AbhiGya TS Faasle Melon Ki Hai
Part II
Mithali was roaming around the Dusshera party all alone. Her mother-in-law and Badi Dadi were resting, Raj was busy with his friends and she hasn't saw Aaliya anywhere. She missed Meera. She has formed this close bond with Meera over the years.
Meera has gone to stay with her friend as her friend underwent a surgery and had no one to look after for. They know Meera. If she got to know about Rhea then she would abandon anyone and come running back. This is the reason no one told her about Rhea's condition.
But Meera was supposed to come home for Dusshera. So Mithali couldn't control herself from making a call to Meera.
"Mithali bhabhi" Meera answered the call excitedly.
"Hey Meera, when will you reach here? I'm waiting for you all day" Mithali said.
"I'll be there in an hour, Bhabhi. I'm on the way"
"Accha, toh jaldi aa jao. I miss you"
"I miss you too bhabhi"
With that the call ends.
"Meera is such a sweet person. She deserves all the love and happiness. But she wants Abhi's love which is not possible. Everyone knows Abhi would never let go of Pragya. But it would be nice to see Abhi and Meera together"
Mithali was talking to herself. Her eyes sparkled with the thought of Abhi and Pragya. That was when a person crossed in front of Mithali. She broke out of her dreamland.
Pragya crossed in front of Mithali, giving instructions to the waiters.
It happened so quick that when Mitali gained her sense and looked around, Pragya was nowhere to be seen.
"Did I just see Pragya?" Mithali's face was fear stricken "Or was I hallucinating? Oh gods ji, what is happening here?"
Mithali felt dizzy. If it is her imagination then it's fine but what if Pragya was really here? That possibility scared her. Mithali grew more and more restless.
"Oh Gods ji!"
~ * ~
Rhea was looking for Dimpy. She got a text from Dimpy that she has reached the party venue but Dimpy is nowhere to be seen. As she looked around for Dimpy, her gaze fell on Pragya.
Pragya was instructing the waiters. She checked every tray before sending it out. Rhea quickly hid behind a bush and looked at Pragya.
Pragya was instructing the waiters to serve everyone with a smile. She asked them to do it with love. Pragya's face had a smile which strangely warmed Rhea's heart. A smile kissed her lips as she kept staring at Pragya.
Whenever she sees Pragya, even if she wanted to hate Pragya, some part of Rhea couldn't just do that. She doesn't know if she can mend her relationship with Pragya. She's not sure if she can forgive Pragya ever. But looking at Pragya from far, this calmed her heart.
Unaware of all that, Pragya was doing her work. At that time two girls came to Pragya. One of them called her.
"Aunty"
"Haan, beta?"
"Aunty, I'm Payal. This is my sister Ridhi. My sister loves ice cream. Can you get us some?"
"Hi Payal and Ridhi" Pragya was all smiles "Sure, I can get you two some ice creams. What's your favourite flavour?"
"My favourite flavour is Chocolate" Ridhi smiled, showing her teeth.
"And you, Payal?"
"I like Vanilla"
Pragya instructed a waiter to get ice cream for the girls. The sisters were so happy that they hugged Pragya. Pragya returned the hug with a huge smile.
"You're so sweet, aunty. I like you" Ridhi giggled.
"Me too" Payal chirped in.
"And me too" Pragya broke the hug "So you guys are sisters. Now tell me, who is the naughtiest one and who is the responsible one?"
Pragya was conversing with the sisters, asking them questions about their sisterhood. Rhea was watching all this. Somehow she longed to have what Payal and Ridhi had.
When the ice cream came, Pragya gave the chocolate one to Ridhi and Vanilla to Payal.
"You two remind me of my own daughters. This is exactly how they would be" Pragya said, a small smile dancing on her lips. She was picturing Prachi and Rhea on her mind from the start but she can't voice it out.
"You have daughters?" Payal asked.
"Yes, I do. Both are my world. Two parts of my heart"
Rhea's eyes moistened but she still had a stiff face. Does Pragya think about her other daughter often? Then why didn't she look for Rhea all these years?
"You give them ice cream too?" Ridhi was the one to ask.
"I love them. I would give my life for them. Won't I give them ice cream?" Pragya said it more to herself than the kids "They are the second best thing that happened to me"
Second best? Rhea was curious now. Could the first best thing be the reason Pragya left Rhea? She wanted to know.
"Second? Then who is the first?" Payal asked.
