Rajat and Purvi are seated on the soft sands of the beach. Its already past sunset yet the sky is pale yellow-blue in color. The breeze is cooler.

Rajat: Purvi…yeh sapna toh nahi hai naa..mujhe abhi bhi vishwaas nahi ho raha hai..Papa ne khud hamari shaadi karne ka socha…

Purvi (note): Haan…mujhe bhi aaj vishwaas nahi ho raha hai…Rajat..yeh sab sach hoga naa..pata nahi abhi bhi bahut darr lag raha hai..

Rajat (holding her from her shoulders): Nahi Purvi..iss baar nahi…iss baar hamare parivaar ka bhi saath hai..hai naa?...yeh sab tumhari wajah se hi hua.. …tumhara shaant swabhaav, nek dil, tumhari kabiliyat..tumne sabka dil jeet liya..kaise kar leti ho yeh sab? Mere zindagi ka sabse tough decision tha tumse alag hona.. he kisses her hand..

Purvi (note): ek baat puchoon…agar hamari shaadi nahi hoti toh kya aap poori zindagi aise hi rehte?

Rajat (gripping her tight): Purvi..tumhe yaad hai maine uss din issi beach pe kya kaha tha? Tum mera pehla aur ek lauta pyaar ho…. Iske aage main kuch nahi kehna chahta..topic change please..

Purvi agrees and they both sit holding hands and looking at the sky ahead.. Slowly the stars appear twinkling softly.

Rajat : tum chup kyun ho?..kuch bolo naa…acha theekh hai..main hi naya topic shuru karta hoon..mmmmmm….he smiles naughtily and looks at her..

Rajat: Purvii…he pulls her closer..honeymoon pe kahan jaana hai?

He smiles even more when he sees her getting all shy and uncomfortable. She takes his hand off her shoulder and starts to walk away.

Rajat laughs and walks faster to her and holds her hand from behind, pulling her close to himself. She feels the closeness, she draws a sharp breath and fights with him, she is shy... Rajat leaves her sensing her shyness. He comes ahead of her and gazes at her downcast face. Her eyelashes move rapidly but her eyes are watching the sand below. A cool breeze flows, she feels the sudden chill and crosses her arms on the same place where he had held her. She slowly turns her face up to him.

His lips curve into a smile as he watches the pink color on her cheeks. He steps closer just inches away from her, she stands rooted at the spot. Its as if his eyes have arrested her!

Rajat smiles and places a gentle kiss on her forehead. He steps back and watches her slowly breathing normal again.

Rajat (smile): Purvi..relax…main tumhari marzi ke bina kabhi kuch nahi karoonga..aise sabke saamne toh bilkul bhi nahi..

Purvi looks at him and nods her head, still smiling.

Rajat: hmmm…tumne bataaya nahi..honeymoon pe kahan jaana hai? He laughs as Purvi again becomes shy and looks here and there..

Purvi (note): kahin bhi…aap jahan bole..

Rajat: pakka? Jahan boloon wahan chalogi?

Purvi (action): haan..

Rajat (naughty): kitne din? Yaa phir mahino tak chalega hamara honeymoon?

She looks at him with a shocked face and he laughs louder looking at her flustered face. She curls her hand to a fist and hits his shoulder lightly, but Rajat pretends to be hurt and falls down. She rushes to him shaking him and rubbing the place where she hit him. Rajat watches as she gets all worked up for the slightest injury…he smiles..

Purvi (action): aap theekh hai? Sorry..she holds her ears..

Rajat : Main mazaak kar raha tha Purvi..tum itna darr gayi? Kal ko koi mission pe chala jaoon aur mujhe agar kuch ho jaaye..toh kya karogi?

Purvi looks at him in shock! He has stated the truth but its too much for her to bear. She turns her face away and some disturbing thoughts make house in her mind. She is angry at herself to think like that – Rajat is away from her life or he is no longer alive or he is injured severely. She sits down crying – her body is trembling..

Rajat (holding her): arre…yeh kya…ro kyun rahi ho? Purvii…please…

He holds her and tries to turn her face to him, she angrily moves her face away and hits him with great force..Oh God ! she is angry..

