02-08-2026, 06:50 PM
“Aaj jaldi jaana hai,” Sarla said, adjusting her dupatta as she prepared to leave.
Ramesh nodded from the bed, sipping his tea. “Dekhna akhir unke ghar ka kya mahol hai ab.”
Sarla entered the flat the next morning with her usual quiet efficiency.
“Namaste Memsaab,” she said softly.
Ritu gave her nothing but a small, cold nod. No smile. No words. She simply turned and continued with her work.
Just like that.
Sarla felt a quiet unease settle in her chest. Yeh achha nahi hai mere plan ke liye.
But even she didn’t know how right her instinct was.
For the next four days, the apartment remained wrapped in icy silence.
Sarla tried everything. She attempted to start small conversations while serving tea. She lingered a little longer near Arjun when Ritu wasn’t looking, brushing against him subtly. She even tried her old seductive glances. But both Ritu and Arjun had built walls so high that nothing could penetrate them. Ritu barely acknowledged her presence. Arjun remained glued to his laptop, offering only the bare minimum of instructions when needed.
A whole week passed in this suffocating quiet.
Then, one evening, while Ritu was on the balcony adjusting a few potted plants, her foot slipped. She cried out sharply as she twisted her ankle badly.
Arjun, who was working on his laptop in the living room, rushed out immediately. The moment he saw her sitting on the floor, holding her ankle with a pained expression, something inside him broke through the cold wall they had both maintained for days.
Without a second thought, he bent down, slid one arm under her knees and the other behind her back, and lifted her up. Ritu didn’t resist. For the first time in many days, their eyes truly met.
He carried her inside and gently laid her on the bed. From the drawer, he took out the pain relief spray and carefully applied it on her swollen ankle. His hands were gentle as he massaged her foot with slow, careful strokes.
Ritu winced. “Zyada dard hai… chalo hospital chalte hain.”
Arjun shook his head, his voice unusually soft. “Nahi… bus thoda sa hai. Main araam karwa deta hoon.”
He continued massaging her ankle. Ritu closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. The silence between them felt heavier than ever.
Suddenly, Arjun leaned forward and kissed her forehead. His lips lingered there. When he pulled back, his eyes were filled with tears.
“I missed your voice,” he whispered, voice cracking. “I missed you.”
Ritu’s eyes welled up instantly. The dam she had been holding back for so many days finally broke. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she reached up and touched his face.
Both of them held each other in silence, the weight of the past week — and everything that had happened — pressing down on them.
For the first time in a long while, they felt like husband and wife again.
Two days later, Ritu and Arjun sat across from each other in a quiet, upscale restaurant. Both had taken half-days from work. The soft lighting, gentle music, and the privacy of their corner table made it feel like a fresh beginning.
They had decided this day would belong only to them.
“So, kaisi hogi yeh apni new start?” Arjun asked, smiling softly as he cut into his steak.
Ritu took a sip of her wine, thinking for a moment. “Kuch mahine pehle poochhte toh kehti — I want a baby. Waise bhi success aur career ke chakkar mein humne bahut wait kar liya hai iske liye.”
Arjun nodded. “Aur ab?”
“Ab pehli shuruaat hogi us Sarla ko ghar se nikalne se,” Ritu said, her voice turning cold. “That bitch ruined our life and almost destroyed our marriage.”
Arjun’s jaw tightened. “Abhi tak shant the kyunki samajh nahi aa raha tha uske khilaaf kya action lun. Lekin ab samajh aa gaya hai. Best thing to do is throw them out of our life.”
“Haan,” Ritu agreed. “Pehle use kaam se nikalenge aur phir security aur society walon ko bol kar uske aur uske pati ki entry hi band kara denge. Bloody idiots.”
Arjun reached across the table and held her hand. “Achha chhodo… suno na, kyun apna din unke naam se kharab kar rahi ho? Aaj sirf hum dono ka din hai.”
Ritu smiled faintly and nodded. “Theek hai. Aur batao, tumhare office ka kya scene hai?”
They talked for nearly two hours — about work, future plans, small dreams they had kept aside for too long. Time passed so smoothly that they didn’t even realize how long they had been sitting.
“I think it’s time for our movie,” Arjun said finally, checking his watch. “We’ll reach the theatre in 45 minutes.”
Ritu was wearing a simple white t-shirt and blue jeans. Arjun was in a crisp shirt and trousers. They got into the car — Arjun in the driver’s seat, Ritu beside him.
After fifteen minutes, the navigation suggested taking a left turn much earlier than expected.
Arjun frowned. “Yeh turn toh aur 20 minute baad aana chahiye tha.”
Ritu glanced at the map. “Ho sakta hai traffic ho aage. Better take this route.”
Arjun agreed. He didn’t want to miss the movie — a romantic action Hollywood film that perfectly matched both their tastes.
He took the suggested left turn.
Baaagggg!
A loud crash echoed.
Arjun slammed the brakes. He jumped out of the car and saw three boys on a bike lying on the ground. Their bike had scbangd against the side of his car, leaving a long, ugly dent.
“Andhe ho kya?!” Arjun shouted. “Dikhta nahi hai? Yeh kya haal kar diya meri gaadi ka!”
One of the boys stood up aggressively. “Abe nikal ja! Thode se dent ke chakkar mein kyun pitna chahta hai?”
Arjun’s temper flared. “Pehle accident karte ho aur phir batameezi bhi kar rahe ho?”
The argument quickly turned heated. Voices rose. One boy grabbed Arjun’s collar. Another pushed him. The third one moved toward Ritu, grabbing her arm roughly.
Arjun tried to fight back, but months of skipped workouts and office stress had taken their toll. He was overpowered.
Ritu screamed, trying to pull away from the boy holding her.
