A Second Chance (OS)

A Second Chance

[This story is based in an AU where Pallavi and Mandhaar were married for an year before he died and the following events take place two years after his death. The story is same until the sangeet episode and this takes place a few months after that. The Deshmukhs have genuinely made Pallavi their own.]

Pallavi was sitting in her shop in the dark. She was startled to hear the sound of a knock. She turned around to see Raghav.

"Woh main apna chaabi chhod ke gaya tha", he said.

"Haan pata hai, ek minute ruko", she replied while standing up. She walked over to the cupboard at the entrance. She took the keys out and presented them to Raghav. "Yeh lo"

"Thank you."

Pallavi nodded and turned around, walking back towards the inside of the shop.

"Tum aise andhera mein kyun baitha tha?", Raghav's response stopped her in her path and she walked back towards him.

"Meri dukaan meri marzi. Waise bhi aajkal bijli ka bhaav bohot zyada ho gaya hai."

"Saree ka dukaan, tum theek hai?", he asked, concern clearly visible in his eyes, "Main jaanta hai hum dost nahi hai, lekin phir bhi agar koi pareshani hai toh tum mujh ko bataa sakta hai."

"Bolne ko toh bohot hai. Utna time hai tumhare paas?"

Pallavi didn't know what suprised her more his question or her answer. They had come closer in the past couple of months but had not had a heart to heart yet. But something inside her told her to trust him and let her emotions out.

"Poora raat hai ", he replied as he sat down.

She looked at him for a minute and sat beside him. "Kabhi khud ke vichaaron pe gussa aaya hai?"

"Bohot baar," he replied

"Aaj meri shaadi ki teesri saalgirah hoti.", she continued,"Mandhaar ke guzarne ko kareeb do saal ho gaye hai. Aaj mujhe Mandhaar ke liye dukhi hona chahiye, rona chahiye par pata nahi kyun aansoon ki nahi aa rahe."

Raghav looked at her silently, allowing her to take her time to speak.

"Usne mujhe ek family di, woh family jiska saalon se maine intezaar kiya, Aai aur Baba. Usse pyaar karthi thi. Uske saath apni zindagi ke sapne dekhe the lekin aaj usse zyaada mujhe khud ke liye bura lag raha hai. Upar se ek ajeeb sa gussa aa raha hai us par. Aisa lag raha hai jaise kaash woh meri zindagi mein nahin aata. Woh toh chala gaya lekin mujhe peeche chhod diya. Kuch logon ke bartaav se aise lagta hai ki Mandhaar hi nahi, us din mere jeene ka haq bhi chala gaya. Mere sapne, meri pehchaan sab kuch uski asthiyon ke saath beh gaya. Main jaanti hoon ki ismein uska koi haath nahi tha lekin phir bhi pata nahi kyun us par gussa aata hai. Kya main itni matlabi hoon? ", she turned to him, expecting an answer.

"Jis Pallavi ko main jaanta hai woh matlabi ho hi nahi sakti aur kabhi kabhi khud ke baare mein sochna itna bhi bura nahi hota."

"Bohot umeed rakhte ho tum mujh se."

"Tumhara Mother India roop itni baar dekhne ke baad itna sochna banta hai."

Pallavi smiled softly at that. They both sat quietly for a while.

"Pallavi.. ek baat poochoon?",asked Raghav, "Agar jawaab nahi dena chahta toh mana kar sakta hai."

"Hmm .. poocho.."

"Tumne apne liye aage kya socha hai?"

"Shaadi ke pehle toh koyi sapne nahi dekhe lekin ab yeh dukaan hai.Iss dukaan ko aage badhaoongi. Pehle yeh sirf Baba aur Mandhaar ka sapna tha lekin ab yeh mera sapna hai aur isi mein main apni khushi dhoond loongi."

"Akele nahi padh jayega tum?"

"Shayad. Aayi, Baba ko issi baat ka darr hai. Lekin jab bhi phir se shaadi karne ke baare mein sochti hoon toh aise lagta hai jaise main Mandhaar ke saath galat kar rahi hoon. Apne pyaar ko jhoota saabith kar rahi hoon."

"Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, film dekhi hai.. usmein woh dialogue hai, 'Hum ek baar jeete hai, ek baar marte hai, shaadi bhi ek baar hoti hai ... aur pyar ek baar hi hota hai'. Lekin phir bhi end main use Anjali se pyaar ho hi jata hai. Meri amma kehti hai ki insaan ka dil bohot bada hai. Mandhaar ke liye tumhaare dil mein humesha jagah rahega lekin iska yeh matlab nahi ki tum kisi aur ko bhi ek jagah de nahi sakta. Woh iss duniya mein nahi hai par tum hai aur tumhe pyaar karne ka aur khush rehne ka haq hai. Aage badhna paap nahi hota."

" Kahin na kahin yeh jaanti hoon lekin phir bhi aage badhna itna aasaan toh nahi hota."

He looked at her with understanding.

"Waise bhi college mein mera koi best friend nahi tha." Both of them broke into a smile.

Pallavi stood up."Mujhe ghar jaana chahiye. Bohot der ho gayi hai. Aur haan.. meri saari baatein sunne ke liye thank you." He nodded in reply.

As they walked out of the shop, Raghav offered to drop Pallavi home, she waved the offer off and began walking towards her scooter. Just before she reached the scooter she turned and walked back to him.

"Ghamandi Rao, aaj se dost?", she extended her hand towards him.

He shook it and replied, "Toh dost hone ke naathe main yeh keh raha hai, zindagi ko ek aur mauka do woh khud sab kuch theek kardega."

Pallavi smiled as she went back to her scooter. She felt like a weight was lifted off her chest. On her journey back, as the wind blew across her face, she felt alive; ready to give life a second chance.