danger lurks for our loved ones.

"I don't expect you to listen. But please leave my daughter out of this. She is a child".

" And I wasn't a child back then. And she is in her bloody twenties while I was in my early teens ".

His heart grew heavier and heavier remembering everything. Only he knows what he went through. Because he wasn't allowed to scream. Either for help or for justice. Not that he was the type to scream.

"I beg you".

"I'll make sure you will. A very much".

Yamini turned front with a blank expression as she was unable to put off the flame of fear in her heart.

Was her daughter going to be a sacrificial lamb because of her selfishness in her youth? For her sins. A lone tear escaped from her eye.

Now she can't do anything. All she can do is protect her daughter with all her life. She has no other choice. Leaving her last homely breath here she started to take steps out of their home.

Delighted Aasha picked up her suitcase and began to walk to them when suddenly her hand was caught in a grip causing her to halt in her steps.

She looked back at the hold and then at the person who held her hand. Her brows questioned him in a frown and his wicked smirk gave her his answer.

"Where are you going darling".

"Huh"?

"Where. Are. You. Going. I didn't give you any permission to leave the house".

"W-what do you mean"? You asked us to leave".

"It's for them baby. Not for you. Not for the betrayers ".

Her heart dropped down as well as her breathing.