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CHAPTER 1
Mayank stared at his phone. Last received number was still shown on the screen- Benji.
Mayank closed his eyes and leant his head against the head of the swivel chair. He went into a flashback when his son Raj was just a few months old.
Flashback-
(Nupur comes into the bedroom, fully clothed in her black business suit. Her son was now 8 months old. He lay on the bed. Mayank was in his wicket chair with his laptop- Nupur? Kitne bajei waapus aaoge?
Nupur- Kyon?
Mayank- Kyonki mere bhi meeting hai Nupur.
Nupur- Lekin tumhi toh kaha tha ki aaj meeting nahi hai!
Mayank- Last minute mein kuch bhi ho sakta hai.
Nupur- Mayank tum plan kabhi thhik se nahi kar sakte ho! Cancel kar sakte thei!
Mayank- Meeting bahut important hai Nupur.
Nupur- I dont care! Tumhe pata tha aaj meri meeting hai. Bahut pehle se pata tha. Aur ab tumhe tumhaare meeting yaad aaya!
Mayank- Nupur. Tumhaari maternity leave abh bhi chaalu hain.
Nupur- Lekin yeh meeting mere liye khaas hain!
Mayank- Toh jao aur waapus aao! Mein kaha tumhe rok raha hoon?
Nupur- Mayank. Tum mujhe deadline mat do.
Mayank- Deadline?
Nupur- Haan! Tumne puccha mere timings se baare mein.
Mayank- Mere haq hai!
Nupur- Haq? Mujhe control karne ki haq?
Mayank lost his temper- O shut up Nupur! Mein tumhe control nahi kar raha hoon. Tum bas teen ghantei mein waapus aa jao.
Nupur- Three hours! Are you mad Mr. Mayank Sharma! This is New York. Mumbai ki tarah traffic jam hote hain!
Mayank- Toh kya karun! Mere meeting bhi important hai,
Nupur- Tumhe aaj hi meeting rakhna tha?
Mayank- Haan. Bahut zaroori tha iss liye!
Nupur- Humaare beta ko kaun dekhbal kargea?
Mayank- Yeh tumhari fault hai... (He stopped, realising)
Nupur stared at him.
Mayank- Mera matlab tha ki...
Nupur- O shut up Mayank! Just shut up! Maine tumhe kaha tha ki family planning ki time nahi hai lekin tumne kaha ki hum dono ek saath sab sambhalange!
Mayank- Tum toh khud baccha chaahthe thei!
Nupur- Haan! Par tabhi nahi!
Mayank- Jo ho gaya ho gaya!
Nupur- Maine tumhe kaha tha ki Ma ko kuch time ke liye yaha bulao!
Mayank- Taaki Ma humari naukrani ban sakte?
Nupur- Mayank! Maine kab aise kaha? How dare you? Agar meri Ma aaj yaha hoti toh unko bhi mein yaha bulaati thia!
Mayank- Toh Bui ko kyon nahi bulati?
Nupur- Tumhe pata hai ki Bauji aur Bui ke saath humaare rishta kaise hai! Aaj tak tumne unhe nahi manaaye! Toh main kaise bulati unhe?
Mayank- O toh yeh mera kasoor hai?
The couple continued fighting till Raj awoke with a cry.
Nupur- Dekha? Ab mujhe ek ghanta lagega usko sulaane mein! Meri meeting! Tum! Tum! (She threw up her hands in the air with exasperation)
Mayank- Raj ko sambhalna tumhaari bhi duty hai! Deen raat mein yaha rukta hoon aur tum office jaate ho! Kabhi bhi yaha ruku tum?
Nupur (Trying to pacify Raj)- O shut up! Har roz hum plan karte hain kaun kiss deen rukna hai! Hum dono equal time dete hai Raj ko!
Mayank- Really?
The couple's fight continued amidst Raj's cries)
Flashback ends.
Mayank opened his eyes which were teary. He missed his wife and son every day, every moment. He wished he waited longer for their marriage to survive.
