Chapter 11:
Scene 1:
Location: Sanskar’s house, India
Lakshya: what?
Sanskar: now why are you acting like this?
Lakshya: because you rejected my proposal when I offered you some time ago and now you are interested.
Sanskar: because I am settling here so I will be able to give full time.
Lakshya: how did you made your mind?
Sanskar: someone said to me that we should not run from the problems but face them. So I will face the memories of Swara. I will not run from her memories.
Lakshya: so, from where would you start?
Sanskar: from school.
Lakshya: fine!
Scene 2:
Location: Maheshwari Mansion, drawing room
DP: are you crazy, Sanskar?
Sanskar: no dad, I am serious.
DP: some time ago, I asked you……no no correction! I literally begged you to settle in India but you didn’t pay any heed. Then how did you change your mind? I mean, according to you, you could not adjust here.
Sanskar: but now I want to start a project here.
DP: are you having fits of patriotism?
Sanskar: no dad!
DP: then what is the reason? I am your father and I know you completely. You don’t change your mind easily.
Sanskar: why are you behind me? Are you not happy?
DP: no……
Sanskar: then don’t question me. I need some financial help. If you are willing, then tell me otherwise I will arrange it from somewhere else.
DP: (sigh) I am ready!
After five months, he constructed a big school in village. He arranged all the staff from foreign service offices who teached children at their best level. He also arranged a doctor for local dispensary. He also helped the local people by giving them some financial support. He brought extra money with him whenever he came there. Although he was working in bank, still he managed the school very well. Within a short span of time, he developed a good bond with local people over there. In that time, he met Kavita who was his colleague.
Scene 3:
Location: bank, Sanskar’s cabin
Today was Sanskar’s birthday. He was very busy in his work when his eyes fell on a card on which birthday wishes were written. He kept it on side and resumed to his work. He was working when Kavita entered his cabin.
Kavita: hello Sanskar!
Sanskar: (without looking at her) hello! Any work?
Kavita: no! (Sanskar immediately looks at her) I mean can I not come here without any work?
Sanskar: but I am very busy.
Kavita: happy birthday!
Sanskar: I don’t celebrate my birthday. I don’t like anyone wishing me birthday but still thanks. By the way, how did you find out?
Kavita: whole staff knows about it so why can’t I? And we all want to give a party for you.
Sanskar: sorry Kavita! But I don’t like parties and all that.
Kavita: I insist…..
Sanskar: look, you are a good colleague of mine and I don’t want to quarrel. So don’t force me. You wished me and I am thankful for it. Now go and let me do my work.
Kavita: but I w…….
Sanskar: you are distracting me!
Kavita: (disappointed) I am sorry! (leaves from there and he gives a sigh of relief)
Sanskar: she is crack! (continues his work)
He thought that the talk was over and she will not force him but this was not an end. When he came out of his cabin, whole office was decorated and all staff members wished him. He was waiting for the end of party but it seemed like it will not end. He was irritated so he excused and left from there. After that, Kavita came to his cabin every day on the pretext of work and tried talking to him. He was always irritated seeing her. One day, she came again. He was hell angry on her.
Kavita: hello Sanskar!
Sanskar: I have told you many times not to say hello. I always like religious greetings.
Kavita: I am sorry. A…..
Sanskar: any work?
Kavita: yeah, actually….. these papers need your signatures and I thought……
Sanskar: to disturb me while working, right?
Kavita: no, you are getting me wrong. I…..
Sanskar: look Kavita, I get disturbed when you come here. So please let me do my work. I am sorry if I hurt you but….
Kavita: in friendship, no sorry no thank you.
Sanskar: (surprised) friends? Look, I am not…..
Kavita: ok bye! You will be disturbed. Continue your work! We will meet on lunch! (runs from there and he sat there irritated)
Sanskar: friend? My foot. Friends by force? (laughs) crazy girl. (after some time, he went to canteen for lunch. She came and sat with him)
Kavita: thank God! you came. Else I thought that you will not come.
