PART THREE:
Abhimanyu has
taken Riddhima out of college, for a surprise (it's around 4pm).
Abhimanyu:
(thinking to himself) I wonder if you know how much you mean to me
Riddhima. I
feel like the luckiest guy in the world... and yet... (voice in his
head)
Arrey, what's wrong with you Abhi? Don't doubt what you already have.
Riddhima:
Abhi, it's been half an hour since we left. You know we have class in an
hour.
Couldn't you take me later, you know, like after the presentation... oh
my God,
the presentation! Abhi, how am I going to present it? It's such a bad
diagnosis. (starts badmouthing her presentation)
Ab: (smiles)
Riddhima, darling. Relax. Deep breaths. You know your presentation is
perfect
jaan, it's just nerves. (starts singing softly)
Dil kya kare,
jab kisi se... kisi ko pyaar ho jaaye.
Jaane kahan
jab kisi ko... kisi se pyaar ho jaaye.*
R: (giggles)
Abhi, you always make me smile. I'm glad we're away from school. I'm
going
crazy thinking about this presentation, and here you are; knowing
exactly how
to de-stress me.
Ab: I'm glad
you're enjoying yourself.
R: Where are
we going anyway?
Ab: Rids,
it's a surprise. (glances at her, and smiles)
R: You know
I'm not too fond of surprises... but, hang on, this looks familiar. Like
really
familiar... ABHI! My favourite beach! We haven't been here in ages!
Abhi stops
the car, and Riddhima excitedly gets out, and admires the beach before
her.
Before she can walk towards it, Abhi blindfolds her, and leads her to a
picnic
area.
Ab:
(whispering in her ear) There's a lot we haven't done in awhile...
R: (giggles)
Don't tell me...
Ab: Tada!
(takes off the blindfold)
R: Abhi!
You're recreating our first date! Right down to the same drinks and
food. You
knew I had been thinking about this day for awhile. Do you remember
Abhi? I
just knew that I would be with you from that one date. And three years
later,
look where we are. I love you for this.
Ab: (smiles,
and leads her to the table)
Riddhima and
Abhi enjoy their afternoon with a lot of memories being re-created. They
decide
to take a walk along the beach when suddenly Riddhima's phone rings.
R: WHAT?! You
can't be serious. No! Make her understand. Khanak, don't let her leave
like
that. I don't care, make some excuse. I'll be on my way ASAP. Khanak,
make
Nikki understand!
Ab: (looks at
her startled) Ridzy, kya hua? What's wrong? Sweetheart, please tell me!
R: (still in
shock) Abhi, I need to get back home.
Ab: Alright,
alright. Take deep breaths. We're not far away. (leads Riddhima back to
the
car, and makes his way to her house)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
An hour
earlier...
Shaan and
Nikita are making their way back to Nikki's house.
Shantanu:
Princess, are you sure you're alright? You've barely said a word the
entire
time we were shopping. Was the shirt I bought that horrible? I'll return
it
promise... (smiles, and then notices Nikki's unresponsiveness)
Nikki:
(thinking to herself) I can't go back home. She'll start up again, and I
haven't
got the strength to argue, not after yesterday. (whispers) Shaan, can we
not go
to... I mean, can we go back to yours instead?
S: Nikki, why
are you whispering? Of course we'll go to my place. But I thought you
wanted to
grab some clothes pagal. Wasn't that the point of this field trip?
N: I can't do
this. I'm not going inside. Shaan, I can't face her, not after last
night...
not when she'll only start up again.
S: Princess,
she's not even home, the Merc isn't parked in the driveway. It'll take
five
minutes, not even. In and out, and then we can go back to mine... Mum
misses
you a lot, and then once she's fed us enough for several lifetimes, I'll
drop
you off to Rahul Bhaiya's place. Sound good right? Well, I happen to be a
master planner. (laughs)
N: (manages a
small smile) Okay, let's be rational. She's not home... (steps out of
the car)
She's not home... (walks to the front door) She's not home... (opens the
door
and rushes upstairs) She's not home!
Nikki quickly
packs an overnight bag with clothes and essentials, when she hears two
voices
arguing downstairs.
N: (thinking)
It's nothing important. I just need to finish packing. Just finish
packing...
Downstairs,
the voices start getting louder, and although Nikki does her best to
stay calm,
she can't control herself and listens from the top of the staircase.
Shashank
Gupta: Asha, please understand! You can't hold her responsible for what
happened between you and Rajeev. She was only a child Asha! A child who
has
grown up thinking her parents would rather her dead!
