Tears of Joy or Sorrow Part 20 on pg 39 - Page 7

Originally posted by: sangautam

Sorry friends, there is going to be a delay in the next update. My husband is in hospital and I am with him, so no laptop to do an update. Please bear with me. I will write the next part as soon as we are home.

Originally posted by: sangautam

Sorry friends, there is going to be a delay in the next update. My husband is in hospital and I am with him, so no laptop to do an update.

As they come home Shipra comes there and tells them that there is an Ekadasi Puja being conducted at the temple and that all of them should go.

Shipra: Priya beta, please get ready we are all going for the Puja. It is a very powerful Puja and we all should go.

Priya usually never refuses to go to the temple, but she is not in a mood to go this evening. Shipra, Neha and Nuts coax her and say that she should also go with all of them. In the meantime Sudhir also comes there. He looks at Priya's sad face and goes up to her.

Sudhir: Please get ready and come with us to the temple. It will be a nice change for you also, though I know you are still weak. We will make sure you do not exert yourself. Please do this for my sake beta.

Priya just cannot refuse her father: Okay Papa, I will go and get ready. What time are we all leaving? I wish Pihu was also coming with us. She loves to go to the temple. Can we ask Mr. Kapoor to bring her as well? I am sure Kush will also like to come.

More than the temple, Priya is trying to use this as an excuse to meet Pihu and Ram again. If they come to the temple also, then she will get to spend more time with them. Nuts says she will call and talk to Ram about it.

All of them leave to get ready. Nuts gives Priya a saree saying that she doesn't have too many so she can take this saree from her collection.

Priya: Natasha, if you give away all your sarees to me, what will you sell?

Nuts: Priya there are some sarees that I have designed with you and only you in mind. Knowing your preference of colors, I have designed them and give them to you as and when I think you need one. Today is a good day, so I think you should wear a new saree.

Priya takes the packet from Nuts and goes into her room to get ready. She sits on the bed and ponders for a while. Finally she gets up and decides to get ready. Nuts has indeed designed a beautiful saree for Priya and personally I think that Priya will make any saree look beautiful. It is a deep red silk saree with a bottle green border with gold work all over. Even though she is a little pale, she looks gorgeous in the saree and wears simple gold jhumkis in her ears. She wears a bindi and doesn't realize it is not straight. She comes out into the living room to see everyone waiting for her. Neha, Nuts and Shipra are wearing sarees too and Sudhir is wearing a Kurta pajama. All the ladies are looking good and they praise Priya as she walks out of the room. Just then the doorbell rings and Priya goes to open the door. Her eyes are wide in surprise at whom she sees on the other side of the door.

Priya: Hello Mr. Kapoor, are you coming to the temple too?

Ram: Yes Priya and so are Pihu and Kush. As he says that he moves aside and Pihu and Kush run in and give her a hug. She kneels down and takes both Pihu and Kush in her arms, giving them both a peck on their cheeks. She pushes them back a bit and admires them. Pihu is wearing a ghagra and Kush is in a Kurta pajama like Ram.

Priya: wow! Kush and Pihu you are looking lovely. She ruffles Kush's hair and thinks of Ayesha and gets sad.

Pihu: Mamma, don't you think Papa looks handsome in these clothes?

Priya looks at Ram shyly: Your Papa always looks handsome Pihu.

Ram: Thank you and Priya you look good too.

Shipra: So if you are all done admiring each other, can we all leave? Remember we are all gathered here to go to the temple. Let us not forget the purpose of our meeting.

Ram: Choti, can you take Pihu and Kush with you? I need to talk to Priya and we will come in a few minutes.

Nuts looks at Ram and grins: Sure Bhai, I would love to, but please don't be too late. Don't keep us waiting at the temple. Come on Rockstar and Champ come with us. Mummyji, Papa and Neha are you ready to leave.

All of them leave and there is an awkward silence in the living room. Ram is standing by the door and Priya is near the diwan in the living room

Ram: Can I come in?

