Priya was in Kapoor Mansion to make Peehu feel comfortable there.Ram was hesitant but couldn't say no to Peehu and didn't want this negativity to affect her.
So she did enter.
There was lot of awkwardness all around. Ram tried to avoid her as much as he could. Dadi, KK, Rishabh, Sowmya though were overjoyed. Priya quickly realized
Ayesha's intentions, her affinity for hi-life. And Shipra taking advantage of this relation. She was on a weak ground, so could not open her mouth. Sowmya
never let any opportunity go by in making her comfortable. She was the mouthpiece of revelations.
Each day brought in a new revelation for Priya. One of the first ones was in the same evening when Peehu got introduced to Khush in Ram's presence. Khush said,'Main to bhul gaya, aap Priya angel ho na? papa ne bola tha aap angel ban gayi aur jab bhi koi problem hai to aap ko yaad karne se aap door kar dengi'.
She was shocked. Ram breathed her every moment. Right at that time Peehu said,'Mere papa bhi angel hi to hain.mamma ne bataya ki papa woh angel hain jinke wajah se unhonne mujhe paaya'. Ram gave a sarcastic smile. Atleast Priya had Peehu's father in her thoughts.
Next was the day when she found out from Sowmya that Khush was Ayesha and Sid's son. Ram intervened to save her honour just so Priya's soul would rest in peace as Priya never wanted to see her sister unhappy. He went against families on both sides saying that even when Priya was in jail, she forgave Ayesha.
That day Priya was truly drained emotionally. She cried and cried and cried all night until her there were no more tears left to come out. How can this man be so understanding. What a big sacrifice he made. What I thought was a sacrifice pales in comparision to his. I thought he'll be happily move on. And he entered this relationship that gave nothing in return but headache in form of Ayesha. Didn't she know that Ayesha was not worthy of Ram? She knew Ayesha more than anyone else. Or maybe it did give him Khush who could call him papa. But that he would have got even just by adopting him. Giving Ayesha his last name so she could live a decent life and realize her dreams? She could only visualize someone doing this much in dreams and fantasies. This man did it for real. All because he loved her. And she thought he moved on. What an insult to his love. This flow of thought made her feel miserable that she could not figure this out and thought he moved on. Her whole body was hurting and shaking at this thought. But for Ram and Peehu she would have died for thinking like this, she thought.
She felt happy too that she occupied pride of place in his thoughts. That feeling was the only solace in this time of guilt. But a definitive one. She needed to make amends and show him her love. She decided to get on this mission.
The next day, she made breakfast that had all Ram's favorite items. Aloo paratha, jalebis, paneer bhurji and all and asked Sowmya to serve him. She stood by Peehu's side helping Khush and Peehu. Khush was already getting close to her and was very comfortable. Ram noticed this. Though there were Sowmya, KK and Rishabh who were very helpful, things appeared different and everything much more at ease around the house after Priya came. Priya by now learnt to pretend to ignore the attention her gave to Ayesha and cry in solitude before she knew the reality of this relationship. This day seemed much better. Sowmya served Ram and as soon as he started eating, he realized it was Priya who made these. He ate silently, thinking all this wont change his mind a little bit. By the time he finished, there were tears in Priya's eyes seeing him eat. How she missed all this. Ram noticed the tears and thought she was getting upset at not getting an acknowlegement. I can't help it he said to himself. He walked away and went to work.
She started arranging Peehu's room that she shared the way she wanted. Ram would occasionally visit and noticed the changes. Well, her taste was always good. But didn't want to acknowledge that. He realized Priya was getting a little comfortable in the house and he too was not as upset at her as before. The sharp, piercing looks changed into cold looks and now into not so cold ones. He couldn't help it but didn't want to get into this. He needed to teach her, give it back to her. But there was some part of him deep inside that felt comfortable, assured in her presence.
Two weeks passed by and by now everything and everyone in the house was touched by Priya's presence. It felt like the good old days. That day, Rishabh and Sowmya had taken Khush and Peehu outside. Priya decided this was the day she would confront him and tell him all. She asked dadi and KK to go to temple so she could get some time to talk with Ram.
Ram came from work and went straight to study. He called Bansi kaka for tea and Priya came with tea. He was busy looking through some files and was not facing her. She closed the door and silently kept tea and snacks on the table and handed over tea to him. Ram looked up and saw her.
R: tum kyon aayi ho yahaan. Bansi kaka hain na.
