[Somewhere undisclosed]
A lone figure is pacing in the darkened room, coursing through the leaf of papers neatly stacked in the file in his hands. He's studying each of them with scrutinising eyes, hoping not to miss out a single word. Only when he is completely satisfied does he pursues the next page. At one corner of the room, the huge soft boards are faintly visible as the light from the single bulb on the ceiling struggles to reach the nooks and crannies of the room. The photographs of both Raizada family and Gupta family members are still visible on it.
The other side of the room however has an assortment of some complicated looking multiple screen system. There are about 12 screens in all and they are all giving in live feed of grainy videos from different points all over the Raizada Mansion. Shyam looks up and gives a cursory glance to see who was where; Naniji's room was clear, so was Mamiji and Aakash's. Shyam saw the ladies flitting between the living room and the kitchen. NK was nowhere to be seen which could mean he was out meeting his friends again. Aakash's and Arnav's room were lifeless too; they must be at office. Then his eyes narrow as he gazes into the camera feed capturing his wife sitting by the poolside, caressing her pregnant belly and gazing at her ring finger.
It had been almost ten days ago, when he had last met her; the day when Dadi had provided him the fodder for preparing the rest of the papers. All it had taken was a heartfelt apology for getting momentarily distracted with Khushi the previous year, and Anjali had forgiven his one act of indiscretion. He was taken aback that why had he spent so much effort to keep things under wraps when all that was needed was some crocodile tears about how miserable he was without her and that he had realised the depth of his feelings for his dearest wife who didn't deserve to go through all this all by herself. The rest had been taken care by her "pregnant woman hormones" going awry. And then, getting the information about her bank account and the status of their joint account and a request for withdrawing some money had all been dealt with most affectionately.
A sneer appears on Shyam's face. Such an adorably foolish woman you are Anjali Raizada. But look at your patheticness. You are still missingme aren't you? Then he picks up the phone and hits the speed dial. It is a strange feeling to watch the phone ring on the screen in front of him.
"Rani Sahiba. Humein na jaane aisa kyun laga ki aap humein pukaar rahi hain?" Shyam whimpered dramatically into the phone as his hawk like eyes fixed on the screen watched Anjali sit up in despair.
"Shyam ji!" she breathed back into the phone, almost teary eyed. "Aap kahan hain? Itne dino se aapne humein phone kyun nahin kiya?" she demands immediately while cupping her hand on the phone and looking around warily. Shyam's sneer became more pronounced.
"Aap Lucknow gayi thi Rani Sahiba. Hum aapko wahan kaise phone kar sakte the?" Shyam counter questions which shuts up Anjali. "Humein aapki bahut yaad aati hai Rani Sahiba. Kaash hum aapse mil paate," he says desperately. He watches Anjali lean back on her recliner and shut her eyes. He hears her sigh.
"Hum bhi aapko bahut yaad karte hain Shyamji, par aap jaante hain iss haalat mein hamara ghar se bahar nikalna namumkin hai," she replies defeatedly. Shyam too sighs dramatically.
"Hum samajhte hain Rani Sahiba. Waise aapki tabiyat to theek hai na? Aap apni dawaiyan to theek se kha rahi hain na?" he asks assuming a worried tone as he withdraws a bottle of pills from his pockets and looks at it with cruel eyes. Anjali smiles.
"Haan hum theek hain. Aur dawaiyan bhi bilkul theek se kha rahe hain. Aap chinta mat kariye," she replies back reassuringly.
"Humein aapki chinta hoti hai Rani Sahiba. Aur humara bahut mann bhi hota hai ki hum aapke paas hote, khaas kar iss samaye," he goes on. Anjali sighs again.
"Hum samajh sakte hain Shyam ji. Par ghar wale nahin manenge," She replies, sounding wary as she always did whenever Shyam talked about rejoining her family.
"Humein ghar walon se koi matlab nahin hai Rani Sahiba. Humein aapse matlab hai. Jis tarah aapne humare aur Khushiji ke beech hue uss poori ghatna ko bhula diya hai, humari uss ek galti ke liye humein maaf kar diya hai... humein aur kuch nahin chahiye Rani Sahiba. Hum bas aapke aur humari raajkumari ke saath ek nayi zindagi shuru karna chahte hain. Bas," Shyam's voice sounds convincing enough but Anjali suddenly turns around looking scared.
