Part 9:
Manya entered the park, hugging herself in the chilly weather. She walked slowly and sat near a lake, watching the birds fly around.
M: I miss you, Akash...
Manya hugged herself as she watched her reflection in the lake's water, sighing to herself. Suddenly, a reflection appeared next to hers. She gasped as she noticed whose face it was...it was no other than Akash.
A: Tho phir laut ao na mere paas, Manya!
Manya couldn't help herself. She jumped up and grabbed him a tight hug, crying. Feeling his embrace once again, she held him tightly.
A: Aye, Cinderella! Tumhe kya laga? Tum aao gi aur main udhar tumhare liye rautha rahoon ga?!
M: Akash, main tumse--
A: Ab koi fiker nahin Manya. Hum phir se saath hain na?
M: Nahin, Akash. Kya tum jaante ho, jab tum Roopa se pyar kerte thay, main tumhe oos waqt bhi chahti thi?
Akash stared at her.
A: Kya?
M: Haan, Akash. Valentines Day party mein main Roopa ki nahin, apni baat ker rahi thi!
A: Tho...tho phir tumne kaha kyun nahin?
M: Kyunki main tum dhono ki khushi chahti thi, Akash...
A: Lakein hamari khushi mein tumne khud itna ghum utta liya, Manya?
M: Akash, agar tumhe oos din patha chalta ki main bhi tumse pyar kerti hoon, aur tum Roopa se kerte, then who would you choose?
Akash smiled at her.
A: Honestly?
M: Hmm...
A: Main dhono ko nahin chunta. I'd let my love go away for the sake of my friendship. Kyunki tum meri sabse achi dost bhi ho, Manya, aur tumhe dard dhay ker main apna puar nahin pa sakta tha. Lakein tumhe yeh nahin patha chalne dhaita ki main Roopa se pyar kerta hoon. Verna..
M: Mera dil toot jaata?
A: Exactly..
He grabbed Manya from behind and held onto her tightly.
A: But now all's fine, right?
M: Nahin, Akash. Kyunki aaj tumhari jagga per main hoon..aur meri jagga per Om.
A: Huh? Om? What does that have to do with anything?
M: Akash, Om...Om mujhse pyar kerta hai!
Akash stared at her for a moment, then burst out laughing.
A: OM?!
M: It's not funny, Akash!
A: Come on, Manya. Don't tell me tum iss liye New York agayee...
M: That is why--
Akash started to laugh again.
A: Wifey, wifey, wifey!! Om hamara best friend hai. All you have to do is tell him that you love me! He'll be happy for us!
M: Teek oos tarha jaise main khush hui thi, Akash? Tumhare aur Roopa ke saath se? Woh un--un ansoon ki wajjah se khush hoga? Yaan woh bechain raatein? Yaan woh din ke har pal jo tumhari yaad mein main guzare?
Akash stared at Manya.
M: Tumne khud kaha tha na, Akash. That you wouldn't choose either of us.
A: Manya!
M: Haan, Akash! Main jaanti hoon mujhe kitna dard hua tha. Aur Om ko woh dard--nain! Oos ne mera hamesha saath diya hai, Akash! How can I just tell him I don't love him?!
A: But do you love me?
M: OF course I do, Akash...I...
Manya's cell phone vibrated, leaving her a message from her mother to come home urgently.
A: Chalo, main tumhe chod dhaita hoon...
Silence filled the car as Akash and Manya sat down. Akash kept giving her glances, but Manya stared straight ahead.
Manya got off the car once her house came into view.
M: Aao na...
Akash smiled at the awkward distance between them.
A: Uh...no...I'll meet you later...
She entered the house, and her mother, (MM) suddenly thrust a sweet in her mouth.
MM: Manya, tune pyar bhi ker liya aur humein bataya bhi nahin?!
M: Ma, aapko yeh kaise--
MM held Manya's hands in hers.
MM: Tune sach mein aaj humein bahut khushi dhi hai, Manya. Itna acha ladka chunna hai! Aur beta, humein yeh rishta bil kul kabool hai! Aray, hum tho shaadi ki plannings ker rahe thay!
Manya stared at her, confused. MM pulled Manya's hand and pulled her into the living, revealing dresses and jewelry spread out. Her father, a woman and a man were looking through everything.
M: Yeh sab...?
The man and woman stood up, hugging Manya tightly. The woman smiled warmly.
W: Kitni khoobsurat ho, beta.
M: Uh..thanks, but...
MM stood behind the man and woman.
MM: Aur yeh hai tumhara hone vaala sasural, Manya...
Manya stared at them, shocked.
M: Oh...tho aap Ak--
Manya stopped abruptly as a figure appeared from the kitchen. It was Om.
M: OM! Tum?
Om grinned.
Om: Kyun? Maine kaha tha, main aaon ga? Lo main agaya!
Manya swallowed her spit as she stared at everything.
M: Ma..!
MM: Sach mein beta. Aaj aisa lagta hai sab bauj hut gaya humse. Aray dekho na, tumne khud ke liye ladka tho chuna, aur humein kisi ke besati sehne ka bhi koi darr nahin. Kyunki tumne heera chuna hai!
Om laughed and smiled at Manya. He came close and whispered,
Om: Itna bhi muth sharmao, Manya. Agar tum sharma gayee tho main kya karun ga?!
Manya looked up at him, shocked. She turned at the door and wondered about Akash.
------------------Meanwhile---------------------------
Akash was driving when he suddenly felt like he had to throw up. He stopped the car and rubbed his chest.
A: Mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai jaise...main...itni bechain kyun ho rahi hai mujhe?
------------------MAnya's House------------------------
Manya went up in her room, holding her head tightly.
M: Kaise bathaa dhoon sabko? Baat tho shaadi tak..kya karun? Sab...sab itne khush hain. Kaise sabki khushiyan barbaad ker dhoon? Her cell phone rang, and she saw it Akash's number. Manya picked it up from her bed and pressed the End button, sighing. She looked in the mirror at herself.
M: I'm sorry, Akash. Lakein apna pyar paane ke liye nahin main apne ma baap ka dil dhuka sakhti hoon, nahin unke armaano ka...
She looked on the bed where her wedding accessories were laid out. She picked up the bridal dress and hugged it, crying. Akash on the other side, slammed the phone down angrily.
Pyar Mere Nu, Lag Gaiyan Nazran...
Hope you liked it 😳 And don't worry; at the end Akaanya will be together! Just wait and watch how! 😃