TwiNj 2S - Misunderstandings and Realisations - Part2/Page3

TwiNj OS - Misunderstandings and Realisations

The red light finally turned off, after what seemed like an eternity of waiting. Everyone stood up anxiously waiting for the doctor to exit the theatre. Nobody had moved from their position for the gruelling past 4 hours. As the door opened, Kunj was the first to approach. "Doctor, kaise hai ab papa? Sab teekh toh hai na? Kya hua hai unhe?" He asked impatiently, trying to release some of the worry and tension he had been harbouring inside him since Manohar collapsed at home.

"Mr. Sarna has had a major heart attack" the doctor informed the family members. "What?!" Kunj exclaimed. The corridor was filled with a chorus of "kya?!" as everyone registered the shocking information. "...But he is out of danger now, there is no reason for worry. We've given him sedatives so that he can rest but he should be awake in the next few hours. You can all meet him then" the doctor said, patting Kunj on the shoulder for assurance. "Thank God! Thank you so much Doctor" Kunj replied before they were left alone to come to terms with the news.

Bebe was the first to speak, folding her hands, she closed her eyes, "Bhagwan ka lakh lakh shukar hai ki Monu ko kuch nahin hua, aise hi aap ka kripa aur ashirwadh banaye rakhna meri parivaar pe." She turned to face Usha who had been crying her eyes out since the incident occurred. "Dekha Usha Rani, Bhagwan ne hamari sun li, ab rona bandh kar, yeh toh khushi ki baat hai ki Monu teekh hai" he reassured her.

Twinkle was stood at the end of the corridor away from the rest of the family. Leaning her back against the wall, she had internally performed every prayer she knew, made every sort of deal she could've made in exchange for Manohar's life. She had briefly seen the doctor come out and talk to Kunj, and seeing the look of relief wash across everyone's faces, she understood that it meant her father-in-law was no longer in danger. She closed her eyes again and offered her utmost gratitude to Babaji for saving her family from destruction once again. With that, she turned and made her way towards her family.

Bebe was the first to notice Twinkle approaching and stood up to tell her the good news. Twinkle smiled and hugged Bebe. "Hum papaji se mil sakte hai?" she asked eagerly.

"Koi zazoorat nahin hai" came the response from Usha. "Yeh tu kya keh rahi hai Usha?" Bebe confronted her. "Aur nahin toh kya Bebe? Jab se yeh manhoos ladki hamari zindagi mein ayi hai, hamesha koi na koi musibat hoti rehti hai. Hamari shanti hi chali gayi hai. Pehle mere Kunj ko kitni takleefe sehni pari iski wajah se aur ab toh yeh mere pati keh peeche hi par gayi. Tu unse na mil toh hi behtar hai Twinkle, kahi koi naya tamasha na kar de, manhoos kahi ki"

"Bas maa. Ab aap bas bhi karo" Kunj interrupted in a stern voice. "Main jaanta hu ki Twinkle ne jo kiya voh galat tha, lekin yeh manhusi and all, yeh sab bakwaas ki baatein hai maa, main yeh sab nahin maanta so please aap chup ho jaye"

"Haan! Tu toh apni biwi ki hi tarafdaari karega na? Shaadi kya hogayi, apne maa ko hi bhool gaya" Usha taunted her son. "Main kuch nahin jaanti, Bebe, aap iss ladki se kahiye ki meri nazaron se dafah ho jaye!" she fired back.

Twinkle, who was still digesting the spiteful words of her mother-in-law, couldn't believe how the circumstances had changed in the past 12 hours. 12 hours ago, she and Kunj had planned their date. 6 hours ago, they were both enjoying spending time with each other. 5 hours ago, they received that MMS. 4 hours ago, her father-in-law had suffered a heart attack from shock. And here she is now 4 hours later, stuck in the web of misunderstandings and distrust. Her emotions rode high and she left from there before she could no longer hold back the tears anymore.

Running into the parking lot of the hospital, she collapsed to the ground on her knees, clutching her chest, trying so desperately to dispose of the pain and hurt that were stabbing away at her heart. The tears kept coming and the pain didn't fade. "Kyu? Hamesha mere saath hi aisa kyu hota hai?" she sobbed. "Koi meri baat kyun nahin sunta, sabko sirf mujhpe ilzaam lagane hai, kisi ko bhi mujh par yakeen nahin hai. Kunj ko bhi mujh par yakeen nahin hai..." she cried harder. She could've fought the world had Kunj stood with her, stood by her, but how can she fight at all when Kunj is the one on the other side of the battlefield? Everything was a mess. Her family, her marriage, her relationships, her entire life. And all because of Yuvi! She cursed herself repeatedly for ever believing, trusting and loving a man like him. All the problems in her life were because of him. Everything was ruined because of him. But no, not everything was his fault. She should've made sure that the video was deleted permanently. Why didn't she check to make sure it was gone? How could she have made such a mistake?

*****

*Flashback*

Twinkle was absolutely delighted with Kunj's preparations for their date. It was perfect! Everything that she had imagined and beyond! She turned to admire her date... her husband. She couldn't have thanked Babaji enough for bringing Kunj into her life. He was, in every way possible, the ideal life partner for her. They had been enjoying dinner; Kunj continued to flirt and make her feel special and she also responded mutually. He even offered her a dance and boy, did they dance! Time stood still for Twinkle as she cherished these moments with the love of her life... Yes. He was the love of her life. And by the end of this date, she would confess the deepest feelings hidden away in her heart to him. The rest of the day went better than great! She couldn't remember the last time she felt so fulfilled... so happy.

