TwiNj OS - Yeh Mera Vaada Raha

TwiNj OS - Yeh Mera Vaada Raha

The temperature drop of the water pulled Kunj back into reality. He stepped away from the shower head as the cold water continued to pour down from above. Turning off the tap, he wrapped a towel around his waist and exited the bathroom. He was headed straight for the bed when reality struck him again. Making a U-turn, he made his way to the wardrobe and opened the door. Leaning his hands against the shelf, he tried his hardest to compose himself. This was the third time now that he had assumed Twinkle would've left his clothes out on the bed for him to get changed... but she was gone. These past few months, he had become so used to having her around that it was hard for him to remember how life used to be before her. He wakes up in the morning with her name on his tongue, he tried to occupy his mind with studying only to call out her name for a coffee, and he couldn't even sleep on his own bed because it just didn't feel right without her there by his side. She was his routine, his every day, she was his habit and now his life just seemed like a total mess without her.

It was almost time for him to make his usual hospital round. Realising that he would be late if he didn't leave now, he quickly searched for his wallet. Where did you leave it Kunj, think...? He had rummaged through every drawer in the room when he remembered that he hadn't checked the most obvious place, their bedside table of course. There it is... he pocketed his wallet and was about to close the drawer when something caught his eye. It was the Mrs. Amritsar invitation Twinkle had received. Seating himself on the edge of the bed, he recollected the whole process. How Twinkle had decided not to participate for his happiness, but then she had changed her mind, stating it was for Mahi. How she was insulted at every step of that goddamn competition because others were insecure about what a great candidate she was. The memories of finding her in that lodge flashed before his eyes. His hands turned to fists as he recalled how she was helplessly lying underneath that animal who had dared to touch his wife. He remembers how regardless of his shouting and instigation, Twinkle hadn't disclosed her true motive for going there. His eyes snap open. He hadn't realised when he'd closed them but looking at his reflection in the mirror, he could see the red. Crumpling the invitation into a ball, he threw it across the room before bringing his head into his hands. Why? Why couldn't she have told him the truth that night?

His thoughts wandered back to his father who was now in a coma at the hospital. He briefly recalled the day he had seen his father extremely tensed and had even enquired about it. His father had straight up told him it was nothing and to mind his own business. His head shot up. This must be why... he thought. He was tense about this video but he didn't tell me...

His mind fast forwards to the day he had planned anthakshari for Twinkle, and supposedly for Mahi's so-called Mrs. Amritsar win. His father was so happy that day, he even sang and danced with his mother! Kunj had never seen his father so openly express such affection for his mother before. His thought process continued...This change in his father's behaviour came about after the competition had finished... Because he wasn't worried or tense about the video anymore... He knew Twinkle had handled the problem. Realisation adorned his face and Kunj immediately shot up to his feet, running his hands through his hair as he paced the room. Dammit Kunj! How did you not figure this out before? Twinkle had insisted on leaving the competition once Purvi was arrested. He had thought that was simply because Twinkle didn't like the cheating but it wasn't. Twinkle had discredited Purvi's words and actions that day. Anything that woman said from thereon would've been placed under numerous scrutiny before anyone believed anything she said. No one would believe her if the video got out either. He couldn't help the smile of admiration that formed across his face as he registered his wife's genius thinking.

His smile fell. So if Twinkle had imprisoned Purvi and deleted the video, how did the media get their hands on it? He knows it wasn't Twinkle in that video, his heart refused to believe it. He knew how much family meant to her. She would never do such a thing.

Without thinking any further, he opened up that video message once again, this time looking for any sort of clue to prove Twinkle's innocence. It didn't take him long to find the blunders this person had made. This girl's hair was much shorter than Twinkle's and he had never seen Twinkle wear such a ring before. Another thought entered his mind at that moment. Someone wanted us to blame Twinkle for all this. But what would anyone get out of that? What enmity could they have with Twinkle? His mind was asking a thousand questions, trying to find answers when his phone went off. Coming out of his trance, he answered the call... "What?! Main abhi aya" he cut the call and made his way to the hospital. Manohar had regained consciousness.

