The episode begins with Simran sitting and crying alone in
her room. Abhi's mom enters softly with Gudiya in her arms, and Rashmi close
behind. Abhi's ma pleads with Simran, "Ab yehi tumhari Gudiya hai! You are her
mother! Please take her in your arms – you need each other so much! Where God
gives pain, he also gives the strength to bear that pain. Please – don't think!
I am leaving her here with you. Remember that this is also what Neha wanted…"
Simran says fiercely that she CAN'T do it! She shrieks to them to take Gudiya
away from her. It's a very poignant scene where everyone's eyes are wet with
emotion😭. Abhi's mom begs Simran to reconsider but Simran tells them with folded
hands to take Gudiya away. Abhi's mom drags herself away from the room while
Simran cries out loud for her bachchi... this can't be my Aastha.. this can't
be my Aastha! Rashmi hugs her sister and comforts her, both of them in tears…
while Simran keeps repeating that this just can't be her Aastha…
Abhi's ma returns to the living room with a heavy heart,
where she tells everyone present that Simran doesn't want Gudiya. Abhi's dad is
confused and wants to know what on earth Simran is thinking..😕 Abhi's ma
weeps that she thought Simran would have been happy to embrace Gudiya as her
own. Abhi's pa regrets that Simran is imprisoning herself within her worries. Saurabh
is worried about leaving Simran alone. Everyone looks defeated. Dr. Brian
announces that Simran is in no condition to listen to anyone, and that they
shouldn't be sad – as this is definitely not an easy situation. Pranay then
requests Abhi's mom not to take Gudiya away, to let her stay on at Simran's…
maybe this is what it will take to give Simran her peace. Dr. Brian seconds
that, but Saurabh hesitates, saying that he doesn't think Simran can forget
Aastha's 'ghum', and besides - who would take care of her? Rashmi volunteers
but Saurabh is not convinced, saying she is too young. Abhi speaks up – he says
that Gudiya will be taken care of by the same person who took care of Aastha. He
takes Gudiya in his arms while Saurabh tries to stop him in his tracks by
insisting that Simran is in no condition to take of her. Abhi tells him firmly
that he knows what he is doing. He goes into the kitchen where Shaguna looks
askance at him, stuttering out loud if he needs milk for the baby… The others
reach the scene and watch while Abhi tells Shaguna that he is giving her the
responsibility of taking care of his daughter, that Aastha's departure has left
a gaping hole in this house, and that once Gudiya starts staying there Simran
WILL start loving her. Shaguna is overwhelmed with the faith and trust Abhi put
in her and Abhi assures her that she is the only one who can raise Gudiya well.
Shaguna is speechless and takes Gudiya lovingly, with tears in her eyes. Abhi
tells her gently to bring up Gudiya the way she did Aastha. They arrange for
milk bottles from Abhi's mom. Shaguna kisses Gudiya lovingly and holds her and
stares at her like she can't believe what a treasure she's found.
Back in the living room, Saurabh and Abhi exchange a long,
meaningful look. Saurabh looks distressed, as if he can't believe everything
Abhi is doing for Simran, and is as usual, unable to express how grateful he
feels. Abhi just looks back at him with equanimity, silently acknowledging
Saurabh's emotional upheaval. Rashmi tells her father that Abhi has done what
he did "dil pe patthar rakh kar"… and that we must trust God and leave it all
to Him now.