Just as one of them raised his fist toward Arjun —
Whackkkk!
A powerful punch landed on the face of the boy who had kicked Arjun.
The guy grabbing Arjun’s neck suddenly loosened his grip and stumbled back.
Before he could recover, Ramesh grabbed him by the hair and delivered a tight, resounding slap across his face. The boy staggered and hit the wall for support.
In fear and anger, he charged at Ramesh again. Ramesh calmly grabbed him by the belt, tripped him with his leg, and threw him like a rag doll two to four feet away.
“Nikal, behenchod!” Ramesh roared. “Saale chutiye, kaam-dhanda hai nahi aur aajate hain zindagi haram karne!”
Meanwhile, Sarla moved like lightning toward the boy who was grabbing Ritu’s arm. She slapped him hard, then literally removed her chappal and began beating him mercilessly with it. The boy yelped and tried to run, but Sarla chased him a few steps, still hitting him.
Ramesh turned to Ritu, his expression softening instantly. “Sorry Memsaab… yeh log yahi bhasha samajhte hain.”
He quickly moved to Arjun, who was grimacing in pain, and put an arm around him for support.
“Aaaahhhhh… meri taang… bahut dard ho raha hai,” Arjun groaned, nearly collapsing.
Ramesh held him firmly. “Lagta hai ghaav ho gaya hai. Chinta mat kijiye.”
Sarla rushed to them. “Let’s take him to Dr. Chopra. Woh yahan se sirf 5 minute ki doori par hai.”
Ritu, still shaken, quickly checked her phone. “Koi hospital toh 40 minute door hai… wahan pahunchne mein bahut der ho jayegi.”
Ramesh nodded reassuringly. “Dr. Chopra trusted doctor hain. Aap chinta mat kijiye.”
Ritu agreed.
Ramesh helped Arjun into the back seat of their car. Within five minutes, they reached the small but clean clinic. Arjun was made to lie on the stretcher, his pants rolled up.
The doctor examined the bruise on his thigh carefully.
“He took a hard hit,” Dr. Chopra told Ritu. “There is some swelling in the area, but no major injury. No fracture. I’ll give him strong painkillers and a lotion. He’ll be up and walking in two days. Rest and ice will help.”
Arjun winced as the doctor applied the ointment, but he kept looking at Ritu, who stood beside him, holding his hand tightly.
It was 10:30 PM when their car finally pulled into the society parking. Ramesh held Arjun by the shoulder, supporting most of his weight as they slowly made their way upstairs. Ritu walked beside them, still shaken.
By the time Ramesh gently lowered Arjun onto the bed, Ritu was repeating the same words like a mantra:
“Ramesh ji, thank you so much… Sarla, thank you so much. Aapne humari bahut madad ki. Aapne toh aaj Arjun ki jaan bacha li.”
Sarla smiled softly. “Arey Memsaab, apne samay par kaam na aaye toh kab aayenge?”
Ramesh placed a reassuring hand on Ritu’s shoulder. “Madam, aap tension mat lo. Aapko koi bhi dikkat ho, hum hain aapke liye.”
As Sarla prepared to leave, she paused at the door. “Memsaab, aapne shaam se kuch nahi khaya. Main kuch bana deti hoon — 5 minute mein.”
Ritu tried to refuse, saying she would order something, but Sarla insisted. While Sarla cooked a simple but comforting meal in the kitchen, Ramesh adjusted the pillows behind Arjun and made sure he was comfortable, treating him with the care of an elder brother.
Thirty minutes later, Ritu sat eating the warm food Sarla had prepared. A strange mix of confusion and shame filled her heart. The same people she had wanted to throw out of her life that morning were the ones who had helped them today. Without them, things could have been much worse.
A part of her wanted to forgive them. Another part urged her to stay cautious.
She didn’t know that the next two days would completely change her mind.
For the next two days, Sarla stayed at their home almost constantly, and Ramesh visited frequently. Ramesh helped Arjun like a true brother — never letting him put even a single step on the floor without support. He brought medicines, changed bandages, and cracked light jokes to keep the mood easy.
By the end of the second day, Arjun was able to walk again with minimal pain. His leg had healed remarkably well.
Ritu was visibly relieved and deeply thankful. Arjun, too, had begun to accept that Ramesh had genuinely helped him when he needed it most.
On the evening Ramesh and Sarla were leaving, Arjun looked at Ramesh and said sincerely, “Ramesh ji… aapko theek hote dekh hume bahut khushi hui. Aapka bahut shukriya.”
Ramesh smiled humbly. “Koi baat nahi, Arjun ji. Hum sab insaan hain. Kabhi-kabhi madad ki zarurat pad jaati hai.”
After they left, Arjun and Ritu sat together on the sofa in the living room.
“You don’t know, Arjun,” Ritu said softly, “I was so scared when I saw you like that.”
“I know, Ritu. I’m sorry. Mujhe unse behas nahi karni chahiye thi.”
Ritu nodded. “Now it’s alright. You don’t know how much Sarla and Ramesh helped me these two days.”
Arjun smiled faintly. “I know, jaan. Agar woh help nahi karte toh main itni jaldi theek nahi hota.”
There was a comfortable silence for a moment.
Then Arjun asked gently, “Toh ab bhi tum unhe nikalna chahti ho?”
Ritu stayed silent for a long time, thinking. Finally, she said, “Limit toh maintain kar hi sakte hain.”
Arjun nodded in agreement. “Haan… limit ke saath.”
“Sahab ki tabiyat kaisi hai?” Sarla asked Ritu one morning as she served her coffee.
Ritu nodded. “Ab theek hai. Aaj office ja raha hai. Dono saath hi nikal rahe hain.”
