||ManYa FF - Against all odds|| Epilogue Pg 45 Updated-12.10.15 - Page 20

Neet it is so sweet of u to take my point into consideration

it was beautiful updte

Maybe neeti or jazz can also become the 20 the model but uma may play a new game ?

Hola everyone!

Took a break and decided to post this chapter to celebrate the show going off air and because I am mad pissed how the makers are trying to simply cash in on Mantu's popularity by mentioning his name randomly here and there.

Anyways, hope you enjoy the chapter and thank you for all the love!

Cheers,

Neet

Chapter 21

"Arey waah Rachitaji! You look absolutely stunning!" Rama commented. Rachita startled in response and spun around. The heavy weight ghagra she was wearing, spun in a circle with her. "Rama! You scared me!" Rachita said, turning back to the mirror as she tried on the earrings as well. "What is going on? Are you planning to dump me and get married to someone else?" Rama teased. Rachita shook her head as she said, "No Rama! This is all Amu's doing. She has convinced me to be a model in her fashion show as part of the Tourism Festival. Amu's team of tailors headed by our very own Barfi Miyaan just got this ready for me to try on and see if it fits. How does it look?" Rachita asked as she twirled in front of Rama.

She looked like a Goddess, Rama thought. In a pastel olive green lehenga and matching dupatta, both adorned with exquisite copperish gold Banarasi handiwork, paired with an ink blue short-sleeved choli that ended high above her waist, Rachita looked like a Goddess out of a painting, Rama thought. "Simply stunning," Rama said on sigh. "It's a gorgeous color combination I must say! Amu has always had an eye for color combinations and designs and styles. Maybe this is what she should do for a living," Rachita said as she turned this way and that in front of the mirror. "Hmmm.. And maybe you should become a model full time," Rama commented. "Rama! Stop teasing me now!" Rachita said. "Acha Rachitaji, you know when I asked you if you were going to dump me and marry someone else and you said no," Rama asked as he went closer to Rachita. "Hmmm.." Rachita answered distractedly as she fixed the end of her dupatta, her attention focused on the mirror. When she turned, Rama was standing right in front of her, a mischievous glint in his eyes along with something else, a deeper, darker hue that Rachita did not recognize. "Does that mean you want to stay married to me? That you like being married to me?" he asked still coming closer to her till she could feel his breath caressing her face.

Rachita had to take a quick breath at that. It was the first time he was flirting with her since their wedding and she realized, she no longer felt uncomfortable. The fluttering of her heart and the quick indrawn breath were sensations of a different kind. What was she doing? This was Rama, her brain chided her. Rama, her husband, her heart retorted. The very same guy who had held her hand at her weakest and pulled her through. The very same man who had lovingly nurtured her back to life from the emptiness she thought she had fallen into. Her husband, who had given her the time and space, care and understanding she needed when she needed them the most. Wait! Rama was her friend. A really good friend, her brain argued. It was good being around him as a friend. He made her laugh. He showed her the craziest and stupidest of masala Bollywood movies that made her laugh so much because of how nonsensical they were, she'd often have tears running down her cheeks from the laughter. He claimed he was the best cook ever but somehow, all his cooking experiments turned out to be disasters. She loved helping him out at the shop. Most of the time, they'd spend cleaning it or arranging things in a proper order, much to his dad's chagrin. He could be a complete kid, especially when he wasn't feeling well but she loved getting him to listen to what she said. He'd pout and protest but in the end, she always got her way. And she loved it. She loved him!

Rachita's eyes grew wide in shock at the thought. She loved him? How was that even possible? "I.. I need to go change and return these to Amu," she stuttered and stammered as she turned away from Rama and literally ran into the bathroom. "You didn't answer my question Rachitaji. But I have a feeling you will.. And soon.." Rama said to himself as he left the room.

