Purvi house

Purvi's mother opens the door and immediately hugs her tight.

Purvi: Maaaa…meri saari haddiyaan todd dogi aap…

PurviM: chup kar…2 saal ho gaye..tujhe andaaza bhi hai 2 saal kitna lamba waqt hai…jab se Delhi gayi hai..kaam, kaam kaam…aur toh kuch soojhta hi nahi tujhe…

Purvi (keeping her bags down): ab kya karoon….kaam hi aisa hai…main nahaa leti hoon..bahut bhook lagi hai…she goes to the bathroom.

PurviF: tumhe kya lagta hai…yeh maanegi?

PurviM: yehi sahi umar hai…koshish toh karte hai naa..2 saal se jiss bhi ladke ke baare me baat karte hai..kuch na kuch kehke manaa kar deti hai..

PurviF: hey bhagwaan…ek baar iss ladke ko dekh le bass..

PurviM: shhhhh…dheere boliye…kahin Purvi sunn naa le..

Rajat House

Rajat's parents welcome him joyously. He has come to visit them on a month long vacation.

RajatF: mujhe yakeen nahi ho raha hai…tu 1 mahine ki chutti pe aaya hai….aur bata..kaam kaisa hai?

Rajat (sitting on sofa): sab theekh hai Papa….yahan sab kaisa hai?

RajatM: sab theekh hai…yeh kya..he checks his bags..har baar ek kitaab toh aati hi hai..iss baar do books…she reads the title – Mills and Boon..tu kabse romance padhne laga?

Rajat (taking the book): yeh meri kitaab nahi hai..woh train me koi chodd gaya tha..

He goes to his room with his bags. After taking a bath he goes to his wardrobe. He searches and removes an old, black bag from the lowest shelf. He hasn't opened the bag in years. He cleans the dust and finally removes his most precious treasure – the mills and boon book – the story of 'their' first love..

He opens the book and fondles the letters – R and P …

Flashback

After Pari leaves, Ricky's mother wakes him up when its time for them to get down..

RickyM: Rickyyyy…Rickyyyyy..uthoooo…..20 min me station aa jaayegaa…she jerks his hand.

Ricky (sleepy): Kya hai Maa…raat hi toh hai…sone do naa..

RickyM: subah ke 7 baj gaye hai…

He opens his eyes and sees the day is bright. He realizes that Pari had to get down at 3:00 am in the morning. He gets up with a jerk and checks the berth- its empty, she is gone..

Ricky: Maaa…woh Pari…mera matlab Amit, Sumit…who sab log kahan gaye?

RickyM: who log shayad 3:00 baje utar gaye..pata nahi..main toh so rahi thi..chal chal…uthh…yeh chaadar de mujhe..

He realizes he didn't even say bye to her. He is dejected. On his mother's repeated shoutings, he gets down and folds the blanket and pillow. He removes the pillow and something falls down from the berth.

He picks it up – it's the Mills and Boon book. He holds it close to his heart. He remembers how they wrote R and P on the first page.

Their family gets down and proceeds on with their life. Ricky carries the book – a reminder of his first love story.

2 days later

Ricky is lying on his bed still remembering the sweet face of Pari – how they fought at first, his challenge to her, their first hug, their sweet confession of 'love'…..alas! he has no pictures of them, he only has her memories and their book…

On an impulse he starts reading the book again – the story of Ricky and Perry or as now he believes – Ricky and Pari ! he reaches page 10 – he smiles- that page has his scribbled question and Pari's answer – Yes..

He shuts the book and remembers the last night in the train …his mind is replaying each moment when he realizes something … The last words of pari – Page 24 !

He rushes to the book and scrambles through the pages fast to reach page 24 – 102, Government service quarters, Gandhi chowk, Vijay Nagar

Ricky(thinking): Yeh address? Kahin yeh Pari ka toh nahi? He tries to remember the converstaions and remembers something Pari's mother had said to his mother.

PariM: Bahenji, hamare Vijaynagar me bhi DK sarees ki dukaan hai….

Ricky is now sure its her address. He is excited. (This story is set at a time when we had no internet or phones)….

Ricky: Pari ka address…kya karoon? Ek chitthi likhoon? Haan..yehi theekh rahega…Ricky writes a letter and posts it to the address mentioned. The whole of vacation, he awaits the postman everyday but he doesn't get any response from her.

