This is getting out of hand. When I have a block, I don't write for weeks, when the block is gone all I want to do is to write. The only issue is I have a million other things to do. But once an idea strikes it has to get inked. So I'm back with yet another "How I would have liked it to play out". These spinoffs would have me rewrite nearly the whole show if my imagination has its way.
Anyway, this one is placed on the eve of the PreeKar wedding. I disliked the wedding and all of the ShraMan moments around that time as well...
This one starts exactly when Suman's wedding with Aditya is announced. Not exactly fluff, not exactly dreary. This one is the return of Shravan Malhotra, sort off. Hope it intrigues you as much as it does me. Not proofread so ignore mistakes if any.
This is a TS and I hate breaking the story so you'll find both the parts here.
This one is especially for all of you who have supported me, prayed and are continuing to do so most ardently. It means a hell of a lot to me!
PLETHORA
PART ONE
Shravan couldn't believe his ears. Was this really happening? His world began to spin as unshed tears pricked his eyes. He looked at Sumo in disbelief. Was it so easy for her? To disregard everything that had surpassed between them. Did she really not feel an ounce of love or a drop of pain that he felt. Was she really so oblivious or it didn't matter at all? Maybe he never really meant a thing to her. Maybe all they shared was an elaborate set up, to use him. To use him till he was useful. The moment she found a better suitor, one that would dance to her tunes, one that wouldn't question her, she let go of him. Even in his thoughts it all seemed so wrong. His Sumo? The master manipulator? Could she? All that they shared couldn't possibly be a lie, not all of it. What seemed off was the timing of it all. She had grown distant and hurtful since the wedding was announced. Yes she had ego but was the torment she put him through all ego? Why did her eyes light up for a few moments when she saw him? Was he imagining it all? His heart was starting to get heavier and his breath now came in fast gasps. With a lot of effort he managed to look up at Suman. She looked shocked and disinterested. Their eyes met and Shravan saw his pain mirrored in them. Why was she hurting if she herself agreed for the marriage?
Congratulations were in order. Pleasantries were exchanged. Pushkar looked at Shravan gravely understanding what he must be going through. Preeti bent down her head in pain for she was the reason two hearts in love would never be together. Shravan couldn't take it anymore. With a broken heart and dwindling resolve he left. He drove aimlessly around the streets of Delhi. His life seemed to have lost purpose all of a sudden.
Panic rose in Suman the moment she couldn't see Shravan. She knew it must have killed him. He loved her. He wanted to marry her. Her constant outbursts didn't push him away but this surely would. A fleeting thought crossed her mind. Did he read her eyes? For a moment there she thought he did. She thought he felt her displeasure with this alliance. Someone called out to her breaking her thought process. It was time for Preeti's bidaai and she was needed as the elder daughter of the house. She smiled painfully, that's all she ever was. The responsible one. She hoped that one day she could have her heart's beckoning.
It had been a few hours since the wedding was wrapped up. Suman sat on the floor of her room bawling her eyes out whilst talking to her mother's picture. "Maa.. Itne saalon mai maine kabhi bhi himmat nahi haari. Par aj, aj aaisa lagta hai ke sab kuch phir se chinn gaya ho mera. Aj bohot yaad aa rahi hai aapki. Apne paas bula lo na mujhe..." She clutched the photo to her chest as she let all the pain flow out through her.
As though he knew her heart yearned for him, he pushed the window of her room open and walked right in as if he had all the rights to do so. Suman looked up petrified at the intrusion but relaxed immediately as she saw the intruder was none other than her solace. "Tum yahan iss waqt?" She didn't bother wiping away her tears. He had surely cried. He sat beside her and let a few moments of silence pass. To him just breathing in the same vicinity as she did was healing. He knew that even if there was nothing she could do about his pains, just telling her about them made the pain half. "You hurt me.." Said he honestly.
Suman looked at him astonished. She hadn't expected him to ever see her again after all she had done. But he came. And his brutal honesty was enough for her to let go of any resolve she had in her. She placed her head on his shoulder and clasped his arm in both her hand tightly as she wept into him. A few muffled sobs made their way out his throat as he tried hard to find strength.
"Why?" Asked he pained.
"I can't..." she said sobbing.
