Kriti did not even complete her action before Ishani pulled away her hand and screamed, There wasn't any time, Kriti! Twenty lakhers is no pocket change. We should not have been able to arrange it so fast, even with you and me together. And twenty lakhs are not all—how much more a person may have to pay later! Do you think Mom will live long before she dies? The damage in the brain is not a minor disease. And with such a long duration of being there, the likelihood of survival becomes even less. The state of my mom is deteriorating on a daily basis. Waiting till the money comes—how long could I just sit and wait? I somehow begged and pleaded to have her hospitalized. But say—how long will they hold her till she is out of money?

She broke her voice as she went on, and the tears leaked down her cheeks. Two years later I have not heard the voice of my mom. Do you know how that feels? The agony I lead—you cannot conceive it. I experience it on a daily basis, and it is intolerable. To my mother, I would not simply get married to somebody--had I to sell myself, I would have sold myself as well! My condition is the reason why my mother has become the way she is today. She had risked her life for me—then can I not marry someone to cherish mine? Kriti, what my mother has done to me, no other mother can ever cause. She's my life—my everything."

In the voice, Ishani broke down in full cry, sobbing away like a baby. The sight of her falling that way made Kriti go into a hug and start rubbing her back. Kriti also had tears streaming down her face. She put Ishani to her breast and left her to cry. Then, with a slow movement, she withdrew, wiped Ishani with her tears, and said gently, "Ishani, I am sorry." I never meant to hurt you. I was just worried about you. Cry not—this sight of you is breaking my heart, too. Please, forget about it, okay? Now we shall simply work at ensuring that nothing worse occurs next. We must get rid of all remnants of yesterday—all the evidence that has to do with that marriage. That vile man must never get at you. To do that, you will have to keep away on the opposite side of him. I cannot see you get into trouble one more time.

Once again sniffing and shaking, Ishani removed her hand from her cheek and said between tears, Kriti, I am not a weak person. I'm very strong. I can handle any problem. I can have nothing worse than what I have already experienced. Don't worry about me."

Kriti embraced her once again and said, "Ishani, thou hast yet such tender youth." Please don't talk like that. I cannot live to see you so.

Ishani didn't reply. Kriti turned away and rubbed her own face and said, "We have to hurry." It's already really late."

"Is it?" Ishani said very quietly, expressionless. Is it the man I married—the one I conned? --That is my boss?