Hello there!
Bio first:
Recent lurker and a newbie writer here.
Real world context:
With this Covid situation and serious lack of entertainment (didn't think this was possible), I find myself having some free time. So, I thought I'd explore writing as a pastime.
Tbh, I'm glad that the writers wrote the narrative bits for the leads to record from their home (although, I was kinda expecting this sooner, as the parent show did something very similar about a year ago already). I also think that this could go longer than our current expectations as there are multiple indicators worldwide that we haven't even reached the peak of this pandemic. This made me wonder how they could shoot new content with a skeleton crew. I figured introspective conversations coupled with more flashback, and a shortened episode time could be a plausible solution. Here is my imagination for one such episode.
Also note, these are intended to be one shots because I know that once life gets back to normal (whatever that may look like), this will become a chore.
Plot context:
I'm pretty sure they've already shot the reunion scene. I'm picking up after that. Let's assume, that just like in the real world, they were surprised by this sudden lockdown as well. So, they're at the resort, away from their family, and need to figure out how to get back home. Taking inspiration from the reruns that I saw last week, here's my imagination for what could happen!
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Abir and Mishti had just finished apologizing to each other when Kunal called them to ask their whereabouts.
"Bhai, aap aur Mishti ho kahaan? Itni badi problem ho gayi. Pata hai main kab se aap dono ka phone try kar raha hu?"
Abir looked at Mishti with a bewildered glance, wondering what's the new problem. He quickly put the phone on speaker and said, "Relax, Nanko! Pehle saas le, aur phir bata ki kya nayi problem aa gayi."
"Bhai, shayad aapne news nahi dekhi. Ye saas lene ka time to bilkul nahi hai."
Hearing the stress and urgency in his voice, they quickly rushed towards the reception area to watch the news on the TV. Wordlessly, they watched the news anchor broadcast the dire news of the 21-day lockdown beginning in just a few hours. They were just realizing that the public health situation in their country had changed drastically in the past few hours and days. Suddenly, it was being declared that they needed to stay home for the next 21 days for their own safety, and the safety of the entire country. They looked at each other; fear arising quickly for their family, friends and neighbors.
Meanwhile, Kunal was still talking on the phone; worriedly trying to figure out how to get them home. They could hear him pacing. "Aap dono ke paas to car bhi nahin hai. Ab aap ghar kaise aaoge? Main aap ko lene aajata hu."
"Nahi, Kunal!", Mishti exclaimed. "Iss wakt, Maa aur Naanu ko tumhari zyada zarurat hai. Hum car rent karke ya cab se aajayege." She knew that he needed to calm down so he can look after the family.
Before Kunal could protest, Abir rushed to reassure him as well. "Haan, Nanko. Mishti bilkul thik keh rahi. Aur waise bhi, jab tak tu yahan pahunchega, tab tak lockdown shuru ho chuka hoga."
Seeing sense, he responded, "Thik hai, Bhai. Par aap mujhe message karte rahiye. Aap yahan ki tension bilkul mat lijiye. Main sab kuch sambhal lunga. Aap bas ek dusre ke khyal rakhna, aur ghar jaldi pahunchiye."
Abir hung up the phone, and looked at Mishti's tensed face. He was sure that his face was also frozen in a similar expression. Their first thought was about their family: Naanu, Badi Maa and Bade Papa. Due to their age, they were at a greater risk of falling sick. The next few weeks were going to be difficult for all of them. Abir was the first one to speak.
He took her hand, and said, "Mishti, main jaantu hu tumhare mann mein ke kya chal raha hai. But trust me, kisiko kuch nahi joga. Jab tak hum sab ghar mein hai, hum sab safe hain. Tum cab companies ki website par jaakar book karne ki koshih karo. Tab tak main resort ke staff se puchta hu ki kya woh humein car rent par de sakte hai."
Mishti nodded her head, taking strength from his logical conviction. She set aside her fears for now, and went to work on her phone. The apps for the first two cab companies kept crashing repeatedly; probably due to the high volume of bookings being made by everybody. Refusing to get disheartened, she tried to search for phone numbers to book a cab by calling. Before she could get through to anyone, Abir returned. Judging by his expression, she guessed that he had better luck than her.
Relief coursing through her, she asked him, "Car mil gayi?" He shook his head to say no. But, there was still a smile playing on his lips, as if he had a surprise for her. She was certain that he was not being completely forthcoming. Before she could interrogate him further, he raised his hand to stop her, and began speaking. "Arey Angry Chorni! Violent mat ho! Batata hu. Car toh nahi mili, but ek scooter mil gayi hai." Looking into her eyes, he extended his arm with his palm open. His smile getting bigger, he murmured, "Kya tum ek baar phir, mere piche bethkar, mujhe directions dogi?"
The minute he finished his sentence, they both remembered their first scooty ride to Champaner.
(Flashback scene with the starting conversation and flowers)
On that dark night, she didn't want to acknowledge the relief that she felt at finding him safe; she didn't want to know why she herself felt safe after she found him, as if he was her safe haven. She thought that their relationship had changed irreversibly because of the revelations of the past few days. But, she didn't realise that deep down, she still considered him her friend. And, that, for Abir, was enough for now.
The happiness and relief that was coursing through him, when he saw her with the scooty, was unparalleled. But, he knew that he couldn't overwhelm her with his feelings yet. He needed to regain her trust, her friendship, and then, her love. That trip changed their life completely in the best possible manner.
