Part 30
Priya: don’t worry; the three of us will pacify them… I am sure that they will understand once they realize how much
you two love each other. (She strokes Apeksha’s head) Now we have to
convince them to get you two married… (She is interrupted by
an angry tone that rips through the serenity of the room)
Mein yeh Shaadi nahi hone dunga!!!
They turned around in sync to put a face to the voice that left
them puzzled.
Priya: Ayesha, Tum!! Yahaan?
Ayesha: I live here di. You
should be asking that question to Rajat. Oh wait, I forgot… you are the one who called him here in the first place.
Priya: Ayesha this is none of
your business. So it would be better if you don’t interfere. I thought
you would be the last to intervene in this situation… I mean weren’t you the one who falsely
testified against me to support Sid on the basis of love? So why can’t Apeksha and Rajat love each other without your input?
Ayesha: Yes you’re right I did… But di I am shocked… Atleast I supported my love and what are you doing? You know very
well that Ram will never agree to this shaadi and instead of supporting him you
are encouraging your (she scans Rajat from top to bottom with an annoyed glare
in her eyes) ex-lover…
Apeksha: Shut up Ayesha!!
Apeksha took two giant steps towards Ayesha. She raised her hand,
driven by the sheer rage ignited by her words, which were still ringing in her
ears as she pulled back to slap her. Her hand stopped en route to Ayesha’s face as Ram intervened obstructing her hand with his grip before
he flung it down to her side.
Ayesha: (excitedly) Ram…Ram… It’s good that you woke up. I was just about to come and get you. Do
you see what’s going on here behind
your back? Priya di didn’t respect your love,
while you were sleeping she…
She stopped talking when she noticed that Ram was completely
oblivious to her words. He walked past Ayesha, Apeksha and Priya, his angry
gaze fixed on Rajat. Before Rajat could say anything, he grabbed his collar
with one hand and dragged him out of the room; he released his collar, pushing
him forward when they reached the living room. Priya begged him not to act
irrationally out of anger as she followed him closely. But her words were
miniscule in comparision to his fury.
Ram: (shouting) DIDN’T I TELL YOU NOT TO COME ANYWHERE NEAR APEKSHA?
Apeksha: (pleading) Bhai please we
love each other and we want to get married…
The commotion stirring in the living room startled everyone out of
their sleep as they followed the noise and made their way into the living room…
Ram: (shouting) SHUT UP APEKSHA!! If he (points to Rajat) could
deceive me, his best friend, by doing all this with you behind my back than what
will stop him from deceiving you in the future? You have only known him for a
little over a month, I knew him for over four years and STILL he didn’t even have the decency to tell me… I would have gladly
agreed to your marriage than but not now… not like this…
Rajat: Ram I am so sorry that
you are hurt by all this and you are right we should have told you sooner and
you shouldn’t have found out like
this… But Ram at that time we were so lost in each other and I swear in
due time we would have told you but than things got out of hand, we had a fight
and Apeksha came here. I love Apeksha so much Ram, (Ram listens angrily, his
nostrils flared as he breathed heavily trying to calm himself down) and I
promise to take care of her and our child. (He walks over to Krishna who turns
her head so that she is not looking at him) Auntyji, (he glues his palms
together while talking) please can you grant me Apeksha’s hand in marriage? I know you are angry auntyji but please iske
saaza mujhe dijiye and not our innocent child who deserves a loving family.
Krishna’s heart softens listening
to his sincere request. Deep down in her heart she wanted Apeksha and Rajat to
get married from the moment that she came to know about Apeksha’s pregnancy. The child growing in Apeksha’s womb was indeed innocent but the world would punish him severly
for being conceived illegitimately. Krishna looked at Dadi with confusion in
her eyes. Dadi walked towards Rajat and turned him to face her; she signaled
Apeksha to come near her as well. The whole family watched anxiously as Dadi
placed Apeksha’s hand in Rajat’s hand making it clear what her decision was regarding their
marriage. Apeksha and Rajat smiled at each other before they bent forward and
touched Dadi’s feet for blessing. They
turned towards Krishna to seek her blessing as well but Ram interrupted.
