Kareeb ke Rishtey…Close relationships…Part 2
Sonakshi went near Rohit.
Sona:Rohit,why are you so harsh towards Raavi?Why don’t you try to be soft to her?She is so scared of you.
Rohit:Enough of advising me.I know how to bring up my daughter.It’s good that she is scared of me.Otherwise she will misuse the freedom and make boyfriends.Then she will elope with her lover.
Sona:A daughter won’t elope if her parents are supportive.
Rohit:Don’t expect me to support her if she has unnecessary affairs.I know that you helped your sister to elope.But if you encourage Raavi to do love marriage with someone from another caste,I will not spare you and Raavi.
Sonakshi became upset.
Sona:You are still haunted by Lakshmi didi eloping with her lover by not marrying you.Does it mean that still you are upset about not able to marry Lakshmi didi?Or you are upset that instead of Lakshmi didi,you had to marry me?
Sonakshi’s eyes got filled up with tears.
Sona:You are very rude to me.So I doubt about something.Do you still love Lakshmi didi?So do you consider me as a burden?
Rohit was stunned by her questions.
Rohit:Stop it Sona.I don’t even like to remember Lakshmi who betrayed me.That’s why I did not allow you to keep in touch with Lakshmi after our marriage.
Sona:Lakshmi didi has not betrayed you Rohit.She was scared to tell our father that she can’t marry you and she loves someone else.At one point she realized that she will lose her love Arjun.That’s why she took the drastic step to leave with her lover Arjun.Only someone who loses his or her love will understand Lakshmi didi’s situation.
Rohit:Enough of justifying your sister Sona.
Sona said in her mind:You will not understand anything.
Sonakshi left the room.
Rohit said in his mind:Sonakshi thinks that still I am into Lakshmi.Why can’t she understand that Lakshmi has no place in my heart?
Shiva entrusted his friends to tease Raavi.
His friends surrounded Raavi.Raavi got scared.
One boy:Hey girl..what’s your name?
Another boy:I heard that your name is Kaavi.Is it true?
Another boy:But I heard that her name is Saavi.
Another boy:Actually what’s your name?
Raavi was silent.
One boy:Open your mouth and say girl.
Raavi started shivering.Her eyes were in tears.
Suddenly Shiva came there and stood near Raavi.
Shiva:Why are you guys teasing this poor innocent girl?
Another boy:We just asked her name.But she is behaving as if she is a deaf and dumb.
Shiva:Are you guys not ashamed to ridicule this girl?From which angle does she look like a deaf and dumb?Go ..go..if you see her near her,I will beat you all.
They stared at him.Shiva gave them a pleading look.They walked away.
Shiva looked at Raavi:Are you alright?They did not trouble you too much.Right?
Raavi nodded.
Shiva:What did you mean?Are you alright or not?
Raavi was silent.
Shiva:Say.
Raavi:I am alright.Thank you very much for saving me from them.
Shiva smiled as she spoke to him.
Shiva:No mention please.
Before he could chat more,Raavi walked away.He became dull.
Dev and other friends went near Shiva.
Dev:You won the bet Shiva.She spoke.
Shiva smiled.
Shiva:Yes.
His friends:The credit goes to us.Because of us only,you could come as a saviour and shine infront of her as a hero.That’s why the mute queen Raavi spoke to you.
Shiva:I know that.Thanks to all of you.
His friends:But you threatened that you will beat us.
Shiva:Sorry yaar.To make her believe only I talked like that.
Dev:But what if Raavi comes to know that the notorious boys who ragged were sent by you?
Shiva:Dev…if you guys do not tell her,she won’t know.
Dev:We will not tell it to her.
Shiva smiled:I know that.
At home…
Raavi was thinking of Shiva defending her and saving her from the boys who troubled her.
Sonakshi went near her.
Sona:Raavi!
Raavi:Maa!
Raavi hugged Sonakshi.
Sonakshi smiled.
Sona:How was your day in college today?
Raavi:It was good Maa.Today one incident happened in my college.Some boys ragged me.My college mate Shiva saved me from them.
Sonakshi was relieved.
Sona:Thank God!Did you thank him?
Raavi:Yes.Unknowingly I thanked him.
Sona:Unknowingly means?
Raavi:Since papa had warned me not to talk to boys,I did not want to talk to him at all.But since he saved me,automatically I thanked him.By the time I realized that I talked to him,I walked away from him.
Sona:Raavi beta…he saved you.So next time onwards don’t treat him like a stranger.Atleast smile at him.Because we should be always grateful to the one who helped us when we were in need.
Raavi:If papa comes to know that I talked to a boy,he will be very angry.
Sonakshi held Raavi’s hand and said:Don’t be scared as if you did something wrong.You thanked him which was the right thing to do.
Raavi:But it is wrong in papa’s eyes.That’s why I am scared.
Sonakshi became upset.
Lakshmi remembered her past moment with Sonakshi.
