London, United Kingdom – Restaurant
Anurag- Oh look ma’am, how do you have a audacity to show up 4 minutes late
Prerna- Shut Up
Anurag- Yes just kidding, {whispers} looks like the girl cannot take a joke
Prerna- Mr Khanna, I don’t think you are aware that I have a heightened sense of listening so all those comments you pass at me, i hear them
Anurag- What rubbish, I didn’t even say anything. What are you accusing me of doing?
Prerna- Another time, Shall we?
Anurag- Yep let’s go, Although I didn’t expect you to show up to this date
Prerna- Date? Who said this is a date?
Anurag- I did
Prerna- Okay then if this is a date, why would you expect me say no?
Anurag- Can we stop arguing, because of you all people have bad impressions of Indians
Prerna- Oh shut up will you
Anurag- Glady! Anyways let’s order and then we can decide to who’s house we’re heading for the night? Yours or mine?
Prerna- I think yours, I have my parents at home. They don’t want to be hearing things na? {Anurag was flushed}
Anurag{low tone}- Oh she has a sense of humor too
Prerna- Yes she does. Anyways, where are you from
Anurag- New Delhi. U?
Prerna- I’m from here, born and brought up.
Anurag- If you don’t mind me asking, why did you make a face when I said New Delhi? Are you not very fond of the place?
Prerna{emotionally}- To be honest, I was there just yesterday. But I particularly dislike it because it snatched a lot of things from me
Anurag senses her breaking voice and puts his hand on top of hers, to reassure her
Anurag- Ditto! I moved here because it got to chaotic. You know, joint families? I miss my family obviously but I didn’t have any energy to keep up with their kitchen politics
Prerna- That’s cute! Are you a single child
Anurag- No, I have a younger brother- Aaryan
They were so engrossed in conversation that they didn’t realize that the waiter had been standing there for the past few minutes
Waiter- Sir! Ma’am!
Anurag/ Prerna- Yes {looking flushed}
Waiter- What would you like to have?
Prerna- I’ll have a chicken burger and a mushroom risotto
Waiter- What about you sir?
Anurag- I’ll have a plate of fish and chips
Waiter- Anything to drink?
Anurag- Just water for me!
Prerna- A bottle of red wine for me please
Prerna- Nothing to drink Mr Khanna
Anurag- I don’t drink, it doesn’t make sense to me
Prerna- Whatever
Anurag- You’re gonna have to finish your food by yourself
Prerna- Of course, don’t underestimate me
Anurag- No No, you’re having a misunderstand. I just meant that I won’t be able to have the mushroom risotto, Im allergic
Prerna- Oh{getting lost in thought}
Anurag snaps his fingers
Anurag- Prerna
Prerna- Huh
Anurag- Where are you lost? Everything okay?
Prerna -Yeah
Anurag- Oh really? then why are tears rolling down your cheeks? {takes his fingers and wipes her tears}
Their faces are really close to each other, both looking at each other’s eyes and lips. Both feel slightly uncomfortable and break the eye contact
Prerna- You know, you can kiss me if you want to, but just not here:O
Anurag- You’re funny
Prerna- Thanks, I know!
New Delhi, India- MKK Mansion
Pragya is resting on her bed, deep in thought when someone knocks on the door
Pragya- Yes
A 20 year old boy walks in. His head is lying low, almost as if he’s feeling very guilty
Pragya- Ranbir, you know you can look at me? I’m not going to eat you up
Ranbir- Aunty I’m sorry
Pragya- Don’t be. You have done whatever you wanted to my child and now i don’t know where she is
Ranbir- I didn’t mean for this to happen
Pragya- See my child, this is the difference between you and Rhea and Prachi. She knows that her actions have consequences. She knew that I would be in more pain to see her live with heartbreak, that’s why she went away. But you two? Do you understand what you’ve done?
Ranbir- I do and I hope you forgive me one day
Pragya- I’ll forgive you right this very moment, but you promise me you’ll know that your actions have consequences. At least think before acting
Ranbir- I’m really sorry again aunty
Pragya- Come on, go now. And I know my child, she will come back sooner or later
Ranbir exits the room. Meanwhile Pragya sits behind wondering what the future holds for her. Two of her three children are already gone, she should be lucky that she still has one of them left with her. She remembers all her moments with Kiara first- her pregnancy, her birth, king’s support, their life in London, coming back to India, Kiara meeting Disha, Purab and Sunny, their remarriage, her second pregnancy, the birth of the twins, Prachi’s firsts, Prachi’s graduation, Prachi getting into university, coming to India, spending time in the middle class locality. As Pragya is thinking about this, Rhea enters the room. Her eyes are full of tears and Pragya realises that someone has entered the room.
Rhea{teary}- Mumma
Pragya- Come here
Saying this, Rhea runs into Pragya’s arms and she both really take in each other’s presence. They both are crying but still feel complete in each other’s presence. After a few minutes, Pragya realises that Rhea has fallen asleep and puts her in her lap and stares at her face lovingly, playing with her hair and caressing her features. Abhi walks in on this mother daughter duo and looks at both of them with love
Abhi- Did you talk to her?