Ram: WAIT! (Rajat and Apeksha
looked at Ram along with the entire family) Ma, Priya I need to talk to you two
alone in my room… now…
He walked up to his room; Priya and Krishna followed him in
complete oblivion as to what might be stirring in his mind. Everyone glared
intently at the closed doors as if the notion was that if they all stared long
enough than they might be able to decipher what was conversing between the
three of them in that room. 10 minutes passed by, than 15 and than 20 but there
was still no crack in the door and everyone’s curiousity was now
screaming desperately for confirmation. Finally the door opened and Ram stormed
out, followed by Krishna… Both Ram and Krishna
were sporting the same infuriated expression on their face. Priya followed
shortly after, wiping her tears as she walked through the open door. By now Ram
and Krishna were at the bottom of the stairs.
Dadi: what happened? Krishna,
Golu yeh saab kya hain?
Krishna: sorry mummyji but I am
with Ram on this one… I am also against this
marriage…
Ayesha was overjoyed with the news and seeing Priya’s distraught face she knew that it was only going to get better
for her…
Priya: (She made her way down
the stairs and stood next to dadi and in front of Apeksha and Rajat. Staring
helplessly at Ram she said) I am with Dadi…Ram bahut hogaya apka
ziid. Janti hoon ki mein apki patni hoon but iska maatlab yeh nahi ke main apka
galat facela mein apka saath rahoon… (She stared at Ayesha’s angrily as she spoke) I love you Ram (she looks back at Ram) but
I can’t let you ruin three lives because of your stubbornness… Main yeh shaadi karwa ke rahoongi aur isme (she held Dadi’s hand) Dadi humare saath hain… This shaadi is going to happen and it will
happen tomorrow, whether you like it or not... Tomorrow at 10am at the Shiv
Parvati mandir, Apeksha and Rajat will get married and whoever wants to come is
more than welcome.
Priya’s words were true to
every last letter. Dadi, Priya and Soumaya conducted all the arrangements so
that Rajat and Apeksha could tie the knot. Rishab’s heart pinned for Ram’s entry as he hesistantly
stepped forward to perform the kanyadaan, knowing just how much this part of
the ceremony meant to him. Priya placed her hand on his shoulder to comfort him
as she nodded in approval. Although the marriage was rushed and conducted
halfheartedly Priya and Dadi tried their very best to keep Apeksha happy.
Marriage is a huge part of every girl’s dream and along with
the pompous atmosphere in those dreams the presence of those that she loves the
most always has a magic touch of it’s own. However, the
bitter reality in life is that not all dreams come true; at the end of the day
what’s destined is bound to happen.
If I had the chance to do
it all over again, I would make the sky and earth one to turn all of Apeksha’s dreams regarding marriage into a reality. However, when you told
me about what had happened that day behind the closed doors, between you,
mummyji and Ram I knew I couldn’t be that selfish in my
desires. The marriage had to be rushed and Apeksha’s dreams had to be shattered because her happiness would cause the
family much grief at that point in time. But we savoured the happy moments that
you, Dadi, Soumaya, Rishab and Neha created for us on the day that we got
married. Your combined efforts did not go in vain, Apeksha and I would always
cherish it to the best of our abilities. We all know that it is indeed a hard
task to remember our marriage fondly; afterall it was on that same day that
Pihu was kidnapped…
Ayesha waltzed into her room, closed the door and finally smiled
cheek to cheek as she dialed Mamaji’s number. She was almost
certain that if she wished for a million dollars today she would get it. It was
that kind of a day when everything was going in her favour, like all the stars
aligned in the sky for the sole purpose of fulfilling her wish. Now that Pihu
was kidnapped, the threat to her financial security was averted. Ram blamed
Priya mercilessly for Pihu’s kidnapping pushing
their relationship off the edge and eliminating any hope of it ever resurfacing
again. Priya stayed mum throughout his verbal attacks, her silence and tears
indicating that somewhere deep down inside of her, she also blamed herself. She
was so busy perfecting the arrangements at Rajat and Apeksha’s wedding that she did not check up on Pihu who was also in the
mandir with them. When it was time to leave after the wedding was over, she
searched everywhere for Pihu but she was nowhere to be found. Ayesha lauged to
herself thinking, “Priya, afterall my love
is way stronger than yours. Your love for Ram left you broken. My love for Sid
will leave me prosperous. That annoying brat Pihu cannot be the heir of Ram’s wealth only Kush can and I am his mother so main raj karoongi,
not you. Sid was right this was the ultimate plan. Killing two birds with one
stone, Pihu is gone and very soon Ram will kick you out as well.
