It was a scorching afternoon of May in Mumbai. Inspite of the hot summers, the city’s markets were still bustling with a lot of crowd.
“Ohh God! I don’t understand why we have to go grocery shopping in this weather when we could have easily let Shanti do this,” said Riddhima irritatedly. She was trying to cover her face with her stole, but the blazing sunrays were still able to penetrate and cause her cheeks to burn. She was sure that in no time she would be groaning with pain due a severe bout of migraine.
“You know I can’t trust Shanti with grocery shopping,” added in her mother. “Don’t you remember last time how she had brought in rotten veggies and had got my money wasted?”
Sunidhi smiled at her daughter as she saw her sulk in. She couldn’t believe that she had been married to Sushant Sinha for the past 22 years. They were proud parents to their eldest, Riddhima and their youngest, Ishaan. Together, the couple had been through all the ups and downs of the life until recently…..
“Mumma, lets hurry up.” Out of respect and love for her mom, Riddhima had volunteered to carry the heavy shopping bags, but now she was getting angry as her mom was busy looking at some random jhumkas while she was made to suffer. “Look at these Riddhu! They’ll look sooooo pretty on you,” Sunidhi chirped in.
Just then Riddhima’s eye caught an old woman about to slump down on the side of the road. She dropped her shopping bags, managed to catch her in time, and quickly helped the old woman to sit on an abandoned chair.
Thank god she didnt faint, thought Riddhima to herself. “Here have some juice,” said Riddhima. “Either your sugar levels or your blood pressure must have dropped down. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get well and reach home safely.”
“Thank you so much beta.” The old woman looked at the young girl in front of her gratefully. Her eyes gaped open in surprise when she spotted Sunidhi. “Gayatri Bua,” squealed Sunidhi while hugging her tight. “Are you alright?”
Gayatri shed few tears. Sunidhi was her late rakhi brother’s daughter. Having no siblings of her own, she had treated Sunidhi’s dad, Sudhir, more than an own brother. He also always looked after her like a protective figure. She still remembered how her heart had ached when she got to know of Sudhir’s untimely death few years ago. Since Gayatri had only 2 sons and no daughters, she had always considered Sunidhi as her daughter. But the past few years had made her distant from Sunidhi, and it was only after many years that she was able to meet her today.
Riddhima looked at the two ladies embracing each other right in the middle of the market place with some amusement. She was happy to see that a motherly figure was back in her own mom’s life, considering how both her own nani and nanu had been dead for few years.
Sunidhi and Riddhima took Gayatri to their house, which was nearby. “Your blood pressure had fallen down,” Riddhima remarked putting the BP apparatus away. “Thats the reason why you were getting dizzy. You should take good care of yourself.” “Thats right, Bua,” chirped in Sunidhi handing over some juice and snacks over to her. “You have to listen to Riddhima, since she’s a doctor in the making.” “What? She’s going to be a doctor?” beamed Gayatri. “No, thats NOT right,” said Riddhima. “I have only just written the medical entrance test, I haven’t even got my results yet for crying out loud!! But please do pray for me Nani, because its said that elders’ blessings always get heard.” Gayatri smiled on hearing this. “Of course, my blessings are with you. May you pass the test with flying colours and get admission in the best medical college.”
Riddhima quickly touched Gayatri’s feet and left for her own room. Not only was Riddhima beautiful and smart like her mother, but she also seemed kind, good natured and full of life, just the kind of girl she wanted for her….
“I am so sorry Bua, for not keeping in touch with you.” “I missed you a lot,” said Gayatri getting emotional. “You stopped answering my phone calls, even shifted your residence without letting me know anything. You are the only daughter I’ve got. You’ve really hurt me, Sunidhi.” “I’m sorry, but I had to do this on Sushant’s saying.” “What? But Sushant is such a nice man, why would he….” “Because we had been suffering a financial crisis,” cried Sunidhi. “After Sushant had been falsely accused of swindling and got fired from his post of CEO of the company, he couldn’t find any suitable job for atleast 3 years. Later, he had to settle down for a very lesser paying job. We had to give up most of our comforts and high ended living for this. You know how dignity is most important for Sushant. He HATES taking people’s help. He knew that if we would stay around you all, then you would definitely try to help us, which he didn’t want at any cost.”
“How can you people think like this? Don’t you remember when my son, Pradeep had passed away and his entire business was in loss and we all were in ruins, it was Sushant only who had come forward and helped Vansh and all of us both morally and financially to set up this VR empire. In fact, whatever Vansh is today is all because of you and Sushant. We will all be indebted towards you for our entire lives.”
“It’s ok Bua. Whats done is done. Plus we are in a much better position right now. We might not be as rich as we used to be earlier, but we are content, and thats what is most important.”
“Leave about all this. Tell me how is Vansh doing? We often see his interviews on TV and in magazines, and we both are so happy and proud of him. From literally nothing, he was able to set up such a grand multimillionaire business, all on his own.”
“Yes, professionally he is doing very well,” said Gayatri. “But only I know my grandson in and out. Only I know how he’s all alone amidst all these riches.”
“So why don’t you get him married?” asked Sunidhi. “Plus he’s already 30 now I believe. Once he gets married, all his loneliness will end.”
“Yes, even I want him to get married. But after what happened last time, I don’t want to take any risk with him. He’s still broken inside, and I want a girl whom we can trust upon, who is smart and courageous, and who can bring loads of colours in Vansh’s black and white world.”
“Don’t worry, Bua, I’m sure you will soon find such a girl for him.” “What if I tell you that I’ve already found such a girl for him?” “Oh my God! Who is it then?” asked Sunidhi excitedly.
After a minute of silence Gayatri says, “It is none other than your very daughter, Riddhima.”
Precap : Sunidhi discusses with Sushant about how she wants Riddhima to get married before she comes to know the big truth.
A snorkeler (similar to a diver) is following a yatch in the sea, when he is suddenly approached by a giant shark.