***

"Uma! Are you out of your mind Amaya? Uma! Of all the people?" Mantu yelled when Amaya told him she'd found someone to be a model and it is was none other than Uma. "Mantu! Listen to me! Uma apologized. She genuinely regrets whatever happened and she wants a shot at making things right again and what better way than to help us by being a part of this?" Amaya asked. "I find it hard to believe," Mantu said, recollecting rather vividly all that Uma had said and done the last time they spoke. "Why is that Mantu? Why do you find it so hard to forgive Uma? Other people have said stuff about me too, then why are you unwilling to forgive Uma?" Amaya asked. "Because she was my best friend Amaya. She was like family. She was like a sister. She was supposed to know me and understand me and yet, to think of all the vile things she thought about you and me," Mantu said, his face contorting in disgust. "Exactly! Exactly Mantu! Uma was family. She still is. You don't just cut off ties with family because of a misunderstanding. Your tie with her is so strong which is why the wounds run deeper and bleed longer. But don't you think, for the bond that you shared for 20 years, you owe her one chance to redeem herself?" Amaya asked. "Why did she come talk to you and not to me?" Mantu asked. "She wanted to talk to both of us, but you had gone out. So.." Amaya replied.

Mantu stood thinking for a long moment before he turned to Amaya, "Fine! If you think Uma genuinely repents her mistakes, then I have faith in you. I won't accept her back all that readily because I really want to make sure she means it before I do. I will not have her hurting you or us again. But I will give her a chance. Only for you." Amaya grinned happily and threw her arms around Mantu's neck before placing a noisy kiss on his cheek. "Thank you! And I promise. I promise I'll keep boundaries with her till I am absolutely sure she genuinely has changed." Mantu pouted still, so she placed another noisy kiss on his other cheek. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips but he clamped it down to keep pouting. "That's all you get for now," Amaya said as she ruffled his hair and turned away.

But Mantu had other plans in mind. He caught hold of her hand and twirled her right back into his arms. Before she could even register what was happening, his lips claimed hers in a soft, almost playful kiss that spoke volumes of just how much restraint he was imposing on himself. It was over almost as soon as it begun and Amaya was stunned and rooted to the spot. "Now I feel better," Mantu grinned at her stunned expression and walked away whistling a tune under his breath. God, Amaya thought as soon as she could recover her senses, she could almost kill him at times for doing this to her.

***

"How do you not know that he is trying to find out about me?" Dev asked Rudra angrily. "Look. They don't live in the Mathur-Chaubey Haveli and you asked me to keep an eye on the happenings in the Mathur-Chaubey Haveli. How am I supposed to know? And as it is, before talking to Mantu, you could have asked me. I would've told you straight off the bat that he is not going to fall into your trap. He is too smart for that," Rudra replied, getting a little irritated. "Ask you? What did you just say? Why would I consult with a small time Banarasi thug like you who is nothing but a pawn in my game? And are you acting smart with me? Don't forget that it'll take me just one phone call and I can have you behind bars for life," Dev warned Rudra.

Behind bars for life my foot, Rudra thought. Let me succeed in my master plan and I swear I will teach you a lesson you won't forget for life. "Arey arey Dev Babu, aap tho bura maan gaye. I was just joking, joking. I will keep an eye on Mantu for sure. He is a sly one though," Rudra replied, his hand involuntarily went up to his face, remembering how badly Mantu had thrashed him up the last time. "He has always been a thorn in my path. If he hadn't convinced Rama, our plan of kidnapping Rachita and maligning her and the Chaubey's and Mathur's reputation wouldn't have gone waste. I should have done something about him right then," Dev commented. "So what? We will still have plenty and more of opportunity to take care of him. Don't worry," Rudra said. Dev turned and walked away.

"Sasura thinks he can keep making me dance to his tunes all his life. Well, he doesn't know Rudra yet. Ek baar, bas ek baar Neeti falls into my trap, then Dev Agnihotri will have no hold over me. After all, His Highness Gajanand Chaubey would be dancing to my tunes after that," Rudra smirked as he got on his bike and drove off.

