"Viraat, I can't find that paper!" Maanvi shouted, looking everywhere.
"What paper?" He said coming into the conversation confused.
"The one with Palak's address!"
"What? Are you sure? Have you checked everywhere?" Viraat took it upon himself to check Maanvi's bag. "It's not here. Where was the last time you've seen it?"
"In Chandigarh. I left it in your room'oh god. It must still be there!"
"What?" Viraat asked. He closed his eyes and calmed down, "Okay, don't worry. I'll do something. Just don't worry. I'll call Ariana Morelli okay?"
Maanvi nodded, internally happy that Viraat had thought of this. A huge burden felt like it was lifted from her shoulders and she breathed in and thanked him.
"I'll just be right back." Viraat went out of the room and into the hallway where he bumped into Viren holding a couple of books in his hand.
"Hey! I need to talk to you!" Viren exclaimed.
"Bhai, please in a bit okay?" Viraat said trying to find Ariana's number on his phone. He rushed away leaving Viren wondering what was going on. He shook his head and walked into Maanvi's room where, looking at her searching her bag became confused once more.
"Is everything okay?" He questioned.
"Yep. Everything's fine jiju!" Maanvi answered with a fake smile. But Viren was not convinced.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, jiju. Don't worry. Did you need anything?" Maanvi said wanting to change the topic.
"Erm, yeah!" Viren looked at the books in his hand, "Actually Viraat wanted me to get some books from his room in Chandigarh, and I'm trying to give it to him but he's busy. Seeing as he spends most of his time with you, can you give them to him?"
Maanvi didn't respond as she was busy rechecking her bag.
"Maanvi?" Viren asked concerned.
"Hm?"
"The books?"
"Oh yeah. Don't worry jiju I'll give it to him." Maanvi answered.
Viren smiled and placed the books on the table in her room. Completely sure that she had left the paper in Viraat's room she decided to forget about everything. She sighed and sat on her bed totally defeated. She had faith in her Viraat had he'll fix everything. She smiled, her Viraat. And then tapped herself on the head for thinking he was hers before finding out whether or not he likes her or not.
She groaned and then noticed the books. Sighing again, she picked them up and decided to go to Viraat's room.
"Areh, Maanvi. Help me a bit with this will you?" Padmini asked as she held up a box of stuff.
"What's this aunty?"
"Oh, few bits and pieces from when Jeevika was younger. Her clothes, some photos. Do you mind putting this in my room?"
Maanvi smiled, "Yeah sure. Hold on." Whilst placing the books on the side she accidently dropped them. "Oops." Maanvi hurriedly picked them up and went to help Padmini on the errand.
Unknown to them both, a piece of paper had just fallen out of one of the books.
A while later, Maanvi came back and remembered about the books, she picked them up and left them in Viraat's room.
Later that afternoon, Beeji and Madan were nearing Delhi. They had decided to catch the early morning train but were not able to meaning that they had to catch a later train. Beeji prayed that this should not be an inauspicious sign.
"Ma, don't worry. We'll get Maanvi." Madan tried to reassure her but Beeji was not convinced. She had an inkling that Maanvi would not be able to be free from this truth. Her heart sunk at the feeling of what Maanvi would do when the truth was out.
In Delhi, Siddarth was sitting in the living room with Padmini, Swamini, Vanshika and Dadaji talking about the younger days. Viraat had been trying to get hold of Ariana but either the line was disconnected or she was not at home. He tried again and again after seeing Maanvi's distraught face but managed to make her happy by taking her to be with Jeevika and Viren.
"Siddarthji, you were talking about some books about philosophy.." Swamini said.
He thought for a bit before replying, "Ah yes! I remember. They are really great books, they make you think about how everything happens. Say for example, you're in a crossroad, and you make one decision that leads your life, imagine if you'd taken the other pathway, what would have happened?" He explained. Siddarth got up and walked towards the side to find his book. "Let me just find it." He picked it up and smiled, and started to walk away when he noticed a piece of paper on the floor. Picking it up he read it with complete shock.
