Jab we met AGAIN - 3rd & last part..
Ram in a determined voice, 'ok, past is past,, let's leave all that, come with me now to our home, I don't want to live another moment without you'..
Priya with a reluctant tone, 'I can't Mr, Kapoor..'
Ram's eyes turn red in anger,.
Ram gets up in anger, Priya follows him and tries to hold on to his arm..
Ram pushes off her hand and in an irritated tone, 'What do you mean, you can't? If you really miss me and want to be with me, you would come with me now.. What's stopping you now? Pihu has her own life, she can't keep dictating ours. And I can't watch my son to suffer living in a hellhole & wasting his life because of your whims'
Priya pleadingly, 'Relax Mr. Kapoor, please listen to what I am saying.. It is not just about us or Pihu, they are other people involved too, we can't take selfish decisions.'
Ram at the height of his rage now, 'What? What do you mean by selfish? Me, wanting to be with my family, my wife, my son is selfish for you, you're just impossible Priya.. No point In talking to you.. You do whatever you want, I am leaving..' and walks out of Sharma house in a huff..
Priya, goes behind him calling 'Mr Kapoor, Mr, Kapoor, listen to me..'
The main door closes with a thud noise while Ram goes off in anger.. Nutz comes out of her room hearing try noise, she sees a frantic Priya who is in tears... 'Priya, what happened, where is bhai, why are your crying.'
A crying Priya stammers, 'Natasha.. Natasha, please come with me, we need to reach Mr, Kapoor, he has gone off in anger, I am worried about him, please take your car, let's find him,.'
Poor Nutz takes her car keys and follows Priya.. Both reach the basement of the apartment complex.. They see Ram's BMW going out of the premises in a dangerous speed.. Priya to Nutz, 'Natasha, please hurry, we need to follow him'..
Both follow Ram in Nutz car,. Nutz loose track of Ram's car as he is driving at a maddening speed...
Natasha, 'What to do now, Priya? Do you want to follow Bhai to KM.. What happened between the two of you..I thought you guys are talking out and clearing all misunderstandings.. What has happened?'
Priya, 'Don't ask me anything now, Natasha, we need to find him first.. I don't think he is going to KM.. ' she thinks for a while,, 'I know where he might have gone, come, let's go..'
Priya directs Nutz, they reach the beach side.. Priya gets her normal breathing back seeing her hubby's car parked there.. She gets down from the car, instructs Nutz to go back, promising to call next morning...
Priya walks towards the sea... She sees her man standing near the shore looking at the sea.. Ram in deep pain, the angry waves hitting the shore again & agin reflecting the turmoil in his mind.. He stares at the horizon, wondering where did his life go wrong.. He has simple wishes, happiness for his near & dear, is it too much to ask.. Why he needs to give up his happiness for that of his dear ones.. He loathes his helplessness.. And his wife, when she will understand what he needs.. Is it selfishness to want to spend rest of his life with her peacefully.. Why it has to happen again & again, they found each other so late in their lives, can't they hold on to that feeling of belongingness.. What's so wrong with them..
His chain of self destructing thoughts interrupted by a pair of arms hugging him from behind, and a head resting on his wide back.. A rare sense of calm envelops him.. One feminine palm raises up and slowly rubs his heart through the cloths.. They stand together like that for a while.. Not speaking a word, just cherishing each other's presence..
After a while, Priya comes to the front and looks deep into his eyes,. She sees unshed tears shining in his eyes.. She nods at him, asking him to be strong through the eyes. She takes him by hand, direct him to the sand.. Both sit on the sand.. Priya pulls Ram to her to make his head rest on her shoulder..
Priya, 'Have you calmed down Mr, Kapoor, will you listen to me now?'.. No response from Ram,, he just rightened his arm around her shoulder.. Priya taking is as affirmation continues, ' It is not only about us, and our children any more, Ram.. There is also another girl and an unborn child involved..' Ram raises his head and looks at her questioningly .. Priya 'I am talking about Suhanni, Mr. Kapoor, she is pregnant with Sammy's child'.. Ram, 'But Priya, Sammy & Pihu are.. '
Priya interrupts him, ' I know Mr. Kapoor, Sammy & Pihu are married and are happy.. I heard you telling this to Natasha.. Frankly speaking Mr. Kapoor, I don't know what was Sammy's feeling towards Suhaani.. May be for him, it was just another affair.. But this girl had really fallen for him.. And she is carrying his child.. You do know about Suhaani, Isn't it Mr. Kapoor, she is not a characterless girl, Sammy portrayed her to be.. Moreover, Our son is not someone who would take advantage of a girl and not take responsibility for it.. You have not raised Kush to be like that.. If the baby is his, he would certainly accept it, isn't it, Mr. Kapoor?'