Mamaji: hello, hellooo… HELLLO!! (Ayesha’s snapped out of her
dreamworld and pulled the phone away from her ears)
Ayesha: (snapped back angrily)
why the hell are you screaming?
Mamaji: Arey kaamal hain! Kabse
mein hello hello bol raha tha…phone karti hain mujhko
aur jab hello bolo toh chilati hain…
Apeksha (calms down, nothing is going
to ruin her mood today): Sorry… Actually today is the
day to celebrate we should not be screaming and fighting…
Mamaji: Oye aaj apki birthday
hain kya? Happy Birthday ji…
Apeksha (kisses her teeth but
remains calm shaking her head thinking, “yeh bhuda bhi na”) No it’s not my birthday… Don’t act so modest, you did
such a big thing today and now you don’t want my praises.
Mamaji: Can you please enlighten
me and tell me what great mountain I moved today?
Ayesha: (looks around and checks
to make sure her door is locked before she says softly) you kidnapped Pihu
today… Iss khushi ke liye celebration to banta hain… our plan is moving forward really well… Ram is on the brinks of kicking Priya out if Pihu is not found
and how will she be found, when we have her…
Mamaji: what I didn’t kidnap her…
Ayesha: (chuckles) Mamaji stop
playing around…
Mamaji: it’s not my age to be joking around haar waqt… I am serious I don’t have her… Wait… if we didn’t kidnap her than who did?
Ayesha was about to say something when she was interrupted by Ram’s enraged voice… “HOW DARE YOU COME HERE AGAIN?”
Ayesha: Mamaji I have to go,
looks like somethings about to go down. I hear Ram screaming… I will keep you posted.
That day I went to the
Kapoor Mansion alone but I left with you. Ram very rudely made it clear that he
refused to have you in his life until Pihu was found. Ayesha was the elephant
in the room; while everyone wept seeing you leave not a single tear dared to
ruin her make up. While everyone pleaded Ram to rethink his decision, not a
single word leaked through your cunning grin. Sometimes, if you try hard enough
from the bottom of your heart to achieve something even destiny allows you to
succeed. That day Ayesha thanked her stars for the success that fell to her feet.
Pihu was gone, you were gone, and all that remained of importance to her was
Ram, her new bank account…
PRECAP: Present time (Flashback
ends): Priya awoke with a jolt, “Pihu” she screamed into the darkness and opened her eyes only to be
greeted by emptiness, the bittertruth theme of her existence. She sat up in bed
and gasped for air, her lungs were extra greedy, refusing to be satisfied with
her intake. Breathing heavily she yanked the duvet off her body, which was
completely drenched in sweat. She grabbed her phone from the nightable and
clicked it on to check the time. Her vision blurred as tears blocked her sight
and fell upon her phone that read proudly, “2:42am”… Wiping her tears she stared into the darkness immune to any fear
associated with it, she whispered, “Happy Birthday Pihu”… It was almost as if her phone was waiting for her to finish her
sentence before it buzzed politely interrupting her train of thought. The
number of missed calls and messages that she had received from Angel alarmed
her. She thought, “He must be missing her
too.”
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