FLASHBACK,

MGM BUSINESS COLLEGE,

Akshat: Antara, wait!!!

He shouted from a distance away from the gate when he sees her already leaving the college. Listening his voice, she halted in her track waiting for him to reach her.

Akshat: Tum ja rahi ho?

Antara: Ja rahi thi, tumne rok liya. Kuchh kaam hai kya?

Akshat: Wo tum thodi der wait kar sakti ho?

Antara: Kyun?

Akshat: Mere parents aane wale hai to mai tumhe unse milana chahta hun.

Antara: Mujhse kyun?

Akshat: Wo mere saare friends ko jaante hai sirf tumhe nahi, isiliye.

He said hesitantly thinking if she would believe him and wait for his parents. She was thinking about his words while Akshat was looking at her waiting for her answer.

Antara: Ok, I will wait.

Akshat: Thankyou! Thankyou, so much. It means a lot to me.

Antara: No problem!

She was waiting for his parents to arrive so that she could leave as soon as possible thinking about Guddan that she would be alone at home waiting for her. Seeing her restlessly waiting, Akshat wanted to ask her to leave for her house but his desperation for making her meet his parents were overpowering his concern for her.

Antara: Akshat, I am getting late. Mai aur wait nahi kar sakti.

Akshat: Antara, I am really sorry for making you wait like this but thodi der aur ruk jaao, please. They would be here anytime. Please!

She wanted to deny him but seeing him requesting this way, she couldn't and decided to wait for some more time.
While Akshat was wondering about the reason of his parent's late arrival as they would be coming soon after picking his brother from his college being unknown that they have met someone worth their time and love.

Seeing his parent's car entering through the gate he hurried towards it while his father parked the car.

Akshat: Itna late koi aata hai kya?

His sudden outburst made them shocked thinking that he was tired of waiting for them but before they could answer the reason for their late arrival, he dragged his parents with himself while Parv absent-mindedly followed them to where Antara was waiting for him anxiously as he disappeared suddenly for a while.

Akshat: Mom, Dad, she is Antara and Antara, they are my parents.

Antara: Namaste Uncle, Namaste Aunty!

She greeted them joining her hands with utmost respect while she locked her gaze at his mother's face as she felt she has seen her somewhere.

Jaya: Tum wahi ho na jise maine us din college me dekha tha? Tum apni behen ke admission ke liye wahaan thi, right?

Antara: Oh, haan. Wo mai hi thi lekin aap to apne bete ke admission ke liye wahaan thi par Akshat to is college me...

Jaya: Oh, wo to mere chhote bete Parv ke liye. Ye dekho....

She points at her left to introduce him but finds him no where. She looked around and found him looking at the trees and the insects that were crawling in the soil as he was trying to understand what was so interesting about them that people choose them to study. She smacked her forehead and brings him with her.

Jaya: Ye hai mera chhota beta, Parv!

Mahesh: Ha sirf tumhara hi hai.

Jaya: Ha to aapko koi problem hai?

Akshat tried to stop their usual fight as he felt embarrassed as his parents were doing that infront of Antara while she was reminiscing the memories of her mother calling her daughter and him calling Guddan as his daughter.

Parv: Hi Antara!

He greeted her but got a glare as a reply from his brother.

Parv: What? Aise aankhon se kyun dara rahe ho?

He asked making Akshat flushed as Antara looked at him for his explanation.

Akshat: Wo badi hai na tumse, to respect se address karo.

Antara: No problem, Akshat. It's fine.

Akshat: It's not at all fine Antara.

He again glared Parv and this time it really worked.

Parv: I am Sorry Antara Di!!

He said emphasizing on the word "Di" which relieved Akshat but made Antara uncomfortable as she was never used of being called as Di from anyone other than Guddan.

Antara: It's Ok!

Jaya: Tum Akshat ko kaise jaanti ho?

Antara: He is my classmate.

Here, Akshat was expecting that he would be introduced as her friend but nevertheless, his expectations seemed much farther than reality.

Mahesh: Akshat tumhe pareshaan to nahi karta na?

He asked making others shocked by his question.