"The first best thing that happened to me is my husband" Pragya said, a big proud smile on her face "He loves me more than anyone. He's a rockstar and the world loves him but he loves me. Although we fight a lot, he cares for me a lot. He could fight the whole world for me"
"Wow, he sounds like hero in movies"
"Well he is my hero" Pragya winked at the kids "Now go along kids. I have to get back to work"
The little girls thanked Pragya again and went on their way. Pragya watched them go with a smile. She would love to see Prachi and Rhea together one day. She is praying for that day to come soon. She turned around and went to look for Saritha ji.
Rhea stood there, tears in eyes. She's in a dilemma now. She doesn't know what to make out of what she saw. She had so many questions! If Pragya loved her two daughters then why did she give Rhea away?
Why did her parents separate if they love each other? She just heard Pragya saying Abhi is the best thing ever happened to her. Rhea also knows how much Abhi loves Pragya. Then what is the problem? Why did they separate? For 20 long years, they didn't meet each other yet their love remained the same.
Rhea needs to find the reason for their separation. She needs to get to the bottom of this. She knew Aaliya won't answer her properly. She has to find someone who can tell her everything.
"Rhea, what are you doing here, all alone?" Mithali asked.
"Nothing. I was just looking for my friend"
"You come with me. Everyone's waiting for you"
Mithali took Rhea with her.
~ * ~
Meera is on the way to party. She went to Meerut to look after her friend. Now that her friend is alright and there's festival at home, she planned to come back.
During her stay at her friend's place, she and her friend discussed about her feelings for Abhi. She felt she couldn't hide it anymore. Her friend encouraged her to be open about it to Abhi.
It doesn't matter if he accepts her or not, if she can tell him what she feels, then she won't atleast regret that she could never express what she felt. She can cope up with his rejection. But she should be atleast open about her feelings With this in mind, Meera was excited to reach the party soon.
~ * ~
Prachi was just guiding Mr. Malhotra to the food table when Pallavi called Prachi. Pallavi and Dida were standing with the entire Mehra family, save for Abhi, Meera and Aryan. Vikram was away, handling his business friends.
"Yes, Mam" Prachi emphasized on the word 'Mam' which didn't go unnoticed by Pallavi and Dida. They smiled inwardly.
"We all are getting thirsty, bring some juice for all of us. Make sure to bring it soon. Your service should be upto the standards for what we are paying you"
The Mehra's were talking to one another so none of them heard Pallavi's conversation with Prachi except for Rhea. She was taken aback by the way Pallavi spoke to Prachi. She felt a pang of anger for a second.
"How can she talk to my sister in that way!"
But it faded as it came. Rhea took a deep breath and turned away while Prachi walked away, hurt.
When Prachi came back with two waiters carrying tray of juices, Pallavi made Prachi to serve everyone. Pallavi saw few use and throw cups scattered in the front area from where they are standing.
"Look at all these waste. Dusshera party is not over yet. Go and pick those cups, Prachi"
Prachi looked at the ground and back at Pallavi. How could Pallavi do this to Prachi? Despite everything she did for Pallavi's family, Pallavi is treating her this way. Her heart sank.
"Mam?" Prachi's voice was low.
"Why are you looking at me? Go and pick up the waste cups. I'm not asking you to do me a favor, I'm ordering you to do your work"
Prachi, with a heavy heart, walked towards the scattered cups. It's better to pick up trash than hear cruel words from Pallavi. She bent down to pick up the cups. Pallavi and Dida smirked at this while Rhea just saw Prachi picking the cups. Pain shot through her. She fisted her skirt, looking at her sister picking the waste cups. She couldn't resist it anymore. She was about to open her mouth but that was when Ranbir walked into the scenario.
"Harey, Ranbir beta, here have some juice" Dida offered him juice.
Ranbir was about to reply to Dida but his eyes fell on Prachi, who is picking the waste cups. His anger shot up.
"Prachi!" Ranbir's voice gained everyone's attention.
Prachi looked at Ranbir and stood up, still holding the waste cups in her hand. Pallavi was annoyed while rest saw the scene unfolding in front of them.
"Prachi, why are you picking these waste? Put it down" Ranbir said sternly.
"Ranbir, beta, I asked her to pick those waste. Is mein kya hai?" Pallavi said.
"Prachi, I said, put it down" Ranbir said, ignoring his mom's words.
"Ranbir! Mein tum se bath kar rahi hoon!" Pallavi snapped.
"Aur mein Prachi se bath kar raha hoon!" Ranbir snapped back.
"What has gotten into you Ranbir?" Dida came in support of Pallavi.
"What has gotten into me? What has gotten into you people?!" Ranbir fired back. Everyone was taken aback.