P: Bansi kaka chutti par gaye hain aur baki sab market gaye hain
R: Sowmya aur baaki sab kahaan hai. tumhe takleef lene ki koi jaroorat nahin.
P: kaisi baatein kar rahe hain. iss me takleef ki kya baat hai?
R: takleef to hota hoga. khair woh sab chod do.thanks and you can leave now
P: mujhe aap se baat karna hai.
R: ab kyaa baat karni hai. aur mujhe kucch nahin sunnaa hai
P: ab hi karni hai mujhe. mujhe ek mauka to dijiye. please.(her voice choked already)
R: ok. jaldi bolo kyaa bolna hai
P: mujhe maaf kar dijiye. please. mujhse bahut badi galti ho gayi.actually galti nahin, galtiyaan. Please ek baar keh dijiye ki aap ne maaf kiya hai
R: kiske liye maafi chaahiye aap ko.
P: (crying by now) meri pehli galti thi ki main aap ko chod kar chali gayi. uss samay socha tha aap behaal ho rahe the mujhe jail mein dekh kar. aur accident
mein meri maut ki khabar sun kar aap meri absence to maan chuke the. maine socha yehi behtar hai mujhe na jaane kitne saal jail mein dekhne se
R: to tumhe meri abilities mein vishwas nahin tha. i consider that a vote of no confidence in my ablities. tumhe laga main kabhi bhi tumhe chuda nahin
paaoonga
Priya was already happy he was entering an argument. She couldn't get him to do this before.
P: maine aise kab kahaa. pata nahin kitna time lagta. aur tab aap ko dekh kar aisa nahin lagta thaa. ek din police station mein chillaana, ek din judge ke
ghar jaake chillaana. main to bahut pareshaan ho gayi thi aap ki haal sun kar
R: main itnaa kamjor nahin hoon. mere pyaar par bahut vishwaas tha mujhe. initially bahut disturbed thaa jaroor, par baad himmat jutaa kar lad sakta thaa,
aur ladaa bhi. lekin tum...
P: sorry bol rahi hoon na. please
R: nahin maan sakta
P: meri doosri galti yeh thi ki maine woh earring episode ko lekar socha thaa aap aage bad gaye the. meri pregnancy ke baare me phone kiya thaa aap ko,tab wo ear ring wala conversation sunkar maine bahut badi bhool ki. iss liye baad mein kabhi contact nahin kiya thaa ki aap ka past aap ki present mein trouble nahin khadaa karein.
R: You guessed it right Priya. As always you are right. sachh hi to hai. I've really moved on.
Priya slumped on to her knees and started pleading in raised voice. His hurt once again came through and it was hurting her too. She prayed God to give her courage for the final hurrah.
P: Nahin. aisa mat kahiye. Mujhe sab kucch pata chal chuka hai. Main pata kar sakti thi lekin sochaa aap ki aage badhne ki baat dekh kar mujhme negativity na aa jaaye. And I thought it was not ethical. Dubai mein Ayesha ko aapke saath dekh kar aur Peehu se Khush ke baare mein jaan kar, himmat nahin huyi. unki khushiyon ke beech mein aana nahin chahti thi. par kahin na kahin yeh baat sataati thi ki kuchh to wajah hogi.
Ram erupted: Peehu aur Ra... aap ki list mein hain hi nahin. I need to go. This discussion cant move any further.
Priya held his hand tightly and pleaded him to sit down.
P: woh meri sabse badi galti thi. aap ne mere liye jo bhi kiya, wo main to soch bhi nahin sakti thi. ab lagta hai ki main utna pyaar aur samman ki kaabil hoon bhi nahin. aap waise ke waise wahin par ruk gaye the. mere yaadon mein. mujhe garv hai aap par aur mere soch par sharam bhi.
Ram's anger was building up and about to hit the roof.
R: Now that you know the truth you can go now. (loudly) Right now
P: Main kahin nahin jaaoongi aap ne nahin kahaa ki aap ne maaf kiya hai
R: nahin kar sakta. mere pyaar ko tukraa kar, tumne yeh sab jo socha. uss ke liye kabhi nahin
P: maine tukraayaa nahin. asal mein ye sab aap ki pyaar ke kaaran hua.
R: Whaaattt?
P: agar aap itnaa pyaar nahin karte to mein aap ko chodne ki faisla kabhi nahin leti.
