Meanwhile Bhaskar was still in his bed while Payal just left without even saying a word to him.Bhaskar woke up upon hearing his mobile ring. It was Amarjeet, asking him to reach Men's Universe as soon as possible.Bhaskar reluctantly woke up from his bed and headed to the washroom.After his bath did he realize that Payal had not kept his shirt and pants on the bed as she always did. He was about to call for Payal when he recollected Payal's anger and her silence last night and how she had left for work without even uttering a single word to him. He ironed his clothes and hoped that Payal made something to eat. However, she didn't make anything either and he drank a glass of juice and went to Men's Universe. Along the way, he was continuously thinking about Payal.
Everyone had gathered at the foyer of MU except for Armaan and Raj who still haven't reached MU. Jiya showed Amarjeet the cover page of their new issue and their published magazine.Initially Amarjeet was angry for Jiya didn't seek his approval before publishing but he was very proud of her for achieving the impossible and opening his eyes. Bhaskar was shocked for he didn't expect Jiya to accomplish Amarjeet's task and he was totally taken aback when he saw who the model was on the cover page. He instantly recognized his dear friend who had helped Jiya. Jiya was talking to Avi and as she was talking, she saw Bhaskar's expressions which intimidated her.
Jiya:Avi I think my job is gone..Look at Bhaskar, his face clearly shows that he recognized Bharti
Avi:Just chill yaar...Everything's going to be ok
Jiya:I'm going..
Avi:Where?
Jiya:To the washroom..
Avi:But why??
Jiya:I can't handle the pressure yaar..
Avi:Just relax,will you??
Jiya:Bhaskar's going towards Amarjeet..
Bhaskar:Sir the cover page is simply brilliant..Kudos to Jiya,Raj and Armaan..
Amarjeet:Yes Bhaskar this is one of the best work we've gotten so far...
Avi:See..everything's perfect!!You photographers did a brill job on the photographs...
Jiya:Now that's surprising..Bhaskar credited me, Armaan and Raj..This is something which hasn't occured in the last 4 years...
Everyone dispersed except Jiya and Bhaskar. Jiya was confused as Bhaskar simply glared at her and went from there. Jiya went to Bhaskar's cabin to thank him, something which she hasn't thought of doing in her entire life.
Meanwhile Payal was getting lost, thinking about Bhaskar and there was 15 minutes before her show started. She tried so hard to focus and re-read the script that was given to her but she just slammed the file in front of her and closed her eyes. Just then, her colleague Shaz came and asked if she's ok. Payal asked her to take care of the show for she isn't feeling too well and Shaz figured out that her illness had got something to do with Bhaskar and Shaz told her to take a day off and she'll manage the show. Payal thanked her and she left from there. Along the way, she thought of calling bharti up for she too was very much angry at Bhaskar. She started dialling Bharti's number but Bharti wasn't picking up her phone. Payal kept trying but to no avail. She wondered if Bharti was alright and called up Men's Universe to talk to Armaan. The receptionist told her to hold on and Armaan received the call.
Armaan:Hi Armaan here...
Payal:Armaan this is Payal,Bharti's friend.May I know where Bharti is??
Armaan:She's at home..
Payal:I've been trying her number since an hour ago but she isn't picking it up..
Armaan:She must be sleeping..
Payal:Sleeping??It's 3 pm..
Armaan:Actually she got really drunk last night at Rheo Pub and that too being vodka..So it must be that..
Payal:What??She got drunk??Ok anyways so is it ok if I can go to your place to meet her??
Armaan:No probs..Well I'll call you back as I'm not sure if my mum is around..I'll call you in a minute,yeah??
Payal:Yeah,ok...Thanks!!
After some time Payal took an auto and went to Armaan's place as his mum is there while Bharti is still asleep. Payal realized that because of Bhaskar, even bharti is adversely affected. Their friendship has not been affected to such a great extent in the span of 7 years. Payal felt that she ought to do something this time round and save their friendship at any cost.
