Against All Odds

Regret?

Narayan was taking a look at poll wise survey which was indicating their party winning most of the seats. Aarushi's constituency caught his attention. She was clearly going to win the seat.

"MLA banegi tumhari bahu." Narayan suddenly said making Nilima startle. " Kya din aa gaye hai hamare ghar ke.. Itni kaisi Galati ho gayi Nilima tumse? Bilkul ek bhi bahu thik se sambhal nai payi tum."

Nilima kept quiet.

"Amit toh pehle se reasons dhoond raha tha mere against jane ke liye. Tum ek baat sun lo.. Tumse pyar karta hai isliye mere against khada hai wo aisi baat nai hai.. Tum to bas ek jariya ho.. Main chhod ke aur koi nai hai tumhara iss duniya me" Narayan said.

Nilima was getting angry. "Aap kya jante hai pyar kya hota hai. Swarthi hai bas aap" For the first time Nilima answered him back.

Narayan was shocked. He looked at her angrily just to find her looking at him with full confidence. She was looking into his eyes without any fear. He didn't liked it.

"How dare you?" Narayan went towards her. "Najre mila rahi ho mujhse.? Itni himmat mili hai tumhe ki mujhe palat ke jawab diya tumne" Narayan was burning in anger.

"Kitna marenge aap mujhe.? Maar dalenge? Thik hai. Aapke sath rehne se accha hai main mar jau" Nilima said with anger oozing from her eyes. "Mera beta mujhse pyar karta hai ya nai yeh aapko mujhe batane ki jaroorat nai.

Nilima received a tight slap on her left cheek. Narayan went ahead and grabbed her hair." Tum pucch ke dekho Amit se.. Batao usko ki le jaye tumhe apne sath.. Phir sab log jao ghar chhod ke.. Itna bada jo ghar hai yaha ke aisho aaram, ghar ka itna paisa, property chhod ke koi bhi beta nai jayega.. Likh ke le lo tum yeh.. Amit ko toh pehle se itni problem hai ab tak kyu rehta hai wo mere ghar me? "

" Kyu ki main hoon yaha. Agar main bhi uske sath jaungi toh wo chala jayega. "Nilima shouted.

Narayan was getting more and more angry. He pushed her and she fell down. Her head bumped with a table.

Nilima shouted. Her head was bleeding. Her inner voice was telling her to fight back. She somehow knew that it's now or never. She stood up and by using all her power slapped Narayan back.

Narayan was taken aback. This was totally unexpected. He was in complete shock for a minute. Nilima felt like his veins will burst due to anger. Narayan was turning red. Her courage was crushing his toxic male ego.

In a second she felt like she took revenge for all the atrocities, physical and mental abuse, all the torment Narayan had forced on her throughout their married life. She remembered every slap she had felt on her cheek. Even she was getting angry.

Now conditions were in Nilima's favour. Not only Amit but Rohit was also on her side. All these years she feared that she will loose her sons if she went against Narayan. But now she was completely sure that at least 2 of her 3 sons will be on her side.

Narayan angrily grabbed her arms. "Tumne mujh pe hath uthaya? Kaise Nilima?" He slapped her.

"Aap mujh pe hath uthana band nai karenge toh main ab chup nai baithungi." She retorted.

Narayan was extremely shocked. He was very angry. She was standing there by gathering all the courage she had.

"Aaj aar ya paar" She said. "Aap mujhe maar dalenge toh bhi thik par main dar ke chup nai bauthungi."

Narayan took a few steps back after watching her in this state.

"Bahot pehle hi aapke khilaf aawaj uthani chahiye thi mujhe. Par main chup thi kyu ki main yeh nai chahti thi ki hamare baccho ko tuta hua parivar mile. Par aap parivar ke layak hi nai hai." She shouted.