Over the next few days, a new routine settled in the Sharma household. Ritu and Arjun left for office together in the morning. When Arjun returned in the evening, he would often cross paths with Ramesh in the society compound. They exchanged brief, polite greetings — “Kaisa hai, Arjun ji?” and Arjun’s simple reply, “Theek hoon.”
Nothing more. Nothing less.
One afternoon, Ritu was working on her laptop when it suddenly started overheating and slowing down. Frustrated, she sighed loudly.
From behind her, Sarla’s calm voice came, “Iski battery nikaal ke thodi der ke liye bahar rakh dijiye. Thandi hone ke baad wapas laga dena.”
Ritu turned, surprised. “Tumhe kaise pata yeh baat?”
Sarla smiled modestly. “Humare paas bhi yahi wala model hai, Memsaab.”
Ritu was genuinely taken aback. The laptop she used was a high-end one costing nearly forty thousand rupees. She hadn’t expected Sarla to own something similar.
In a moment of curiosity, she asked, “Itna mehnga laptop afford kar leti ho?”
Sarla replied simply, “Bas Memsaab, hum thoda bahut side ka kaam karke paise bana lete hain.”
Ritu was quiet. She knew Sarla’s financial condition was decent, but this level of comfort surprised her.
That evening, when Arjun returned home, Ritu immediately noticed something was wrong. His face was pale, his shoulders slumped.
“Arjun, kya hua?” she asked, concerned. “Why the long face?”
Arjun tried to speak but his voice broke. Tears welled up in his eyes.
Ritu quickly held him. “Kya hua? Batao mujhe.”
Arjun took a deep, shaky breath. “Main… meri job chali gyi hai, layoff hogya”
Ritu froze. The words hit her like a physical blow. For a few seconds, she couldn’t speak. The shock was evident on her face.
The following days were filled with quiet desperation.
Arjun spent hours scrolling through job portals, sending resumes, and making calls. Ritu, though she tried to stay positive, constantly reminded him about the upcoming EMI. Their savings were dangerously low. The pressure of the house loan, car loan, and monthly expenses was becoming unbearable.
One afternoon, Ritu sat at the dining table, staring at her phone with a tense expression as she checked their bank balance. Sarla, who was dusting nearby, noticed her distress.
“Kya hua Memsaab? Aap kaafi tension mein lag rahi hain,” Sarla asked gently.
Ritu tried to brush it off at first, but when Sarla pressed a little, she finally opened up.
“Arjun ki job chali gayi hai,” Ritu said quietly. “Aur agle hafte EMI hai. Savings mein itna nahi bacha hai.”
Sarla listened with concern. “Memsaab, aap tension mat lo. Is mahine ke paise main de dungi. Aap chinta mat kijiye.”
Ritu shook her head. “Nahi Sarla, main tumhare is mahine ke paise de dungi. Tum tension mat lo.”
Sarla smiled warmly. “Memsaab, aap meri salary ki tension mat lijiye. Aap mujhe apni samajhti hain na? Toh paise beech mein kyun laayein?”
Her words carried a strange comfort. Ritu felt a small sense of peace.
Then Sarla asked casually, “Waise kitne paise chahiye?”
Ritu gave a tired laugh. “Kyun? Tum dogi?”
Sarla smiled. “Shayad.”
Ritu, half-joking, replied, “Around 60,000… jisse is mahine aur agle mahine ki EMI cover ho jaaye.”
Sarla didn’t hesitate. “Paise aap cash mein loge ya UPI kar dun?”
Ritu blinked, stunned. “What???”
Sarla calmly repeated, “Haan, kaise loge aap paise?”
Still in disbelief, Ritu opened her phone and showed her UPI QR code.
Within one minute, her phone buzzed.
₹60,000 credited.
“Aaram se de dena Memsaab,” Sarla said softly, and returned to her work in the kitchen as if nothing had happened.
Ritu stared at the notification, completely speechless. She decided not to tell Arjun yet. She wanted him to focus on finding a job without added pressure.
That evening, when Ritu opened the door, Ramesh was standing outside.
“Namaste Memsaab,” he said politely. “Main toh bas Sarla ko lene aaya tha. Socha Arjun ji se bhi mil lun.”
Ritu invited him inside. Sarla said she would take another 15 minutes.
Ramesh walked into the bedroom where Arjun was lying on the bed, scrolling through job listings on his laptop.
“Kaisi tabiyat hai ab, Arjun ji?” Ramesh asked, sitting on the chair beside the bed.
“Theek hoon,” Arjun replied. “Bas ek job dhoondh raha hoon. Meri job chali gayi hai.”
Ramesh nodded thoughtfully. “Acha. Is mushkil ghadi mein agar koi paise ki zarurat ho toh bata dena.”
Arjun gave a bitter smile. “Acha? Tum doge paise? Mujhe toh 1 lakh chahiye.”
Ramesh didn’t even blink. “Kal shaam tak de dun toh chalega?”
Arjun froze. His eyes widened in complete shock. One lakh rupees — a sum that was causing him sleepless nights — was something Ramesh was offering casually, as if it were nothing.
In the Bedroom:
Arjun gave a dry, slightly bitter laugh. “Arey sahab, aisa kya kaam karte ho? Kahin smuggling toh nahi karte?”
Ramesh chuckled lightly, but his expression soon turned serious. He glanced toward the door to make sure no one was listening, then moved closer to Arjun.
“Arjun ji,” he said in a low voice, “aapne cam ke baare mein toh suna hi hoga.”
Arjun frowned. “Cam? Woh website wali… internet pe?”
Ramesh nodded slowly. “Haan. Hum live videos banate hain.”
Arjun stared at him, shocked. “Sharam nahi aati tumhe? Dusron ke saamne apni biwi ke kapde utarte hue?”