Meanwhile Jiya was walking and just then she bumped into Armaan and Raj.
Jiya:Kaha margaye the tum dono???
Raj:Traffic
Armaan:Jam..
Jiya:Gosh..you won't believe what just happened...
Armaan:What??
Jiya:Bhaskar saw the cover page and he recognized Bharti instantly but he...saved us!!!
Armaan:What??
Raj:That's amazing yaar....
Jiya:But he's looking different...I mean something is different about him....
Raj:Gosh I just forgot..I need to get Amarjeet's approval on Sunny's design....I'll go with Sunny..catch ya guys later,k??
Jiya:Okiezz....
Armaan and Jiya decided to meet Bhaskar and headed to his cabin.
Jiya:Bhaskar...we just wanted to thank you for helping us out...In fact what happened all of a sudden??
Armaan:Yea thanks a lot...But..
Bhaskar:Will you two just leave me alone??
Jiya:What happened???
Bhaskar went to close his cabin door and he charged at Jiya.
Bhaskar:You really want to know what had happened???My life is shattered in just a split second...
Armaan:What??What are you saying??
Bhaskar:The same exact words Armaan...My best friend doesn't want to be friends with me anymore....My wife isn't talking to me....And thanks to you Jiya...
Jiya:Now just hold a second...What did I do??
Bhaskar:You told Bharti about the problem between us....And now my world is crushed...My two best girls..They've left me just like that and it really hurts like hell!!!
Jiya:Excuse me..You brought it on yourself...It's not my fault...
Armaan:Jiya, just shut up for a second...Look Bhaskar you are having a misunderstanding..We didn't even know that Bharti was going to MU last night...She actually went shopping with Payal who dropped her here at around 8:30 pm last night...We didn't know anything and we just asked Bharti if she could help and she voluntarily agreed..We didn't force her or anything...It was mere coincidence...That's all!!!!
Bhaskar:For the first time in my life, my wife didn't talk to me....She had never left from home like that before....Today I realize how much I've hurt her and at the same time how much vulnerable I am without her love and presence....I'm...
Jiya:We're really very sorry Bhaskar....In fact I am...Armaan was against the idea too...But I pushed him a little...I'm sorry Bhaskar!!!!(held Bhaskar's hand and looked at him with her welled-up eyes)
Bhaskar:Jiya, Armaan...You guys know me here for the past 4 years..but Bharti and Payal knows me since ages....At least Payal....and bharti knows me for 7 years but I've always...I don't even know how much I've changed....I just wanted to get the best for both of them and in this process, I've changed so much..Bharti's right...I've used people and stepped on them to get more success in life and she's right to say that I've got no more humanity left in me..I've become so selfish in life that I only think about myself..
Jiya:Bhaskar please stop it yaar.....I must hit myself really hard for being selfish too..It was me...and my mouth!!!I just wished I could take back my words...It's my fault...
Bhaskar:No Jiya...It's me....Bharti and you really opened up my eyes....Really...And I'm extremely sorry..I've become such a chauvinist idiot thinking lowly of people beneath me....Payal had always wanted me to change but I never tried....I'm sorry guyzz...Please forgive me if it is possible....
Jiya:Bhaskar, I'm so happy...Right now is the time to act!!!We'll bring Bharti and Payal back...What say??
Bhaskar:Will you guys help me out???
Jiya:Sure thing na Armu??Armaan??Heyy...(nudges a lost Armaan)
Armaan:Huh??Now I get it...So that must be the reason why Bharti got so drunk at Rheo Pub last night...
Bhaskar:Drunk??When???She came to my place at about 12 am...and she left in anger...
Armaan:And from there she must have gone to the pub...She drank Vodka and when I went to pick her up after our work, it was like 4 am....My mum was super shocked to see her in such a state but I somehow cajoled her into forgiving her this time round....I wonder how she's doing....
Jiya:Gosh.....so much has happened within a night...We've got to set things right...
