Chapter 10

Moor278

@Moor278

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

Part 9 (B)

Once Priya quietens down, Ram leaves her hug but tightly holding her hand asks,

“Mujhe nahi samajh aa raha hai vo kyun karenge aisa? Shaadi hui hai hamari. Beti ho tum unki. Why is he after my life?”

Seeing her worst fears come to life, Priya tightly clutches Ram’s hand, startling him but then she turns to Virat and in a stoic voice says,

“Aap case file kijiye Mr. Chavan. I will be the witness”

It is Virat's turn to be surprised while Ram just exclaims,

“Priya ye tum kya bol rahi ho…. He is your father”

“And you are my husband, Mr. Kapoor. I cannot let him go. I cannot let him do this to you. Father hue to kya hua? Galat kaam ko saza milni hi chahiye”

“But Priya….”

“But vut kuch nahi Mr. Kapoor. I want a punishment for him. Mere vajah se aapko takleef ho ye main nahi dekh sakti… You… You mean…..” and Priya leaves the rest unsaid.

A wave of relief is felt by Ram in spite of the glum and he looks at Virat helplessly.

Still feeling anxious, Virat continues,

“There's more Priya ji Ram Sir…. Mr. Sood was not acting alone. He was in constant contact with somebody.”

Startled at this new bit of information, Priya looks up at Ram and then at Virat.

“Mr. Shashi Babbar was the person whom he contacted just after your accident. It was a short call but it was confirmed by data that they are in frequent touch.”

Ram is stunned and so is everyone else in the cafe. Virat notices the expressions of everyone and realises that this person is known to all. He waits for the surprise to die down and then asks,

“Do you know a reason why he would do this Ram Sir?”

Ram is unable to formalize a proper answer when Brinda blurts out “Vedika”

Priya is perplexed, she looks at Ram and sees him fidgeting and avoiding her gaze. She continues staring at him, in an attempt to read his expressions, when he looks up, with remorse laden eyes. And she understands… clearly… Immediately getting up, Priya moves to the kitchen. 

Ram too stands up and ambles about when Sara asks him to follow her.

“Aap jaiye Ram… clear it out. She needs to hear it from you”

Ram nods and dreading the consequences goes to the kitchen.

Priya is standing with her back towards the door. Hearing the door open and correctly guessing the intruder, she wipes her tears and composes herself.

Ram stands behind her and in a forlorn voice, mumbles,

“Priya I am sorry… main tumhe batane wala tha… par nahi bata paaya”

Priya turns and Ram sees the pain in her eyes. Taking her hand in his, he says,

“Vedika meri ex hai… jisne Shashi se shaadi kar li mujhe dump karke. I had told you this much par naam nahi bataya tha…. But… but I have moved on Priya… I am not in love with her anymore. She is just a good friend to me”

Priya looks at him, deep into his blue eyes and she realises the conviction in his words. 

Understanding his words and remembering all their shared moments together, a gentle smile is back on her face.

“Its okay Mr. Kapoor. I am fine. Aur vaise bhi maine hi aapse kaha tha engagement wale din ki mujhe nahi janna… But still thoda sa bura laga. You could have told me when she came to live with us.”

Ram feels relieved to see her smile and once again tightly holding her hands, 

“I know Priya… and I am sorry…. But main dar gaya tha”

Hearing this, Priya is angry… “Dar gaya tha matlab? Main koi rakshas hun?”

“Are Priya… Priya … vaise nahi… main dar gaya tha kyunki main tumko khona nahi chahta”

Instantly her anger dissipates and Ram notices a softening of her expressions.

Mentally pumping himself and seeing an opportune moment, Ram hesitantly mumbles…

“Priya… I want to tell you something else too…. I…. I love you Priya… aur main isliye dar gaya tha ki kahin tum mujhe chod ke na chali jao”

Hearing these words having never expected them from Ram, Priya raises her eyebrows and is startled. But then seeing the truth in his eyes and a fear of rejection lurking in, Priya blushes and looks down.

Ram who has been intently observing her every second, quickly rejoices at her blush.

“Priyaaaa…. Ek min… are you blushing???”

When she doesn't look up, Ram gently touches his finger below her chin and makes her look at him.

Priya locks her eyes with him and amidst the bliss she is experiencing, confesses, “I love you too Mr. Kapoor. I cannot live without you.” and pulls him in a hug.

Meanwhile, in the café area Adi, Brinda and Kunal have brought Virat up to the mark.

Talking among themselves, they are worried for Priya as to how she would react. 

However, one of the remarks by Brinda, makes Virat turn to Sai and decode her reactions.

Brinda is getting frustrated and Adi is rubbing her shoulders to pacify her.

“Koi biwi kaise apne pati ke ex ko apne ghar main tolerate kar sakti hai… either she has to be very dumb or she has to be a big hearted person. Isiliye main Ram se keh rahi thi ki Vedika se dur raho. Maintain the boundaries.”

Adi interjects, “But baby… Ram ne kiya na… he doesn't love Vedika anymore”

“Usse farak nahi padta Adi… What matters is Ram should have told this Priya… that he loves her and only her. Priya ko kya sapna aane wala hai. It has to be spoken…. I am very worried Adi… pata nahi kya hoga?”

Sai is sitting quietly, absorbing everything, she hastily wipes a tear from a corner of her eye but it doesn't go unnoticed by Virat. He realises the similarity of their situations and his blunders. Sai can feel the searing eyes looking at her trying to catch her gaze. She desperately avoids looking in his direction. 

The wait for Ram Priya is getting painful, so Sara moves towards the kitchen sheepishly, not wanting to disturb the couple. Just then, the door opens, and Ram and Priya walk out, hand in hand, both smiling and looking at each other.

Brinda looks at Ram surprised and raising her eyebrows asks him the silent question. Ram nods and smiles brighter. Brinda squeals in happiness and goes and tightly hugs Priya… all the way saying multiple thank yous.

Adi and Kunal fist bump and hifi Ram and they all reach for a hug.

Lost in the melee, Sai is also pulled in but Virat can notice her distress.

Ram, feeling blessed and relieved, looks at his friends, pulls Priya towards him and says,

“Priya ka dil bahot bada hai guys. She has forgiven me for my mistake. And I am extremely happy that she is MY LIFE PARTNER”

Priya blushes and hugs Sara, at last getting the love she craved in all its glory.

Sai quietly moves back and goes home while Virat is left stranded to finish up his job. He regrets not getting a chance to speak to her after all that has happened. 

Coming out of the cafe, Virat is in two minds when he feels a tap on his shoulder.

“I made the same mistake Mr. Chavan. Learn from me. Go and talk to her. It's never too late to speak your truth”

Smiling and nodding at the reassurance from the one person Sai considers family, Virat is elated and goes towards Sai’s home.

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The end is why I am writing this extra long chapter. Just like in the show, V doesn't realise his mistakes until is it explained to him by someone or there is some trigger. The similarity in their situations yet the actions taken by Ram-Priya are the catalyst for V in this story. That's what I aimed for. Hope it works. 

And also because I cannot control my writeups... there is a part C and an epilogue pending.  

Thank you for showering love on this story. I had great fun writing about my 2 favourite ships.