"You can't what Sumo?"
"Can't tell you.." She completed, pulling away from him. She knew they would never work. His father hated her. She couldn't destroy her family for her happiness.
"Why..."
"I just can't.. Please leave."
"Sumo" He whispered.
The vulnerability almost had her blurt out the truth but she got a grip of herself.
"Sumo, please don't do this."
"Shravan, tum jao yahan se.."
"Chala jaaonga. Bas mujhe meri baat keh lene do.."
"Sun rahi hoon mai.."
"Sumo, hum dono.. Hum.. humko shabdon ki kabhi zaroorat nahi padi. Bas ek doosre ki aankhe padh liya karte the hum. Tumko kabhi meri aankhon mai tumhare liye py..."
"Bas Shravan." She cut him midway. If he confessed she would melt and that would be detrimental to a lot many people. Just for the sake of Shravan and her happiness she wouldn't ruin it all. Shravan looked at her disheartened. "Bohot bardasht kar liya maine. Meri shaadi ho rahi hai. Aur mere hone wale pati tum nahi ho. Tumhara yahan itni raat gaye hona galat hai. This is the last time I'm politely asking you to leave."
"Yeh baat kuch der pehle toh tumko yaad nahi thi. Jab mujh se lipat kar ro rahi thi. Tab kyun yeh yaad nahi tha ke shaadi ho rahi hai tumhari aur mujh se nahi.."
Suman was tongue-tied. She found her semblance and spoke, "Tum dost the mere. Maa ki yaad aa rahi thi, toh ro li thoda. Mujhe nahi laga tha tum iss baat ko itna badha doge.."
"Dost?" he whispered his voice shattered. "Tha?" if words could kill, these two words would suffice. Dost, he thought himself a lover and tha, he thought they still had something, but the tense of the word was sufficient to tell him it was all over.
"Haan, the. All that has happened in the past few weeks, I'm sure you know by now that I'm done with you." She said steeling herself although breaking him.
"Was it that simple? To disregard my presence in your life."
"A decade is enough to teach a lot many things. And I'm stronger when I'm by myself. Besides, Aditya is a great guy. He will support me though..."
"Really!" said Shravan venomously. "If that really is the case then why do you cringe each time he touches you. Why are you disinterested each time he talks. Why did I see pain in your eyes when the wedding was announced?"
Suman felt her heart leap. So he did see the pain. But the very next instant reality took over. She had to make sure he believed she was happy. For his sake, for the sake of his life. "That's between me and my husband to be. You need to get your eyes checked. Cringe? Rather the opposite. He makes me feel things I never knew myself capable of. Disinterested? Yes in his talks, for there is much more I want to do to him. Pain? Yes for the fact that I'll be leaving my family. But be rest assured I'm beyond happy right now." She finished driving the last nail in the coffin. She saw anger, fear, hate, disgust all flash in his eyes.
Without another word he left as he came. Silently. She fell to the ground as hot tears made their way down her cheeks.
Shravan sat in his car, numb. Aditya made her feel things? She wanted to do much more to him? His heart bled. He felt it. His step brother. Stole his mom, gave her the son she wanted. He also managed to steal his love and make her want to... "Aaahhh!" He let out an agonized scream. Suman heard it but thought best to leave him be. He needed to let it all out. She knew what it felt like to smile with pieces of broken soul; she didn't wish the same fate on him.
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"Mummiji, aap ab tak jaag rahe ho?" Asked a groggy Vandy.
"Haan nahi toh! Itne bade kaand ke baad neend kahan aani thi mujhe..!" said an annoyed Kamini.
"Kaand Mummiji?"
"Haan! Ek toh mere puttar Pushkar ki shaadi us middle class Preeti se ho gayi.."
"Oh come on Mummyji! Yeh toh humko pata hi than a hone wala hai.. aap bhi!"
"Haan haan meri samjhdaar bahu!"
Vandy thanked her for the complement and Kamini rolled her eyes at her daughter in law's stupidity.
"Doosra yeh puttarji ke Suman us Aditya se shaadi kar rahi hai.."
"Toh accha hai na, humari jaan chooti.." Quipped Vandy.
