I fluttered my eye lashes when I regained my senses after the ferocious beating from my father.I glanced at the clock,it was showing seven fifteen in the evening .The slamming,shouting and abusing of my father flashed in my mind.

I looked at the purple black marks on my exposed skin.Every ounce of my body was burning with pain.I had to gather all my physical strength to meet my ailing mother but before going to her,I need to hide these wounds so that she can't see them .

Whenever Dad beats me ,my mother feels the pain more than me.His brutality on me and my brother makes her regretting the decision of marrying my step father.

More stress means risking her life which I can afford to bear.I love her so much . Battling with my inner self,I got up from the floor stumbling to stand on my feet.Every step that I was taking resulted in a unbearable pang of soreness in my body .

I went to my room silently so that my own brother can't see me as well.He is so innocent and naive to understand the disastrous circumstances in our house.I don't want him to suffer just like me.All that I want him to have a bright future .

Walking towards my room,My legs stopped near my step brother's room.I could hear the pukish noises they were making while having sex.It was also not a new thing in my house.

My step brother,like his father wants nothing but pleasure in the bed.Every morning,I have to clean the mess,he creates with his sex mates.

Somehow I reached in my room.Taking a full sleeves and high neck top and long skirt ,I jumped under the shower to relax my aching muscles.The Luke warm water worked as a mild remedy on the soreness.I felt a little better after having a long shower.

After slipping into my fresh clothes,I switch on my laptop to check if they had mailed me .

"Yes... thank God.."I squealed in happiness when the message of my selection pop up in the inbox of

my email.

"I should tell them now..."I said to none and made my way out of my room to my little brother's.

I knocked at the door and waited for him to open . Anxiety and depression was killing me from inside.How I was gonna tell him that I got the job of a waitress.He didn't like the idea of doing me an I job but being an undergraduate,I can't apply for a lucrative job.

I wish my father had not died certainly I didn't need to exhaust myself , physically as well as mentally.The door was opened by my little brother.My all anxieties swept away seeing his twinkling brown eyes very much similar to mine.He had his specs on his nose,it means he

was studying.

"Hey..Di..where have you been since afternoon...?"he asked me furrowing his brows for a genuine answer as he knew I often lie to him regarding the topics which might disturb him.I don't want him to exert his mind on baseless issues.He is very mature even in the tender age of 11 yet sensitive.He behaves like an elder brother to me and he is very possessive towards me.

"Sumit..I went for..a "I paused and let out a heavy breath.He cocked his one eye brow.

"I went for a job interview..."I

told him lastly and waited for his response.

"Hmm..so what kind of a job it is..?"he asked me the question I was dreading to answer but I should not keep him in the dark.He and Mom have all rights to know my each motive.

"For a waitress in RAAS Hotel.. isn't it exciting..you can visit there anytime..and you know..it's the most wonderful place,I ever have visited.The expensive antique chandelier.the way it .silveriness in the lights..it looks like made up of real diamonds ."I explained the grandiose of the palace hotel to make his mind divert but somewhere I knew I was ridiculously ranting those

stupider things.

"I think you should do this job..."came his a low but sad reply.shoot up my eyes on him.

Did he really said that ..?

"Pardon me...but can you repeat your words again.."I said to him.My ears became sceptical .

"We need money..Didi..no matter how many times we have to compromise with the circumstances.."his voice dulled when he spoke.

"Hey..Sumit..is everything alright coz my little brother never talked in such tone before..I thought you would scold me for applying there..."I queried looking at his blank face.The sparkle of his charming eyes had replaced by gloominess.

"It's been five days..my class teacher doesn't allow me to sit in the class..as my fees has not been paid since three months..she ordered me to stop coming to school from next month.."he told me in a cracky voice.

My heart ached with helplessness of being unable to provide him with the money.The way his words were dropping the pain of not getting he only lives for.My heart clenched when the smile of his serene face fell.

"I will do something before the end of the month..you don't need to stress yourself..Sumi..I will talk to your class teacher..."I convinced him buy it was eating me from inside . Arranging a amount when there was no hope seemed next to impossible task but I need to do something.I couldn't bear the sadness on his face.

"Come..here.."I pulled him for a comforting hug.

"Did you meet Mom..?..she was asking for you.."he asked me.

"Going in her room only.."I answered ruffling his brown silky hairs.

"Hey..you spoiled my hair style.."he cringed making annoying faces.I laughed ,it is always a fun for me

to tease him.

"What do you want to have in dinner..?"I asked him to lighten his mood.He loves my cooking specially when I prepare his fsvo

"Now go..she must be waiting for you.."he reminded me and I excused myself to her room.My heart sank watching her pitiful state from the threshold.

She was lying like a living skeleton staring at the ceiling .It gave me more pain than my father's merciless oppression .Her body was too weak to respond.Her beautiful face was full of wrinckels now as if the decease brought the signs of death with it.

I composed myself pretending to be strong but my inner self was dying with each step I took to reach her.A faint smile curved on her dry lips when her eyes landed on me.

I sat on the edge of the bed beside her.Taking her hands into mine I caressed her forehead with my free hand.

"How are you feeling now..?"I asked her with a smile to hide my unshed tears but I knew she could see them.She knows me since I was a size of a peanut.

"Better than earlier.."she tried to lie with a slight chuckle.

"Mom..I got the job..just some more time..and you'll be all fine to run around us.."I told her.

She smiled first and then matched my eyes.I waited for her to speak.

"Sanyukta..my time on earth is about to over..It makes me feel guilty whenever I see you struggling out of your wits for the sake of my dying state..my child..you have a long life ahead..I want you to look after your brother and yourself and let me die peacefully ...."she ushered making my senses went numb for a second.

I withdrew my hands from her giving her a hurtful glance.

"Mom...you know..Dad's slammings,Ankit's abuses and society's evil eyes don't give me that much pain what your words gave me..right now.."I said in a cold tone.

"Sanyu.. you're already suffering coz of my one wrong decision..your step father let out his all frustration on you..and I am afraid what if one day he ...he may land his lusty gaze..on you.."her voice trembled while mouthing those dreading words.

For a moment,I too shivered thinking of the possibilities.Sometimes I too have noticed him staring at me with different emotions .

"Mom.. please..I don't leave my attempts to save you ,to cure you until my last breath and I want you too think the same...never loose hope..Mom..trust on the Almighty..he never do injustice to pure souls.."

I spoke staring outside the window.

"Sanyukta.. you Dad and Ankit may come anytime..go and prepare the dinner.."she said not wanting me to be assaulted again.

"It won't take me much time ...I want to be here.."I ignored her request.

"I wish..the love and care you're deprived from..God will choose someone who will pamper you like a queen.."she murmured.

"Every mother wish same for her child..but it is in the hands of destiny..so it doesn't make a sense to cry for the moon.."I laughed on her statement.

"Yeah..make fun of me as much as

you want..I will ask you on the day when you become a mother .."she smirked at me.My cheeks heat up

and a strange sensation rolled in

my tummy.

"Hmm..take rest..and yeah..call me if you need something.."I told her and moved out of the room with a firm decision to protect my family from the grief and misfortune.