Purvi wakes up in the morning with continuous ringing of her mobile phone. She picks it up sleepily.

Purvi: Heloo

Sachin: Good morning Purviiii….

Purvi (eyes open): sachinnn…she checks her mobile phone….7 baj gaye? Bache school gaye naa? Unhone breakfast kiya? Aur aapki meeting? Aapne kuch khaaya?

Sachin (smile): Hum sab ki itni fikar hai toh kyun chodd ke gayi? Pata hai kal bacho ne tumhe kitna miss kiya?

Purvi (small smile): Maine bhi miss kiya..

Sachin: kisse? Sirf bacho ko yaaa mujhe bhi? He speaks as he sips coffee..umhmmm..he makes a sound expressing his displeasure.

Purvi: kya hua?

Sachin: kaaka ne coffee me kam cheeni daal di..huhhh..tum ghar pe nahi ho toh sab kuch pheeka lagta hai…acha Kaaki kaisi hai ab?

Purvi: unhe kya hua hai?

Sachin: kya?

Purvi (realizing): haan..sorry..haan…who theekh hai..ab tabiyat behtar hai..

Sachin: toh tum waapas aa rahi ho naa?

Purvi (doubt): Sachinnn..

Sachin:bass Purvi….poore 3 hafte tumse door raha hoon…ab aur nahi…agar kaaki ki tabiyat abhi bhi theekh nahi hai..toh unhe bhi le aooo..hamare ghar me jitney din chaahe aaraam kar sakti hai who..bass tum waapas aa jaoo..Pleaaase…he speaks softly but firmly.

Purvi:acha theekh hai..main aa jaaoongi..

Sachin: main phone rakhta hoon…mujhe office bhi jaana hai…

Purvi:Bye..

Sachin: ek min Purvi..she keeps the phone back in her ears….I…I love you…do you love me? He asks in a teasing manner….he wants to remind her..he wants to tell her to keep her answer ready..

Purvi (tears): Sachinn..aaj aapko mera jawaab mil jaayega…

Sachin (nervous): Pro..promise?

Purvi (nodding head): hmmm..she keeps the phone down and dissolves into tears.

Kaaki(consoling her): Tu jaldbaazi kar rahi hai…thoda waqt le le…

Purvi: nahi kaaki…jitna jaldi yeh khatam ho..utna mere dil ko kam takleef hogi..hai naa? She is unsure…she looks at Kaaki..

Kaaki (sighs): Theekh hai Purvi…jaisa tu theekh samjhe..

Purvi helps Nirvi to get ready.

Nirvi:Purvi…ab mujhe chalna chahiye…meri tabiyat ab thodi behtar hai..

Purvi: lekin aap kahan jaayengi? Abhi abhi toh hum mile hai..

Nirvi: main tujhe batana bhool gayi…mujhe ashram jaana hai….Nasik me

Purvi: aap kahin nahi jaayengi…mujhe ek zaroori kaam se baahar jaana hai..main shaam ko aaoongi..phir hum sab saath me chalte hai..

Nirvi: kahan?

Purvi: Ghar..

Nirvi: Ghar? Kiska ghar?

Purvi:aapko shaam ko pata chal jaayega..Kaaki…Diii ka khayal rakhna…

Nirvi:Purviii..aare bataa toh…jaana kahan hai? Purviiiii….Purvi runs out of the house quickly, before Nirvi can see her tears.

Sachin office

Sachin is in a very good mood. He has many reasons to celebrate. His Brazil visit was a success. Most importantly Purvi will be giving answer to his question. In his heart he knew it would be a 'Yes'. He imagines that moment again and again when she will say Yes and he will finally make her his- forever.

Secretary(Nandita): Sirrr…sirrr..Sachin comes out of his wonderland!

Sachin: yes..Nandita..

Nandita: aapne mujhe bulaaya…kuch kaam tha?

Sachin (remembering): Oh yess…yess…please sit down..kaam zaraa personal hai..he smiles shyly..

After listening to his instructions.

Nandita (smiling): Sirr…its fantastic…main abhi sab arrange karwaati hoon…

Sachin: Thanks Nandita..aur haan..yeh baat please kisiko mat bataana..

