Home is Where the Heart is…Part 2

Hi all!!!!

Scene 1

After parents meeting, everyone goes.

Avni calls Neil.

Neil: Yes, tell me Avni.

Avni: Sir, yesterday I loved your program in radio.

Neil smiles…

Neil: Thanks.

Avni: Mainly, I loved your poem on love. It was amazing.

Neil thinks that it is for her.

Neil: Thanks again Avni.

The bell rings, Avni goes to class.

Location: At Apartment

Veena and Rakhi come to Suman’s home. She is stuck with unpacking and struggles.

Suman welcomes them.

Suman: Come in. Please sit. I’ll bring you coffee.

Veena: No, no. We came to help you.

Suman: It’s so sweet of you. Thanks.

Veena: No one will tell thanks between friends. By the way, she is Rakhi. She to stays in this block.

Suman: It’s so nice. Hi.

Rakhi: Hello Suman ji. I know about you and your daughter. I’m your daughter’s big fan and kudos to you too for bringing up her in a bold and good way.

Suman: Thanks.

Veena and Rakhi helps in unpacking.

Suman: Shall I ask you something? Why people here are not talking to each other? I have heard that in apartment, there will be full of fun and enjoyment. Everyone will be seen talking with others. But here, it is silent as hell.

Rakhi and Veena smiles.

Suman sees them cluelessly.

Rakhi: Suman, people here are like this only. Only, the kids will be together seen playing at evenings. But the residents won’t. They will join together only on one day. On our flat’s anniversary day. We will have a grand celebration. But after that, they will go in their ways.

Veena: Yes, but that is not the case in our block.

Suman: Why?

Rakhi: Because, here we all live as a same family. We all know each other very well.

Veena: Yes, now we’ll tell you about everyone.

Suman: Yes, tell me. I’m excited.

Rakhi: Our family is staying here for so long time. My FIL and Deewan uncle are great friends. So, we share a good bond with uncle’s family. Deewan uncle had a son. He, my husband and Arora were good friends. But unfortunately, in an accident, Arora and his wife and Deewan uncle’s son and his daughter in law passed away. From then, he take cares of his grand daughter Janaki as her daughter and also Arora’s two girls Preetha and Srishti. Even my family take care of them as our own girls. Preetha and my son Karan are fiancées.

Suman: Sad to hear their tragic story.

Veena: Deewan uncle had a younger brother. He has a daughter Yamini. Once upon a time, Yamini was a rich spoilt daughter. One day, she revealed everyone that she is pregnant. Hearing that, her dad became ill. Then later on, Yamini transformed herself into a more responsible lady and took care of business and her dad. Her son Rithik is a super cool boy. Yamini wears mangalsutra and sindoor. But she never revealed the person who was responsible for her pregnancy to anyone. She also take care of Janaki. After her dad’s death, Deewan uncle be her guardian and she is more silent. She will participate in all gatherings but she will remain silent.

Rakhi: Yes, but during those days, she is one who entertains everyone and be a happy girl. But that one incident had changed her life completely. She speaks her heart out only to her best friend Neela who stays with her daughter.

Suman: Oh, does Neela has husband?

Veena: Neela’s husband has left her.

Suman: So sad….

Rakhi: We have a young couple at first floor near to Neela’s home. Preesha and Rudraksh. They live with their son. They were such a loving and supportive couple. Preesha is a doctor and Rudy is a struggling singer. They came to the city to fulfil their dreams. But unfortunately, they started to fight for silly matters.

Veena: Yes, suddenly Rudy got inferior complex. So, the fights started. They both wished to have a second child. But Preesha had a slight objection that they can have their next child after Rudy’s first song. But it took so long. Rudy wished to have a child soon. This caused more fights between them. Rudy started to drink too. Then one day, Preesha became pregnant and they both started to live amicably. They got back their lost happiness. But unfortunately, Preesha lost her baby at the early stage itself. Preesha is a person who is more dedicated to her work and profession. This irritates Rudy a lot. Now, this abortion also made him to hate her. Now, they have filed a divorce and will be divorced next month.

Suman: It’s so heart breaking.

Rakhi: Yes, we have Shivanya here. She is a very good girl. But her parents got divorced at her young age and they lead a happy and separate life. But this girl came here before 1 year. It was her grandmother’s flat. She is too sweet. She studies college. Her only solace is Neil who lives in her opposite house. He works as a professor in her college and also as a RJ.

Suman: Is he does “JUST LOVE” program at 10pm?

Veena: Yes.

Suman: Sonakshi is a great fan of him.

Rakhi: He is such a good boy. He is from a rich family. But he came here separately. His dad wants him to take care of business but he wants to stand on his own. So, he moved here. He is like a brother figure to Shivanya and takes care of her as a guardian too.