"Bevakoof! Agar uski shaadi Aditya se ho gayi toh uski shaadi Shravan se nahi hogi na..." Said she trying to drill the point home.
"Toh?" Said Vandy eyes big and mouth a big O.
"Beta! Shravan se Suman ki shaadi hona zaroori hai! Ramnath Bhaisaab ko unki hi chaal mai maat deni hai, mere Pushkar puttar ko bakra banake unko kya lagta hai? Mai chupp baith jaoongi.. Arey mai..."
"KAMINI!" Thundered Ramnath. He had heard all of it. His very own aide was plotting to ruin his only son's happiness and he wouldn't have it.
"Tumhari himmat kaise hui!"
It was divine intervention that a very broken a very hurt Shravan had just walked into his home. Hearing his father's thundering voice from the enclosed garden gave him inkling that something was definitely wrong. He slowly walked towards the source of the sounds and stopped right by the door.
"Tum samjhti kya ho khud ko? Mere bete ki zindagi se door raho! Tum usko barbaad karti rahogi aur mai karne doonga... Kamini you don't know who you're messing with."
Shravan figured his Chachi was up to some mischief again and his father as always was trying to shield him from all the pain. He may have been cursed as far as other relations were concerned, but in the dad department he sure did luck out. His notions however didn't last long. For as Kamini spoke now, he felt his heart constrict for the second time this evening.
"Oh accha! Mai zindagi barbaad kar rahi hoon uski? Arey koi aur kya uska kuch bigaadega, uska apna baap hi usko tabah karne ki firaaq mai hai.."
Vandy was starting to get scared the way things were playing out. She backed off a bit standing as a silent spectator not wanting to be subject of their wraths. Shravan on the other hand was highly confused but stayed put. As the events played out, it all started to get clearer.
"Kamini! Enough!"
"Arey re Bhaisaab. Abhi toh maine kuch kaha hi nahi hai. Kahiye bata doon Shravan puttar ko ke uski maa ko usse cheenne waale aap. Uske bachpan ko barbaad karne waale aap. Uski zindagi aj jahan aake khadi hai woh sab aapka kia dhara hai.. bata doon?"
"Tumhe kya lagta hai? Mera beta, jo mujhe apna bhagwaan maanta hai tum par bharosa kar lega?" He said laughing maniacally.
"Haan, kyun nahi? Tiwariji, Uski maa, Suman, jab sab ek hi baat kahenge toh kyun nahi maanega who bhala?"
Ramnath knew that if Tiwariji spoke Shravan would believe and that was enough to set him into overdrive. "Tum jurrat bhi mat karna usse kuch kehne ki!"
"Warna?" asked Kamini defiant. "Kya kar sakte ho aap? Aur bacha kya hai? Mere Pushkar ki toh bali aapne chada di apne bete ko bachane ke liye. Uss Suman bechari ko bhi..."
A crash sound made them turn around to its source. Shravan stood there shell shocked. His hand had managed to tip off the vase that adorned a side table. "Shravan..." exclaimed Ramnath.
Shravan merely began to move backwards shaking his head in the negative. His mind had shut off. He couldn't fathom what was really happening.
"Shravan beta meri baat suno.." spoke Ramnath. Kamini smiled at her luck. She didn't move a finger and all was done.
"Shravan!"
Turning a deaf ear Shravan ran up the stairs entered his room and shut the door behind him. His father kept banging the door trying to get through to him but Shravan was beyond lost. He sat by the door trying to make sense of it all. But sense didn't prevail. A person could take only so much. He lost his love, he lost his dad, and he lost it all.
Meri bebasi ka bayaan hai
Bas chal raha na iss ghadi
Meri bebasi ka bayaan hai
Bas chal raha na iss ghadi
His father was the writer of his torment. Years of his pain weren't enough for that man to melt. He saw him struggle to live but never budged. What was it about Sumo? Did he manipulate her too? Even if she did, why did she? Why did she let go off him? Did he not deserve the truth? Did he not deserve the benefit of the doubt? He may have disregarded all she said but was he not worth the try? A million questions plagued his mind. He could feel pain searing through his body. He felt anger. Anger like he'd never felt before. Anger, which made him feel like he would either kill someone or himself, perish. He got up on shaky feet and paced around the room. He raked his fingers through his hair distraught. Why why why resonating through his being. He tore open the upper half of his sherwani as it kept getting more and more difficult for him to breath. He grabbed a bottle of perfume and smashed it on the mirror.