Priya jumps out of her thoughts: Of course Mr. Kapoor, I am sorry I was a little preoccupied. Please sit down, can I get you some water?

Ram: No, that's okay Priya, I need to talk to you and we don't have much time. I didn't get a chance to talk to you at the hospital as we all left in a hurry.

He comes close to her and pushes the strand of hair that is across her forehead. Priya closes her eyes as his fingers gently touch her face. It feels like a shock is going through her body. Ram turns her bindi around and puts it in the right place. Priya looks at him and bends her head shyly.

Ram: I just couldn't bear to see your bindi out of place, I had to set it right. I know today was a very tiring day and I hope you are up to going to the temple. Before all this, I need to take care of some business.

Priya: I am a little tired, but I can always come back and rest. I also wanted to catch you alone to talk to you about something that has been bothering me since this afternoon.

Ram: What is it that you want to talk to me about?

Priya looks down awkwardly and is a little hesitant: It's about Ayesha.

Ram: Look Priya, as far as I am concerned, I have been putting up with her just for your sake. I know she is your sister and you even let her go when she lied about you in court five years ago. How do you think I feel when I see her everyday?

Priya: I understand Mr. Kapoor, but as you said she is my little sister who grew up in front of my eyes. I know what she did today was not right, but think about Kush. He is so little to understand anything and the little boy is going to grow up with the stigma that his mother is in prison. I don't want our child to be traumatized. I would like to talk to Ayesha just one time and then you can decide what course of action to take. Please Mr. Kapoor, I know that Ayesha has crossed all boundaries today, but please give me this one chance to talk to her. I promise that after this time, I will not ask to talk to her again.

Ram takes Priyas hands in his and looks at her with so much love in his eyes: Priya, do you know who your biggest enemy is? You are your biggest enemy. You are too kind and nice to everyone around you and let them walk all over you. I understand that Ayesha is your sister and if Choti was in her place, I probably would feel the same way you do. Can we go and see her after we are done with the temple?

Priya: Can we go there before we go to the temple? I promise I won't be there long. Will you also come with me?

Ram shrugs his shoulders: Just for your sake Priya. I am doing this just for you. As far as I am concerned, Ayesha needs to face the consequences for her wrong doings, but if you think otherwise, I will be there to support you and stand by your side, not because I agree with what you want to do, but because I want to be there for you. We are both very similar Priya, we have been living for our families all these years, inspite of the feelings we share for each other. We have put ourselves on the back burners and are always thinking about everyone else. But, no more from now, I want to be a little selfish and think about us for a change. I want to give us a second chance and work things out between us. Don't you think we deserve it?

Priya is a little taken aback by Ram's words. She is not sure if she understood completely what he said. She looks at him with a puzzled look and suddenly snaps out of it: Mr. Kapoor, we have to leave now or we will be late at the temple. Let's go now.

Both Priya and Ram leave and get into the car and drive away. As they reach the police station where Ayesha is in custody, Priya's face turns pale. She goes back five years when she was taken custody and was in this police station. Her eyes fill with tears and the pain in her face is heart wrenching. Ram takes one look at her face and takes her hand in his and turns her face towards him.

Ram: Priya, are you sure you want to do this now? I can see what is going on in your mind. I cannot bear to see you in this state. We can always come back in a day or two. I cannot let you hurt yourself like this. I already let you do this for me once, but now I don't want you to relive those traumatic moments again. Please don't do this to yourself.

Priya takes a deep breath and composes herself: Mr. Kapoor, it is very important for me to do this now and get it over with. I know it is very painful for me and seeing me in pain is hurting you also, but I have to do this for my sake and for Kush. Mr. Kapoor, I need your support as I cannot do this alone, I need your hand and your shoulder, your support means the world to me.

