Expectations and Reality

3 years ago

Tvfanatic85

@Tvfanatic85

It was nighttime. The entire house was silent. Kukki was sleeping peacefully in her room, feeling much better now. Prerna went in and out of the room whenever Kukki was asleep to check on her, but never when she was awake and never when Mr Bajaj was there with her. She kept sneaking at Mr Bajaj now and then in the hallways. Prerna was scared. She had done something that she could never have imagined in her wildest dreams. With all these thoughts, she went inside Kukki’s room one last time to check on her before sleeping. As she was about to leave, Mr Bajaj entered the room and she froze. Both of them stared at each other. There was a pin drop silence between them. As Mr Bajaj moved forward, Prerna moved back and was about to stumble against one of the side lamps when Mr Bajaj caught it. Prerna got instantly scared by the closeness. Mr Bajaj placed a finger on his lips and pointed towards Kukki, signalling that Prerna needed to stay quiet. Prerna, however, pushed Mr Bajaj and ran from there, stumbling on another vase but then catching it just in the nick of time. Prerna entered her room and closed the door, along with the door connecting the two rooms. She sat hugging herself on the bed, alone and scared. She missed her mother and longed for the safety of her home. Suddenly, she heard someone knocking on the door. It took her some time to realise that somebody was knocking on the connecting door. Prerna, confused, scared, did nothing. After some time the voice got louder.

“Mrs Bajaj, I have another Key. Either you open the door or I will,” Mr Bajaj shouted.

Prerna knew there was no way to hide. She took the glass vase near the door in her hands as a weapon for her safety. She hid it behind the back and, with trembling hands, opened the door. 

“Mr…..Mr…..Baj…..Bajaj” Prerna stamerred.

 “Maasi said you are not eating properly and the last few hours have not been quite relaxing. Today also you didn’t have any dinner. It is not good for you. I would not like the Zurich incident to be repeated. Please have something to eat,” MR Bajaj said, forwarding a tray. 

Prerna was shocked and in a state of disbelief. “What???” Prerna asked, confused

 “What??” Mr Bajaj said 

“What did you just say??” Prerna said 

“What is it you heard,” Mr Bajaj said 

“No…. Noth... Nothing,” Prerna said, composing herself. 

“You heard nothing I said,” Mr Bajaj asked

“No.. I did… I didn’t… I mean I thought….” Prerna said. Prerna had expected anger, shouts. With everything that had happened last night, she was correct to think about some reaction, but she was getting the exact opposite. Suddenly the Vase dropped from her hands and fell to the ground, shattering to pieces and making noise startling both Prerna and Mr Bajaj. She was about to step on one piece when.

“Mrs Bajaj!!! Please be careful and have something to eat,” Mr Bajaj said and went about with his nighttime chores.

“You…. You bought food for me,” Prerna said.

“Yes” Mr Bajaj replied

“Why??” Prerna asked 

“Why?? What do you mean by why??” Mr Bajaj asked 

“Yes, why?? After what… after what…. Happened….. last,” Prerna stammered again. Mr Bajaj looked at her, confused as he was checking some papers when Prerna looked at the bandage in his hands. Mr Bajaj followed her eyes and looked at his own hand. With the same wounded hands, he pointed towards the food tray. She slipped away from the pieces and entered the study, ready to confront him and end this once and for all. 

“Aap aise kyun behave kar rahin hain??” Prerna said 

“Kaise behave kar raha hoon??” Mr Bajaj asked, confused and irritated.

“Aise??” Prerna

“Mrs Bajaj please, the last few hours have been mad and hectic. Please...” Mr Bajaj said, 

“Ab kaun sa game khel rahin hain aap??” Prerna asked 

“Game??” Mr Bajaj laughed sarcastically.

“Haan game. Kal raat ko I almost tried to….. And still you are doing nothing ek dum normal hoke bethe hain jaise kuch hua hi nahin hain. Jo karna hain kar lijiye na cheek, lijiye chila lijiye . Aise normal kyun behave kar rahin hain,” Prerna spat 

“Is this an apology Mrs Bajaj??” Mr Bajaj asked

“Apology!!! For what??” Prerna spat and this was her turn to laugh. “For that?? No!!! No!!! I don’t regret what I did. Aapne jo mere saath kiya uske baad mera gussa mera... sab kuch justified tha. You played with my life like a puppet. I am not a doll that you bought for your daughter, Mr Bajaj.” Prerna said with all the strength that she can muster. 