"Ranbir, what is this? Is this the way to talk to your elders?" Aaliya scolded him.
"I don't mean to disrespect anyone" Ranbir held his hands up on air "But how can you ask Prachi to pick these?"
"Because that's her job! She is our employ! She is working for us. So it inclu-"
"No, mom. This is not her job. She works at our office. This is party. She doesn't have to work here. Besides she's my friend. You made her pick waste! What were you thinking?!" Ranbir was furious and everyone could sense it in his tone.
"Ranbir, why are you making it an issue? Did Prachi complained doing this work? Don't talk to your mother this way, apologize right now!" Aaliya said.
"Haan Ranbir beta, this is not the way to talk to your mother" Mithali added. For some reason, she never liked Prachi. She reminded her of Pragya "You shouldn't raise voice against your mother for some employee!"
Pallavi was in tears by now. Prachi noticed it. She felt responsible for this whole situation so she bent down to pick the cups. She knows if she opens her mouth now then things would go out of hand. Rhea couldn't bear to watch any of this. As much as she hated Prachi for taking away everything from her, it doesn't change the fact that Prachi is her sister. So she left from there.
"Prachi, I told you to drop those cups!" Ranbir snapped. He was about to go towards Prachi when,
"What is going on here?" A clueless Abhi joined the group.
As Prachi is standing a little far from the group and opposite to Abhi, he haven't noticed her yet. Pallavi saw Abhi and took it as a chance. She remembered how furious Abhi was at the hospital.
"Abhi" Pallavi said.
"Haan, Pallavi, why are you crying?" Abhi asked confused.
"Abhi, you know how much I love my son, right? I have raised him with care and love all these years. But today…"
"What's the matter, Pallavi?"
"Chief-" Ranbir was about to say but Pallavi cut him in.
"But today, he is disrespecting me! He is snapping at me! He is raising his voice against me. All for an employee! He is humiliating me in front of others for someone who works for us! It's all because of her!" Pallavi pointed at Prachi.
Pallavi complained Prachi to Abhi because she thought Abhi holds Prachi responsible for Rhea's condition. What Pallavi doesn't know is that she's pointing her finger at Abhishek Prem Mehra's daughter! Aaliya felt like banging her head on the wall because she is sure what is to follow!
When Abhi turned around to see who the person was, he was rooted on his spot. Prachi stood there, tears streaming down her face. She still had those waste cups in her hand.
"All I did is to ask her to pick up the waste cups. That's what employees are for, right. But Ranbir made a huge scene out of it"
Pain shot through Abhi as he saw his daughter there in that condition, his eyes moistened. His eyes travel to her hands and back to her face. Everyone expected that Abhi would side with Pallavi and scold Prachi but Abhi shocked everyone by racing towards Prachi.
"Prachi, drop it" He raced towards Prachi and pushed those out of her hands "Why are you doing this work? Don't you dare do something like this again!"
To see his long lost daughter, picking waste like a worker in his own party.. His heart ached. Was Pragya right all along to keep the secret from Prachi?
"Sir" Prachi's voice was weak "I.. I co-"
"Kuch nahi bolegi tum" Abhi holds Prachi's hand and then look at her "You don't have to do any work, not this, never"
He wiped her tears and gestured her not to cry. He side hugged her while placing his hand on her hand. Prachi felt secure. Right from the start of the day, she was treated badly by everyone. She had enough. She let her tears out in Abhi's embrace.
"Kaha na, don't cry Prachi" He consoled her, without caring about anyone else.
Everyone was shocked, except for Aaliya who knows why Abhi is reacting this way. Sahana realized that the situation is getting out of hand. So she went from there to look for Pragya. She is the one who can sort this out now.
"Impossible Abhi! You are taking her side!" Pallavi argued.
"Pallavi! How can you ask Prachi to do this? We have so many people working, you could have told them! Never make Prachi do this kind of work. Actually she shouldn't be doing any work. Prachi...(looks at Prachi and back at Pallavi) Prachi is family"
At Abhi's words, Prachi looked at him. A strange happiness spread over her heart. She looked at him. His acceptance, his respect, his care and love mattered a lot to her.
"Kamaal hai Abhi! After what she did to our Rhea, how can we accept her as family?" Mithali said.
"Let alone us, how could you accept her as family after all that, Abhi!" Pallavi backed Mithali's argument.
"They are right in their place, Bhai. How can you accept her after what happened to Rhea?" Aaliya doesn't want to put Abhi in a situation where he tells the truth everyone but she spoke when Abhi was not here so she can't stay mum now.