Jaya: Aapko aisa kyun lagta hai mere donon bete sab ko pareshaan karte honge? Parv ke baare me bhi aisa hi kaha aur ab yahaan bhi.

Mahesh: Ab kya mai apne bachhon ka behavioral report bhi na lun? Sab tum hi karo.

Antara: Aisi koi baat nahi hai Uncle.

Her words relieved Akshat.

Jaya: Sun liya na, ho gayi tasalli?

Mahesh: Ha ho gayi, Thankyou.

Antara: Uncle, Aunty, I should leave. It's quite late now.

Jaya: Ha na, tumhe hamari wajah se itna wait karna pada. I am sorry beta. Tum hamare saath chalo ham tumhe drop kar denge.

Antara: No thanks, Aunty. Mai khud chali jaaungi.

Parv: Arey Antara Di come on , ham sab ko aapki company achhi lagegi, Dad ki us beti se bhi zyaada.

Antara: Sorry. I didn't get you.

Mahesh: Don't mind his words. Ye kuchh bhi bolta hai. (To Parv): And don't you dare say something about her.

Akshat: Dad, aap kiske baare me baat kar rahe hai?

Parv: Bhai, mai aapko batata hun na. Wo ek ladki hai jo......

Akshat: Rehne de, baad me batana kyunki mai jaanta hun agar tu ne abhi shuru kiya na to hame raat ko bhi yehi rehne ka intezaam karna padega.

Antara stood there silently feeling herself as an intruder in their family moment. She glanced at her wrist watch checking time thinking her sister would be waiting for her as it has been long time she should be at home, unknown to the fact that Guddan, herself has been late to house today.

Antara: Akshat.

She slowly whispered gaining his attention.

Akshat: I am sorry, really sorry. No more baatein. Chalo ham saath me ghar chalte hai.

Antara: No thanks. Mai khud chali jaungi, bye.

Akshat: Bye!

After bidding them, she hurriedly moved to reach her house on time before her sister start worrying for her.

Akshat (thinking): Pata nahi kitne khadoos parents honge Antara ke jo wo unse itna darti hai. College se ghar late bhi nahi jaa sakti. Zaroor Hitler se training le kar aaye honge.

NEXT DAY,
XYZ JUNIOR COLLEGE,

Guddan: Sir, this problem.....

Sir: Dikh nahi raha hai time ho gaya hai. Agar wait kar sakti ho to karo, mai abhi tumhara doubt clear nahi kar sakta.

He spoke rudely to her and entered in his department while she stood there with her books in her hand boiling with anger. She was not the one who used to bear someone's tantrums but the one whose tantrums were handled by everyone that too with love. She huffed and sat on the bench present in the corridor. Neither any teacher nor any student ever dared to speak to her against her will but here she was bearing the nuisances of each and every person just because the turn of life she had.

Mahesh: Guddan!

She looked up to find him standing there with a questioning look on his face.

Guddan: Aap yahaan?

Mahesh: Tum abhi tak yahaan kya kar rahi ho? Ghar nahi jaana?

He asked sitting next to her and she shifted facing him.

Guddan: Ek hafte se Sir ke aage peeche ghum rahi hun taaki wo mujhe ye sum explain kar de lekin unke paas to time hi nahi hai. Ek to ye Physics ka aur hamare dimaag ka chhattees (36) ka aakda hai, hamare samajh me hi nahi aata aur ye Sir hame samjha hi nahi rahe hai. Ab aap hi bataiye kya karun mai?

Mahesh: Dikhao tumhe kounsa sum samajh nahi aa raha hai?

She showed him the question and he studied it carefully while adjusting his spectacles.

Mahesh: It's so simple. Pehle Units ko same system me convert karo phir given values ko respective terms me substitute karke formula apply karna hai, bas.

She looked at him confused by his words.

Mahesh: Confuse hone ki zaroorat nahi hai. Let me explain briefly.

He took the notebook and pen from her hand and started solving the problem and explaining her.

Guddan: Kitna easy problem hai ye to aur aapne kitne simple way me explain kar diya.

She said joyfully which instantly brought smile on his lips too.

Guddan: Aap to genius hai, Uncle. Aap to pakka kisi field ke Engineer honge na?