His phone rang. It was his buddy Samrat. He sighed, cleared his throat and collected himself and then answered- Hey Dude! Itne saalon baad!
Samrat- Hey! Haan yaar! Bahut busy hoon. Kaise ho?
Mayank- Pata nahi Samrat. Benji ka call aaya tha. Mere jaana theek lagega kya?
Samrat- Mujhe bhi pata nahi kya karoon. Morenawali sisters toh waha morjud hogi.
Mayank- Toh kya kar sakte hum. Ek dusre ke saath zyaada baat nahi hote hain. Kitne saalon baad Benji aur ab tumne phone ki.
Samrat- Haan Mayank am sorry... Lekin main bhi bahut time se unhe baat nahi ki!
Mayank- Toh tum jaaoge Dodo ke shaadi mein?
Samrat- Pata nahi yaar. Uday bhi mera dost hai.
Mayank- Lekin un dono ki bhai bhi hai. Aur Uday tere dost zyaada hai! Mera jaane ki koi verja nahi hai!
Samrat- Maine suna ki woh dono nahi jaayegi. Dono ki kaam hain.
Mayank- Kaam kaam kaam. Yehi tha root problem.
Samrat- Dude hum bhi kaam karte hain!
Mayank- Dude kya tum mujhe jaane ke liye convince kar rahe ho?
Samrat- Nahi Mayank. Mera bhi koi verja nahi hai jaane ki. Toh tumhe kyon force karoon. Lekin paanch saal ho gaya hai uss time se. Candy abhi bhi humse naraaz hai ki uski shaadi ki dauran yeh sab hui.
Mayank- Haan main samajta hoon. Lekin Dia ko milne ki koi mood nahi hai mere.
Samrat- Candy-Dodo-Benji hum dono ko dekhna chaahthei hain. Dost hai hummarei.
Mayank- Nahi Samrat. Tumhara dost. Mera nahi.
Samrat- Mayank. Main bas baat kar raha hoon. Tumpar koi majboori nahi daal raha hoon.
Mayank- Hm... Main sochunga. Lekin agar main jaoo toh tumbhi chalo.
Samrat- Mujhe actually jaana hain. Mujhe kuch sawaal ki jawaab pata karna hoga.
Mayank- Kiss se?
Samrat- Tumhari ex-saali se.
Mayank- Toh tumhe koi closure nahi hui?
Samrat- Tumhe hui kya?
Mayank was quiet for a bit.
Samrat- Kya hua?
Mayank- Haan. Mujhe bhi closure zaroorat hain. Mujhe mera beta waapus chaahiye.
Samrat- Aur uski ma ko?
Mayank became silent.
Samrat- Samajh gaya.
Mayank- Dude I gotta go.
Samrat- Haan Mayank, mujhe bhi.
Mayank- Arre mein India ki nahi, mera kaam ki baat kar raha hoon. Meeting hai abhi.
Samrat- Mein bhi kaam ki baat kar raha hoon. Take care. Bye.
Samrat hung up, swivelled in his chair and came to a stop at his cubicle table on the topmost foor of one of the tall London office buildings. Shergill business was doing well, and he was helping his mom and sister out. His dad suddenly passed away, leaving behind all the property in equal shares to Samrat and Suhani. He took a very long time in accepting his mother. But since the day he called her for a huge sum of money, his mum constantly reached out to him. His dad till his death never came close to him. He was as usual too busy for his son. After years, his mother realised the mistake of letting him live with his father.
Suddenly a knock on the door broke his deep thoughts. He looked up to see a woman come in.
Samrat- Yes?
Girl- Hello Sir. My name is Ashwini. I have applied for a transfer and was asked to see you.
Samrat- (Taking her file from her)- Arre haan Ashwini. Please sit down.
Ashwini- Thank you sir.
Samrat- Mumbai jaane ki koi vaja hain?
