A week later.

The date Dhananjay was supposed to return was just two days away. More than anyone, Ganga was waiting for him, with his child inside her. Shrimala suggested she write him a letter, but she refused, saying she wanted to tell him after he returned.

Each day without him felt as long as eternity, and brutal — especially this day. Rashmi had gone to Delhi with Ritwik, and Mishra ji and Rishabh were out of the village. Agrawal ji hadn't reached yet when a group of women, all draped in pure white sarees, heads shaved, stormed into the house and held back Shrimala, Kaveri, and Tara, stopping them from reaching Ganga, who was dragged out of the haveli..

The entire village now knew she was the same child widow who had been rescued by Shrimala, who had lived under shadows for years, and now, she was carrying an illegitimate child of their sarpanch, Dhananjay Singh Thakur.

Ganga was crying, her feet bruised after being dragged more like an object than a human. Nobody cared that she was pregnant; instead they cursed her, cursed her unborn child. The sindoor she had applied, despite being unmarried, was wiped off; the fake mangalsutra was pulled off her neck, its beads lying scattered carelessly. Her body was wrapped in a plain white cloth. This humiliation wasn't done in private, instead it was public, in front of the entire village.

And the one behind it was none other than Yamini.

She watched the scene unfold with a smile playing on her lips. Then she stepped forward and began dramatically.

"Arey, zinda mat chhodo is ladki ko toh.. Apne husn ke jaal mein mere pote ko phaansa, use uske pita se door kara diya.. Aur ab dekho is bacharan aurat ko.. Bina shaadi ke, apne pet mein baccha liye ghoom rahi hai.."

(Don't leave this girl alive at all.. She trapped my grandson in the web of her beauty, got him separated from his father.. And now look at this characterless woman.. Without marriage, she's walking around with a child in her belly..)

Everyone nodded and began to curse her. A few women came with charcoal in their hands to paint her black. Ganga cried loudly, shaking her head, but they moved forward anyway.

Just as one of them was about to touch her, a roar echoed.

"Haath mat lagaana use.."

(Don't lay a hand on her..)

Every eye turned. Dhananjay ran towards Ganga immediately and and hugged her tightly there, in front of everyone.

He looked around. His eyes were red with rage.

"Ye sab kya bakwaas hai.. Himmat kaise hui aap sab ki meri patni ka haath lagaane ki.."

(What nonsense is all this.. How dare all of you lay a hand on my wife..)

"Patni? Patni kaise asli hui, jab shaadi hi nakli thi.." Yamini spat. She walked forward and said, "Ye ladki isi sab ki haqdaar hai.. Ek toh vidhwa hai, upar se jisse shaadi tak nahi ki, us insaan ka baccha liye ghoom rahi hai.."

(Wife? How can she be a real wife, when the marriage itself was fake..This girl deserves all of this.. First, she's a widow, and on top of that, she's walking around carrying the child of a man she isn't even married to..)

Baccha.. the word felt unusual in this place. Dhananjay looked at Ganga, who was crying badly, one hand resting on her belly.

It didn't take him a moment to realise Ganga was pregnant, and the child was his.

He wanted to weep at this moment that Ganga was carrying their child. But this wasn't the moment for that.

He held her wrist tightly and said, "Mera baccha hai Ganga ke andar.."

(It's my child inside Ganga..)

Yamini spoke again.

"Par hua toh wo najaayaz hi na.. Kyunki shaadi toh hui nahi hai tum dono ki.. Arey, paise ki bhookhi hai ye ladki.. Isliye mere pote ko phaansa liya.." (But it's still illegitimate, isn't it.. Because the two of you were never married.. She's a girl hungry for money.. That's why she trapped my grandson..)

Dhananjay stared at her and yelled aloud, "Chup, bilkul.. Ek bhi shabd nahi Ganga ke baare mein.." He looked at everyone and said, "Ye baccha.. Aap logo ko najaayaz lagta hai na.. Toh main deta hoon apne bacche ko apna naam, Ganga ko apna naam, aaj aur yahin sabke saamne.."

(Silence, completely.. Not one word about Ganga..This child.. You all think it's illegitimate, don't you.. So I give my child my name, and Ganga my name, today, right here, in front of everyone..)

Saying this, he cut his thumb on a nearby sharp piece of metal and filled Ganga's hair parting with the blood. Facing her before everyone, he said,

"Mera khoon saja hai iski maang par.." (My blood adorns her parting now..)

He looked around. The temple stood just a few steps ahead. He lifted Ganga in his arms and walked without a word. Setting her on her feet, he lit the wood in the fire pot and, holding Ganga's hand, circled around it.

Ganga held his arm and said, "Dhananjay.. mat karo na ye sab.. Chhod do mujhe.." (Dhananjay.. don't do all this.. Let me go..)

Dhananjay gave her a sharp glare and said, "Sapne mein bhi mat sochna.."

(Don't even think of it in your dreams..)

And they completed the seven pheras around the fire. As the pheras were completed, Dhananjay screamed aloud.

"Aaj.. Is agni ko saakshi maankar, swayam Devi Maiya ke saamne, maine saat phere liye hain Ganga ke saath. Aaj se, abse, ye meri patni hai aur mera baccha bhi jaayaz hai.. Ab agar kisi ne himmat bhi ki meri patni ya mere bacche par sawaal uthaane ki.. Main wo hashr karunga jo kisi ne socha nahi hoga.."

