Rani sat near Rohit.
Rani:Rohit,did you see how Pooja dresses?She wears the type of dresses which do not match our culture.She wears very modern dresses.Why are you allowing it here?
Rohit:She is not our daughter.So why should we bother what type of dresses she wears?
Rani:But she stays in our house.
Rohit:Pooja is from Mumbai.In Mumbai wearing modern dresses is common.Pooja maybe having only modern dresses to wear.That may be the reason why she wears only modern dresses here also.We can’t force her to spend extra money on traditional clothes just because she stays in our house.
Rani:But Rohit…
Rohit:Rani di…I have some work.Let me finish it.
Rani got irritated and walked out of the room.There she saw Pooja standing there and smirking.
Rani:So you heard our conversation.
Pooja smiled.
Rani:I said right.Your dressing does’nt suit any family girl.
Pooja:This is such a low thought that a girl’s culture is defined by her dressing.Dressing does not have to do anything with the character.I will dress the way I like.
Rani frowned while Pooja walked away with a smile.
Shiva and Raavi were in the college library.
Raavi was searching for a book restlessly.Shiva noticed it.
Shiva:Raavi,you did’nt get the book you wanted?
Raavi nodded in ‘no’.
Shiva:Which book do you want?
Raavi told him the book she wanted to do her assignment.
Shiva:I will also help you to search.
They both searched from both the corners and finally Shiva found the book.
Shiva:I got the book.
With excitement,Raavi ran towards him and extended her hand towards him.
Shiva:I will give the book if you become my friend.
Raavi became dull.
Raavi thought:Talking to you itself is a big deal.But you are asking something which I can never give.
Raavi turned back in disappointment.Shiva became sad.
He thought:Raavi is a hard ice piece which is very hard to melt.She is not showing any interest in becoming my friend.But why do I feel that she likes my presence?
Shiva:Take the book Raavi.
Raavi looked at him unbelievably.
Shiva:Yes..take it.Don’t worry.I am not blackmailing you to accept my friendship to get this book from me.Because a real friend is someone who helps his friend without expecting anything in return.I don’t expect anything in return.
Raavi looked at him emotionally and took the book from him.
Shiva said in his mind:I lied that I don’t expect anything in return.I expect friendship from Raavi.
Raavi:Thank you Shiva.
Shiva just nodded silently.
Raavi tried to walk forward,Shiva too.They collided with each other.
Shiva’s chain got attached to Raavi’s kameez.
Raavi thought:Oh God!Why do I feel that even though I am trying to run away from Shiva,something is pulling me towards Shiva?
Raavi was shivering due to their close proximity.She moved her finger to remove the chain from her kameez.
Shiva realized her discomfort while pulling the chain.
Shiva:I will take it.
Raavi took her finger back.Shiva removed the chain from her kameez.Raavi felt a strange sensation in her body.
Raavi:Thank you Shiva.
She just walked away fast.Shiva kept looking at her.
Sonakshi went back to her past memories.
Past…
Sonakshi told Lakshmi:Didi,today is Diwali.I am dying to eat sweets.
Lakshmi:You are really craving to eat sweets?You sweet hungry girl!
Sonakshi pouted:Didi…
Lakshmi giggled.
To her surprise,Lakshmi brought a sweet box.
Lakshmi:Here are your favourite Diwali sweets.
Sonakshi was surprised.
Sona:Thank you didi.You are the best.
Sonakshi hugged her happily.
They both enjoyed eating sweets feeding each other.
Present….
Sonakshi became emotional.
Sonakshi:Those were such sweet memories that I could never forget.Diwali is going to come.I miss you didi.
The same time Lakshmi saw Diwali festival pictures on the tablet and closed it .Holding the tablet in her hand she was also thinking about the old Diwali she spent with Sonakshi.
Lakshmi:Miss you Sona.
Pooja and Aarav were walking around.They saw some people playing kabaddi.
Pooja:Wow!
Aarav:This is a common sport in this area.People enjoy it.