Suman: Everyone here have a tragic back story.

Rakhi: Yes, maybe that common thing has united us all to live like a family.

Veena: You, me, Rakhi and Preetha live in the ground floor. There is an empty home here. Maybe new tenants may come later. And in first floor, Neela, Yamini, Janaki, Preesha, Shivanya and Neil lives.

Suman: That’s good. Thanks to you both for telling me everything.

Rakhi sees time.

Rakhi: It’s been hours we are talking.

Three ladies laugh and talk about other stories as well.

Scene 2

It’s Evening. Avni and Neil reach home separately.

Veena, Rakhi and Suman see the news and are shocked….

Veena: What????? A Lockdown?????

Suman: Oh God, from tomorrow???

Rakhi: First we need to call our children back home soon. Traffic will be heavy today.

Rakhi and Veena go to their homes and call their respective children.

Veena calls Rohit.

Rohit: Ma, please don’t get tensed. I’m ok and no problem here. You do one thing, go to a shop near our flat and buy the essentials. Remember ma, just buy the things only which are essential. Don’t buy extra.

Veena: Ok, you take care and come home soon.

Rohit: Ok ma.

Suman calls Sonakshi…

Sonakshi: Ma, I got the news. I’m on my way. I will come in an hour. You just buy the essentials.

Suman: Ok. Come soon beta.

Rakhi calls Rishabh…

Rishabh: Ma, I will come home. Don’t worry about me. Call Karan, Preetha, Sameer and Srishti.

Rakhi: Ok, I’ll ask them to come soon. But you too come soon.

Rishabh: Ok ma.

Rakhi calls Karan and informs him about this.

Karan: Ok ma, I’ll come with Preetha soon.

Rakhi calls Sameer…

Sameer: Ma, I got the info. Srishti asked me to pick her up. I’m going there. We will come soon.

Rakhi then goes along with Veena and Suman to buy the essentials.

Karan sees Preetha and Janaki working.

He tells them everything.

Preetha worries for Srishti.

Janaki: Preetha relax, you people go now.

Karan: You too come.

Janaki: No Karan, I can’t. Now only I got a call and I’m having a meeting regarding this lockdown with CEO. So, it will take time. You people leave.

Karan and Preetha then leaves.

Janaki and Rishabh are both working hard in their respective offices.

Scene 3

Neil sees the news and calls Shivanya. But her phone gets switched off.

Shivanya is seen in library.

Avni comes to Neil’s home and finds him tensed.

Avni: Sir, what happened?

Neil: Shivanya is in college. Her phone is switched off.

Avni: What is she doing there?

Neil: She usually comes home at 7pm. She spends time in library.

Avni: Do one thing, call Rithik. He is in college practising cricket.

Neil: I don’t have his number. Please call him.

Avni calls and Rithik picks up.

She gives the phone to Neil.

Neil: Hello Rithik, this is Neil here.

Rithik: Yes sir, tell me.

Neil: Are you in college?

Rithik: Yes, I’m preparing to leave.

Neil: Please do me a favour. Shivanya is in college. She might be in library. Please pick her up and come.

Rithik: But I have not talked with her much.

Neil: Please Rithik, do this favour. You know about lockdown, right?

Rithik sees Shivanya standing near the gate and enquires about bus.

Rithik: Sir, I saw her. I will pick her.

Neil: Can you give the phone to her?

Rithik: Yeah sure.

He goes to her. Meanwhile, Shivanya finds her phone got switched off and she comes out of library. She gets to know about the issue via the securities and gets tensed. She enquiries about the bus but she doesn’t find any transport coming. She worries what to do.

Just then Rithik comes and calls her. She gets nervous hearing his voice. She turns and sees him.

Rithik too see her in a different way. Then he gives phone.

Rithik: Shivanya, Neil sir is on the call. You speak with him. I will bring the car here.

She nods.

Neil: Hello Shivanya, don’t worry beta. You come with Rithik.

Shivanya: Ok bhai.

Shivanya feels happy.

Rithik comes with the car. She gives him the phone and goes to sit at the back but he ask her to occupy the front seat. She gets happy and her heart jumps in joy.

Neil is happy and relieved. Avni sees him and gets surprised.

Avni: Now, you are happy itseems.

Neil: Yes, she is safe.

Avni: Shall I ask you one thing?

Neil: Yes…

Avni: she is also one of the students. But why do you care her so much?

Neil: She don’t have anyone Avni. She regards me as her brother but I regard her as my daughter. She is my only support and she changed me a lot in this 1 ½ years.

Avni smiles.

!!!To be Continued!!!