Prithvi's older brother, Rahul, left for work along with Prithvi in the morning. Avantika, took Varun and Roshini home around 3 because they weren't letting Damini relax for even one second!
"Varun.... Roshini... chalo na." says Avantika to her kids.
"Nahi. Hum aunty ke saath aiyenge." says Varun.
"Varun. Zid mat karo. Ab chalo. Tum bhi Roshini."
"Par... Mama..."
"Roshini... Varun..." says Damini squatting down to their level. "Tum apni Mama ki baat sun lo. Aur vaise bhi, mein raat ko toh aane hi wali hoon."
"Par... Aunty..."
She looks at them and they give up.
"Okay. Par aap jaldi aana okay."
"I promise."
She smiles and gives them both a hug. Damini goes to see them off. Varun and Roshini run to the car while Avantika stays back for a minute or two to say something to Damini.
"Damini, tumhe Prithvi lene aa jaye ga."
"Hmm."
Damini looks down.
"You know Damini.. Prithvi is so lucky. Tum usse jo mil gayi ho. Pata hai, jab se usne Soni se tumari baate suni.... tumari photos dekhi... woh toh deewana hogaya. Itna pyaar karta hai tumse, ki mein kya baataon."
Damini feels overwhelmed by hearing Prithvi's actions. She feels a tear right at the brink of her eye, about to fall out. Avantika turns around hearing the honk of her car coming from Varun and Roshini. Damini takes the opportunity and quickly wipes it away. When Avantika turns around, Damini puts on a smile.
"Mein bhi bohot lucky hoon. Mujhe Prithvi jaise pati mila." says Damini.
Avantika touches her on the cheek and smiles. After recieving a smile back from Damini, Avantika leaves.
Kabhi kabhi toh mujhe dhar lagta hai Prithvi. Ke tum mere pati ho.
She goes back into the house.
Damini is sitting outside on the swing in her backyard, swinging back and forth, thinking of nothing in particular. After five minutes, Soni comes to join her with a platter of snacks. She lays it on the glass table infront them. She sits down beside Damini with her legs up on the swing. Damini does the same and she just looks at Soni happily eating some freshly fried pakoras. She looks at Damini who is looking at her. She motions the plate to her to offer her some, but Damini refuses. She shrugs and goes back to eating.
"Kab." says Damini.
"Tumare phere se pehle." answers Soni knowing what Damini is trying to ask.
Damini nods holding back some tears.
"You know, Damini... tumhe kissi hindi serial ki heroine se kam nahi ho."
Damini just looks at her confused.
"Jab dekho, tum rothi rehti ho."
They both laugh.
"Ab kya karoon. Meri zindagi ab drame se kam thodi na hai."
Their laughter is short lived as they become silent again coming back to the harsh reality. Soni takes a sigh and puts her plate on the table. She puts her hand on Damini's hand.
"Soni.. I really, really want to give this marriage a chance. Prithvi... he's an angel."
She turns around to face her friend properly.
"You know, woh kudh meri madat karna chaata hai." she informs Soni, who is surprised as she didn't know about this.
"Kya?"
"Ha. Tumhi batao. Kaun apni hi patni ko uski aashiq tak baafas dena chaahiye ga. Especially if he loves her alot."
Soni looks down, unable to say anything.
"Tum saach mein, iss shaadi ko ek moka dena chati ho."
"Ha."
"Fine. But what about Arjun? Uska kya."
"Agar Arjun ko meri parva hoti, toh tumhe ni lagta ki woh ab tak aa chuka hota."
She nods her head in agreement.
"Mein tumari madat karne ki liye tyaar hoon par..."
"Par? Par kya." Damini asks frightened.
"Par tumhe woh sab karna hoga, jo mein kahoon gi. Manzoor." Soni extends her hand out.
Damini nods her head.
"Manzoor." She puts her hand in Soni's to finalize the deal.
"Tum Prithvi se dhoor raho."
Damini gets shocked to hear that her friend, whom she just told that she wants to give her marriage another chance, is telling her to stay away from her husband, increasing the chances for the marriage to break. She takes back her hand.
"Yeh tum kya kari ho." she exclaims standing up.
Soni gets up as well.
"Teek kari hoon. Dekho Damini, agar tum abhi Prithvi ke paas aane lagi, toh phir woh yeh samje ga, ki tumhe uss par taras aara hai. You are pitying him."
"Nahi."
"Ha. Issi liye, mein ke rahi hoon.. stay away from him."
"Kab tak."
"About 6-7 weeks."
Damini turns around to face Soni and looks at her as if she's gone crazy.