Its time for him to leave for his boarding school in Dehradun (Ricky studies in Dehradun and Purvi studies in Delhi near Vijaynagar)

Ricky: Maa…agar mere naam ki koi chitthi aaye..toh sambhaalke rakhna…

RickyM: Chithhi? Tujhe kaun chitthi likhega?

Ricky: Maaa…hai koi…please..

Ricky continues to ask about it every now and then for some months. He is dejected that she never responded. He slowly puts the incident at the back of his mind. He has never forgotten it but….

Flashback over

Rajat smiles and places the new Mills and Boon book with the old one.

RajatM: Rajat…kal subah hame nikalna hai…

Rajat: kahan?

RajatM: Abhijit ne naya ghar liya hai…

Rajat (happy): sach…bhaiyaa ne naya ghar liya hai…kahan? (Abhijit is Rajat's cousin)

RajatM (sitting next to him): Goyal Bagh me…yahan se 4-5 ghante ka raasta hai..

Rajat: Goyal Bagh? Yeh kahan hai?

RajatM: Goyal Bagh…Vijaynagar me hai…

The mention of Vijaynagar creates a wellspring of emotions in his heart. His mother notes him.

RajatM: Kya baat hai? Aise kya mooh banaa raha hai?

Rajat (dismissing): Nahi Maa..kuch nahi..kitne baje nikalna hai?

Purvi house, night

PurviF (phone): Oh achaa..theekh hai..haan hum log aa jayenge time se…he reduces his voice then …Purvi ko abhi tak kuch pata nahi hai…toh tum bhi khayal rakhna…hmmm..he keeps the phone down and goes to his room.

PurviF: Pradyuman bhaisahab ka phone thaa..woh log kal dopahar tak pahunch jaayenge..bhagwaan ki daya se sab theekh raha toh…bahut jald Purvi ki doli uth jayegi..tumne Sumit aur Amit ko samjha diya hai naa..(Pradyuman- Abhijit's father is family friend)

PurviM: haan…bas thoda darr lag raha hai..jab Purvi ko pata chalega..woh kahin koi tamasha naa kar de..

They both pray to God that Purvi agrees to their wish..

Next day

Rajat and his parents leave for Vijaynagar. It's a 4-5hrs drive. He has his books for company. Today his bag has his first 'romance' book – the Mills and Boon for company. As their car enters the Vijaynagar city, he shuts his book and looks out. He reads every sign board, every building name carefully. He passes by a signboard – Government service quarters! His heartbeats increases – does Pari still live here?

Rajat: papa..bhaiyaa ka ghar kitna door hai yahan se?

RajatF: shayad 10-15 min door hai…kyun?

Rajat (thinking): 10-15 min…shayad koi chance ho…shaam ko dekhta hoon..Rajat and his family are going to stay for 2 days in Vijaynagar.

Purvi house

PurviM: Purvi….jaldi kar..tayyar huyi ki nahi..

Purvi: Haan maa…yeh Amit aur Sumit kahan hai?

PurviM: unka wahan kya kaam?

Purvi: kya matlab…Pradyuman uncle ke ghar pe pooja hai…toh yeh dono kyun nahi chal rahe hai?

PurviF: arre…woh unke college me cricket team selection hai..der ho jaayegi dono ko..chalo..humne chalna chahiye..woh log aa gaye honge..

Purvi: kaun aa gaye honge?

PurviM: papa ka matlab panditji aa gaye honge..chaliye…

Purvi leaves with her parents. They both look tense. Purvi is already feeling uncomfortable in her saree. Her mother had insisted her to wear the saree for the 'Pooja'.

Purvi (adjusting her saree): Kya maa…unke ghar pe pooja hai …toh mujhe kyun saree pahenne kaha aapne..

PurviM: toh who log kya tumhe jeans me dekhte?

Purvi: kaun log Maa?

PurviM (scared): mera matlab…bhaisahab, panditji…wagereh…aap zara gaadi jaldi chalaiye..she urges Purvi's father.

Abhijit house

Abhijit's father, Pradyuman opens the door and welcomes Purvi's parents inside.

Pradyuman: welcome Sriram…aayiye bhabiji…..

Purvi (doing Namaste): Namaste uncle…

They all come inside. Abhijit's wife Tarika enters and takes Purvi's mother and Purvi inside.

Tarika: aunty..kaisi hai aap? Hi Purvi…I am Tarika..main Pradyuman uncle ki bahu hoon..

Purvi (shaking hands): Hi Tarika…how are you? Sab tayyariyaan ho gayi…

Tarika: tayyariyaan?

