Scene 12
Lakshmi held Ramesh's hands before he entered his father's room. "Talk calmly..." Ramesh nodded as he knocked the closed door, and stepped inside. Dadi was reading a newspaper, while Dadaji was examining his spectacles. They had no clue what had happened between Nisha and Viren.
"Come Rames..." called Dadi closing the newspaper. Dadaji wore his glasses back and scanned for clues. His youngest son never came to meet him unless it was something really very important, and this time he had Lakshmi along with him. It wasn't difficult for him to understand why Ramesh was there. "It must be something relating to Nisha," he deciphered easily. Without offering a chance for Ramesh to speak, "Ramesh! Mr. Chopra and his family would be visiting our house tomorrow morning, to see Nisha."
"Why?" asked Ramesh instantly, acting like he didn't understand. He was raging inside. His father wanted to play games with him? Then he was ready to play too. "Nisha won't meet anyone Bauji...and why should Mr Chopra's family see Nisha? Nisha is not ready for marriage..."
"But Nisha said she is ready..." Dadi began confused.
"Maa ji...Nisha isn't ready for marriage...In fact, I feel she is going into depression with whatever is happening around her..." Lakshmi tried to explain.
"And the best way would be to distract herself and what better way than getting married? Trust me...This is the right decision for her..." convinced Dadaji.
"Bauji! Nisha isn't ready for marriage...and as parents we know that. And even if she is ready to get married, as parents we aren't supporting this decision...and hence Nisha won't marry now..." told Ramesh decisively, trying to use his right over his daughter as her parent.
"Mr Chopra, without considering all the nonsense that Nisha did, has agreed to see Nisha and fix this..." continued Dadaji insensitively.
"Wow! That's so great of Mr Chopra," mocked Ramesh. "But I don't want all this pity for my daughter..."
Lakshmi stepped forward, holding Ramesh back, signaling him to be in control.
"Maa ji! Bauji! Nisha might put a brave fight in front of us, but inside she is really scared and lonely. She needs time. Time to recuperate and gain her confidence..." Lakshmi's voice pleaded for understanding as response.
Viren, Vimla, Mohan and Rupan entered the room, apparently to complain about Nisha's behavior towards Viren and Rupan.
"Gain confidence?" exclaimed Viren with disgust. "She is an over confident and spoilt girl. You know how she spoke against me, Bauji? She is an arrogant girl and it's going to be increasingly difficult to handle her in the future. She is going to bring down the family name single handedly...It's better we..."
"Marry and send off?" Ramesh completed the sentence. "She isn't a commodity to be thrown off to paperwala because it's of no use to you..." He was determined to fight and knock off anyone on the way to ruin his daughter's life.
"Rames...Just meet the family? What if the boy is perfect for Nisha?" reasoned Dadi.
Ramesh opened his mouth to tell something but decided otherwise. His family had lost their mind was his conclusion.
"Maa ji! Nisha is back to her tomboyish nature...her behavior, attitude...all that she had changed...She is back to square one before...I fear what if..." Lakshmi looked at her entirely family. She desperately looked at Dadi wanting her to understand what she wanted to say, wanting her to understand her fear. She was the only one who could understand what she was trying to imply. Lakshmi looked helplessly at Ramesh.
"Bauji! Try and understand. It's important for Nisha to be given time to come out of all this...Else...There are chances she closes herself from others..." Ramesh looked disappointed seeing no change in his parents' reaction. They hadn't understood.
"Close herself?" taunted Rupan. "She is always open with her comments and actions...Her behavior is atrocious to..."
"Enough!" shouted Ramesh. He didn't give anyone time to sink his counter. "Bauji! I don't care who is coming and when they are coming and for what. You plan whatever you want...but Nisha isn't going to be married until she is completely ready and when I give my consent for it. Don't give words which you cannot fulfil..."
Ramesh left with Lakshmi trailing, giving one glance back at her family.
"Did you see how he spoke with me?" asked Dadaji to Dadi. "Does he think I don't care for Nisha? I am her enemy, I don't understand her? And Ramesh? I wonder if he really cares for Nisha? I mean...does he want to make Nisha's life like his? No..." Dadaji paused thinking.
"Viren! Call Mr Chopra and invite them for lunch tomorrow..." told Dadaji. He can't accept defeat in front of his son.
CID
