Ragini was resting on her couch when Pam knocks.
"Kya mein ander askati hoon?" Pam asks as Ragini looks up.
"Haan, kyun nahin. Ajao. Tumhe puchne ki zarurat nahi hai, Pam." Ragini says make space for her on the couch.
Pam sits beside her, "Tumhara haath kaisa hai ab, Ragini? Feeling any better?"
"A little better." Ragini notices Pam's nervousness and confusion,
"Kya baat hai, Pam? Tum pareshaan lag rahi ho?"
"Mein pareshaan, nahin tou.." Pam tries to laugh away but, "Actually Ragini, mujhe tumse kuch zaruri baat karni hai."
"Haan bolo, Pam."
"Not here. Kya hum kahiin bahir jaa kar baat kar sakte hain?"
"Sure. Let's go."
Ragini becomes worried. Aisi kya baat ho sakti hai, she thinks to herself.
***
"Pam kya hua? Sub theek tou hai naa? Aisi kya baat karni hai tumhe?" Ragini asks Pam worried as they sit facing each other at a nearby restaurant.
"Ragini, I'm sorry mein tumhe is haal mein baahir le ayi. But woh kya hai ke..mein tumhe kuch batana chahti hoon jis ke baare mein kisi ko nahin pata, not even Neil," Pam says thinking how and where to start.
Ragini looks at her in response affirming her to go ahead.
Pam looks around the restaurant confused and finally says looking down, "Ragini, humare pass kuch nahin bacha. Neil ki job, humara ghar sub kuch khatam hogaya hai.."
Ragini gets more confused, "Kya matlab, Pam?"
Pam looks up at her, "Neil is bankrupt, Ragini. Humara ghar ka auction hone jaraha hai. Uski job..sub kuch.."Her voice choked and tears roll down her cheeks.
"Lekin Pam yeh sub kaise kab hua??" Ragini asks shocked.
"Neil par joh domestic violence ka case laga, those media reports and udher baat pohnch gayi. You know idher India aane se pehle Neil ne US ka ek hospital purchase karne ki deal kari thi..Neil ne sub kuch usi mein lagadiya. Ab humara saara paisa udher atka hua hai. I don't know what to do...Neil ko abhi tak nahin pata" Pam said wiping away her tears.
"Yeh contract marriage meine isliye force kari so that we could prove everything is normal between you two now. Even I got the media cover the story. But they don't believe it. Woh kehte hain aise kaise sub theek hogaya.. I don't know what to do, Ragini.. Pichle 2 hafton se koshish kar rahi hoon Neil tak yeh baat naa pohnche but akhir kab tak baat chupi rahegi usse.." Pam started sobbing.
Ragini puts her hand on Pam's, "But, Pam usko batana tou padega naa..tum kyun nai bata deti?"
"Nahin! Neil ko pata chalega tou woh toot jayega. Aur mein usko is haal mein bilkul nahi dekh sakti. I can't see him and my children in pain!"
"Is there anything I can help with, Pam? Koi financial help wagera? Mere pass ziada tou nahin but thode bohot paise hain.." Ragini asks tightening her grip around her hand.
"Nahin, Ragini! Tumne humein apne ghar mein jaga di hai. Woh bohot hai. Haan lekin bas ek help chaiye tumse..?" Pam says looking into her eyes.
"Of course, Pam. Bolo."
"Tum please Neil ko yeh baat batado. Neil ko agar koi yeh baat bata sakta hai tou woh sirf tum ho."
"Lekin Pam, mein kaise..?" Ragini asked her confused.
"Please, Ragini. Mein jaanti hun Nachiket jab yeh sunega tou woh bilkul bardasht nahin kar payega. Aur uswaqt agar usko koi sambhaal sakta hai tou woh sirf tum ho."
"Pam.." Ragini looks at her confused.
"Please"
"Okay. I will try.."
"Thank you so much, Ragini. Tum nahin jaanti tumne meri aadhi problem solve kardi."Pam says relieved.
"Pam mujhe tumse kuch kehna hai." Ragini says as they finish eating and are about to leave.
"Han kaho naa."
"Actually woh domestic abuse wala case..meine nahin kara tha." Ragini looks down and then continues looking up, "Woh police officer, I don't know why he was so adamant to file a domestic violence case. Meine usko bola bhi tha ke Nachiket ka sirf haath galati se lag gaya tha mujhe. But usne woh case banadiya and dhoke se sign karwaya. You know I wasn't feeling well at all..I could barely sit straight. Mein baad mein police station bhi gayi. I tried to change the statement too. I even tried talking to Nivedita..but she also didn't listen to me."
