Purvi gets adjusted with the kids in Sachin's house. Aabha still maintains her distance with Purvi. Sachin is relieved as he is sure of kids safety and well being all the times.
Two days before Diwali
Sachin is working away on his laptop. Aabha and Aakash playfully come in his room.
Aabha (placing her hands around his neck): Papa..aaj se hamari chutti hai…
Sachn (busy): achaa…good…
Aakash: Papaa…iss baar diwali me hum pataakhe lenge naa…mujhe rockets bahut pasand hai..
Sachin (typing away): nahi iss baar nahi..
Aabha (surprised): Kyun?
Sachin: iss baar hum Diwali nahi manaa rahe hai…mere Papa ki death ho gayi thi naa..isliye..
Aabha (not understanding): toh usme kya hua..pata hai main iss saal patakhe jalaa sakti hoon..har bar sirf Aakash jalaata tha..aur mujhe ghar ke bahar jaane hi nahi dete the…mujhe bhi pataakhe chahiye..aur dher saare ladooo…aur ek badi si rangoli…ek nayi dress..
Sachin (irritated):Aabha please…Aakash..tum dono yahan se jaoo..meri ek important meeting hai..
The kids get disappointed and leave his room. Purvi is walking by and stops.
Purvi: Aakash..Aabha…kya hua?
Aabha looks at her with disgust and moves away. Purvi turns her attention to Aakash.
Purvi: Aakash..tum bolo..kya hua? Aabha kyun gusse me hai?
Aakash (sad): Papa ne kaha iss saal no diwali..no patakkhe..no sweets..
Purvi (surprised): Kyun?
Aakash (shrugging shoulders): Pata nahi…Mummy tum mujhe rocket leke dogi naa…
Purvi (smile): haan…laa doongi…main kal hi bazaar se tum dono ke liye naye kapde bhi laati hoon..Aabha ka gussa shayad shaant ho jaaye..
Aakash (hugging Purvi): Mummy…Aabha ke liye bhi pataakhe laana…who iss baar jalaa sakti hai naa..
Purvi hugs him and smiles, stroking his hairs.
After some time, Sachin room
Knock..knock..
Sachin (working still): Come in
The door opens and Purvi steps in with a mug of hot coffee.
Sachin:Purvi tum..aur yeh coffee..yeh toh maine Kakaa se kahi thi lane…toh tum kyun le aayi..
Purvi (placing the coffee): main bhi to iss ghar me kaam karti hoon…toh bass le aayi..
Sachin (embarrassed): nahi Purvi…tum please aisa mat socho…tumhara rishta alag hai..tum inn bachon ki Maa ho..
Purvi (smile): Maa nahi..Maasi…Maasi Maa se zyaada laad karti hai…bacho ki har ichaa poora karti hai…
Sachin (sipping coffee): achaa? Aisi kaunsi ichaa hai jo bacho ke Papa nahi poora kar sakte aur Maasi karne waali hai?
Purvi: 2 din baad Diwali hai..bache tyohaar manaana chahte hai…toh bass main kal unke liye naye kapde aur pataakhe lene waali hoon..
Sachin: haan..bacho ne poocha tha..sorry..woh tum toh janti ho..mere papa ki abhi kuch mahino pehle hi death huyi..main kaise iss tyohaar ko manaooo?
Purvi: Sachin ek baat kahoon…bura toh nahi maanoge naa?
Sachin (smile): nahi..
Purvi: main maanti hoon aapne iss saal ek bahut ehem rishta khoya…magar ek naya rishta paaya bhi..kya aap iss baat ki khushiyan nahi manaa sakte? Yeh bache unke Daadaji ka hi khoon hai…kya inki ichaayen nahi hai?...aap keh rahe the naa aap bacho sse judd nahi paa rahe hai…tyohaar hamare zindagi me aise mauke hote hai…jab poora parivar milta hai…khushiyan manaate hai…nayi yaaden banaate hai…shayad yeh Diwali aapke zindagi me dher saari khushiyan aur naye rishte laaye…
Sachin stops sipping his coffee and thinks about it.
Purvi (feeling sorry): Sorrry..woh main shayad kuch zyaada bol gayi…I mean…mujhe aapke aur bachon ke beech nahi aana chahiye..sorry
Sachin(smile): Purvi..tumhe sorry kehne ki zaroorat nahi hai..tum inn bacho aur mere beech ki kadi ho jo hume jod sakti hai..shayad tum theekh keh rahi ho..
