NOTE- Hey there, writing this chapter was a bit difficult for me, since I wanted to avoid something that can be triggering and still explain the situation.
I hope I was able to do justice to both the things at the same time. But I did deviate more towards the "avoiding triggers" thing.
Thank you.
Reet

+++++

Samayra

I drive the wrangler inside the gate to my in-laws and park it beside his 'Daisy'. To be honest, his Mustang is a beast and Chetan promised he wouldn't tell Ambar but I took it to work twice in the past 8 more days that he spent in the hospital after that day. I love his choice of cars, no doubt about that.

But after my weird outburst on savings, I'm not confessing it aloud. It's still a stupid choice, we need to start saving for our future.

"You drive pretty good for a lady." Ambar says in somewhat of a mocking voice, sitting by my side and I turn to him with a frown.

"You got discharged from the hospital today and one more sexist comment will get you to end up there for another week." I say and take off my seatbelt.

"That was supposed to be a compliment." He says sounding offended as I unbuckle his belt as well.

"I drove so slowly, because you have unhealed stitches in three different places and I didn't want to hurt you, if that's what your hidden sarcasm meant." I say with a fake sarcastic smile and open my car door going to his side and opening it for him.

"Milady..." I say offering a helping hand to my husband.

"So you care for me?" he asks referring to my slow driving as I bite the inside of my cheek to control a chuckle.

"Ofcourse, I do. What if I am not pregnant, yet? I can't do it alone. I need a sperm donor. So, I need you alive," I say mocking as he rolls his eyes.

"Very funny..." He says sarcastically as he places an arm around my shoulder, supporting his weight slowly getting up to stand. He grunts in pain as it puts stress on his stitches.

"I know, I am funny. You got lucky." I say as Chetan runs out and supports Ambar from the other side as we guide him inside without saying anything. Ambar gives me a questioning look for Chetan's quiet behavior and I shake my head in disagreement. I don't know anything, but I also don't want him to stir that discussion right now. We entered as mom came running from the kitchen.

"Welcome home, Ambi. Chetan, is the bedroom ready?" she asks walking towards Ambar. She wipes a stray tear and hugs him tight and gets on tiptoes to kiss his forehead as he bends a little from his knees, not straining his torso.

"It's ready." Chetan says and looks down to walk away towards his room.

He's been very quite since dad scolded him for the reckless decision of changing his name, the day after that phone call.

"He never remains a puffer fish for more than two days."Ambar says as I guide him to the guest bedroom on the ground floor and put cushions and pillows before letting him lay down.

Mom doesn't answer him and just shrugs, sadness evident in her demeanor.

"I'll get lunch ready." She says and leaves.

"You going to work?" He asks and I shake my head.

"I took a half day." I say as he frowns.

"Ayra, I told you that you shouldn't let this affect your career. You've worked hard for this." He says and I shake my head.

"It's not for you. I mean... not just for you. Avinash has called in Sabina for questioning today. I'll accompany her for moral support." I say and he nods.

"Okay, but if Sabina isn't comfortable with Avi, I can take her statement. I mean.."

"Ambar... Don't you dare get off the bed. I'll be back before dinner time." I scold him as he nods.

"Yes, mam." He says and salutes me with his good hand.

"Your physiotherapist will be here soon. She'll focus on your hand movements." I say, remembering what the doctor had said.

"it's still bandaged." He scowls at me.

"Babe, your bicep and shoulder is blown off, the pain you feel moving your hand wasn't evident in any scans. So, It's all here." I say looking at him and pointing to his temples referring to his brain while I said 'here'.

"She's good at it." I add as he looks a little lost.

"What are you not telling me?" I ask as he frowns.

"First of all, what is up with calling me babe? And secondly.. I think I've slept with her." He says biting his lower lip waiting me to lash out. I would have lashed out if his one side wasn't covered in bandages.

"You think?" I ask, trying to keep my anger in check.

