Priya was nervous. Not because of motion sickness or the enclosed bus, but in fear of what she would have to hear from her mother. The situation was twisted, and she prayed her mother wasn't involved in anything serious. She had taken the earliest transport out, which turned out to be the bus. She had taken nothing but her handbag and mobile. She wasn't planning to stay for long.

It had taken her almost seven hours to reach Lucknow and she headed straight to her aunt's home. Even before she entered the gate, her aunt noticed her and greeted her enthusiastically, coming to the gate, "My Priya. What a pleasant surprise?" Shobha, her aunt, said. She opened the gate and let Priya inside.

"Namaste Maasi," Priya bent down to her aunt's feet to take blessings, but instead the woman hugged her lovingly. When they pulled back, Priya asked, "How are you? How are the preparations going?"

"Your mother is here. How do you expect?"

They both chuckled.

"Where is Maa?"

"She is in the kitchen. Come I'll take you." Saying, Shobha led her inside the house and she could see the hall filled with decorations and dresses to try for the wedding. When they were halfway to the kitchen, her cousin Sharmila saw her and exclaimed. "Priya!"

Priya hugged her happily.

"So happy that you are here. I have a lot to tell you," Sharmila said.

"No, Sharmila. I have to go back tonight. I have some urgent matters to talk about with Maa."

Sharmila pouted. "I'll be back for your wedding." With some cajoling, Priya left Sharmila and walked to the kitchen. When Indira saw her, she was surprised.

"What are you doing here, Priya?"

Priya without another word held her mother's hand and led her to an empty room. Once inside, she went straight to the point.

"Who is Abhay Sinha, Maa?"

Indira's face fell and Priya noticed it.

"Who else? Isn't he your boss and Aisha's father?"

"A question is not an answer, Maa. Who is Abhay?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Indira gave her back to her.

"You know perfectly what I am talking about. Please, Maa," Priya made Indira face her, "Tell me. It is important for me to know."

Indira stayed silent.

"Dad didn't die in an accident. He was killed," Priya said, tears rolling down her eyes.

Indira's eyes widened and they teared up. Seeing her expression, everything clicked into place.

"You know this and you hid it. How could you?" Priya asked painfully.

Indira didn't say a word and averted her gaze. "You know everything from the start. Right, Maa?" Priya asked.

Again no answer. Priya didn't notice the tremors shaking her mother and how she put her hand to her chest.

Priya continued feeling betrayed. "Why Maa? Why? If you had said a word, that time, I would have done something."

"What'd you do?" Indira asked angrily, "He'd have killed us too."

Priya looked at her in disbelief. "Seriously Maa. Papa. He killed Papa," she whispered, "Five years. For five years we suffered. Even now I cannot get over it. How can you?"

"I'd have lost you too. And your brother. You and your brother don't know. That day, when I was alone next to you in the hospital, this man came and pointed a gun at your head. He also had another man pointing a gun at your brother from a distance. I lost your father. But I cannot lose you both too. You are a girl, Priya. You also have seen how difficult it is to live in this society."

Priya couldn't help but laugh. "You thought about your family. What about the others, Maa? What about Aisha? She's just a month old when she lost her parents? The poor girl didn't even see her parents' face. There was a mother and father who lost their son. A sister and brother who lost their elder brother. And that dog..." she started to yell, "Who killed my father. He's roaming freely without fear. Now, once again he's trying to create a hurdle to that family."

"You are important to me."

"I cannot be as selfish as you Maa."

"You should. This isn't your problem."

"Of course. It is," Priya argued, raising her voice.

Indira was shocked. "Don't do anything stupid Priya. Please," her mother started to beg. She started to hyperventilate.

"He tried to threaten me with Aditya."

Indira was shocked. "Adi... is he fine?"

"By god's grace, he is. But we cannot live like this dying every minute in fear, Maa."

"What are you going to do?" Indira asked afraid.

"I am putting a stop for this. I am going to tell everything to Abhay," Priya said determined.