Purvi: Thank you..acha..raat bahut ho gayi hai…apna kaam khatam kijiye aur so jayiye..Good night
Sachin:Good night Purvi..
Next day
Purvi finishes her work and is thinking of going to the market to shop for the kids. She gets a phone call.
Purvi:Hello..
Sachin: Purvi…kya tum free ho abhi? Mujhe ek help chahiye thi…
Purvi: Help? Aur meri?
Sachin: haan….maine driver ko bheja hai..tum bass aa jaana yahan..
Purvi accompanies the driver to a huge mall. She enters a huge dressing shop.
Sachin: Thank God..tum aa gayi…inse miloo..yeh Shweta Shroff hai…the famous designer..Purvi shakes hands with her.
Sachin: Shweta…Purvi tumhe samjhaa degi mujhe kya chahiye..
Purvi: Main? Designer?
Sachin: woh…tumne kal jo kaha maine uske baare me socha..mujhe bachon ke liye kapde lene hai..but samajh me nahi aa raha hai..kya kharidoon…unpe kya acha lagega…unke size wagereh wagereah..
Purvi (happy):Ohhh…theekh hai…chaliye Shweta ji.
Shweta shows them lots of expensive designer clothes for boys and girls. Purvi keeps on rejecting them.
Shweta (tired): Mr Joshi..aap 5 min wait kar sakte hai…mere assistants kuch doosre designs laa rahe hai…main zaraa check karke aati hoon..aap tab tak kuch coffee/tea lijiye…
Sachin:kya baat hai Purvi…tumhe kuch pasand nahi aa raha hai…koi doosri dukaan chale kya? Main koi aur designer ko call karta hoon..
Purvi (embarrassed): Nahi Nahi Sachin…yeh sab…yeh sab bahut sundar hai…bahut hi zyaada…
Sachin: toh..phir problem kya hai?
Purvi (embarrassed): woh…yeh…yeh sab bahut mehenge hai..maine kabhi itne mehenge kapde dekhe bhi nahi hai naa kharide hai bacho ke liye..isliye samajh me nahi aa raha hai…I..I am sorry…
Sachin (smile, understanding): Tumhe sorry kehne ki zaroorat nahi hai…ek kaam karo…tum pricetag mat dekho…bass inn kapdo ko dekho aur apni aankhen bandh karke imagine karo ki Aabha aur Aakash pe yeh kaise lagenge..
Shweta returns with new set of clothes. Purvi convinces herself to not look at the pricetags and imagines how beautiful Aakash and Aabha would look wearing them.
She selects some traditional clothes for both of them. Sachin agrees to her choices and they await as the clothes will get packed. Sachin looks around at the showroom and sees beautiful clothes for women. He shuts his eyes and imagines Purvi wearing them. He opens his eyes and looks at her.
Sachin (smile): Purvi…bacho ki toh shopping ho gayi..tumne apne liye kuch liya?
Purvi: mere liye? Mujhe naye kapdo ki kya zaroorat…kuch mahine pehle ek saree li thi..wohi pehnoongi..
Sachin: tumhe..tumhe sariyaan pasand hai?
Purvi: tyohaaron pe pehenna acha lagta hai mujhe..
Sachin looks around for sarees. Shweta comes back with the parcels.
Shweta:Mr Joshi…here are your clothes..
Sachin: Shwetaa…kuch ache designer sarees dikhaa sakti ho…
Shweta: Oh suree…she instructs her assistants to get expensive sarees for display.
Sachin (looking at them): aise dekhke kuch samajh me nahi aa raha …
Shweta: meri assistant hai naa..woh model karke dikhaa degi..
Sachin: nahi..ahhh…he looks at Purvi..Purvi…he calls her..she looks up at him..
Purvi: haan
Sachin: Mujhe zaraa yeh saree select karne me help kar dogi..
Purvi (smile):Ji sure…waise yeh saree kiske liye le rahe hai aap?
Sachin: Hai koi..I mean…ek ladki hai…Purvi's face falls…Sachin smiles at her…
Purvi (smile): Okay…she looks at the sarees…and picks an orange colored simple looking saree..
Purvi (showing him): Yeh waali kaisi hai?
Shweta: Yeh toh bahut hi simple hai..Mr Joshi I think aapko koi aisi saree leni chahiye jisme kuch gold work ho…you know..classy….this is too simple..she hands him an embroidered saree with gold trimmings..