Bhaskar:Before that, I just want to tell you guys how much I truly adore your work....And I had always ridiculed you just to push you a lil harder to get the best out of you and not to make you loathe me...I'm really really sorry if I've offended you...
Jiya:So many Sorries from Bhaskar, the man...Enough!!!Can I ask you something instead,Bhaskar??
Bhaskar:What???
Jiya:Friends???
Bhaskar:What..I..Sure??
Jiya:Yea...aur iske baad we're all cool...me, Armu and Raj too...
Bhaskar:(smiled widely) Great...Friends!!!
Bhaskar shook hands with Jiya and Armaan who informed him not to tell anything about Bharti to Raj for he doesn't know that Bharti is not some model but Armaan's wife.Bhaskar promised to keep that in mind and he told them that Amarjeet was really impressed with their work and he might host a success party for MU for the past 5 years of excellence in the fashion industry and if this issue sells out and breaks their record, they'll have an extraordinary party at Hotel Trez this weekend but it's still pending. All of them crossed their fingers and right now Jiya reminded Armaan to think of some plans to bring Payal and Bharti and Bhaskar together while they left for their fashion shoot.
Meanwhile Payal just reached Armaan's place and she paid the money to the auto-driver. Payal wiped her tears and rang the doorbell several times before Sudha opened the door. Sudha smiled and welcomed her inside.
Payal:Hi aunty...I just dropped by to see Bharti..
Sudha:She's having a deep sleep...Try waking her up...
Payal:Aunty about last night I want to ask for forgiveness on Bharti's behalf...I'm really sorry...
Sudha:It's ok Payal...Go and check on Bharti first...
Payal:Yeah....
Payal went to Armaan's room where Bharti was sleeping on the bed like a rock. Payal tried tickling her, hitting her head with a pillow and all sorts but to no avail. It was already 4 pm and Bharti's still sleeping. Payal went outside and walked towards the kitchen,asking Sudha if she needed any help.
Sudha:How sweet of you dear..but it's ok...Has she woken up??
Payal:Nope..she's sleeping like a rock..Actually she doesn't drink much and she has never ever touched Vodka in her life....I had no idea she would hit the pub last night after leaving my place...
Sudha:She came to your place??
Payal:Yeah around 12 am and there was a huge problem..
Sudha:If you don't mind telling me about it??Don't worry, I'm great at keeping secrets...
Payal smiled at her and told her whatever that happened, leading to a huge problem in their friendship.Sudha was shocked and she's glad that Armaan had been there to get Bharti back and she wondered what would have happened of Bharti had it not been for him.Sudha was thankful to her son for makking her promise him not to chide Bharti but Sudha felt utterly miserable.
Payal:Aunty you don't have to worry...We'll sort it out...
Sudha:Payal this is a serious matter..You youths just don't understand...What makes you think that by drinking, all problems will be solved??And that too last night, Bharti was alone..If someone had tried to take advantage of her, who would have been responsible??Why are you guys so careless???And reckless???
Payal:Aunty, please..Please don't cry...I can't see a mother crying...
Sudha:I'm sorry Payal...It's just that I've really gotten myself emotionally attached to Bharti and that too in such a sort span of time...She had actually captured my heart ever since I saw her at her home and I always pray to God that she should always remain as bubbly and cheery as she always has been...I don't know why she's facing so many problems but I feel really terrible when she doesn't treat me like her own....I know I may not be able to take the position of her mother but I've only seen her like my daughter whom I never had..
Payal:Aunty you are taking it all wrong...In fact even yesterday when we met in the afternoon she was all praises for you...She just didn't want to troulbe you with her problems..If she is happy right now for a transient period of time, it's because of you and Armaan, how both of you really cheer her up instantly when her day got spoilt by some people she ran into..She's a bit crazy,wild and different...But she's really good at heart and that's what attracts others to her but she feels that God has snatched everything from her and now she feels even Bhaskar too...
Sudha:And you??You didn't talk to your hubby just for Bharti??
