New Delhi, India- Road
A young lady is seen sitting in the middle of the road, her hand over her belly. She looks like she is in a lot of pain, however no one around her stops and tries to help her about. Prerna is driving across the same street where she notices the lady.
She quickly stops her car and gets down and asks the lady if she is pregnant. The girl looks up and nods at her. Eventhough Prerna was late for the airport she takes the girl to the hospital. After an hour of scans and reports, the doctor informs Prerna that the girl has lost her child due to excessive stress.
The doctor and Prerna both break the news to the girl. She however just sits silently, nodding. The doctor tells Prerna that she doesn’t think that this girl has a family and if Prerna could take her in. Looking at the girl Prerna agrees and asks the girl if she would take an assistant job in London. The girl nods and Prerna leaves with her for the airport.
Prerna- You’ll be happy in London, You will be I promise you!
Girl- You’re right! I would be happy at any place other than Delhi! I hate this place!
Prerna- I hate Delhi too! It hurt me so much
Girl- I’m Prachi by the way
Prerna and Prachi soon arrived at the airport. Another first class ticket was booked for Prachi and they both enjoyed the check in process as they were busy chatting with each other. Prachi narrated her entire story to Prerna and Prerna too told her about her life in London, her parents and her younger brother who she just left in Delhi.
New Delhi, India- MKK Mansion
The lady is still holding Ranbir’s collar while everyone else is too shocked to process the incidents. Ranbir feels a sense of guilt engulf him and he looks at Rhea. She looks back at him with tears in her eyes. After spending two months with Prachi’s Mom, she had come to love her as her own and the realisation that she may have caused a loved one pain shocks her to the core. She looks at her and the look of fury that she has tells Rhea that she knows everything. Prachi’s mom has slowly left Ranbir’s collar, but it doesn’t look like she’s done yelling yet.
Lady- I HAD ONLY ONE OF MY THREE CHILDREN WITH ME AND BECAUSE OF YOU RANBIR SHE’S GONE {yells and begins panting heavily}
After pushing Ranbir back, she slowly starts taking in her surroundings. She can feel everyone’s gaze on her but shuts her eyes as she feels like she has lost it all. She suddenly feels her heart pounding, her hands and feet sweating and a lot of nausea. All the energy drains out of her body and she suddenly collapses to the ground.
Purab, Disha and Abhi immediately rush towards her, while the rest of the Mehra family looks at each other in astonishment. They all take in one thing, the lady isn’t as strong as she used to be. Abhi is shocked to see her like this, his Pragya so weak? and what shocks him the most is the realisation of who his elder twin daughter is.
Abhi remembers all his moments with Prachi. He remembers his first meeting with her when she had collided with his car, what drew him towards her were her similarities with his Pragya, after all she was Pragya’s daughter only! He then remembers all his times with Pragya- their marriage, their initial dislike towards each other, falling in love, getting closer, tanu, dadi’s death and their separation, kiara, getting pregnant again and finally the fateful day where he lost 3 important women from his life.
Disha and Purab meanwhile look more concerned and try rubbing her hands. They look at each other with tears filled in their eyes, fully understanding how alone their ‘di’ had been through the past twenty years. They both wish they could have done something, or gone with her. After all, Abhi and Rhea had it all- money, family and fame but what about their Pragya Di? Being a single mother with no income was definitely hard. Little did they know that Pragya had managed that but was struggling with depression and severe anxiety after the loss of her daughter and separation from her husband and her younger child.
From the outside, no one knows what’s going on. Guests begin chattering about what the groom must have done and a few of the elder ones immediately recognise Pragya and begin to pity her. Alia and Mitali are observing all this and look at Rhea, who looks absolutely petrified and in a state of shock. They both politely request the guests to leave while The Kohlis, Aaryan and Rhea look on questioningly.
Majority of the guests have left however one or two stay back because they saw Pragya after so long and are petrified to see her state. They do not leave even after a lot of convincing and hence Alia requests them to sit in the lobby. Baljeet Dadi looks weak too and the ladies take her with them. Purab looks at the ladies and mouths a thankyou!
Between all this chaos, Pragya is now on Disha’s lap while Purab and Abhi are holding one of her hands. Vikram and Pallavi are going towards them but Alia stops them and this is noticed by everyone. Pragya gains consciousness for two seconds and she opens her eyes. However, even through her horrible vision she can make out the three faces who surround her. She doesn’t trust what she saw and she tries to pinch herself. However, her hands are in Purab’s grip and he notices her trying to fight his hand. He quietly says ‘Di’ to which tears begin flowing from Pragya’s close eyes, immediately shocking Abhi and Disha.
Purab looks at Abhi and Abhi nods. Abhi very quietly says ‘Pragya’ and Pragya instantly knows that this is not a nightmare. Rhea who is very close to them stops right in her tracks when she hears that name. She recollects a few of her family members talking about that name and Abhi warning everyone around him not to utter her name again. Rhea shuts her eyes are tries to take in all the information. She hopes that it’s not what she’s thinking, but deep down she knows it’s true. She looks at her father’s concern and immediately knows that she has made a very big mistake. Then the realisation hits her, she always loved Pragya, but disliked her daughter Prachi, but Prachi was her twin, her big sister, her Di.
Before anyone can say anything Pragya faints again. Rhea moves towards the trio
Rhea- WHO PRAGYA? MY MOTHER?
Abhi and Purab don’t really hear it, but Disha and the rest of the family does. There’s a lot of tension in the air. Rhea can feel it. Disha looks up to Rhea and nods at her. Rhea steps back in fear. She feels like her head is spinning, her heart is racing. She tries to read the room.
Ranbir looks guilty as hell and his expressions harden when Disha nods, Aaryan meanwhile looks to perplexed to understand what is going on and shares glances with Shahana. The Kohlis are shocked at this revelation, because they’ve always met her as Prachi’s Mom. Pallavi looks emotional as if she completely understands what Pragya is going through. While Dida, her features have softened and she looks at Pragya with a lot of love and courage.
The Mehra’s on the other hand seem astonished, Rhea assumes. She can see Mitali and Alia gossiping about something, most definitely her mother because she knows how much they dislike her mother. Pammi on the other hand looks sad, while Raj looks like he is smirking a little bit. Rhea looks around for her Baljeet Dadi but notices that she is not around. She wonders how her Dadi would be because she remembers her Dadi talking very fondly about her Bahu. Rhea runs out of the engagement venue, looking for her Dadi because even though she knows that Disha had just confirmed it, she needs to be sure that this is true. She spots a bunch of ladies sitting in the lobby and runs towards them however stops in her tracks when she begins to hear parts of their conversation. She decides to hear what they are talking about before she goes to them.
Aunty 1- Ballo, Don’t cry! Pragya Puttar would hate to see you like this
Baljeet Dadi- Rekha! What about my Pragya? Did you see her today? How does she look? I’ve never seen her so broken. What does she have left? Her daughter who was with her left her too!
Rekha- You’re absolutely right! But what will we do now? Abhi hates even the mention of her name. Even Raj and Alia. Should I take Pragya with me? Sarla would have wanted me to do so
Baljeet Dadi- No! don’t worry. Purab and Disha will take care of her. You know today I really miss Sarla Ji, but it’s good she’s not here. I would feel so embarrassed that I couldn’t fulfill the promise I made to her so many years ago
Rekha- Sarla really changed after Kiara. Pragya suddenly left and even Bulbul’s memories would keep haunting her:( Sarla Di, I hope you are happy wherever you are and don’t worry we will take care of your Pragya
a/n: thank you so much for reading:) so don’t forget to vote and comment and add this story to your private reading lists!!