Rajat (trying to calm her): Arre…sorry Purvi…tum bhi kya..itni si baat me gussa ho gayi..She refuses to look at him, how she will know now that he is apologizing!...jab tak mujhe dekhogi nahi tumhe kaise samajh me aayega..main maafi maang raha hoon..she stubbornly resists his various tries, her anger reaches its peak..

Rajat has no choice left, he forcibly turns her face to him, she looks with fire in her eyes, her lips are trembling and her cheeks are all wet with her tears.

Rajat (fake scare): Baapre…itna gussa…abhi toh mujhe bhi darr lag raha hai..kahin tum mujhe kacha khaa naa jaooo..

Purvi (making action): main aapse shaadi nahi karna chahti..she gets up and goes, wiping her tears that refuse to stop..

Rajat (shocked): kya? Kya bol rahi ho tum…Purviii..wait..I am sorry yaar…Purviiiiii….

He runs behind and again grabs her by her waist and makes her turn, she hits his hands trying to break free, he now grabs her two hands tight and hugs her, their faces are so close- she has to look upto him as he is taller…that's a disadvantage..she struggles against him!

Rajat (softly): I am sorry Purvi…mera who matlab nahi tha..main jaanta hoon iss baat se tumhe bahut takleef huyi hai..she sniffles a bit…magar main bas itna kehna chahta hoon..main tumhare saath jeena chahta hoon, bahut saari khushiyan baatna chahta hoon, thode gham bhi..zindagi me yeh dono honge naa..jo bhi ho..main sab kuch tumhare saath mehsoos karna chahta hoon..main nahi jaanta hum dono ki zindagi kitni lambi hogi..magar hamare sapne bahut saare honge, kuch hum poora karenge…baaki…she looks into his eyes…he smiles..Baakiyon ko zaroor poora karenge…he smiles and touches her forehead..she smiles too..

Rajat: I love you Purvi…so much..I am sorry..mujhe maaf kiya?….he looks at her for her forgiveness..she looks back at his eyes, her tears have stopped to flow, but her cheeks shine with the ones she has just shed.. she struggles against him...she is still lookin for her acceptance of his apology

Rajat: Bolo naa Purvi..mujhe maaf kiya? Tum..tum mujhse shaadi karogi naa? He asks this question with a great fear and holds his breath…She struggles more to free herself but he is not aware that he has held her tight..

Rajat: Purvii…kuch toh bolo…please..he pleads…

She has no choice now…she reaches on her tiptoes and butts her forhead to his. Rajat leaves her and his hand goes to his forehead, caressing the spot she hit him!

Purvi breathes easy and takes her notepad and pen from her bag to write out. Rajat looks at her actions and realizes…she wanted to talk but as he had held her hands tight, she couldn't !

Purvi finishes writing and comes and stands in front of him. She wipes her tears and hands the note to him.

Purvi (note): phir kabhi aisi baaten mat karna Rajat…ek aap hi hai jisne mere dil me pyaar jagaaya hai..itni mushkilon ke baad hamaara pyaar milne waala hai…main yeh pal haste haste jeena chahti hoon, dukh me bhi aapka saath doongi, aapka sahara banoongi….main aapse bahut pyaar karti hoon..itna ki main chahti hoon hamari maut bhi saath ho…koi bhi pal iske baad waste nahi karna chahti..isliye mujhse pehle jaane ki baat sochiye bhi mat..main itni ziddi hoon ki maut bhi mujhse haar jaayegi…magar aapko mujhse alag nahi kar paayegi…

Rajat looks at her with great respect and love. He holds his ears and sits down on his knees asking for forgiveness. Purvi drops on her knees and nods her head vigorously stating – don't do this..She gives him a hand and they both get up now, dusting sand from their clothes..

Rajat: I am very sorry Purvi….aage se aisa nahi kahoonga…kya tumne mujhe maaf kiya?

