“Maa!” Anuradha barged into Ishan's home like a little kid while screaming.

Just as Anuradha caught a glimpse of Avantika, she ran over to her and embraced her.

“Don't kill my mother.” Ishan cooed from behind.

“Hey!” Anuradha threw him a deathly glare, “Don't you dare Ishan, this my mother also I know how to take care of her.”

Yes, Avantika was Ishan's mother actually. But she was considering Anuradha as her own daughter. She never differentiated both of them.

“I was just worried about her. If you continue to hug her, then she could feel difficulty in breathing.” Ishan explained.

“Ishan, shut your mouth!” Avantika sweetly scolded her son. Then she turned to Anuradha, “Where have you been for a week? You didn't come here to see me.”

“Oh! What I can say, ma. My dear chachi gave me a lot of things to do.” Anuradha said sarcastically.

“You know what, ma. She didn't even let me go out from home. Urr...

I hate her! I hate her!” She repeated like a mantra.

“Me too, Anu. I also hate that woman.” Ishan too joined her.

“Ishan, I told you. Shut your mouth!” Ishan instantly zipped up his mouth.

Avantika caressed her hair, “See, beta. She is your chachi. Never think bad about her. I know she is quite rude. But it's not the way to talk about her. It's very bad, Anu.” She was a motherly figure to Anuradha. So she always listens to her words.

“Sorry, ma.” Anuradha mumbled. “But she is very cruel to me. She doesn't like me at all.”

“Don't worry, everything will be fine.” Avantika kissed her forehead.

“Ma, you have a son too. You forgot me?” Ishan complained like a child.

“Yeah, ma forgot you. Because, now she has me.” Anuradha poking her tongue out to him.

Avantika smiled at her, “Now tell me, how was your first day of college?”

Anuradha's face suddenly clouded with the worst moments of the day.

She didn't even like to remember things again.

“It's nice!” Ishan seemed to notice her discomfort. So he decided to step up for her. He knew that she didn't want to talk about it anymore. And moreover he never wished to break her heart again.

~~~

Anuradha was ironing their clothes, while Anamika threw another bundle of clothes to her.

“Make it fast!” Anamika gritted her teeth. “Are you getting tired after ironing these clothes?”

Anuradha kept the iron box back and stretched her arms while yawning,

“Chachi, I am going to sleep now. I will do it tomorrow.”

Anamika stopped the sleepy Anuradha held by her hand. “No, you should do this now.”

“Chachi, please. I will do it tomorrow itself. I am getting sleep, so please...” Anuradha tried her best to convince her.

“That's not possible. Tomorrow you might be busy with other things. Then, how could you do that? Anamika was too stubborn to stay back from her decision.

“Then, call your daughters too. And tell them to help me.” Anuradha said irritatingly.

“They're sleeping. They have school tomorrow. And it's nothing. You could handle yourself.” Anamika said as it's not a big deal to iron clothes at a time.

“Tomorrow I have college too. So I need to sleep.” Anuradha said.

“College?” Anamika mocked her, “I don't even know why my husband was wasting money for you. Girls like you want to study how to lead a home and her family, not any theories printed on books. And I didn't even get one thing, what are you going to do with your engineering. However, you would end up in somebody's kitchen and have two or three kids.” Anuradha could clearly see her sadistic mind like an open book.

Anuradha glared at her like she wanted to pull out her tongue, she was controlling herself.

Anamika raised her eyebrow, “What? Why did you give me that look like I was saying something wrong? See, Anu, it's the truth. Every girl's life ended like this.”

Anamika made her way back to her bedroom after ordering Anuradha to complete the work today itself.

Two weeks were going so fast like a heavy rain. In those days, Anuradha was too busy with her studies. Classes started as they expected before, though the students were enjoying their college life in all ways. And Anuradha and Ishan never crossed again Rakshit and his friends. But she had seen them here and there and also heard stories about them. But she never paid her attention to anything. And in those days, Anuradha and Naina became good friends to each other. Naina was also coming from a middle class family. She was a sweet shy girl unlike Anuradha. Everything was going well until he decided to disturb her again.

It's afternoon, Anuradha and Naina were sitting under a tree, doing their worksheets where Rakshit and Viraj came to them.

Anuradha and Naina raised their heads to see the uninvited guests.

Rakshit held out a record book and said, “Here, complete it in two days.”

“What?” Anuradha snapped.

“It's my record book. You should copy the pictures into it neatly. I want to submit it, so be careful. And remember one thing you have to do in two days.” Rakshit said without giving a chance to reply.

Anuradha was looking at him confusingly. What he was saying she wanted to complete his work. While Viraj gave his record book to Naina and said the same. Naina took the book from him without arguing. But Anuradha was not ready to give up.

“It's your work. You should complete your own self. Then, why are you disturbing me? I won't do it,” Anuradha said.

Rakshit always hated her courage to speak against him. She was like a lioness. “I am your senior. You should listen to my words or--” he paused. “No, no...you will do as I was told.”

“No!”

Rakshit began to walk, completely ignoring her. “Just two days you have. Complete it.”

Rakshit and Viraj walked away from there just like a wind came and went.

Anuradha took the book in her hands and murmured. “I will show you what I can do.”

Naina asked with curiosity, “What are you planning to do?”

Anuradha smiled, “Just wait and watch.”