Arjun runs up to his di, his happiness knows no bounds. Hugging her tight, he says, "Thank you.Thank you. Thank you. I never thought you would choose my happiness over your pain. I am so sorry for lashing out." Breaking the hug, he looks into her eyes, filled with regret, he says in earnest, "please forgive me di. I know you must have had a good reason. I am sorry I over reacted."
With concern etched on her expression, Nandini says, "you and Radhika misunderstood. I did not set the fire. I expected Saral would not go quietly away." Arjun looks at her in surprise. Patting him on his cheek, she admonishes, "you think, just because you don't tell me... I don't know. I know everything... about how you saved Radhika from Saral."
Holding out her hands, she waits for Arjun to place his hands into her grasp. Arjun surprised by this turn of events, does so. Triumphant, Nandini thinks, "got you. I was worried I had lost you." She continues, infusing the right amount of care and concern, "I was worried so I sent Rana to keep an eye... to keep make sure Radhika and her family did not pay a high price over your interference."
Seeing Arjun ready to defend his action, she shakes her head, continuing, "I know it was not mere interference. You were protecting her from being forcefully married, as you would do for anyone else... but Saral does not see it like that. He came to see me and warned me, he would do something to harm both you and Radhika. Samrat has wronged me, but Radhika has done nothing. That's why..." Her voice quietens down, leaving the sentence incomplete.
His gaze filled with trust, regret for doubting his sister, whispers aloud, "... why you sent Rana to Hrishikesh. To protect Radhika's family", he completes... falling into her trap. Nandini continues, her voice filled with sadness, nodding, "I was too late. Rana sent me a video, telling me that the shop was on fire... and you..." Arjun interrupts, "I misunderstood you di. Radhika misunderstood you."
*******************************************
Curled up by her mother's side, head resting on her lap, Sam looks up at her mum and asks, "why does love lead to heartbreak? Why when you open your heart... when you trust someone... they end up hurting you... breaking your trust?" Running her fingers through her daughter's hair, Piyali smiles and replies, "that' s not always true. Not always does love lead to heartache."
"True... dad has not broken your heart," Sam retorts. Ignoring her statement, Piyali asks, "Why did you choose Arjun for your lifetime partner?" Shrugging, Sam replies, "he claimed to love me. He pursued me all the way to Lonavla. He blew me away. He proposed." Frowning at her last statement.
Relieved by her answer, Piyali thinks, "my baby will recover from this. She has not formed a deep attachment." She says, "let me get this straight, you loved the idea of being in love so you accepted Arjun. Phew what a relief... Your father and I were very surprised when you claimed to love him."
Sitting up, affronted that her mother would think that, Sam retorts, "that is not correct and quite insensitive of you mum." "Really," her mother replies, "okay. Benefit of doubt. What were your plans after marriage? What is his opinion and views about marriage?" Seeing a perplexed look on her daughter's face, she says, "okay... what about his cherished memories... his likes... his dislikes? What are his dreams?"
Staring at her mum, Sam says, "I don't know. We never talked." Piyali looks at her daughter, stunned, says, "you were ready to marry a man you know nothing about."
********************************************
Arjun sits at his desk, excited, anxiously waiting to tell Radhika that she is mistaken... that his sister was in fact trying to look out for her and her family. He was too happy to feel any awkwardness. Life was suddenly beautiful and he wanted to savor every moment.
Sam looks across the office floors, her gaze on Arjun, her mind still playing the conversation that she had with her mother last night, wondering, "Was I in love with love? Is it my ego that is bruised?" Her mind races to other memories, thinking, "What did dad mean? I need to know."
Sam strides across the office floor heading towards Arjun's office. Noticing this Radhika and Neil follow on, concerned. Sam walks in, demanding, "What did dad mean by you and your sister wanting to hurt him? Why did you lie about your love? Why did you want to marry me?"