Ashwini- Yes sir. Actually meri behen kuch saal pehle ek cchoti bacchi ko godh liya tha. Ab achaanak humaare ghar pe ek musirbat aayi. Meri behen ki shaadi fix hone waale hai, aur gharwaalein Pari ko ghar se nikaalne chaahte hain. Issi liye meri pati Rohan aur maine socha ki bacchi humaare saath rahegi Mumbai mein.
Samrat- Toh usko London pe la aao! Better lifestyle hogi!
Ashwini- Actually sir. Ek majboori hai jo personal hai. Pari ko Mumbai mein rehna hi hai.
Samrat- Hm. Okay. Aur Rohan aur tum transfer lene chaahte ho. Humaare company tum dono ko abhi koi ghar nahi de sakte hai... (Ashwini's face became small) Lekin. Lekin maine ek suggestion de sakta hoon.
Ashwini (Puzzled)- Kaisa suggestion sir?
Samrat- Mom ki Mumbai ki ghar ki tenants shift kar raha hai. Issi liye temporarily tum dono waha shift kar sakte ho. Shergill Biz Pvtd Ltd tumhe baat mein ek flat dilaynge!
Ashwini- O! Thanks a lot sir!
Samrat smiled, gave the file to her and shook her hand- Best of luck Ashwini.
Ash- Thank you Sir! (She got up and turned a bit)
Samrat- By the way Ash. Yeh Pari ki maamla koi illegal...? (Ashwini interrupted him with No Sir, Not at all!')
Samrat- Company ki izzat ki sawaal hai issi liye pucch raha hoon.
Ash- Sir, koi galat nahi ho raha hai. I assure you!
Samrat nodded, smiled and dismissed her. Then he swivelled to the huge glass pane behind him, overlooking the beautiful London landscape. He got lost in thoughts.
Flashback-
(His fiance Gunjan was shooting when Samrat came to see her. She was thrilled and asked him on the phone to wait in the vanity van. When she entered, he got astonished to see her in her beautiful costume- Long tender delicate pink-white dress, partly revealing her legs, small pearls forming a tiara on her hair, her black kohli eyes, her spectacles replaced by contact lenses, her hair twirled and twist-braided, her happy smile transforming her tired face.
Gunjan- Samrat! (She hugged him tightly)
Samrat (Hugging her)- My januable angel! Bilkul pari lag rahi ho tum!
Gunjan (still in his arms, smiling)- Mein tumhari pari hoon!
The couple then sat down and cuddled together on a makeshift sofa. They were discussing whether Gunjan could be free in the evening, when two men knocked on the door and entered.
Gunjan got up and they greeted Samrat rather coldly.
One of the men then asked Gunjan not to keep any plans in the evening without telling him because he was her manager. The other man cut him and asked him to be nicer to his heroine.
Samrat overlooked his irritation and looked at Gunjan.
Gunjan- But Rathiji, I have nothing in the evening and I told you my fiance is in town for three days!
The second man- Gunjanji, Rathi bas tumhe pyaar se samjhaare thei ki uske bina kuch plan mat banao.
Gunjan- Lekin yehi baat main pehle se hi usko bataayi thi, producerji!
Producer- Nahi Gunjanji. Phir bhi. Iss industry mein kuch bhi kabhi bhi ho sakta hai.
Rathi- Mukesh saab ne aaj ek bahut important promotional party rakha hai, Gunjan. Tumhe shooting ke baad jaana hi hoga!
Gunjan was shocked and looked at Samrat, who looked at her resignedly.
Gunjan- Lekin...!
Mukesh- Lekin wekin kuch nahi Gunjanji. My darling please aise mat karo! Arre bas kuch ghanto ke liye party! Uske baad ek dinner mere saath mere farmhouse mein (Turned to Samrat) Iss dinner party mein tum aa sakte ho!
Samrat- Dekhta hoon.
Mukesh- Iss party mein tumhaari girlfriend ko rehna bahut important hai.
Samrat (Glaring)- Mangekar.