Ram, 'I have been thinking about it too Priya, I know Kush, I never believed that Kush would do something like this.. That's exactly why I never questioned him about it.. I also know Suhanni to an extent. She had been tremendous help when you were in coma.. '
Priya, 'Exactly Mr. Kapoor, that's what I am saying, neither Kush nor Suhanni have any reason to lie about it.. May be Sammy considered Suhanni as a fling and doesn't want to own up any responsibility.. May be he really feel committed to Pihu now.. But the fact is this incidence had happened when Suhanni was staying at our home.. We are morally responsible for helping her in her hour of need.. Moreover, Suhaani had pretended to be in love with Kush once she came to know of Pihu's love for Sammy.. She has done that to ensure Sammy doesn't chase her anymore.. Pihu being our daughter, she had felt that she should not come between Pihu and her love.. '
Ram now in an irritated voice, 'What nonsense it is, Is she mad or what? Why she need to forgo her love for our daughter.. This is not done.. There is no obligation for her to do that.. '..
Priya consolingly, 'I know Mr, Kapoor, it is really stupid of her to do that,. She had taken an unwanted decision because of her loyalty to us, however stupid her action is, it is done keeping in mind our & our daughter's happiness,. Now, how can I leave her alone and come back to KM... She needs me now, she is five months pregnant,, it is not fair to make her llive alone.. At the same time, I can't bring her back to KM too, it is not possible with the current situation.. That's why I am requesting you,. Let me stay with her for a while,.'.
Ram, 'But Priya, we will arrange some caretaker for her, to be with her for 24 * 7, why do you need to be with her, we need you at home, our daughters need you..'.
Priya, 'Mr. Kapoor, please try to understand, when a woman is pregnant, she would need to the care & comfort of a mother, Trust me, I know how I missed it when I was pregnant with Pihu.. Suhaani looks up to me as a mother, she doesn't have anyone else in this world.. How can I leave her to the care of someone? About our daughters, I am in constant touch with Myra & Pari.. And I trust you Mr, Kapoor, you have done a wonderful job with them for so many years, for some more time, you can do it,.. Please Mr. Kapoor.. And with Pihu, I need to talk to her and make things right with her, she needs this time away from me, time will cool this down, Mr. Kapoor. I will try & talk to her in one of these days.. Please, Mr. Kapoor, let me be with Suhaani for some time,.. I request you..'
Ram pulls her closer, make her look at him, 'What about me, Priya? What about my need of you? I was deprived of you for seven years, why should I be without you even now? Don't you ever think of me?'
Priya in tears now, 'I am sorry, Mr. Kapoor, I know, I am asking too much from you... Please try to understand me.. Somewhere I feel obligated to help Suhaani, I feel, she is in this situation because of us, she came to stay in our house to help me recover.. And this is the least I can do for her,. Let's do one thing, once the baby is born, as you said, we will hire a caretaker for her,. And I will come back to KM.. Please, just another four months, until then.. Please let me be.. '..
Ram with a pout, 'Let's do something,. I don't want to be away from you.. I will also come to stay with you..'
Priya, 'Have you gone mad, Mr. Kapoor, if you come with me, who will be there for our daughters, I could leave them in KM without a second thought only because you are there with them.. We can't do this Mr.Kapoor'
Ram with a deep sigh, 'when will we start thinking of ourselves Priya,, why do we need to always put others ahead of us, this became the story of our life'
Both look at each other with pain & longing.. Priya continues, 'We are not doing for any third party, Mr. Kapoor, they are our children, part of you & me.' .. Both are silent for a while contemplating the situation. Priya, 'Why don't I ask Kush to go back with you, that way you will feel better...'
Ram with a firm voice, 'No way.. Only because Kush is with you, I am able to sleep at the night .. Otherwise, I will be sick worrying about you.. Kush stays wherever you are..'
Priya, 'Ok, ok.. Let Kush be with me.. But you take care of yourself Mr. Kapoor'..
Ram moves down and lies down on her lap, ' Why should I take care of myself, thats you job, Mrs.Kapoor... You can't escape from your responsibilities'..
Priya moving her fingers through his hair, ' I know Mr Kapoor, I am such a bad wife, I always skip my responsibilities.. Just for few more months Mr. Kapoor. After that I will never leave alone..'..
Ram wipes of a lone tear from her eyes, 'Shhh Priya, ... Don't be a kid,. I am sorry ok? I promise, I will take care of myself.. '
Priya, 'Pakka promise? You will have your medicines on time, you will not eat more than one aloo paratha a week, and no extra butter, no oily food, ok?'
