Chapter 18

Rekha searched for Lakshmi all around but couldn't find her due to the excessive crowd in the market. After a long search, she returned to the mansion, her mind clouded with fear. What if Lakshmi comes back in a few days with the baby? If Vikram found out about her involvement in Lakshmi's disappearance, he would definitely not spare her. If she wanted to save herself from his wrath, she had to make Vikram hate Lakshmi. So, Rekha started thinking of a way to taint Lakshmi's character.

Suddenly, she remembered Raghu. She had seen him talking to Lakshmi on several occasions, in a way that seemed caring. Although it didn't seem bad at first, Rekha could now use it against Lakshmi.

Rekha quickly went downstairs and saw Raghu cleaning the car. She approached him and said, "I need to talk to you," looking around to make sure no one else was nearby. She continued, "Take this. We no longer need your services here," handing him an envelope.

Raghu frowned at the sudden dismissal but felt relieved. He had been thinking of quitting for a while, as his sister was about to finish her studies, his loans were almost cleared, and he planned to return to his village to start farming again. But he still wanted to know why Rekha was letting him go. "Madam, why? Have I made any mistakes?" he asked.

"No, it's not you," Rekha replied. "I've decided I want to drive myself from now on. So, you can leave. There's extra money in the envelope. I know you've always wanted to go back to the village and farm, right? So use this to help with that. Also, you'll need to vacate your room today itself. I've hired another servant, and we need to allocate the room for her," she said, turning to leave.

Raghu was happy to leave, but something felt off about Rekha's behavior today. She was not like this usually . Still, he appreciated that she had taken the initiative to let him go. He cleaned the car and then went to his room to pack his things. After finishing, he went in search of Lakshmi to bid her goodbye and give her his phone number. He had always cared for her like a sister. He knew she didn't have anyone to rely on and was vulnerable in this world.

Raghu often thought about how Lakshmi's aunt, Savitri, treated her. If she truly cared about Lakshmi, she would have taken her in, treated her like her own child, and not just offloaded her responsibilities by sending her to work here. He worried about her well-being, knowing that Savitri saw Lakshmi as nothing more than a burden.

After searching everywhere, Raghu still couldn't find Lakshmi. With a heavy heart, he bid goodbye to everyone and left the mansion. His bus to the village was in an hour, but he felt an ache in his chest as he thought of leaving without telling Lakshmi. He wished he could have spoken to her one last time, to give her his number and reassure her.

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On the other side, Lakshmi stood on the road, unsure of where to go. Her mind told her to hide, to escape this cruel world. She wiped the tears from her eyes, her legs feeling like they were rooted to the ground. She didn't know where to turn—she didn't know anyone in this city.

Slowly, she began to walk, each step heavy with the weight of everything that had just happened. How everything had shattered in just a few hours. And now, she found herself alone on the road.

As she walked, her eyes fell on a railway station in the distance.

As Lakshmi walked towards the railway station, her legs felt like they were made of stone, heavy with the weight of the world pressing down on her. Every step she took was like a battle, each one more painful than the last. The reality of her situation hit her with full force: she had nowhere to go, no one to turn to. The only thing she could cling to was the desperate need to escape—from Rekha's cruelty, from the shattering betrayal of Vikram, from a life that had betrayed her at every turn.

Without stopping to think, she bought a ticket for the next available train, her hand trembling as she handed over the money. She didn't even care where it was headed—anywhere was better than staying here, trapped in this nightmare. She just wanted to leave, to disappear into the unknown, away from the memories of what had been and what would never be.

She walked slowly to the platform and got on the train and She sank into the seat, her body collapsing under the weight of exhaustion, both physical and emotional. Her mind was a blur, spinning from everything that had happened in the past few hours. She took out her saree pallu and opened the knot that was there in the corner of the pallu. It was the mangalsutra he gave her. Looking at it she remembered his words. If he don't love me and was just using me then why he gave me this, ' may he paid me before leaving me for using me', she thought. She wore the mangalsutra around her neck,'whenever you miss me, wear it', he words rang in her hears. She is wearing it now not because she missed him, it was for her and her baby's safety.

Her hand, almost instinctively, moved to her belly. A soft flutter, a gentle reminder of the life she wasn't sure she was ready for, stirred within her. The thought of being pregnant hit her like a tidal wave. Was it real? Was she really carrying a child? The idea of motherhood, once a hopeful dream, now terrified her. She had imagined it in a different light—surrounded by love, by a family that would protect and cherish her, by Vikram. But now, that dream felt like a cruel joke. What was she going to do? How could she raise a child alone? The thought of the tiny life inside her seemed like both a blessing and a curse.

Her heart tightened in her chest as tears began to sting her eyes. What have I done? she wondered. What will happen to me? The weight of it was too much to bear. Her thoughts tumbled over one another, a whirlwind of fear and doubt, as her body trembled with the shock of everything she'd just learned.

As the train rumbled to life, pulling away from the station, Lakshmi stared out the window, watching the city fade into the distance.