Asha Gupta: I
don't care Shashank. She doesn't deserve to be here. After all I've done
for
her, it's never good enough. I should have never allowed her to come and
live
with us. Let her go back to her dearest father, I don't want her in my
life.
That's it Shashank. We were a perfect family before she came. And
lately, it's
only getting worse.
Shashank:
Asha, Nikki is going through a phase. She's hurt, and very confused.
You're not
helping by arguing with her. And after last night Asha, I wouldn't be
surprised
if she chooses not to live with us anymore. The things you said...
(holds his
head wearily)
Asha:
Shashank, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you with this. But she's
always
defending Rajeev, always. I'm always the bad person in their
relationship. I
just want things to go back to what they were, before Nikki came back
into our
lives... Did you hear that Shashank? (looks up) Nikki!
Before Asha
or Shashank can say anything, Nikki wipes her tears, grabs her bag, and
runs
downstairs to the front door...
Shashank:
Nikita, beti. Please don't go. We can resolve this.
N: I'm sorry
Mr.Gupta, but there's nothing you can say or do that's going to make me
stay.
She obviously wishes I were dead. Always the bad person... hah. Listen
to the
self-pity, always the drama queen. I'm sorry you have to live with her
Mr.Gupta. I'm sorry your daughters have to live with her.
Asha: How
dare you Nikita? After all Shashank has done for you, that's what you
say? He
is a better father for you than your own... At least respect him if you
can't
respect me.
N: I do
respect him Mrs. Gupta. I respect him a lot more than I'll ever respect
you. He
has patience, and a lot of wisdom. All you've ever given me is hate. I
know you
hate me Mrs. Gupta. I know you wish I'd died at birth or something. But
let one
thing be clear, you can argue with me all you like; I will not hear
anything
against Dad. (in a sugary sweet tone) Oh, and please don't worry about
me, I
won't be coming home. I don't care about my things, rip them, burn them,
I don't
care. All I know is that I'm not coming back.
What Asha,
Shashank and Nikki don't know is that Khanak has heard their argument,
and she
calls Riddhima.
Khanak: Di?
All notice
Khanak standing in the doorway,
tears streaming down her face.
Shashank:
Khanak, don't cry. Your sister isn't going anywhere.
Asha: Khanak,
sweetheart. Come here, it's alright.
N: Kaz, don't
mind me. (smiles) Pagli, why are you crying? Your mother just made a few
things
clear is all. Nothing to worry about.
Asha: Khanak
beti, I'm sorry you had to hear that. Chal, let's go wash your face, and
I'll
make you something to drink. (walks away into the kitchen, with Shashank
following)
N: (under her
breath) Oh that's right Mrs. Gupta, you only have two daughters.
K: Di, you're
not going. Please Di. Not like this.
N: Kaz, if I
stay here any longer, I'm going to end up crazy. I can't live in a house
where
there's no place for me.
K: There's
always a place for you here. Dad, Ridzy and I love you so much. And
Mamma is
making an effort to understand you.
N: Understand
me? What has Mrs. Gupta been telling you Khanak? She wishes I hadn't
been born.
Asha: (walks
back to the front area) Yes, tell yourself that Nikita. And what
happened to
leaving? Have you decided not to go? I don't need more disrespect from
you
Nikita, so go before I lose my temper.
N: Hah,
disrespect. At least learn what it means before anything. Oh, and don't
worry
Mrs. Gupta, as I said, I'm not coming back. So have a good life Mrs.
Gupta, and
I hope you end up regretting it all. (storms out)
K: Di! (runs
to catch up to her) Please don't go. Please.
But it's too
late, Shaan has already driven off. Just then, Riddhima gets out of
Abhi's car.
Riddhima:
Khanak? Where is she? (hugs Khanak) Do you know where she went? (notices
Asha
in the doorway) Mamma, you let her go? (takes Khanak inside the house,
and
walks back out to tell Abhi to go home)
Ab: Ridzy,
are you sure you'll be alright? I don't want to leave you in this state.
R: I'll be
alright. Just need to calm Khanak down. If Nikki is at your place,
please tell
her to call me.
Ab: Alright.
Call me if you need anything. (kisses her on the cheek and drives off)
R: (to herself)
I need a lot Abhi, but no one's ready to help me. I need Nikki back at
home; I
need Mamma to forgive her if she really has done anything wrong. I need
my
family back.
Riddhima
walks back inside to find everyone in their own rooms.
R: I guess no
one's ready to talk. (walks upstairs to Nikki's room) Nikki, why'd you
leave?
We need you so much. I need you back. (notices a letter addressed to her
and
reads aloud)
'Ridzy, I'm
sorry. I know you're hurting because I left, but we both knew it was
inevitable. I won't step foot in your house until your mother can accept
who I
am. I don't hate her, but I know she hates me. I love you forever, and
I'll be at Muskaan's
place if you need me.'