Sachin: Yeh achi hai…Purvi keeps the simple saree back…Purvi…zaraa isse pehen ke dikhaa sakti ho…he hands the saree to her..
Purvi: main?
Shweta:maine kaha naa Mr joshi…meri assistant hai naa…
Sachin: No thanks..actually jiss ladki ke liye le raha hoon..uski height-weight Purvi se match karti hai..toh mere liye aur easy ho jaayega..
Purvi changes into the saree and comes out. Sachin looks at her from head to toe- she looks beautiful.
Sachin (low voice):Beautifulllll…
Shweta:iske matching accessories bhi hai…she gets some heavy jewellery and puts them on Purvi's ears and neck..She feels totally uncomfortable under its weight and stands there awkwardly. There is a polite smile on her face.
Purvi (uncomfortable): ahhh…Sachin…main…main isse utaar doon?
Sachin:Kyun? Tumhe pasand nahi aayi?
Purvi: yeh sundar hai…but…maine pehle kabhi aisa kuch pehna nahi hai..I..I am sorry…yeh mere liye thoda uncomfortable hai..she looks at the price tag..her eyebrows shoot up…
Shweta (small laugh): har koi designer sarees carry nahi kar sakta..Purvi lowers her head…So Mr Joshi..shall I pack this?
Sachin: Nahi Shweta…maine idea drop kar diya hai…Purvi..jaooo change kar looo..
Purvi prepares to go to the changing room. Sachin picks up the orange saree that she had selected earlier.
Sachin: ek min Purvi..ek aur favour kar sakti ho…kya yeh waali pehen ke aa sakti ho?
Sachin is talking to Amar on his mobile. The dressing room door opens and Sachin hears soft tinkle of bangles. He can get a glimpse of the color – light orange. He turns immediately to marvel at the sight in front of him. Purvi stands in front of him – looking utterly charming in that simple orange saree. It highlights her fair skin and accentuates her slender figure. The material is soft and is bereft of any false/gaudy/flashy stuff. Its simple and beautiful – just what she is.
Purvi: ahhh….Sachin…achi nahi hai? She asks with a blank face.
Sachin (whisper): Bahut achi hai…bilkul tumhari tarah..
Shweta: I think aapko pehle waala hi lena chahiye..this is too simple..and plain..
Sachin: Shweta…I have made my choice…please pack this..
Shweta (making a face): Okay…aur iske saath accessories? Kuch diamonds me?
Sachin: nahi…iski saadgi hi iski khoobsurti hai….chalen Purvi…
Later in the car
Sachin: Tumhari choice bahut achi hai Purvi…
Purvi: pata nahi..yeh saree aapki 'friend' ko pasand aayegi bhi yaa nahi…I mean mujhe yeh designer aur mahange kapde ki koi samajh nahi hai..
Sachin: sabse mehengi cheez hamesha khoobsurat nahi hoti..warna har paisewaala khoobsurat ho hota…mann khoobsurat hona chahiye..
Purvi (smiles): Haan..sahi kaha aapne..waise..ek baat poochoon..buraa toh nahi manoge?
Sachin: poocho…
Purvi (unsure look): woh…yeh saree aapne kisi…I mean..koi khaas hai..jiske liye li hai?
Sachin (looking at her): hmm..kaise bataaoon….bass itna bol sakta hoon…iss Diwali me ek naya rishta banana chahta hoon…
Purvi: ohhh…I hope…usse meri yeh saree pasand aaye…
Sachin (smile): Tumhe pasand aayi naa?
Purvi (little excited): haan..mujhe toh bahut achi lagi yeh sareee..he looks at her…she quietens down..sorrry…woh…sach me bahut sundar hai..but kya pata meri choice aapki dost ko pasand aayegi?
Sachin: hmmm…ab yeh toh gift karne ke baad pata chalega…waise mujhe lagta hai usse bhi yeh bahut pasand aayegi..
Diwali day
Sachin and Purvi enter the kids room with the new dresses and crackers and sweets.
Sachin: Aakash…Aabha….uthoooo….Happy Diwali….
Aakash (rubbing eyes):happy Diwali Mummy…papa….his eyes go wide as he spots the crackers..
Aakash (shaking Aabha): Aabhaaaa…uthhhhh..yeh dekh…kitne saare pataakhe…wowwwww….rockets, anaar…itne saare…yayyyyyyy…
Aabha (excited):Kya? Pataaakhe…kaun laaya…kya hum log yeh sab aaj phodenge?
