Rudrani:
"Artika, I love you so much. I will marry you and we will raise our child happily. No one blames your character. Withdraw the case and let's live happily after marriage. Try to understand. Don't suffer our child. Don't make her fatherless child. It's tough to raise a child alone without husband. Ashu, at least you explain her," Ranjan said.
I looked at Ashu and noticed him clenching his fist. I know he is damn angry. I held his hand to stop him from reacting because it's Artika who should take a decision. I don't think it's right for us to interfere in her life.
"Sir, file the FIR. I am ready to go to any extent to get these people punished. Girl's life is not a joke and I want to fight this battle. I chose to fight not for my sake but for every girl who is becoming victim of this kind of crimes," Artika said to the inspector.
"Artika," Ranjan tried to say something.
"Just shut up. You didn't deserve to talk. Are you a human? Even your mom regrets for giving birth to a person like you. Do you understand what have you done? It's not that you humiliated just me in front of this society. You humiliated the motherhood by this horrible act. Do you know at least know what is love?
Ashu too married Rudrani without her consent but he earned her love with his understanding and pure love. He is a good example how a man should be and where you are the worst example to know how a son should not be raised. I never forgive you ever in my life. I will raise my baby by myself. She/he doesn't want a criminal father who has no values and morals. I will give all the love to my child and will raise my baby as the one who lives with values. I didn't want even your shadow to fall on my child. I won't leave you until you get deserved punishment," Artika said and we went to home along with her.
Artika asked us to leave her alone. I came to my room and settled on the couch thinking about all the happenings. My past started haunting me again. Why girls are becoming so vulnerable? No, they are not becoming vulnerable. They are fighting new battle every day but these men are not allowing them to do so.
Is Ashu really good or he too will change someday? No, I can't bear if Ashu changes. I love him and he is the only hope for me to live.
I entered into the room and got a shock seeing Ashu hitting the wall harder. He was hitting it again and again which led to the bleeding of his hand. I got out of the shock and held his hand and kissed it.
"What is this, Ashu? Are you mad? Why did you hurt yourself?" I said holding his hand tight.
"I hate it. I hate them. Why people do such things? What happiness do they get by suffering and spoiling others life? Why do men view women as a possession? It's the right of a girl to say No if she doesn't have feelings towards that guy. If a guy really loves the girl, he must respect her feelings. Just for his ego, he humiliated the motherhood and the word Love. I hate myself for belonging to such gender which never respects women."
"Ashu, please cool down. Don't blame yourself," I said tying a bandage to his cracked muscle as bleeding was stopped.
"Rudrani, even today I feel bad for offering money to marry you. I know how much it breaks your heart, but that's the only way I found to save you from getting married to that professor. I thought to marry you only when you falls in love with me but situations changed everything. Today after seeing Ranjan, I felt even I was wrong and forced you to accept my love in the name of marriage. I am sorry, Rudrani. Do you really love me or compelled to love me because of this marriage?"
"I love you, Ashu. If there is anything for which I felt blessed in my life i.e. getting married to you. You never forced me to accept you, but you made me to accept myself completely. I thought I was not beautiful and impure. Because of you, I realised my uniqueness and started loving myself. You are the best, Ashu. Never compare yourself with Ranjan. My Ashu is the best," I said kissing both his hands.
Ashu hugged me. I smiled and embraced the hug feeling his love.
"Ashu, we should help Artika to be strong. She is educated and a doctor. We should help her to live her life as she choose."
"But first we should inform this to her parents. I think they should know this because it's related to their daughter's life," Ashu said.
"What if they choose to get Artika married to Ranjan for their reputation?"
"Let's see, Rudrani. Whatever we will support Artika and her decision. This is not a small thing to hide from her parents," Ashu was talking to me and his mobile rang.
"Hello, Namaste uncle. Tell me," Ashu said.
He switched on the speaker in his mobile.
"Ashu, where is Artika? She is not receiving our call."
"I will tell her to call you back, uncle."
"Okay Ashu. You have a good news. We fixed Artika's marriage with MP Dharmendra's son Ranjan. You might know him. He is your classmate.Anyways don't say this to Artika. Let it be a surprise to her. Bye, Ashu."
The call was disconnected and Ashu looked at me.
"Idiot is trying in every way to marry Artika. Now Artika's father fixed her marriage with Ranjan. Artika is already disturbed and I can't imagine how will she react if she comes to know this."
"Ashu, relax. Artika is a strong girl. Let's reveal about Ranjan to her parents. Let's see how will they react," I said trying to calm down Ashu.
Ashu got another call and he fumed after talking the call.
"That doctor and Ranjan were released," Ashu said shocking me.
"How?"
"Because I withdrew thr complaint against them."
Artika said confusing us.
"But why?"
"I decided to marry Ranjan as per my parents wish," Artika said.
"Artika, are you gone mad? Are you going to leave them without any punishment? How could you do this?"
"Punishment? What kind of punishment will they get if they file the case? Will they ever know the pain which I am facing with the imprisonment of 2-3 years? It's me who should punish them," Artika said strongly.
"What do you mean?" Ashu asked.
"This marriage is not to satisfy his ego but an invitation to hell for him. I will let him know the pain I faced. Every second I will make his life a living hell," Artika said with tears.
"But Artika, do you think it's right to make your life a battle forever by marrying him?" Ashu asked.