"Kunj!" She started.

"Kya hua?" He replied.

"Mujhe tumse kuch kehna hai..."

"Haan toh bol na, permission diya, dil ko ke bol jo bolna hai" he teased.

"Kunj! This is serious!"

"Haan toh maine kab kaha ki tu mazak kar rahi hai? Bol na"

Twinkle ignored his attempts at provoking her. She was going to confess her love today no matter what. "Kunj, main na... voh actually... I..." she stuttered. God! She was Twinkle Kunj Sarna, Punjabi Pataka. She did not stutter. Kunj was getting ready to crack another joke when both their phones went off.

Twinkle, feeling like the mood was ruined, picked up her phone and opened the message she had received. The world shattered around her. How was this possible? She had made sure that Purvi was caught and arrested then how was she receiving this video? She looked at Kunj and could tell from his clenched jaw that he had also received the message. What should she do? Twinkle couldn't understand anything. But she knew that she had to tell Kunj the truth now, otherwise it really would be too late. "Kunj..." she whispered. He looked at her, his eyes burning red. Twinkle remembers seeing that look in his eyes the day she had accused him again of taking advantage of her before he revealed the truth to her. She had to tell him and she had to tell him now! Just as she was about to speak up, Yuvi made his appearance, a wide smirk across his face.

Twinkle doesn't remember how Yuvi had disclosed to Kunj that Twinkle was aware of this video. She doesn't remember herself telling Kunj that it was a lie and his father was innocent. She doesn't remember telling him that that was the reason for attending Mrs. Amritsar. She doesn't remember Yuvi taunting their relationship even more. She doesn't remember how Yuvi had prided himself in leaking that MMS virally. She also doesn't remember Yuvi leaving, leaving her to deal with the tornado he had created. She doesn't remember when the call from home came telling them to reach the hospital. She doesn't remember the silent car journey there either. All she remembers is the look in Kunj's eyes which was enough to shatter her soul to pieces.

*Flashback ends*

*****

Everyone is gathered around Manohar's bed eagerly waiting for him to open his eyes. A wave of relief washes over everyone as he begins to make movement. All are by his side straight away, asking questions about how he is feeling, if he needs anything, he should rest, to not talk much etc. The first word that he spoke was "sorry". Though everyone had been worried sick about his health, his life, they still hadn't forgotten the images from that video. Bebe tried to change the topic as this was not the right time to discuss this issue but Manohar was insistent on proving his innocence. He narrated the whole story to his family present and asked them to trust him. He had not been disloyal to Usha. He had not disgraced their family. He had tried to stop it from destroying them. He tried. And he failed. Eventually everyone understood his position. Usha was the first to support her husband stating she knew there was some kind of misunderstanding and he wouldn't do that to her.

"Twinkle kaha hai?" Manohar asked abruptly. Everyone looked at each other. "Mujhe useh baat karni hai". Realising that something was wrong he interrogated his family. Bebe narrated everything that happened in the past 4 hours. How everyone blamed Twinkle for his condition because she had failed to share the truth. How Usha cursed her and told her to get lost. How they wouldn't let her come to see him. Manohar was distraught. His daughter-in-law had to endure so much humiliation because she was concerned about his respect and status. He looked at his family with disgusted eyes. "Tum sab ne yeh teekh nahin kiya. Twinkle ne jo kiya voh sab mere kehne par kiya. Maine useh manna kiya that ki kisi ko kuch na bataye varna voh toh Kunj ko kab ka bata de chuki hoti. Useh masoom si ladki neh mere liye, hamare parivaar ke liye kya kuch nahin kiya aur tum sab ne uske saath aisa bartaav kiya?" he chided. Usha spoke up in her defence but was silenced by her husband. Nobody was able to meet his eyes. "aur Kunj tum bhi? Bohot ache pati hone ka farz nibhaya hai tumne" he taunted his son who was staring at him with a blank face.

Kunj couldn't believe his ears. Everything his father had said registered in his mind. The past 4 hours flashed before his eyes. What had he done? What the hell was wrong with him? Twinkle had pleaded her innocence to him several times but he overlooked it, because there were tears in his mother's eyes, because of her. He overlooked his wife for his mother without even reasoning. What kind of Husband was he? He didn't even give her a chance to explain herself. He had shouted at her for being irresponsible, for being childish and impulsive, for not trusting him. But had he trusted her? She had entered that contest for his father, his family. She had put her reputation on the line to save the reputation of his family. Dammit! How could he have misunderstood her so badly? Deep down he knew that she would never intentionally hurt his family... their family. Then why was he so quick to play the blame game?! He cursed himself repeatedly before panic took over him. Twinkle had left. Left him. Again. And this time it was all his fault! Without thinking anything else, he ran out the room towards the exit of the hospital. He had to find her. She couldn't leave him. He wouldn't let her. She belonged with him. They belonged together. And he loved her. Yes! He bloody loved her!

This is literally as it came to my mind. So apologies for the mistakes. Enjoy! 😊