Mukesh- Dekho. Gunjanji already teen hit film di hai aur bahut aage jaayegi. Lekin yeh mangekar shabdh mat lo. Please. Girlfriend hi rakho!
Samrat was used to this by now. He rolled his eyes and got up.
Gunjan- Samrat.
Samrat- Haan Chashmish, mein kahi nahi jaa raha hoon!
The producer and the manager left and Gunjan sadly turned to Samrat- I am hating this, Samrat. Promise me this will stop when we get married. I am not liking acting anymore. Ek baar gusso iss duniya mein toh kabhi bahar nahi aa sakte!
Samrat (Holding her by shoulders)- Chashmish. Tumhari har marzi ko saath dunga mein. Wait karunga tumhaari.
Gunjan laid her head against Samrat's chest, her arms around him- Samrat. Mujhe bahut darr lag raha hai. Tumhe khone ki darr.
Samrat held her- Chashmish... Relax. Chalo. Aaj uss Mukesh ka party ke baad hum late night manaaynge mera ghar pe!
Gunjan smiled and then remembered- I have an early morning tomorrow!
Samrat looked crestfallen but cheered up- Koi nahi! Koi baat nahi!
Gunjan held his face, cupping it- Am sorry!
Samrat smiled and kissed her forehead.
Just then a spotboy knocked and announced that her shot was ready.
Gunjan turned to Samrat, held by his collar and put her face against his neck- Samrat...
Samrat cradled her and then broke apart- Mujhe bhi jaana hai Chashmish. Mom ke saath meeting hai.
Gunjan- I am glad you are accepting Aunty, Samrat. She is a good woman.
Samrat- But if she ever dares to come in between us...
Gunjan- Tumhe aisa kyon lag raha hai ki Aunty humaare beech aaygi?
Samrat- Pata nahi. Mom Adhiraj ko zyaada pasand nahi karta. Yehi tumhari saath bhi hoga toh tolerate nahi karunga.
Gunjan- Par agar Adhiraj thoda thoda unhe manaaliya, toh main bhi wahi kar sakti hoon!
Samrat smiled and cupped her face- Ab jao nahi toh woh Mukesh phir se yaha aake tumhe darling darling kehke pukarenge.
Gunjan looked displeased- Samrat please. Sirf tumhari darling hoon main.
Samrat- Sirf meri pari ho tum!
Flashback ends.
Samrat came back to the world and his face was full of anger- Gunjan. Kyon tum mujhe cchod diya? Kyon mujhe door chalein jaane ko kaha? Kyon mujhe tumse door jaane diya! Kyon! (Looks up) Dude. Sun rahe ho kya? I want answers! I want to know why Gunjan disappeared for sometime and then come back to tell me it is over. If she was scared of losing me, then why would she do it! Wait karwaya aur uske baad saath cchod diya! Kyon! Har baar usne mujhe galat samajhti hai lekin iss baar...! Kyon?
His phone rang and he was astonished to see the name. Five years later Nupur is calling me?'
He picked up the phone- H..Hello..?
The familiar voice made him suddenly nostalgic- H-hi Samrat.
Samrat- Nups? Tum? Itne saalon baat?
Nupur- Haan Samrat. Main. Kaise hai tu?
Samrat- Main theek hoon aur tum?
Nupur- Chal raha hai... Samrat, I know ki tum surprised ho meri call lete hue. Meine bas tumhe phone yeh pucchne ke liye kiya ki...
Samrat- Ki main Uday ke shaadi pe aaonga ki nahi.
Nupur- H-haan Samrat...
Samrat- Tum chaahte ho ki mein na aaoo?
Nupur took a long time to answer and Samrat waited.
Nupur- Samrat. Please Gunjan ki zindagi mein waapus aa jao!
Samrat- Lekin tumhari behen ne saafh saafh kehdiya ki...