Ramesh leaned back, unfazed. “Arey sahab, hum koi crore pati nahi hain jo bachchon ke college fees, kiraya, ghar ke kharche jab chahe tijori se nikaal dein. Yeh sali naukri toh bas naukar hi banati hai. Agar hum apne liye khud nahi sochenge, toh kaun sochega?”
Arjun tried to argue, but the points Ramesh was making were hard to dismiss. Financial pressure, responsibilities, the reality of middle-class life — everything felt too familiar.
Ramesh looked him straight in the eyes. “Band kamre ke peeche kuch karke agar paisa banaya ja raha ho, toh usme koi galat nahi hai, Arjun bhai.”
That line hit deep. It lingered in Arjun’s mind long after Ramesh stopped speaking.
In the Kitchen:
Ritu was staring at Sarla while she cleaned the counter. Sarla noticed her gaze and smiled.
“Aisa kya kaam karti ho jo itna paisa banta hai?” Ritu asked, unable to hold back her curiosity any longer.
Sarla paused for a moment, then shrugged. “Chhodiye Memsaab, aap nahi samjhogi.”
Ritu insisted. “Batao na. Ab itna chhupana bhi kya?”
Sarla looked at her for a long second, then said simply, “Main aur mere pati live videos banate hain… cam pe.”
Ritu’s eyes widened in shock. She couldn’t speak for a few moments.
Sarla continued softly, “Paise ki zarurat hoti hai Memsaab. Ghar chalana, bachchon ki padhai, bimari… sab kuch. Aur yeh kaam ghar baithe hi ho jaata hai.”
Ritu remained silent, her mind spinning with a thousand thoughts.
Overall Atmosphere:
Both conversations happened almost simultaneously in different parts of the house, planting dangerous seeds in Arjun and Ritu’s minds. The idea of easy money, privacy, and “no one gets hurt” was slowly starting to feel less repulsive and more practical.
The trap was being set — softly, patiently, and very effectively.
“Madam, maine jo bataya uske baare mein aur kuch jaanna ho toh batana,” Sarla said softly before leaving with Ramesh.
That night, Ritu and Arjun lay in bed, the room dimly lit by a bedside lamp. The weight of their conversation earlier hung in the air.
Arjun broke the silence. “Manna bada mushkil hai ki yeh dono cam karte hain aur usse itna paisa.”
Ritu stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. “Haan… aur yeh log apni identity chhupate kaise honge?”
Arjun pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her. “Chhodo na,” he whispered, kissing her forehead. “Good night. Sote hain.”
The next evening, Arjun and Ritu sat together on the sofa. Arjun had spent the entire day researching.
“Main ne sab kuch padha jo cam ke baare mein mil saka,” he said. “Mask pehen ke aur camera ko thoda door rakh ke identity chhupayi ja sakti hai. Aur humein bas 1 ya zyada se zyada 2 hafte kaam karne mein kaafi paisa ban sakta hai.”
Ritu listened carefully, a flicker of excitement in her eyes. “Aur naya banda shuru kare toh?”
Arjun sighed. “Tab toh kam se kam 1 saal se zyada lag sakta hai base banane mein… ki ek achhi income shuru ho.”
Ritu looked at him. “Tum kuch zyada serious nahi ho iske liye?”
Arjun was quiet for a moment, then said honestly, “Main chahta hoon ki hum kuch paisa bana sakein, Ritu. Itne saalon job karne ke baad bhi hum abhi tak life mein aage nahi badh paaye. Kahin na kahin yeh ek raasta ho sakta hai.”
Ritu didn’t reply immediately. She was thinking.
That same evening, as Sarla was about to leave after finishing her work, Ritu stopped her at the door.
“Waise ek baat batao,” Ritu said.
“Ji Memsaab.”
“Yeh cam pe toh tum itne time se kaam kar rahi ho… agar main use start karna chahun toh aakhir kis tarike se jaldi paisa banega?”
Sarla paused, then replied carefully, “Waise toh kaafi time lagta hai, lekin jaldi paisa banane ka sabse aasaan tareeka hai ki kisi purane cam couple ke saath cam karna. Usse ek dum audience ko aapke baare mein pata chalega aur jaldi tokens aur paisa barsane ko tayyar rehte hain.”
Ritu’s heart skipped a beat. “Agar main karna chahun toh mere saath koi purana couple thodi karega… plus anjaan logon ke saath—”
Tabhi Sarla smiled gently and completed her sentence.
“Ritu ji… hum hain na.”
Ritu froze.
Sarla looked at her with calm confidence. “Hum bhi kaafi time se cam kar rahe hain. Aur humare saath toh… aap comfortable ho sakti hain.”
The air in the room suddenly felt heavier.
“Arjun sahab ki tabiyat kaisi hai?” Sarla asked Ritu one morning.
Ritu smiled faintly. “Ab theek hai. Aaj office ja raha hai. Dono saath hi nikal rahe hain.”
That night, Ritu and Arjun lay in bed. Arjun gently ran his fingers through her hair.
“Kya lagta hai karna chahiye?” Ritu asked softly.
Arjun was quiet for a moment. “Sach kahun… kuch pehle yeh baat uthti toh main saaf mana kar deta. Lekin aaj jab Ramesh ne mujhe apni bank account ki transactions dikhayi thi… mujhe yakeen karna mushkil ho raha hai ki kitne paise hain in logon ke paas. Aur sach kahun toh hume bhi paison ki zarurat toh hai hi. Kuch bhi kar lein, humein na koi rishtedar itna paisa dega, na koi dost. Aur mere job ke baare mein pata chal gaya toh sab sirf sympathy dikhayenge, help nahi karenge.”
Ritu remained silent, absorbing his words.
“Toh ab kya kare?” she asked.
Arjun kissed her forehead. “Let’s talk to them.”
