PART THREE:
Abhimanyu has taken Riddhima out of college, for a surprise (it's around 4pm).
Abhimanyu: (thinking to himself) I wonder if you know how much you mean to me Riddhima. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world... and yet... (voice in his head) Arrey, what's wrong with you Abhi? Don't doubt what you already have.
Riddhima: Abhi, it's been half an hour since we left. You know we have class in an hour. Couldn't you take me later, you know, like after the presentation... oh my God, the presentation! Abhi, how am I going to present it? It's such a bad diagnosis. (starts badmouthing her presentation)
Ab: (smiles) Riddhima, darling. Relax. Deep breaths. You know your presentation is perfect jaan, it's just nerves. (starts singing softly)
Dil kya kare, jab kisi se... kisi ko pyaar ho jaaye.
Jaane kahan jab kisi ko... kisi se pyaar ho jaaye.*
R: (giggles) Abhi, you always make me smile. I'm glad we're away from school. I'm going crazy thinking about this presentation, and here you are; knowing exactly how to de-stress me.
Ab: I'm glad you're enjoying yourself.
R: Where are we going anyway?
Ab: Rids, it's a surprise. (glances at her, and smiles)
R: You know I'm not too fond of surprises... but, hang on, this looks familiar. Like really familiar... ABHI! My favourite beach! We haven't been here in ages!
Abhi stops the car, and Riddhima excitedly gets out, and admires the beach before her. Before she can walk towards it, Abhi blindfolds her, and leads her to a picnic area.
Ab: (whispering in her ear) There's a lot we haven't done in awhile...
R: (giggles) Don't tell me...
Ab: Tada! (takes off the blindfold)
R: Abhi! You're recreating our first date! Right down to the same drinks and food. You knew I had been thinking about this day for awhile. Do you remember Abhi? I just knew that I would be with you from that one date. And three years later, look where we are. I love you for this.
Ab: (smiles, and leads her to the table)
Riddhima and Abhi enjoy their afternoon with a lot of memories being re-created. They decide to take a walk along the beach when suddenly Riddhima's phone rings.
R: WHAT?! You can't be serious. No! Make her understand. Khanak, don't let her leave like that. I don't care, make some excuse. I'll be on my way ASAP. Khanak, make Nikki understand!
Ab: (looks at her startled) Ridzy, kya hua? What's wrong? Sweetheart, please tell me!
R: (still in shock) Abhi, I need to get back home.
Ab: Alright, alright. Take deep breaths. We're not far away. (leads Riddhima back to the car, and makes his way to her house)
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An hour earlier...
Shaan and Nikita are making their way back to Nikki's house.
Shantanu: Princess, are you sure you're alright? You've barely said a word the entire time we were shopping. Was the shirt I bought that horrible? I'll return it promise... (smiles, and then notices Nikki's unresponsiveness)
Nikki: (thinking to herself) I can't go back home. She'll start up again, and I haven't got the strength to argue, not after yesterday. (whispers) Shaan, can we not go to... I mean, can we go back to yours instead?
S: Nikki, why are you whispering? Of course we'll go to my place. But I thought you wanted to grab some clothes pagal. Wasn't that the point of this field trip?
N: I can't do this. I'm not going inside. Shaan, I can't face her, not after last night... not when she'll only start up again.
S: Princess, she's not even home, the Merc isn't parked in the driveway. It'll take five minutes, not even. In and out, and then we can go back to mine... Mum misses you a lot, and then once she's fed us enough for several lifetimes, I'll drop you off to Rahul Bhaiya's place. Sound good right? Well, I happen to be a master planner. (laughs)
N: (manages a small smile) Okay, let's be rational. She's not home... (steps out of the car) She's not home... (walks to the front door) She's not home... (opens the door and rushes upstairs) She's not home!
Nikki quickly packs an overnight bag with clothes and essentials, when she hears two voices arguing downstairs.
N: (thinking) It's nothing important. I just need to finish packing. Just finish packing...
Downstairs, the voices start getting louder, and although Nikki does her best to stay calm, she can't control herself and listens from the top of the staircase.
Shashank Gupta: Asha, please understand! You can't hold her responsible for what happened between you and Rajeev. She was only a child Asha! A child who has grown up thinking her parents would rather her dead!