Pam patiently listened to her without saying anything. Ragini continued,
"Trust me, Pam. You know I would never do that to Nachiket. Mein uske saath aisa kyun karungi. Hum bhale saath nahin, but woh mere bachon ka baap hai. Hum bhale pati patni nahin maggar maa baap ke rishte se jude hue hain. Nachiket tou kya mein kisi ke saath aisa nahi kar sakti." Ragini tried to explain to her.
"It's okay Ragini. I think is sub ke baad itna tou mein samajh gayi hun tumhe ke I can trust you. Stop thinking about it. You know about our police..publicity ki wajah se kara hoga. It's okay, forget it."
"Thank you so much, Pam." Ragini says relived.
***
Ragini climbs up the stairs alone. Pam didn't join her back home, she said she had to go somewhere else.
As Ragini reached her house she saw Nivedita coming downstairs.
"Hi Ragini! Kaisi ho? Tumhara haath kaisa hai ab?" She asked in her 'oh so sweet tone".
Ragini was surprised to see her there, "Behtar hai ab. Tum yahan?"
"Haan woh, actually Neil se milne aayi thi mein. Usi ne bulaya tha. He said ghar par koi nahi hai." Nivediata smiled. "Anyways, I have to go now. Bye Ragini."
Ragini faked a smile and entered the house. Yeh Nivedita iswaqt kya karne aayi hai idher aur baaqi sub kahan chale gaye.
Ragini headed towards her room and saw Nachiket pacing up and down in their room. He looked tensed.
Nachiket stopped as he saw Ragini coming towards him,
"Ragini, kahan chali gayi thi tum?? Kisi ko bata kar bhi nai gayi!" He was furious.
"Woh actually mujhe kuch kaam tha. Mein Pam ke saath gayi thi" Ragini saw the same old Nachiket in him today. Nachiket wasn't a kind of person who would lose his temper easily but when it came to Ragini's carelessness he would always be furious and it would take a lot efforts from her side to manofy him.
"At least you could have informed us. And you didn't even bother to take your phone with you!" He was angered at her carelessness.
"I'm sorry Nachiket..ayenda"
"Forget it." Nachiket cut her in between and walked out of the room.
Oh God, yeh kya hogaya. Ab is haalat mein kaise bataun mein Nachiket ko US ki situation ke baare mein.
Ragini was more stressed now. She tried to pour a glass of water lost in her thoughts when the glass slips off her hand and breaks into pieces on the ground. Nachiket comes running towards her,
"Ragini!" He yelled and took her hand to see if there was any cut. "What the hell were you trying to do?" He made her sit on the bed and examined her feet, relieved that there was no cut. He looks up at her. Ragini was looking worried sick.
"I'm sorry..mujhe pyaas lagi thi tou mein pata nai chala kaise slip hogaya." She spoke in a low voice.
"Mujhse boldiya hota. Meine kabhi mana kara hai.." Nachiket spoke softly looking into her eyes.
"But, tum tou naraz they nah.." Ragini lowered her eyes.
"Haan, naraaz tha maggar iska matlab yeh nahin ke tum aisi harkaten karo. Anyways, jaane do. Is haalat mein tumse naraaz bhi nahin reh sakta mein. Thank God tumhe kahin chot nahi lagi" He smiled at her.
Ragini smiled too but she couldn't stop thinking about him.
"Kya hua, Ragini? Kya soch rahi ho?" He asked sitting beside her.
"Nachiket..mujhe tumse kuch kehna hai." Ragini replied looking directly into his eyes.
"Haan kaho nah."
Ragini started narrating the whole US situation to him. She could see the shock and horror in his eyes.. When Ragini finished, Nachiket asked her how she came to know. Upon hearing Pam's name he loses his temper,
"Lekin Pam ne mujhe bataya kyun nahin?! Now, I get it why she was always trying ke mera contact nai ho US mein kisi se. Aane do Pam ko!" He cried out.
"Nachiket, tum Pam ko kuch nahin bolo ge. She was worried about you isliye nahin bataya."
"Worried about me?! She was worried about me?! Mujhe bataya tak nahin so I could do something. At least mein kuch kar sakta tha! I'm not going to forgive her for this" Nachiket was burning with rage.
"Shut up Nachiket! Tumhe kya lagta hai usne try nahi kara hoga, haan?! Hum shaadi mein busy thay humne notice nahin kara. But Dimpy Karan aur RK se jaakar pucho. Kab se Pam pareshaan thi! Akaile woh yeh bardasht karti rahi!"