Pooja:Do you play?
Aarav:Ya…sometimes.But I am not an expert.
Pooja:Even I have played it with my friends for fun.But I am also not an expert.I feel like trying it here.
Aarav:Come on Pooja.It’s not an easy sport.
Pooja:I know that.But I feel like playing it for fun.I am not going to participate in any competition.So even if I don’t do it well,it’s ok.Right?
Aarav:Ok.Then let us do it with them.
Pooja got excited.
Aarav and Pooja convinced them to let them join them for kabaddi.
They started playing Kabaddi.
Aarav-Pooja:Kabaddi…Kabaddi…Kabaddi….Kabaddi…
Suddenly Pooja slipped and Aarav caught her.
Aarav:Not again Pooja.Again you were going to fall down.
Pooja:But I did not fall down as you did’nt let me fall down.
He smiled.
Suddenly the others players called them.
Aarav-Pooja looked at them.
They:What are you both doing without playing?You guys are interrupting us.
They got embarrassed.
Pooja:Sorry.
They:What sorry?Sorry cannot give us back our time.
Pooja:We apologized,still this kind of reaction from you all is horrible.
Aarav:You guys are over reacting.
They got angry.
They:We are over reacting?You both wasted our valuable time and blaming us?If you guys cannot play well why did you come here to play?Get lost.You both are out of the game.
Aarav-Pooja became dull.
Pooja:You all insulted us by saying that we can’t play well.We will learn kabaddi properly and play like experts.
Aarav-Pooja pointed their fingers at them and said:It’s our challenge.
Then they walked away from them.
Aarav:You told them that we will learn kabaddi and play like experts.Were you serious?
Pooja:No way.When they insulted us,just to not accept defeat in front of them I simply said so.
Aarav smiled:I also simply repeated your words by saying that it’s our challenge.I also did’nt mean it.
They laughed.
Pooja sat near Raavi.
Pooja:Raavi,you are always wearing salwar kameez.Don’t you feel uncomfortable to wear duppatta always?
Raavi:Dadi has told me to wear duppatta always.Here everyone wears duppatta.
Pooja:Don’t you feel like wearing some other dresses also?
Raavi:To be frank seeing your dresses,I feel like wearing such dresses also.
Pooja:Really?Then you wear my dress.
Raavi:No no.If I wear it,I will be killed by others.
Pooja:Nothing like that.Don’t suppress your wishes for others.
Raavi:But some wishes can’t be fulfilled.
Pooja:Wearing a modern dress is not a big deal.It’s only a small wish.So you can wear it.
Raavi:But clothes are very important here.
Pooja:Nobody will see it.You wear it in your room for sometime and live your dream.
Raavi was confused.
Pooja gave her modern dress to Raavi.
Pooja:Wear it dear.
Raavi took it and wore it.Pooja smiled seeing her in the modern dress.
Pooja:Wow Raavi!You look so beautiful in modern dress.
Raavi was surprised:Really?Am I looking nice?
Pooja:Of course yes.You look at the mirror.
Raavi looked at the mirror and smiled seeing herself on the mirror.
Raavi:I can’t believe that I wore the dress which I longed to wear.
Pooja smiled.
Suddenly Veena and Rani entered the room.They were shocked to see Raavi in the modern dress.
Raavi and Pooja became nervous.
Raavi said in her mind:Oh no…I forgot to lock the bedroom door.
Veena:What kind of dress have you worn Raavi?Have you forgotten your culture?
Rani shouted:Papa..Rohit..Sonakshi…come here.
They all came there.
Rohit:What happened Rani?Why are you screaming?
Rani:Rohit…look at the dress your daughter is wearing?
They were shocked to see Raavi’s dress.
Naren:What dress have you worn Raavi?
Rani:I told you that Pooja’s dressing is bad.Now she is influencing Raavi in a bad way.
Pooja,Raavi and Sonakshi became upset.
Rohit shouted at Raavi:Raavi,how dare you wear this dress?
Raavi’s eyes got filled up with tears.