"You know how Aaliya!" Abhi fired back at Aaliya. Turning to the rest,
"I don't hold Prachi responsible for Rhea's condition! I have faith in Prachi and it wo-"
"You have faith in Prachi? You saw the video Abhi! You were there with us. You said how you shouldn't have trusted Prachi all these days. You said you realized what kind of person she is"
Pallavi's words made Prachi look at Abhi. But this time her heart winced. Did Mehra sir thought that way about her?
"But th-"
"Not just that Abhi, you did said you hold Prachi responsible for Rhea's condition! Rhea set herself on fire because of Prachi! Remember how we saved her? How she was shouting in pain? How we rushed to hospital? How we waited outside the ICU while she fought for her life? All this is because of Prachi and Prachi only. And her mother? Her mother couldn't even control her daughter! After all that she still sent Prachi after my son! She knows no meaning for decent! This cheap low class people-"
Each words of Pallavi broke Prachi's heart piece by piece. Every allegations that Pallavi made, she winced at every one of it. What did she do to Rhea? Why is she getting blamed? And her mother? What does her mother had to do with any of this? She felt she have let down her mother as a daughter. Prachi broke down.
"Enough!!" Abhi yelled. Everyone jumped in their place but Prachi didn't even flinch.
"Accha hua ki mere papa mere sath nahi hai yeh sab dekhne" Prachi chocked out this words and run from there. (Thank God, my father is not here with me to see all this)
Ranbir was about to run after Prachi but Pallavi held him from running. He pleaded her to let go but she didn't.
Abhi was broken to hear these words from Prachi. For a second he couldn't process anything. His mind replayed how Prachi said those words and run away from the place. She wished her father isn't there to witness all this but he was right by her side all long! How could Pallavi say all those things! His legs started to run after Prachi but Aaliya stopped him by holding his hand.
"Aaliya, chod mujhe" Abhi tried to pull his hand out of Aaliya's grip.
"Bhai, relax. Calm down first"
"Aaliya, kaha na, leave me now" Abhi is near to loosing his shit "Leave!"
"Abhi, puttar" Badi Dadi called out but Abhi couldn't hear.
"Abhi, let her go. It's better this way" Mithali said while Raj asked Abhi to calm down.
"Why are you people doing this to me? Let me go" Abhi's voice cracked "Aap nahi samjhoge. Aaliya chod mujhe. I have to go!"
"Sir, the play for Dussehra is about to start. Vikram sir asked me to escort you all to your seats" A waiter came to inform.
Taking this as a chance, Abhi shrugged off Aaliya's hand and left from there. Everyone was shocked to see this behaviour of Abhi. Why is he running behind Prachi? After what happened with Rhea, they were sure he's angry at Prachi and would never forgive her but the tables have turned here.
Aaliya asked everyone to go with the waiter for the play. She slipped away from the group. She have to do something. Whatever happens, Abhi and Pragya shouldn't get together.
Pallavi refused to let go of Ranbir's hand and dragged him along. Ranbir had enough.
"Mummy, leave me" Ranbir said, tugging his hand.
"Ranbir! Don't you dare run behind Prachi! I'll tell everything to your father about how you and Abhi behaved. Only he can make you two to see sense. You'll not leave my side! Come along" Pallavi said in a strict tone.
"You're making a mistake, Mummy. What do you think you are doing? You're making my life miserable. How are you any different from Maya's parents?"
At the mention of Maya's parents, Pallavi let go of Ranbir's hand, shocked.
"What..what did you say?"
"I said Maya's parents! Why? Are you shocked? You are doing exactly what they did to me!"
"Ranbir puttar, what are you saying? We have good intentions for you. We are just trying to save your life!" Dida said.
"Trying to save my life? Dida, remember when I said I love Prachi? I stand by the same. I love Prachi and Prachi alone. How is humiliating Prachi and her family saving my life? I want to spend my life with Prachi, I love her. You can't even understand this then how will you do what's right for me?"
"Enough Ranbir! How can you say this to me? What did I do? I turned my heart into stone and did all that to Prachi. I don't have any enimity towards her but she's not the right person for you, Rhea is. What Prachi did to Rhea is terrible, don't you see that?"
"Hareey kya terrible terrible laga raka hai!" Ranbir snapped "Do you even have any idea what Rhea did to Prachi?"
"Ranbir! How could you talk about Rhea this way! You guys literally grew up to-"
"So what? That doesn't mean she will go on making plans to kill people and I'll support her" Ranbir yelled which shocked Pallavi and Dida.
