One humid evening, Swapna was preparing tea in her small one-room house when a heavy knock shook the wooden door. Before she could react, the door flew open and a burly police officer stormed inside. Without a word, he grabbed Swapna by her long braid, dragging her out of the house into the narrow, crowded lane.

Her cries echoed through the gallis as neighbours peeped from their windows, but no one dared to intervene. The officer, with ruthless force, pulled her all the way to the police jeep.

At the station, Swapna was thrown to the ground and mercilessly beaten. The inspector’s belt left angry welts across her back, and his shoes stamped on her arms as he shouted, “Where is Tanish? Tell us, or you will not leave this place alive!”

Through the pain, Swapna’s answer remained unshaken—“I don’t know who Tanish is.” That was her only line, repeated like a mantra.

Hours later, as dusk settled, Radha Maa entered the police station, draped in her deep crimson saree, followed by her group of chelas. With her commanding presence and sharp tongue, she confronted the officers. “You cannot torture one of my children like this. Release her immediately!”

Under social pressure and Radha’s influence, the police had no choice but to let Swapna go. She was rushed to the hospital, her body bruised, her spirit trembling but unbroken.

Meanwhile, Tanish remained clueless in his small hideout. He was unaware of the storm raging outside in his name.

That night, Radha stormed into his room. Without a word, she slapped him across the face so hard that his ears rang. Her voice shook with rage— “You are the reason for Swapna’s suffering! I warned her. I told her, if you stay here as Tanish, the danger will never end. But she disobeyed me for you. Today look at her condition! You’ve ruined her life!”

Tanish fell at Radha’s feet, trembling, his eyes welling up. “Maa, don’t abandon me. I have no one else. If I step outside, the police will throw me in jail. Please, don’t disown me.”

Radha’s expression turned stern, almost merciless. “Then there is only one way. Prepare for SRS. Only as Tania, my chela, will I accept you. Otherwise, you are nothing to me.”

For a long moment, silence filled the room. Finally, Tanish whispered, “I agree… Maa. I will do it.”

Radha snapped her fingers, and Keerti and Jenny stepped forward. “Take him. Arrange everything for the surgery. I want no more trouble for Swapna because of this girl.”

Keerti and Jenny pulled Tanish aside, speaking gently. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine. Trust us. Maa is harsh, but she only wants to protect the family.”

Days rolled by. Swapna, lying in the hospital, slowly recovered from her injuries. As soon as she could walk, she called Keerti and Jenny, her eyes full of worry. “Where is Tanish? Tell me the truth.”

The two chelas exchanged a heavy silence, avoiding her gaze. Before Swapna could press them further, Radha entered, her voice cold and final.

“Tanish is gone. That was the past. Do not think about him anymore.”

Swapna’s eyes filled with tears. She bit her lip hard, holding back her sobs in fear of her guru maa. But in her heart, grief raged like a storm. Tanish—her closest companion, her secret love—was being erased forever.

P.S: This story is a purely fictional story and any resemblance of characters in real life is just a coincidence.