Purvi reaches home and is seated deep in her thoughts. Joseph walks in and sees her thinking.

Joseph: Purviii…yeh market me itna aurat log kya shopping kar raha hai…kuch festival hai kya?

Purvi: haan…haan Papa woh karvachauth hai…isliye..

Joseph:oh yeh wohich festival hai naa..wife log apna husband ka waaste fast karta hai..poora din?

Purvi: haan Papa…

Joseph: yeh dono hands me mehendi lagata hai? acha kapda pahenta hai?

Purvi: haan papa..

Joseph: phir evening me moon ko dekhke apna fast todta hai?

Purvi: haan Papa..

Joseph: Tum bhi Kavin ka waaste fast karne walaa hai?

Purvi (without realizing): Haan Papa..

Joseph (coming to her): Sach…tum rakhenga fast?

Purvi looks at him and she begins to nod her head as No..

Joseph: Purviii..don't lie to me..tum Kavin ke liye yeh fast zaroor rakhne waala hai..I know it..

Purvi (head down): kaise nahi rakhti main Papa..main hamesha uski lambi umar chahoongi…main chahti hoon who bahut khush rahe..

Joseph (smile): Tum humko bataao kya saaman lane ka hai…main sab leke aata hoon..

Day of karwachauth, Kavin in studio

Kavin has been singing since morning. Its almost afternoon. His throat is dry and achy.

Badri: cut! Cut!..Kavin kya ho gaya…tumhara gala baith gaya hai kya?

Kavin (scratchy voice): kuch nahi sir..he coughs and clears his throat..theekh ho jaayega..aap take le lijiye

He starts singing again..his throat is really dry and he starts coughing..

Badri(disappointed): Nahi nahi….jamm nahi raha hai…ek kaam karo…garam paani pii looo..arre Shyam (assistant)..zara garam paani thoda honey daalke laana…abhi gala theekh ho jaayega..

Kavin protests but the assistant gets water near his mouth.

Kavin (praying to god): Hey bhagwaan…kaise samjhaaye inhe…humne vrat rakha hai….he declines water..when the phone rings for Badri

Badri (after talking on phone): arre Kavin…sorry yaar…recording rokni padegi..woh aaj karwachauth hai aur mere ghar ek badi pooja hai..sab log mera wait kar rahe hai..aisa karte hai..hum 2 din baad record karte hai…waise bhi tumhara gala baitha hai…toh tum bhi aaram kar lo..theekh hai..bye..

Kavin smiles and quickly exits the studio.

Karwachauth pooja

Purvi steps into Shardha aunty's house. Many married ladies are present. They all are laughing and chatting.

Shardha: arre Purvi beti…aaooo..aaooo…arre Nirmala, Janki…yeh Purvi hai…mandir me jaan pehchaan huyi thi…apne area me nayi aayi hai…jaoo beta..apni thaali wahan rakh do..

Purvi smiles and keeps her decorated thaali with other ladies.

Janki: tumhari nayi nayi shaadi huyi hai kya? Purvi nods her head…kya karte hia tumhare pati?

Purvi (nervous): Ji…woh yahan nahi hai..

Janki (doubt): hmm..tumne shaadi ka laal joda kyun nahi pehna? Aur tumhare gale me mangalsootra kyun nahi hai?

Purvi (embarrassed): Ji woh…mangal…mangalsootra nahi hai….

Janki (shock): Shardh chachi….mujhe nahi lagta yeh ladki suhaagan bhi hai…ek bhi nishaani nahi hai..naa haathon me laal chooda, na mangalsootra, aur toh aur iska pati bhi iske saath me nahi hai…kya chachi aap bhi..yeh pooja sirf suhaangno ke liye hai..

Nirmala: agar tumhari shaadi saare rasmo rivaajo se nahi huyi hai…toh tumhara rishta bhi naajayaz hai..

Purvi doesn't know what to say. She picks up her thaali and rushes to her house, sobbing all the way. She goes to the terrace and is crying.

Joseph: arre..tum itna jaldi aa gaya..ho gaya tumhara prayers?

Purvi (wiping tears): Nahi papa…meri pooja nahi ho paayi…wahan pe who aurton ne kaha..main shaadishudaa hi nahi hoon…mere paas koi bhi suhaag ki nishaani nahi hai..naa mangalsootra naa chudiyaan…mera pehla vrat adhoora reh jaayega papa..

Joseph (consoling her): Unn logon ka bolne se kya hota hai child..tumne apna dil me Kavin ko husband maana hai naa..tumko iss sab ritual me bharosa hai toh kisika mat suno..tum apna dil se uske liye pray karo..god believes in true worship..yeh rituals toh sab dikhaava hai..tumne apna dil se yeh fast rakha hai naa..toh yeh zaroor fulfill hoga..