"Haan tou kis ne kaha akaile kare?! She could have told me! Ab tak tou sub khatam hogaya hoga! Mera ghar..meri job..mera hospital..sub kuch. Mere bachon ka future. Kya munh dikhaunga mein unko!"
"Calm down, Nachiket." Ragini steps closer to him, "Hum mil kar kuch solution nikaalenge. Everything will be fine."
"Kaise calm down haan! Sub kuch khatam hogaya hai, can't you see that." Nachiket shouted. "And Pam is the one who is responsible!! Woh mujhe batadeti tou mein kuch nah kuch tou karleta. Uski tarah India mein nahin betha rehta!"
"Enough Nachiket!! Bohot hogaya! Usne tumhare liye aur humare bachon ke liye apni puri life dedicate kardi aur tum ho ke uski itni si baat ko nahin samajh rahe!! Tumhare liye sub se ladti rahi woh takay tumhe koi takleef na pohnche! Akaile sehti rahi sub kuch. Aur tum ho ke! You're such a loser, Nachiket!" Ragini said pissed off.
Nachiket was silent. He was horrified..he couldn't believe what Ragini just said to him. He turned around and walked to the window.. Ragini saw the defeat in his style.
Nachiket stood still looking out. His eyes were moist and he couldn't control his tears. Ragini walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder. Nachiket hugged her tight. He was crying like a child.
"It's okay Nachiket." She tried to console him, rubbing his back. "We're together, sub theek hojayega."
After about five minutes, Nachiket broke the hug and looked into Ragini's eyes. He was about to thank her for her support when they hear Pam's voice,
"Neil? Ragini? Koi hai ghar par?"
They both come out of their room.
She looked at Nachiket first, he looked relaxed and then at Ragini. Her eyes asking if she has told him everything. She was confused.
"Pam, meine bata diya hai Nachiket ko sub." Ragini said looking at her confused face.
"Neil, woh I'm sorry..." Pam tried to explain but they are distracted by a knock on the front door.
They all look in the same direction.
"Nivedita!"
"Hi Pam. Lagta hai mere aane se pehle saare confessions hogaye hain. But Neil, ek important baat tou reh gayi. Tum khud hi dekh lo." She plays the recorded video, where Pam confesses how much she hates Ragini and the only reason she is getting her brother married to her is because she wants everything back.
Nachiket and Ragini's eyes fixed on Pam who is looking down embarrassed.
"And you know it was Pam," Nivedita added, "who said ke tumhe is waqt meri zarurat hai. Pam ke kehne par hi meine tumhe dubara propose kara tha, Neil. Lekin is baar you promised you won't break your commitment."
"Nivedita, I remember my commitment. Tumhe baar baar yaad dilane ki zarurat nahin hai. Now, can you please leave us alone for some time? I want to talk to Pam and Ragini only!" Nachiket requests her looking at Pam.
"Lekin Neil, tum mujhe kyun jaane ka kehrahe ho? I'm your fiance. Ragini ko yahan se jaana chahiye. Hum sub yahan jaante hain it's only a contract marriage. Mujhe tum par pura bharosa hai, Neil. But Ragini.. Neil, don't forget yeh sub ke pichhe Ragini hi hai jis ki wajah se sub hua. She was the one who filed a domestic violence case against you!" Nivedita said playing her last card.
"Bas Nivedita!!" Pam yelled at her. "Tumhe sunayi nai diya, tumse Neil ne kya kaha?! Jao yahan se!"
"Pam, you stay out of it! Yeh mere aur Neil ke beech ki baat hai. Aur tumhe achanak se Ragini par kaise pyaar araha hai. Tum dono bhul rahe ho yeh sub kuch isi ka kara hua hai" Nivedia cried out.
"Chup!!!" Pam screamed putting her finger over her mouth. "Ragini ne nahin, tumne kara tha woh sub!!"
Nivedita's jaw dropped. "Pam..tum..tum yeh..kya kehrahi ho.." She stammered.
"Haan, mujhe pata hai woh sub tumne kara tha and even the press thing! Tumhe kya laga tha humein kabhi pata nahin chalega! Tum humein puri umer dhoka de sakti thi!! You're pathetic, Nivedita!! Tumhare jaisi ghatiya aurat meine kahiin nai dekhi!! Now get the hell out of here!! Aur dubara mere mere bhai ya meri family ke aas pass bhi dikhi tou tum acche se jaanti ho mein tumhara kya hashar karungi! Get out" Pam pushed her out and closed the door behind.