Asha Gupta: I don't care Shashank. She doesn't deserve to be here. After all I've done for her, it's never good enough. I should have never allowed her to come and live with us. Let her go back to her dearest father, I don't want her in my life. That's it Shashank. We were a perfect family before she came. And lately, it's only getting worse.
Shashank: Asha, Nikki is going through a phase. She's hurt, and very confused. You're not helping by arguing with her. And after last night Asha, I wouldn't be surprised if she chooses not to live with us anymore. The things you said... (holds his head wearily)
Asha: Shashank, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you with this. But she's always defending Rajeev, always. I'm always the bad person in their relationship. I just want things to go back to what they were, before Nikki came back into our lives... Did you hear that Shashank? (looks up) Nikki!
Before Asha or Shashank can say anything, Nikki wipes her tears, grabs her bag, and runs downstairs to the front door...
Shashank: Nikita, beti. Please don't go. We can resolve this.
N: I'm sorry Mr.Gupta, but there's nothing you can say or do that's going to make me stay. She obviously wishes I were dead. Always the bad person... hah. Listen to the self-pity, always the drama queen. I'm sorry you have to live with her Mr.Gupta. I'm sorry your daughters have to live with her.
Asha: How dare you Nikita? After all Shashank has done for you, that's what you say? He is a better father for you than your own... At least respect him if you can't respect me.
N: I do respect him Mrs. Gupta. I respect him a lot more than I'll ever respect you. He has patience, and a lot of wisdom. All you've ever given me is hate. I know you hate me Mrs. Gupta. I know you wish I'd died at birth or something. But let one thing be clear, you can argue with me all you like; I will not hear anything against Dad. (in a sugary sweet tone) Oh, and please don't worry about me, I won't be coming home. I don't care about my things, rip them, burn them, I don't care. All I know is that I'm not coming back.
What Asha, Shashank and Nikki don't know is that Khanak has heard their argument, and she calls Riddhima.
Khanak: Di?
All notice Khanak standing in the doorway, tears streaming down her face.
Shashank: Khanak, don't cry. Your sister isn't going anywhere.
Asha: Khanak, sweetheart. Come here, it's alright.
N: Kaz, don't mind me. (smiles) Pagli, why are you crying? Your mother just made a few things clear is all. Nothing to worry about.
Asha: Khanak beti, I'm sorry you had to hear that. Chal, let's go wash your face, and I'll make you something to drink. (walks away into the kitchen, with Shashank following)
N: (under her breath) Oh that's right Mrs. Gupta, you only have two daughters.
K: Di, you're not going. Please Di. Not like this.
N: Kaz, if I stay here any longer, I'm going to end up crazy. I can't live in a house where there's no place for me.
K: There's always a place for you here. Dad, Ridzy and I love you so much. And Mamma is making an effort to understand you.
N: Understand me? What has Mrs. Gupta been telling you Khanak? She wishes I hadn't been born.
Asha: (walks back to the front area) Yes, tell yourself that Nikita. And what happened to leaving? Have you decided not to go? I don't need more disrespect from you Nikita, so go before I lose my temper.
N: Hah, disrespect. At least learn what it means before anything. Oh, and don't worry Mrs. Gupta, as I said, I'm not coming back. So have a good life Mrs. Gupta, and I hope you end up regretting it all. (storms out)
K: Di! (runs to catch up to her) Please don't go. Please.
But it's too late, Shaan has already driven off. Just then, Riddhima gets out of Abhi's car.
Riddhima: Khanak? Where is she? (hugs Khanak) Do you know where she went? (notices Asha in the doorway) Mamma, you let her go? (takes Khanak inside the house, and walks back out to tell Abhi to go home)
Ab: Ridzy, are you sure you'll be alright? I don't want to leave you in this state.
R: I'll be alright. Just need to calm Khanak down. If Nikki is at your place, please tell her to call me.
Ab: Alright. Call me if you need anything. (kisses her on the cheek and drives off)
R: (to herself) I need a lot Abhi, but no one's ready to help me. I need Nikki back at home; I need Mamma to forgive her if she really has done anything wrong. I need my family back.
Riddhima walks back inside to find everyone in their own rooms.
R: I guess no one's ready to talk. (walks upstairs to Nikki's room) Nikki, why'd you leave? We need you so much. I need you back. (notices a letter addressed to her and reads aloud)
'Ridzy, I'm sorry. I know you're hurting because I left, but we both knew it was inevitable. I won't step foot in your house until your mother can accept who I am. I don't hate her, but I know she hates me. I love you forever, and I'll be at Muskaan's place if you need me.'