He pulled her closer, and they both drifted off to sleep.
Ramesh nodded from the bed, sipping his tea. “Dekhna akhir unke ghar ka kya mahol hai ab.”
Sarla entered the flat the next morning with her usual quiet efficiency.
“Namaste Memsaab,” she said softly.
Ritu gave her nothing but a small, cold nod. No smile. No words. She simply turned and continued with her work.
Just like that.
Sarla felt a quiet unease settle in her chest. Yeh achha nahi hai mere plan ke liye.
But even she didn’t know how right her instinct was.
For the next four days, the apartment remained wrapped in icy silence.
Sarla tried everything. She attempted to start small conversations while serving tea. She lingered a little longer near Arjun when Ritu wasn’t looking, brushing against him subtly. She even tried her old seductive glances. But both Ritu and Arjun had built walls so high that nothing could penetrate them. Ritu barely acknowledged her presence. Arjun remained glued to his laptop, offering only the bare minimum of instructions when needed.
A whole week passed in this suffocating quiet.
Then, one evening, while Ritu was on the balcony adjusting a few potted plants, her foot slipped. She cried out sharply as she twisted her ankle badly.
Arjun, who was working on his laptop in the living room, rushed out immediately. The moment he saw her sitting on the floor, holding her ankle with a pained expression, something inside him broke through the cold wall they had both maintained for days.
Without a second thought, he bent down, slid one arm under her knees and the other behind her back, and lifted her up. Ritu didn’t resist. For the first time in many days, their eyes truly met.
He carried her inside and gently laid her on the bed. From the drawer, he took out the pain relief spray and carefully applied it on her swollen ankle. His hands were gentle as he massaged her foot with slow, careful strokes.
Ritu winced. “Zyada dard hai… chalo hospital chalte hain.”
Arjun shook his head, his voice unusually soft. “Nahi… bus thoda sa hai. Main araam karwa deta hoon.”
He continued massaging her ankle. Ritu closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. The silence between them felt heavier than ever.
Suddenly, Arjun leaned forward and kissed her forehead. His lips lingered there. When he pulled back, his eyes were filled with tears.
“I missed your voice,” he whispered, voice cracking. “I missed you.”
Ritu’s eyes welled up instantly. The dam she had been holding back for so many days finally broke. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she reached up and touched his face.
Both of them held each other in silence, the weight of the past week — and everything that had happened — pressing down on them.
For the first time in a long while, they felt like husband and wife again.
Two days later, Ritu and Arjun sat across from each other in a quiet, upscale restaurant. Both had taken half-days from work. The soft lighting, gentle music, and the privacy of their corner table made it feel like a fresh beginning.
They had decided this day would belong only to them.
“So, kaisi hogi yeh apni new start?” Arjun asked, smiling softly as he cut into his steak.
Ritu took a sip of her wine, thinking for a moment. “Kuch mahine pehle poochhte toh kehti — I want a baby. Waise bhi success aur career ke chakkar mein humne bahut wait kar liya hai iske liye.”
Arjun nodded. “Aur ab?”
“Ab pehli shuruaat hogi us Sarla ko ghar se nikalne se,” Ritu said, her voice turning cold. “That bitch ruined our life and almost destroyed our marriage.”
Arjun’s jaw tightened. “Abhi tak shant the kyunki samajh nahi aa raha tha uske khilaaf kya action lun. Lekin ab samajh aa gaya hai. Best thing to do is throw them out of our life.”
“Haan,” Ritu agreed. “Pehle use kaam se nikalenge aur phir security aur society walon ko bol kar uske aur uske pati ki entry hi band kara denge. Bloody idiots.”
Arjun reached across the table and held her hand. “Achha chhodo… suno na, kyun apna din unke naam se kharab kar rahi ho? Aaj sirf hum dono ka din hai.”
Ritu smiled faintly and nodded. “Theek hai. Aur batao, tumhare office ka kya scene hai?”
They talked for nearly two hours — about work, future plans, small dreams they had kept aside for too long. Time passed so smoothly that they didn’t even realize how long they had been sitting.
“I think it’s time for our movie,” Arjun said finally, checking his watch. “We’ll reach the theatre in 45 minutes.”
Ritu was wearing a simple white t-shirt and blue jeans. Arjun was in a crisp shirt and trousers. They got into the car — Arjun in the driver’s seat, Ritu beside him.
After fifteen minutes, the navigation suggested taking a left turn much earlier than expected.
Arjun frowned. “Yeh turn toh aur 20 minute baad aana chahiye tha.”
Ritu glanced at the map. “Ho sakta hai traffic ho aage. Better take this route.”
Arjun agreed. He didn’t want to miss the movie — a romantic action Hollywood film that perfectly matched both their tastes.
He took the suggested left turn.
Baaagggg!
A loud crash echoed.
Arjun slammed the brakes. He jumped out of the car and saw three boys on a bike lying on the ground. Their bike had scbangd against the side of his car, leaving a long, ugly dent.
“Andhe ho kya?!” Arjun shouted. “Dikhta nahi hai? Yeh kya haal kar diya meri gaadi ka!”
One of the boys stood up aggressively. “Abe nikal ja! Thode se dent ke chakkar mein kyun pitna chahta hai?”
Arjun’s temper flared. “Pehle accident karte ho aur phir batameezi bhi kar rahe ho?”
The argument quickly turned heated. Voices rose. One boy grabbed Arjun’s collar. Another pushed him. The third one moved toward Ritu, grabbing her arm roughly.
Arjun tried to fight back, but months of skipped workouts and office stress had taken their toll. He was overpowered.
Ritu screamed, trying to pull away from the boy holding her.
Just as one of them raised his fist toward Arjun —
Whackkkk!