Purvi: haan..Pooja ke liye? Waise aapne saree kyun nahi pehni?

Tarika (realizing): oh haan…sab kuch tayyar hai…aap kya lenge aunty..main zaraa dekhke aati hoon..sab ready hai naa..

Pradyuman, Abhijit and Tarika have shifted to Vijaynagar some months back only. Pradyuman and Sriram Trivedi family know each other since few months only. Hence Purvi doesn't know them. Rajat is Abhijit's cousin. The two families have gathered here to match an alliance between Purvi and Rajat without their knowledge.

Abhijit comes in the drawing room with Rajat. Their parents are already talking together.

Pradyuman: arre..aao aao…yeh mere cousin Rajeev ka beta hai – Rajat. Rajat does a Namaste to them.

They all sit and chat. Tarika gets some snacks for all.

Tarika: Purvi…ek help kar dogi meri..yeh zaraa chai ka tray bahar le jaoogi..sab log drawing room me baithe hai..main bas 2 min me aayi..

Purvi nods her head and takes the tray of tea cups to the drawing room. Purvi's mother follows her, praying constantly.

PurviF: arre…beta..tu chai lekar aayi hai…bhaisahab..yeh meri beti hai Purvi…Rajat's parents take note of her.

PurviM: aaram se sab ko chaai denaa..

Purvi gives each person present a cup of tea.

Pradyuman: sabko chai de di..arre yeh Abhijit kahan hai? Abhijit and Rajat are talking to each other at the balcony.

Pradyuman: beta…unn dono ko bhi zara chaai de denaa…please..

Purvi takes 2 cups of tea and walks to the direction of balcony. He can see two men roughly of the same height chatting.

Purvi: excuse me…..

Abhijit (turning): Oh hi…yeh hamare liye hai? Dijiye..he takes his cup of tea

Purvi: aap chai nahi lenge?

Rajat turns and talks while looking into his mobile.

Rajat: nahi…

Purvi: Mr Rajat? aap?

Rajat looks up and is surprised to see Purvi.

Rajat: Ms Purvi …aap?

Abhijit: Tum dono jaante ho? Arre waah..kaam aasaan ho gaya..

Rajat: kaunsa kaam?

Abhijit (sipping tea): introduction ki zaroorat nahi hai naa..woh kaam aasaan ho gaya I mean to say..

Abhijit quickly leaves the two alone citing Pooja work.

Rajat: what a coincidence..maine socha nahi hum itni jaldi phirse milenge…

Purvi (eyebrows together): What do you mean?

Rajat: generally bol raha hoon…

Purvi: relax..i understand…waise hai toh yeh amazing baat…hum kal hi train me mile, kuch waqt saath bitaaya, alag alag manzilen thi hamari aur aaj …achanak..mil gaye

Rajat (smiles): haan hai toh amazing baat…aisa kitne logon ke saath hota hoga…kahin safar me milte ho..aur phir dobaara..

They both start chatting. The pooja starts and everyone attends it. Rajat and Purvi are standing with eyes closed. The two sets of families looks at each other and smile. They look cute together. They chat for some more time and after dinner, Purvi and her parents take leave.

Pradyuman (to PurviF): Sriram…tum Purvi se baat karo…hum log Rajat se poochte hai..Bhagwaan ne chaaha toh sab theekh hoga..

At night,

Purvi is watching TV. Her mother comes and Purvi immediately lies on her lap.

PurviM: Purvi..thak gayi kya?

Purvi: thoda saa Maa…

PurviM: Pradyuman bhaisahab ka ghar acha hai naa…tere Papa se achi dosti ho gayi hai unki..family bahut achhi hai…

Purvi: hmmm..

PurviM: aur unkaa woh bhatijaa..Rajat..woh bhi acha hai naa..kitna polite hai…ekdum decent..

Purvi: hmm…

PurviM (scared): ek…ek baat poochoon…dekh buraa mat maan..

Purvi (sleepy):kya Maa….

purviM: tere papa aur main soch rahe the…ki..tera rishta Rajat se kar de..

Purvi (getting up): what? Rishta? Suddenly it strikes her..

Purvi: ohhhhh..toh isiliye aap mujhe unke ghar le gayi..saree pahenne kaha..i just don't believe this…aap logon ne mujhe cheat kiya..uss Rajat ko toh main chodoongi nahi..usse sab kuch pata tha..usne bhi kuch kaha nahi…

PurviM: aree…isme Rajat ki koi galtii nahi hai…woh bhi nahi jaanta tha….bol naa…tujhe pasand aaya woh…tut oh usse jaanti bhi hai naa..