(Today, with this fire as witness, before the Goddess herself, I have taken seven vows with Ganga. From today, from this moment, she is my wife, and my child is legitimate too. Now if anyone even dares to raise a question about my wife or my child.. I will bring about a fate no one has imagined..)

And without sparing another glance at anyone, he lifted Ganga in his arms and walked towards his haveli. Ganga hid her face in his arms and continued to cry.

Dhananjay carried her to their room and settled on the bed. The moment he sat down, Ganga held him tightly and cried loudly. Dhananjay caressed her back, lifted her face, and wiped her tears away.

"Shh.. Shaant ho jaao, bilkul.." (Shh.. Calm down completely..)

But she kept crying.

"Mujhe maaf kar do, Dhananjay.. Mujhe nahi pata tha main.. main p-.."

(Forgive me, Dhananjay.. I didn't know that I.. I was pregnant..)

"Shh.." he placed his finger on her lips. "Ye faisla hum dono ka tha.." His hand travelled to her belly as he said, "Aur ye baccha bhi hum dono ka hai.."

(This decision was both of ours..And this child is both of ours too..)

Ganga looked into his eyes and spoke, still weeping,

"Chhod do mujhe, Dhananjay.. Main, main akele tumse door humara baccha paal lungi.. Ye gaanv, ye log kabhi nahi apnaayenge ise.."

(Let me go, Dhananjay.. I, I will raise our child alone, away from you.. This village, these people will never accept us..)

"Toh main inhe chhod dunga.." He spoke firmly. "Jo log meri patni ko nahi apnaayenge, main unhe chhod dunga.. Samajh gayi? Aur khabardar.. Aainda meri patni ya mere bacche ko mujhse door le jaane ki baat kahi toh.. Main tum dono ko apne paas, apne saath rakhunga humesha.."

(Then I will leave them. The people who won't accept my wife, I will leave them. Understood? And be warned.. if you ever again talk of taking my wife or my child away from me.. I will keep both of you with me, by my side, forever..)

He dropped from the bed and placed his head near her feet, "Mujhe maaf kar do, Ganga, ki main tumhe akela chhod kar gaya.. Varna ye sab hota hi nahi.."

(Forgive me, Ganga, for leaving you alone.. Otherwise none of this would have happened..)

Ganga shook her head and sat beside him. She hugged him once again.

"Kabhi door mat jaana na ab.. Kuch nahi hoon main tumhare bina.." (Never go far away now.. I am nothing without you..) She cried.

Dhananjay just nodded, holding her close. His hand travelled to her belly and rested there.

He planted a kiss on her head,

"Is khushi ke liye, shukriya, Ganga.. Mujhse ab intezaar nahi ho raha hai.. Kab main humari beti ko apni god mein uthaunga.."

(Thank you for this happiness, Ganga.. I can't wait any longer now.. For when I'll hold our daughter in my arms..)

Ganga looked up and smiled through her tears. Dhananjay kissed her forehead again.

.

.

Months had passed since that day. After Dhananjay's threat, no one, not even Yamini, dared to question Ganga.

Ganga too had settled back down since then, under the care of three motherly figures. They would feed her five times a day, cook whatever she demanded. The house was alive again.

Especially Shrimala's heart was the happiest. Her son's child was about to be born, and her daughter was about to return. After a long wait, the day finally arrived when Durga would return..

Shrimala had been bustling with preparations since four in the morning. She hadn't told Dhananjay and Ganga yet, but when Dhananjay saw her awake at 4 am, he casually asked, and absent-mindedly Shrimala revealed that Durga was returning today.

Dhananjay's eyes narrowed, and Shrimala had to tell him the entire truth. After learning that his little sister was alive and returning today, Dhananjay was the most excited and happiest one in the house.

The day passed, Shrimala and Dhananjay's eyes fixed on the threshold, waiting for someone to arrive. But throughout the day, no one came.

Evening came, the sun dipped below the horizon, yet there was no sign of her. Shrimala's heart began to beat louder. And that's when the thought hit her, Digvijay. Had he done something to Durga?

She stood up, ready to head over towards Thakur Haveli and confront him.

But just at the threshold, she bumped into someone who was about to step in.

"Maaf karna.." (Forgive me..) she immediately said, before looking at the woman's face. In the dim light coming from the haveli, she looked at her face and froze.

The face wasn't much different from her own. Anyone who looked at her would have immediately recognised she was none other than Shrimala's daughter.

Shrimala's jaw dropped; she didn't waste a moment thinking about it twice and hugged her tightly.

"Meri bacchi.." (My child..) she called out.

But Durga was clueless. To her, this was a random woman hugging her. From her back, she looked at Kamal ji and Kamala ji, questioning with her eyes, but they just smiled.

Kamala ji stepped forward and, placing her hand on Durga's shoulder, she said,

"Durga.. Ye aapki maa hain.." (Durga.. This is your mother..)

Durga's eyes widened, and shifted from Kamala ji to Shrimala, crying happy tears..

Guys comments vagerah kardiya karo yaar..😭 We are almost at the end..

Kuch aur chapter..and then complete!

Meet you in the next chapter till then,

Bye-bye!!