Nupur cut in- Samrat. Main jaanti hoon meri behen ne kya kiya. Lekin mujhe humesha kuch gadbad lagi thi. Aise achanak Gunjan tumhe jaane diya, woh bhi jisko woh abhi bhi bahut pyar karte hain.
Samrat- Agar itni pyar hai toh ab tak mujhe contact kyon nahi kiya? Main toh gayab nahi hui jis tarase usne khud ko gayab karwayi!
Nupur- Isska matlab tumhe waakeyi kuch nahi pata?
Samrat- Maine tumhe tabhi kaha tha aur abhi bhi kehta hoon. Nahi. Tumhari behen ne mujhe ek sms bheji. Uske baad wait karwayi. Achaanak gayab hui kuch ek saal ke liye, aur waapus aake humaarei relationship tod di. Usko lagta hai ki maine usko dhoka di. Lekin mujhe yeh samajh nahi aa rahe hai ki maine kaha aur kaise dhoka di? Maine aaj tak usko dhoka nahi di, mujhe aaj tak nahi pata chala ki usne aise kyon ki.
Nupur sighed- Samrat. Bui Gunjan ko zarbadasti shaadi karwaani ki koshish kar rahe hai. Please. Aakhri mauka hai!
Samrat- Aur tum Nups? Tum aur Mayank ko kya ho gaya? Tum dono abhi bhi ek dusre ko bohot pyar karte ho lekin phir bhi ek baar bhi koshish nahi ki! Suna hai divorce bhi ho chuka hai!
Nupur- Tum usske naam bhi mat lo mere saamne. Jis tarase usne mere life hell bana diya!
Samrat- Lekin bandar bura toh nahi Nups.
Nupur- I have moved on. And so has he I am sure. Ek dusre ke beena hum khush hain.
Samrat- How is little Raj?
Nupur- By god he is exactly his dad's copy! Pata hai Samrat usne... (Her excited voice abruptly stopped and then began)- Erm, woh... Raj bade ho rahe hai. Accha baccha ki tarah.
Samrat smiled- Nups. Tum abhi bhi Mayank ko miss karte ho. Hai na?
Nupur denied, changed the topic and then requested Samrat to think about Gunjan once more. Then she hung up. Samrat then stared at the phone- Chashmish...I miss you and am still waiting for your answer'.
Nupur was breathing hard after the phone call to Samrat. She was in her office, a well furnished huge cubicle. On her table, the nameplate announced that Nupur Bhushan was Managing Director of the Fastrilux Enterprises Ltd. The Melbourne branch of the Indo-American company was under her supervision, and she enjoyed her work.
Nupur stared at her son's photo on her table, her eyes welling with tears. She blinked them back as her phone rang. Rounak was calling her.
Rounak- Nupur! The meeting is slated to be at 10 am tomorrow.
Nupur- Great, Rounak!
Rounak- You okay honey? You sound morose.
Nupur- Nahi. Bas missing my sister.
Rounak- Next month you will meet her! Cheer up!
Nupur smiled- Haan...
Rounak- Aaj mere ek dost aa rahe hai ghar pe. Tum bhi aa jao jaldi se.
Nupur- Kaun?
Rounak- CJ.
Nupur- KYA!
Rounak- Kya hua?
Nupur- CJ?
Rounak- Haan. Aise hairan kyon ho rahe ho?
Nupur- I knew her from college.
Rounak laughed- Relax! Then it is a wrong CJ. Its a he. Aur uska poora naam Chirag Jain hain. Not your CJ.
Nupur felt the sudden silent hope in her suddenly die as she ended the conversation. Any link with her ex-husband and she was always hopeful and excited. Samrat was right. She was still in love with Mayank but was too hurt to admit it. She stared at her son's photo and went into a flashback.
Flashback-
(Mayank was laying the baby in the cot. Raj was then a few days old. Mayank smiled at his son and heard a sound behind him. He turned to see his wife at the door, smiling. Mayank held out his hand and Nupur took it, joined him and the couple hugged while gazing at their son.
