Sudhir and Tilak were watching news. The news reader told " Based on the petition filed by noted philanthropist lawyer Amit Rathore and because of the uproar that was generated among the masses and the protests done by Civil Society Supreme Court has ordered CBI Enquiry into the sensational Mahima Das rape case. We take you to our reporter in Delhi to get the latest news.
The anchor in Delhi continued " Yes it is a great day for Indian democracy. The fight for justice for Mahima Das is finally bearing fruit. Yes we are getting a CBI enquiry under the able leadership of Sachin Rastogi who is an ace CBI leader. A 3 member investigative team will move to Jaipur and as per our latest info CBI is asked to submit the report within 6 months"
Tilak and Sudhir jumped and went to Sreedhar's room. " Sreedhar big success. With what you have done door of justice might open for the young 13 year old and her family. CBI enquiry is on for Mahima Das rape case" Sreedhar hugged his brothers. " Bhaiyya it would not have been possible without you both"
Suman was arranging Sreedhar's dinner plate as she heard all the commotion. She took a Kaju Barfi and kept it in his plate.
" Suman what happened. Sreedhar is still on diet right " asked Vindhya
" Yes Bhabi. He is on diet. But today, today he deserves this bhabi. Because of him a young girl who lost her life to a man's lust might get justice. A family will get closure for the bitter memories"
" And you don't deserve anything" came in Maheswari
" Me Maa what did I do to deserve something. He took all the beating " told Suman
" Yes he took beating. But Suman the courage you showed in coming down not fearing the social taboos and not fearing what will happen to you, if you enter the Jagratha is behind what he is today. So for me the real credit goes to you. So eat this " saying it Maheswari pushed a Kaju Barfi into Suman's mouth.
" Maa thank you " said Suman and Maheswari patted the girl on the shoulders as she carried the tray. Other members were seated for the dinner.
When Suman entered Sreedhar's room the tape recorder was on and the song Dil hai ke Maanta Nahin was playing. She kept the dinner plate and looked at him.
" Dil Hai ke Maanta Nahin. Muskil Badi hai Rasmein Mohabbat, ye Jaanta hi nahin"
Sreedhar was smiling as she took the barfi and held to him. He took half the bite and fed her the remaining. Sreedhar could she was glowing, her face registering the pride she was feeling . He stared at her. She at first stared back, but then she turned away, not able to stand that intensity in his eyes. Sreedhar could see she was smiling even when she was not looking.
" Ye Bekrari kyun ho rahi hai, ye jaanta hi nahin"
Sreedhar eat food. Don't gaze at me like this. He kept his hand on hers and pushed it under the table mat so that no-one will easily observe it. She looked at him. His eyes were teary.
" Sumi I am sorry " he said, gently pressing her hand.
" For what getting beaten up " she asked
" No"
" For what happened between us in the Jagratha Mandap"
" No Sumi"
" Then " her eyes were also teary now
" For making you feel what happened between us in the Jagratha Mandap was something dishonorable. For making you feel you did something dishonorable because of which I had to protect your honor" . She stared at him. She could feel the love in his eyes. But unlike the day in Jagratha Mandap today it was calm, not passionate
Dil toh ye chahe har pal tujhe hum bas yuhi dekha kare
They had landed together after rolling over in the Jagratha Mandap. Suman looked up. Their faces were inches apart. She tried to get up. But she felt his arm tightly around her waist, restraining her. She looked at him and saw a passion in his eyes which at first unnerved her, her heart skipped a beat but then made her body feel a warmth that was pleasant.
Marke bhi hum na tumse judha ho aao kuch aisa Karen
Sreedhar looked at her. Her saree was completely red with yellow sprinkled. Her face also had gulal. Her hair was all over his face. In her eyes he saw the same yearning which he was feeling for her. Her lips quivered.
Mujme samaja, aa paas aaja, hum dum mere hum nashi
He took her lips into his. Suman closed her eyes feeling him. Her hands moved from his chest towards the back of his neck as she lowered her face . He kissed her passionately for few moments and she reciprocated it. Then they heard noises and broke away
She looked at him. "Sreedhar.."
" No Sumi. That day in hospital I want to talk about it. You said when we are back home I can talk. You will listen. Allow me to tell Sumi. I wanted to tell you this. I very much wanted to tell you this. Just listen." He pressed her hand. She nodded. " Sumi everyone saw the way you tried to physically protect me. But only I know what real protection you gave me that day. Sumi by accepting the intimate moment with me that day, you protected me from falling in front of my own eyes. Believe me Sumi, if you had said no, I would not have been able to forgive myself for taking advantage of the moment. Sumi I am not concerned about what the world thinks about me. But I am very much concerned about what you think about me. Because if I cant meet your eyes, I cant even meet my mother's eyes as if I insult you or misbehave with you it is equivalent to insulting her, insulting whatever she has taught me from childhood.
Sumi when I loved you, I had always wanted to deliver on your trust because I know how much you trust me. In college I had tried my best to ensure even if you break some rules with me no one raises a finger at you. Sumi when I came back from US and saw you, you wanted me to move on. I could not move on Sumi because in front of Goddess I had given you the seven promises. Yes there was no other witness other than Maa Durga for what we did that day. You had walked those 7 rounds with me without another witness trusting me. And society put a bind on you, while I could walk scott free. I didn't wanted that Sumi, I wanted to deliver on your trust. I want you to know it was not just a walk I did with you, but I meant each and every word I spoke.
And that day in Jagratha Mandap I realized the level at which you have trusted me Sumi. Without any formal binding just for the binding we had in front of Maa Durga you accepted the intimacy. Though I couldn't realize it immediately as I was confused, I understood that after that intimate moment my resolve to protect your trust has increased. And my way of protecting your trust was standing between you and the society Sumi. Before the society reaches you, they will have to bypass me. Sumi please understand whenever I am standing between you and the society I am only delivering on the trust you placed on me by being a part of me. And Sumi it also means that I trust you completely that you will never do any action intentionally that can make me stand in front of society with bowed head. So Sumi whatever I did it had nothing to do with honor. It had only to do with trust. Trust you have on me and the trust I have on you. It was there before, but then after the intimate moment we shared understand I have become more responsible towards you, wanting to do more for you. Your trust is my power Sumi and I will go any extend to protect it.
Tears were flowing from his eyes and she was also crying as he caressed her hand.
" Sreedhar I was also confused that day. I was thinking why didn't I stop you. And when you talked about honor in the messed up state I was also angry at you. Then I realized you will be as confused as I am. In hospital I saw you so vulnerable which I have never seen you before. Sreedhar leaving my modesty as a woman I want to tell you one thing. In that intimate moment with you I felt myself alive again. I felt happy sharing that moment with you. It was my choice not any compulsion. Yes I want us to understand the social reality of our relation and need to be more cautious so that we don't cross the limit. But that moment we shared I don't want to feel guilty about it Sreedhar, because I understood in front of Maa Durga we have not sinned. And sinning from society perspective we have taken the punishment also. You physically and me emotionally"
Sreedhar smiled at her, leaving her hand. She too was smiling. Their mind felt like the clear sky after the rain.
" You have become a hero Sreedhar" Suman told as she took his plate.
" You have made me one Sumanji" he smiled back at her, his eyes showing all the affection for her.