"Um... The name Dr. referred.. Tanya was it.. It sounds familiar. I don't know how.. So, I guess.. Just warning you... Incase.." he says with a shrug as I take a deep breath.

The supreme court just made a new law for domestic violence against husbands. So, I can't beat the shit out of him. Plus he's an injured cop which can cause me some serious charges.

"You should have warned me before I married you." I spit the words out between clenched teeth.

"Where did you meet this.. Tanya?" I ask trying to have a smile on my face, sitting on the opposite corner of the bed.

"I think she's a friend of... a friend..." he says trying to remember and I get up off the bed.

I can't have this conversation right now.

"Ambar, I'm going to pick up Sabina. Try and not fuck up your therapy." I say and walk out leaving him to his own condition.

Let's see how he deals with his another hook-up.

Honestly, I trust him enough to know that he won't do something inappropriate. He respects this marriage but still it gets infuriating at times. I've heard all good things about this therapist and he says that he can't have her attend him.

This is hopeless. I get out and inform mom and then was about to go for my wrangler when the keys to Ambar's mustang called my name.

Not literally, because that would be a creepy horror movie plot.

So, I pick up the keys to 'daisy' and decide to take it out for a stroll. I go to my parent's and honk the car horn twice as Sabina comes running out.

"You're late." She says as I notice something weird.

"Did you cut your hair short?" I ask as she sits in the seat beside me. Ofcourse, I told (read as boasted about) her that my husband has a Mustang.

"Yeah, needed a change. You got his car?" She asks pointing out the obvious.

"I didn't ask him." I say and shrug putting it into drive.

"Will he be pissed?" she asks and I think about it.

"Maybe. Maybe not. How's Danish? How's he at school?" I say not wanting to think about the retired playboy, I call my husband.

"Catching up. Still talks about that douche sometimes." She says settling down.

"That's his father... Give him time." I say with my eyes at the road.

"Yeah, I know. Tarun is great with him, though. Helps with the whole missing father figure thing. He was at our house, with Mehar right now and mom was stuffing his face with Idli's." she says trying to notice the change in my expression at his mention. I was happy that Danish had Mehar to help him not thing about his missing father.

"His presence doesn't affect me. We are friends now." I say answering her questioning gaze as she nods.

"I'll be visiting your in-laws house to see Ambar one of these days. If I get a leave." She says and I smile.

"That reminds me, how did your boss agree to giving you a half-day today." I ask.

"I asked dad of all the ways I can sue him, if he fires me for not showing up at work for legal duties." She says.

"Smart." I say as I hear her leg shake and the tapping of her feet on the car's deck.

"Don't be nervous." I say looking ahead at the traffic.

"I'm not nervous." She says looking out of the window, with her foot still tapping.

"Sab.. Your foot, That's your tell right here. You're nervous. Just try to breathe and..." I go to say as she interpts.

"Please shut up, I need some silence." She says and I nod without answering. Yes, We love annoying the shit out of each other but we know when to stop.
The rest of the drive passes in silence, with us lost in our thoughts.
I park outside the station and get out of the car as we both walk inside.

"You ready?" I ask her and she nods.

"Let's get this over with." She says as we enter the government operated building. We were guided towards a cabin where Avinash sat reading a file. He got up, closing the file as soon as we entered.

"Mrs. Deol, Mrs. Shah." He says nodding in a professional curt way. Sabina flinches at the reference and he seemed to notice it.

"Don't worry... Here... Take it as a late diwali gift." He says and hands Sabina the file he was reading.

Diwali this year had been dim for me. With Ambar in hospital and Sabina still in Paris, it didn't feel like a festival.

She takes the file with a forced smile and opens it as I peep from the side.

"Divorce papers?" I ask looking at the official document.

"Bhabhi... I mean, Mrs.Deol, your dad had given the papers to Ambar, who gave it to me. I got it signed from the bastard." He says walking back towards his chair. He called me by my name, being his professional self and I didn't argue since this was his workspace. But so many meetings in the hospital had made us good friends.