Purvi nods her head and now waits for the moon to come in the sky.

Kavin house

Kavin is awaiting the moon too. He has been fasting also, praying for Purvi's well being and long life.

Kavin (mind): Purviji..mujhe yakeen hai..aapne bhi vrat rakha hoga…chaand nikalne ka samay ho raha hai…he sees the faint outline of the moon..

Kavin (feeling restless, mind): yeh itni bechaini kyun ho rahi hai mere mann me….he is constantly thinking about Purvi…hey shivji…subah se bhooki pyaasi hogi Purviji….mere bina unka vrat kaise poora hoga..

Purvi house

Purvi watches anxiously as a big cloud covers the moon. She prays for it to come out.

Joseph: arre…yeh cloud kidhar se aa gaya…abhi tak toh Moon ko aa jaana chahiye tha…

Purvi (feeling restless, mind): Yeh chaand toh aa hi jaayega…lekin Kavin ke bina..mera vrat phir bhi adhoora hoga…kaash ek baar…ek baar…she swallows her pain and keeps an eye out on the moon..

Joseph (loudly): Purviii…who dekhooo…who cloud jaa raha hai…Moon aane wala hai…laoo mannn..tumhara aarti ka plate laooo..

Purvi takes the thaali and performs the pooja as she knows. Next she takes the chalni (sieve) and watches the moon through it. She has tears in her eyes as she knows what comes next. She has to see her husband through the same sieve, but that's not possible.

Purvi (closing eyes): hey bhagwaan…maine Kavin ko apna pati maana hai..usse bahut lambi uar dena…usse mere hisse ki bhi khushiyan dena…usse uska pyaar de dena..woh hamesha khush rahe, swasth rahe aisi prarthna karti hoon.

She sees the moon one more time and closes her eyes again to imagine Kavin's face.

Kavin voice: Purviji…..

Purvi (mind): hey bhagwaan...main shayad kuch zyaada hi yaad kar rahi hoon Kavin ko..mujhe uski awaaz bhi sunaayi de rahi hai..

Kavin voice (emotional): Purviji…hum hain…Kavin…

She opens her eyes and immediately turns. She still has the sieve in her hand and she can see him in front of her!

He smiles at her..his eyes have tears..Purvi cannot believe it.

Purvi (scared): papa…mujhe…mujhe Kavin..Kavin dikhayi de raha hai…she takes a step behind in fear and slips to fall…

Kavin (coming quick): Purvijiiiiiiiiii…he holds her and makes her sit down.

Joseph (getting water): yeh paani pilaaoo isko..subah se nahi piyaa hai…khaana bhi nahi khaaya..

Kavin holds the vessel of water and places it on her lips. Purvi watches him continuously and drinks the first sip since morning. She is in the arms of her husband and he is making her drink water!

Kavin (concern): aap theekh hai Purviji? Aur paani chahiye?

Purvi nods her head as no. Kavin takes her pooja thaali and picks a piece of fruit.

Kavin (softly): khaa lijiye…aapka vrat poora ho jaayega..she opens her mouth slightly. He places the fruit gently. She eats it and looks at him again.

Joseph (happy): chaloo..tumhara pehla pooja acha se ho gaya..maine bola tha..God ko dil se kiya hua har kaam pasand aata hai…he realizes these two have to be left alone.

Joseph: arre…hum zaraa shop me jaake aata hai..lagta hai ek file bhool gaya apun.. he exits from the terrace leaving Kavin and Purvi alone

Kavin doesn't know what to do or say next. He waits for Purvi to speak. She is looking on the floor still accepting the fact that he is in front of her..

Purvi looks at him and takes two step closer to him. She looks down and bends to take his blessings.

Kavin (holding her shoulders, she removes his hands): Purviji..aapko mere paav choone ki zaroorat nahi hai..

Purvi (hesitant): yeh…yeh rivaaj hai…

Kavin: yeh rivaaj toh pati-patni ke beech hota hai..aur aap toh hame pati maanti nahi hai naa…he asks..

Purvi (looking at him, loss of words): woh…woh…

Kavin: kshama kijiyega hame…humne toh yeh poocha bhi nahi aapne yeh vrat kiske liye rakha hai..kahin aapne doosri shaadi toh nahi kar li?

Purvi (break down):bass karo Kavin…mujhe taane dena bandh karo..she sits down and cries..yeh mere zindagi ka pehla karwa chauth ka vrat hai…aur yeh maine tumhare liye rakha hai..main zindagi bhar yeh vrat rakhoongi tumhare liye..she sobs…

Kavin (placing hand on shoulder): toh phir chaliye apne ghar…main aaj aapko lene aaya hoon Purviji..