"Padmini?" he asked.
Padmini looked at him, confused. She got up leaving the Vadhera's to talk amidst themselves. "What happened?" She asked him, he didn't respond but gave her the paper.
She read it out, her heart piercing at every word. It was all memories that she wanted to forgot. "How did this get here?"
"I found it on the floor." Siddarth replied. "Today of all days? This has to be here?" He noticed Padmini's eyes started watering, "No Padmini." He wiped the tears. "Not today, not ever. That part of your life is gone. Okay? Gone. Now I'm your future."
She smiled at her caring husband, "Hm." She replied.
"But how did this get here?"
Padmini pondered for a bit, "Wait. I asked Maanvi to take some boxes to my room of Jeevika's old stuff. Maybe it fell from there?"
"Hm maybe. Anyways I'll just take this book. Don't think about what happened okay?" He reassured her and went.
Padmini looked at the address on the paper and shuddered. She wanted to forget about everything that happened to her. That person who ruined her life.
*Flashback*
"Jeevika is ill, please help her!" Padmini cried furiously as she held the one year old Jeevika in her arms.
The man didn't respond until Padmini shouted. "Please!"
He turned around and slapped her, leaving a light red mark on her right cheek. "Shut up. You don't get to shout at me. What did I say before? Did you forget? You are not my wife. I don't see you as my wife. You were just'a thorn in my life, I was forced to marry you." He looked at Jeevika. "And you wanted a baby, not me. So take care of her yourself." He smirked and laughed lightly before leaving them.
The baby Jeevika started to cry as her fever grew out of control. Padmini did all she could that night to help her. She spent the whole night keeping Jeevika's fever down, and the moment when she felt all was over, a blessing arrived: Jeevika was cured. Padmini thanked God for everything and cried of happiness for the first time in ages.
-
"Good girl, you did everything good." Her husband said in her face as the scared Padmini cried beneath him. It was the night when he sold her to someone else, that man had his way with her, and he stole her innocence and left her rotting in some corner. Bruised and blooded, she managed to find her way back home, only with the hope of getting Jeevika back.
She limped to Jeevika's room and slowly started packing quietly, making sure that her husband didn't hear her. It was nearing morning and she crept into her husband's room to find him sleeping soundly. She took this chance to steal some money from him, an act that she was forced to do as he deprived her of these things. She quickly changed and tried to make herself look normal. In the early dawn, she crept outside with Jeevika and a few belongings and ran for her life. She left Delhi and travelled partly walking, partly by bus for days with a weary Jeevika. She wanted to cry but didn't let herself to as she knew that she had to have faith for Jeevika's sake. She tried to visit her parents but they didn't answer as they felt she had tarnished the family's reputation. From then on, she vowed never to call herself Padmini Malhotra (the wife) nor Padmini Alhuwalia (the daughter). She tried calling her best friend, Siddarth but he was out of the country. She sighed but knew that if anyone was to help her, it would be Siddarth.
It was March of 1990, a week after the incident when she found herself in Mumbai. Padmini felt an urge of sickness in her stomach and started to vomit. She realised the importance of this and became scared. Was she pregnant? She hesitated, she touched her stomach and started to cry. Her worst nightmare became true as she visited the doctor. She had managed to find an apartment in Mumbai under the landlady, Ariana Morelli. Every night she cried herself to sleep, upset that she was carrying a rapist's child. She tried to hide herself away, she wanted to abort it but couldn't, she wasn't a killer, but she didn't want this child. A month or two later, she became acquainted with her neighbour, Jhanvi Chaudary. She realised that Jhanvi, too like her was pregnant and was living with her husband, Mahinder.