She looked at Nachiket and Ragini, surprise and shock written all over their faces.
"What was that?" Nachiket said after composing himself.
"What?" Pam shrugged, "Ragini se meri baat hui thi thodi der pehle. She told me jab woh police station gayi thi tou she talked to Nivedita but Nivedita ignored her. That's when it clicked me. Yeh paagal aurat jab tumhe paane ke liye tumhe US ki details anonymous id se email kar sakti hai yeh jante hue bhi ke tum par kya guzregi tou yeh kuch bhi karsakti hai. So, I made some calls and confirmed it."
"Woh sub tou theek hai! But that video?!" Nachiket demanded an answer from her.
"I didn't know nah ke Ragini ne nai kara sub. I thought she was responsible for all this." Pam tried to defend herself.
"Meine tumse kaha tha nah Pam ke Ragini aisa nahin kar sakti lekin phir bhi tumne meri nahi maani! You always had problems with Ragini! Tumhari wajah se hi hua hai sub..you were the one who brought Nivedita back in our lives. Pehle bhi tumne mujhe phasaya aur ab bhi!" Nachiket was enraged at the new confessions.
"Haan, mein Nivedita ko lekar aayi kyun ki I couldn't see my family fall apart." Pam yelled at him, "Tum aur Ragini tou sath hote nai maggar mujhse mere bache zarur alag hojate. Meine joh kuch kara apni family ke liye kara! Apne bhai ke liye kara. Kyun ki mein tumhe toot ta hua nai dekh sakti! Ab aggar apni family ko aise protect karna gunaah hai tou haan gunaah kara hai meine."
"Lekin Pam, meine tou kabhi tumse bacche chheene ki koshish nai kari. In fact, I have always been thankful to you ke aaj woh joh bhi hain sirf tumhari wajah se hain. Mere liye tou mujhse ziada haqq tumhara hai un per." Ragini tried to explain things to her.
"Tumne cheene nahin maggar tum unki maa ho tou woh naturally tumse attach hojate!" Pam cried out.
"What's wrong with that, Pam? She's their mother aur tum kab se itni insecure hogayi?" Nachiket added loudly.
"Pam, tumhe hamesha se mujhe problem rahi hai even Nachiket aur meri shaadi se pehle! Tumne kabhi mere pyaar ko samjha hi nahin!" Ragini said raising her voice.
"Haan, problem rahi hai mujhe. Aur tum jaanti ho mujhe kyun rahi hai!"
"Nahin, jaanti mein! Tumne kabhi bataya bhi nahin!" Ragini cried out, "Tumne kabhi apna samjha hi nahin mujhe, Pam. You always thought mein Nachiket ke liye galat thi. Kuch bhi kara meine tumhe ghalat hi laga!! Aur Nivedita tumhare samne yeh sub karti rahi maggar tumhe kabhi nahin dikha!" She didn't know how she got the confident that day but this was the first time she talked to Pam like that.
"Haan, nahin dikhi mujhe Nivedita ki problems! Kyun ki Nivedita ne mere saath woh nahi kara tha joh tumne kara tha!. Mere dada ki death par tumne mujhe nahi bulaya.. Aur Nachiket ko bhi mana kardiya. Mein unko last time dekh bhi nai payi. Sirf tumhari wajah se, Ragini..sirf tumhara wajah se. Mein chah kar bhi is baat ko apne dil se nahin nikaal pati." Her voice almost choked.
Even Nachiket was surprised where this conversation was headed.
"Meine isliye nahi bulaya tha ke..mujhe dada ji ne hi mana kara tha." Ragini started speaking in lower voice. "Unki death se pehle unhon ne mujhe bola tha ke jab unki death hojaye tou tumhe na batayen. Unhon ne kaha tha ke 'Pam bohot sensitive hai beta. Uske last exams hain aur mein jaanta hoon ke woh exams chod kar ajayegi aur phir woh Nachiket ke saath rahegi yahin. Exams dene bhi waapis nahi jayegi aur mein nahi chahta ke woh apne itni salon ki mehnat meri wajah se zaya karde.' Isliye meine nahi bataya tumhe. Aur Nachiket ko bhi mana kara. Dada ji ne sahi kaha tha Pam..jab hum alag huye tab tumne sub chod kar apne bhai ko sambhala aur uske bachon ko. Hum sub jaante the ke tum RK ko lekar kitni serious thi maggar tumhe uswaqt kuch aur nahi dikha..aur tumne apni puri life Nachiket aur bachon ko dedi."