Smiling softly at him, she responded yes. She laid her small palm in his much larger palm. His fingers curled around hers in a protective manner, still unable to believe his luck.
(Flashback scene with shayari)
Tum chalo agar saath toh, hai raaste manzil se behtar,
Iss chand ko iss raat ko, kal karenge yaad hum,
Ke iss lamhe hua the, ishq mein barbaad hum,
Ab toh bas ek khwab hai, ho tere hothon par hasee,
Tu muskurati hai to lagta hai yeh duniya yeh haseen,
Tum chalo agar saath toh, hai raaate manzil behtar.
Breaking out of his reverie, he put his other arm around her shoulder, and leaned down to whisper suggestively in her ear, "Waise, agar iss baar tum mere ghalat fayda uthana chahti ho, toh main kuch nahi kahunga".
(Flashback scene with the banter about Abir feeling safe)
"You, Ajeeb Rajwansh! Aise time par bhi, tumhare dimag mein aise khyal kaise aa sakte hai?", she asked him in an incredulous tone.
"Arey! Ab toh hak hai, tumhara aur mera! Biwi ho tum, yaar!", he shot back at her, and pulled her even closer. She looked at him, and smiled a little at his determined attempts to distract her and said, "Thanks, Abir, mera mood light karne liye. Main ab thik hu."
He smiled back at her and tentatively asked, "Waise, tum mere saath Rajvansh Sadan hi aarahi ho na... I mean jo kuch bhi Kuhu ke saath hua, aur jo maine kiya, I'll understand agar tum apne Bade Papa aur Badi Maa ke ghar jaana chaho."
Recognizing that he was also hurting after their fight, she put her hand on his cheek and said, "Abir, tum nahi jante ki pichle kuch ghante maine kaise bitaye. Shayad tum mere bina rehloge. Par main nahi. Isliye, hum jahan jayenge, saath jayenge. Kyunki agar tum saath ho, toh sab thik hai." She unconsciously echoed the same lines that he had thought, but hadn't vocalized, on that first scooty ride.
She slipped out of his arms, and walked away a little, as if distancing herself from the recent fight. Hearing the remnants of hurt in her soft voice, he made another on-the-spot decision. "You know what, hum dono Maheshwari house jayenge."
She whirled back towards him, and exclaimed in surprise, "What?" Walking towards her, he attempted to explain, "Pichle kuch dino mein jo kuchh bhi hua, uske baad I think tumhe aur Kuhu ko ek dusre se break lena chahiye. Agar hum iss 21-day lockdown mein saath rahen, toh I'm sure din mein ek-do jagede toh hote rahege. I mean, humein drama ki aadat hai. Par yeh thoda zyada ho jayenge, nai?," he added in a joking tone.
Unable to wrap her head around his decision, she asked, " Par Abir, Naanu aur Maa ka kya?". With a sigh, he responded, "Unka ka khyal rakhne ke liye, Nanko aur Kuhu hai. Badi Maa aur Bade Papa ka bhi toh khyal rakhne ke liye koi hona chahiye na. Main unka bhi beta hu; unke taraf mere bhi kuch responsibilities hai."
Even though he was pretending to be nonchalant, she noticed his tensed posture, and the jerky hand gestures. She put her hand under his chin, and lifted his face so she could gaze into his eyes. Abruptly, she realized that his worry for Naanu was killing him, and that he was doing all of this for her "Ajeeb admi, tumhein mere liye aise kuch karne ki koi zarurat nahi hai.", she murmured softly.
Unsurprisingly, his angry chorni understood his emotional state only too well. Unsurprisingly, she again blamed herself for it. He held her face in his hands to reciprocate how precious she was to him and said, "Main ye hum dono, aur hamari puri family, ke liye kar raha hu. Trust me, yahi hum sabke liye best hai." After gazing at him for a moment longer, trying to determine if he was saying the truth, she finally nodded yes, and gave in. He let go of her face, and began pulling away. But she still held on.
Wanting to distract him now, she looped her arms around his neck, and stretched upon her toes. Reflexively, he, too, leaned down towards her.
(Dheere Dheere bgm)
Very slowly, she moved closer to his face, and kissed him softly on his cheek. His eyes closed in peace and contentment; she was his heart, his home. She moved her lips closer to his ear and whispered, "Tumhari chinta kiss ke badle mein, yeh raha mere actual kiss." Rather than seeing, he felt the smile in her voice. In response, his own lips turned up, and he again marveled at her ability to relax him.
When she began to move away from him, his arms slid around her waist to pull her back to him. Her entire body was now flush against his. Staring into her eyes, his one hand crept up to her face. In a low, husky voice, he whispered, "Aur isse kehte hain, mauke ka fyada uthana." His fingers were tracing her cheekbones, inching closer to her lips. She was watching his lips move closer to hers.
On one hand, she wanted to kiss him; on the other hand, she didn't want to start anything that they couldn't finish. So, before he could kiss her, she hid her face in his chest, and murmured in a low voice, "Abhi nahi."
Her arms went around his waist, and up his back holding him close to her. Although her voice was muffled, he understood her. With an exasperated smile, he returned her hug. They gave and took strength from each other; there really no place more comforting for either of them.
(Saathiya bgm)
Finally, she raised her head, and whispered, "Humein chalna chahiye." Holding her for a moment longer, he nodded. They both moved away from each other; but, didn't let go of their hands. Hand-in-hand, they headed out into the world to face their problems.
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