Purvi looks at him. He has come to take her away..she has a home of her own..a home where she will live with her husband..her in-laws..her family..they will have their kids…they will grow old…a happy life flashes by her eyes..she smiles at him, ready to accept it, she even raises a palm to hold the outstrectched hand in front!

Tum jaisi ladki ko apni patni banaane se pehle koi bhi aadmi 1000 baar sochegaa…

The happy world crumbles in front of her eyes! she is all alone..

Purvi (looking away): nahi Kavin..yeh..yeh nahi ho sakta..tum chale jaoo yahan se..

Kavin (trying to reason): lekin Purviji…

Purvi (angry): maine kaha naa…jaooo yahan se..mujhe akela chodd doon…main theekh hoon..bass thodi der ke liye bahek gayi thi..iss sab rivaajo ko, rishton ko sach maan baithi…bhool gayi thi..sab mard ek jaise hote hai…tum bhi waise hi ho..isliye please jaoo…

Joseph (voice): Kyun jaayega yeh yahan se? yeh akela nahi jaayega..tum bhi saath me jaayega.

Purvi (shocked): papa?

Joseph (angry): shaadi ka baad ladki log apna husband ke saath rehna mangta..uska ghar me..uska in-laws ka seva karna mangta..kitna din tak apna father ka ghar me rahega tum..ados pados ka log kya kya baat karta hai..apun aur nahi sunn sakta hai abhi…abhi ka abhi tumhara saaman baandho aur chala jaoo..

Purvi (shocked): papa…aap ko pata hai….main..main iss shaadi ko nahi maanti..phir kyun jabardasti aap mujhe bhej rahe hai…

Kavin (in between): Uncle…Purviji theekh keh rahi hai…rishte jabardasti nahi bante…main bass aaj aise hi aagaya tha..ab chalta hoon..

Joseph: ek min Kavin…yeh aisa kab tak tum dono cat and mouse jaisa khelega…arre tumhara dil me ek doosre ke liye itna love hai, respect hai..to accept karo naa…Purvi tumhara yeh naatak abhi bandh karo…agar tum Kavin ko apna pati nahi manta hai..toh kholi ka deposit ka waaste apna gold bangle kaykoo diya..Kavin looks shocked!

Joseph: Bangle dete time kya bola tum? Husband ka bad time me wife ka jewellery hi kaam aata hai…who husband kaun tha? Yeh Kavin….phir tum kaisa bolta hai aaj..yeh tumhara husband nahi hai…arre agar yeh husband nahi hai toh kaykoo duniya ka saamne apne aap ko shaadi shudaa batata hai tum? Yeh sindoor kyun lagata hai..yeh sab fasting, prayers, rituals kyun karta hai? He yells..

Purvi (trying to reason): papa…aap mere baare me jaante hai naa…phir kyun? She cries..

Joseph (arguing): Kya? Kyaa jaanta hai hum? Tum beer bar me kaam karta thaa..thaa Purvi…that's your past…abhi tum who kaam nahi karta hai…kiska wajah se? he holds Kavin's hand and pushes him ahead..

Joseph: yeh..tumhara husband ka wajah se….Kavin ka wajah se..

Kavin (shocked): Uncle?

Joseph (smile): hum life me bahut kuch dekha hai..business 20 saal ka umar se kiya hai…property ka value, market ka bhaav sab by-heart hai apun ko…apna bhi network solid hai Kavin…sab pata kiya apun ne..he has tears in his eyes…sab samajh gaya apun…yeh sab kisliye kiya…Purvi ka waaste naa? He hugs Kavin and pats his back…I am proud of you son…

Kavin (wiping tears): sirf Purviji ke liye nahi..aapke liye bhi Uncle..hum chahte hai aap budhaape me toh aaram se rahe…uss dhandhe ka bojh aapke sar naa ho…aap khush hai naa?

Joseph (happy): very happy Kavin..lekin aur khush hoyegaa..agar tum dono ek ho jaayega…

There is a silence! Kavin and Purvi stand there with their heads bowed down.

Joseph (tears, pleading): tum dono…tum dono ko apun ne janam nahi diya…magar tum dono sahi way me apun ka children hai…tum dono ka khushi ek saath milke rehne me hai..iss boodha father ka baat maano….Start living together…

Kavin and Purvi look at each other…

Joseph: Tum dono samajhdaar hai…iss baar correct decision lenaa..apun neeche ghar me wait karta hai…don't disappoint me please….he wipes his tears and walks away….

Do they now finally meet? and start living together?

next chapter will be last..Thank you for your wonderful comments...I love to read them..they make my day and put a smile on my face :)

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