Ram mutters under his breath, 'Hitler is back', Priya, 'what did you say,..'.. Ram, 'nothing.. '
Ram now in a serious tone, ' I miss you so much Priya, I miss these talks with you.. Sharing the events of my day with you, miss looking into your eyes while you show mock anger on me.. I don't know how I will survive another 4 months without you.. '
Priya keeps her palm over his chest, ' I am here with you always, isn't it Mr. Kapoor, what's there to miss'.. Ram, 'but the one inside me doesn't always talk to me back Priya, for that I need the real you'
Priya, 'Ok baba, now that we cleared all our issues, let's talk everyday over phone, you share with me whatever you want to share, let's argue, fight over phone, is it ok?'
Ram like a kid, 'No, not ok. I want to see you everyday, talk to you everyday looking into your eyes, promise me, you will meet me everyday.. '
Priya, 'What's is this Mr, Kapoor, how can we meet everyday.. During the day, You have work, I too have work and night we need to go back to our respective homes, when we will meet?'
Ram thinks for a while, his face lightens up after some time, he gets up from her lap, 'Idea... You come to work for me, that way we can spend time together in office.. '
Priya, 'But what reason I would give to change the job, Mr. Kapoor, it won't look nice naa..'
Ram now pouting, 'What Priya, you have problem with everything,.. Hmmm. Ok, let me buy the company your are working, simple,. That way you don't need to quit your job, and nobody in KI needs to know you are working for me.. And we can meet without any hindrance,, this is a much better option'.. He finishes it with satisfaction...
Priya, 'You are too much, you will take over the company just for me? '. Ram, 'what's the point in me working so hard and earning so much if I can't even do this, now, don't argue more, leave it, I will handle it from here..' and goes back to lie on her lap..
Priya, 'Mr. Kapoor, it is very late, we need to go back.. '.. Ram, 'who says so'
Priya, 'Mr. Kapooor... Don't be difficult, Kush & Suhanni must be wondering where I am.. And you also need to sleep.. Anyway, we decided naaa.. We will meet everyday, now, let's go,. '
Ram stubbornly, 'No, we are not going anywhere, I met my wife after four months, I need my dose of her.. You call up Kush and inform him that you are staying with Choti..'
Priya,'And do what? Where do you want to go?'.. Ram, 'Nowhere, I just want to stay where I am for the night,, we have so much to talk, four month worth of talking is pending.. Let's spend the night here talking.. I need to know what you were doing all this time.. '
Priya gives up, 'OK, let me call Kush first'.. She makes a call.. 'Kush, I will come home tomorrow morning.. Thought of spending time with Natasha, haaan Haaan, everything is fine, no, nothing. I am talking from balcony, may be you are hearing outside noise, ok, I will go now.. You take care of Suhanni, I will see you both tomorrow, bye'
The couple back to their own world.. Laughing, teasing, mock fighting...
Priya, 'Mr, Kapoor, I so wanted to see my princess getting married.. I feel so bad to miss her special day... But, I was worried that she may not want to see me, and I thought you are angry with me, that's why you didn't call me for the wedding.. '
Ram, 'Priya, I was upset too that you are not with us on that day,. I didn't think you need to be invited for the wedding Priya, you have all rights to be there for our daughter,.. Since you had not come, I thought you didn't want to attend because you had not approved of the wedding.. '
Priya with a deep sigh, 'So many misunderstanding, Mr, Kapoor, I promise, we will not assume anything from now on.. Whatever it is, we will talk it out and resolve.. See how much I missed,. I lost the opportunity to be with you to do Kanyadhan of our princess. I wish I can go back and change it...'
Ram in a somber voice, 'yes Priya, I missed it too, how can I do Kanyadhan without you next to me... I didn't do it, Priya..'. Priya, 'What do you mean, Mr, Kapoor, you didn't do means? Who did?,
Ram, 'I asked Sid to do it...'and lowers his eyes to coverup his tears.. Priya, 'why, why..Mr. Kapoor, I know how much you wanted to do that for Natasha, and now for our daughter you had given up the privilege to someone else?'
Ram, 'It didn't make sense to do it when you were not with me, we are part of one whole unit, I can't perform such rituals without you by my side.. Leave all that, we have tow more daughters. We will get to do it for them.. And we will together do it.. Ok?'
Priya bends down and hugs him with a sob, 'I am sorry, Mr. Kapoor.. I deprived you of your dearest wish'..
Ram, 'I said, leave it Priya.. Ok? No more tears, I want to have a happy chat, no senti.. ' Priya nods, wiping off her tears..
The time flies off with the love birds talking to their hearts' content.. The darkness of night paves way for a new dawn.. A new beginning where the bitterness of past is forgotten and a future is anticipated with excitement.. The couple parts ways, with a happy but heavy heart promising each other to meet soon...
The story ends here.. But, the life continues...
p.s : Finally, I am done.. Oh god, I won't take up such task anytime in near future.. It was not fun to write once I lost the flow.. Hope, I did a decent job.. Do leave your feedback.. Bye for now..
Anupamaa
Pocket Mein Aasman
Cricket