"Lagta hai koi aa raha hai Shyamji, hum phone rakhte hain." She mutters.
"Rani Sahiba, hum aapse behad pyaar karte hain." Are Shyam's final words before he disconnects the call. True to Anjali's words, he watches HP bring her a red pill and a glass of juice. Shyam's sneer reappears as he lifts the bottle of medicine close to his eyes. Inside, there are a number of similar looking red coloured pills.
It didn't matter to Shyam that Anjali was slightly wary of his claims of love for her ever since he came clean about his brief past encounters with Khushi because quite frankly, she wasn't a trump card for him anymore. He didn't need her to gain entrance into Shantivan merely for the reason that he wasn't interested to go back. Shantivan to hum wapis aane se rahe Rani Sahiba. Aap chahein ya na chahein. Kyunki aapke parivar ki barbadi jo hum yahan baithe baithe kar sakte hain, woh wahan se kaise karenge? Rahi baat aapki, to aapka intezaam to humne pehle hi kar diya hai. Aap bas roz dawa khate rahiega, and then his sinister laugh echoes all around the tiny dark room.
[Gupta House]
Khushi has just returned from the railway station carrying two bulky suitcases in tow. She is huffing and puffing obviously. Behind her Nandini too walks in with two equally big bags, red faced from having dragged them up. She is wearing a tee-shirt and jeans today and has scrunched her hair tightly in a ponytail behind her.
"Huhh, huhhh!!" Khushi exclaims painting. "Nandini ji! In bakson mein saaman hai ya eent aur pathar?" she gasps and falls down on the floor, where she sits resting her back against the suitcases. Nandini giggles watching her best friend's condition.
"Teri taakat bas itni si hai Khushi?" Nandini teases Khushi, not panting as hard. "Tere dole shole sab khatam ho gaye hain. Ghar par khana nahin khaati hai kya theek se?" she adds. Khushi rolls her eyes.
"Iski shakal par naahin jao. Parmeswari to saara khana chat kar jaat hai," Buaji's loud voice booms from behind Nandini, who looks around in alarm. She pulls Khushi to her feet and gapes at the rotund woman who had just walked in from the side entrance. Still panting, Khushi waves her hand towards Buaji.
"Nandini ji, ye hamari Buaji hain. Aur Buaji, ye humari sabse achhi saheli, Nandini ji hain," Buaji takes in Nandini's appearance from head to toe, looking slightly disapproving of her clothes. But Nandini reaches for Buaji's feet and bends over seeking her blessings. Buaji looks slightly surprised at this behaviour coming from a woman wearing western clothes.
"Arre jeeti raho bitiya," she murmurs.
"Buaji, mujhe apne ghar mein jagah dene ke liye bahut bahut dhanywaad," Nandini says courteously.
"Arre isme kauno badi baat hai?" Buaji replies boisteriously. "Waise, Khushi bataye rahi, ki tumka Dilli maan naukri mil gai hai?" she enquires. Nandini looks a little uncomfortable watching Buaji's overfriendly smile flashing her 32 pearlies.
"Ji Buaji. Humein yahan Hindi ki adhyapika ki naukri mili hai," Nandini explains. Buaji looks mighty thrilled.
"Arre wah! Yii to bahut hi badhiya baat hai, bitiya!" She slaps Nandini's back, in what she hopes is an affectionate way. Nandini however winces slightly as she looks at Khushi with eyes.
"Buaji isi tarah apna pyaar dikhati hain," Khushi murmurs into Nandini's ear. She immediately nods and smiles back awkwardly back at Buaji. "To uss hisaab se to, itne kam time mein, inhe mujhse bahut zyada pyaar ho gaya hai, Khushi." Nandini replies pursing her lips. Khushi suppresses her laughter.
