The Mask - ff ch 11 updated - Page 5

Nupur was nervous. She remembered the time when her father used to carry her on his shoulder and travel around the town. He used to call her, his son and what had she done to him.

When Nupur enetered the room she was nervous. She saw her father. He was nothing like she remembered him. He was a fragile old man now, sittting on his wheel chair. His hair had become grey. His body had reduced to half. He had lost a lot of weight and he had become so pale. He was resting. Nupur sat infront of her father's wheelchair and just stared at him for a minute. her eyes were filled with tears. She felt guilty, she felt sad. Suddenly she felt a slight tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see Gunjan. Gunjan gestured Nupur to speak to Ramesh. Slowly Nupur placed her hand on her father's hand. He woke up gradually.He looked at Nupur expressionlessly. Suddenly he stared hard at her and spoke, "Nupur, my child you came back. You look just like your mother."

He turned towards Gunjan and continued, "You found her, I am proud of you!". with that he called Nupur towards him and hugged her. Gunjan also hugged them. Then Gunjan asked her father to rest. His body couldnot take on so much. He resisted but Gunjan ensured that Ramesh slept.

Nupur moved out of the room when she was stopped by Gunjan, "Di, where are you going?"

Nupur replied, "I am going back home."

Gunjan, "This is your home too di"

It suddenly hit Nupur that she didnot think this through. Her life and her families life were very different. She accepted them but still not adjusted with them. Nupur was about to say something when Gunjan said, "I understand di! you need time. Take as much time as you want. I will respect any decision you take."

Saying that Gunjan left. Nupur was confused. Still she moved out from there to her house. She needed to reconnect with herself to actually decide what to do. Suddenly Mayank's words echoed in her ears, "It is high time that others decide how Nupur leads her life, She should decide what needs to be done".

Now she saw her past in a different light. She remembered how Ratna coxed her to go for photoshoots when she was just 13 or 14. At that point Nupur was not comfortable with the skimpy clothes or the bold posses, but Ratna ensured Nupur did her bit. All Ratna ever spoke to Nupur was her dream of becoming a heroine. There were nights when Nupur cried for her family but Ratna didnot allow that too.

But the worst blow came to Nupur, when she went ahead with her relationship with a married Aarav Kapoor. Ratna knew it all. Infact she was the one who wanted Nupur to stay in the relation.

Aarav the heartthrob of the nation, Nupur's first hero. He was married but Nupur's beauty had captured his mind. He made his advancements but Nupur resisted. It was Ratna who told Nupur to go ahead with the relationship but Nupur resisted. But as climbed the ladder of success, she became lonely. It was her 23rd birthday. Ratna threw a suprise party for Nupur.It was Aarav's idea, Ratna just implemented the plan. That night Aarav charmed Nupur. By then even Nupur left behind her inhibitions. Aarav used her, his wife insulted Nupur.
But Nupur continued. What was she thinking? or why was she not thinking?

Thinking all this Nupur fainted. When she woke up she found herself in Gunjan's room. Gunjan was tensed. Nupur tried to get up but Gunjan made her lay down.
Gunjan : "Di, did Ratna give you some pill or drug on daily basis",
Nupur replied : "What, no!!"
Gunjan, "we have found traces of poison in your body, it blocks your nervous system. The person is in a trans when they take it. Your body is so used to it, now since you don't consume it, your body is reacting", Nupur was still then she replied, "She gave me a glass of milk everyday". Gunjan, "don't worry di, u will be fine. You need care, stay here for few days.i am here. Otherwise we need to shift you to hospital"
Nupur :"I am fine here Gunjan."