Ram gets out of the car and opens the door for Priya. She gets out of the car and looks up at the police station. It is the very same place where she was taken into custody, the same place where she would stand behind the bars and watch Ram break down, she would see his hurt face, the tears, the shock and pain in his face, seeing her on the other side of the bars. The helpless look on his face is vivid in her minds' eye. She tears up and just holds on to Ram's hand even as Ram wraps his other hand possessively around her petite shoulders. She closes her eyes, takes another deep breath, exhales from her mouth and with determination, wipes the tears that are flowing on her cheeks and goes into the police station. Ram is there with her and holds her firmly, solid like a rock. This time he is not going to let his love fail. He is there with her and for her and nothing is going to change that.

They go inside and are standing outside the lockup where Ayesha is. Ayesha lifts her head and sees Priya and Ram. She holds the bars of the cell and looks at Priya and Ram; Priya holds her hands and both of them cry. Priya puts her hand through the bars and pats Ayesha on her shoulder. She takes Ayesha's face in both her hands and shakes her head from side to side.

Priya: Enough Ayesha, please calm down. What happened to you Ayesha? Why did you do this? I cannot imagine MY little sister has become so self-centered and try to hurt me and my daughter! I never thought I would live to see this day. Imagine Ma and Papa, how sad they must feel. You have let everyone down Ayesha. What are you going to tell your little son, your Kush? Can you imagine, this one mistake of yours is going to scar that little child for no mistake of his? I cannot in my wildest of dreams even imagine that MY Ayesha could do this.

Ayesha sobbing: I am very sorry di, I am so sorry. I am ashamed of myself, I have let you all down. I just got carried away seeing all the wealth and became very greedy. I don't know what got into me and now I have to pay the price for my mistakes. I truly realize my mistake and I am ready to face the consequences of my blunder. I really don't think I can face Kush. Di, please take care of him, he is a good kid and I know you will give him the right kind of upbringing and make him a fine gentleman. Di, I am ashamed of myself and I don't think I can even make up to you by saying sorry a million times. I think I have to face this punishment and that is the only way I will pay the price for my wrong-doing. Also, Jiju and di, there is one more person you have to be careful of. Mamaji is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He has been a very bad influence on me and he kept on giving me the wrong advise. Of course, I cannot pass off the entire blame on him because I have a mind of my own and I should not have listened to him. Nuts kept telling me time and again and I refused to listen to her. Please be careful of Mamaji as he is dangerous.

Priya and Ram listen to her and look at each other.

Ram: Ayesha, will you be able to testify in court and prove Mamaji's nefarious activities? I have been suspecting him for a lot of embezzlement of company money, but I have never been able to prove it and I had no clue that he was instigating you to go against Priya. He needs to be punished as well.

Priya: Mr. Kapoor, if Ayesha promises to turn over a new leaf, can we withdraw the case against her and get her out of this mess? I want to do this for Kush and I will take responsibility for Ayesha. I know what it is like to be behind those bars, I have been there and believe me Mr. Kapoor, no one who is repenting should be there. Please think about it Mr. Kapoor.

Ram: Priya, I am afraid we cannot do anything now because the court is closed and since it is the weekend, we cannot do anything till Monday. In the meantime Ayesha, please give all this a serious thought and I want an answer from you before we can take back the complaint. I want you to promise to turn over a new leaf and prove to us that we made a wise decision in getting you out of trouble. I am agreeing to do this only and only for Priya and Kush. Left to me, after all the trouble you have given us and caused this big mess, I would have left you in prison. I cannot see Priya in so much pain and tears because you are in prison.

Priya looks at Ram and says a silent thank you to him.

Ayesha: Jiju, I am really very sorry for all that I have done all these years. In fact, I saw Priyadi in Dubai and was very excited. I wanted to call you and tell you that she is alive and bring her back, but Mamaji poisoned my weak mind and made me stay silent. If I had been strong at that time and told you, things would have been so different. I am so sorry Di and Jiju. I do deserve the punishment and this is a big lesson I am learning. Di, you have always treated me as your daughter and brought me up with so much care and I stabbed you in the back. There is no bigger sin than what I have committed and I cannot apologize enough. Please take care of Kush for me di. He doesn't deserve a mother like me. I have failed in all aspects – as a daughter, as a sister, as a mother and most importantly as a human being. I am ashamed of myself.

