Prithvi comes back from work and walks towards Damini & his room. It's early evening and he is looking forward to spending sometime with Damini this evening, even though he knows that Damini is still behaves a little reserved around him.
Roshni has been dropping very heavy hints over the last couple of days that he needs to do something for Damini on Valentine's Day. With his limited expertise in the romance department, he can't figure out what would be an impressive gesture. Should he ask Damini ' Yeah Prithvi That would be really romantic ' he thinks sarcastically. Maybe he can take her out for dinner. Par Damini agar rajii nehi hui tho?
Maybe he will speak to Sameer ' Sameer has been celebrating valentine's day since he was 9. He has loads of experience - he will surely think of something.
He walks through the door to see Damini sitting on the bed and working her laptop. He says hi to her and Damini looks up and gives him a small smile.
He goes in to the washroom and to take a quick shower and changes into jeans & T-shirt.
He pauses near the door and watches her quietly for a few seconds while she is settling some papers.
He looks away as soon as Damini turns around.
D: How is the new client visit going Prithvi? Is everything under control?
Pri: Things are going quite well. Would you like to come and meet them tomorrow? Kal ek dinner scheduled hai unke saath.
D: Ummmm....I am not sure ' let's see ' agar Mann kiya tho.
Pri: Thik Hai ' Dekhlo. (thinks to himself ' Valentine's day dinner ke bare mein punchloo)
Actually Damini, I wanted to speak to you speak to you about something
A maid servant comes and knocks on the door ' Damini maam, aap se koi milne aaya hai.
D : Kaun Hai?
Maid Servant : Ji ek handsome sa banda (Prithvi is looking at her incredulously ' he cant believe she said that).
D : (Rolling her eyes) ' Naam bhi bataya iss handsome admi ne?
Maid Servant : Ji..Ji Maam ' Rahul Sinha bataya.
D : What!! Oh My god, Usse Niche kyuin bithaya?
Saying this Damini rushes out smiling widely..
Prithvi looks at her and wonders who this guy is?
He follows her slowly outside the room and stops at the top of the stairs as she runs down to greet her guest.
A tall guy is standing with his back to the stairs looking at the photograph of Ila Gujral & her daughters.
Damini calls out "Rahul" in an excited voice. The guy turns around (the maid was almost correct, he is a pretty decent looking guy) and says "Damini". He walks upto her fast and hugs her. Prithvi is watching all this from the landing of the stairs and feels his heart wrench when he sees his Damini being hugged by a stranger.
Damini : Rahul, How have you been and why haven't you called for so long. When did you get back to India?
Rahul : Just been caught up with a lot of things damini, with the new business expansion, have been out of the country for ages. I landed today and heard about Ila Aunty. So came to meet you. I am very sorry Damini. How are you doing now?
Damini : (Looks forlorn) I am trying to cope with it Rahul.
Rahul : And Avni & Rosh?
Damini : They are also trying their best. We are getting by together.
Rahul : I am sure Damini ' you always were a fighter. Literally. Yaad hai jab hum chote the tum mere sare dosto ko marthi thi ( he tries to cheer her up).
Damini (smiles) who sab ladke the ' hence they deserved to be beaten.
Rahul laughs hearing this & says - so what is this I hear? You got married and not to Inder.
Damini : No, Inder was a creep. (She mentions that Inder caused a lot of pain to her family)
Rahul ' "Dekho, Tabhi maine kaha tha ke Inder se shaadi mat karo, shaadi karni hai tho mujse shaadi karo. Afterall, I was your 1st and only Boyfriend, par nehi....tum chali usse magni karne."
Prithvi is nearly reeling hearing the 'B' word. Boyfriend!!!!
Damini is smiling again now hearing Rahul and says 'Tum bilkul nehi badle'.
Rahul ' "I got your wedding card ' yeh Prithvi Kaun hai?
Before Damini could answer, she feels the warmth of a familiar hand on the back of her waist. With his hand placed possesively on her waist, she hears him say "Because we fell in love".
She smiles to herself hearing Prithvi say this and feels contented in his touch. Damini looks upto Prithvi and he looks at her, daring her to deny it.
Rahul : Ohh You must be Prithvi ' Hello.
They shake hands.
Rahul congratulates them and then says he needs to leave early today as he has just landed and has a meeting scheduled.