Once again, when Simran is alone in her room, Rashmi brings
up some food for her to eat and offers it to her gently. Simran just twists her
face and looks away. Rashmi scolds her as to why she is doing this to which
Simran says shortly that she isn't hungry. Rashmi tells her that she knows it's
very difficult and that she can't even say anything to her.. but she must,
somehow, muster the courage to live and move on with her life. Simran cries
that she had only one goal in her life – Aastha.. that she wanted nothing else,
and there was nothing left in her life.. Rashmi reminds her of Saurabh, and
that Simran as his darling daughter is the purpose of her Papa's life. She
tells Simran how much Saurabh suffers when she cries, and at his age, all that exertion
can't be good for him – and that he had agreed to have his meal only when
Rashmi had promised that she would make sure Simran eats too. Rashmi begs
Simran to make an effort and offers to feed her. Just then, Simran hears
Gudiya's high-pitched wails from downstairs and her ears perk up. She worriedly
announces that a child somewhere is crying! Troubled by the cries, she follows the
sound downstairs and meets Saurabh. She barely finished asking him who is
crying when she rushes into the kitchen. Saurabh asks Pranay if he should
follow her but Pranay says no. Simran enters the kitchen and sees Gudiya in
Shaguna's arms. Astounded to see Gudiya and building up into a temper, she harshly rebukes Shaguna – What is THIS,
Shaguna? What is SHE doing here??? Who kept her here? YOU??? Without waiting
for a reply, she flounces out of the kitchen and confronts Saurabh, demanding
to know who brought Gudiya back. Pranay begs Simran to make Gudiya her own,
that the little child will cure her misery. Rashmi supports Pranay and says
that it is God's will. Saurabh tells her it will give her peace of mind. Simran
is enraged to hear this and asks Saurabh if she herself was dispensable… were
she to die tomorrow, would he ever start loving someone else as his own
daughter?… and the answer is NO, isn't it! Pranay interjects that Gudiya needs a mother,
and Simran needs to love the little one… Simran cries out that life is not
always about adjustments and compromises, and that her pain will NOT lessen,
rather it will increase. She says that she will herself talk to Abhi's mom and
dad to take Gudiya back and determinedly goes over to call them on the phone.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the rings go unanswered. Simran bangs down the
receiver and reiterates that she will NOT accept Gudiya. Pranay begs her again
to let Gudiya stay, saying that this is also what Abhi wants. Simran says that
whoever left her here should take care of her too, and that Gudiya is not her
concern anymore. She leaves the room looking very upset. Saurabh lets out a
deep breath and shakes his head, saying that he knew it, she would never accept
Gudiya. Pranay says quietly that it is her pain which will be her salvation. He
then cautions Shaguna and the others to be very "samajhdaar" and careful around
Simran.
It is night-time. Sonu is sleeping peacefully in his bed,
while Manas who is awake, is ruminating. He hesitates a while, then picks up
the phone and calls Riya. We can only hear his end of the telephonic
conversation, which goes something like this - "Hi!!.. Just like that… I have
decided to come there to where you are… Yes, I will talk to Sonu…Yes I'm sure…
That's it. I'll call you later… I love you too! Take care! Bye." The same night, Abhi is lying on his bed, thinking of Neha. His gaze rests
on Neha's framed photograph on the mantelpiece. He stares deeply at it and
sighs... "Where have you gone and left me and your daughter alone? Where have
you gone? Where?" Meanwhile, back at Simran's house, Simran is weeping silent
tears into her pillow. Saurabh stands at the doorway, knowing his daughter is
in pain, feeling frustrated and helpless… he bites his lip to stop from saying
anything and hesitates. Eventually he forces himself to leave the room as
quietly as he had come.
The next scene is thankfully, a happy one.😊 Shaguna is giving baby Gudiya a wholesome massage, with Rashmi sitting next to her and chattering away enthusiastically. Shaguna is obviously stirred by the presence of the new baby in the house and talks to her soothingly, "Gudiya baby healthy ho jaayegi! She is so cute, her little-little hands and feet!!"😊 Rashmi chides her to be softer and Shaguna retorts that it isn't the first time she is massaging a baby, now IS it!😆 The phone rings and it's Abhi's ma at the other end. She asks Rashmi about Gudiya and Rashmi happily answers that Gudiya is getting a wonderful massage. Then Abhi's ma asks if Simran has come around, if she has said anything at all, and that she couldn't sleep all night, wondering what was going on there… Rashmi tries to be reassuring, tells her that everything will be fine. At that moment, Simran comes in. Shaguna can't hide her obvious enjoyment and exclaims how much she and Gudiya are enjoying the massage. Simran gives her an old-fashioned look and reluctantly tells her not to blow in Gudiya's ear during bath-time. Shaguna says, "of course, I remember!! Just like Aastha! I remember how you scolded me for blowing in her ear once!" and tattles on, unmindful that Simran's face is getting redder and redder…"Gudiya loves this massage.. just like Aastha did.. and Gudiya loves it when I sing next to her face, just like Aastha did…" Simran explodes with anger and cries out passionately not to keep saying "Gudiya, Gudiya, Gudiya, and stealing away my Aastha from me!!!" and walks away heatedly… Abhi's ma, who has been on the phone all this while, hears the conversation and feels downcast, while Saurabh who has just entered the room, watches the scene with dismay😔
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