Part 8:
After breakfast, Suman bid Preeti goodbye and made to leave.
Shravan got up: I will drive you.
Ramnath intervened: I am going to court and Tiwari Villa is on the way, I will drop Suman off.
Suman looked to Shravan from Ramnath. Shravan's smile fell, but he did not protest - instead, he gave her an apologetic smile.
Suman followed Ramnath out.
He did not hold back. As soon as they were in the car, Ramnath pounced on the issue.
Ramnath: What is going on?
Suman: What is going on with what?
Ramnath, angrily: Between you two! What is going on? Shravan changed overnight. Don't think I can't see that he has been smiling to himself.
Suman turned on her cell's recorder: So? He's happy, that is good right, Ramnath Uncle?
Ramnath snapped: Don't play smart, Suman. You told him, didn't you? You told him you love him and you broke your promise to me.
Suman: No, I did not. If you must know, he told me because he realized his own feeling. Just like I said he would. I have not broken my promise to you about not admitting my feelings to him first. And Ramnath Uncle, Preeti and Pushkar are now married, so you cannot threaten me with that anymore.
Ramnath smirked: No, it is true I cannot break their wedding apart anymore. (Pause). But I can break their marriage, if you encourage Shravan again, Suman. Keep your sights off my son!
Suman's heart skipped a beat under that threat: I was wrong, I thought you would not stoop to this, Uncle. But I was wrong...
She turned and asked the driver to stop. She got off and poked her head through the window.
Suman: I am no longer beholden to you and your promises. Your son is a grown man. If he has a problem with my independence, then I will worry. He can make his own decisions to be or not be with me. Until I hear it from him, I am not going to push him away just because you say so.
She turned on Ramnath's shocked face and left.
She looked down at her phone and, in her anger, decided that Shravan needed to hear this at once. She quickly jabbed the buttons and sent the audio to him through the app with the words, "You needed to learn the truth."
Shravan barged him to the PCT office. He looked really upset, and for the first time, that gave Suman peace. Finally, justice was done. Shravan was a lawyer and nothing would convince him other than evidence. Now he had the recording of his father's doings.
Shravan: I need to talk to you, in private.
Sumo: Sure. Let's go for coffee?
Shravan nodded and agreed to drive them over.
At the cafe...
Shravan, pleadingly: What are you doing, Sumo? Trying to turn me against my only parent? Bharka rahi ho, mujhe!?
Shravan: Look Shravan, I just wanted you to know what your dad has been doing lately. He pressured me, that is why I have been so cold with you. He threatened me with Preeti and Pushkar's wedding. He even offered to pay for it so that I would leave you in exchange.
Shravan: Bas, Sumo! I know Dad is overprotective and maybe yes, he did say we were not right for each other, but he would never hurt Preeti and Pushkar. I thought you knew him better than that to think so low of him. Has he not been kind to your throughout your life?
Sumo, annoyed: That's precisely it, isn't it Shravan? I do know him better than that. He can do anything when it comes to you. Even separate you from your mother. His possessiveness when it come to his son is unhealthy to the level that he can begrudge his own wife!
Shrava banged on the table, knocking their glasses over and making her jump: We are not talking about Nirmala Ahuja here!!!
Suman grabbed hold of his hands: It is all related, Shravan... I am trying to over your eyes . Please LISTEN to me. It is not Nirmala Ahuja, it is still Nirmala Malhotra. Your dad is the one at fault here. He lied. He offered the divorce and threatened her to stay away from you. Just like he threatened me! Your mom never left you of her own will, Shravan. Nirmala Aunty loves you, just like I do too!
Shravan extricated his hands from her and said gravely: That is enough! I don't want to hear one more word against Papa. He is everything to me. I can't believe you took that woman's words and turned against my Papa who has been nothing if not kind to you. Don't think you can speak like this about him just because I love you. Papa is more important to me than anything and anyone else in the world. I will not stand and have him vilified like this, even by you.
Suman: Shravan, please. Dhere bolo.
She was panicking now that maybe she had gone too far in the interest of honesty and her impatience.
Shravan: KYUN!? You want everyone to know what a horrible person my Papa is, right?
He was such a baby. Even in their fights, she could not help but notice how adorably vulnerable her gentle giant could look. He pouted and huffed, but looked really upset to be getting mad at her in the same time. Sumo put a calming hand on him to make him sit down and apologized around her to the other people in the cafe.
Shravan whispered angrily to her now: Let me put this clearly for you, Sumo. I love you, my God knows I do. I would do anything for you, but don't ask me to give up the man who raised me alone for that. Because if it is a choice between you and him, it is always HIM I will choose. He's my Papa. My only Papa.
The hurt showed on Sumo's eyes now: Shravan, I never asked you to chose. And know that you don't come first for me either! (He flinched). Between you and Nanu, it is always him for me. But you need to see that your dad is not perfect and he has made some big mistakes too. Maybe warning me against you is not a big deal to you, but you MUST see that he cost you your relationship with your own mother! How can you not try to hear her case?
Shrava; I have heard enough, and frankly Sumo, I am not sure I want to see you if you hold such views about the man I worship and owe everything to. I meant the one I love to to look up to my dad with the kind of love and respect I look up to him with...but you... How long has it been since we have been together, Sumo? One night? And already you are talking against Papa. He was right, independent thinking women divide up families and you are no different. You just want to be right. You don't care how much it hurts me when you try to separate me from my Papa like this.
Sumo's voice shook in dread and anger: I can't believe you can accuse me of such pettiness and hold such a misogynistic view of me. If that is how you feel about me, then your love was very fickle. (Shravan's heart sank). I don't know what you are still doing here.
Shravan, aghast: What are you saying?
Sumo: I am saying it is best if we call it here, if your love cannot take a simple gust of well-meaning advice. I was trying to help you, Shravan! But you are too blind to see it. I was trying to be there for you and show you how your separation from your mom is hurting you, how your dad is responsible, but you just won't have it. So what is the point of us being together anymore? You don't want me to be an equal partner in your life.
Shravan went cold: Yes, I am blind. He's all I see. Thanks for breaking up with me and making this easier for me. So much for waiting 10 years for true love. You are really no better than Nirmala Ahuja. One night, it took you all of one night to break your commitment, at least she stuck around for a few years! (Sumo got goosebumps).
He threw some money on the table for the coffee and got up to leave.
Sumo grabbed the money and slapped it on his hand: Independent women, remember? Yes, I am like her. Go and live your lies and blindness. You turned down two women who loved you with all their hearts today, Shravan.
Shravan's heart was breaking at her cruel words, he crumpled the notes and stormed out before his tears showed to her.
So, what did you think?
Edited by Marybarton - 9 years ago
Pushpa Impossible
Financial markets and global economy
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
Hindi TV Shows