"Damini... believe me. It'll work."
"For your sake, it better."
Soni smiles, and puts her arm around Damini and they both start walking around the backyard.
"When you're staying away from him... don't make him completely alone. Do some small gestures. Like.. taking out his clothes for him... packing his lunch... waiting for him to come home.... serve him dinner... you know... the basic hindi serial types."
Damini smiles.
"I guess your watching so many serials is finally paying off."
They giggle.
"Thank you, thank you. Aur vaise bhi, isse tum bhi khush aur Prithvi bhi khush."
Damini blushes. They get interrupted by Soni's mom is here to call Damini as Prithvi has come to get her. Hearing, Prithvi's name, Damini runs to the front door while Soni calls after her, reminding her about the plan. Soni's mom gets really happy seeing Damini finally letting go of her past. Damini stops at the front door and looks at Prithvi, talking on the phone with someone, standing beside his side of the car, who didn't notice Damini come yet, while trying to catch her breath. She starts walking to the car, never leaving her eyes off of Prithvi. Just then, she remembered Soni's plan, and quickly goes in and sits down. Prithvi ends his call and sees Damini already sitting down. He takes a sigh and looks at Soni standing at the doorstep. She smiles at him reassuringly and he smiles back hoping that everything becomes alright.
At their home, Varun and Roshini are excited to see Damini again, and they take her upstairs to show her their room. Prithvi follows them upstairs, but goes to his own room instead. He takes off his coat and throws it on the bed. He sits on the bed and starts thinking.
Humhe... Damini ko sab kuch sach sach bataa dena chahiye. Unno ne hum se pehle din se hi sachiyi se pesh kiya hai. Toh humera bhi farz ban tha hai, unn ke saath sachiyi se pesh aana. Hum unne aaj hi sab kuch saach saach baata denge.
Varun and Roshini come running into his room laughing, followed by Damini, whose laughter rang like a beautiful melody in Prithvi's ears. She comes into the room and puts her hands on her hips seeing Roshini in Prithvi's arms and Varun on the bed with his arms around Prithvi's neck.
"Shetan se kam nahi ho tum dono."
"Prithvi uncle ne hi toh kaha, kissi se kam nahi rehna. Hamesha aage raho." says Varun who gives a high five to Roshini.
Damini opens her mouth in shock.
"Acha. Ab aage ja kar dekhao." she locks the door and starts running after them.
"Aaahhh!!!" screams Roshini in laughter and hides behind Prithvi who is now standing.
Damini goes is about to catch her but she gets distracted by the poke that Varun gave her on her back.
She turns around and sees Varun making a face at her and starts running after him. Roshini pulls Prithvi's pants to make him look at her and winks at him when he does. Prithvi gets a mischevious smile and goes to his cupboard and takes out a piece of cloth. Damini is circling around the bed blocking Varun. She has her back towards Prithvi so she doesn't notice him creeping up behind her.
"Ab bhag kar kahan jao ge."
Taking a chance, Prithvi puts the blindfold around her eyes. She puts her hands up on her eyes and feels a thick piece of cloth there. Varun runs from there who joins Roshini and gives her a high five. Prithvi leaves Damini there trying to feel her way around.
"This is cheating okay. Yeh pati hatao." She tries to undo the blindfold herself but it's too tight.
Varun, Roshini, and Prithvi all laugh at her.
"Varun.... Roshini... khaana khaane aa jao!" calls out Avantika.