Payal:Aunty, he did wrong to Jiya, to Armaan, to Bharti and especially to me. I've always wanted him to change..But I don't know now....
Sudha:Oh come on...How can you just give up on your love just like that,dear????There will be tonnes and tonnes of tribulations in couples and that too after marriage..And such things like these shouldn't weaken you but rather strengthen your bond with your love...Oops am I butting in??
Payal:No Aunty..In fact no one has ever spoken to me, Bhaskar or Bharti or guided us....For us, we were the only ones for each other...Bhaskar and my parents left us ever since we reached the age of 12. Since then Bhaskar and I had been living together...And only recently like 5 years back, we got married....Bharti's parents were like guardians for us but they just left us on our own and just helped us financially..
Sudha:So how did you guys and Bharti meet??
Payal:At one of Bharti's dad's social parties...Bharti usually hates such parties but she was forced to come once and then we met and we hit it right away....And this was before my parents passed away..So we met and became friends instantly,often keeping in touch and grew over 7 years....
Sudha:Well you can always call me Maa or Mom like how Bharti calls me...Bharti must have felt really lonely yesterday....I really wish I could wake her up right away..
Payal:Well if you don't mind I can wake her up iinstantly but just that i'm gonna need a large glass of icy water...
Sudha:There you go...Come....
Payal threw a few glasses of chilly water on Bharti's face and Bharti opened her eyes and blinked several times before recognizing Payal.
Bharti:Heyyy Payal...
Payal:Ms Bharti wake up...it's 4:30 pm and you're still sleeping???Lazy girl!!
Bharti:What??How come??I....
Payal:You got drunk last night...
Bharti:Yeah..but how did you know??
Payal:I called up Armaan since you were busy sleeping..I got his number when I called up Men's Universe...And then Aunty told me everything...
Bharti:Oh no....She must be so angry with me...Gosh why can't I think twice before doing something??Arrgghhh!!!!
Sudha:Relax Bharti..Here's Payal's special mushroom soup just for you....
Bharti:Awww Payal....how sweet yaar...Thanks a tonne dear!!!!
Payal:Anything for you....
Bharti:But what are you doing here???Aren't you suppposed to be at your radio station??
Payal:Yea..but aaj meri mood theekh nahin hai...
Bharti:Bhaskar??
Payal:Yea...
Sudha:You better sort things out quickly....Before the distance grows even further...
Bharti:What????Payal!!!!!
Payal:What??Look if he hurts you, I'm so not going to talk to him...
Bharti:Now what has this got to do with him hurting me and all..He's your hubby, your love...How can you treat your relationship like that???Come on, give him a call!!!Mom, samjhao na isse!!!!
Sudha:Bharti everybody deserves a chance to reform..You two...give him a chance to reform...
Bharti:Mom even I felt really bad for lashing out at him like that...And I wanted to call him but I was sleeping...Now Payal...It's all because of me!!!I always have to ruin everything....
It's because of me that Payal isn't talking to Bhaskar...She has never done that to him before...He must be feeling so terrible..I know him....He takes her for granted at times but he'll be totally crushed if Payal didn't even talk to him..
Payal:No Bharti it's not because of you...I always told him to change himself before it's too late..Perhaps this will be the right time when he realizes his grave mistake and he'll change for all of us..For us!!For me and for you!!Yeah??
Payal wiped Bharti's tears and Bharti too wiped Payal's tears.
Payal:Par ek baat hai..I want to see how he'll come around it..Dekh thi hoon kaise woh mujhe aur tumhe manaata hai...I'll lurve to see that...Aunty aap bhi kuch nahin bolenge,theek hai??
Sudha:On one condition...That you'll not let this drama go on for long...Choti moti shararatein chalti hain....You guys keep talking and yes Bharti I want you to finish drinking the mushroom soup..Aur haan i will need to meet one of my patient who lives quite near..I'll be back soon,k??Payal shall give you company...
Payal:Sure Aunty...Thanks a lot!!!
Book Talk
Anupamaa
41