Downstairs, Mayank's mother Shilpa was chatting with Gunjan and Dia. The three were the only ones to have managed to visit the new parents.
Mayank (As he cuddled his wife)- Nupur. Thank you for this miracle. I know ki Raj Sharma zyaada jaldi aaya, planned nahi tha... Phir bhi... (He looked at her and kissed her cheek)
Nupur hugged him back and kissed his cheek too- Mayu. Hum dono ko ek saath sab sambhaalna hai.
Mayank- Tum dekhna. Hum duniya ki best parents honge! Humaare beta hum dono ke dhere saara pyaar milega!
Nupur- Aur hum ek dusre ki!
Mayank- Am glad tumhari maternity leave chalu hain. Ghar pe aaram karo aur Raj ko sambhaalo.
Nupur stared at her husband- Aur uske baad kya hoga Mayank? Jab kaam pe jaaongi tab kissiko dekhna hai Raj ko!
Mayank- Dekha jaayega Nupur! Main jaanta hoon tum kya soch raho ho. Mujhe test karne ki koi zarroorat nahi hai. Hum dono ek saath tab plan karenge. Kaun kitna aur kab kaise Raj ko dekhbaal karnge.
Nupur- Mein tumhe test nahi kar rahi hoon.
Mayank- Waise. Kya tum sach mein Melbourne jaa rahe ho leave khatam hone ke baad?
Nupur- Soch rahi hoon. Transfer ho sakta hai...
Mayank- And am sure tum mana karoge?
Nupur- Mayank. I will think about it.
Mayank- Nupur. Humaare beta ke baare mein sochna chaahiye!
Nupur- Toh main kaha bhaag rahi hoon?
By then the couple let go of each other, turned towards each other and suddenly little Raj made a whimpering sound. The couple forgot their conversation.
A few hours later, Nupur came into the kitchen where Mayank was making coffee for everyone. She lazily wrapped her arms around him from behind. He smiled and kissed her hand and then continued making coffee.
Nupur- Mayank. Ek baat batao. Agar tumhara transfer hote hai, kya tum expect karoge ki main apna job cchodke tumhara saath jao?
Mayank- Nupur. I never will stand in your way. Tum galat soch rahe ho. (He turned to her) Main bas chaahta hoon ki tum apna career aur family ek saath sambhaalo aur mein tumhara saath dunga!
Nupur- Toh uss waqt tumne jo kaha...?
Mayank- Main bas itna kehne koshish kar raha hoon ki kabhi kabhi hum dono se ek ko kuch sacrifice karna hain.
Nupur- Maine toh bahut kuch sacrifice kiya tumhaare liye. Kya tum mere liye sacrifice nahi kar sakte ho?
Mayank- Main bhi sacrifice kiya Nupur. Hum dono ko adjustment aur compromise karna hai.
Nupur- Mayank you are not hearing me.
Mayank- Am listening to you!
Nupur- Hearing aur listening mein bahut farq hote hai Mayank.
Mayank- Main ab bahut accha mood mein hoon. Please jhagda karne ki mood nahi hai mera. (He smiled and cupped her face) Nupur. Please. Just lets go with the flow. We both will manage fine! (He then turned, gave her her cup and taking his cup, left the kitchen)
Nupur stared after him.
Flashback ends.
Nupur stared into the vast pace, her arms hugging herself. She felt all alone. Her teary eyes blinked and she thought to herself- Mayank, why did you do this? Why did you behave like this? Waiting for you has become so painful. Waiting for you to adjust which I did for you...!'
She was crying with subtlety when her sister called.
Wiping her tears off, she answered her phone- Gunji! Kaise hai tu? Gaurav se mili kya?
Gunjan- Haan Di. Mili. Bauji aur Bui ne shaddi fix kiya. Agle saal.
Nupur closed her eyes- Kaise ho tu?
She heard Gunjan's crying voice.
Nupur- Gunjan! Gunjan! Please! Ro mat! Hum sab hai na! Tu bilkul ghabrana mat! Dekh na, sab theek ho jaayega!