They hear their stomachs growling and look at each other. Prithvi laughs at them and opens the door for them when he sees them struggling with the lock. They both run downstairs to the dining table. Prithvi was about to go as well, but he turns around to see how Damini was doing. She was still trying to find her way around to the door or the nearest person. Prithvi notices that she was about to trip over on the misplaced rug. Damini's foot trips over on an edge of the rug and is about to fall forward but Prithvi comes in time and catches her. Damini clutches onto Prithvii's shirt scared. He just looks at her, mesmerized by her beauty. He keeps on staring at her without realizing how close she's getting to him, everytime she clutches more of his shirt in her hand. She keeps on clutching, until she has his collar in her hand and their faces are just inches apart. She can smell his perfume which is even stronger and even more fragrant than the first time she smelled it. She feels his hands gripping her tender body even harder. She moves closer to him. Slowly, Prithvi allows her to stand, not letting go of her body or her eyes for even a second. Sensing, him infront of her, she starts walking forward towards him. She uses her memorized picture of him to look at his face. Lost in their own world, they don't realize what's going on around them. Damini keeps walking forward and Prithvi backwards. Using his left foot, Prithvi closes the door. They stop, when Prithvi's back hits the closed door. Damini releases her hold of his collar and places both her hands on his chest. Prithvi shifts a little and his left shoulder hits the light switch which turns them off. Their breathing increases as their distance between each other gets decreased every second. Damini lifts her head up a little and starts leaning in towards him. Her hands start to move up towards his neck, and makes their way around his neck. Prithvi's hands move around the back of her body, unintentionally as well, as he leans in towards her as well. They both finish off the distance as their lips meet. At first, they just touched, which sent a tingling sensation in their bodies. They opened their lips a little and had their first kiss which was filled with emotions. Scared....confused...desire. As the seconds passed, they couldn't control their emotions, which all spilled out in their passionate kiss. They forgot about the promises they made to each other. They forgot about who was related to them. They forgot about who their next step would effect. They forgot everything but their love. They held each other tight, not wanting to let go. They moved their hands around feeling each other. Becoming each others. Not realizing, Prithvi starts walking really fast which makes them both fall down on the bed. They continue kissing each other. Prithvi moves his lips from hers and starts making his way down to her neck. Damini interlocks her hands with his. He removes his hands from hers, and somehow manages to remove the blindfold from her eyes, without stopping from his activity. Damini pushes him aside, making him go underneath her. They look into each other's eyes conveying each other's message. They kiss passionately once again. While kissing, Damini opens some of the buttons of his shirt. When she feels skin, she starts kissing him there, passionately. While she's kissing his neck, and Prithvi is feeling her, they start to remember their promises. Damini's promise to Soni, to stay away from Prithvi and Prithvi's promise to Damini, to bring her back to Arjun. They both stop their activities and just lay there, allowing each other's tears to spill out. Damini moves back to infront of his face, brushing her lips against his skin giving him the shock of his life. She give him a small kiss filled with sorrow. Prithvi closes his eyes and Damini goes back to lay on his chest. She moves her hands underneath him and gives him a tight hug. Her hug is received by Prithvi's.
After staying there, for what seemed like an eternity for them, Damini, not wanting to, slowly got off of him. She goes and sits down infront of the mirror and fixes herself up while she sees Prithvi sitting on the bed looking at her. They both look at each other with so much sorrow and so much desire in their eyes.
Prithvi... isse pehle ki baat had se aage bad jaye, Damini ko sab kuch baata de.
Damini... tumhe apne aap ko kambu mein rakhna hoga. Bhool gayi kya. Tumne Soni se vaada kiya tha.
Prithvi... abhi sayi waqt hai. Sab kuch baata de. Abhi. Right now!
Damini... pata ni woh ab kya soch re honge. Tum... tum yeh kaise kar sakti ho.
Prithvi gets up and goes to stand behind Damini. She sees him coming towards her. She's not able to meet his gaze. She lowers eyes but they're compelled to look at him. She sees his perfect body coming closer and closer. She moves her to give him room to sit. He accepts the offer and sits down. He leans in towards her ear and whispers very quietly not wanting to disturb the silence.
"Humhe aap se kuch kehna hai."
She nods her head to allow him to continue. He starts thinking of how to word his message.
"Umm... woh... hum... aap..."
She closes her eyes, wanting him to hurry up and say it.
Ab kahe bhi di jiye. Mujhse ab aur intezaar nahi hora.
"I...Hum..."
Please. Just say it. 3 little words that mean so much. I...
"I..."
Love you.
"...found him."
Damini opens her eyes in shock. She was not expecting him to say this. She turns to look at him and sees his eyes lowered. Now, he was not able to meet her gaze. Damini didn't know what to say. How to react. Should she be happy or sad? Angry or glad? Does this change everything. How they feel? Their future? She looks again at Prithvi who is now looking at her. All she sees in his eyes are love for her. She puts her hand on his cheeks. They lean in and their foreheads touch, which makes them cry even more. Damini slides over and hugs him. He hugs her back. They don't say anything. Without saying anything, they decide to deal with this tomorrow. They just want to live in each other for today. Prithvi picks her up and takes her over to the bed where he very smoothly lays her down, and settles in himself beside her. She settles herself in him till she's comfortable. Prithvi wraps his hands around her, thinking who knows when he'll get another chance like this. They both fall asleep.
Next morning, the sun's rays hit their faces, beckoning them to wake up and deal with the crisis that they left behind last night. Damini opens her eyes and looks up to see Prithvi looking down at her. He gives a small smile and gives her a petite kiss on her head. Damini asks him when she'll be able to see him with her eyes.