"I'm sorry Pam, mein chah kar bhi tumhe nahi bata sakti thi. Meine dada ji se promise kara tha." Ragini added.
Ragini hugged Pam who was in tears now. Even Nachiket's eyes were moist. He hugged them both.
"It's okay Ragini. In fact, I'm sorry meine tumhe galat samjha hamesha. I never tried to find out ke tumne aisa kyun kara." Pam said sobbing.
Nachiket broke the hug, "ab kya karna hai?"
Pam composed herself and went inside her room coming back with some papers in her hand. It was their contract marriage papers. She tore them into four pieces and threw them on the ground.
"Pam, yeh kara tumne?!" Nachiket and Ragini shouted together.
"Kya kara meine? Tum dono ne hi pucha nah kya karna hai."
"Lekin tum jaanti ho Pam hum saath nahin reh sakte."
Just then Ashaben enters the scene.
"Pam ne bilkul theek kara hai. Koi contract nahin hai ab. Tum dono puri umer saath rahoge pati patni ban kar. Bohot mazaak bana liya tum log ne apne rishte ka aur apne bachon ka." Ashaben said firmly.
"Asha ji is right. Hum dono tumse bade hain aur humne decide karliya hai." Pam adds.
Ragini and Nachiket look at each other.
"Mom, yeh kya hai?!" Ranbir is shocked. He and Aarav just came back home.
"Aap ne phir se Papa ko convince karliya? Aap chahti kya ho akhir, Ragini Patel?" Aarav shouted.
"Aarav!" Nachiket screamed.
"Nahin Papa. Aaj aap kuch nahi bologe. Yeh aurat hamesha control karna chahti hai. Aaj isne aap ko bhi convince karliya. Nivedita aunty sahi kehti thi ke dekhna kaise yeh Papa aur Bua ko bhi apni chaal mein phassa legi." Aarav cried out and then someone slapped him hard.
"Bas!! Ab aggar tumne Ragini ko kuch bola tou mujhse bura koi nahi hoga!" Pam shut him up and continued, "Tumhare Papa ke pass aaj phuti kodi bhi nahi, bankrupt hogaye hain woh! Ab kis ke pass jaoge tum?! Nivedita aunty ke pass?!" She yelled at him. "Tum Nachiket aur Ragini ki aulaad nai hosakte. Woh dono itne selfish nahi hain!! Afsos hota hai tumhe dekh kar mujhe! Aisi Maa mili tumhe jisne apni puri zindagi tumhare liye sacrifice kardi aur tumne use dukh ke ilawa aur kuch nahi diya! Aur kya din raat Papa papa laga rakha hai?! Tumhare Papa ki galati thi ke tum jail gaye! Unki irresponsibility ki wajah se gaye tum jail! Mujhse pucho kitna responsible father hai Neil! 16 saal akaile pala hai meine bachon ko. Bas financial role play kara hai tumhare Papa ne! Haan maana tumse milne nahi aayi Ragini jail me..jaante ho kyun?! Tumne tou kabhi koshish hi nahi kari hogi jaanne ki. Kyun ke tumhe woh us haal mein nahi dekh sakti thi!! Raaton ko soti nahi paati thi. Khaana bhi theek se nai khaati thi woh. Meine dekha hai usey chhup chhup kar rote hue!! Sub ke saath hote hue bhi nahi hoti thi!! Taras aata hai mujhe tum par, Aarav. Aur tum!" She pointed at Ranbir now, "Tum apni Ma se juda hue tou wo dono ki galati thi..sirf Ragini ko kyun dosh dete ho!! Mujhe samajh nahi aata koi bhi ghalat baat ho tum log ki zindagi mein tou ungli hamesha Ragini par uthti hai! Kabhi apne baap se naraaz hue ho?! Unka divorce hua tou dono ki galati thi. Lekin nahi, dunya mein joh bhi ghalat hota hai woh sirf Ragini ki wajah se hota. Tumhare Dad tou ghalati kar hi nahi sakte! Sharam aati hai mujhe tum log apna bhaateja kehte hue! Bas Agham aur Suhaani mere bachhe hain!" She breathed a sigh of relief, "Mein coffee bana rahi hoon. Kisi ko peeni hai?" She walked to the kitchen leaving everyone else shocked.
The End
Thank you for reading 😃
Hollywood
Sports
Cricket