Becoming friend's with Jhanvi helped her come to her senses. She started to become happier, she even accepted her pregnancy but was still somewhat hesitant. Padmini told her new friends what had happened to her, and they being the kind souls that they were, accepted her whole heartedly. Jeevika loved Jhanvi and Mahinder, to the point where she called them her chacha and chachi. Reality was nearing every month that went past, her due date was nearing and Padmini was scared. She didn't know what to do, she contemplated giving up the child in the future.
"Ma. What will the baby's name be?" A young Jeevika asked.
Padmini caressed her hair, she'd always wanted another child but didn't think that the father would be someone else. She smiled, not letting Jeevika understand her plight and played along, "If it's a girl'then Priya'if it's a boy then'Avinash." She smiled. She remembered when she was younger and was thinking about her future children's name. She liked those three: Jeevika, Priya and Avinash. She sighed gradually coming into reality.
*Flashback ends*
In the present, the middle aged Padmini wiped her tears and went back to the Vadhera's, not letting them know anything was wrong. Just then the 'children' came in the room whilst the elders talked about children.
"Our Jeevika was always one for photos." Siddarth laughed as the blushing Jeevika sat next to him.
"Really? We have to see this." Swamini replied.
"Oh yeah, Maanvi. I gave you a box to take to my room right? Please get that, there's some photos of Jeevika in there." Padmini said.
"Okay, I'll be right back." She replied and walked into Padmini's room. Maanvi looked into the box curiously and picked it up. She was about to walk out of the room with it when she tripped and the contents of the box came out.
"Oh god!" She scolded herself and hurriedly picked everything up.
She came across some photos of the younger Jeevika and Padmini. She smiled. Maanvi couldn't help herself but look at the photos, Jeevika in her pram, Jeevika smiling, Jeevika taking a bath. She giggled lightly and turned over. What came up next had hit her hard, her eyes froze in shock.
-
Beeji hurriedly walked to Padmini's house. She remembered it so well: she had come here with Jhanvi, the day Padmini had remarried.
*Flashback*
Padmini had married her best friend Siddarth a year later. He had loved her since they were young and was distraught when she got married. He had arrived in India after Padmini had given birth to a child, and vowed to take revenge of her husband. He managed to get him sentenced, and Padmini freed from that marriage. Swayed by his love, she started to fall in love with him again but her depression and forced intimacy meant that she could give birth again.
*Flashback ends*
"No Madan. I can't go in there. Padmini knows me. You have to go. Just say anything but get Maanvi out of there." She ordered. Madan did as he was told and walked to the door and rang the bell.
"Yes? May I help you?" Padmini asked as she opened the door. Madan hesitated for a bit thinking of what to say.
"Er,..I'm'Madan'" he managed to say. "Maanvi's Chacha."
Padmini said a silent, "Oh." And opened the door to let him in.
"Can I talk to her? Actually it's important. We have to take her home right now." He blurted out.
Madan walked into the room to see the Vadhera's. Viraat looked at him confused, he was wondering what was going on'why was Maanvi's Uncle here?
"I'll call her'" Padmini said. "Maanvi!" She called out.
Back in the room, Maanvi smiled at the revelation, "P.M." She whispered. She wiped the dust of the photo and stared at it. There, was Jeevika and Padmini in their flat in Mumbai with Jhanvi, her mother. Hearing Padmini calling her, she ran out with the picture, with the only idea of getting the truth.
"Maanvi look who has come." Padmini said but Maanvi took no notice, simply running towards Padmini.
"P.M." She said. Viraat looked at Maanvi and then at Padmini. "You're P.M right? Palak Malhotra?" She said.
Viraat looked at the photo from the distant but could make out a younger Jeevika and Padmini with a woman. He remembered the woman's face to be of Maanvi's mother.
Padmini, taken aback by Maanvi's words looked at the picture in Maanvi's hand.
"Maanvi, let's go." Madan said dragging her out. Maanvi stopped him.
"Chachu? Why are you here? I never told you Padmini aunty's address. Then '" She stopped at thought, "You knew about her right?" She rolled her eyes and faced Padmini.