Sachin (happy): haan…aaj shaam ko hum sab milke khoob saare pataakhe phodenge….mithaai khayenge…yeyyyyyyyyyyyy….Happy Diwali Aabha….he hugs her…
Aabha (kissing his cheek): Thank you Papaaa…..hamare liye nayi dress kahan hai?
Purvi (removing dress from bag):Yeh dekhoo Aabhaaa…kitna sundar ghagraa hai…isme frills bhi hai…aur jaisa tumne last year maanga thaa isme bells bhi hai…dekhoo….she shows off the dress enthusiastically.
Aabha (making face): Last year ka dress mujhe acha hi nahi laga tha…
Purvi feels sad. She couldn't always afford what the kids wanted.
Sachin (realizing): iss saal ka dress kaisa laga tumhe Aabha?
Aabha (looking in mirror):Bahut acha laga mujhe…
Sachin (smile): Tumhari mummy ne select kiya hai…Good choice Purvi..he smiles at her..
Aabha: you mean naany ne kiya..acha hai…she places the dress on her bed and goes to the bathroom.
Purvi (sad): Main…main chalti hoon..bachon ka nashta ready karna hai…
Sachin: Purvi…ek min…shaam ko kya tum Lakshmi pooja me help karogi…mujhe toh yeh sab kuch nahi aata…London me itne saal..diwali me aisa kuch kiya hi nahi…
Purvi (smile): main…main pooja me help karoongi..
She prepares to leave..
Sachin:ek min..Purvi stops and looks at her..
Sachin takes out a box and hands it to her.
Sachin:yeh…yeh tumhare liye hai
Purvi (surprise): mere liye? Kya hai isme?
Sachin (smiles): Happy Diwali Purvi…he leaves the room, before she opens the box.
Later, Purvi room
Purvi opens the box and is stunned to see the same saree that she had selected for Sachin's 'friend'.
Purvi (thinking):Yeh..yeh sareee…shayad galti se mujhe de di Sachin ne..
She picks the box and goes to his room.
Sachin: haan Purvi…kuch kaam tha?
Purvi (giving the box): yeh…yeh aapne galti se mujhe de diya…isme who saree hai jo aapne aapki 'friend' ke liye liya tha…Bye…she turns to go
Sachin: Purviii..rukooo…he comes closer to her and places the box again in her hands.
Sachin (smile): Yeh maine tumhare liye hi kharida tha…
Purvi (shock):Mere liye? Lekin aapne toh kaha thaa….friend ke liye..naya rishta banana ke liye…she realizes he was talking about her..
Sachin:Kyun? Kya tum meri friend nahi ho? She looks at him…kya hum dost nahi ban sakte?
Purvi:Dost?
Sachin:haan Purvi…Aakash aur Aabha hum dono ki zindagi ka ek bahut bada hissa hai..hum dono unke saath rishta nibhaa rahe hai..aise me hum bhi toh dost ban sakte hai naa…tumhe nahi lagta hamari life thodi simple ho jaayegi?
Purvi (thinking, smiling): Shayad…shayad aap theekh keh rahe hai…she accepts his gift…Thank you…she frowns a bit..
Sachin: kya hua?
Purvi (embarrassed): mere paas aapke liye koi gift nahi hai..
Sachin (smile): poora din pada hai…shaam tak toh tum besan ke ladoo banaa hi sakti ho
Purvi (surprise): ladooo?
Sachin: Aakash bata raha tha….uski mummy duniya ke best Besan ke ladoo banaati hai…mujhe bhi ladoo bahut pasand hai…toh banaaogi? Isse badhiya gift kya ho sakta hai?
Purvi (smile):Theekh hai..aaj shaam ko aap logon ko ladoo banaa ke khilaati hoon..Thank you Sachin..
Sachin: Happy Diwali Purvi..
Purvi: Happy Diwali Sachin…
Sachin: aaj shaam ko intezaar rahega mujhe…
Purvi (laugh): Ladoo ka?
Sachin (looking into her eyes): umm hmmm…tumhara…he whispers…Purvi feels her cheeks burning…They both look into each other's eyes….
Next chapter - Diwali party...something brings Purvi and Aabha closer...things improve between Sachin and Purvi ! Will this friendship lead to love ?
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Dear Guest: I hope you like this chapter..there is no rona dhona...finally some light moments :)