CHAPTER 22 — Anaya Breaks Down
A Princess Turned to Stone
Court hall abhi bhi trembling silence me tha.
Torches ki light shake ho rahi thi,
soldiers awkwardly khade the,
women court ke corners me shocked faces ke saath whisper kar rahi thi.
Aur un sabke beech—
Anaya.
She wasn’t moving.
Na blink kar rahi thi,
na breathing properly.
She looked like a statue carved out of fear.
Uski body bilkul stiff,
haath thode se tremble kar rahe the,
aur aankhon me moisture gather ho raha tha.
Arohi ne door se apni beti ko dekha—
aur unka dil toot gaya.
The Tears Begin to Fall
Anaya ke face par koi expression nahi tha.
Shock ne sab numb kar diya tha.
Par jaisi hi uski eyes
uske forehead ko touch karne ja rahi thi—
jahan Aryan ka blood laga tha…
Her chest tightened painfully.
Woh ek deep, painful breath le payi…
aur phir uske eyes suddenly fill ho gaye with tears.
Arohi slowly uske paas aayi:
“Anaya…”
Anaya ki lips tremble hui…
one single tear rolled down…
And that
was the final push.
Anaya Completely Breaks
Anaya ke andar ka sab control,
sab strength,
sab composure
collapse ho gaya.
She suddenly burst into tears—
loud, painful, shaking sobs.
“Maa…”
Her voice cracked completely.
Arohi ne ek second bhi waste nahi kiya.
She lunged forward and wrapped Anaya tightly in her arms.
Princess nahi…
healer nahi…
warrior ki beti nahi…
Ek dari hui ladki
jo samaj nahi paayi
ke uske life me itni badi cheez kaise ho gayi.
A Mother’s Desperate Comfort
Arohi ne Anaya ko apne chest se lagaya.
Uske haath trembling back par gently move kar rahe the.
“Beti, ro mat…
main hoon na.”
But Anaya couldn’t stop.
“Maa… ye kya ho gaya?
Kaise ho gaya?
Kyu…”
Her voice was breaking,
words between sobs.
She didn’t even finish her sentences.
Her mind was chaos:
Aryan’s blood…
maang…
shaadi…
Beast collapse…
court ki reactions…
Sab mila kar ek emotional storm ban gaya.
Arohi ne tears hold karne ki koshish ki,
par uski apni aankhon me bhi pain aa raha tha.
Maha Guru Steps Toward the Fractured Heart
Guruji quietly walked toward the mother-daughter pair.
Unki presence calm thi…
almost divine.
He placed his hand gently
on Anaya’s head.
Anaya’s sobbing slowed—
not stopped,
par thodi halki ho gayi.
Guruji ke voice me wo familiar warmth thi:
“Beti…”
Anaya’s breath hitched.
Tears kept falling.
Guruji softly continued:
“Ye tumhari destiny thi.”
Anaya shook her head weakly:
“Par… kaise?
Kyu…?
Main… main taiyaar nahi thi…”
Her voice cracked again.
Guruji Explains Destiny’s Weight
Guruji ne Anaya ka chin gently lift kiya
taaki woh unki aankhon me dekh sake.
Unki eyes me sorry nahi tha…
lekin bohot deep compassion tha.
“Beti, kabhi-kabhi Bhagwan
humari pasand nahi,
humari zimmedari choose karte hain.”
Anaya blink blink karke tears wipe karne ki koshish kar rahi thi,
par tears ruk nahi rahe the.
Guruji continued:
“Tumhari zindagi me
ek bahut bada warrior aana hi tha.
Ye rishta aaj nahi…
saalon pehle likha gaya tha.”
Anaya whispered:
“Par… woh Beast hai…”
Fear + confusion in her voice.
Guruji:
“Nahi.
Woh tumhara rakshak hai.”
Anaya Doesn’t Understand… Yet
Anaya ke tears ruk kar
sirf shiver ban gaye.
Chest heavy, throat tight.
“Maa…
Mere saath hi kyu…”
Her voice soft, broken.
Arohi pulled her closer:
“Beti… kisi ko nahi pata
kismat ka raasta kaisa hota hai.”
Anaya’s fingers clutching Arohi’s dress tighter.
She was trembling so much
ki Arohi ko bhi hold tight karna pada.
Guruji gently added:
“Time ke saath sab samaj aa jayega.
Abhi tumhara dil shock me hai.”
Anaya whispered:
“Woh… theek hai?”
Even in fear,
her first worry was Aryan’s condition.
Arohi smiled sadly:
“Haan beti… woh zinda hai.”
The Princess Takes Her First Step Into a New Fate
Arohi ne Anaya ka face cup kiya:
“Chalo… yahan se chalte hain.”
She guided her out of the court,
slow steps,
weak sobs,
heavy silence.
Peeche court ke sab log
unki taraf dekhi rahe the—
shock, pity, disbelief, respect…
sab mix emotions.
Anaya ek baar last time
court ke floor ki taraf dekhti hai—
us jagah jahan Aryan gira tha.
Tears fir se aagaye.
She whispered too softly:
“Woh… kyu meri kismat bana?”
But destiny remained silent.
Arohi taking Anaya away,
and Guruji watching them
with a quiet prayer:
“Bhagwan un dono ko strength de.”