My Word is My Bond… Part – 25
Hi friends… Thank you for all your support… And my big apologies for taking a long time to post the next part once again…
Please read and comment… Negative comments are very much recommended…
Thank you…
Scene – 51:
Next day morning, engagement day,
The whole Oberoi mansion was busy. Decorations are getting done under Jhanvi and Meera’s guidance, eatables are getting prepared at the other end under the guidance of Pinky, Gauri and Anika, return gifts are getting packed by Anjali and Sammy, and kids were playing in front of them. Guys were nowhere to be found. Radhika too was missing.
Around ten in the morning, Sakshi came with the altered dresses. Dilshad welcomed her and got the stuffs and asked the servant to place the covers in the rooms with the name tags attached in each cover. Dilshad and Sakshi got seated in the living room. Sakshi was looking around and found the ladies working.
Sakshi: Dilshad, where is the bride…? And the guys too…?
Dilshad: Even I didn’t see them from morning… (She spotted Anjali.) Anju…
Anjali: Ji Ammee… (She went running to Dilshad.)
Dilshad: Aaram se… Where are your brothers and Radhu…?
Anjali: No idea… They are missing from morning…
Dilshad: (Was thinking what went wrong. She kept dialing everyone, but no response and was tensed.)
Sakshi: Dilshad, relax… Maybe they are caught with some important work… They will return safe…
Dilshad: (Nodded weakly.)
All the ladies by now assembled in the living room. As they came to know about the missing guys and Radhika, even they were tensed. Without any delay Radhika and guys, except Shivaay, entered the mansion. Seeing the tensed faces, they understood the situation and shared an eye-lock with eachother.
Dilshad: If you guys are done with your eye talks, you may walk in…
They walked in and stood in front of the angry ladies.
Jhanvi: Care to give an explanation… And Ajju, never thought you will do something stupid like this…
Pinky: Aap bilkul corrects hai jethani ji… Aur Billu, where he…?
Dilshad: Ajju…?
Arjun: Ammee, voh Shiv…
Shivaay: (From the entrance.) I’m here Ammee…
Pinky: Now tells… Kahaan the tum sab…?
Radhika: Pinku ma, ek zarooree kam ko hum bhool gaya tha… Hum vahi karane ke lie gae…
Dilshad: Wasn’t I clear enough when I said no work for next few days…?
Arjun: Sorry Ammee… Couldn’t able to avoid… (With face held low.)
Sakshi: Dilshad, let it be… They are back on time so lets get things started… We still have many work to be done…
Dilshad: (Nodded affirmative.) (To guys.) Now go and get fresh and come back soon… (To Radhika.) And Radhu, go rest in your room… Will call you when you’re needed…
Radhika: (Bobbed her head affirmative.)
Sakshi: Radhika, your dress is in your room, just try it once dear… So that we can make sure that if the fittings are fine…
Radhika: Ji…
Sakshi: Meera, would you please join her and check dear…
Meera: Sure…
Radhika and Meera walked upstairs.
Sakshi: (To Dilshad.) Now tell me how can I be of your help…
Pinky: Helps, aap se… Oh my mata… Aap hamaaree guests hai…
Sakshi: Chuck out the guest and let me help you Pinky… By the way Dilshad invited me to be family, not guest…
Pinky: Aapa…?
Dilshad: Tum jao Pinky… I’ll give her the apt work…
Pinky: Ji… (And rushed back to the kitchen, with Anika following her.)
Anika had been looking at the floor, the whole time. She couldn’t face any of them , especially her Billuji…
Scene – 52:
In no time, it was evening, and time for the engagement. All were getting ready in their rooms. Even Sakshi was in Oberoi mansion. She got her dress with the help of her staff to Oberoi mansion as she was helping others and didn’t notice the time. All our ladies were helping Radhika to get dressed. And guys were helping Arjun and Shivaay to get dressed.
Shivaay was broken inside, but was composed. Anika strengthened herself from breaking down.