Nandita: Sure sir….Best of luck…

Sachin (mind): huhhhh..apne taraf se maine poori koshish ki hai Purvi..mood, ambience, jagah sab kuch perfect hogaa aaj ki raat…bass tumhara jawaab mil jaaye…then it will be magical!

Sachin house

Purvi walks inside the house slowly, looking around. Her eyes fall on a portrait of the 4 of them. She goes near it and stands. It's a family photograph Sachin, Purvi and the kids are seated on a decorated swing. She tries to imagine Nirvi in the picture – a great flash of pain arises in her heart.

She runs to the kids room. She picks up their toys and fondles them.

Mummyyyy…..dekho Aabha mujhe mera remote car nahi de rahi..Mummyyyyy mujhe khaaane me noodles chahiye…Mummyyy mera gala dukh raha hai…

From day 1 the kids were stuck to her. Yes its true she didn't carry them inside her, she didn't bear the labour pain to deliver them, they did not drink milk from her breast but other than that she had done everything for them expected as of a mother.

Loved them, nurtured them, fed them, scolded them, protected them, laughed with them, cried with them. Yet she knows her status has changed now. Their biological mother is here. She is now just their 'Maasi'.

Sachin's room

Purvi opens the door and walks into Sachin's room. She sits on the bed and places the pillow on her lap. The three weeks when he was away, she would come every night to this room. Even though his room was cleaned thoroughly by 2 servants, she would still spend time arranging stuff in his room. She would change the flowers, spend some time rocking on his chair till she fell sleepy.

She would glance at the bed shyly. She awaited his return. Mrs Purvi Sachin Joshi.. she would proclaim it lovingly. She wanted to make it true sooon..

Purvi (tears): Main shayad kabhi tumhari thi hi nahi Sachin…Mrs Sachin Joshi kehlaane ka haq ab mera nahi rahegaa..

She pictures Nirvi and Sachin seated on the bed – she runs out sobbing hard. Why is god making everything difficult for her..

Purvi (angry): Kyun Diiiii…Kyun aayi ho waapas…who bhi ab jab main Sachin se bahut pyaar karne lagi hoon…nahi dena hai aapko yeh sab…yeh…yeh sab mera hai..mera hai…she holds a pillow tight, punching it to remove her frustration.

RINGGG RINGGGGG…her phone rings…

Purvi gets up with a start. She had not realized she had slept off.

Purvi:Helooo..

Sachin:Purviii…tumne bataya nahi..tum ghar aa gayi…abhi Kaka ne mujhe bataya..

Purvi: haan..main..zara ghar ke kaamo me busy ho gayi..

Sachin: aate hi kaam me lag gayi..khair..aaj shaam ko kya kar rahi ho?

Purvi: shaam ko?

Sachin: maine kaha tha naa..mere aate hi hum dono aisi jagah jaayenge..jahan sirf main aur tum ho…tum tayyar rehna…7 baje driver aa jayega pick karne

Purvi:kahan jaana hai Sachin?

Sachin (smile): who main nahi bataane waala…ek surprise hai..

Purvi: Sachin..mujhe aapse ek zaroori baat…

Sachin (cutting her): nannannaaaa…aise nahi..mujhe ab kuch nahi sunna hai…shaam ko baat karte hai…tum tayyar rehna..

Purvi (frustrated): Sachin meri baat…

Sachin: shhhhhhhhh…kitna bolti ho tum yaar..maine kaha naa..shaam ko hi main baat karoonga..Purvi…tum woh Diwali waali orange saree pehennna…its my favorite..

Purvi keeps the phone down and starts crying.

Aabha/Aakash (running):Mummyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy…..main boloongaaaa….nahi main boloongiiiii..

They both fight to speak to Purvi. She quickly wipes her tears.

Purvi (fake smile, laugh): arre…ladd kyun rahe ho kya hua?

The kids fall over her clumsily hugging her tight. Purvi lifts her arms to hug, but keeps them back.

Aabha: I missed you Mummy..kahan chali gayi thi? kitna intezaar kiya hum dono ne..jaoo aapse baat nahi karti hoon…Katti hoon…

She sits across on the bed, crossing her arms.

Purvi: isme gussa hone waali kya baat hai…meri apni life bhi hai…kuch der akele enjoy kar liya toh kaunsa pahad toot pada…she replies angrily.