"Thank you." Sabina says at an attempt to smile.

"Please be seated." He says as we take the seats opposite him, as Sabina clutches the file tightly in her hands.

"Shall we begin?" he asks and Sabina nods. I put my hand over hers, as she grabs it tightly, sucking in a sharp breath.

Avinash rings a bell and calls in a stenographer to note what Sabina was going to say, in short hand as well as audio.

"When did you meet Karan?" Avinash asked as he started and moved forward with simple details of their wedding as Sabina answered him honestly. And then he moved on to tougher questions.

"We got married in 2016 and he was always polite and understanding. I was pregnant after three months, and it was unplanned, that was his first outburst where I came face-to-face with his anger issues." She answers as he nods.

"And then he accepted the kid ?" He asks.

"He did. I wouldn't say he was the perfect father but he tried his best to not let his shortcomings show." She said in a comparatively calm voice.

"Anything significant where you recall that thing's started changing for the worse." He asked as Sabina let out a sigh.

"Feb'2019. I got a few prominent projects, got promoted enough to earn remarkably more than him. That irked him. He said a few hurtful things, and wanted me to quit my job. Said it's not good for the man of the house to earn less than his weaker counterpart." Sabina said with his head bowed down trying to control her tears.

After a few such questions he took a deep breath and spoke, "Did you know of Karan's gambling habits?"

"Yes.." she says as my mouth falls open, but I knew better than to interrupt a legal affair.

"When?" he asks.

"He's been gambling since the past two years. I knew of simple things like small bets on cricket matches at first and I tried to talk some sense politely, but to no avail. Until, one day he withdrew 75,000 from my son's saving account last year near diwali. October'2019 to be precise." She says as I feel her nails dig in my hand.

"then..."

"He hit me..." Sabina says as a tear slid down her cheek. She wipes it quickly and speaks up, "he came home drunk, not completely drunk but tipsy and I could clearly smell the drink on his breath. I asked him where he spend the money and he told me it was some cards game. I threatened him to... to tell my father." She says and takes a deep breath as her eyes were moist and filled.

"he said why don't I tell my biological father and he'll tell me better about, what place woman have in the society." She says and Avinash looks at her, shocked as well. She was looking at something on the wall behind Avinash.

"That's when he started hitting you?" he asks.

"That was the first time and with each passing day it got worse." She says and goes silent.

Avinash talks only when he was sure, she had nothing more to add. " You accused him of marital rape. Is that true?"

"I was diagnosed with Endometriosis due to stress and a physical injury, around an year ago. Having physical intimacy became painful for me and.." Sabina says as tears were now freely cascading down her cheeks.

"I had never declined him in the fear that he will shout and we lived in a 2 BHK. My son was next door, so I tried to do everything in my will to keep him... away from harm." She says unable to find the right words so Avinash interferes.

"You didn't want your son to be a witness to your husband's action, to avoid psychological childhood trauma. That is perfectly normal in parents. Please continue." He says as I turn to look at Sabina unable to fathom what she has been through.

"My gynecologist prescribed abstinence and when I told him, declining to take care of his demands... he... he..." Sabina shuts her eyes tight unable to say it aloud as my jaw dropped opened in shock with my heart filled with disgust for that man.

"He assaulted me. Sexually." she says, finally finding the guts and words, letting more tears flow.

I couldn't help but think, when was the last time I saw Sabina cry?

I don't know. I don't remember.

She has never cried. Atleast not in public. Maybe when we were kids, but she was always the stronger one growing up. Nothing could break her.

And now she sat infront of me shattered in pieces.

A loser like Karan broke through her rough exteriors, and destroyed her heart of gold.

"What did you know about Danish's kidnapping?" he asks and Sabina gives a briefing of that fateful day as I try to control my own tears. She tells him everything she knew as he nods. He switches off the recording device and tells the steno to leave offering Sabina a glass of water. She accepts it with shaking hands while I decline with a headshake unable to speak out loud.