Nikki, I love
you too. And she doesn't hate you, she just needs time. Please come
home. (sobs)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Shaan's
car, Nikki is extremely quiet, and nothing Shaan says gets through to
her. They
reach his house.
Nikita:
Shaan, are my eyes really swollen? I don't want Aunty to get upset
again.
Shantanu: You
look fine. Adorable even. (smiles) We can talk about what happened
later. The
most important thing is that you're nowhere near your mum, and you can
breathe
freely now.
N: Oh yeah,
breathing. (smiles) Thanks for being my rock Prince Charming. Chal, I'm
hungry.
I wonder what Aunty made.
S: You're
always hungry. (laughs as Nikki swats him) Hey, fighting outside of my
baby,
not inside.
N: (rolls
eyes) Alright already... Mmm, I can smell it already.
Nikki and
Shaan make their way inside, and before they reach the kitchen, someone
runs
and bumps into Nikita.
Ayush: Nikki
Chachi! YAY! Me was telling Mamma you'd come. Thee Mamma, Nikki Chachi's
here.
N: (picks
Ayush up and walks into the kitchen) Hi Chote Nawab. And as if I'd miss
your
Dadi's cooking. Hi Aunty, Bhabi looking good (winks). Oooh, Rahul
Bhaiya? You're
cooking? Mmmmmm.
Rahul: Yes
Nikki. Mum should be proud that at least one of her sons learnt how to
cook.
(smiles at his mum)
S: Bhaiya,
that's not fair. I'm learning how to cook. Hai na mummy? (smiles at his
mum)
Muskaan: Ai
hai. What a cute picture. Mummy's boys. (giggles with Nikki) Where's Mr.
Khadoos and Mr. Flirt though?
Armaan &
Abhi: (simultaneous) Hum yahaan hain! Chal, we're going to cook as well.
(smiles at their mum/aunty)
Everyone
cracks up in laughter, and Ayush just watches all the adults amazed.
Ayush:
(whispers) Nikki Chachi, when I grow up, can I cook as well?
N: (giggling)
Why don't you start cooking now? Help Dadi out in the kitchen. Mamma and
I will
watch.
Ayush: Yay.
Dadi, I wanna cook too. (smiles at his Dadi, and Rahul picks him up)
Muskaan: Wow,
complete family picture. Well almost anyway. Dad kahaan hain?
Prerna Modi:
You know him Muskaan. Always at work. He said he'd be home just before
dinner.
Anyway boys, make sure you don't make too much of a mess. I plan to sit
with my
daughter-in-laws and relax.
N: (looks up)
Aunty, if you don't leave the kitchen, they'll expect you to make
dinner. Come
sit. (smiles)
Abhi: Oh
really Nikita. Mum taught us well, thank you.
N: She might
have taught you well, but that doesn't mean you learnt. I'd like to see
you
make roti. (giggles with Muskaan and Prerna)
Rahul: Abhi,
you still don't know how to make roti? Come on yaar. It's not that hard.
Chal,
I'll help you.
The afternoon
is spent enjoyably with Prerna's sons and grandson making dinner, and
her
daughters giggling away at their mistakes. Finally dinner is ready, and
Mr. Rishabh
Modi is home.
Rishabh Modi:
Oh wow, I'm home, and dinner is on the table. Smells good, looks good...
but I
wonder if it tastes good. If it doesn't boys, you'll be doing the dishes
as
well. (smiles cheekily)
Boys (in
chorus): Dad! That's not fair. The girls did nothing.
Abhi: (under
his breath) Especially Nikki.
Rishabh:
(noticing Nikki and Muskaan giggling) Arrey, my two favourite daughters
are here. Nikki, you
& Muskaan shall be head taste-testers. And if anything tastes bad,
you get
to tell them what to do. Deal?
Nikki: Uncle,
you're just too kind. (giggles at the sight of the boys' faces) Don't
worry
boys, I won't be that harsh. Rahul Bhaiya and Ayush's chilli prawns look
too
good to resist.
Ayush: Dada,
dada. I helped too. Can we eat now?
Everyone
laughs at Ayush's remark, and sits down to eat.
Precap to Part Four:
Prerna:
Nikki, aaja. I know you're upset.
Nikki:
(sniffles) I'm so confused Aunty. What do I do?
Muskaan:
Nikki, you're living with us is what. My little sister isn't going
anywhere
else. Acha?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
And that's Part Three finished.
*The song I used was "Dil Kya Kare"
from Julie.
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