R: So you are blaming it on me?
P: Nahin, bas ek baar mujhe maaf kar dijiye. please.
R: Nahin. mein maaf nahin kar sakta.
Priya is by now crying miserably. Cant control what she was saying
P: iss se to mar jaana accha hai. bas Peehu aur aap ki vajah se yahan hoon.
R: please, aisa mat kaho Priya!
Priya lifts her head in anticipation
R: Haan Priya.Come on.You are smarter than this.Ek aur option hai na tumhare paas. Tried and tested option. Bhaag jaao. Iss baar Peehu ko bhi chod kar. Mein rokoonga nahin. waise bhi tumhe kaun rok sakta hai.
Priya's misery turns into anger.
P: Main kahin nahin jaaoongi. Aap kaun hote hain mujhe yeh salaah dene wale. ek baar galti ki hai to bas usi ko lekar mujhe hurt kar rahe hain. maine aap ko bahut dukh pahunchaaya. aap ko aur aap ki pyaar ko insult kiya. aap ke inn 5 saalon ki tadap ko jhoota kar diya. aap ko aap ki beti se door rakha. par kitni baar maafi maangoon. kyaa karne se mujhe maafi milegi. mujhe aur kitna tadpaayenge. bas ek mauka dijiye. waise bhi yeh mera ghar hai. yeh mere log hain. mera haq hai yahaan rehne kaa.
R: (still maintaining his anger) kisne diya tumhe ye haq?
P: aap ne. meri suhaag ne. aap ko kya lagta hai, inn paanch saalon mein bahut khush thi. maine bhi har roz tadpaa hai aap ki yaad mein. har roz. bas mujhe pataa tha ki aap zinda the. iss liye meri tadap aap se thoda kam thaa. peehu ko aap se door rakha par uss decision ko jab aasaani se badal nahin paayi to aur bhi dukh hua. mein aap ko aur peehu ko chhod kar kahin nahin jaaoongi. aap agar usske pita hain to mein uski maa hoon
R: bas? aur kuchh nahin?
P: (coming even closer) aur kyaa sun na chaahte hain aap? bataayiye?
R: to tum sirf peehu ki maa ho? wahi haisiyat hai tumhara?
P: bas. bas. bas. mere soch mein, mere praarthna mein, mere har kaamna mein sirf aap hain. yeh aap jaante hain.aap mere hain aur sirf mere. aur mein to aap ki hi hoon. yahi sun na chahte hain na? peehu to hamare pyaar ki nishaani hai. meri astitva to aap se judi hai. sirf aap se. aap se chup kar rahi to yeh mat samajhiye ki aap se pyaar nahin karti hoon. meri sabse badi pehchaan hai priya ram kappor hone kaa. peehu ki maa to main aap hi ki wajah se hoon.
Saying this, she buried her head in his lap. Ram could not bear it anymore. She suffered along with him. They both suffered a lot. This needs to end now. He put his hand on her head,
R: Priya please ab bas. mujhe bhi sorry kehni hai tumse. bahut rulaya iss ek mahine mein. bahut tadpaaya. lekin tumhe dukh dekar main khush nahin thaa.andar mein bhi jal rahaa thaa. ek baat hai Priya. meri aadhi se jyaada umar ho chuki hai. 6-7 mahinon ka saath aur 5 saal ka tadap. ye sab mein seh nahin saktaa aur ek baar.please ab kabhi aisa kuch mat karna. tum mere liye aloo ke paraathe banaao ya na banaao, tablets ko lekar concern dikhaao ya na inn sab se koi fark nahin padhtaa. yeh sab mujhe apna aur tumko meri maankar karo or na karo to bhi chalega.
And put his head on top of hers.
Priya didn't know how to react. She was drained but the relief was beyond measure. His final words pierced her heart. She could only say, 'I promise, mein kabhi aap ka saath chodoongi nahin'. And suddenly something stuck her and she jumped up.
P: mujhe aap ko kucch dikhaana hai.
She showed the video of Peehu mimicing him. Ram couldn't stop his tears
R: yeh sab??
P: maine sikhaayaa thaa.
R: wow. can I have an encore of that training?
P: No.
R: mujhe bhi tumhe kucch dikhaana hai
P: kyaa
Ram pulled out something from his pockets and put it in her hands. They were those ear rings and her mangalsutra.
P: (held them tight) thank you.
PS:
Fan Fictions
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