Purvi (action): haan…

Rajat (scared): toh…kya tum ab bhi mujhse shaadi karogi? He looks at her, joining his hands…

Purvi looks at him amusingly and shows her thumb and gets her tongue out and runs to the waves. Rajat joins her and they both stand watching the stars and dreaming about their future..Together!

Next day, bureau

Pankaj: Nikhil..jaldi kar yaar…woh case discussion hai aaj…tune aare points likh liye…warna pata hai naa..Rajat sir aaj phir chilla chillakar hamare kaan laal kar denge

Nikhil (checking the sheet again): Haan yaar…aaj kal toh mera pet unki daat sunke hi bhar jaata hai..jabse Purvi ji ke saath unka rishta toota hai..sir kitne dukhi aur ukhde se ho gaye hai..arre who dekh..aa gaye Sir..

They both stand in attention as they see Rajat walk in the bureau entrance. He has his car keys in his hand, he is twirling them and whistling. He stops whistling as soon he sees Pankaj and Nikhil.

Rajat (smile): Good morning Pankaj…Good morning Nikhil..

Pankaj and Nikhil (small voice): good…good morning sir..

Nikhil: Sir..woh hum dono ne points ready kar diye hai..discu..discussion ke liye..

Rajat: That's great…pehle yeh bataoo..tum dono ne naashta kiya?

Pankaj: Nahi sir..Nikhil elbows him…I mean..yes sir..khaa liya? He then murmurs to himself..kal subah khaaya thaa…Chale sir..he starts to walk towards the meeting room…

Rajat: arre…wahan kahan jaa rahe ho? Chalo mere saath..

He walks ahead. Pankaj and Nikhil look at each other and shrugging their shoulders follow Rajat …he goes to the cafeteria..where the rest of team is already present eating breakfast/drinking coffee..

Rajat goes and takes his breakfast, he is smiling.

Pankaj(slow voice): Baapre…aaj toh sir apni class sabke saamne lene waale hain..

Rajat: Pankaj…Nikhil..wahan kya khade ho..aaoo…naashta le loo…chalo..

They both smile unsurely and take their breakfast. The rest of the team looks at Rajat as he joins them cheerfully.

Daya (whisper to Abhijit): yeh kya boss..aaj yeh ekdum badla badla lag raha hai..

Abhijit (whisper): hmmm…pichle kuch dino se toh sabpe bhaukk raha thaa..aaj itna badlaav? Lagta hai bahut dukhi hai…kahin shock me toh nahi chala gaya? Tu zara puch ke dekh..

Daya (clearing throat): Kyun Rajat…sab..sab theekh hai?

Rajat (looking up): Haan sir..sab bahut badhiya hai…it's a beautiful day…hai naa Shreya..

Shreya (looking out): baahar baarish ho rahi hai…sab jagah paani bhar gaya hai..

Rajat: haan toh…hamare hindi filmo me toh aise mausam ko ekdum romantic dikhaate hai…kyun Nikhil..

Abhijit (coughing, whisper): Daya…lagta hai isko sach me kuch ho gaya hai..yeh romance ki baaten kar raha hai..

Rajat: acha sir..aap sab log agle mahine ki 14 taarikh ko free ho naa?

Nikhil: Free? Kyun sir…kahin jaana hai?

Rajat (still eating): Hmm…acha gujrati khaana khaane..Pankaj..aaj se dieting shuru kar dena..

Tarika: Gujrati khaana? Kyun bhai..tumhari shaadi hai kya? She asks in jest, everyone glares at her..she becomes silent..Rajat continues to eat..

Abhijit (quickly): Kya bol rahi ho Tarika..Rajat…dekho..buraa mat maano..woh aise hi mazaak kar rahi thi..hai naa Tarika?

Tarika (quickly): Haan haan..I am really sorry Rajat..

Rajat (stops eating): Sorry kyun Tarika ji? Aapne bilkul sahi kaha…he tells the next few words with some shyness…agle mahine ki 14 tareekh ko meri….meri shaadi hai….

Rajat looks up finally, everyone is quiet, they are in shock!

