This is because I missed Saras today in the episode, though it was a perfectly good episode. Gautam too needs a break, we all do. No complaints. But I wanted to imagine a scenario based on the promo.
Kumud thought hard as she walked through the village in the sweltering heat to go and help Saras at Ila Ben's hut. Was Bari Ma correct? Was her behavior inappropriate these past few days? After all, her mother was right, he was not family and he never would be. That possibility was already rejected by him. She too had rejected him in retaliation.
What was she doing warming up to him just because she was helping him out? She needed to move on and move forward! The heart has been broken past healing, but you need to move on...he doesn't think you are good enough for him.
Kumud smiled as her eyes teared up. She was talking to herself was she walked through the rice paddy. She stopped as she remembered how Saras was pulling the haal here the other day. There were tiny sprouts coming out now.
Kumud: So much for "pati bhi milega or pyaar bhi." Kuch bhi nahi mila. Serves you right for day dreaming Kumud Desai. Practical logon ko isi liye sapne nehi dekhna chahiye, bina sune, bina dekhe. You will never be as lucky Kumud Desai.
Saras, who had sold some of his pots at the bazaar earlier in the day was in such a good mood that he did not immediately notice Kumud's dejected state as she joined him for their pottery session.
Saras: Pata hai Kumud, I sold two of the azure pots today. VC Kaka bought one and Gyan Kaka bought one. Gyan Kakaa said the crooked design actually gave the pots a little something extra. I think he was just being nice, but still...isn't that great?
Kumud punched a difficult section of the clay dough to give in: Yes. Just great.
Saras: And I did grocery shopping for Ila Ben and her family. Her mother accepted it, she didn't. Now they can eat well again.
Kumud was still working hard, not looking at him: Humph.
Saras: What is with you? Why are you so quiet today? Aren't you glad that things are getting better?
Kumud finally glared at him: Things will get better if you work on those pots rather than chit-chatting with me. I am being short because I am concentrating on getting work done. We have a long way to go before you can save enough to afford a cow while feeding the family. You only sold two pots! TWO! That too to my own family. There is no need to get to high and mighty, they were just doing you a favor. Normal people would not buy those atrocities. You need to see more like 200 or 2000 good ones sold before you will be anywhere NEAR done! And then you can go back home. Kisne kaha tha yaha ake sacrificial lamb banne ko? Look at the mess you have landed yourself in!
He pouted and got back to work, hurt. Kumud watched as the tense silence between them got longer and longer. His eyelashes swept downward in sadness. Kumud felt bad now for loosing her temper.
Kumud watched as he quietly went about doing his work. He was still a complete kluz when it came to pottery (and many other things). But he was getting better each day. He never gave up, that was the sweetest thing about him.
Soon he will get the handle of it and then he will be gone before you could catch your breath, Kumud. You will never see him again, Kumud thought morosely.
She shut her heart away and forced a smile on her face.
Kumud washed her hands and threw some water on him to cheer him up. Saras laughed after a few tries and they had a little water fight.
Saras: The pots weren't that bad. They can still hold water.
Kumud laughed: Only if someone held them up all day because they don't sit on their own!
Finally, when he was smiling, Kumud went about doing her work with a heavy heart.
Saras: You know...I am not in such a hurry to get back.
Kumud: Oh?
She wondered why he was being so open and friendly lately.
Saras: And even when I leave, I will regularly come to visit you. I mean...all of you. VC Kaka, Masima and everyone.
Kumud: You will go back and get busy with work and your fancy NRI life. You won't have time to think of us, much less visit. You will forget us. Again.
Saras retorted: No, I will not! I will coming back within one or two years, I promise.
Kumud didn't say anything.
Saras pleaded: I promise!
Kumud smiled bitterly and sighed: I will be long gone by then.
Saras confused: Huh? Where will you go?
Kumud, looking down at the clay pot in front of her, blinked rapidly. Saras turned to see her face.
Kumud looked away: Oh, you know...sasural and all.
Saras went cold as his heart plummeted. How could he be so dumb? Of course she won't wait around for him when he so stupidly rejected her already. What would she wait for? She was not one to give second chances.
Saras forced himself to keep his tone light: Toh kya hua, I will visit you there to say hello next time I come to India. Hopefully, your in-laws will let me see you (he tried to make a joke of it but his own words stabbed him instead).
Her blood reached its boiling point now. Kumud crushed the soft clay pot spinning in front of her, abruptly got up and started screaming at him.
Kumud: No! You can't visit me there. I forbid you! If I married and left, I would never want to see you again! Never!!!
It stung. Saras felt each word pierce right through his heart.
Kumud: What do you think I am!? A wooden doll with no feelings!?
She stormed off, angrily wiping at her cheeks with her arms as the clay trickled down from her hands.
Saras sat there flabbergasted as a tear dropped off his lashes.
Saras, softly to himself: No, Kumud. I am the one with no feelings. I have nothing left to give.
Meh, it wasn't as painful as I wanted it to be. What did you think?
Mary.