Sanskar: (in mind) I can’t quarrel with her as she is also from Elite class. How to get rid of her? Girls usually don’t like oily things. Yes! (to Kavita) actually! The food of this canteen is not good. I love fried things. So I am going to the restaurant nearby. Sorry!
Kavita: what sorry! Don’t worry. I can accompany you to restaurant.
Sanskar: your time?
Kavita: I will manage!
Sanskar: (irritated) fine! Come this way. (they go to restaurant and have their lunch)
Scene 4:
Location: Sanskar’s apartment
Sanskar: (frustrated) what the hell? (holds a box in his hand. He was standing in between the pile of gift boxes. These all gifts were from Kavita. Before he could keep them aside, doorbell rang and he opened the door. It was Lakshya.
Lakshya: (hugs him) hey dude! what’s up!
Sanskar: (sarcastically) Namste Mahashrey!
Lakshya: (bites his tongue) oops! Sorry yar. (his eyes fall on gifts) wow! These gifts? Form colleagues?
Sanskar: correction, not colleagues but only one colleague. That Kavita Singhania……
Lakshya: girl? But according to my knowledge, you stay miles away from girls. Don’t you?
Sanskar: yes I do! But she is forcefully trying to befriend me. These all gifts are continuation too. I don’t understand why she takes so much interest in me.
Lakshya: ha! Thank God some girl also showed some interest in you. God showed mercy on you also.
Sanskar: oh shut up yar! There is nothing like that.
Lakshya: my dear friend! (mimicking Sanskar’s tone) there is everything like that. See! (holds the box containing watch) this single watch costs 1.5 lacs. Nobody gives such costly gifts to anyone like that. These gifts tell that you have started to mean to her a lot.
Sanskar: she is just my colleague. Nothing else!
Lakshya: only for you.
Sanskar: shut your mouth.
Lakshya: ok! (Sanskar decided to go to his house and meet his parents. He returned after three days)
Scene 5:
Location: bank, Sanskar’s cabin
When Sanskar entered his cabin, he saw a card.
Sanskar: (in mind) now who is that? (picks up the card and sees it. “you don’t know how happy I am to see you after a long time. Welcome back! Your one sight made my day!” it was from Kavita. He got tensed because he did not take Lakshya’s words seriously but now she was openly declaring her love for him) this is wrong. I have to make everything clear. (He called Kavita and invited her for dinner in a good restaurant. She especially got ready with heavy make-up. She was looking very happy and excited. They went to private space which he have booked for her.)
Scene 6:
Location: restaurant, private space
Kavita: why is whole portion empty?
Sanskar: (coldly) because I booked it. I don’t want anybody to disturb us.
Kavita: but what was the need of it?
Sanskar: there was need. Because I want to talk something to you and it’s very important. It’s about our lives and I want to make things clear to you.
Kavita: (shyly) go ahead! I am listening.
Sanskar: we should have our dinner first.
Kavita: but I am curious.
Sanskar: eating comes first. So…..no!
Kavita: please!
Sanskar: (irritated) Kavita! No means no and I don’t like repeating things. So it’s final and I don’t want to argue about it. (his tone was final and Kavita feared that they might end up quarrelling so she kept quiet. They had their dinner in complete silence.)
Kavita: (shyly) you were saying that you want to talk something important with me? (smiles)
Sanskar: yeah! Actually I wanted to clear something with you before situation gets worse. I wanted to talk about the card you left in my cabin early in morning. (takes out the card)
Kavita: you didn’t like it?
Sanskar: card is very beautiful except the words written in it. Are you trying on me?
Kavita: (smile fades instantly) what? No, you are getting me wrong. Actually I wanted to tell you before but I was afraid. I…. I love you. (Sanskar’s eyes were ready to pop out of their sockets) and I am serious about it.
Sanskar: but how? I mean what do you saw in me?
Kavita: (smiling) the moment I saw you, I fell in love with you. You were different from all men. You never saw me straight; you never stared at me or talked to me on your own.
Sanskar: (bluntly) but I don’t love you.