Arjun instinctively attacks, refusing to cower down, "Get out and knock next time. Here I am your boss." Folding her hands across her chest, Sam glares at him and says in a determined voice, "I am your bosses daughter. You might want to rethink the 'get out'. Now answer my question."
Radhika looks at Arjun pleadingly, says, "guys please don't aggravate the situation. Arjun you owe her an explanation." Turns to Sam and says, "Sam please calm down."
Chastised, Arjun softens his gaze, looks at Sam remorsefully and says, "I am sorry. It is not my story to tell."
Outraged by his answer, Sam retorts vehemently, "are you freaking kidding me. You involved me. You damn well will tell me the reason."
Piyali, standing by the door, says, "Sam. Now is not the time nor the place for you to be demanding answers on a private matter. Come."
Turning to her mother, Sam replies, her eyes filled with hurt that her mum would chastise her, "but, mum..."
Shaking her head, Piyali interrupts, turns to Arjun and says, "I have set up a meeting with Mac in two days time." Looking at all four in the room, Neil, Sam, Radhika and lastly Arjun, she continues, "I want you four to work as a team. They are an important client." Turns to Sam, adding, "Arjun will run point."
Sam stares at her mother in disbelief as she watches her walk away. Rebelliously thinking, "like hell", she races after her mother.
Piyali reaches the coffee shop near her office, her gaze searching for someone. Nandini smiles and calls out, "Piyali... here." Giving a tight smile, Piyali walks up to Nandini, who is seated, having some coffee. Joining her, Piyali orders a coffee for herself.
Racing after her mother, Sam looks on in surprise, seeing Piyali and Arjun's di having coffee... thinking, "mum didn't tell me she is meeting Nandini di." Curious she hides behind a nearby pillar, eavesdropping.
Nandini looks at Piyali from under her lashes as she sips her coffee. Placing her coffee cup on the table, she leans forward and says, "thank you for agreeing to meet me. I am so sorry. I still can't believe that my Arjun would do something like this."
Leaning back on her seat, Piyali, asks, "what don't you believe, Nandini?" Looking aggrieved, she replies, "him falling out of love so quickly. The boy that was insistent on marrying your daughter... Was so sure of his feelings for her... Just changed his mind. I don't know about you, but I find it very odd."
Piyali stares at her and says, "what concerns me is that you knew about his change of heart and didn't deem it necessary to inform us about it." With a tone of accusation, she continues, "were it not for Arjun's outburst, we would never have known."
Nandini responds, "no it is nothing like that Piyali. In fact I have discussed the cause of his accusation. Radhika told him that I..."
Piyali places her palm forward, using the universal gesture to say stop, and says, "I don't want to know the nitty gritty. I don't care."
Nandini ends in a small voice, "... She trapped him." Confused, wondering why Piyali was behaving so coldly with her.
Sam, hiding behind the pillar, does a mental happy dance, thinking, "yes mum, give it to her. They thought to play us... The Khannas."
Piyali glares at Nandini coldly, and says, "just like you tried to trap my husband..." Pauses for effect as she watches the colour drain from Nandini's face, continues, "years ago." Her eyes glittering with anger, she continues coldly, "get this straight. The only reason I have tolerated your presence in our lives, again, is because my daughter loved your brother and wanted to marry him. Now that this alliance is broken and thankfully what my daughter feels is in fact infatuation. Heed me..."
Nandini squeak, interrupting her, "you know..." Laughing, Piyali says dismissively, "of course I know. You can leave." Too shocked to react, her ace card turned out to be a joker, Nandini gets up. "Oh and Nandini", Piyali says, waits for Nandini to meet her gaze, continues, "a wife always knows when her husband is having an affair."
"Mum," Sam says brokenly. Piyali snaps her head around, stares at Sam, astonished to see her there. Taking in her stricken expression, she shuts her eyes momentarily, thinking, "oh no..." Sam runs to her mum, tears falling, hugs her tight.
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin
