TOI: I am heartbroken - Monika

Monika Singh on her romance and recent breakup with her onscreen son Ankit Gera, in a chat with Neha Maheshwri

When Monika Singh came to this city of dreams, she was accompanied by her steely will and determination. One thing was clear on her mind written in bold letters that women and men are equal and there is nothing the fairer sex cannot do. She took on guys single-handedly who tried to act fresh with her and managed to make a place for herself in tellyland. And then she made the mistake of falling in love with her co-actor Ankit Gera, who plays her son in Pratigya. That's when she realised that whenever something goes wrong in a relationship, it's the woman who bears the brunt of being accused of all the wrong-doings. Monika and Ankit's relationship ended on a bad note last month (the two don't even exchange customary greetings anymore).

There was buzz that Monika was a married woman and that she had tied the knot with someone from her native place four years ago. The actress, however, claims that she was only engaged to the guy, but called it off one- and-a-half years ago as the relationship gave her only pain. Not that she hadn't disclosed this to Ankit and his parents, what's hurting her the most is that the lad decided to call it off on grounds of her past relationship which he was aware of right from the word go. Apparently, this time he succumbed to his father's demand to discontinue his affair with Monika.

Says the actress, "I would like to recall only happy moments of our relationship. Only we know the real reason of our split. But when I read the article accusing me of luring Ankit into a relationship, I thought I needed to speak up for myself. I would like to ask the so called sources to tell the world that who initiated the relationship. I was pursued by him and not the other way round. When you get into a relationship, you are clear about how long do you want to pursue it and this time both Ankit and I were ready to even tie the knot. It's very cheap on the source's part to claim that I made him wear a ring to lure him into a relationship. He is not a kid who can be convinced to do anything. I don't know what's gone wrong with Ankit. As eversince, he has returned from Macau, he hasn't had a word with me on the development. My self-respect stops me from confronting him. He is entitled to live his life the way he wants to.

All I want to know is that where were these sources and well-wishers when we were together and only that we have split now, are they coming out to accuse me of brainwashing Ankit. I will now have to re-programme myself that women in the end are called names and men walk away clean. I have been painted a villain and so be it. But truth will be known only to the two of us." Monika, even though jilted, has wished the best for her one time love Ankit Gera. We only hope that the animosity ends between them and they can at least be back as friends.