With each passing mile, her fear grew. What would she do when the train stopped? How would she survive? Her heart pounded in her chest, but there was no turning back now.

She wiped her tears, forcing herself to breathe, to find some strength she didn't even know she had.

She closed her eyes, leaning her head against the cool window. Vikram's face flashed in her mind. She never imagined he would betray her. Despite all her doubts and fears, she had surrendered herself to him, only for him to use her with his deceit. She tried to control her tears, but they flowed uncontrollably. Slowly, exhaustion overtook her, and she drifted off into a restless sleep.

After what felt like an eternity, the train finally pulled into its last station. Passengers began to disembark, moving hurriedly as the train's final stop marked the end of their journeys. Lakshmi stood up, her mind racing with a thousand questions. What will I do now? Where will I go? How can I survive in this world that's been so cruel to me? Her legs felt like they were made of lead as she stepped off the train, the weight of her uncertainty pressing down on her with every step.

She looked around, searching for any signs of familiarity, but all she saw was an unfamiliar station. The name of the place didn't ring a bell—it was a name she had never heard before. She sat down on a bench, her body exhausted and her heart heavy. The platform was filled with people rushing by, all with destinations and purpose, while she felt utterly lost. She watched the crowd move with a kind of distant detachment, unsure of where she fit into this world.

An hour passed in silence, her thoughts a tangled mess of fear, grief, and hopelessness. Suddenly, a small girl, no older than 16, who was selling guavas, approached her with a gentle smile. "Akka, would you like to buy some guavas?" she asked. Lakshmi shook her head, her tears still flowing uncontrollably. The girl nodded understandingly and walked away to continue her work.

Soon, the next train arrived, and the girl became busy running around, selling her fruit to the newly arriving passengers. After the train left and the station grew quieter, the girl returned, placing her basket of fruit down beside Lakshmi. Without a word, she sat down next to her.

"Akka," the girl said softly, her voice filled with concern, "I've been watching you since morning. Why are you crying?" Lakshmi didn't answer, her tears flowing freely as her emotions finally broke through. The girl didn't push her, but her gaze was full of kindness. "Don't cry, akka," she said gently. "Do you need anything?"

Before Lakshmi could respond, a woman appeared, searching for her daughter. When she saw her talking to Lakshmi, she walked over with a calm, yet concerned expression. She stopped in front of them, her eyes softening as she saw Lakshmi's tear-streaked face. She turned to her daughter, raising an eyebrow in silent inquiry. The girl shook her head, signaling that she didn't know what was wrong.

The mother looked at her daughter, then back at Lakshmi. "Are you waiting for someone, dear? Are they not here yet?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine worry. "Would you like me to help you call them?"

Lakshmi shook her head. She didn't even have the energy to speak. The woman observed her for a moment, then took a step closer, her eyes full of empathy.

"Tell me, dear," she said, "What is it that you need? Can I help you?"

For the first time in a long while, Lakshmi found herself speaking, her voice breaking with emotion. "I don't have anyone," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I just... I need a place to stay."

The woman's face softened in understanding, and she immediately felt a surge of compassion for this girl who seemed so lost. "What happened?" she asked, her voice gentle but filled with concern. "How did you end up here?"

Lakshmi took a deep breath and, for the first time, recounted everything—the painful loss of her parents, the cruelty of Rekha, and the betrayal of Vikram.

She just wanted to cry on someone's shoulder, but she had no one, not even a photograph of her parents to hold onto now. All she had now was the money she had earned and the child growing inside her.

The woman listened carefully, her heart heavy with sympathy and anger. "How cruel is this world?" she muttered to herself. "The good suffer while the evil flourish."

She looked back at Lakshmi, her eyes filled with a mixture of empathy and fierce protectiveness. "Poor people like us can never win over the rich. But don't worry, dear, God will punish them. It's good that you left and protected your baby, that's the most important thing now."

She placed her hand on Lakshmi's shoulder, giving her a comforting squeeze. "I know how hard it is," the woman continued. "I lost my husband in an accident when I was pregnant with Rashi. Raising a child alone is no easy task, but you don't have to do it alone."

Lakshmi looked at her through tear-filled eyes, her heart aching with gratitude. "I'll find you a place to stay," the woman promised. "For now, you can come home with us. We'll figure it out."

Lakshmi wiped her tears, her heart swelling with relief and disbelief. Someone—someone kind—was offering her a place to stay. She didn't know what the future would hold, but for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, things could get better.

The woman smiled softly. "I'm Meena," she said, introducing herself. "And this is my daughter, Rashi." She motioned to the girl who had been so kind to her.

Lakshmi nodded, her voice shaky but full of gratitude. "I'm Lakshmi," she whispered.

"Nice name," Meena said warmly. "Come with us. We'll take care of you."

With that, Meena helped Lakshmi to her feet, and together they walked toward a new beginning—one filled with uncertainty but also with a glimmer of hope.

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