Purvi (fix): Maa..main jaanti hoon…but hamari bas 2 mulakaate huyi hai..aur….

PurviM: aur kya? Dekh abhi bhi bataa de…tu kisi aur ko pasand karti hai kya?

Purvi (thinking about Ricky): nahi Maa..aisa kuch nahi hai..

PurviM: toh phir…teri umar ho chali hai beta…2 saal se kitne rishte bina dekhe manaa kiya hai…pehli baar aaj tu ek ladke se mili hai..aur ladka bahut acha hai..

Purvi (confused): maa…magar…itni jaldi…

PurviM: dekh beta..shaadi ke faisle me koi jaldi yaa deri nahi hoti…tujhe time chahiye naa..theekh hai..tere papa ko bolti hoon..ek-do din ka waqt maang lete hai..magar uske baad hame jawab chahiye..

Rajat at Abhijit house

Abhijit: Itna kya soch raha hai Rajat..achi ladki hai..haan bol de

Rajat: Kya bhaiyya..aise kaise haan bol doon..main toh usse theekh se jaanta bhi nahi hoon

Abhijit: toh tujhe usse jaanne ke liye kitni aur meetings chahiye?

Rajat: kya?

Abhijit: aur nahi toh kya? Tu mujhe ek baat bata…kya teri life me koi ladki hai? Kisiko kuch waada kiya hai? Khul ke bol..aisa hai toh aaj hi rishta cancel kar denge…

Rajat (thinking about Pari): Nahi bhaiyya…koi aur ladki nahi hai..

Abhijit: toh mere bhai..zyaada soch mat…tum dono ki Jodi ekdum perfect hai..haan bol de..

Rajat: bhaiyya…mujhe thoda time chahiye..

At night, Purvi house…

Purvi opens her dresser and retrieves an old album. She goes through it her old school pictures, certificates. She shuts the album and from its back pulls out an envelope – which was hidden from everybody all these years..

She has tears in her eyes – its Ricky's letter…..she goes through the scribbled handwriting, she smells it. She can hardly make out the words after all these years. It was the only love letter ever written to her.

Flashback

After coming to her house, Purvi spent the her vacations awaiting for Ricky's news or atleast a letter from him. Her prayers were answered when the postman dropped a letter addressed to simply –Pari..

She thanked God that her parents were away to market and her brothers were playing outside. Eagerly she tore the envelope and rushed to her room. she lied on the bed – hundreds of butterflies fluttered in her tummy as she read the opening lines. She cursed Ricky once – for his bad handwriting but the mere feeling that he wrote to her and did not forget her! – made her feel special…

After reading and re-reading the letter atleast 10 times, she decided to write back to him at that moment itself. She sat on her desk and in record time wrote back a long reply. She took out a white envelope and stuffed the letter inside. All she needed was an address to write back…she suddenly remembered Ricky's envelope was lying on the table outside.

She happily skipped to reach the table and turns the envelope to read his address. She is disheartened immediately and checks the table – she had placed it on the place where there was a milk spill… his address got washed away. She tries hard to read through the papery mess but there simply isn't any part of address that she can make out!

Frustrated she rushes to her room and cries her heart out.. her father knocks on the door, she wipes her tears and hides the letter with the envelope in her album.

Flashback over

Purvi (keeping the envelope back): kitne saal ho gaye Ricky…tum aaj bhi mere mann me base ho…mera pehla pyaar jo ho..jab tak tumhari yeh nishaani rahegi mere paas..mere dil me ek ummeed rahegi…par kya yeh sahi hoga?

Rajat at Abhijit house

Rajat reads his first romance book from start to finish – his favorite love story of Ricky and Pari. He gets up and sees both the books he has.

Rajat (mind): R and P…. kitna ajeeb ittefaq hai…Ricky and Pari, Rajat and…he thinks Purvi…Rajat and Purvi… He smiles again..kya kismat hai….Purvi ka naam bhi P se shuru hota hai…who bhi mujhe pehli baar train me hi mili… yeh kaise ho sakta hai…jab tak meri life me Pari hai…kya main Purvi ko apna paoonga?

Rajat and Purvi atlast go to sleep, they both have taken a decision….

So..what is this decision?