Flash back….
Sonakshi:Didi,what if we get married to brothers?Then we can stay together after marriage also.
Lakshmi:That would have been nice.But that’s not possible as Arjun does’nt have any brother.
Sonakshi:I said so to know whether Arjun has a brother.So that I can marry him and stay with you.
They both laughed.
Sonakshi:No problem.I will marry Arjun’s neighbour.Then we can always be together.Right?So you enquire whether Arjun has any handsome neighbour.
Lakshmi pulled her nose and said:Naughty girl!
They both laughed.
Present….
Arjun went near Lakshmi cheerfully.
Arjun:Lakshmi…
Lakshmi was looking very upset.She was lost in some thoughts.
Arjun:Lakshmi,what happened?Are you missing Sonakshi?
Lakshmi:I miss my parents too.But they don’t care about me.The only person who cared for me was Sona.I miss her very badly.
Pooja came.
Pooja:Mom,if you miss Sona maasi so much,why don’t you ring her up and talk to her?
Lakshmi:I used to do that after marriage.Sona and I were talking secretly as Rohit had warned her not to keep any contact with me.But one day Sonakshi was caught red handed by her mother in law.She threatened her that she will tell it to Rohit.She did not mind it as she valued me more than Rohit.But I told her not to talk to me anymore.Because I did not want her married life to get ruined because of me.If her married life had failed because of me,I would not have been able to forgive myself. We both were very upset.But we were helpless.
Pooja:I am sure that even Sona maasi will be missing you.
Lakshmi:If I am missing her,she is also missing me.Because our hearts are connected.
Tears flowed from Lakshmi’s eyes.Arjun and Pooja felt sad.
Pooja wiped her tears.
Pooja:Mom…I promise you that I will unite you with Sona maasi.
Lakshmi and Arjun were stunned.
Lakshmi:What are you saying Pooja?How is it possible?
Pooja:I have always taken challenges and won.This is my challenge.I will win this time also.
Arjun:But Rohit won’t allow Sonakshi to meet Lakshmi.
Pooja:Don’t worry about that.Rohit Maasad himself will unite you both.I will change him.
Lakshmi and Arjun were confused.
Lakshmi:How can you change Rohit from here?
Pooja:I will go there and change him.
They were stunned.
Arjun:How will you go there?Do you think Rohit will even allow you to enter his house?
Pooja:But I will enter his house with his permission.You wait and see.I have my own tricks for that.I just need your blessings mom and dad.
Lakshmi:Our blessings are always with you Pooja.
Pooja hugged them.
Lakshmi:Convey my regards to Sonakshi maasi.Tell her that I miss her.
Pooja:Yes mom.
Sonakshi remembered her moments with Lakshmi and cried.
Sona:I miss you didi.I feel so lonely without you.
Pooja reached the village railway station.She got out of the station with the luggage.
Some boys surrounded her with a lusty look.Suddenly she got an idea and went near a boy.
Pooja whispered to him:Those boys are after me.Please pretend that I am your girl friend.
Without replying he looked at those boys.
He:Why are you guys after this girl?
Boys:Who are you to question us?Who is she to you?
The boy held her closer and said:She is my girl friend.
Pooja pretended to be romantic with him.
Pooja:Hi handsome!I missed you.
He:I also missed you darling.
They smiled at each other romantically.
The boys got irritated and left.Pooja was relieved.
Pooja:Thank you very much for helping me.
He:It’s ok.
Pooja:Hi..I am Pooja Agnihotri!
He:Hi..I am Aarav Kapoor.
Pooja:If you don’t mind,can you please help me to find a house?I have the address.
Aarav:Sure.
Pooja showed him the address.
He was surprised:This is Rohit Uncle and Sonakshi aunty’s house.
Pooja was surprised:You know them?
Aarav:Of course yes.They are my neighbours.
Pooja smiled.
Aarav:I will drop you there as I am also going to the same location.
Pooja:Thanks a lot.
Aarav wore his overcoat and sat in the car.Pooja sat besides him in the car.He started driving.
Aarav:You are new to this place.Right?
Pooja:Yes.I stay in Mumbai.
Aarav:I work in Dubai.I came here for 2 months vacation.How are you related to Rohit uncle and Sonakshi aunty?
Pooja:Actually Sona maasi is my mother’s sister.They both got separated after my mom married my father against the family.Both the sisters miss each other.I came here intending to reunite them by staying there.
Aarav:That’s nice.Hope you will succeed in it.All the best.
Pooja:Thank you.
Aarav:We are new neighbours.Let us be friends.
Pooja:You helped a stranger like me.That moment itself we became friends.
Aarav smiled:Right.
Aarav dropped Pooja near Rohit’s house.
Rohit:This is the house.I stay in the next house.
Pooja:Thank you very much.
Rohit:Bye.
Pooja:Bye.
Pooja rang the calling bell.Somebody opened the door.Pooja looked at that person.