Raj looks thoughtfully at Neha as he drives her and Nikki home after the hospital visit. They are living in a modest flat in one of the quieter localities of Mumbai. When Raj drops them both at the door, Neha hesitates for a moment, then invites him in for tea. But Raj shakes his head gently and says, "Abhi nahin…..abhi mujhe ek baar aur Gulmohur jake, aaj ka kaam wrap up karna hai….main tumhe kal milta hun…"
Nikki: (clamourously) Uncle…..aap mujhse milne aaoge na!
Raj: (beaming) Zaroor…I promise!!
Next day in GM:
Neha arrives, looking a bit embarrassed. "Sorry….main thoda late ho gayi" she apologises to Raj. He quietly nods his head in an oh-never-mind manner.
Neha: (flustered) Actually….Nikki subah-subah thodi upset ho gayi…..wo school jaane ko taiyar hi nahin ho rahi thi….keh rahi thi ki uske baal kum ho gaye hain, saare classmates us par hasenge…bahut mushkil se taiyar hui wo…..
Raj: (thoughtfully) Lekin Neha….tumhari beti bahut samajhdaar hai…usse insaano ki pehchaan hai…
Neha: (beaming) Right! Usne aapko dekhte hi jaan liya ki aap bahut achche hai….!
Raj: (looking intently at her) Main sirf apni baat nahin kar raha hoon Neha!
Neha gives a slight start, as if she has been caught. Avoiding his eye, she starts fumbling with the files on the desk as if she has not heard anything. Raj taps his hand on the desk to catch her attention. "Tumne meri baat ka koi jawaab nahin diya Neha…..tumhari beti jaanti hai ki CJ achcha insaan nahin hai….aur yeh baat hum sub logon ko pata chal chuki hai….."
Neha turns her back on him. He comes ahead to confront her. "Neha, main sirf itna jaanta hun, ki CJ ne tumhare husband ke hotel mein ek plan banaya, jisse Armaan aur Jassi ki shaadi toot gayi….lekin kya CJ ka tumhare husband se koi aur bhi vaasta tha?"
Neha: (bitterly) Main bhi utna hi jaanti hun, jitna aap jaante hai….isse zyada main kya bataun? Ab in sab baton ka kya faayda hai? Mere husband toh waapas nahin aa sakte na?
Raj: (looking her straight in the eye and speaking with deliberate slowness) Kya tum unhe waapas laana bhi chahti? Ya tumhe unki maut ne azaad kar diya?
Neha looks in horror at him, then gives a little scream and buries her face in her hands, sobbing wildly. Raj looks a bit distressed at the result of his questioning. He puts his hand comfortingly on her shoulder. After a while, she raises her head, and though there are traces of tears on her face, her voice is steady:
"Raj, main aapko sab bataungi….uske baad aap job hi samajhna chahe, samajh sakte hain!"
Tomorrow: Neha's story
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