Scene 1
Ginny completes her breakfast at the table. She is frantically turning pages from her notebook.
Ginny: Mammaa...Where are you? I am getting very late.
Sweety comes running with lunch box. She puts it in Ginny's bag and looks her from top to bottom.
Ginny: Ma...what are you doing?π
Sweety: I am seeing if you are completely ready. [smiles] So confident?π
Ginny: [tensed] I think so. Little nervous.π€
Sweety: Don't worry...it is just pre-finals. Don't get very tensed. I know you have prepared well.π [kisses her on forehead and gives a hug] Where is your Daddyji? He has not come down yet?π
Ginny: I don't know Ma..I still have 5 minutes. I will wait outside. Ask him to come na...please...[goes]
Sweety goes upstairs to check what Lucky is doing. Lucky had come very late the previous night from office. She had informed him that Ginny wanted him to drop her to school the next day. Lucky had agreed, but now she sees him sleeping. π
Sweety: Luckyji!! Get up!! Ginny is waiting for you...she is getting late for school.
Lucky: [without opening eyes] Sweetyji!. I am feeling so tired and feverish.π You please drop her. Please![turns and goes to sleep]
Sweety shakes her head and goes downstairs to Ginny.
Ginny: Where is Daddyji Ma? He is coming right?π³
Sweety: No Beta. He is sleeping. He asked me to drop you.
Ginny: [sad and angry] Nowadays Daddyji does not have time for me at all. It has been more than 2 days I saw him and talked to him properly. He does not care for me anymoreπ‘π [gets into the car angrily]
Sweety feels bad for Ginny, gets into the car and leaves.
Lucky has started to do business in neighbouring cities now because of which he has been very busy lately. He comes very late, by the time the children goes to sleep and when he gets up in the morning children have already left to school. Ginny has started missing her father a lot.
Scene 2
Lucky is sitting at the dining waiting for Sweety. Sweety comes home after dropping Ginny at school.
Sweety: You are up Luckyji? How are you now? [touches his forehead and checks temperature]You have fever Luckyji!
Lucky: I am ok Sweetyji. Is Ginny angry with me?π
Sweety: [looks at him] [sighs] Luckyji, honestly from the time you have started to go to other cities you don't have time for your family at all. I understand Luckyji. But you cannot expect it from children also right?
Lucky: [sad] What can I do Sweetyji? There are great opportunities in other cities. I am doing this for them only. If I get some good deals, our kids future will be even better right?
Sweety: Not at the cost of your kids Luckyji. Not at the cost of your health. You are not eating properly, no proper sleep, travelling is increasing your blood pressure also. Please listen to me and stop this new venture. Please.
Lucky is silent. Sweety does not want to argue more. She leaves to bring his breakfast. Lucky is thinking. If he continues for few more weeks, he is sure to get good profits. He wants to make sure his children's life is good and secured.
Scene 3
Ginny comes back home from exam happily. She has done her final exam very well, better than all the other papers. She runs to the kitchen and hugs Sweety.
Ginny: Maaa...Exams are over...and paper was so easy!!
Sweety: Wah..this is so nice to hear. Go and freshen up. I will prepare something good for you to eat.π
Ginny: Ok[happily leaves upstairs]π
Lucky: Sweetyji! Sweetyji!π
Sweety is surprised that Lucky has come home this time. Lucky comes and sits at the dining.
Sweety: Arey Luckyji! You have come at this time?π²π
Lucky: Why? I should not come to my house?[winks] I have not come to see you, I have come to see my daughter[smiles] Where is she? She is home? How her exams went?π
Sweety: [very happy with Lucky] Yes. She has come and is upstairs. She has done her exams so well. She is very happy.
Lucky: You call her na? [eagerly] She will be surprised to see me.
Sweety: GINNY!! Come down fast.
Ginny: [from upstairs] Yeah coming.
Ginny comes down happily and enters the dining and sees Lucky sitting there. Lucky happily smiles at her. But Ginny is still angry at him. Ginny turns to go away from there.
Sweety: Where are you going Ginny? Come here and sit.
