Kabir tried hard to look "normal," but the act only made him laugh at odd times. Aman ji and Chandrika ji saw right through it.Underneath the forced smiles, Kabir was spiraling—laughing at nonsense, shouting suddenly while listening to music alone, waking in the night sobbing. Chandrika ji grew afraid for him.
Family Council
One evening Kabir slept while Chandrika ji sat beside him. Downstairs Aman ji, Yamuna ji, and Raj ji spoke in hushed, worried tones.
Raj ji: "What have you decided, Brother? Kabir isn't improving—and he refuses to see a doctor. Keeping him home could be dangerous; his health is only getting worse."
Aman ji (anxious): "I know. But what can I do? I must leave for Australia next week. I can't leave Kabir alone, and I can't send him to Raghav—Raghav's buried in research; seeing Kabir like this will upset him too."
Yamuna ji: "The boy's pride is shattered. Those disgusting accusations… how is a child supposed to bear them?"
Raj ji: "Why not take him away somewhere? A change of air might help."
Aman ji thought. "Yes—perhaps I'll take Kabir to Australia with me. Most of my work's there now anyway."
After more discussion they dispersed.
Forcing Kabir Outside
Next morning Chandrika ji pushed Kabir out of the house so he wouldn't stew in his room. Reluctantly he went.Some kids were playing cricket; one called him over. He didn't want to, but they pleaded—so he joined.
After the game everyone sat at a tea-stall. A boy named Pankaj nudged Kabir.
"Bet that felt good, huh?" Pankaj smirked.
Kabir stared blankly. Pankaj elbowed him. "Touching her. She's chubby, but hot, man."The group howled with laughter.
Kabir's fists clenched. He stood to leave, but Pankaj called after him:"Why shy? Tell us where you touched her—total bombshell, that 'item number one'!"
Kabir lost it. He grabbed Pankaj's collar. "You filthy swine—how dare you speak of her like that? Don't you have a mother or sister?"
Pankaj, shocked, tried to pull away. "Relax, man. She's not your sister, is she?"Kabir smashed him against a tree and rained punches and kicks until others dragged him off.Pankaj lay groaning, unable to stand. Kabir shrugged off helping hands and walked away.
Neighborhood Gossip
Word spread. Pankaj's mother arrived at Kabir's house with a chorus of angry women.Kabir was gaming upstairs; Chandrika ji, hearing the commotion, stepped outside—only to be showered with accusations.
Before Kabir could charge down, she caught his wrist and silently signaled him to stay upstairs.As he turned, he heard a woman's voice slice through him:
"That boy molested a girl—now he's acting innocent. He has no sister, so how would he know a girl's pain? He belongs in jail!"
Molest… molest. The word burned like molten lead in his ears.
Kabir's Collapse
He bolted to his room, slammed the door, and threw himself face-down, sobbing into the pillow while the ugly words echoed in his mind.
A Night Escape — Nishtha
In a few days Nishtha had mapped the brothel: a mansion-like kotha with two chained gates, each guarded. But at midnight the guards changed shifts. That would be her chance.
During the shift change she and her mother slipped out a narrow alley. Soon pursuers realized the escape and followed.
A large man blocked their path."Running is useless. Come back," he growled.
Nishtha squeezed her mother's hand, leapt, and kicked him in the face. He collapsed; they ran.
After a while Mother gasped for breath and collapsed. Men closed in.
"Run, Nishtha," Mother panted.
Nishtha shook her head, sobbing.Mother shouted, "On my life—GO!"
Forced by her mother's oath, Nishtha hid in bushes.The goons reached the old woman. One kicked her. "Where's your daughter?"
She only wheezed. A man yanked her hair, dragging her.Nishtha started to rush out—then a gunshot cracked. Blood spurted from her mother's head; the gunman lowered his pistol.
"Why kill her?" another asked.
"Old hag's useless. The girl is our profit."They left the corpse and moved on.
Nishtha crawled to her mother, wailing.When her tears subsided, she dragged the body into the bushes, dug a grave with a sharp stone, laid her mother inside, and covered her.Kneeling beside the mound, she lifted her face—eyes blazing like a blood-red sun.
"Jagjeet Raj Chauhan," she vowed, voice trembling with rage, "you took my last hope—my mother. I endured everything for her sake. No more. I swear on her grave, I'll snatch from you everything you love. Prepare for your destruction."
Her hands shook, but her resolve was steel.