Part 11
Credit: Neha
Sorry guys for the delay..hopefully from now on all the updates should be done regularly..Thanks for being so patient and sincere apologies once again..
Amita rocked back and forth in her chair, tension writ large on her face. She knew she had a decision to make..and do it quickly enough if she wanted to prevent any further damage. How naive of her to think that her secret would remain buried..that she would take it to her grave. Ranjeet had been possessed about seeking revenge..and not even stopping short to use Kaustubh for it.
She should have stopped this film from happening right from the start. Ranjeet's revenge could only spell doom for everyone. Whatever had happened all those years back had finally come to haunt her..And now she had to do everything in her power to stop it..She had wronged one woman in the past and now it was threatening to destroy everything that her life had ever been. She picked up the phone and dialed a number..surprised that even after all this years her fingers still remembered the number. She felt a slight tremble as the call connected and she could hear the ring...
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Priya walked towards Amma's room all the while thinking about Ram. Try as she might the thought that he would be going to New York or for that matter she would not be meeting him in some days unsettled her completely. Within a short time Ram had become an essential part of her life and now suddenly she was unwilling to let him go. Was it not always meant to happen this way? Were they not destined to be together only for a short time? If all this was set what was the feeling that had enveloped her now. Was Mangal really speaking the truth? Was she really in love with Ram? But wasn't such relationships doomed from the start? Ram definately did not see her as more than a friend..
Priya closed her eyes and turned abruptly..She needed to be alone right now..
Amma: Priya...Amma called out just as she was about to leave.
Priya turned back to look at Amma..
Amma: Are you not well?
Priya looked at Amma confused..was her state too evident.
Priya: No Amma, nothing wrong ..i am fine..
Amma: You did not come to give my medicine...slipped out of your mind or you have finally agreed what the doctors have been saying for so long?..Amma chuckled to herself..
Priya: Ohh..i am so sorry Amma..and how many times have i told you not to say like that.
Let me get the medicines..
Priya watched Amma as she took out the pills as per the prescription.
Priya: Amma, can i ask you something?
Amma: Why do you have to ask that? You can ask anytime..
Priya: If we were under different circumstances..i mean if we were like normal people..would you still chose Santosh for me?
Amma put the glass of water down and looked at Priya. She sighed..one look and Priya and she could tell that she was standing at the same crossroads that once Amma had found herself so many years ago..
Amma: Come and sit here Priya..
Priya did as she was told..
Amma stood up and walked to the cupboard. Carefully she put in the key to the drawer and opened it. Normally people would keep their valuables safely but Amma had kept her memories in that. She took the Photo of Amar and a small box. She then spread the things in front of Priya..
Priya looked at the photo, she had always caught a glimpse of it but never had the chance to actually see it. Although it was an old black and white photo graph..one could easily make out Amma in the photo with a handsome person.
Priya: Amma..this man looks so similar to Kaustubh...
Amma: I know..because he is Kaustubh's father..
Priya looked at Amma in shock..Before she could comment Amma sat down next to her..
Amma: This is Amarjeet..The only person i feel in love with..the only person who was my everything..
We met under unusual circumstances..I was returning from a customer late at night..That man did not even had the basic courtesy to drop me..After he was done he handed me the money and told me to go..Gulab was so strict about us spending money on transport that we used to walk all the way. I was walking back all alone.in the wee hours of the morning when i stumbled across Amarjeet.I don't know how or when we started talking and he actually dropped me here.
Before i could no it..Amar started visiting me everyday. he would pay Gulab for the entire week just to ensure he could take me out whenever he had time..He was affectionate and loving. He never made me feel about my background nor was he affected by what i did for a living. Gradually i fell in love with him..For the first time i started to believe that i could have a home, a family..a legitimate life..We had plans of settling down and taking you with us.. Since he was paying Gulab she was more than happy to allow it.. But i forgot that fairy tales are fairytales..they never come true..His family had already fixed his marriage with a girl who was equal in stature. Still Amar assured me that he would go against his family..
We had even decided on a date to marry...On the day we were to get married he was found dead in his car with a drug overdose..I was already carrying his child..and apparently even his fiance was pregnant..Despite being hurt i still decided to go ahead with the baby..but to my bad luck..my baby was dead..i could not save it..