"What do .. what do you mean?" Dida stuttered.
"Ranbir! Sharam karo! You are talking about a girl here!"
"When you humiliated Prachi and her family, tab yeh sharam bath nahi yaad aayi?"
Vikram, who came in search of family, was shocked to see them fighting. He listened to the last conversation of Ranbir and Pallavi.
"Ranbir! What is this? Is this the way to talk to your mother?" Vikram was furious.
"Dad, aap ka hi intezaar tha. Come, we'll finish it for one and all" Ranbir said "I have so many questions. You better answer me"
"Bath kya hai Ranbir?" Vikram's voice softened seeing Ranbir's state. Ranbir was trembling from anger, his eyes moistened.
"Leave that, tell me this. Are you a part of this drama or is it just Mummy and Dida?"
"Drama? I don't understand. Bath kya hai?"
"Accha, so you don't know?" Ranbir chucked "Toh mein batha hi detha hoon. You know what I saw my mother doing this evening? She was humiliating Prachi's mom and Saritha aunty. She treated them like servants, insulting them with words. Not just that, then she came to Dida and discussed how she and Dida made Prachi sweep the floor as servant"
Vikram was shocked. He looked at his mother and wife with accusing gaze.
"Beeji, Pallu, kya hai yeh sab?"
"I'm not done, Dad. Just few moments ago, Mom made Prachi pick up waste in front of everyone, calling her a servant. Mom also shouted at Chief when he sided with Prachi"
"Pallu! Is this true?" Vikram's anger turned towards his wife "What is the meaning of this? What is the necessary to do this? How can you humiliate a girl like this? Prachi is like family right. She has put her life on line for our son and this is how you repay her! Let alone that. We have certain morals and we live by that. Where did our good morals go? Is this the type of human we are? To look down on people because they work for us? Where is this coming from? The Pallu I know would never stoop this low"
"Vikram -"
"Aur Beeji, aap? Aap toh badi hai. How can you do such thing? Before few days you were all praises of Prachi. You even wanted to make her Ranbir's wife. How can you do this to that little girl? Is this behaviour suitable for people your age! No one has the right to humiliate people below them! Prachi and her family did us many favours. If they were to count all of it, we couldn't repay it ever!"
Pallavi was in tears while Dida felt guilty. Ranbir was relieved that there is at least one person who could see things clearly.
"Vikram.. we just wanted no problem in our Ranbir and Rhea's engagement. Isliye we did this" Dida said, ashamed.
Ranbir was shocked on hearing this. His and Rhea's engagement? They made him believe that he'll get to be with Prachi only to hide this from him?
"What do you mean by my and Rhea's engagement? Pyaar Prachi se kartha hoon, why would I want to get engaged to Rhea?"
"Ranbir, we know you love Rhea…"
"I never loved Rhea! She's a selfish, lying, manipulative person who can do anything to get what she wants!"
"Ranbir, stop! You are talking about Abhi's daughter" Vikram said.
"But I'm speaking the truth, dad. This is what she is. Mummy, you said terrible things about Prachi's mom today. But do you know this? Prachi's mom is the only reason Rhea is here now, not in some prison" Ranbir knows it's high time he has to tell them the truth. He have to make them believe.
"What are you saying Ranbir?" Vikram was curious.
"Ranbir, beta, what are you saying? Why would Rhea go to jail?"
"Haan, you heard me right. Rhea was supposed to go to jail but you know who saved her? Prachi's mom. Do you guys even have any idea what Rhea did with Prachi? Right from the drug case to Prachi's accident, Rhea hired them all. That video to defame Prachi, Sanju kidnapping Prachi, that office money case, it was all Rhea's plan. She orchestrated the whole thing to get Prachi killed"
Everyone was shocked at Ranbir's accusations. Is Rhea capable of doing that? They all have known Rhea right from her childhood. It was an unsettling accusation!
"Ranbir, I don't believe Rhea di-"
"I wouldn't have believed it If I haven't caught the truck driver who hit Prachi myself! I wouldn't have believed if someone else said this. But Prachi's mom, knowing all this, she didn't say a word against Rhea to police. Rhea agreed committing all these crimes to Prachi's mom. Phir bhi, she let Rhea go. When I confronted Rhea with it, she admitted it to me too. I made a promise to Prachi that I won't turn in Rhea. That is what stopped me from turning in Rhea"
The Kohli's stood dumbfounded.
"Think again, do Prachi's family deserve the way you treated them?"
~ * ~
Thank you.
Nan ~
Edited by Nan_ArHi - 4 years ago
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