"Aaiye na Nandini ji, hum aapko hamara kamra dikha dete hain. Aap jab tak iss ghar mein hain, aap hamare kamre mein hamare saath rahengi." Khushi leads the way. Nandini nods once at Buaji before following her. As soon as she steps inside the room, a gasp escapes from her. She gapes at the numerous rose bouquets and vases on display at every possible surface of the room. Her gaze goes over to the bed with the rose petals and she looks at the smiling Khushi with raised eyebrows.
"Tumne mere aane ki Khushi mein, itne saare phool lagaye?" she asks awestruck. Khushi's smile wanes a little as she looks around, wondering to herself how to explain it. Then Nandini walks to the bed and sits down on it. "Uhm, par tumhe bed sajane ki zarurat nahin thi, Khushi. Aaj raat, mujhe suhagraat suhagraat type feeling aayegi," she adds teasingly. Khushi blushes in embarrassment. Nandini bursts out laughing watching her reaction and Khushi immediately charges towards the bed to lock palms with her in a mock fight.
[Raizada Mansion, later in the evening]
Payal is in her room watching the photo album of Khushi's pre-wedding functions. Her face is deadpan as usual but her eyes are slightly sad. Her fingers linger on a particular photograph of her haldi ceremony, where unknown to Khushi and Arnav, NK had clicked a particularly private moment. In the photograph, both of them are looking at each other with an expression of utmost love. Payal sighs. Just then Aakash enters the room.
He notices Payal sitting on the bed with a leather binder in her arms, her expressions showing sadness. He walks to the bed and sits down near her feet.
"Payal? Kya hua?" he gently shakes Payal's feet. Payal looks up at Aakash.
"Kuch nahin," she murmurs and snaps the giant photo album shut. Aakash notices the front of the binder and realises what it is.
"Tum Khushiji ki photos dekh rahi thi?" he asks in a low voice. Payal mutely nods her head. Aakash moves closer to his wife, suspecting something being amiss. "Kya baat hai, Payal? Tum mujhe bata sakti ho," he says reassuringly. Payal suddenly lunges for Aakash and hugs him. He looks taken aback for a moment but then hugs her back.
"Aakash aap jaante hain parson kya hai?" Payal murmurs.
Aakash suddenly feels clueless, "Parson Saturday hai?" he takes a shot. Payal chuckles and withdraws from the hug. Aakash is relieved to see the hint of a smile playing at her lips.
"Nahin?" he asks her realising that he is obviously wrong. Payal shakes her head smiling.
"Nahin. Parson karwachauth hai," she replies. Aakash's mouth forms an O of realisation. He slaps his head.
"Oho, to isiliye humari wife udaas hain. Kyunki unhe fast karna padega," Aakash tries to tease her to cheer her up. But Payal falls silent again. "Payal?" he asks worriedly.
"Shaadi ke baad, ye Khushi ka pehla karwachauth hota, Aakash," she finally says the thing that was bothering her all along. Now Aakash falls silent and bows his head down, understanding seeping into his mind. "Khushi har saal ye vrat rakhti thi Aakash. Taki usse uska rajkumar mil sake. Aur ab jab sab kuch sahi hona chahiye tha, to..." her voice trails away, sadness again creeping into it. Aakash looks up to see his wife upset and immediately hugs her comfortingly.
"Shh..." he whispers caressing her head. "Payal, hum dono jante hain ki Khushiji bahut strong hain..."
"Woh sirf sabko dikhati hai ki woh theek hai Aakash. Hum jante hain use. Woh kabhi kisi se nahin kahegi, par humne uski aankhon mein uski takleef dekhi hai." Payal sighs as she snuggles on Aakash's chest.
"Main janta hun Payal. Par, Khushiji ka dard sirf Bhai hi door kar sakte hain. Sirf woh hi sab kuch pehle jaisa kar sakte hain." Payal looks up at Aakash.
"Arnavji ki wajah se hi to Khushi ki ye haalat hai," she says unable to keep bitterness out of her voice. Aakash sighs faintly and holds Payal at an arm's distance.
"Payal, itne saal tak Dadi ke jhooth ko hum sab ne sach maana tha. To technically, Khushiji ki haalat ke liye hum sab equally responsible hone chahiye, na?" Aakash says, his eyes gentle. Payal stares at him, feeling incredulous that her husband was accusing himself.
Aakash resumes, "main Bhai ki tarafdaari nahin kar raha hun Payal, aur iss maamle mein kabhi karunga bhi nahin. Uss raat unhone jo bhi kiya, galat tha." He agrees earnestly. "Par sach bahar aane ke baad se maine Dadi ke liye unka gussa dekha hai, unki beichaini dekhi hai, tumhari family se maafi maangne ki koshish dekhi hai, Khushiji ke liye unki chinta dekhi hai," Aakash replies thinking back of each of the times back in Lucknow. Payal bows her head and sighs.
"Hum jaante hain, ki Arnavji humare parivar ke liye bahut kuch kar rahe hain, Aakash," she agrees resignedly.
"Bhai se jo kuch bhi galat hua hai, woh use sudharne ki koshish kar rahe hain, Payal." Aakash murmurs. "Agar unhe Khushiji ko wapis apni life mein lana hai, to unhe kahin se to shuruat karni hogi na?" Payal stares at him wordlessly. Aakash smiles lovingly at his wife.
"Woh dono bilkul pagal hain," he continues indulgently. "Jo takleef tumne Khushiji ki aankhon mein dekhi hai, wohi maine Bhai mein bhi dekhi hai. Door reh kar woh dono udaas hain aur paas kaise aayein woh unhe pata nahin hai. Par, aaj bhi woh ek doosre se utna hi pyaar karte hain. Koi andha hi hoga jo ye dekh na paye.Woh bas ek doosre ko ye bata nahin pa rahe hain." Payal lapses into her thoughts.
She had heard Khushi cry at night, she had seen her staring at the missing engagement ring on her ring finger, she had seen her eyes light up at the mention of Arnavji. Yes, her sister was still in love with her Laad Governer.
"Kya hoga in dono ka Aakash?" she murmurs hopelessly. Aakash extends his arm for a hug. Sighing, Payal again rests her head on Aakash's head. Aakash places his arm around Payal's shoulder and squeezes it gently.
"Ek time tha jab Bhai aur Khushiji ne humari love story ko aage badhane mein help ki tha. Shayad, ab hamari baari hai," Aakash replies.
[Gupta House, later that evening]
Khushi's room is utterly cluttered with bags and suitcases. Some belong to her and the others belong to Nandini. The two girls walk in chattering with each other when Khushi bangs her leg against one of the bags by the bed.
"OUCH!" she yells in agony, holding her stubbed toes and hopping on the spot.
"Kaa hua Nandkishore?" Buaji's voice thunders from the kitchen as she rushes in to check the source of the yelp. Nandini makes Khushi sit on the bed.
"Woh Buaji... bag se lag gayi," Khushi replies sheepishly, rubbing her toes, getting slightly teary eyed with the pain. Buaji takes a look around the bags piled up near the bed and huffs angrily.
"Apne baste iss tarah pradarsan pe laga ke rakhogi to aur kaa hoga Parmeswari?" She bends down and starts pushing the bags to the wall. Khushi immediately stands up and stops her.
"Rehne dijiye Buaji. Humne abhi tak saaman in bags se nikala nahin hai. Hum abhi khali kar dete hain," Buaji throws her hands in the air in exasperation and walks out muttering. Nandini giggles and then walks towards Khushi to help her with the bags.
"Tum bhi na Khushi, mujhe aalsi bulati ho. Khud ko dekho! Ghar aaye ek din se upar ho gaya hai, aur abhi tak tumne apne bags unpack nahi kiye hain," Nandini tuts admonishingly. Khushi shakes her head and dumps the bag in the middle of the room. Nandini hands her the clothes and Khushi keeps them in her closet all the while chattering about the wonderful chaat and golgappe they ate earlier that evening. After fifteen minutes of running around the room keeping her things in place, Khushi halts in her tracks watching the blue coloured box that Nandini was holding out for her.
"Kya?" Nandini asks reading Khushi's expressions.
"Ye kya hai?" Khushi asks in response, looking at the box with curiosity. Nandini looks down at the box.
"Tumhara saaman Khushi," she replies.
"Ye hamara nahin hai," Khushi whispers and kneels down next to Nandini taking the box from her. It was slightly heavy.
"Par sticker par to tumhara hi naam likha hai," Nandini counters and points at a sticker on top of the box. Khushi bends down to read the words on it. Ye tum par sach mein bahut jachega Khushi. Her heart beats start racing at reading the words. With trembling hands she opens the box and just as her gaze falls on what was inside, she lets out a loud gasp of surprise. Nandini too peeres down, confused with Khushi's response and they her eyes widen too.
Folded under a thin sheet of cellophane paper, lay a familiar beautiful blood red saree with black glittering Mukhesh gota work scattered all over it.
[Somewhere undisclosed]
A lone figure is pacing in the darkened room, coursing through the leaf of papers neatly stacked in the file in his hands. He's studying each of them with scrutinising eyes, hoping not to miss out a single word. Only when he is completely satisfied does he pursues the next page. At one corner of the room, the huge soft boards are faintly visible as the light from the single bulb on the ceiling struggles to reach the nooks and crannies of the room. The photographs of both Raizada family and Gupta family members are still visible on it.
The other side of the room however has an assortment of some complicated looking multiple screen system. There are about 12 screens in all and they are all giving in live feed of grainy videos from different points all over the Raizada Mansion. Shyam looks up and gives a cursory glance to see who was where; Naniji's room was clear, so was Mamiji and Aakash's. Shyam saw the ladies flitting between the living room and the kitchen. NK was nowhere to be seen which could mean he was out meeting his friends again. Aakash's and Arnav's room were lifeless too; they must be at office. Then his eyes narrow as he gazes into the camera feed capturing his wife sitting by the poolside, caressing her pregnant belly and gazing at her ring finger.
It had been almost ten days ago, when he had last met her; the day when Dadi had provided him the fodder for preparing the rest of the papers. All it had taken was a heartfelt apology for getting momentarily distracted with Khushi the previous year, and Anjali had forgiven his one act of indiscretion. He was taken aback that why had he spent so much effort to keep things under wraps when all that was needed was some crocodile tears about how miserable he was without her and that he had realised the depth of his feelings for his dearest wife who didn't deserve to go through all this all by herself. The rest had been taken care by her "pregnant woman hormones" going awry. And then, getting the information about her bank account and the status of their joint account and a request for withdrawing some money had all been dealt with most affectionately.
A sneer appears on Shyam's face. Such an adorably foolish woman you are Anjali Raizada. But look at your patheticness. You are still missingme aren't you? Then he picks up the phone and hits the speed dial. It is a strange feeling to watch the phone ring on the screen in front of him.
"Rani Sahiba. I felt as if you were calling out to me." Shyam whimpered dramatically into the phone as his hawk like eyes fixed on the screen watched Anjali sit up in despair.
"Shyam ji!" she breathed back into the phone, almost teary eyed. "Where are you? Why haven't you called me?" she demands immediately while cupping her hand on the phone and looking around warily. Shyam's sneer became more pronounced.
"You had gone to Lucknow Rani Sahiba. How could I have called you there?" Shyam counter questions which shuts up Anjali. "I miss you a lot Rani Sahiba. I wish I could've met you," he says desperately. He watches Anjali lean back on her recliner and shut her eyes. He hears her sigh.
"I too miss you a lot, Shyamji, but you know I can't get out of the house in such a condition," she replies defeatedly. Shyam too sighs dramatically.
"I understand Rani Sahiba. By the way, is your health alright? I hope you are taking your medicines on time?" he asks assuming a worried tone as he withdraws a bottle of pills from his pockets and looks at it with cruel eyes. Anjali smiles.
"Yes I'm fine. And I'm taking my medicines properly. Don't worry about it," she replies back reassuringly.
"I do worry about you Rani Sahiba. and I really wish that I could be with you, especially at a time like this," he goes on. Anjali sighs again.
"I know, Shyam ji. But the family members won't accept it," She replies, sounding wary as she always did whenever Shyam talked about rejoining her family.
"I don't care about what they'd feel Rani Sahiba. I care about you. The way you have forgiven me for the entire incident with Khushiji, I don't want anything else, Rani Sahiba. I just want to start a new life with you and my little princess. That's all," Shyam's voice sounds convincing enough but Anjali suddenly turns around looking scared.
"I think someone's coming in Shyamji, I should go." She mutters.
"Rani Sahiba, I love you a lot." Are Shyam's final words before he disconnects the call. True to Anjali's words, he watches HP bring her a red pill and a glass of juice. Shyam's sneer reappears as he lifts the bottle of medicine close to his eyes. Inside, there are a number of similar looking red coloured pills.
It didn't matter to Shyam that Anjali was slightly wary of his claims of love for her ever since he came clean about his brief past encounters with Khushi because quite frankly, she wasn't a trump card for him anymore. He didn't need her to gain entrance into Shantivan merely for the reason that he wasn't interested to go back.I'm not returning to Shantivan, Rani Sahiba. Whether you want it or not. Because the destruction of your family that I can do from here, how will I manage it from there? and about you, well I've made ample arrangements. You just keep eating your medicines on time, and then his sinister laugh echoes all around the tiny dark room.
[Gupta House]
Khushi has just returned from the railway station carrying two bulky suitcases in tow. She is huffing and puffing obviously. Behind her Nandini too walks in with two equally big bags, red faced from having dragged them up. She is wearing a tee-shirt and jeans today and has scrunched her hair tightly in a ponytail behind her.
"Huhh, huhhh!!" Khushi exclaims painting. "Nandini ji! These bags have your luggage or bricks and mortar in them?" she gasps and falls down on the floor, where she sits resting her back against the suitcases. Nandini giggles watching her best friend's condition.
"That is all you have as strength Khushi?" Nandini teases Khushi, not panting as hard. "Your muscles have all disappeared. Don't you eat properly at home?" she adds. Khushi rolls her eyes.
"Don't go on her face value. Parmeswari finishes every last morsel," Buaji's loud voice booms from behind Nandini, who looks around in alarm. She pulls Khushi to her feet and gapes at the rotund woman who had just walked in from the side entrance. Still panting, Khushi waves her hand towards Buaji.
"Nandini ji, This is my Buaji. and Buaji, this is my best friend Nandini ji," Buaji takes in Nandini's appearance from head to toe, looking slightly disapproving of her clothes. But Nandini reaches for Buaji's feet and bends over seeking her blessings. Buaji looks slightly surprised at this behaviour coming from a woman wearing western clothes.
"God Bless you bitiya," she murmurs.
"Buaji, thank you so much for giving me a place to stay in your home," Nandini says courteously.
"Oh no trouble at all dear," Buaji replies boisteriously. "By the way, Khushi told me that you have got a new job in Delhi?" she enquires. Nandini looks a little uncomfortable watching Buaji's overfriendly smile flashing her 32 pearlies.
"Yes Buaji. I've got a job as a Hindi teacher here," Nandini explains. Buaji looks mighty thrilled.
"Oh! This is brilliant, bitiya!" She slaps Nandini's back, in what she hopes is an affectionate way. Nandini however winces slightly as she looks at Khushi with eyes.
"Buaji shows her love this way," Khushi murmurs into Nandini's ear. She immediately nods and smiles back awkwardly back at Buaji. "According to that, within this short span, she must have fallen head over heels in love with me, Khushi." Nandini replies pursing her lips. Khushi suppresses her laughter.
"Come Nandini ji, I'll show you my room. Till the day you stay here you'll stay with me." Khushi leads the way. Nandini nods once at Buaji before following her. As soon as she steps inside the room, a gasp escapes from her. She gapes at the numerous rose bouquets and vases on display at every possible surface of the room. Her gaze goes over to the bed with the rose petals and she looks at the smiling Khushi with raised eyebrows.
"You've decorated your room with so many flowers for my arrival?" she asks awestruck. Khushi's smile wanes a little as she looks around, wondering to herself how to explain it. Then Nandini walks to the bed and sits down on it. "Uhm, but you didnt have to adorn the bed too, Khushi. Tonight, I'll get a "first-night" type feeling," she adds teasingly. Khushi blushes in embarrassment. Nandini bursts out laughing watching her reaction and Khushi immediately charges towards the bed to lock palms with her in a mock fight.
[Raizada Mansion, later in the evening]
Payal is in her room watching the photo album of Khushi's pre-wedding functions. Her face is deadpan as usual but her eyes are slightly sad. Her fingers linger on a particular photograph of her haldi ceremony, where unknown to Khushi and Arnav, NK had clicked a particularly private moment. In the photograph, both of them are looking at each other with an expression of utmost love. Payal sighs. Just then Aakash enters the room.
He notices Payal sitting on the bed with a leather binder in her arms, her expressions showing sadness. He walks to the bed and sits down near her feet.
"Payal? What happened?" he gently shakes Payal's feet. Payal looks up at Aakash.
"Nothing," she murmurs and snaps the giant photo album shut. Aakash notices the front of the binder and realises what it is.
"You were watching Khushiji's photographs?" he asks in a low voice. Payal mutely nods her head. Aakash moves closer to his wife, suspecting something being amiss. "What is it, Payal? You can tell me," he says reassuringly. Payal suddenly lunges for Aakash and hugs him. He looks taken aback for a moment but then hugs her back.
"Aakash do you know what is it day after tomorrow?" Payal murmurs.
Aakash suddenly feels clueless, "It's saturday?" he takes a shot. Payal chuckles and withdraws from the hug. Aakash is relieved to see the hint of a smile playing at her lips.
"No?" he asks her realising that he is obviously wrong. Payal shakes her head smiling.
"No. It's Karwachauth day after," she replies. Aakash's mouth forms an O of realisation. He slaps his head.
"Oho, so that is why my dear wife is upset. Because she has to fast that day," Aakash tries to tease her to cheer her up. But Payal falls silent again. "Payal?" he asks worriedly.
"After marriage, this would have been Khushi's first Karwachauth, Aakash," she finally says the thing that was bothering her all along. Now Aakash falls silent and bows his head down, understanding seeping into his mind. "Khushi used to fast every year Aakash. So that she gets a prince for a husband. And now when everything should have been good..." her voice trails away, sadness again creeping into it. Aakash looks up to see his wife upset and immediately hugs her comfortingly.
"Shh..." he whispers caressing her head. "Payal, we both know how strong Khushiji is..."
"She just shows everyone that she is alright Aakash. I know her very well. She won't tell anyone but I have seen the pain in her eyes." Payal sighs as she snuggles on Aakash's chest.
"I know Payal. But only Bhai can remove Khushiji's pain. Only he can make things right, like the way they were before." Payal looks up at Aakash.
"Arnavji is the reason for Khushi's misery," she says unable to keep bitterness out of her voice. Aakash sighs faintly and holds Payal at an arm's distance.
"Payal, all these years all of us accepted Dadi's lies as the truth. So technically, we all should be equally responsible for Khushiji's condition, right?" Aakash says, his eyes gentle. Payal stares at him, feeling incredulous that her husband was accusing himself.
Aakash resumes, "I'm not harboring my brother Payal, and I never will especially for this. whatever he did that night was wrong." He agrees earnestly. "But after the truth came out, I've seen his volcanic anger towards Dadi, I've seen his restlessness, I've seen his efforts to apologize to your family, I've seen his worry for Khushiji," Aakash replies thinking back of each of the times back in Lucknow. Payal bows her head and sighs.
"I know that Arnavji has done a lot for my family, Aakash," she agrees resignedly.
"Whatever he did wrong, Bhai is just trying to make things right, Payal." Aakash murmurs. "If he wants to bring back Khushiji into his life, he has to start somewhere right?" Payal stares at him wordlessly. Aakash smiles lovingly at his wife.
"Both of them are completely mad," he continues indulgently. "The pain that you have seen in Khushiji's eyes, I've seen the same in Bhai as well. Staying apart is making both of them morose, but they are clueless as to how to come close. But today also, they both are crazily in love with each other. Only a blind person won't be able to see that. They are just not able to tell this to each other." Payal lapses into her thoughts.
She had heard Khushi cry at night, she had seen her staring at the missing engagement ring on her ring finger, she had seen her eyes light up at the mention of Arnavji. Yes, her sister was still in love with her Laad Governer.
"What is going to happen to these two, Aakash?" she murmurs hopelessly. Aakash extends his arm for a hug. Sighing, Payal again rests her head on Aakash's head. Aakash places his arm around Payal's shoulder and squeezes it gently.
"There was a time when Bhai and Khushiji were trying to have our love story progress. Maybe now it's our turn," Aakash replies.
[Gupta House, later that evening]
Khushi's room is utterly cluttered with bags and suitcases. Some belong to her and the others belong to Nandini. The two girls walk in chattering with each other when Khushi bangs her leg against one of the bags by the bed.
"OUCH!" she yells in agony, holding her stubbed toes and hopping on the spot.
"What happened Nandkishore?" Buaji's voice thunders from the kitchen as she rushes in to check the source of the yelp. Nandini makes Khushi sit on the bed.
"Uhm Buaji... I banged my leg against the bag," Khushi replies sheepishly, rubbing her toes, getting slightly teary eyed with the pain. Buaji takes a look around the bags piled up near the bed and huffs angrily.
"What else do you expect to happen if you keep your bags for display Parmeswari?" She bends down and starts pushing the bags to the wall. Khushi immediately stands up and stops her.
"Let it be Buaji. I haven't unpacked my bags yet. I'll empty them right now," Buaji throws her hands in the air in exasperation and walks out muttering. Nandini giggles and then walks towards Khushi to help her with the bags.
"Khushi, you call me a lazy ass. Look at yourself! It's been more than a day since you've returned home and you've still not unpacked your bags," Nandini tuts admonishingly. Khushi shakes her head and dumps the bag in the middle of the room. Nandini hands her the clothes and Khushi keeps them in her closet all the while chattering about the wonderful chaat and golgappe they ate earlier that evening. After fifteen minutes of running around the room keeping her things in place, Khushi halts in her tracks watching the blue coloured box that Nandini was holding out for her.
"What?" Nandini asks reading Khushi's expressions.
"What is this?" Khushi asks in response, looking at the box with curiosity. Nandini looks down at the box.
"Your stuff Khushi," she replies.
"This is not mine," Khushi whispers and kneels down next to Nandini taking the box from her. It was slightly heavy.
"But it's your name written on the sticker," Nandini counters and points at a sticker on top of the box. Khushi bends down to read the words on it. This will really look good on you, Khushi. Her heart beats start racing at reading the words. With trembling hands she opens the box and just as her gaze falls on what was inside, she lets out a loud gasp of surprise. Nandini too peeres down, confused with Khushi's response and they her eyes widen too.
Folded under a thin sheet of cellophane paper, lay a familiar beautiful blood red saree with black glittering Mukhesh gota work scattered all over it.
Writer's note: FEEDBACK 😉
Okay, one point I'd like to write here. I've ASSUMED a big thing about Anjali having forgiven Shyam. Maybe it doesn't make sense and is not consistent with reel life Anjali's character who would be shattered if she came to know about Shyam having an affair. But then I thought about married women in general. If the husband committed adultery, a good number of women would probably keep it past them and continue with the relationship rather than breaking it off entirely, children being a big contributing reason for such decision.
Anjali has been alone since the whole kidnapping fiasco and with her impending childbirth in the coming days, she feels it worthwhile to move on and probably start afresh with Shyam who "claims" to be in love with her entirely (a monologue from her in the upcoming scenes to make her stance clearer). Shyam however, is quite clever. he knows that if he continued lying about his affair with Khushi, Anjali could snoop around and catch his lie (talking of my FF folks, not the reel life 😉) so he plays another trick instead; he accepts his folly and convinces Anjali that he wants to be with her only.
At this point of time, Shyam is not driven by either love or lust, he's only driven by a sense of revenge for both Raizadas and Guptas. Hope this brings things to perspective. 😊
oh and yes, the box did contain the saree 😉
Cricket
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