Chapter 1:

Chapter 1:

Sirat wakes up every morning at 5 a.m. Her son, Samrath, sleeps with an innocent calm. Her husband, Raghav, often wakes up before her and gets busy with his work. Sirat quietly heads to the kitchen, prepares breakfast for everyone, and starts the household chores. Just then, her mother-in-law, Sumita, who is

Raghav's stepmother, wakes up and shouts,

"Kahan mar gayi, Sirat? Meri aur Shubhash ji ki chai kahan hai?"

("Where are you, Sirat? Where's my and Shubhash ji's tea?" )

Sirat hurries to bring the tea, but Sumita taunts her,

"Subah-subah tera chehra dekh liya, pura din kharab jayega!"

("I saw your face first thing in the morning; my whole day is ruined!" )

Sirat listens silently, swallowing her pain

She then wakes Aman, her brother-in-law, saying,

"Devar ji, uthiye, hospital ke liye der ho jayegi."

( "Devar ji, get up, you'll be late for the hospital." )

Raghav had funded Aman's education, so Aman feels grateful to his elder brother

Next, Sirat wakes Samrath, Beta, utho, school ke liye der ho jayegi

( "Beta, get up, you'll be late for school." )

Samrath, still sleepy, mumbles,

Maa, sone do, mujhe school nahi jana."

("Maa, let me sleep, I don't want to go to school." )

Sirat gently coaxes him,  "Tumne kaha tha na, tum papa jaisa banna chahte ho? Uske liye school jana zaroori hai. Jaldi utho, maine tumhare pasand ka khana banaya hai."

("Didn't you say you want to be like your papa? You need to go to school for that. Come on, I've made your favorite food." )

Samrath gets up. Sirat bathes him, gets him ready, and sends him off to school

As everyone gathers for breakfast, Raghav returns home. Aman says, Bhai, aaj main Samrath ko school chhod aaya

( "Bhai, I dropped Samrath off at school today." )

Raghav smiles,  " Haan, isliye usse teacher ki daant se bachane ki zarurat nahi. Thodi daant bhi chahiye usse, warna yeh shaitani karta rahega."

("Good, that means he won't need saving from the teacher's scolding. A little scolding is good for him, or he'll keep being naughty )

Just then, Riya, Raghav's younger sister, walks in, showing off her attitude. Sumita calls out lovingly, "Meri beti, chal nashta kar."

("My darling, come have breakfast.")

But Aman teases, "Maa, pehle isse naha kar aane ko bolo!"

("Maa, tell her to take a bath first! )

" Sumita snaps at Aman. Riya, glaring arrogantly at Sirat, says, "Aye, mera nashta kahan hai?"

("Hey, where's my breakfast?" )

Raghav's face turns red with anger. He says sternly, " Riya, yeh kya tareeka hai Sirat se baat karne ka? Woh koi naukrani nahi, meri biwi hai!"

( "Riya, what kind of way is this to talk to Sirat? She's not a servant; she's my wife!" )

Riya stays silent, glaring at Sirat with anger.

Sumita, taking her daughter's side, says, "Raghav, tu apni behen se aise kaise baat kar raha hai? Ek kal aayi hui ladki ke liye tu humse jhagda kar raha hai?"

("Raghav, how dare you talk to your sister like that? You're fighting with us over some new girl? )

Raghav's anger flares. He says "Yeh kal aayi hui ladki meri biwi hai, Sumita ji! Uski izzat meri izzat hai. Isliye soch-samajh kar baat karna hoga aap sabko!"

( "This 'new girl' is my wife, Sumita ji! Her respect is my respect. All of you need to think before you speak! )

"With that, Raghav picks up Samrath and storms out of the house. Aman, who had been watching quietly, grabs his hospital bag and says, "Main nikal raha hoon, bhai."

("I'm leaving, bhai.". )

Then he heads to the hospital

Outside, Raghav sits under a tree with Samrath in his lap. Samrath looks at his father's face and asks innocently, "Papa, kyun sab maa ko bura bolte hain? Woh toh sabke liye itna kaam karti hai!"

( "Papa, why does everyone speak badly to Maa? She does so much for everyone!" )

Raghav's heart melts. He ruffles Samrath's hair and says, "Beta, duniya mein kuch log dil se nahi, dimag se sochte hain. Par tumhari maa ka dil saaf hai, aur main uski hamesha izzat karunga

("Beta, some people think with their minds, not their hearts. But your mother's heart is pure, and I'll always respect her.)

Inside the house, Sumita and Riya sit in the kitchen, whispering. Sumita, fuming, says to Riya,  "Yeh Sirat aur uska beta hamesha Raghav ke sir pe chadh kar naachte hain. Agar yeh dono na hote, toh tera baap sarpanch hota, aur humari zindagi alag hoti!"

("This Sirat and her son are always on Raghav's head. If they weren't here, your father would be sarpanch, and our lives would be different!")

Riya, throwing a tantrum, says, "Maa, main is Sirat ko yahan ek din bhi nahi dekh sakti. Koi plan karo, usse yahan se bhagao!"

("Maa, I can't stand seeing Sirat here for another day. Do something to get her out of this house!" )

Sumita smirks and says, "Chinta mat kar, meri beti. Main kuch aisa karungi ki Sirat khud yeh ghar chhod degi

("Don't worry, my dear. I'll make sure Sirat leaves this house herself )

Meanwhile, Sirat is alone in the kitchen, working. She overhears Sumita and Riya's conversation but stays silent. Her eyes well up, but she steadies herself, thinking, "Main chup hoon kyunki mere bete ka bhavishya is ghar mein hai. Par ek din main bhi apni awaaz uthaungi."

("I stay quiet for my son's future in this house. But one day, I'll find my voice." )

Just then, a man from the village arrives at the door and says, "Raghav bhaiya, jaldi aao! Gaon mein ek badi panchayat bulayi gayi hai. Shubhash chacha kuch logon ko bhadka rahe hain aur aapke khilaf shikayat kar rahe hain

("Raghav bhaiya, come quickly! A big panchayat meeting has been called in the village. Shubhash chacha is inciting people and complaining against you!" )

Raghav leaves Samrath with Sirat and heads to the village. He thinks, "Pehle ghar ke jhagde, aur ab gaon ke log. Main sab sambhal lunga, par Sirat aur Samrath ko koi takleef nahi hone dunga."

("First family fights, now village troubles. I'll handle everything, but I won't let anyone hurt Sirat or Samrath." )

Sirat hugs Samrath and says,  "Beta, tum apne papa jaisa banna, lekin hamesha apne dil ki sunna."

("Beta, grow up to be like your papa, but always listen to your heart. )

Samrath smiles and says, "Maa, main bada hokar sabko dikhayunga ki tum kitni achhi ho!"

("Maa, when I grow up, I'll show everyone how amazing you are!" )