A powerful punch landed on the face of the boy who had kicked Arjun.
The guy grabbing Arjun’s neck suddenly loosened his grip and stumbled back.
Before he could recover, Ramesh grabbed him by the hair and delivered a tight, resounding slap across his face. The boy staggered and hit the wall for support.
In fear and anger, he charged at Ramesh again. Ramesh calmly grabbed him by the belt, tripped him with his leg, and threw him like a rag doll two to four feet away.
“Nikal, behenchod!” Ramesh roared. “Saale chutiye, kaam-dhanda hai nahi aur aajate hain zindagi haram karne!”
Meanwhile, Sarla moved like lightning toward the boy who was grabbing Ritu’s arm. She slapped him hard, then literally removed her chappal and began beating him mercilessly with it. The boy yelped and tried to run, but Sarla chased him a few steps, still hitting him.
Ramesh turned to Ritu, his expression softening instantly. “Sorry Memsaab… yeh log yahi bhasha samajhte hain.”
He quickly moved to Arjun, who was grimacing in pain, and put an arm around him for support.
“Aaaahhhhh… meri taang… bahut dard ho raha hai,” Arjun groaned, nearly collapsing.
Ramesh held him firmly. “Lagta hai ghaav ho gaya hai. Chinta mat kijiye.”
Sarla rushed to them. “Let’s take him to Dr. Chopra. Woh yahan se sirf 5 minute ki doori par hai.”
Ritu, still shaken, quickly checked her phone. “Koi hospital toh 40 minute door hai… wahan pahunchne mein bahut der ho jayegi.”
Ramesh nodded reassuringly. “Dr. Chopra trusted doctor hain. Aap chinta mat kijiye.”
Ritu agreed.
Ramesh helped Arjun into the back seat of their car. Within five minutes, they reached the small but clean clinic. Arjun was made to lie on the stretcher, his pants rolled up.
The doctor examined the bruise on his thigh carefully.
“He took a hard hit,” Dr. Chopra told Ritu. “There is some swelling in the area, but no major injury. No fracture. I’ll give him strong painkillers and a lotion. He’ll be up and walking in two days. Rest and ice will help.”
Arjun winced as the doctor applied the ointment, but he kept looking at Ritu, who stood beside him, holding his hand tightly.
It was 10:30 PM when their car finally pulled into the society parking. Ramesh held Arjun by the shoulder, supporting most of his weight as they slowly made their way upstairs. Ritu walked beside them, still shaken.
By the time Ramesh gently lowered Arjun onto the bed, Ritu was repeating the same words like a mantra:
“Ramesh ji, thank you so much… Sarla, thank you so much. Aapne humari bahut madad ki. Aapne toh aaj Arjun ki jaan bacha li.”
Sarla smiled softly. “Arey Memsaab, apne samay par kaam na aaye toh kab aayenge?”
Ramesh placed a reassuring hand on Ritu’s shoulder. “Madam, aap tension mat lo. Aapko koi bhi dikkat ho, hum hain aapke liye.”
As Sarla prepared to leave, she paused at the door. “Memsaab, aapne shaam se kuch nahi khaya. Main kuch bana deti hoon — 5 minute mein.”
Ritu tried to refuse, saying she would order something, but Sarla insisted. While Sarla cooked a simple but comforting meal in the kitchen, Ramesh adjusted the pillows behind Arjun and made sure he was comfortable, treating him with the care of an elder brother.
Thirty minutes later, Ritu sat eating the warm food Sarla had prepared. A strange mix of confusion and shame filled her heart. The same people she had wanted to throw out of her life that morning were the ones who had helped them today. Without them, things could have been much worse.
A part of her wanted to forgive them. Another part urged her to stay cautious.
She didn’t know that the next two days would completely change her mind.
For the next two days, Sarla stayed at their home almost constantly, and Ramesh visited frequently. Ramesh helped Arjun like a true brother — never letting him put even a single step on the floor without support. He brought medicines, changed bandages, and cracked light jokes to keep the mood easy.
By the end of the second day, Arjun was able to walk again with minimal pain. His leg had healed remarkably well.
Ritu was visibly relieved and deeply thankful. Arjun, too, had begun to accept that Ramesh had genuinely helped him when he needed it most.
On the evening Ramesh and Sarla were leaving, Arjun looked at Ramesh and said sincerely, “Ramesh ji… aapko theek hote dekh hume bahut khushi hui. Aapka bahut shukriya.”
Ramesh smiled humbly. “Koi baat nahi, Arjun ji. Hum sab insaan hain. Kabhi-kabhi madad ki zarurat pad jaati hai.”
After they left, Arjun and Ritu sat together on the sofa in the living room.
“You don’t know, Arjun,” Ritu said softly, “I was so scared when I saw you like that.”
“I know, Ritu. I’m sorry. Mujhe unse behas nahi karni chahiye thi.”
Ritu nodded. “Now it’s alright. You don’t know how much Sarla and Ramesh helped me these two days.”
Arjun smiled faintly. “I know, jaan. Agar woh help nahi karte toh main itni jaldi theek nahi hota.”
There was a comfortable silence for a moment.
Then Arjun asked gently, “Toh ab bhi tum unhe nikalna chahti ho?”
Ritu stayed silent for a long time, thinking. Finally, she said, “Limit toh maintain kar hi sakte hain.”
Arjun nodded in agreement. “Haan… limit ke saath.”
“Sahab ki tabiyat kaisi hai?” Sarla asked Ritu one morning as she served her coffee.
Ritu nodded. “Ab theek hai. Aaj office ja raha hai. Dono saath hi nikal rahe hain.”