Rajat (nudging Abhijit): Sir…sir…kya hua? aap sab log aise chupp kyun ho? Arre sach me..meri shaadi hai..aap logon ko vishwaas nahi ho raha hai kya?

Abhijit (snapping back): nahi nahi..achi..achi baat hai…ahh..woh…he clears his throat..kis? kiske saath..mera matlab..They all are not aware of the recent developments in Rajat's life..

Rajat (getting up): Agle mahine ki 14 tareekh ko meri shaadi hai…he smiles …Purvi ke saath..mere Papa maan gaye..

All: WHATTTT? They all get up to congratulate him, all speaking at the same time…he makes them all quiet and explains how it all happened.

Daya (smile): waaah Rajat..subah subah ekdum dil khush kar diya tumne….congratulations…

Rajat (happy): Thank you Sir..acha aap sab logon ko meri har function me aana hai..koi bahaana nahi chalega..

The days fly by and soon their various wedding ceremonies start. (I am only focusing on major ones – Mehendi and Sangeet)

Mehendi

Rajat and Purvi's mehendi ceremony is ongoing in a wedding hall. Purvi is seated in a corner and mehendi is being applied on her hands and legs. Surbhi is seated too next to her. Everybody is enjoying the ceremony. Surbhi is tired as she is now 6 months pregnant.

Surbhi (holding waist): Didi…ab aur nahi hota mujhse…main thoda aaram kar loon?

Purvi nods her head as yes.

Surbhi: magar aap aise akele kaise manage karengi? Main kisiko bhej deti hoon…magar kisse? Sab toh khaana khaa rahe hai…

Purvi just smiles and indicates with her head for her to go and take rest. Surbhi leaves, some time later Purvi feels something is biting her on her back. She hitches, her mehendiwaali looks up.

Mehendiwaali: Kya hua?

Purvi sits quietly, but again after 5 min, she feels a sting. She hitches again, her mehendi gets awry.

Mehendiwaali: arre..seedhe baitho naa…mehendi kharab ho jaayegi.

She now lifts her other hand and tries to scratch her back. The mehendiwaali sees her curling her fingers.

Mehendiwaali: arre…yeh kya kar rahi ho..mehendi kharaab ho gayi..tskkk tskkkk…she now starts to apply on the other hand. She is in a fix. The mehendiwaali goes to use the bathroom. Purvi is all alone.

She looks on for some help she can see only Rajat standing with his colleagues. He is smiling and greeting the guests, when from the corner of his eye, he can see Purvi bobbing her head up and down and every now and then moving awkwardly. He walks up to her.

Rajat: kya hua? sab theekh hai naa?

She cannot answer back as her hands are full of mehendi and it pains as she has held them in the same position for so long…She twitches again, her eyes have tears..

Rajat notes that she is twitching her waist again and again. He looks here and there and after making sure no one is watching, places his hand on her waist. Her eyes open in shock, he traces his fingers around the knot of her ghagra and pulls out an insect.

Rajat (showing it): Yeh keeda ghuss gaya tha…thodi der me dard chala jaayega.. she nods her head, but it still pains.

Rajat: bahut dard ho raha hai? Main dekhoon?

Purvi bows her head down in shyness. Rajat smiles and slowly pulls the ghagra down just a little bit- the spot is red and swollen.

Rajat: ohh ohhh…lagta hai bahut zor se kaata uss keede ne..ruko main ice laata hoon. Purvi nods her head as No. She is thanking her stars that no one saw him touching her..now she doesn't want them to be embarrassed.

She fidgets, trying to nod her head vigorously, hoping he understands what she wants.

Rajat: kya baat hai…kya bolna hai tumhe? She cannot talk and tries to use her hands, but she still cannot use her fingers. She is getting frustrated.

Rajat (trying to scare her): Bahut dukh raha hai? Main dekhoon phir se..he comes closer again. She steps back nodding her head no..

Rajat: arre..mujhse kya sharmaa rahi ho…2 din ke baad toh…he smiles naughtily, she becomes red and is close to tears. Her tears are about to drop when he wipes them away.