Nikki, I love you too. And she doesn't hate you, she just needs time. Please come home. (sobs)
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In Shaan's car, Nikki is extremely quiet, and nothing Shaan says gets through to her. They reach his house.
Nikita: Shaan, are my eyes really swollen? I don't want Aunty to get upset again.
Shantanu: You look fine. Adorable even. (smiles) We can talk about what happened later. The most important thing is that you're nowhere near your mum, and you can breathe freely now.
N: Oh yeah, breathing. (smiles) Thanks for being my rock Prince Charming. Chal, I'm hungry. I wonder what Aunty made.
S: You're always hungry. (laughs as Nikki swats him) Hey, fighting outside of my baby, not inside.
N: (rolls eyes) Alright already... Mmm, I can smell it already.
Nikki and Shaan make their way inside, and before they reach the kitchen, someone runs and bumps into Nikita.
Ayush: Nikki Chachi! YAY! Me was telling Mamma you'd come. Thee Mamma, Nikki Chachi's here.
N: (picks Ayush up and walks into the kitchen) Hi Chote Nawab. And as if I'd miss your Dadi's cooking. Hi Aunty, Bhabi looking good (winks). Oooh, Rahul Bhaiya? You're cooking? Mmmmmm.
Rahul: Yes Nikki. Mum should be proud that at least one of her sons learnt how to cook. (smiles at his mum)
S: Bhaiya, that's not fair. I'm learning how to cook. Hai na mummy? (smiles at his mum)
Muskaan: Ai hai. What a cute picture. Mummy's boys. (giggles with Nikki) Where's Mr. Khadoos and Mr. Flirt though?
Armaan & Abhi: (simultaneous) Hum yahaan hain! Chal, we're going to cook as well. (smiles at their mum/aunty)
Everyone cracks up in laughter, and Ayush just watches all the adults amazed.
Ayush: (whispers) Nikki Chachi, when I grow up, can I cook as well?
N: (giggling) Why don't you start cooking now? Help Dadi out in the kitchen. Mamma and I will watch.
Ayush: Yay. Dadi, I wanna cook too. (smiles at his Dadi, and Rahul picks him up)
Muskaan: Wow, complete family picture. Well almost anyway. Dad kahaan hain?
Prerna Modi: You know him Muskaan. Always at work. He said he'd be home just before dinner. Anyway boys, make sure you don't make too much of a mess. I plan to sit with my daughter-in-laws and relax.
N: (looks up) Aunty, if you don't leave the kitchen, they'll expect you to make dinner. Come sit. (smiles)
Abhi: Oh really Nikita. Mum taught us well, thank you.
N: She might have taught you well, but that doesn't mean you learnt. I'd like to see you make roti. (giggles with Muskaan and Prerna)
Rahul: Abhi, you still don't know how to make roti? Come on yaar. It's not that hard. Chal, I'll help you.
The afternoon is spent enjoyably with Prerna's sons and grandson making dinner, and her daughters giggling away at their mistakes. Finally dinner is ready, and Mr. Rishabh Modi is home.
Rishabh Modi: Oh wow, I'm home, and dinner is on the table. Smells good, looks good... but I wonder if it tastes good. If it doesn't boys, you'll be doing the dishes as well. (smiles cheekily)
Boys (in chorus): Dad! That's not fair. The girls did nothing.
Abhi: (under his breath) Especially Nikki.
Rishabh: (noticing Nikki and Muskaan giggling) Arrey, my two favourite daughters are here. Nikki, you & Muskaan shall be head taste-testers. And if anything tastes bad, you get to tell them what to do. Deal?
Nikki: Uncle, you're just too kind. (giggles at the sight of the boys' faces) Don't worry boys, I won't be that harsh. Rahul Bhaiya and Ayush's chilli prawns look too good to resist.
Ayush: Dada, dada. I helped too. Can we eat now?
Everyone laughs at Ayush's remark, and sits down to eat.
Precap to Part Four:
Prerna: Nikki, aaja. I know you're upset.
Nikki: (sniffles) I'm so confused Aunty. What do I do?
Muskaan: Nikki, you're living with us is what. My little sister isn't going anywhere else. Acha?
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And that's Part Three finished.
*The song I used was "Dil Kya Kare" from Julie.
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