Rani arrived back at her father's house around 9:00 PM. As she entered the main gate, her mother rushed out, perhaps having heard the car. She was immediately alarmed to see her daughter alone with her luggage.
Rani's Mother: "What is this? Why are you here at this hour? Where is your husband—did he not come with you? Have you two had a fight?"
Rani avoided her mother's eyes. "Your son-in-law is alone at his house," she replied curtly.
Rani's two maternal aunts were also there. Suspecting their influence, the mother turned to Rani and asked pointedly, "Are you doing all this because of someone else's meddling?"
The aunts glanced at each other, terrified of being caught. They quickly chimed in, "Why would she listen to anyone else? Rani is grown up. She has her own mind. She's done what she felt was best."
Rani's Mother (to the aunts): "I know you two went to Rani's house the other day. What was your business there? If I find out you two are behind this, it will be very bad for you."
"We have work to do... we're leaving!" the two aunts stammered, fleeing the scene as fast as they could.
Rani's Mother (calling after Rani): "Rakesh has a serious eye injury and you've left him all alone? Rani! Where are you going? Answer me!"
Rani gave no answer. she went straight to her room and slammed the door shut. Her mother remained outside, muttering to herself in frustration, "This girl will never let me live in peace. Who knows what she's done to Rakesh? There's definitely been a huge trouble. I must go tell her father."
The Delusion of "Abhiman"
Inside her room, Rani switched off the lights. The glow from a streetlamp outside filtered through the window, casting a pale light across her bed. She buried her face in her pillow and began to sob. In her mind, she began a one-sided conversation with an imaginary Rakesh.
"You deserve to be alone," she whispered to the empty room. "Now that I've left, you'll finally realize how much Rani loved you. I didn't want to leave you, but if I hadn't, you would never have understood me. The insults I threw at you... they hurt me more than they hurt you. I want you to think about what I was trying to make you realize. Those insults weren't from my heart— they were my Abhiman (wounded pride)."
She wept into her pillow again, convinced that her abandonment of a semi-blind, injured man was a necessary romantic gesture. And so, the night passed in a blur of tears and selfjustification.
The Morning of the Tragedy
The next morning, someone from Rakesh's village arrived at Rani's house. Rani's father went out to meet him. From inside, the conversation was audible, and it was clear from his tone that something terrible had happened.
Rani's Father: "What are you saying? This cannot be possible. Are you telling the truth? Then we must leave right away!"
Hearing this, Rani came out with a glass of water in her hand. "What happened? Who is it? Why do you look so worried, Father?"
Her father turned toward her, pointed his finger, and shouted, "What happened? You're asking what happened? Then listen—your wish has been fulfilled. That shy, helpless, poor village boy, Rakesh, is no longer in this world. He was found lying on the veranda, covered in blood. He tripped and fell. Are you happy now?"
Rani began to sob hysterically. "What are you saying, Father? You must be lying! He cannot leave me. I haven't even received his love yet. I have to go to him right now. Get the car ready! I must go!"
Rani's Father (shouting again): "Absolutely not! You will not step foot in that house. I am warning you. You were married for six months, and you didn't let him live in peace for a single day. You only cared about your own demands. You knew he couldn't see, you knew no one was home, yet you left that helpless boy alone and came here. Did you think for one second what he would do? Where was your 'love' then? Is this a performance? Are you acting?"
Rani: "No Father, it's not an act! I only came back yesterday to make him realize how painful it is to be alone without love. I had fallen in love with him, Father. Believe me!"
Rani's Father: "Believe you? I won't be fooled by your acting anymore. It was Rakesh's misfortune that he married a girl like you. Only you are responsible for this end. Only your mother and I will go to Rakesh's house. No one else. Especially not you, Rani. You stay here."
With that, Rani's mother and father rushed to the car and drove toward the village.