Rajat: ghabrao mat….main Maa ko bhejta hoon…theekh hai…she looks at him and nods her head as yes..

He gets up to look for his mother. He stops and comes closer to her again. She steps back, looking into his eyes..

Rajat: waiseeeee…ek baat toh samajh aa gayi mujhe….tumhari haath bandhe ho toh tumhari bolti bandh ho jaati hai…hmmmm….iss baat ka zindagi bhar advantage loonga..he laughs as she suppresses a smile…

Sangeet

Everyone is ready for sangeet. The relatives from both sides are dancing to the music. Many new guests have come and the hot topic of discussion amongst them is the disability of Purvi.

Guest1: arre..sunaa tumne…dulhan goongi behri hai…

Guest2(shock): kya? Gooongi aur behri donoo?...dikhne me toh sundar hai magar…

Guest 1: Rukmini….yahan aa toh..Rukmini comes to the guests..

Guest1: ek baat toh bataa…tumhare parivaar ko pehle se pata tha…yeh ladki goongi behri hai?

Rukmini (sarcasm): Haan…kya kare 'Lovvvve' marriage hai…

Guest 2(shock): Lovve marriage…tsskkk tskkk…mujhe toh laga tum logon ki kuch majboori hogi..ya ladkiwaalon ke bahut dahej diya hogaa..isliye yeh shaadi..

Rukmini: Dahejjjj? Ek phooti kaudi nahi li mere sasoor ne.. yeh defective piece free me aa gayi parivaar me..pyaar andhaa hota hai yeh toh sunaa tha..magar mere devarji ke case me..pyaar goonga aur behraa bhi hai..she giggles..

Baapuji and Rajat are standing just behind the laughing guests. Rukmini sees them and gets away from the place. The guests see Baapuji and hide their giggles. Rajat looks at them with disgust and walks away in anger.

Baapuji (to the guests): Mehmaan ka kaam hota hai shaadi me aana..var-vadhu ko aashirwaad dena..buraai nikaalni hai..toh khaane ki nikaalo..mandap ki sajaawat ki nikaalo…lekin kisike pyaar aur vishwaas ka nahi…hmmpffff..

Rajat is very upset on hearing the bitter words and the sarcasm. Nikhil comes to him, reminding him of his performance.

Nikhil: sir…chaliye…5 min me aapka performance hai..bhabhiji ke liye…who toh bahut excited hai..

Rajat (upset): Tum jaooo…mera mood nahi hai…

Nikhil: Sirr..yeh kya keh rahe hai aap? Aaj aapki sangeet hai..aapne kitne dino se iss gaane pe mehnat ki hai..Purvi ji bahut excited hai…unke liye please..

Rajat: kya faayda Nikhil..sab log toh hassenge..

Nikhil: sir..aap yeh….

Rajat walks away from that place. Baapuji comes to Nikhil. They both talk.

Purvi is seated with her family and is on the lookout for Rajat. He is nowhere to be seen. She sees Nikhil walk ahead to Pankaj. She catches his eye and calls with her hand.

Purvi (note): Rajat kahan hai? Unka performance hai naa?

Nikhil (unsure): Pata nahi…Sir manaa kar rahe hai?

Purvi (note): Kyun? Unki tabiyat toh theekh hai naa?

Nikhil: haan…theekh hai..aisi koi baat nahi..woh bas..

Baapuji: Purvi Bahu…Purvi gets up immediately…baitho beta…baitho….Rajat ki tabiyat theek hai..bas who thoda udaas hai..Baapuji explains everything to Purvi, she feels bad too.

Purvi (mind): wahi ho raha hai..jiska mujhe darr tha…in sab baaton ki mujhe aadat ho gayi hai..magar Rajat…mujhe unhe dukhi hone se rokna hoga..aaj toh kamse kam nahi..unka poora parivaar hai yahan, saare mehmaan…mujhe kuch karna hoga..

She writes a note and gives to Nikhil. He looks at her unsure, she gives him a thumbs up sign..

What will Purvi do to improve Rajat's mood - surely its something romantic and emotional...happy happy next chapter...