Priya heard in stunned silence as she could feel Amma's pain..
Amma: You were my hope Priya..my everything..if i have survived this long its because i wanted to raise you..I know that i may have failed to give you what i had planned but believe me i tried my best..
Even if i want i cannot give you a better life...Trust me when i say that Santosh is the best choice. He may not be the man of your dreams but he is someone who will keep you happy..
Priya got up and hugged Amma..the tears flowing through her eyes..She had never thought that Amma had faced so much pain and still she was thinking only of her.
Priya: I am sorry Amma..i
Amma placed a hand on her lips..
Amma: There is nothing to be sorry about..Whats written in our destiny cannot be changed..
Priya nodded at her..if Amma had sacrificed so much for her it was her turn to return the favour..She smiled at Amma and started to walk back..
Amma: Priya
Priya turned around...
Amma: Its Ram..isn't it?
Priya stood transfixed for a few moments..unable to answer the question..She was avoiding this question all day long..but now that Amma had asked her directly she had no choice but to confront it..
Priya: I don't know Amma..i mean he is a good friend ..I know Amma that this is not possible and i am willing to accept my destiny..Can i go Amma?
Amma nodded at her..
Once Priya left Amma looked at the photo once again..history was repeating itself but as they say its never the same..
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Ram sat in the studio making the final cut to his film..He could not help but look at Priya constantly..she had a good screen presence..the screen just lit up when she was speaking..When his admission comes through that time he would surprise Priya with the film..It was all only possible with her help..
He heard a knock on the door..He turned around to see Kaustubh and Ranjeet walking in..
Ram stood up to greet them..Kaustubh shook hands with Ram..
Ram: You here?
Kaustubh: Well we had a business proposition in mind..and wanted to speak to you.
Ram gestured them to sit down and took the seat opposite them..
Ranjeet: I have heard a lot about you from Kaustubh and we are interested in doing a 3 film deal with you..
Ram looked at Ranjeet open jawed..had he heard him correctly..He was a mere AD and they were offering him to direct..
Ram: Thanks for the offer..i mean its huge..its unbelievable ..but i have my course first. I mean as soon as i finish this film and i get admission i will be in New York for 3 years..
Ranjeet: We are aware of that Ram..I believe that class is permanent and we would not mind waiting for you to polish your skills..
Ram looked at kaustubh and then at Ranjeet..
Ram: I know i am sounding very foolish when i say this..but can i think about it and let you know?
Ranjeet: By all means son...this is a big career decision and you should definitely think about it.. Can i just look around the studio? We are actually planning on building our own so just thought if i could get an idea of it.
Ram: Ohh sure.. just come...
Ranjeet and Kaustubh walked out with Ram. After about 10 mins or so..they took Ram's leave and walked towards the car.
Ram walked back to the studio still in daze about what had happened..He flipped out his cd from the computer and put it in the case.
Kaustubh: Dad..i still do not understand this move of yours...He is going to New York..
Ranjeet looked at Kaustubh and smiled..He will go to New York..if his film gets approved..With a sly grin..he took out a pen drive..This is the copy of the film that he is to submit..now we just have to make sure that the film that gets submitted is the one that we want..
Kaustubh looked at Ranjeet in awe..How the hell did you manage that..
Ranjeet: I have my resources son..while we were on the studio tour..there was work going on...
Kaustubh: Gosh..no wonder you make such a good politician ... But dad this film will end soon..and there is no progress with Priya..
Ranjeet: Patience my son patience...Have trust in me...you will get all your answers soon...
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Amita lifted her scarf slightly to see if anyone was approaching her..At the appointed time she saw a frame of a person advance towards her. He came and stopped just before her. As she had done earlier Amita just reached out for her purse and fished out the photo from it. She handed the photo and the money to the outstretched hand.
The man opposite her just nodded at her bowed a little and walked off. In less than 5 mins everything had been done and Amita was on her way back home..She looked upwards and prayed to god that now atleast this should end..Nothing ever can ruin her perfect life..her past would remain just that..her past..her own little secret..
To be continued..