The mothers went to the guys room,
Haider: (Noticed the mothers admiring their sons.) Enough of eyeing my brothers, they are special you know…
Pinky: Acha ji…?
Jhanvi: (Slapped him playfully.)
Sakshi: (Chuckled.) This boy is naughty it seems…
Haider: (Making puppy face.) Couldn’t help it… There must be someone to get these idiots from their robotic life right…
Om: (Slapped him at his back.) Oh really…?
Haider: (Whined dramatically.)
Jhanvi: Om…
Om: Ma, he is acting…
Dilshad: Ok enough guys… Lets get moving, guest had started arriving…
Arjun and Shivaay got blessings from Dilshad, Sakshi, Jhanvi and Pinky. Later they were taken to the hall, where the betrothal was organized. The hall was filled with close family and friends.
Mr. Singh: Namaste Dilshad ji…
Dilshad: Namaste Singh sab… Kaise ho aap…?
Mr. Singh: As always, fit and fine…
Dilshad: (Smiled.)
Mr. Singh: I must say, you didn’t do good…
Dilshad: I didn’t understand you Mr.Singh…
Mr. Singh: You were planning your son’s wedding and didn’t let me know… If you would have said me even once, I would brought the best of best…
Sakshi: Yes, Mr. Singh… You’re right, she didn’t do good… She didn’t do good by maintaining the respect that was given to your family till this date… And what best you’re talking about, her (Dilshad) choice on her son’s wife is perfect, as she knows to love, as she knows to care, as she knows to stand against the intruder and above all she knows to keep up the respect by even staying silent, even after hearing your ill words on her… (Pointing her finger behind him, where our ladies were standing.) She is the best, Mr. Singh…
All had a pleasant smile hearing Sakshi’s words.
Mr. Singh: You had mistaken me… I wasn’t saying about her… She is a great girl, I was just worried about the other girl…
Anika: You need not worry about her Singh sab… I think you should have trust on the mother’s decision and enjoy the party…
Sammy: Without any second thought… (Smiling wide.)
Mr. Singh: Sure… I’ll be right back…
Shaurya: (Walking towards them.) Khud ka parivaar samhaal nahin saka aa gaya doosaraon ke parivaar par apna opinion bhol nae… (To Sakshi.) When did you turn into one, like this…?
Sakshi: Shaurya, it is important to respect our guest… It is more important to safeguard the family’s respect… And daughters and daughter-in-laws are family’s respect… No compromise when the question is about the daughter’s respect…
Neil: (Walked to Sakshi and embraced her with tear filling his eyes.)
Sakshi: (Understanding his emotions, she comforted him by rubbing his back continuously.)
All their trance was broken by the Khanna,
Scene – 53:
Khanna: Dilshad mam, the bride and family is here…
When they turned, to the entrance, they found the bride entering with the family. There were two souls, who couldn’t take their eyes away from each other. The youngsters noticed it.
Krishna: Ani di, look at her, how pretty she is… (Nudging her.)
Shivaay and Anika, both gained their sense by now.
Anika: (Passed a pale smile and turned towards the entrance. Before she could even turn completely, she was engulfed in a tight embrace.)
Anika: (Was puzzled and was shocked looking at the couples in front of her.)
Lady (Embraced Anika): Anu thai…
Anika: (Shivered and composed herself quick. Giving a smile to the couple, she broke the hug and cupped the girl’s face.) Pari…
The lady is Pari, Shivaay’s fiancé.
Pari: Thai… Where the hell where you thai…? Do you even realize… (She couldn’t complete her words.)
Anika: (Pulled her into her embrace.) Shhh Pari… Chupp ho ja… I’m sorry bacha…
Pari: I missed you thai…
Anika: Missed you too… (And kissed her head.) (Her gaze stopped on the couple, she broke the hug and walked towards the couple with so much of guilt and fear.)
Anika: Aai… (Slap…)
The whole hall was shocked and silent.