"You're the one right? The one who my parents were neighbours with? In Mumbai? So please, you must know where my parents are!" Maanvi started to shout, she was getting restless.
"Maanvi, come on." Madan tried nudging her again but she pulled away.
"No!" She cried and faced Padmini once again, "Please tell me! Where are my parents! You must know right?" She was getting restless.
"Will someone tell me what's going on?" Swamini asked with a high authority.
Everyone went silent, Padmini started to cry looking at Maanvi and the photo. But then she remembered the deal she made twenty one years ago. "Maanvi'" She breathed out.
Maanvi reacted to this, "Yes, aunty! Please tell me."
Padmini didn't budge, instead became wary of who was standing in front of her. She looked at Maanvi carefully, she should have known. That same behaviour, that same attitude, that same eyes, she should have known. Padmini started to cry but Maanvi in reaction started to wipe her tears. Padmini suddenly became conscious and pushed Maanvi away from her.
"Get away from me!" She shouted. Maanvi was confused. "Please, don't come near me!" Padmini started to move back and bumped into Siddarth who was confused. "Please Siddarth, save me."
"Padmini?" He thought for a bit, and realised that Maanvi was that same baby. "Don't worry." He whispered to her.
"Aunty why are you?" Maanvi asked her.
"Please Maanvi, go with your Uncle."
"But?"
"Just go!" Siddarth ordered. He felt bad for her but he didn't know what else to do.
Maanvi started crying and Viraat came to her, he wiped the tears of her face. Jeevika, started to walk towards her but was stopped by Siddarth.
"Viraat," Maanvi cried. "I'm so confused. Please tell me what is happening." She didn't know what to do, who to ask help for so she found solace in the one person she loved.
"Don't worry Maanvi." Viraat said and walked towards Padmini and Siddarth. "Will someone please tell me what's going on? Look, we know about aunty being P.M. But why are you so scared of Maanvi? Why do you want her to go away from you? After all what has this got to do with Maanvi's mother Jhanvi?!" He shouted getting angrier at the secrecy. Padmini then realised that something had happened to Jhanvi.
Just then Beeji came inside the house wondering what was taking so long. Padmini saw Beeji and went towards her.
"Something happened to Jhanvi?" Padmini cried out.
Maanvi walked towards Beeji, "Beeji. Now tell me. Everything is all messed up. Please you should know everything. Aunty,"
"Don't." Padmini shouted moving away from her once again.
"What did I do?!" Maanvi said, screaming.
"It's not what you did, It's what I did." Padmini said breaking down. She looked at Maanvi, "I gave you up." Padmini fell onto the floor, completely shattered.
*flashback*
November of 1990, two pregnant women were registered at the Mumbai maternal unit. One of them had an accident and was under caution. The other had started her labour pains. Jhanvi and Padmini both gave birth to baby girls on this day, except one of the baby's had died.
Jhanvi held her dead baby in her arms crying, whilst Padmini held up her unwanted baby. She decided to give the baby away but after seeing her best friend in pain, she gave her to be named Priya to Jhanvi and told her to take her far away.
Mahinder and Jhanvi were forever indebted to Padmini but she assured them that she couldn't bare to see the face of her child again, she didn't want to remember what happened to her that night. Soon after, Siddarth visited Padmini in the hospital where Padmini lied that her baby had died. Jhanvi took 'Priya' and named her Maanvi.
No one except Beeji, Padmini, Jhanvi and her husband knew the truth about Maanvi's true parentage. In fact, Padmini didn't even know what Jhanvi named her daughter, she never asked. She had give up her rights years ago and gradually due to Padmini's distress, the two friends became further apart, except for a few letters.
*Flashback ends*
Jeevika rushed towards her mother as she uttered those words. I gave you up. Jeevika looked up at Maanvi and was hit with the truth. Maanvi was her half sister. Maanvi was Priya.
Real Estate
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
37