Chapter 315 - She is my sister, mom!

For Rekha, Madhu's existence was a constant reminder of her own presumed shortcomings and her in-law's dissatisfaction with her.

That is why she could never love Madhu… In fact, she even hated her at times. But she knew her husband would have her head if she ever did anything to Madhu out of spite... And Madhu was also so obedient that she never got any reason to vent her anger and resentment on her so far.

But now that she had given her the reason, Rekha could not stop herself.

"Did you ever think of our family and our reputation when you decided to go around seducing men?? We raised you out of kindness and is this how you repay us?" Her gran pitched in rubbing salt over her wounds.

"I… I did… I did not do an-an-anything wr-wrong. I pr-promi-promise. I just like him… an-and m-marry him! Pl-pl-please, jus-just…" Madhu couldn't really continue between her hiccups. And Rekha really did not let her continue.

"Did not do anything wrong? Do you think what you did was not wrong?? We let you go to the office because you said you wanted to help the family when your dad retired… now I can see how wrong I was. You just wanted to trap some rich men and get out of here, didn't you?? How can you be so greedy?" Rekha continued.

"No-no-no… it is not like that! Pl-please, mom…" Madhu sobbed uncontrollably under the scrutinizing glances of her family.

Just when she was going to give up completely, to her surprise, Aarav actually spoke up.

"Mom… that's enough!" Aarav said looking up at his mother.

"What do you mean, Aarav? Anyways, you are just a kid… you don't have to be here… go back to your room!! I don't want you to get spoilt seeing her!! She is not your sister anyways!!" Rekha said pointing her fingers to his room.

But for once Aarav actually did not move… he just looked around at everyone and at Madhu sobbing.

"She is my sister, mom!!" He couldn't really help himself saying it. All this while, he had just been too lazy to meddle with things at home.

He always saw her mother's resentment towards Madhu… so, he never got close to her knowing it would just make things so much worse for Madhu. He knew how possessive Rekha was when it came to him… she would never share his love with an orphan.

But seeing Madhu sobbing and Rekha accusing, he did not want to stand still anymore.

"What is this, Aarav? Did you seduce him too?" Her gran accused her unscrupulously.

Madhu shook her head frantically while Aarav gave his dad a helpless look. Because he knew anything he utters now is going to be detrimental to Madhu rather than helping her.

Abhijeet, at last, joined them…

"Aarav, you go to  your room!!" He said first.

"But dad…"

"I will handle things here… This is not something you can meddle in…" His father said to him sternly.

Aarav helplessly left to his room.

Once he was out of the living room, Abhijeet saw his daughter sobbing away with her head hung low… While his own wife and her mother glaring at her giving her a disgusting look as if she had committed a grave crime.

For Rekha, it was… But then Abhijeet was not that close-minded a person.

"Ple-please… j-just let me marry h-him. I won't ask for anything… I will do anything you guys ask… But j-just… don't ta-take me away from him!! Please…" Madhu begged desperately. She really needed Akash… and everything that came with it. But without her mother and father's permission, she cannot have him…

Just then Rekha slapped Madhu all over again, "You are still thinking about him?? Is this what we taught you… You shameless…" Rekha shouted.

"That's enough, Rekha!!!" Abhijeet said this time.

Rekha instantly became quiet.

"Son-in-law, Rekha is just thinking about the family… think about how we will face our relatives if this got out…don't look at that wretches crocodile tears and scold your wife!! She is a nobody!" Her gran said supporting Rekha completely.

But Abhijeet did not budge.

"She is not a nobody… she is my daughter and I know her. I raised her right! She did nothing wrong…" He said looking at the older ladies sternly.

"Abhijeet… you cannot be serious… Are you going to accept her marriage? Her love affair?" Rekha said in disbelief.

Abhijeet did not answer… he did treasure his words more than necessary but his stance in front of Madhu gave Rekha the answer she needed.

"If you marry her off, what is going to happen to our family? You are retired! And what will happen to Aarav's college… who will give the fees!!! And you… you owe it to our family! This is your responsibility! Are you just going to eat our salt and stab us on our back??" Rekha flared up… she first looked at her husband and then at Madhu as she asked the last question.

Madhu once again shook her head but before she could answer, Abhijeet pitched in.

"She does not owe us anything, Rekha!!"

"Of course, she does… you have any idea how much humiliation I had to endure because of her from your father and mother… do you know how many people laughed at me because I had to adopt!!" Rekha couldn't really control herself anymore. She really hated it when her relatives questioned her fertility when she couldn't conceive… the pressure that came with it was immense. And when she did get pregnant at last, somehow, all the credit actually went to Madhu instead of her.

"That is not di's fault mom… how can you blame her for other people's insensitivity!!" Aarav suddenly asked. He never really went to his room. He just left the living room and stayed in the corridor listening in.

He did not like seeing Madhu being cornered like this… but thankfully his father still had some sense… But then, he still couldn't help pitch in when Rekha accuses Madhu of things she was never responsible for.

She was just a baby for god's sake when they brought her… how can she be held responsible for other people's ignorance.

But Madhu couldn't handle it anymore… she made a run towards her room and closed her room as she wailed helplessly.