A policeman walks up to them and tells them that visiting time is over. Priya bends down and kisses Ayesha's hands and says: Don't worry Ayesha, we will work something out. We will see you again tomorrow.

Ayesha: No di, please don't come back here. I know how traumatic it must be for you to come here. You have such terrible memories of this place and even at that time it was because of me that you had to go through all the trouble.

Ram escorts Priya out of the police station. Priya is very silent all along and Ram is very worried for her. He opens the door and she gets into the car while he goes around and they leave for the temple. He holds her hand and turns her to face him as he wipes her tears.

Ram: Now you have to promise me something.

Priya: What is it?

Ram: I want you to put this whole incident behind you and no more tears the rest of the evening. Do let me know if there is some way I can help change your mood. I cannot see you so sad Priya. I just want you to sit back and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Priya looks at Ram and smiles: Thank you for being there for me Mr. Kapoor. Your support means a lot to me. I don't think I could have done this alone. Going back to the police station and talking to Ayesha was only possible because of you. Thank you.

Finally they reach the temple. Priya pulls out the mirror from the car and looks at herself. She clears up her face and takes a deep breath. She doesn't want the others to know all that transpired with Ayesha. Ram, the gentleman comes and opens the door and takes Priyas hand and very lovingly puts his arm around her shoulders and takes her slowly up the stairs to the temple. Priya holds his hand on her shoulder and looks possessively at Ram – her Ram.

Pihu: Mamma, Papa why did you take so long? I missed both of you.

Kush: I missed you too.

Priya takes Pihu and Kush in her arms and gives them both a bear hug. She looks around and finds the entire Kapoor and Sharma families at the temple. The priest comes with a plate and asks if he can start the puja.

Ram: Ek minute Panditji. There is something I have to do before we start the puja.

He turns to face Priya and puts out his left arm with his fist closed: Priya, I have something that is rightfully yours.

Priya: What is it Mr. Kapoor?

He opens his fist and Priya is tearing up again, but this time along with her tears, her lips widen in a big smile. Tears flowing down her soft cheeks and her smile going from ear to ear, tears of joy flow unending down her cheeks. Ram is holding her mangalsutra in the palm of his left hand and looking into Priyas eyes. The priest chants the wedding mantras as Ram adorns her bare neck with the black bead chain with a diamond pendant. Priya holds on to it as Ram is putting it around her and shuts her eyes. God is this for real? If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up from this dream. Is this really happening to me? She opens her eyes and looks so tenderly into Ram's eyes and they have an eye lock.

The entire family is in tears and clapping with joy. Finally Ram and Priya are back together – the union of the two souls in the presence of the Almighty on this auspicious Ekadasi evening. What more can they all ask for. Priya and Ram turn and take the blessings of the Lord and then go to each of the elders and touch their feet. Krishnaji takes Priya in her arms and kisses her on her forehead.

KK: Priya, I have been waiting for this day ever since I saw you at the hospital with Ram, ever since I came to know that you are alive. I am so grateful to God for giving you back to us – something we never ever dreamt would happen. Please be happy and wishing both of you many years of happiness together.

Ram takes the sindoor and puts it in the parting of her hair and the clapping continues. She looks at everyone and they are all smiling and laughing. Neha comes forward and gives her a hug and Nuts and Soumya follow suit. Vikram gives Ram a hug and Rishabh follows him. Everyone is so happy seeing Ram and Priya together again. Priya bends her head like a coy bride and Ram cannot take his eyes off her.

The priest finishes the puja and hands over the Prasad to Priya. Dadi and KK come forward and bless the couple.

So friends, let us leave them to finish their prayers and more in my next chapter. Hope the story is going as per your liking.