Pragya- No not yet, I will as soon as she gets up
Abhi- Okay, take rest and let me know if you need anything
Pragya- Don’t worry and don’t need to be so formal with me, remember we were husband and wife once {Abhi nods and leaves the two alone}
Pragya POV
I don’t understand why is he acting like this? So weird around me? Is it uncomfortable to see me after so many years? Does he not want be here? Or maybe when she looks at me he remembers Kiara and Prachi just I like do when I look at him? What does destiny have in fate for us?
Rhea- Mumma, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you and Prachi
Pragya- Rhea! Look at me, you know Ranbir just came in a few minutes ago to say the same thing. Like I have forgiven him, I will forgive you too. But only on one condition, and it’s not that hard my child. Promise me-
Rhea- I promise
Pragya- Promise what huh? At least listen to what I have to say before making up your mind. Anyways, as I was saying, promise me that now onwards you will understand that your actions have consequences and each action that is associated with someone else is going to impact them either in a good way or a bad way. Do you understand what I’m trying to say.
Rhea- Yes mom. Can I tell you something else {Pragya nods}. I love you a lot mom, why did you leave me here, I became such a bad person, if you would have taken me with you maybe I would have been a different person
Pragya- Look Rhea, it’s all in the past now, let’s see how we can move forward. We can’t change the past can we?
Rhea- You’re so preachy, just like Disha Chachi
Pragya- Shut up, will you?
Rhea- Do you love me?
Pragya- I always have and I always will. Rhea please understand what I say, I don’t want you to become a carbon copy of Alia
Rhea- Why do you and Booji hate each other so much? She used to always say bad things about you and even you don’t seem very fond of her.
Pragya- Rhea, that’s not for you to know. Anyways tell me whom do you love the most
Rhea- I’d be lying if I didn’t say my Dad. He’s the best, isn’t he? Do you love him mom?
Pragya- Um I don’t know
Rhea nods, making a mental note to herself to speak to Sahil and Aisha about repairing her parents relationship, after all she has finally got her mother after all these years. She feels a little selfish that she is thinking about having her mother alone- without her two sisters, but then tells herself that Prachi had her for 20 years and Kiara for 7, Rhea hasn’t even had her for a few days. Rhea leaves the room
Pragya POV
I know I need to be there for Rhea, but I feel trapped, suffocated here. I miss my Kiara and I don’t know how I’ll be able to survive here.
London, United Kingdom
Prachi has been in her room for the past 3 hours. This worries Neil and Ragini and they go to check up on her. When they reach outside her door, they hear soft, but recognizable sobs. Ragini tells Neil to wait downstairs while she goes in and looks at her. She sees that the door is open and walks in. As she does, she notices that Prachi is on the floor, hugging a soft toy. She goes towards her and pats her back.
Ragini- Prachi, what happened child?
Prachi- I just miss my mother so much, and I’m worried for her
Ragini- Why don’t you call her?
Prachi- You know na aunty, I don’t want to go back, If I call her, she’ll definitely call me back . Even if I refuse, she has the resources to track the number. It’s too unsafe considering that I chose to run away from home
Ragini- Do you know something? I ran away from home too!{thinks about her family}
Prachi- What? are you serious?
Ragini- Ya, they just wouldn’t let me get married to Nachiket, so we eloped
Prachi- Oh! Don’t you miss your family
Ragini- I do! Everyday but it is what it is. I chose Nachiket and our family over mine. I don’t even know how my brother is? or my mom? I don’t think my dad would be alive today, he was very sick that time.
Prachi- Oh aunty! Don’t worry we both will get through this together.
New Delhi, India- MKK Mansion
After Rhea and Pragya’s conversation they both have individual conversations with Aisha and Sahil respectively and talk to each other about their relationship. Time passes by very quickly and it’s soon night time. Abhi requests them to stay back for an hour and leave after eating dinner. Sahil and Aisha have this chemistry, this bond that is noticeable to everyone. A few people are noticeably absent : Pragya, Ranbir and Alia
Purab: Where’s di?
Abhi: She doesn’t feel to comfortable eating here, give her a few days and she’ll come around
Aisha: You know it’s so funny, my surname is Mehra and Sahil’s is Khanna, just like two of your families.
Sahil: Please don’t tell me now you’re gonna say we were destined to be here
Aisha- You know me so well {playfully hits his arm}
Rhea looks a little uncomfortable, almost jealous but can’t figure out why she’s feeling like this. The rest of them look happy as they watch the interaction between the two. The silence is broken by Dadi and what she says leaves everyone speechless and with their mouths wide open
Baljeet Dadi- Do you two love each other?
There’s an uncomfortable silence and Rhea unknowingly crosses her fingers, hoping it’s not true
Sahil and Aisha{at the same time}- We used to!
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!!