Mahesh: Utni achhi kismat nahi hai meri ki mai jo chahun wo ho jaaye.

Guddan: Matlab?

Mahesh: Kuchh nahi.

Guddan: Bataiye na.

She asked holding his hand sensing his sudden change of expressions.

Mahesh: Mai hamesha se engineer banna chahta tha. IIT me top 10 students me score kiya tha maine lekin meri life ne khel khela na mere saath, qaabil-e-taareef thi.

Guddan: Kya hua aapke saath?

She asked innocently as if a child was listening to a bed time story.

Mahesh: Hone ka kya tha! Mere Baba ki condition bohot critical ho gayi to mujhe hi unka business sambhalna pada kyunki mai hi unka ek lauta waaris tha aur wahin mere saare sapne toot gaye. Lekin jab pehli baar maine apne bete ko apne in haathon me liya na to ek ummeed mili, wo ummeed ki mai phir se apne sapne jee sakta hun, apne beton ke zariye. Lekin shayad meri kismat ko wo bhi manzoor nahi tha kyunki mere donon bete me se koi engineering nahi karna chahte the.

Guddan: To aapne unse engineering karne ke liye kyun nahi kaha?

Mahesh: Jo mere saath hua mai unke saath kaise hone deta?

He said, his words followed a bitter chuckle. His words made her realise that Life is all about perspective. While listening to him, she was thinking from his point of view but when he kept the other perspective infront of her, she realised that sometimes it's not the fault of people but the unfavourable situations they have to face.

He wiped the lone tear that escaped his left eye and looked at her who seemed to be deeply indulged in her thoughts.

Mahesh: Tum kya soch rahi ho? Kahin tum bhi to apne parents ke pressure me to ye course nahi padh rahi ho?

She looked at him thinking what to answer. She never thought of studying any other course as she was always fed with the thoughts of her parents. Though it never felt as a burden or something that she wanted to ever oppose but then she never even thought of what she really wanted for herself rather than fulfilling her parent's wishes.

Mahesh: Agar aisi baat hai to tum mujhe bata sakti ho, mai tumhare parents se baat karke unhe samjhaunga.

Guddan's face turned pale and she was feeling mixed emotions. On one side, she felt sad on the mention of her parents and on the other side, she felt ecstatic on how considerate he was being about her.

Guddan: Aisi koi baat nahi hai.

Mahesh: Ek baat hamesha yaad rakhna, insaan ko work uske passion aur determination ke saath karna chahiye naa ki kisi responsibility ya pressure me aa kar warna wo kaam burden ho jaata hai.

She nodded and was deeply indulged in her thoughts regarding his words.

Sir: Tum abhi tak ghar nahi gayi? Raat bhar yehi rehna hai kya?

He spoke irritatedly which angered both of them.

He stood up with rage but having Guddan by his side he could initiate any action.

Mahesh: Guddan, zara dekho na Parv kahaan hai. Mai kitni der se wait kar raha hun par wo abhi tak aaya bhi nahi.

Guddan: Mai?

She asked irritatedly as meeting him was the last thing she would ever want.

Mahesh: Haa , tum.

Taking her notebook, she turned towards the end of corridor mumbling something about Parv as she was doing that only for his father.

She spotted him at a corner speaking to his friends. As his friends saw her approaching towards them, they left not letting Parv to know the actual reason as his back was facing her.

Guddan: Kitne irresponsible ho na tum!

Her voice made him turn abruptly towards her.

Parv: Tum yahaan kya kar rahi ho? Aur aate hi apna lecture shuru kar diya.

Guddan: Tumhara college hai? Nahi na! To mai kahin bhi rahun tumhe usse problem nahi hona chahiye. Aur doosri baat, mai koi lecture nahi de rahi hun, bas ye inform karne aayi thi ki tumhare Dad bohot der se tumhara wait kar rahe the aur ab bhi kar rahe hai, lekin tum ho ki yahaan apne doston ke saath...... Uncle ne kaha isiliye mai tumhe bulane aagayi isiliye mera aur unka time waste mat karo aur unke paas jao.