*****

"Doctor, kya hua? Is everything alright?" Kunj approached. The family members had all gathered together after receiving the news of Manohar's improvement in health. "That's the thing Mr. Kunj, everything is better than just alright. Mr. Sarna has amazed us all. His recovery isn't any less of a miracle. Someone has definitely been praying very sincerely for him otherwise to recover from a coma is just a few days is remarkable" the Doctor stated. Everyone's faces lit up with happiness. "Kya hum papa se mil sakte hai Doctor?" Kunj asked, eager to see his father alive and healthy before his eyes. "I'm sorry Mr. Kunj, he's requested to not to let anyone inside to meet him right now. He stated that the only person he wants to meet right now is Twinkle, which one of you is Twinkle?"

Shock and confusion travelled through the room. He wanted to meet Twinkle? Kunj was taken aback by his father's decision. Usha was the first to counter-argue Manohar's request, she should be able to meet him first since she was his wife. The doctor informed them that Manohar's requests are their first priority and any sort of distress caused to him right now could result in his health deteriorating. Understanding the delicacy of the situation, Bebe took control and reassured Usha that everything would be fine but they will have to listen to what the doctor says. "Lekin Bebe, uss manhoos ladki ki saya padte hi unhe kuch aur hogaya toh? Nahin, main aisa nahin hone de sakti..."

"Bas maa, please ab toh aap bas kijiye. Papa ko kuch nahi hua, voh ab bilkul teekh hai, ab toh aap Twinkle ko kosna bandh kijiye" Kunj interrupted Usha. "Raha sawal manhoosi ki, toh Twinkle manhoos nahin hai, in fact hum sab bohot hi lucky hai ki voh hamare parivaar ka ek hissa hai" he continued remembering all the times he had accused her of hurting his family even though they were her family too, she was his family and he treated her... he closed his eyes to stop the pain of shame and guilt from over-powering him. He knew what he had to do now. "Main Twinkle ko lene jaa raha hoon" He said as he left the room, not giving anyone a chance to ask or doubt his decision. "Main aa raha hoon Twinkle, tera Kunj aa raha hai."

*****

Twinkle had been sincerely praying to Babaji for the past couple of hours now. She knew that her Babaji would never let her leave empty-handed from here and she never did. Ever since the day she left the Sarna house, she spent a lot of time at the Gurudwara where she prayed for Manohar's recovery without fail. It helped her deal with what was happening in her life much better than if she had been sitting at home... Home? Her house didn't even feel like home anymore, not without Kunj. She knew Kunj was at a very vulnerable stage right now and she didn't blame him for not stopping her from leaving. If her mother had threatened to kill herself, she would've let Kunj leave too. But his accusations still hurt her more than she wished to acknowledge. He was angry and hurt but he would definitely see that she had to do what she did one day. Atleast that much faith she had in him.

"Tere Babaji ne teri sunli Twinkle" came a voice from behind her. She knew that voice. His voice. Turning around, she saw him walk towards her. Her Babaji definitely heard her. She smiled innately at the fact that Kunj was standing in front of her, but it never reached her face.

Kunj knew she'd be at the Gurudwara. When the Doctor had mentioned that someone was definitely praying for his father, he knew it had to be Twinkle. He knows her rapport with Babaji very well. He also knows the sincerity of her heart, her selflessness, her sacrificing nature... His Siyappa Queen.

"Kunj tum yaha?" Twinkle asked cautiously, waiting for him to reply. "Tujhe lene aya hoon Twinkle" he replied straight away. Did she hear him correctly? Did he just say that he had come to take her? Controlling the overwhelming emotions that was forming inside her, she finally asked "kahaan?"

The next thing she knew, they were both in his car on the way to the hospital. She knew Babaji would answer her prayers soon enough and He didn't disappoint her. She was so relieved and happy to hear that her father-in-law was in good health now. She couldn't have thanked God enough times. He was okay... which meant that everything was going to be okay.

*****

Back at the hospital, Bebe was the first approach Twinkle. "Meri bachi, kaisi hai tu? Kitni patli hogayi hai" she inquired in a concerned tone. Twinkle smiled at her, "kya karu Bebe? Do din se apki desi ghee vala khaana nahin kaya na isilye" she replied light-heartedly. She couldn't have been happier to have someone like Bebe in her life. She was her anchor in the most difficult of times. "Areh meri pagli bachi..." Bebe said as she pulled Twinkle into a hug. "...acha tu jaa ab, Monu tujhse milna chahata hai" she ushered. Twinkle glanced at Usha who refused to look at her. All of Usha's harsh words came flooding back to her. She was just about to refuse going to meet Manohar when she felt Kunj take her hand. She glanced up at him to see him give her an approving nod. A look which pleaded her to help nurse his father back to health. A look which told her how sorry he was as he walked her to his father's room, hand in hand. Putting a hold on her emotions and as much as it pained her, she removed her hand and made her way through the doors.