"Dev Agnihotri! Dev Agnihotri and Rudra!" Mantu exclaimed as Rama and he came out of where they had been hiding. Rama had spotted Rudra heading somewhere in a hurry and informed Mantu. Rama had followed Rudra to his meeting place with Dev in this worn down building in the outskirts of the city and Mantu had joined him to listen in on their conversation. "How did we not think of this? Of course Dev Agnihotri would need a mole in the house to inform him of the happenings. And Rudra was the perfect one for the job," Mantu said, his thoughts forming and chasing each other at the speed of light. "Dev babu and Rudra were behind Rachita's kidnapping too!" "Rachitaji's kidnapping? You know about this? When did this happen? How do I not know?" Rama asked. Mantu bit his tongue for saying that out loud. He hadn't meant to. "Rama.. It doesn't matter.." Mantu said. "What do you mean it doesn't matter? You are talking about my wife here. It does matter to me. When was Rachitaji kidnapped and why?" Rama asked.

"Rama.. Let it be. What had to happen, happened. What is important now is that Rachita and you are happy," Mantu still tried to dissuade Rama from trying to find out the truth. "Mantu, swear on our friendship and tell me the truth," Rama said finally. Mantu let out a sigh. How could he hold out against that? "That day, after Rudra beat you up and you ended up in the hospital, did you have a phone conversation with Rachita?" Mantu asked. Rama nodded his head. "Rachita was upset after talking to you and she went out for a walk but did not come home for a long, long time. The whole family was worried. Amaya had heard your conversation with Rachita and was worried you might have a hand in her going missing, because she went to the hospital and found out you weren't there. She came to me for help.. To find out if you had anything to do with it," Mantu told Rama. "That's why you came to my house that night? To check on me? Really Mantu? You thought I could do something like that with Rachitaji?" Rama's eyes mirrored the hurt he felt.

"I did not. I did that only for Amaya, to prove to her that you could never do anything like that," Mantu defended himself. "Rachitaji got back home sometime early morning but before she got home.." Mantu trailed off as he wondered how to frame his next sentence. "What is it Mantu? What happened to her?" Rama asked feeling almost sick with worry. "Somebody had left an envelope at the door to Mathur Haveli. It had pictures.. Of Rachita.. And you.. In.. You know.. In each other's arms.." Mantu said. Rama took a step back from Mantu as his eyes widened in surprise, "How is that possible, Mantu? I never met Rachitaji that day! I was in the hospital till they discharged me at.. What time was it.. 8 o'clock? 9 o'clock? I don't remember. But I was in the hospital Mantu! How could this be? The pictures must have been morphed!" "I don't know Rama. I never saw the pictures. But Rachita said that all she remembered was she had gone out for a walk and when she woke up next, she was in a hospital room. In fact, the very same hospital where you were admitted. And there was a note with the pictures too that threatened that these pictures would be made into posters and put up all over Banaras by morning," Mantu replied.

Rama did not think his feet could hold him up any longer. He spotted a large boulder and went and sat on it, burying his face in his hands. "I didn't do this Mantu. I swear! Surely Rachitaji did not believe I could do this?" "I know you didn't. Dev Babu and Rudra had orchestrated this plan, to malign the Mathurs' and Chaubeys' reputation. Rachita and you were caught in the middle of their ugly plan. I am sorry Rama," Mantu placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "But Rachitaji.. Did she believe I had a hand in this?" Rama asked. Mantu paused just long enough for Rama to guess what the answer was, "For a while.. Yes.." Rama felt his heart sink. "Is there more to this? Chaubeyji must have been outraged. Did he see the pictures? Wait! Was this the reason they all agreed to the marriage all of a sudden?" Rama asked, the look on his face so pained, Mantu almost wanted to lie that that wasn't true. Instead, he remained stoically silent but Rama got the message loud and clear. He felt as if he could hear his heart shatter in his chest, feel each shard lodge in his chest painfully. This could mean only one thing. Rachitaji had never loved him. She had only agreed to marry him because of this scandal. She had never loved him.