Pari: Aai…
Lady: Not a word Pari… (With her fore-finger pointed towards her, warning her.)
Pari: (Mumbled to her father.) Baba…
Man: Beta, I can’t stop your Aai… You would have lost your sister, but your Aai lost her elder daughter… (Sighing loud.) And I lost my really pari, who walked in to our life as a blessing…
Anika: (Spoke nothing.)
Lady: Blessing…? What kind of blessing you’re talking about Shashank…?
Pari’s father is Shashank Deshmuhk.
Shashank: Ankita… (Sternly.)
Pari’s mother is Ankita Deshmukh.
Ankita: The blessing you’re talking about, we lost her years ago Shashank… She is just someone whom we are meeting today…
Anika: Aai please… (Sobbed.)
Ankita: Why the hell should I listen to you and your pleads…? (Pointing between her and Shashank.) Did you ever think about our state when we get to know that we lost our elder daughter…? (Pointing at Pari.) Did you think about this girl who had always been behind you and wanted to be as you are, who considered you as her mother…? Forget everything… (Walking towards a fifteen years teen boy and grabbing his hand, she walked him to Anika and stood just in front of her.) Remember this little guy…? He is the same little kid who you took into your embrace first when he entered this world… He is the same little guy who called you ma, not me… He is the same little guy who cried his lungs out not able to get a glimpse of his mother, and unfortunately that is not me… (Broke down into tears.)
After few minutes of silence,
Ankita: I’m ready to forget everything and get you into our lives… But only on one condition Anu… And you’ll do it…? (Waited for her response.)
Anika: (Wiping of her tears, she nodded affirmative.)
Ankita: (Smiled relaxing. Cupping her face, she tilted her head, so that they could look into each other eyes clearly.) You’ll get legally divorced as soon as possible… And you’ll move along with us… Later, when we find a guy, exactly born for you, we’ll get you married… Fine…?
Anika: (Before she could reply.)
Daksh: (From the entrance.) Why the hell she’ll divorce me…? You old lady, better stay away from my wife…
Anika: DAKSH… (Screamed aloud, fire spitting her eyes.)
Daksh: Baby, she… Baby, listen, she was trying to manipulate you and separate you from me… I didn’t want to lose you again and words slipped out of my tongue…
Anika: Then better hold your tongue tight Daksh… I spare none, when it is about my loved ones… (Walking dangerously towards him and standing a foot away from him.) (Murmured.) And trust me when I say this Daksh, when it as betrayer who is going to stand against my family here, you are going to terribly lose…
Daksh: Betr… (Stammering.)
Anika: Yes Mr. Khurana, a betrayer, whom you toyed in front of me and forced me to dance according to your music… I still did, as I didn’t want her to go through the same hell as I did… But not at the cost of my family… (Loudly, as everyone could hear.) That’s good to know that you finally realized your mistake Daksh… No problem Aai and Baba will forgive you, just seek forgiveness, touching their feet, they are elders right…?
Ankita: (Thinking.) What are you doing Anu…? Why it seems to be like your’re giving him a second chance, but still not bending along with it…? Why do you do this and why do you want to confuse us so much…? Hey Bappa… Show me the truth…
Daksh: (Standing in front of Ankita and Shashank.) I’m sorry…
Anika: Daksh… (Reminding him what she asked him to do.)
Daksh: (Gritting his teeth.) (He touched Ankita’s feet.) I’m sorry… Please forgive me… (Without any emotions.)
Ankita: (Didn’t respond.)
Ankita: (Sighing aloud, Dilshad, we are badly running out of time, we need to complete the engagement within twenty minutes… Shall we proceed…?
Dilshad: Yes… Come…
Ankita: (Walked past Daksh, not even acknowledging his pleads.)
Daksh: (Muttered to himself.) Ankita Deshmukh, you didn’t do good… You’re going to suffer… Very badly…
Everyone moved towards the couch set for the couples, except Daksh.
Lots of Love,
Anci