Sonakshi:Please Rohit…please don’t scold Raavi.She won’t repeat it.
Rohit:Sonakshi,don’t interfere.Women have no right to talk when men are talking.
Sonakshi became upset.
Rohit stared at Pooja.
Rohit:Pooja,I was never impressed with the way you dress.But I tolerated it because you are only a guest.But you did’nt do right by making Raavi wear this dress.You are just a guest.You have no right to interfere in our lives.
Pooja,Sonakshi and Raavi became upset.
Raavi:Papa,it’s not Pooja’s fault.Please don’t scold her.
Rohit:Pooja deserved scoldings like you Raavi.
Sona:Pooja is small.Please forgive her Rohit.
Rohit:No,I can’t.
Rani smirked at Pooja.
Pooja:Rohit uncle…did I do such a big crime which does’nt deserve your forgiveness?I just gave my dress to Raavi to wear.Did Raavi also do a crime by wearing this dress due to which she was scolded by all of you?Modern dress is also like salwar kameez,it’s just that the appearance is different.What is wrong in wearing this dress?It’s not revealing at all.It’s covering Raavi’s body like salwar kameez is covering her body.Don’t you think so Rohit uncle?
Rohit observed Raavi’s dress.
Pooja:Please tell Rohit uncle…
Naren:How dare you talk like this to an elderly person?Girls with long tongue should not be spared.
Pooja,Raavi and Sonakshi became upset.
Sona:Papaji,please…
Naren:It’s you who brought this uncultured girl here.It’s your fault.
Pooja felt sad.
Pooja:Please don’t blame Sonakshi aunty for what I did.If I am wrong,I apologize.
Rani:Apology is not enough.You better leave this house before you spoil our Raavi.
Pooja,Sonakshi and Raavi were shocked.Pooja was in tears as she won’t be able to unite Sonakshi and Lakshmi if she is thrown out of this house.
Rohit:No need of leaving Pooja.
All were stunned.
Veena:What are you saying Rohit?
Rohit:I took the responsibilty to give shelter to Pooja to protect her as she is a young girl like our Raavi.I can’t forget that and put Pooja in danger just because of this issue.So until her parents return,she will stay here.
Pooja,Sonakshi and Raavi were relieved.
Pooja said emotionally:Thank you uncle.You have a big heart.Even though you hate me,you allowed me to stay here.It’s a great thing.
Sonakshi smiled emotionally.
Rohit:Who told you that I hate you?I got angry with you and Raavi.But that does’nt mean I hate both of you.
Pooja,Sonakshi and Raavi smiled.
Rohit:And I think Pooja is right.Raavi is not wearing any revealing dress.Then what’s wrong in wearing a decent modern dress?How can wearing a decent modern dress is against our culture?
Pooja,Sonakshi and Raavi were surprised to hear Rohit’s words.
Naren:Rohit,have you gone blind?
Rani:Pooja has brainwashed Rohit also.
Rohit:I am not blind and I can’t be brainwashed also.You all are blind.That’s why you all find vulgarity in Raavi’s dress.Don’t call me for such silly issues.I have no time to waste on it.I have work to do.
Rohit left.
Irritated Naren,Veena and Rani also walked away.
Sonakshi,Pooja and Raavi hugged each other happily.
Pooja:That Rani aunty is damn irritating.I feel like kicking her out.
Sonakshi and Raavi smiled.
Sonakshi went near Rohit who was working on his laptop.
Sona:Rohit!
Rohit stared at her:What do you want?
Sona:Thank you Rohit for understanding Pooja’s point of view and not blaming her and Raavi like everyone else did.
Rohit:Don’t disturb me Sonakshi.I have work to do.
Rohit continued doing his work.
Sona thought:Kadoos!He is so workaholic and rude that he does’nt have time to even look at me or talk politely.My fate to have a husband like him!But he is better than others in this family.Thanks to Pooja who helped Rohit to explore his good side.After Pooja came,Rohit has started showing slight changes.