Parv: Mere Dad wait kar rahe hai na to karne do, tumhe itni problem kyun ho rahi hai? Aur mai akele ya apne doston ke saath jo bhi karun, it's none of your business, so mind your own work.

He lashed out at her with anger while she stood rooted on her place due to his sudden outburst.

He turned around to walk away from her but stopped and turned to look at her as he remembered to speak something.

Parv: Stay away from my family. Especially my Dad. Apna ye fake innocence dikha kar unki attention seek karne ki koshish mat karo tum. Tumhare parents hai na tumhe pyaar, care, affection, attention sab kuchh dene ke liye na to mere Parents se door hi rehna.

Guddan: Parv.... St....Stop.. Stop it. Don't involve them.

She stuttered while speaking as her voice came out just as a whisper and she couldn't control the tears which threatened to escape her eyes.

Parv: Kyun na karun? Achha nahi lag raha hai mai tumhare parents ke baare me baat kar raha hun to? Mujhe bhi achha nahi lagta jab tum mere parents ke saath hoti ho aur wo tumhare baare me din bhar baatein karte rehte hai. Well, I was thinking ki mujhe tumhare parents se ek baar mil hi lena chahiye. What say? It would be....

Guddan: Shut up! Just Shut up!!!

She yelled at him fiercely. Quickly wiping the tears off her face she ran to grab her bag as she headed to her house.

Parv was confused by her behaviour which he chose to ignore and moved towards his father whom he found speaking to one of the lecturers of the college whom he didn't even knew. As soon as Mahesh sees Parv, he ends the conversation and faked a smile.

Parv: Kisse baat kar rahe the Dad?

Mahesh: Leave it! Guddan kahaan hai?

Parv internally groaned on the question of his father while maintaining a stoic expression on his face.

Parv: Chali gayi wo.

Mahesh: Kahaan?

Parv: Ghar hi gayi hogi aur jaayegi bhi kahaan.

Mahesh:  Mujhse mile bina. Kahin tumne to kuchh....

Parv: Not again, Dad! Please!!

He requested more like yelled being frustrated. Understanding his state of mind, his father slightly nodded while indicating him to move forward towards the car while checking around for her. Finding no one around, he sat inside and started driving still looking around for her.

MGM BUSINESS COLLEGE,

Antara: These are the marketing strategies and only Financing is left, wo ham kal kar lenge.

Akshat: Lekin kal to Sunday hai. Sunday ko bhi college aana padega kya?

He asked irritatedly as they were working on their assignment and only the last topic was left to be completed.

Antara: Uski zaroorat nahi hai. Ham Monday ko kar lenge.

Akshat (thinking): Monday ko kar lenge... Can't she say "mere ghar aa jao" ya phir mere hi ghar ka address pooch leti ya phir ham kahin baahar mil kar aaram se time spend karte.

Antara: Kya soch rahe ho?

She asked bringing him out of his thougts.

Akshat: Kuchh nahi. Ham Monday ko complete kar lenge.

Antara: Ok, I should leave now.

She kept all the books in her bag and was leaving when he stopped her.

Akshat: Mere books to dedo. Tumne wo bhi rakh liye hai.

Antara: Oh, Sorry. I didn't noticed.

Akshat: No problem. Kuchh poochna tha tumse.... only if you don't mind.

Antara: Kya?

Akshat: Agar mai tumhare ghar aaun to kya tumhare parents ko koi problem hogi?

He asked turning her bright face paler. He noticed the change and comprehended the reason behind it.

She handed him his book and went from there hurriedly without answering his question.

Akshat: Jaanta tha mai koi to problem hai isiliye ye aise behave karti hai. Koi baat nahi tumhare parents ki jo bhi problem hai na ab mai unke ghar jaa kar hi solve karunga. Lekin ghar kaise jaaunga?

He stepped forward but retreated his step when he found something beneath his foot covered with grass. He bend down to pick it and found that it was keys, which looked like keys of apartment. He frowned seeing that as he found it very familiar as if he has seen it somewhere. A smile adored his lips as he remembered where he had actually seen the keys.

With a determined smile on his face he headed towards the college's office to accomplish the goal which he was determined to work on.