****

"Rama! Thank God you are home! Where were you? I've been trying your phone for so long! Why didn't you answer? Babuji has been asking for you for so long! You had to go get the delivery of stuff for the shop today na? Did you forget? Babuji is really mad at you. You'd better watch out. But, where were you? You didn't even come to pick me up," Rachita trailed off as she saw how pale and stricken Rama looked. She went up to him and gently placed a hand on his forehead to check if he was running a fever or something, "Are you okay Rama? Are you unwell?" Rama finally met her gaze at that and Rachita noticed his eyes were red and puffy, like he had been crying. "Rama, say something! What happened? You are giving me a panic attack now Rama. Say something!" Rachita said, grabbing him by his shoulders. He looked her in the eyes as he asked, "Have you ever loved me Rachitaji?"

Rachita swallowed nervously, "What kind of a question is that Rama?" "It's a simple question Rachitaji. And I want a simple yes or no answer," he replied. His eyes were sore, his heart was sore but still, knowing it would only increase his pain, he kept a small flicker of hope alive that her answer would be a yes. "Listen Rama, I don't know.." Rachita tried to skirt the question the best she could but Rama cut her off. "Why did you agree to this marriage the very first time? What made you tell Gajanandji and Sneha Aunty that you love me?"

He knew the truth, she realized. He only wanted to hear it from her. Maybe this was the moment of truth. Maybe this was the turning point in their lives, she realized. Maybe it was time to lay the past to rest once and for all and move forward, without any of its shadows haunting them. "You found out.." it was more of a statement than a question. "You haven't answered my question - did you ever love me or not?" was his response. The truth, Rachita reminded herself as she said, "No."

And just like that Rama's heart broke again, so painfully, that Rama thought it could never be healed again. His broken heart seemed to throw out a lump of pain that lodged in his throat and he could speak no more, breathe no more. She did not love him. She never loved him. And he had been waiting like a fool. Like an absolute fool. He remembered the time he had proposed to her by the temple. She had rejected him then, she had rejected him now. From then to now, he had still been standing at that very same spot, he realized. What a fool, his alter ego laughed at him, mocked him as he stood mute.

"Rama.. I.." Rachita wanted to say something, anything, just so she could wipe that look of utter devastation off his face. How weird was it? She thought. The last time, when he had proposed to her by the temple, she hadn't spared him a thought before unleashing her wrath on him and telling him that she did not love him. It hadn't bothered her one bit. It had been his mistake. From then to now, so much had changed. She felt like that was a lifetime ago. And right now, she could feel his pain like her own. She wished she could have lied. But she couldn't and she shouldn't. Hadn't she been prodding her growing feelings for him just this morning? To give those feelings a chance, she had to start with the truth. "Rama.. I admit.. I admit I was never in love with you.. But.. What we have now.." Rama walked away and Rachita felt moisture trickle down her cheeks. He hadn't even let her explain. Maybe she should give him time. Maybe when he calmed down, she could sit him down and explain things to him. He would understand. He always did.

****

Dear Neet06, I have been an ardent reader of your take on TSM. You have completely justified each character and given depth to them. Your story line is progressive and most importantly captures the attention of your audience. Kash, this would have been the progression on tv rather than the pathetic story line by the current cv's...

Thank you and God bless you

omg...poor rama finally knows but bit impatient...love manya scene...so cute

That was awesome!! Loved Rama here so much!! I feel so bad for him!!! But Rama, Rachi loves you now!! Ugh I have a really bad feeling about Uma being in Amu's show :/ Hopefully Mantu will be have her back.

Fabulous Update Neet...
I loved the cute little ManYa scene you gave us... And then RaRa... Well though they did not end up happily... Rachi is realising her love for Rama 😃 and that's great...
So Rudra is trapping Neeti which was sort of obvious... And then there is Uma... She is definitely upto something... I am excited for the next update 😊

Neet, the write up was a complete justice to the eager wait throughout the week. Love the way things are shaping up between RaRa. ManYa is always at their best! at a time when TSM is leaving no stones unturned to hurt the fans, your updates are so refreshing!