Over the next few days, a new routine settled in the Sharma household. Ritu and Arjun left for office together in the morning. When Arjun returned in the evening, he would often cross paths with Ramesh in the society compound. They exchanged brief, polite greetings — “Kaisa hai, Arjun ji?” and Arjun’s simple reply, “Theek hoon.”
Nothing more. Nothing less.
One afternoon, Ritu was working on her laptop when it suddenly started overheating and slowing down. Frustrated, she sighed loudly.
From behind her, Sarla’s calm voice came, “Iski battery nikaal ke thodi der ke liye bahar rakh dijiye. Thandi hone ke baad wapas laga dena.”
Ritu turned, surprised. “Tumhe kaise pata yeh baat?”
Sarla smiled modestly. “Humare paas bhi yahi wala model hai, Memsaab.”
Ritu was genuinely taken aback. The laptop she used was a high-end one costing nearly forty thousand rupees. She hadn’t expected Sarla to own something similar.
In a moment of curiosity, she asked, “Itna mehnga laptop afford kar leti ho?”
Sarla replied simply, “Bas Memsaab, hum thoda bahut side ka kaam karke paise bana lete hain.”
Ritu was quiet. She knew Sarla’s financial condition was decent, but this level of comfort surprised her.
That evening, when Arjun returned home, Ritu immediately noticed something was wrong. His face was pale, his shoulders slumped.
“Arjun, kya hua?” she asked, concerned. “Why the long face?”
Arjun tried to speak but his voice broke. Tears welled up in his eyes.
Ritu quickly held him. “Kya hua? Batao mujhe.”
Arjun took a deep, shaky breath. “Main… meri job chali gyi hai, layoff hogya”
Ritu froze. The words hit her like a physical blow. For a few seconds, she couldn’t speak. The shock was evident on her face.
The following days were filled with quiet desperation.
Arjun spent hours scrolling through job portals, sending resumes, and making calls. Ritu, though she tried to stay positive, constantly reminded him about the upcoming EMI. Their savings were dangerously low. The pressure of the house loan, car loan, and monthly expenses was becoming unbearable.
One afternoon, Ritu sat at the dining table, staring at her phone with a tense expression as she checked their bank balance. Sarla, who was dusting nearby, noticed her distress.
“Kya hua Memsaab? Aap kaafi tension mein lag rahi hain,” Sarla asked gently.
Ritu tried to brush it off at first, but when Sarla pressed a little, she finally opened up.
“Arjun ki job chali gayi hai,” Ritu said quietly. “Aur agle hafte EMI hai. Savings mein itna nahi bacha hai.”
Sarla listened with concern. “Memsaab, aap tension mat lo. Is mahine ke paise main de dungi. Aap chinta mat kijiye.”
Ritu shook her head. “Nahi Sarla, main tumhare is mahine ke paise de dungi. Tum tension mat lo.”
Sarla smiled warmly. “Memsaab, aap meri salary ki tension mat lijiye. Aap mujhe apni samajhti hain na? Toh paise beech mein kyun laayein?”
Her words carried a strange comfort. Ritu felt a small sense of peace.
Then Sarla asked casually, “Waise kitne paise chahiye?”
Ritu gave a tired laugh. “Kyun? Tum dogi?”
Sarla smiled. “Shayad.”
Ritu, half-joking, replied, “Around 60,000… jisse is mahine aur agle mahine ki EMI cover ho jaaye.”
Sarla didn’t hesitate. “Paise aap cash mein loge ya UPI kar dun?”
Ritu blinked, stunned. “What???”
Sarla calmly repeated, “Haan, kaise loge aap paise?”
Still in disbelief, Ritu opened her phone and showed her UPI QR code.
Within one minute, her phone buzzed.
₹60,000 credited.
“Aaram se de dena Memsaab,” Sarla said softly, and returned to her work in the kitchen as if nothing had happened.
Ritu stared at the notification, completely speechless. She decided not to tell Arjun yet. She wanted him to focus on finding a job without added pressure.
That evening, when Ritu opened the door, Ramesh was standing outside.
“Namaste Memsaab,” he said politely. “Main toh bas Sarla ko lene aaya tha. Socha Arjun ji se bhi mil lun.”
Ritu invited him inside. Sarla said she would take another 15 minutes.
Ramesh walked into the bedroom where Arjun was lying on the bed, scrolling through job listings on his laptop.
“Kaisi tabiyat hai ab, Arjun ji?” Ramesh asked, sitting on the chair beside the bed.
“Theek hoon,” Arjun replied. “Bas ek job dhoondh raha hoon. Meri job chali gayi hai.”
Ramesh nodded thoughtfully. “Acha. Is mushkil ghadi mein agar koi paise ki zarurat ho toh bata dena.”
Arjun gave a bitter smile. “Acha? Tum doge paise? Mujhe toh 1 lakh chahiye.”
Ramesh didn’t even blink. “Kal shaam tak de dun toh chalega?”
Arjun froze. His eyes widened in complete shock. One lakh rupees — a sum that was causing him sleepless nights — was something Ramesh was offering casually, as if it were nothing.
In the Bedroom:
Arjun gave a dry, slightly bitter laugh. “Arey sahab, aisa kya kaam karte ho? Kahin smuggling toh nahi karte?”
Ramesh chuckled lightly, but his expression soon turned serious. He glanced toward the door to make sure no one was listening, then moved closer to Arjun.
“Arjun ji,” he said in a low voice, “aapne cam ke baare mein toh suna hi hoga.”
Arjun frowned. “Cam? Woh website wali… internet pe?”
Ramesh nodded slowly. “Haan. Hum live videos banate hain.”
Arjun stared at him, shocked. “Sharam nahi aati tumhe? Dusron ke saamne apni biwi ke kapde utarte hue?”