"Do you have those gynecologist prescriptions by any chance?" Avinash asks as I narrow my eyes. Is he saying that Sabina is lying?

"Don't think even for second, that I am not trusting her, but we need everything we can get to send him in for longer. Ambar has given me strict instructions. Now the thing is kidnapping and abduction sends him in for 10 years. We have pressed charges for domestic violence and attempt to murder also has a punishment for 10 years as stupid it is."

I understand his reference, If you succeed in your attempt to kill someone it extends up to lifelong sentence but if the victim is alive, you won't be punished as severely.

"Marital rape has always been a very... controversial topic in India. If we can get proof it'll be easier to..." he goes to say as Sabina looks up at him.

"I have proof. There's reports of my endometriosis and that of my miscarriage." She says as my mouth falls opens.

"I'm sorry but I'm not well versed in medical topics, so if you could tell me more about Endometriosis." He says and she nods with her hand still in mine.

"Endometritis is the outer lining of the uterus where the baby attaches. It needs to be healthy for baby's growth. For me it wasn't. Sex was very painful. I wouldn't have done it voluntarily. But he did... I conceived but I couldn't keep it. I miscarried at 6 weeks where a fetus like growth was found in the ultrasound. I have the report. It should be proof enough." Sabina says as Avinash nods.

"It will be." He says as his phone rings. He looks at the contact and gets up.

"That will be all. I need to take this. Thank you for your time." He says and nods curtly walking out. I turn to look at Sabina and words fail me.

"Let's go home." She says and I just get up leaving her hand like an emotionless robot and walk out of the cabin into the busy hallways. I take out my car keys from my purse as if on automatic mode. I walk out of the building with Sabina in tow and stand at the entrance of parking.

I was confused trying to find my car as Sabina stands by me.

"What's wrong?" she says with her eyes swollen red as if everything she said inside had all vanished.

Is that how she started putting on a brave face for my family and her son?
Is that how she got so good at acting that everything was alright ?
Is that why she built barriers around her heart ?

"Where's my Wrangler?" I ask as she points to the Mustang with a tilt of her chin.

"You brought your husband's car." She says as realization dawns on me.

"Let's go." I say with a straight face, trying not to cry, making a beeline for the car as she follows sitting in, but I don't turn on the engine. I wasn't ready yet. I couldn't just wipe my tears and put on a happy face like she did.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" I say in a low whisper, looking up ahead but I know she heard it.

"You know how dad's health has been..." she goes to say as I interrupt shouting at her.

"Don't call him your dad, if you don't consider him one. Karan reminded you that your parents abandoned you, So What did you do? You forgot everything about how Mrs. and Mr. Jeet Gill pampered you as much as they did to their own flesh and blood. Tell me if they've ever put you down because you are a girl, or because you are not their own?" I shout out loud, as tears make their way out of my eyes as she flinches.

"Sammy.." she whispers.

"I'm not your Sammy... Because The Sabby to this Sammy does not cower. She doesn't let anyone tell her that she's not loved. She doesn't let anyone touch her in an inappropriate way, let alone beat her.. and... and" words fail me as I wipe my cheeks with the back of my hands.

" I'm sorry.." she mutters.

"A miscarriage? You had a miscarriage and you never thought of telling me?" I say as tear finally escapes my eye, feeling the lump in my throat relax.

"I never knew that I was pregnant, until..." she goes to say breaking down and crying profusely.

"SHUT UP.... SHUT THE FUCK UP." I scold her, crying out loud as she opens her arms for me and I couldn't resist. So, I just collapse into her arms. I hug her tight breaking down in tears as well and letting her cry with me. We sat there sobbing and sniffling for almost half an hour without saying anything.

I wanted her to know that I was here for her. No matter what.

Because that's all I could do now.

++++Author's note++++
Hey, I hope you liked the chapter.
Inline comments about the characters, good or bad are more than welcome.
Xoxo
Reet