Ramnath panicked hearing the sound. "Shravan!! Beta darwaza kholo! Let me explain.." He kept yelling. No sound however reached Shravan's ears as his being vibrated only with anguish.
Ras hasrat ka nichod doon
Kas baahon mein, aa tod doon
Chaahoon kya, jaanu naa
Cheen loon, chodd doon
Iss lamhe kya kar jaaun
Iss lamhe kya kar jaaun..
The sounds in the room started to increase as everything from show pieces to furniture began being hurled around the room. But Shravan's anger was far from being satiated. He let out a painful cry of help. By now Ramnath had procured the keys to Shravan's room and rushed in. He was aghast at what he saw. The room was a mess. Broken pieces of wood and glass spurred across. As he made his way in he saw drops of blood leading to the closet. Shravan was on his knees, his hands let loose on either side, his head hung low. "Shravan?"
He didn't respond. "Shravan beta.." said Ramnath placing his hand on his son's shoulder.
"Beta nahi hoon mai aapka." Said Shravan in a deathly tone.
"Shravan?"
"Don't touch me!"
"Beta mujhe samjhane ka mauka toh do."
"Kya samjhayenge aap?" he said looking straight in his so-called father's eyes.
Ramnath was taken aback at the intensity blazing in Shravan's eyes. He was an inferno waiting to gut down all that came in its wake. "Beta mai.."
"Kaha na maine aap se! Beta mat kehna!"
"Shravan maine jo kia, I just wanted what was best for you.."
Shravan laughed clapping his hands, "Best! Define best Mr. Ramnath Malhotra."
"Shravan?"
"You've done enough. And I've had enough.." he said plainly.
"Beta kitna khoon beh raha hai, let me.."
"Enough! Beh jaano do, aapko isse kya? Itne saalon tak dard mai raha, aapko farq pada? Nahi. Toh ab yeh ehsaan mat karo."
"Shravan please. Aaisa mat bolo.. Mai baap hoon tumhara. Parvah hai tumhari, jo kia tumhara bhala sochke kia.."
"Look at me. Does it look like you did the right thing?"
Ramnath couldn't look him in the eye anymore. The ruins their lives were in was a direct indication of how much wrong he had inflicted. "Beta..."
Shravan got up and took off. This time around Ramnath didn't call out to him. The damage was done. Shravan set off on foot trying to find peace. The cold winds did nothing to reduce the burn he felt. He sat on a bench by the road. A lone tear made it's way down his face.
Iss lamhe kya kar doon main
Jo mujhe chain mile, aaraam mile
Aur ho
Aur ho
Saans ka shor ho
Aanch bhi aur badhe
Aur ho
Aur ho
Saans ka shor ho
Taap bhi aur chadhe
Aur ho
Aur ho
Aur mile hum aur bhi jal jaaye
Enough Shravan. You're a grown man! Dil toota hai, bharosa toota hai, tum nahi toote. Tum Shravan Malhotra ho. The Shravan Malhotra. This is not the first time the world has given you a death sentence and you've survived. You can do this again. Woh log dete rahe dard, tum mehsoos mat karo. Who log dete hai dhoka, tum bharosa mat karo. Pyaar ki umeed nahi hogi toh dil tootne ka dard nahi hoga. Kisi pe bharosa nahi karoge toh dhoka nahi hoga. Tum hi ho apne liye Shravan. Duniya mai koi kisi ka nahi hota. Get a grip on yourself.
He looked at his bloodied hands and realized that all of this was futile. No matter how hard you try, no matter how far you run, this blood, this is their blood. It will always flow in you. You can't outrun the very people who brought you into the world without finishing yourself. And I'm not quite done with living. There are a million dreams that sit unfulfilled. I will meet my maker. I will outrun them, but not today. His decision was made. Enough of running. Enough of being the sad and tormented guy. I will be me. Not the Shravan of yore, not this Shravan Malhotra. No names. Just me. Unabashedly me. The world can go f**k itself.
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Scroll down for part two.
🤣 🤣
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