"Not for some time. Humhe maloom chala ki woh hospital se nikal aiya tha aur uski yaadash ko gi thi. Issi liye woh aap ko lene ni aiya. Par usse thoda thoda yaad hai."
"Toh phir woh ab kahan hai."
"Maloom ni. Mere admi lage huye hai. Par aap fikar mat ki jiye. Hum aap ko unn tak poncha denge."
She nods. She puts her head back on him again. Prithvi picks up the phone as it rang. Damini get up from him and goes over to the window and looks outside. She hears Prithvi talking but is unable to decipher what he's trying to say.
"Teek hai. Aap unne waha ek job de di jiye. Hum aate hai."
He hangs up and Damini looks at him.
"Goa."
She looks back outside. Prithvi goes to the bathroom to freshen up leaving Damini alone.
Ek waqt tha, Arjun, jab mein tumare liye duniya chod sakti thi. Ab mein duniya ke liye, tumhe chod sakti hoon. A tear falls out of her eye. Tum bafaas kyun aiye Arjun. Kyun...
In Goa, there is a man who is also looking out of his window. He brings a photo infront of him and looks at it.
Tum jahan bhi ho, mein tumhe dhoond laonga. Jo kuch bhi ho jaye... bhale mujhe poori duniya se ladna hi kyun na pare... par mein tumhe lekar hi aaonga. Mein tumari zindagi mein phir se aaonga. Mein tumhe sab se chura kar le aaonga, Damini. Yeh mera vaada hai tumse.
He hears a knock on the door and goes to open it. He sees his manager there and allows him to come inside. They sit and talk about his new job.
"Thank you so much." says Arjun, shaking his manager's hand.
"Thanks, mujhe ni. Thanks aap ko Mr. Prithvi Saxena ka karna chahiye. Unki vaja se hi aap ko yeh job mili hai." says his manager.
"I wish I can. Jab se mein yahan aiya hoon, sab unki hi tarif karte ja re hai."
"Well you're lucky. Woh apni biwi ke saath, honeymoon ke liye aare hai."
"Really?"
"Ha. Unki shaadi do din pehle hi hui hai."
"Well, I must say she's a very lucky girl to have him."
"Mr. Saxena bhi kam ni hai. Woh bhi bohot sushil aur achi ladki hai."
"Naam kya hai unka?"
"Damini."
Arjun gets shocked to hear his lover's name.
"Damini? Unka pehla surname kya tha?"
"Gujral."
Arjun feels like his whole world has collapsed.
"Bohot ache lagre the woh dono. Mein Mr. Saxena se kal hi mila tha. Bohot kush lag re the. Mujhe toh lagta hai ki unki pehli raat toh..."
Arjun gets disconnected from what his manager was saying to his own thoughts. His lover... is now someone else's. The person who never let another man to come even close to him, slept with another man! He sees his manager get up to leave. Arjun stands up as well, shakes his hand and drops him off to the door. Then he locks it, not wanting anyone else to come in. Giving himself freedom to vent out his anger.
Usne mujhse saare vaade kiye, aur nimbhaiye kissi aur ke saath!! He kicks the sofa over. Jis ladki ne, mere ilava kissi aur ko apne paas ni aane diya, ussi ne kissi aur ke saath ek bestar share kiya!!!! He starts smashing the television, the table, the dresser, the windows, everything that came in his way. Nahi.. nahi, Damini. Mein itni jaldi tumari zindagi se nayi jaonga. Pehle ek kwab bankar tumari duniya sajiyi thi. Ab nark bankar tumari nayi zindagi barbad kar ke rak doonga. He picks up a red marker and goes over to the newspaper where it had Prithvi's picture on it. He takes off the lid and makes an X over Prithvi's picture. Finished. He throws away the newspaper. Some of the papers goes out the window. Prithvi's picturs, with the X on it, falls on the road and a car runs over it, ruining the picture.
Damini starts feeling very anxious. She looks at herself in the mirror and sees that she's not wearing any vermillion. She starts looking for the box on her dresser and realizes it's missing. She opens all the cupboards, and cabinets in the room and finds nothing. She starts getting really scared. Prithvi comes in and sees the mess that she made.
"Damini." he says worriedly.
Hearing, his voice Damini turns around. Relieved to see him, Damini runs over and hugs him.
"Please. Aap please mujhe vaada ki jiye. Aap kabhi mujhe chod kar ni jayenga. Vaada ki jiye." she pleads.
Not knowing what to do he promises her. "I promise. Mein tumhe kabhi chod kar ni jaonga." he hugs her back.
They both look up at each other, not knowing what impending doom lies ahead, waiting for them in Goa.
comment:
p_commentcount