Posted:
This didn't come out as I expected...oh well. Please let me know what you think?
AU for Episode 289 - May 20/15.
AU for Episode 289 - May 20/15.
Solutions
a drabble-style KKB OS by -mina-
a drabble-style KKB OS by -mina-
*Abhi puts away his guitar and goes to sleep, but Pragya is still restless...*
*She puts down her book and thinks about his request to her - There's no more to say on this until Tanu's reports come back. But one thing I must ask of you - don't hurt my Daadi again for this drama you're doing.*
*She thinks of how cold and rude she's been to Daadi...she feels so guilty...she knows she had a reason for doing it but it doesn't seem like a good enough reason anymore...somehow...*
*Now that Abhi knows...things are different...she has new options...*
*The main problem is that Abhi isn't taking this seriously...isn't preparing to accept his responsibility...hopefully the reports will convince him, but what if they don't? If he won't accept her arguments or Tanu's pleas or the medical facts...he could do a great wrong to Tanu and his own child out of pure stubbornness...He has a good heart but that doesn't save him from being blind sometimes...*
*She needs to make him see...make him take this seriously...*
*And maybe...maybe she needs some help with that...*
*Pragya goes to Daadi's room...*
*When Daadi sees her reflection in Guru's portrait and suddenly turns around, Pragya resists the urge to hide...and bravely takes a step forward...*
P: Daadi...you haven't slept yet?
D: What are you doing here?
P: Daadi...please sit.
D: I'm not interested in following your instructions, young lady.
P: I know...but Daadi, I have some things to explain to you...please sit...
*Pragya guides Daadi to the lounge sofa across from her bed...when Daadi sits down, Pragya sit at her feet...*
D: Arre! Pragya, what are you doing?
*Pragya takes Daadi's hands in hers and bows her head forward*
P: Daadi...I am so sorry...I have behaved so badly with you...but I...with what face can I ask for an apology? I don't deserve one. I'm not asking for your forgiveness...I just want you to know that I'm sorry, and that I didn't want to hurt you, and I don't believe any of the things I said the night of Aakash's wedding.
*Daadi tips up Pragya's chin so that she meets her gaze*
D: But then...my dear...why did you say them?
P: Because Daadi...I need to leave you...and I don't want you to miss me.
D: What! What do you mean, you need to leave me? How can that be? No, I will never -
P: Daadi...there are some things I have to tell you, but they will be hard to hear. But you are my strong Daadi, right? You can bear the truth, even though it's harsh...you understand right, people make mistakes? You won't be shocked...you can cope, I know you can.
D: I don't understand...what are you trying to say?
P: I don't even want to tell you...I wouldn't, if I didn't have to. I hate to hurt you...but I need your help, so I must tell you.
D: Tell me what, beta?
P: Daadi...He is going to become a father.
D: What! But that's wonderful news! My dear, why are you -
P: I'm not the mother.
D: What...but how can...what are you saying?
*Pragya takes a deep breath...keeps tight hold of Daadi's hands...determinedly meets her eyes...*
P: Daadi...you know naa, he married me to please you. He didn't want to marry me. He didn't want to marry at all.
D: Not at first...but he agreed...
P: There was something he couldn't tell you...something about his life that he kept private for a very long time.
D: What do you mean? Abhi doesn't keep secrets from me -
P: He...he is a grown man with his own life. Surely you understand...there were some things he wouldn't tell you about.
D: Whatever it is you are trying to tell me, please just say it clearly.
P: He had - there is someone that he loves. A woman. She let him marry me but they are still - involved.
D: No! No, how can you say such things? I know Abhi could never -
P: Daadi...I'm sorry. But it's true.
D: I don't understand! You two are a match made in heaven, you are so happy together, how could -
P: We...we're not happy, Daadi. We've never been happy.
D: But -
P: We were pretending. And...and we probably shouldn't have, but that's not the point. There is more I have to tell you.
D: What more - no. Oh, no. Abhi is going to be a father...and this other woman, this other woman is having his baby?
P: Yes.
D: Who is she? And how dare she stay involved with a married man, what kind of -
P: Daadi, it's not her mistake alone. He maintained the relationship too. He promised her a future with him.
D: Meaning...meaning he planned to leave you?
P: He never wanted me as his life partner.
D: But then why - all these months -
P: We...circumstances got out of hand. We should have...ended this marriage sooner, but one thing after another happened...
D: It's a sign. This marriage is not supposed to end. My dear -
P: No. It has to end. There is no place for me in his life or in this house.
D: But -
P: The mother of his child deserves the place of his wife. She's entitled to his love and his family's support.
D: I don't want to support any girl who would be so shameless and irresponsible -
P: For the sake of his child, Daadi. However the girl is, she's the one who will give you the happiness you've been craving -
D: What happiness, at the cost of you leaving me?
P: Oh...Daadi...you don't need me. You'll see, when everything is set to right, he will be happier. And you will see your dream come true, him settled with his own family, and a partner to love and support him when you are...when you are not there.
D: My dream is of you with Abhi.
P: Daadi...I know...I know you are disappointed...but think of it this way...you want him to be a responsible, upstanding, mature man, don't you? You want to see him as a committed husband and father.
D: Yes...