The phone went dead and Nupur leant back in her chair. She thought of calling her sister back but then decided against it. I'd rather leave her alone for a bit.'
Gunjan was very upset. She was at her co-actor cum friend Mridula's place. Mridula treated her like a sister and often let Gunjan stay over at her place, whenever she needed peace.
Her tears fell as she gazed at Samrat's picture- Why did you do this Samrat? Why?' She then cried herself to sleep, remembering one of the happiest days she had with Samrat before the tension started.
Flashback-
Samrat and Gunjan were fooling around at Samrat's farmhouse. They were drunkenly happy. He held her hands and danced her around. The lights were dimly lit, and a romantic couple song was playing. There was not a soul around.
They stopped and plopped onto a sofa and cuddled.
Suddenly Gunjan's phone rang.
Samrat- Chashmish! Itne raat?
Gunjan- Sorry Samrat!
She answered the call, switching on the loudspeaker and leaning against Samrat- Hello?
Her manger Rathi- Gunjan! Are you drunk? You were supposed to be home by 11!
Gunjan looked at Samrat who glared at the phone- Rathiji. Main aaj mere mangekar ke saath hoon.
Rathi- Gunjan, tum kaha ho aur mein tumhe pick up karunga. Mukeshji ko pasand nahi hote hai jab unka koi prized heroine raat bhar bahar rehte hai.
Samrat exasperatedly got up and Gunjan looked him apprehensive- Rathiji. Meri mangekar Samrat Shergill koi aisa waisa aadmi nahi hai ki mujhe har baar protection zarorrat padte hai! Please. Main kal shoot pe aaongi. Kal waise bhi dopahar mein meri shoot hain.
Rathi- Kal subhei Mukesh apna stars ko ek...
Gunjan cut him off- I am not going anywhere. Aaap iss tarase achaanak mere plans nahi badalsakte hain. Please producerji ko yeh bataao.
She cut the call suddenly and switched it off. Then she saw Samrat standing beside a window, his arms crossed.
She turned off Samrat's phone as well and walked to him. Timidly she stood beside him and observed his face while telling him that she switched both their phones off and that she was still all his.
Samrat closed his eyes, sighed out, his expression calming down. He looked at her and smilingly took her into his arms. The couple hugged and she looked up at him- Ab kya Samrat?
He looked at her and kissed her forehead- Chashmish. Are you sure tum theek ho?
Gunjan nodded and took his hand- Lets continue dancing Samrat!
He grinned at her and led her to where they were already dancing. They clung to each other, slowly dancing away the night.
Flashback ends.
Gunjan's tears dried up, leaving her eyes puffed up. She fell asleep, repeating to herself- Samrat why did you do this to me? Why did you not stand by me? Why did you promise to wait for me when you had all the plans of abandoning me!'
She then cried herself to sleep, kissing and holding another picture to herself.
The next morning, her manager Meera came to meet her to tell her that a foreigner was being hired to create some special costumes for the cast, and her name was Mariam. Gunjan was shocked to hear the name. She then went to her room, sat down on her bed and looked at Nupur's picture. A new hope arose in her.
She then dialled her ex-brother-in-law's number. To convince him to come and try to make amends with Nupur.
Mayank was shocked to receive the late night call- Gunjan? Achaanak?
Gunjan- Sorry Ji... I mean Mayank.
Mayank- Sab theek hai?
Gunjan- Mayank. Meri behen tumse abhi bhi pyar karte hain! (She stopped) Sorry. Yeh sahi time nahi hai. Main bas tumhe yeh kehna chaahti hoon ki Mariam ko meri current producer ne shayad hire ki hai. I hope you come with her to India! Uday Bhiya ke shaadhi bhi jo hai! (She cut the call and closed her eyes, scolding herself for recklessly calling Mayank.
Across the miles away, Mayank, awoken from his disturbed sleep, stared at his phone, shell-shocked.
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