"Twinkle..." Manohar said as he saw her walk towards him. "I'm sorry papaji" Twinkle replied, "Mujhe maaf kar dijiye" she continued as she took a seat beside his bed.

"Nahin beta, aisa nahin kehte, tumne toh kya kuch nahin kiya mere liye" he reassured his daughter-in-law. He went on to explain that it was his fault, he should've been more careful. There was only so much she could've done. He also told her how he doesn't have the nerve to look his family in the eyes after the video was leaked; the reason why he told the doctor to not let them in to meet him. Twinkle assured him that they would support him in this situation, they all loved him and would believe him over an outsider any day. "Shayad, lekin pehle mujhe mere naam par jo daag laga hai, useh mitana hai" he said to her. He believed she was the only one that would be able to reach the bottom of this situation and bring back his lost respect. She had not failed him before and she wouldn't fail him now. He trusted her. Twinkle also knew what she had to do. Manohar was right. She had been thinking about finding out about the real culprit for the past few days and now with the blessings of her father-in-law, she knew she wouldn't stop until she did. "Vaada karti hoon main apse papaji, ki jab tak main uss insaan ko apne kiye ki saza nahin dilati, main ghar main ek kadam tak nahin rakoongi. Yeh mera vaada raha" saying this she left, not giving Manohar a chance to question what she means.

As Twinkle exited the room, she was greeted with numerous questioning eyes, waiting for some sort of response or answer as to why Manohar wanted to see her. Without replying to anyone, she went to Bebe and touched her feet, taking her blessings which she knew she was going to need. And with that, she turned and walked out of the hospital, not looking back once.

Everyone was taken aback by Twinkle's behaviour but before they could ask any questions, the Doctor came out to inform them that Manohar had changed his decision about not letting them meet him. Without further ado, they all rushed into the room to see him sitting there, healthy and smiling. Once all the questioning and crying was over, he informed them that it was because of Twinkle that he changed his decision. He told them how she had advocated their support and trust for him when he doubted his own family. The members of the family stood there listening silently. Manohar then picked up on Twinkle's last words before she left him and asked Bebe what she meant by not enter that house...' Not being able to hide anything any longer, Bebe disclosed the whole matter to him. To say that he was distraught would be an understatement. He was disgusted at his family. Not that they all accused her of such acts but they didn't support her either! He chided them, emphasising how wrong they all were and what a gem of a person Twinkle was. Never did she complain once. She always fulfilled her duty and never let him down.

"Kunj kahaan hai?" he asked. Everyone looked around to realise that Kunj hadn't entered the room.

*****

"Excuse me? Mujhe aapke Manager se milna hai" Twinkle told the receptionist of the News Channel which had published that video. After a while, a man walked out of the conference room and approached Twinkle. "Bataye, kya kar sakta hoon main apke liye?"

"Mera naam Twinkle Sarna hai, main Manohar Sarna ki bahu hoon. Mujhe apse uss video ki saari details chahiye" she stated quite casually.

"Sorry madam, that's not possible, company ki policy hai"

"Policy jayegi thel lene jab police yahaan pe ayenge, the decision is yours" she said crossing her arms across her chest knowing very well that her words would do the trick. And they did. The Manager abided by her requests whilst she interrogated him about who gave them that video.

"I'm sorry maam, but we don't know anything about that person. We just received an anonymous post which contained the CD" He told her. She was good at reading lies and could tell this man was telling the truth. Feeling like there is no point wasting any more time in this place, she left.