“Then why are you scared?? You did what you felt right,” Mr Bajaj said 

“I am not scared. I am just confused. Why are you not giving me any reaction?” Prerna asked. Mr Bajaj realised she was in the mood to go down quietly and have her food. “Let’s get this over with. But first…” Mr Bajaj thought of getting himself a drink while Prerna gave an exasperated look. “So, what did you think would be my reaction?” Mr Bajaj asked, relaxing in his armchair and sipping the drink. Prerna, confused, looked at him and then shrugging her hands in air said, 

“I don’t know, maybe shouted at me, got angry at me, maybe even attacked me even……”

“You actually thought I would attack you???” Mr Bajaj asked with a frozen face. Prerna even saw a flash of pain in his eyes and felt bad for saying that. They both remained silent for sometime. 

“What??? No more ideas.” Mr Bajaj said, 

“Maybe attack Anurag and try to hurt the Basus,” Prerna said 

“Ah!!!! Yes, of course, that one. No need. Your Mr Basu is doing his part in it very well. I don’t need to do anything. He will do it himself,” Mr Bajaj said.

“What is that supposed to mean??” Prerna asked

“Nothing. Onto the next one if you have any???” Mr Bajaj said and Prerna turned her face away. 

“Then I am ashamed of myself. I mean, if that is all the terror and manipulation that you think I can do, then I guess I have gone too soft with you. Need to improve my image. Dear Lord, does the world also think the same? I need to make some more takeovers,” Mr Bajaj replied, giving a tensed expression on his face. 

“I seriously don’t know what you were thinking, Mr Bajaj. You have not played with my life but also with Kukki’s life. What if, because of all this, I would be bitter to Kukki,” Prerna said 

“No one can be bitter to her or stay angry with her or hate her. She can make the biggest of devils fall in love with her,” Mr Bajaj replied, and the way his eyes twinkled with love and happiness actually made Prerna smile, which she wiped off quickly. 

“What if I try to hurt her and take my revenge on her?” Prerna said. Mr Bajaj spat the drink, laughing out loud and then coughing. 

“Mrs Bajaj, please look at what you did?? Please don’t make jokes like these while I am having a drink.” Mr Bajaj said, laughing. 

“What is that supposed to mean??” Prerna said 

“Mohini Basu got your mother arrested on charges of stealing. Arrested Mrs Bajaj. Do you know what it feels like to be in jail for something you didn’t do?? And all those insults by the Basu Family. But did you hold any grudge against her?? And you expect me to believe…” Mr Bajaj said.

“No, I didn’t because I had Anurag with me and I knew he would fix everything. Our love would fix it. And for that love, I can do anything ANYTHING. The love that you snatched from me in the name of your daughter, so tell me why wouldn’t I do it too,” Prerna asked 

“You wouldn’t Mrs Bajaj??” Mr Bajaj said 

“Why because if I would, Anurag would pay for it?? By putting a knife to Anurag’s neck, you cannot get me to love Kukki. It doesn’t work this way.” Prerna said, leaving Mr Bajaj with his thoughts. 

“You wouldn’t even dare because you need to destroy a part of your soul to destroy or hurt someone else to get your happiness. And you don’t have that courage, or should I say that is who you are. I am a businessman, Mrs Bajaj main ghate ka sauda nahin karta. Who can do what I know very well.” Mr Bajaj thought. He had no intention of keeping the dagger or the bargain of Anurag’s well-being over Prerna’s head for an entire life. All he wanted was a chance for Prerna and Kukki to be together for some time so that Prerna can gladly accept Kukki. He wanted a mother for his daughter, not some caretaker. But her marriage with Mr Basu had ruined everything until that joker Ronit had shown his antics and given him a chance to get her daughter’s happiness. That mattered to him and for that, he was ready to do anything. Even forget every nightmare he had ever suffered from the Basus. He had been so sure that Prerna would accept Kukki. I mean, who could hate her little angel, but the events that had happened in the last few hours and Mrs Bajaj’s behaviour towards Kukki scared him. Had his calculations turned wrong this time?? Had he made a wrong decision?? No matter what his little angel would not pay for it. Not a chance or else he didn't know what he would do. With this determined thought, Mr Bajaj finished his drink and went to sleep.

Prerna woke up in the middle of the night from a nightmare, sweating and panting. She searched for some water but found the jug to be empty. She got up to bring some water from the kitchen, but when she opened the door she found Kukki unconscious on the floor.