"Think it over, Priya."

"I did. If you had done this five years back, then we wouldn't be in this situation," saying this, Priya left from there, back to Delhi. She was determined to tell everything to Abhay. Before that, she has to do something.

***

By the next morning, Priya reached Delhi and headed home. Reaching home, she found it empty and flopped down on the couch feeling tired. Then, she went to take a shower, to get free from all the dirt.

She was drying her hair, when she received a call again from a private number. She was hesitant to answer, but she did anyway. "Hello?"

"I see you went to meet your mother. Did she teach you how to keep your mouth shut?"

She clenched her jaw. Without replying to him, she hung up and threw the mobile on the bed. Her mobile rang again but she didn't answer. He called her a few more times, annoying her. Fed up, she lifted the call and shouted, "What do you want?"

"You."

Her eyes widened. "What nonsense?"

"I saw you properly five years back. You are so beautiful, and I wanted to have you. That time the situation demanded me to kill you. But, you are fit and fine, even after my hit. That means, God is giving me a message. You are the one for me."

"You have gone mad," she said angrily.

"Yes. I am mad for you," he said, sounding goofy and she was disgusted. "Take how much ever time you want. But your answer should be a 'yes'. You have seen the condition of Ramya. Don't bring that fate to yourself."

Her eyes lifted as his words registered. "Is that why you killed her? Did she reject you?"

"Yes, she did. She rejected me and chose the Sinha brother. That was a different story. I hope you will not become another Ramya."

"I will tell you my answer now only."

"I see you are an eager one. No need. I know you are a smart one and your answer will be a yes."

"You are wrong," she smirked and there was a silence at the other end. "My answer is no." There was a loud crashing sound from his side and she wondered what it was. "You will see the consequences of your answer." He hung up.

She just rolled her eyes and fell on the bed. Without her knowledge, she drifted off into a deep sleep from exhaustion. By the time she woke up it was evening. When she checked her mobile, she was surprised to find many missed calls from Madhu. She sat straight and re-dialed her number. She didn't lift the call immediately. After a few more tries, it was finally answered. But she was confused as a different voice answered.

"Hi. This is my friend's number."

"Your friend is in the police station."

"What? Why?"

"She was arrested under a brothel case."

Priya was shocked to the core. Hanging up, she quickly changed clothes and headed to the police station.

∞∞∞

When she reached the police station, she was a few women sitting on a bench next to the door, covering their faces and a few photographers taking their pictures. She headed to a constable and he instantly recognized her.

"Sir. I was here for my friend. I called her phone and someone told she was here," she said panting.

The constable, Govind, said, "Calm down, madam. Are you Priya?"

She nodded her head. Govind extended his hand forward, gesturing to her to follow him. "Please come, madam. Your friend is in sir's room."

Priya followed him confused as he led her to a separate office. She was relieved when she saw Madhu sitting in the chair.

"Madhu!"

Madhu turned around and seeing her she burst into tears. "Priya," saying, standing and running up to her, hugging her tightly. Priya patted her back in comfort, as she sobbed and shook tremendously.

Not until Priya heard Ramesh's voice, did she realize he was in the room. She opened her eyes and saw him and also Abhay. They were looking at them concernedly.

"What happened?" Priya asked and Madhu let out more sobs. Priya's heart was breaking seeing her cheerful friend as a sobbing mess. "Please calm down, Madhu. How did this all happen?" she asked as she pulled back.

"I did not know it was that kind of hostel. I spent most of my time at company or at your home with you. Nothing was doubtful," Madhu shook her head and hid her face in her palms. Priya glanced at Ramesh and Abhay for answers.

"We got a tip this afternoon that prostituion was going inside a working women's hostel. When the police reached there, Madhu was also present among them. If I was there, I wouldn't have let this get this far. I am sorry."

Priya understood who would have given the tip. "Then, Madhu..." she was cut off by Ramesh.

