Hey everyone. I've only recently joined IF, have been a silent reader mostly. This storyline has been in my head for some time. I want to apologise beforehand for any out of character-ness, because I've only watched until the episode where Pooja gets PTSD over Suman slapping her (and after that I just read WUs).
Anyways, tell me how you find this story!
Prologue
While Ashok Nivas is a somewhat peaceful house on most days, today there's a sense of anticipation in the air as servants are hurriedly working and preparing for the upcoming function this evening.
Upstairs, in the master bedroom, a girl is mindlessly humming while she gets ready. She smiles happily at her reflection in the mirror. Downstairs, members of the Mittal family are also busy in the preparations, but show signs of unhappiness.
The house phone rings. "Sonali! Get the phone!" Suman shouts, irritated at the noise.
"Yes, chachi." Sonali runs to the phone, already wanting to cut the call, but picks it up nonetheless. "Hello? …What?!! … Yes, of course! … Bye!" There is an unfamiliar smile on Sonali's face, one that hasn't been seen in months. "Chachi. Chachi! CHACHI! CHACH-"
"Yes, what is it?"
"You won't believe who it was!"
"Will you tell me or not? I have so much work to do, so hurry up and say what you want to say. Otherwise the queen herself will come down and scream at all of us."
"It's Dhruv bhaiyya! He's back!"
Suman's heart stopped. Dhruv? Her eldest son Dhruv? Who had been wronged by her and then suddenly disappeared? Who she hadn't appreciated until everything fell apart? Even Suman couldn't stop a smile from growing on her face.
"Finally! My son is coming. My son, who has always cared for me, he's coming back to me! I'm so happy! Tell me Sonali, where is he right now?"
"He's at Indore station. He asked for the driver to pick him up."
Suman looks around the house and sees the driver near the entrance. "Hey driver, go and pick up my son from the station!"
"Sorry but I can't do that without ma'am's permission," the driver replies curtly. Sonali gives a look to Suman, as she doubts they would receive permission.
"What is all this noise?" Sonali and Suman look up at the stairway, where the lady of the house is walking out of the master bedroom. "Why aren't you two busy getting ready?"
"Ma'am. She is asking me to go to the station to pick up her son," the driver says before Suman can say anything.
"Her son? But Kabir is in the office. Why would he be at the station?" The girl walks only to the platform on the stairs, not bothering to come down.
"Actually, Dhruv bhaiyya is here," Sonali clarifies.
"Dhruv? After almost 7 months, he appears out of nowhere and you're all just going to accept him with no questions? If today were any other day, I would call the police to let them know that a kidnapper is back in town! However, since today is a special day, I'll allow this just once. Driver, go!" the lady says condescendingly, looking at her painted nails. "Sonali! Get back to work! And mummy," her tone shifts to sickly sweet, "I'm feeling so generous today, so why don't you go prepare the thali to welcome your dear son?"
And with that, she walks down the stairs, to see how the preparations for the function are going. She thinks to herself, 'All this excitement reminds me of another day I had waited for…the day Kabir came home, the day our plans were put into action. All we're missing now is a sculpture of a Mittal's head with a bullet through the forehead. Although, Dhruv's return makes for a nice present. He can stay for a day and then tomorrow I'll call the police on him. Hmmm, whose head would be best for the sculpture?'
It didn't take long for the driver to return. By this point, all the Mittals in the house, Jay, Sonali, Chanda, Suman, and even Dadaji, have all assembled at the entrance.
Dhruv steps out of the car, but he was not the Dhruv they had last seen. He seemed happier and healthier, as though nothing bad had ever happened to him.
"Maa! Everyone!" He came towards them, taking blessings from Suman and Dadaji, and hugging and greeting the other three. He took a step back to look at his family altogether.
"Dhruv! It's been so long! And you're looking so much better than before!" Suman exclaims. Dhruv smiles bashfully.
"I know, Maa. All those months ago, I wasn't in the right state of mind. But everything has changed! And I want you all to meet the person who has helped me become who I am today!"
Suman and the other Mittals are left confused, some even dreading what would happen next. Dhruv walks to the other side of the car to help someone come out. The Mittals see that it is a woman in bridal wear, and a ghunghat obscuring her face. Dhruv stands her in front of the family, only a few steps from the entrance of the house, and puts his arm around his bride.
Suman is reminded of the day when Kabir, Kavya and Aarush had stood in front of everyone less than a year ago. She feels an uneasiness in her heart, but chooses to ignore it, forcefully reminding herself that Kavya had been a blessing in disguise, and that this woman could be a blessing in disguise too.
"Maa. I know you might be upset that I brought home a wife without telling anyone, but I want you, I want all of you to be happy for me. She's the light of my life! She saved me from my own darkness. I'm so thankful of her presence in my life, and I want to share this happiness with everyone!" Dhruv says before anyone can complain.
His wife bends to take blessings from Suman and Dadaji wordlessly. Dhruv keeps smiling like a lovesick puppy. Behind all the Mittals is the lady of the house, rolling her eyes at whatever family reunion drama is going on.
"Won't you introduce us to our new bahu?" Suman asks excitedly, deciding that surely this woman is angel who has brought Dhruv back to how he was before. She brings out the puja thali in order to properly welcome her son and bahu.
"Of course!" Dhruv slowly lifts the ghunghat to reveal his new wife's beautiful, glowing face.
"Namaste, mummy," she says demurely.
Suman drops the thali out of shock. The other Mittals are similarly stunned. Even the lady of the house widens her eyes at the face reveal.
"YOU?" Suman spits with all her hate.
"So finally, you are here! I've been waiting for you!" says the lady of the house, still standing behind the Mittals. She runs around them, stopping in front of Dhruv's wife, before hugging her. "Di!!"
But nothing can stop Suman now.
"How dare you show your face here, Pooja Sharma?!"
End
A few things to note.
I'm writing in english even though personally I think hindi flows better, only because hindi is not my first language.
This basically follows the story up until friday's episode, but some things might be different (only because I haven't watched the episodes properly). If there's anything that is too different, or if there is a mistake anywhere, let me know.
I couldn't come up with a better phrasing than "lady of the house", and I know I repeated it so many times, but I was trying to keep some suspense.
I don't have a proper plot thought out for this, just a vague idea of how I wanted the show to be. So I am open to suggestions.
This story will be dark. Quite dark. Just a heads up.
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