Malhotra Mansion

Khushi has returned from school, she sits down on the couch and throws her bag on the floor. She was upset as tomorrow is PTM and she doesn't want her father to attend it. In the past 10 years he hadn't bothered to attend her PTMs and always sent Sharda Kaki with her due to his busy work schedule.

Sharda asked "beta kya hua?"

"Kal school mein PTM and teachers ne Mr. Malhotra ko aane ko kaha hai" she replied.

Sharda thought it wouldn't be possible for him to attend due to his meetings and busy work schedule. She smiles and said "usko phone karke puchlo" she knows he will spare time to just spend some quality time with his daughter and gain her love.

Khushi refuses "office mein phone karke unhe disturb nahi karungi main" she leaves to her room leaving Sharda in disappointment.

Malhotra Industries

A report was submitted by one of the senior managers to him. Aarav examined it and fumes in anger finding just one mistake in the last mention clause. He walks out of his chamber and shouts "Mr. Sarthak Arora"

Everyone's attention gets to him, and they all get scared when they hear his loud angry voice. Today, someone else is about to lose their job as he doesn't bear even a single mistake in the work. Well, this discipline and strict nature made his employees hate him but he rules in commercials with this attitude in the no. 1 position for many years.

Sarthak gets up and comes running to him "Sir..." he said in a trembling tone.

"Kitne saalo se kaam kar rahe ho tum yahan pe" he shouted.

"Sir... 20..20 saal se" he replies.

"Phir kaise kar sakte ho ye galti tum? Agar pata nahi tha toh mujhse puch lete! Agar ye report client ko jaati toh mujhe nuksaan uthana padta jo main bardasht nahi karta! Get out of my office" he throws the file in his face insulting him.

Sarthak held the file in his hand and apologises "Sorry Sir.. main aage se dhyan rakhunga!"

"Mr. Sarthak.. You know my rules! Out.." he shouts.

Tears brims down his eyes, Aarav didn't think for once that he had given his whole life to this company. He was a ruthless person, Sarthak helplessly walks out of the office taking his belongings.

"HR team ke saath meeting fix karo ek ghante mein.. Agar time pe kaam khatam nahi kar sakte toh overtime karo samjhe tum log" he shouts at the staff and goes to his chamber.

"Dekha do minute nahi lage inhe itne experience aadmi ko nikalne mein office se..."

"Haa.. are tune aaj subah ka newspaper dekha? Ruby ke saath bhi inka affair chal raha tha.." the other said.

"Ab Ruby bhi toh kabse Sir ke liye mare jaa rahi thi.. Banda waise hot toh hai.." the girl said.

"Tujhe apni naukri nahi gawani hai na... toh bas kaam kar apna" the other spoke and they continued working.

Aarav saw the newspaper, he picked it up and read the headlines "Another Affair leads to Secetary's marriage break! The most desirable man breaks another heart again.." A smile appears on his face and he throws away the newspaper into the bin.

His phone rings and he picks it up instantly, he assumed it to be from his daughter "hello.. Khushi"

However, he gets disappointment when Sharda speaks from another end. He sighed deeply "kya baat hai kaki? Khushi thik hai?" the softness comes to his voice which nobody sees.

"Kal khushi ke school mein PTM hai... aapko jaana chahiye" she said.

Aarav saw the manager entering inside, he ends the call by saying "Ghar aake baat karta hun" he doesn't want anyone in the office to know his soft side or even about his daughter. He keeps his phone and gets engaged in the work.

Later in the evening, around 7 pm he returns home. The maid comes and serves him a glass of water, He drank it and gives back the glass to her.

"Khushi?" he questions.

"Apni dost ke ghar gayi hai padhai karne" she replies.

Aarav said "raat hone waali hai! Driver ko kaho usko wapas ghar leke aaye"

The maid nods, she calls the driver and asks him to bring Khushi back home. Aarav climbed the stairs and went into his room. He took a quick shower and comes out in the bathrobe, he called the manager and said "haa.. Kal 12 se 2 ke beech ki meri meetings cancel kar dena and make sure uss time ke har ek second ki report mujhe dete rehna!!" he ends the call.

He wears his trousers and t-shirt and moves out of the room. Khushi had returned and she was annoyed. She glanced at him and yells "aapki problem kya hai?? Mujhe kyun meri dost ke ghar se bulaya?"