"I took care of everything. She is good to go home. We were trying to call you, so that she could stay with you. But when you did not receive the call, I called Abhay."

"Thank you," Priya said, gratefully, as she cuddled Madhu in her embrace.

Ramesh nodded. He looked painfully toward Madhu and felt helpless as she cried in Priya's arms.

Priya turned her eyes to Abhay and said, "Thank you too. You have come here for her."

"Mention not," Abhay said, "Come on. We should go. Madhu needs rest."

Priya nodded. "I drove here. I will take her home."

"You can give the keys to Ramesh. Tyagi will drive your car home. I'll take you both," Abhay said and shared a look with Ramesh.

"No. We can-"

"Your hands are trembling, Priya. Don't argue. Come on." With that, Abhay led them out and drove them home.

∞∞∞

Once settling Madhu in her room to rest, Priya walked outside and saw Abhay looking at her father's portrait that was hung on the wall. Slowly, she walked up to him and stood next to him. But did not say anything.

Abhay glanced at her and held her right hand. She glanced at their hands and then at his face. He squeezed her hand and said, "Everything will be alright."

As he said those words, a few seconds passed, and he was jolted back as she threw her hands around him. He braced himself instantly and hugged her tightly as she too held him as if her life depended on him.

How much pressure has she held inside her? He thought as her body shook tremendously with her sobs. He knew then that he would do anything to do everything alright. He will protect her with his life.

Yes! He would. Anjali was right. He should open his eyes and see the light. Priya was the light in his life.

The past day was hell without Priya's presence and she was showing his frustration on everyone. At night, Abhay was in his room when Anjali knocked on his door. He recalled her words.

"Bhaiya! Hurry up before it's too late. We all know why you have been waiting. Now the answer to your wait is right in front of your eyes and you are not seeing."

"What are you talking about?"

"Priya."

He was stunned. He didn't know what to say. Yes, he liked Priya. He liked her smile. He liked her arguments. He liked the way she showers Aisha with her love. But that's it. Yes... He agreed there was an attraction in between them. He knew Priya likes him too. He could see it in her eyes. But...

"You might say you know her only for a few days. Even I was uncertain at first. But in the bright light, in these few days, she got attached to Aisha very surprisingly. To everyone. She is one kind hearted person. I don't want to lose her. What I want to say is Bhaiya... Take time to know your feelings. But don't give up Priya for anything. She's good for us all. Especially you." Saying this, she left her brother alone. The whole night he tossed and turned around in his bed thinking about Anjali's words.

Priya was always like a fresh flower, blooming beautifully with a pleasant smile.

Now she's looking like a withered flower. He don't know whether it was love or not. But he would do anything to have her in his life and protect her.

Abhay held her tight as she cried on his chest. He felt his shirt soak with her tears but he didn't mind. Right now, Priya was important.

"All I have is my mother, brother and Madhu," she said. He craned his head slightly to look at her face. She moved even more close into him if that's even possible. He was a little stunned. This was the first time she spoke something about herself. Well thinking back, he too didn't make any effort to know her.

"After my father died, they are the ones I held on to."

He listened attentively. "I miss my Dad. I miss him." She sobbed again.

Abhay rubbed smooth circles on her back in an attempt to sooth her. Obviously, she loved her father dearly.

After a few minutes, she pulled away but not far and looked up at him. She stared at him as if she wanted to say something to him.

"I..." She sighed and looked at his chest and gasped, "Oh my god! Your shirt." She moved away quickly.

"Doesn't matter."

"But-"

"It's ok," he said softly and cupped her face. He brushed his thumbs over her cheeks, clearing the tears. She stared at him in wonder. Well, he too was surprised by himself.

"Madhu is going to be fine" he said.

She smiled. They pulled and stood in an awkward silence. After a few minutes, Priya glanced at the watch and said to him, "It's late. Sorry to take up your time. We are fine now. You can go now."

"You did not take my time. Call me whenever you want," he said. To her delightful surprise, he patted her head lovingly and left her home.