She was looking for a taxi when two guys approached her. "Arreh yeh toh Manohar Sarna ki bahu hai na? Kunj Sarna ki biwi?" they said to each other, glancing over Twinkle top to bottom. Twinkle automatically knew that these guys were trouble so she turned and began to walk away. It didn't help. They just followed her. "Arreh yaar, yeh toh vahi hai na, pichle saal ki Miss. Amritsar ki winner?" Ignoring their comments, Twinkle had managed to locate a taxi. She was about to get in when one of the guys held her hand. She gave them both a daggering stare. "Haath chod, varna teri aisi halat karungi ki pureh Amritsar mein muh chupaye ghumega" She threatened him, meaning every single word that left her mouth. They might have taken her to be a vulnerable and lone girl but she knew exactly how to deal with these type of people. "Arreh jaaneman, itna gussa? Kya baat hai? Tere sasur ki tarah tera pati bhi ayyaashi karta hai kya? Itni khoobsurat biwi ko akele ghar pe chor kar... kaho toh uski kami hum poori karde..." The sound of the slap echoed in the street. Twinkle was disgusted. She was controlling herself well until they made accusations on Kunj's character. Nobody talked about her husband like that and definitely not in front of her.

The guy looked at Twinkle angrily before pulling his arm back. Twinkle didn't have the time to react so she braced herself knowing exactly what was coming in the next second. His hand never made contact with her face. As she opened her eyes, she was greeted with his back. It was Kunj. He had planted himself between her and those two guys, like her very own personal shield, and her heart swelled at that thought. Coming out of her daze, she could tell from the tensed muscles of his back that he was angry... he was very angry.

Kunj saw red. He had followed behind her after she left the hospital because her behaviour was slightly odd to him and is he glad that he did. He had briefly heard the vulgar things they had said to Twinkle but his mind absolutely lost it when he saw one of the guys about to hit her. He was against a man hitting any woman as it is and this was his Twinkle! How dare he? How dare they say those things to her? How dare they even touch her? Before he could process anything else, his arm swung back and hit the guy right in the jaw. They had really pissed him off. Throwing punch after punch, he let out all the anger and frustration he had built inside him over the past few days. He hit them until his knuckles had started bleeding and he could hear vaguely hear Twinkle screaming his name in the distance. Stepping away from the bloodied bodies, he made his way back to his wife.

"Yeh kya tha Kunj?!" Twinkle shouted as she aided his bruised knuckles and blood covered hands. "Usne tujhe haath lagaya" was all that he said in his defence. Twinkle knew that there would be no point in pressing this issue further so she left it at that. But deep down, she felt her heart fill up because she knew that he had hit them for her.

"Ghar chal Twinkle" he said to her in an almost pleading tone. It was only three words but Twinkle could feel all his emotions from the way he looked at her with those eyes. He was hurting from the realisation that he had misjudged her, that he hadn't trusted her, or given her a chance to explain herself. He was sorry for not stopping her from leaving the house. He was sorry for not being there for her when she needed him the most. He needed her. And she needed him too.

But she had a mission to accomplish. She had to restore her family's respect. And she meant every word of the promise she made to Manohar.

"Nahin Kunj, maine papaji se vaada kiya hai ki jab tak main uss insaan ko apne kiye ki saza na diladu, main ghar mein kadam nahin rakungi" she told him, hoping he'd understand. He might have seen the truth finally but there was so much still floating around in the air. She couldn't forget the lack of trust, the accusations and the harsh behaviour towards her. In order for her to be able to put all this behind her, she had to prove her innocence herself and she would do that by bringing back the lost respect of her father-in-law. She would only go back to that house when all the members of the family willingly give her the place of their daughter-in-law again. Putting a stone of her heart, she turned around and got into the taxi.

Kunj couldn't help the smirk. His Siyappa Queen was stubborn and he knew it. She would fulfil her promise at any cost, literally. And he understood her too. They had all treated her so badly over the past few days. Especially the things his mother had said to her. They weren't just harsh, they were spiteful. They didn't deserve her in their lives but here she was, once again, fighting for his family's respect... their family's respect.

"Phir se vahi galti nahin dohraunga Twinkle, yeh mera vaada hai, tere saath har kadam par chalunga uss insaan ko pakarvane mein, chaahe tu mujhe na dekh paye lekin main hamesha tera saath dunga, teri parchayi banke rahunga, tujhe har modh pe support karunga. Uss nakli video banane vale ko dundh ke rahoonga, tujhe bekasoor saabit karke rahoonga. Tujhe phirse hamare ghar mein vaapas poori izzat aur sanmaan ke saath leke jaunga. Yeh mera vaada raha tujhse Mrs. Twinkle Kunj Sarna".

And that's a wrap.