"Khushi raat ke 8 bajne waale hai!" Aarav said softly and as a concerned father.

"Oh really? Aapko meri fikar kabse hone lagi?? Maine kaha hai na aapse meri life mein itnterfer mat karo aap!" Khushi shouts at him and does not realise her words hurt Aarav.

"Acha shant ho jao.. Kal tumhari PTM hai na toh main aaunga" He said calmly.

"Aap nahi aaoge.." Khushi refuses.

Aarav looked at her "Khushi.. Maine kal meetings.." his words were left incomplete.

Khushi said "haa.. Aapki meetings, aapka kaam aur aapke affairs! Hamesha se yahi aapki life mein important raha hai Mr. Malhotra toh kal kuch ghante ke liye mere ache baap banne ki koshish mat kijiye aap!"

"Khushi.." he tries to explain but Khushi wasn't giving him a chance to speak.

"Kya khushi? Don't even think of embarrassing me in front of my schoolmates.. Aap aaye na toh main padhai wagera sab kuch chod dungi" Khushi said crossing her arms across her chest.

Aarav smiles sarcastically.. "Thik hai! Nahi aaunga main hamesha jaise Sharda kaki ko leke jaati ho le jaana unhe"

'Aap unhe bhejte ho" Khushi rebuked.

Aarav takes a deep breath, Sharda comes there and said "khana lag gaya hai.."

"Khushi ko khila dijiye mujhe bhook nahi hai" he spoke and walked back upstairs to his room. He gets frustrated and takes out the alcohol bottle from the bar. He drinks it and lays down on the bed closing his eyes.

Sharda prayed hard "bhagwaan iss ghar mein ek aisi aurat ki zaroorat hai jo Aarav aur Khushi dono ko sambhal sake unhe ek kar sake"

Maria said "Aarav Sir sabko daante hai.. Chillate hai lekin apni beti se uchi awaaz mein baat tak nahi karte wo kitna suna deti hai unhe!"

"Baap hai na.. Bahut pyaar karta hai apni beti se.." Sharda spoke and takes a deep breath.

The next day, Khushi takes Sharda to her PTM. Sharda greets the teacher and she said "Khushi Malhotra... inka academic performance bahut hi average raha hai! I highly doubt ye board exam de payengi.."

"Aap aisa kyun kah rahi hai madamji?" she asked

"Toh aur kya kahun? Inki maa inpe bilkul dhyan nahi deti hai..." the teacher said.

Khushi gets up and leaves there disrespecting the teacher. The teacher said "Dekha ye hai iska attitude"

"Bin maa ki bachi hai mam.. Maa ka pyaar nahi mila aur pita jo pyaar karta hai uski ise kadar nahi hai!" she said.

The teacher didn't knew about this, she spoke calmly "Dekhiye main samajhti hun lekin future bhi zaroori hai agar inke pita inhe waqt nahi de paa rahe hai toh inke tutions laga dijiye warna main inhe boards mein nahi baithne dungi"

Sharda agreed and moves out of the classroom taking her report card. Khushi glared at her and said "Mr. Malhotra ko ye sab batane ki zaroorat nahi hai! Aaj mujhe unse phirse nahi ladna hai"

She walks away and sits inside the car. Sharda sits in front and the driver headed off toward home.

Coaching Centre

The same lady was taking her classes with a few students. Her phone rings and it was her husband Dhruv again. She ends the call and puts it on silent. The class ends in half an hour and she heads back home.

She rings the doorbell as she knows Dhruv must be home by now. As she expected he opens the door and he pulls her inside shuting the door hard.

"Dhruv main class le rahi thi kyun baar baar phone kar rahe they?" she asked

"Manvi... class le rahi thi toh phone uthake bol sakti thi na!" Dhruv said doubtfully.

"Bacho ko disturb hota" she replies.

He held her by arms and she senses some madness in his eyes "tumhari life mein mujhse zyada important aur kuch nahi hona chahiye samjhi! Warna ye teaching ka kaam band kar dunga tumhara"

Manvi was getting hurt with his grip, tears welled up in her eyes and she said "Aah.. Dhruv leave"

He jerks her hand away and said "jaake dinner banao.."

Manvi sighed deeply, she hated to be in this abusive marriage but she didn't have any choice. Her parents had clearly stated if she breaks the marriage they won't accept her back and won't bear any humiliation. She composed herself and walked to the kitchen to prepare dinner.