Ginny: No Ma. I don't have time for all this. I will come when I have time.π³[leaves]
Lucky understands Ginny is indirectly telling him. He feels helpless how to make his daughter understand. He knows he is not spending time with her and he misses her too. Sweety signals him to go and talk to her. Lucky goes to Ginny's room. He sees her sitting sadly with a book. He goes and sits near her. Ginny ignores him.
Lucky: Naraaz ho?
Ginny: [silent]
Lucky: I am sorry beta? Actually...
Ginny: I don't want your sorry Daddyji.
Lucky: I understand that you are angry..
Ginny: I am not angry Daddyji. I am hurt...πhurt because my father was not there for me when it needed the most.
Lucky: What are you saying? I am always there for you...Always..π
Ginny: Then tell me what happened 3 days back with me?
Lucky: [confused, silent] What happened? You mom did not tell me anything.
Ginny: [sad smile] I was down with high fever before my Maths exam because I was so scared. I wished you were by my side. Mom even called you many times on your phone. But you never answered.
Lucky: [shocked] What?π² [thinks] Probably I was with clie...I am so sorry beta...I promise it will never happen again.
Ginny: It has already happened Daddyji. I have understood that you care more for your business than me. I won't complain anymore. I will learn to live without you. You go and take care of your business. [pauses] I want to read my book Daddyji...ALONE.
Lucky is shocked to know the extent to which he has hurt his daughter. He realises his absence has created such an impact on her. He slowly gets up and leaves the room. He goes to his room and sits on the bed. Sweety is already there in the room
Sweety: [senses situation] What did Ginny say?
Lucky: [sad] Truth.π
Sweety sits near him silently.
Lucky: You were right Sweetyji! This new business is creating problems...I just wanted to do..children's happiness...I...[closes his eyes in sadness]π
Sweety: Luckyji! I understand. But you have to understand that children are not used to your absence especially Ginny.
Lucky: But Sweetyji, it has been only two weeksπ. Even when I am at home Ginny and I don't spend that much time together. I mean..honestly I did not think my presence or absence will matter for her.π
Sweety: [surprised] Why do you think like that?π²
Lucky: What have I done for her? I cannot help her in studies, I don't speak to her about her school or friends, she is closer to you than me..I don't...π
Sweety: Enough Luckyji! What are you saying! [pauses] Remember? When Ginny was very little, she used to run and come and hug you when you reach home in the evening every day. You used to take her immediately and play with her till she sleeps in the night. [Lucky smiles] But one day, you were upset about something at office and did not play with her that day. Remember how angry she was with you at that age itself? [pauses] Don't think too much about this Luckyji. Ginny is just angry that you were not there...
Lucky: [shakes head] But you remember Sweetyji? After that incident, Ginny never hugged me when I returned home, till now. I tried everything but that one incident changed everything. I keep breaking her trust. I fear the same thing is going to happen again...
Sweety: Luckyji! It was...
Lucky: But why didn't you tell me about her fever?
Sweety: You came back so tired on that day and went directly to bed. Ginny's fever had come down. I did not want to worry you.
Lucky: [silent] I am a bad father.π
Sweety: No Luckyji. Don't think...
Lucky leaves the room angry with himself. He comes downstairs and sees Rocky watching football match. Lucky is tensed as what Rocky thinks of him.
Lucky: [trying to be casual] Oye Rocky Singh! Whose match is going on?
Rocky: [looks at him] Who are you? I have seen you before somewhere. You used to stay in this house right?
Lucky is shocked at the response. He sits on the sofa defeated.
Rocky: Arey Dad. You took it seriously? I was just joking.[laughs] How are you Dad? How is work going on.
Lucky: [little relieved, nods head] You are also angry with me?
Rocky: [thinks] No, not angry. But yeah, definitely missed you. [smiles] Ginny missed you a lot more though.
Lucky: How is studies going on? When is your exams?
Rocky: [silent] Dad! My exams got over before Ginny's started. Don't you remember?
Lucky: [sighs] I guess I forgot everything and...everyone.
Rocky: [understands] Dad! Forget it! Just give Ginny some time. She will be fine.
Lucky knows he need to do something to get back Ginny's love and trust. But what? He gets a call from his Agra client. Lucky is thinking what to do.
So this is PART 1. Please do share your views. I am trying to set a base here in this part. Please do let me know who needs PMs when I update.π
comment:
p_commentcount