Ramesh leaned back, unfazed. “Arey sahab, hum koi crore pati nahi hain jo bachchon ke college fees, kiraya, ghar ke kharche jab chahe tijori se nikaal dein. Yeh sali naukri toh bas naukar hi banati hai. Agar hum apne liye khud nahi sochenge, toh kaun sochega?”
Arjun tried to argue, but the points Ramesh was making were hard to dismiss. Financial pressure, responsibilities, the reality of middle-class life — everything felt too familiar.
Ramesh looked him straight in the eyes. “Band kamre ke peeche kuch karke agar paisa banaya ja raha ho, toh usme koi galat nahi hai, Arjun bhai.”
That line hit deep. It lingered in Arjun’s mind long after Ramesh stopped speaking.
In the Kitchen:
Ritu was staring at Sarla while she cleaned the counter. Sarla noticed her gaze and smiled.
“Aisa kya kaam karti ho jo itna paisa banta hai?” Ritu asked, unable to hold back her curiosity any longer.
Sarla paused for a moment, then shrugged. “Chhodiye Memsaab, aap nahi samjhogi.”
Ritu insisted. “Batao na. Ab itna chhupana bhi kya?”
Sarla looked at her for a long second, then said simply, “Main aur mere pati live videos banate hain… cam pe.”
Ritu’s eyes widened in shock. She couldn’t speak for a few moments.
Sarla continued softly, “Paise ki zarurat hoti hai Memsaab. Ghar chalana, bachchon ki padhai, bimari… sab kuch. Aur yeh kaam ghar baithe hi ho jaata hai.”
Ritu remained silent, her mind spinning with a thousand thoughts.
Overall Atmosphere:
Both conversations happened almost simultaneously in different parts of the house, planting dangerous seeds in Arjun and Ritu’s minds. The idea of easy money, privacy, and “no one gets hurt” was slowly starting to feel less repulsive and more practical.
The trap was being set — softly, patiently, and very effectively.
“Madam, maine jo bataya uske baare mein aur kuch jaanna ho toh batana,” Sarla said softly before leaving with Ramesh.
That night, Ritu and Arjun lay in bed, the room dimly lit by a bedside lamp. The weight of their conversation earlier hung in the air.
Arjun broke the silence. “Manna bada mushkil hai ki yeh dono cam karte hain aur usse itna paisa.”
Ritu stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. “Haan… aur yeh log apni identity chhupate kaise honge?”
Arjun pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her. “Chhodo na,” he whispered, kissing her forehead. “Good night. Sote hain.”
The next evening, Arjun and Ritu sat together on the sofa. Arjun had spent the entire day researching.
“Main ne sab kuch padha jo cam ke baare mein mil saka,” he said. “Mask pehen ke aur camera ko thoda door rakh ke identity chhupayi ja sakti hai. Aur humein bas 1 ya zyada se zyada 2 hafte kaam karne mein kaafi paisa ban sakta hai.”
Ritu listened carefully, a flicker of excitement in her eyes. “Aur naya banda shuru kare toh?”
Arjun sighed. “Tab toh kam se kam 1 saal se zyada lag sakta hai base banane mein… ki ek achhi income shuru ho.”
Ritu looked at him. “Tum kuch zyada serious nahi ho iske liye?”
Arjun was quiet for a moment, then said honestly, “Main chahta hoon ki hum kuch paisa bana sakein, Ritu. Itne saalon job karne ke baad bhi hum abhi tak life mein aage nahi badh paaye. Kahin na kahin yeh ek raasta ho sakta hai.”
Ritu didn’t reply immediately. She was thinking.
That same evening, as Sarla was about to leave after finishing her work, Ritu stopped her at the door.
“Waise ek baat batao,” Ritu said.
“Ji Memsaab.”
“Yeh cam pe toh tum itne time se kaam kar rahi ho… agar main use start karna chahun toh aakhir kis tarike se jaldi paisa banega?”
Sarla paused, then replied carefully, “Waise toh kaafi time lagta hai, lekin jaldi paisa banane ka sabse aasaan tareeka hai ki kisi purane cam couple ke saath cam karna. Usse ek dum audience ko aapke baare mein pata chalega aur jaldi tokens aur paisa barsane ko tayyar rehte hain.”
Ritu’s heart skipped a beat. “Agar main karna chahun toh mere saath koi purana couple thodi karega… plus anjaan logon ke saath—”
Tabhi Sarla smiled gently and completed her sentence.
“Ritu ji… hum hain na.”
Ritu froze.
Sarla looked at her with calm confidence. “Hum bhi kaafi time se cam kar rahe hain. Aur humare saath toh… aap comfortable ho sakti hain.”
The air in the room suddenly felt heavier.
“Arjun sahab ki tabiyat kaisi hai?” Sarla asked Ritu one morning.
Ritu smiled faintly. “Ab theek hai. Aaj office ja raha hai. Dono saath hi nikal rahe hain.”
That night, Ritu and Arjun lay in bed. Arjun gently ran his fingers through her hair.
“Kya lagta hai karna chahiye?” Ritu asked softly.
Arjun was quiet for a moment. “Sach kahun… kuch pehle yeh baat uthti toh main saaf mana kar deta. Lekin aaj jab Ramesh ne mujhe apni bank account ki transactions dikhayi thi… mujhe yakeen karna mushkil ho raha hai ki kitne paise hain in logon ke paas. Aur sach kahun toh hume bhi paison ki zarurat toh hai hi. Kuch bhi kar lein, humein na koi rishtedar itna paisa dega, na koi dost. Aur mere job ke baare mein pata chal gaya toh sab sirf sympathy dikhayenge, help nahi karenge.”
Ritu remained silent, absorbing his words.
“Toh ab kya kare?” she asked.
Arjun kissed her forehead. “Let’s talk to them.”
He pulled her closer, and they both drifted off to sleep.