He asks them if they can meet him for dinner tomorrow night. Damini says Prithvi has a client dinner lined up and hence can't make it.
Rahul : "Ohh I was looking forward to getting to know you. However since you are busy Prithvi, ( He takes Damini's hand) Can I take your lovely wife out for Dinner tomorrow night please?"
Prithvi's hand presses on Damini's arm possessively on hearing this, he doesn't know what to say. He finally says
'Damini makes her own decisions'.
Rahul : That's final then Damini, we will meet up tomorrow at 8:00 pm for dinner then. We have loads to catch up on. You take good care till then. It was nice meeting you Prithvi.
Later that night after Rahul left, Damini told him briefly that Rahul was the son of Dhiraj Sinha, Mr. Gujral's friend & business associate. The families have known each other for many years and have holidayed together sometimes. They shifted base to Chicago last year. Rahul was one of the very few 'guy' friends she had. She also mentioned that Rahul was very fond of all 3 sisters but closest to Damini.
She was smiling a little as she told him about Rahul and that bothered Prithvi the most.
The next morning Prithvi woke up and decided he needed to get back into the game with vengeance. He needed Damini to focus back on him and he was willing to involve drama for that. So he went to meet Sameer and pick on his over active brain. Sameer suggested that he makes Damini jealous.
"How and with whom" ' Prithvi had asked.
"Kyuin ' aap ki doosri mohabbat ' Toofan. Usske saath jyada time spend kijiye tabele mein, Bhabhi apne aap kheeche chale ayegi. She will do it either because she loves you or because she loves Toofan. Either ways she will come to you" ' he joked.
Prithvi thought, God, this guy is true follower of sadism. He was tempted to put Sameer in Toofan's way next time Toofan was out of control.
Avni came into the room at this point and said quietly " Jeej, aap jyada chinta mat karo, Rahul acha ladka hai ' woh aisa waisa kuch nehi karega. Di safely ja sakti hai usske saath."
Sameer : "Avni, tum bhaiya ko bhabhi ko patane ki ideas de rahi ho yea Bhabhi ki doosri shaadi karane ki koshish mein ho"
Prithiv is about to hit Sameer by now ...... "Sameer tu apna bakwas abhi bandh kar nehi tho Avni ko tumhe hospital jaa ka milna parega on valentine's day."
Avni gives a stern look to Sameer and then turns to Prithvi and says " Jeej, aapko kis se ideas le ni ki jaroorat nehi hai. Aap job hi karoge apni dil se karna aur Di ko pata chal jayegi ki aap unse kitna pyar karte ho."
Prithvi is distraught through day. He still cannot figure out what to do for Damini - Valentine's day is only 2 days away.
He can get over the way Rahul hugged Damini and the camaraderie they shared. He could cheerfully beat up that fellow. And no matter what Avni said, he felt angry and upset that Damini was so happy to meet Rahul.
Later that night :
Damini comes back from her dinner with Rahul and walks into a dimly lit room. She sees Prithvi standing near the window, looking into the night outside.
D : "Prithvi - Tum jaldi aa gaye client dinner se. How was it ?"
Pri : "It was ok. How was your dinner ?"
D : "It was very nice. I had a very nice time, I met .....
she pauses when she sees Prithvi looking a little upset, touching the juncture of the bridge of his nose and forehead,. A gesture he did when he was stressed.
D : " Kya Hua Prithvi..."
She looks around and says
D: "room mein itna andhera kyuin hai ?"
Pri : Walks towards her and says softly "jab zindegi mein ujjala nehi hai, toh room mein ho ke kya faida." (sorry a little filmi I know)
Damini's face became solemn hearing this. She realizes he is a little jealous and almost smiles at that thought. But then thinks, is he doubting her? He who broke her and her family's trust!!!
They stare at each other for a few seconds and Damini finally says " Main Tum nehi huin Prithvi. I won't betray someone's trust that easily, even yours.
She walks away leaving Prithvi standing alone feeling miserable...........
I meant this to be a short scene but turned out much longer than anticipated. Thank you for reading this rubbish and sorry for wasting your time 😳.
This is the 1st time I wrote anything like this - So please leave your feedback. I am ready for some well deserved brutal words.😊😳
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