Aakash: darr lagta hai Mummy..tum chodke gayi toh hum dono ka kya hoga?

Purvi (rolling her eyes): kya har waqt har kaam ke liye yeh Mummy Mummy kya laga rakha hai…waise bhi kaunsi asli mummy hoon main tumhari..

Aakash looks at her with hurt eyes. He gets down from her lap and walks to Aabha.

Aakash (hurt tone): chal Aabha…apne kamre me chalte hai..

Purvi (getting up): kahan jaa rahe ho? Khaana kaun khaayega? Bahut ho gaya tum dono ka naatak..

Aabha (angry): hum akele khaa lenge..

Purvi walks two steps behind to console them, but she stops

Purvi (mind): Mat jaa Purvi…rehne de inhe tere bina…har baat inko manaati hai..pyaar jataati hai..ab teri zaroorat nahi hai yahan…inhe aadat daalni hogi..tere bina jeene ki..

Evening

Purvi gets ready in the orange saree as Sachin had requested. She goes to her desk and takes her mangalsutra off. She fondles it and with tears keeps it back in the drawer.

Servant: Memsaab..driver aa gaya hai..

Purvi nods her head and makes her way out of the room. She hasn't seen the kids since a long time. She has this urge to go and talk to them. She controls it and walks slowly to the main door.

She sits in the car and shuts her eyes as the driver takes her to Sachin's surprise location.

Sachin, location

He checks the place and arrangeents again and again. He is still nervous.

Sachin (on phone): Nanditaa…yeh roses..fresh hai naa..are you sure?

Nandita: haan sir…maine khud select kiye hai..

Sachin: Aur meethe me woh rasmalaai…ohhh kesar waali hai naa? Main tumhe bataana bhool gaya thaa..

Nandita (laugh):Nahi sir…aap nahi bhoole…relax…everything will be perfect..madam ko sab pasand aayega

Sachin (sighing):Do you think so?

Nandita: Sir…aap itne bade businessman hai…badi badi deals sign hai..kayi bade logon ke saath meetings karte hai…aapko itna nervous kabhi nahi dekha..

Sachin (loosening his collar): haan Nandita..tum sahi keh rahi ho…aaj main jiske saath yeh dinner karne waala hoon..woh shayad mere life ka sabse bada VIP hai..isliye thoda darr raha hoon..he laughs slightly

Nandita: darriye mat sir…I am sure sab acha hi hoga..

Sachin can hear the car.

Sachin: acha main rakhta hoon…woh aa gayi shayad..

Sachin unbuttons his jacket and runs his hands on the sides of her hairs. He quickly lights the candles on the table. He is excited and nervous. He exhales a burst of air and turns around. He is shocked!

Sachin (confused): Aap kaun hai?

The woman in front of him looks at him with shock. She recognizes him but is not sure.

Woman: Sach…Sachinnn? She raises a trembling finger towards him.

Sachin (nodding head): haan..magar Aap? He looks around and behind her confusedly..Purvi kahan hai? He walks past the still shocked woman.

Sachin: Purviiiii..Purviiiiiiiiiiiiiii…he calls out her name…

He sighs a relief when he sees her standing next to the open car door.

Sachin (relief):Purviiii…tum yahan kyun khadi ho…aaooo naa..aur…yeh aurat kaun hai?

Woman: tumne…tumne mujhe nahi pehchaana….she looks at him with surprise..

Sachin: nahi..kya…kya hum pehle mil chuke hai? He looks at Purvi for an answer..She looks down at her feet.

Woman (tears, choked voice):Sachinn..main…mujhe nahi pehchaana..she steps closer to him. Sachin tries to recognize her, but cannot. He nods his head as No, he is increasingly confused. This is not going anywhere near his plan.

Sachin: yeh sab kya hai? Kaun ho tum? Purvi..tum kuch bolti kyun nahi?

Woman (suddenly):NIRVIIII….main…main NIRVI hoon Sachin….she sits down and sobs loudly..while Sachin looks at Purvi with a shock!

Sachin Nirvi and Purvi….what will happen now? how will Nirvi react when she knows about SachVi?

Keep reading and reviewing :) Sorry for the delay.. The story has 2-3 chapters more..