P: Then the only solution here is for him to give his child and its mother his name and protection.
D: So this is what it comes to...he makes such a terrible mistake, and instead of facing me himself he has you plead his case.
P: No...Daadi, he doesn't know I'm here. He'll be furious that I told you. But that's why I need your help.
D: My help?
P: Daadi, he...he is refusing to look at the situation seriously. He doesn't want to take responsibility.
D: Truly?
P: Truly. He doesn't even believe she's pregnant, and he's utterly refusing -
D: He doesn't believe she's pregnant?
P: He says - he claims that they haven't - that while we've been married, he hasn't -
D: And don't you believe him?
P: Daadi, I saw the pregnancy test results myself. I even took her to a clinic to be double tested. She's definitely pregnant.
D: But then - but then the child cannot be Abhi's. If he says he hasn't touched that woman, then he hasn't. My Abhi would not run away from this kind of responsibility.
P: There was a time...when you were ill, many things happened that you were not aware of. He and I almost ended our marriage then. At that time, it would have been natural for him to go to her -
D: No, I don't believe it. In the middle of such problems, he would never go off for his own...pleasure. And if he says that he cannot have got the girl pregnant, then he did not do so.
P: It...it could be possible that he might have done it and he didn't remember. At that time...he turned to alcohol to cope, and -
D: Still. Still, I know in my bones that he could not do anything so careless as this.
P: But Daadi -
D: Why don't you believe him? In all these months, have you not seen enough of his character to know that he does not walk away from his responsibilities?
P: I know, but -
D: Or will you tell me that you never chose him to be your life partner either, and you've been waiting for a reason to leave him.
P: No! No, it's nothing like that. Daadi, it's a matter of justice, of doing what is right -
D: Then we will do what is right. If she is pregnant, and the child is his, we will find a solution. But first we must make sure that is the case.
P: It is, Daadi. She loves him, she would never cheat -
D: If she loved him, she wouldn't have wanted him to hide her from me all this time. And she wouldn't have let you marry him, or carry on with him after he was married.
P: I understand this is all a shock to you, and you want to believe the best of him. But we have to face reality, and we have to make him understand -
D: And so we will face reality. But that doesn't mean you have to leave him.
P: There is already so much evidence -
D: Test results can be faked. Clinic doctors can be bribed. And you, my dear, might be too innocent to see this, but that woman has every reason to try to trap Abhi with a child that isn't his.
P: Daadi, please. You can be sensible about this, even if he can't -
D: And even if you can't. Pragya, what have you been doing? You were going to break my trust and walk away to solve this problem? That is no kind of solution.
P: I just - I just thought that since I need to leave, since I need to create a way for her to enter this family -
D: If she deserves a place in this family, she will get it. It is not up to you to create it for her.
P: But -
D: No, enough. It is not Abhi but you that needs my help.
P: Please understand -
D: I do understand. I understand that you are acting too hastily. I understand that you do not have confidence in Abhi. I understand that getting this girl justice is important to you even though she has been doing you an injustice by continuing an affair with your husband.
P: Daadi, think of the child -
D: I will. We will, when it's time. But for now it's time to think of you, and to think of Abhi. You need to be each other's strengths as you face this challenge. You cannot be willing to leave him just like that, and he cannot be stuck worrying about your lack of faith in him. We must find out what the real truth is, and then we can make the right decisions.
P: If...when...when the tests prove that she is pregnant and the baby is his, then -
D: Then we'll find a solution. We won't decide one ahead of time, without knowing all the facts.
P: Daadi, I had hoped...I had hoped you would agree with me about bringing Abhi's child and its mother into this house.
D: Perhaps I will agree with you, when I know for sure. But for now, my dear...go to bed. Trust that we will find an answer to this problem in time. Don't go trying to fix everything yourself, especially when it's not your mess to begin with.
P: I wish...
D: No wishing. You wanted to apologize to me, right? Fine, apology accepted. And your punishment is to go to bed, now, and leave the planning for this problem-solving until the morning. And to accept my help and Abhi's in deciding what to do.
P: I just hope...I just want...I want to make sure the right thing happens in the end.
D: So do I.
P: But if we -
*Daadi stands up and pulls Pragya to her feet...brushed a stray tear off her face and holds her by the shoulders*
D: Thank you for telling me all this. Trust me, we will make it right. Now...go and serve your punishment.
*Pragya's lip wobbles...tears threaten to spill again...she hugs Daadi fiercely, and only when the older woman soothingly pats her back and repeats several times that everything will be ok...only then does she let go*
*Pragya reluctantly goes to do as she is told...and Daadi too goes to bed...*
*Daadi worries for a while about the complicated situation her children are facing, and she wonders who this other woman is that may or may not be carrying her great-grandchild...but she has faith in Abhi, and she's sure that time will prove that she wasn't wrong to choose Pragya for her bahu. She is able to sleep despite her distress, safe in the knowledge that the marriage she wanted for her grandson will survive this crisis...and all futures ones.*
THE END
Thank you for reading.
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My others works can be found at: Mina's KKB Fic Index and Mina's Misc Fic Index
Please like and comment.
My others works can be found at: Mina's KKB Fic Index and Mina's Misc Fic Index
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