(Riya gets shocked at seeing Ashwin and Anita in front of her and looks on, scared, as Ashwin shuts the door and Anita stands near her.)

Riya (scared)- Aap... aap log yahan...

[Riya (scared)- You... you both here...]

Anita- Just look at you. Why these tears? Why are you crying, Riya?

(Anita tries to touch her face, but Riya moves away in fear and wipes her tears, and Ashwin chuckles.)

Ashwin (coming to her)- You need to relax, Riya. We are here for you only.

Riya (confused)- For me?

Anita- Of course! You got hurt. That is the reason we are here.

(Ashwin now settles in front of Riya on the bed, and Anita moves next to him while Riya observes all their actions.)

Ashwin- So, how are you doing? All good?

Riya (slowly)- Hmm.

Anita- Only hmm? Now your Mom and Dad have come to meet you, so talk to us.

Riya- I...

Ashwin- Acha, leave all this. Riya main tumhe ek kahani sunata hoon. Listen to it carefully, okay?

[Ashwin- Okay, leave all this. Riya, I will tell you a story. Listen to it carefully, okay?]

(Riya nods her head in yes, and Ashwin speaks.)

Ashwin- You know, mine and Anita's parents were friends, and they used to work together. And both of them were employees. I mean, they had a minimum and fixed salary. To jab main unko paise ke liye taraste dekhta tha naa, mujhe bohot gussa aata tha. Main humesha se yahi socha tha ki main aise kisi ki naukri nahi karunga. Main khud itna paisa kamaunga. Aur uske liye chahe mujhe kuch bhi karna pade, main karunga. So I started my own company. And even Anita had the same dream. And we both liked each other too. She, too, started working for a company and was earning well. And then Anita and I got married.

[Ashwin- You know, mine and Anita's parents were friends, and they used to work together. And both of them were employees. I mean, they had a minimum and fixed salary. So when I used to see them yearning for money, I used to get very angry. I always thought I would not do the job under someone like this. I will earn so much money. And I will do whatever I need to do for that. So I started my own company. And even Anita had the same dream. And we both liked each other too. She, too, started working for a company and was earning well. And then Anita and I got married.]

(Riya looks on, confused as Ashwin tells her about his and Anita's story, and they behave differently.)

Riya- But aap ye sab mujhe kyu bata rahe ho?

[Riya- But why are you telling me all this?]

Anita- Hey, listen further. We are coming to the main point. So after one year of our marriage, Harshad was born. And we were super happy. Do you know why? Because we wanted our son to take forward the company. And Harshad was just like Ashwin in everything. We had got our son, and everything was going well. And after that, we both again planned a child. And then Aryaman was born.

Ashwin- We were happy again. We had 02 sons now. Isse zyaada kya chahiye tha hume ki humare dono bete sab sambhaal lete. Aur jab vo bhi mere saath kaam karte, to hum aur paisa kamate. Aur hume kabhi bhi paise ki kami nahi hoti. Har taraf paisa-paisa-paisa.

[Ashwin- We were happy again. We had 02 sons. What more did we need that our two sons would care for everything. And when they also would have worked with me, we would have earned more money. And we would never be short of money. Money-money-money everywhere.]

(Ashwin laughs loudly with Anita, and Riya looks on, scared at them as all this is not normal. She keeps looking at the room's door, again and again, waiting for Manik to come back soon. She then decides to call him and picks up her phone, but Anita takes her phone from her.)

Anita- Arey phone chodo aur humari baat suno. Ab to hum main part pe aaye hain.

[Anita- Hey, drop the phone and listen to us. Now we have come to the main part.]

Riya- Nahi vo Manik...

[Riya- Actually Manik...]

Ashwin- Arey Manik bhi aa jayega. Tum aage suno. So when Aryaman turned 01, Anita and I went to celebrate for a deal and had a grand party. We were drunk so stayed at a hotel because ghar bohot dur tha. So we both were drunk, and we were not at all in our senses. Pata nahi hume vahan kya hua, the drinks overpowered our minds, and we did things jo hume tab nahi karni chahiye thi. We came close, and you know what happened after that, hmm?

[Ashwin- Hey, Manik will also come. You listen further. So when Aryaman turned 01, Anita and I went to celebrate for a deal and had a grand party. We were drunk, so we stayed at a hotel because the home was far away. So we both were drunk, and we were not at all in our senses. I don't know what happened there. The drinks overpowered our minds, and those were things we shouldn't have done then. We came close, and you know what happened after that, hmm?]

(Riya nods, teary-eyed, and looks on as Ashwin speaks further.)

Ashwin (with a straight face)- Anita got pregnant after that.

Anita- And that was the biggest mistake of our lives.

(Riya fists the bedsheet tightly to control herself.)

Ashwin- We were happy with our sons and never wanted a third kid. So we went to the doctor for an abortion. But to our bad luck, the doctor told us that the pregnancy was complicated and abortion could also risk Anita's life. So it left us with no other option but to accept... our mistake.

(Riya bites her lips as Ashwin refers to her as a mistake. Anita now goes and sits in front of Riya on the other side of the bed and starts speaking.)

Anita- Not only this. Throughout my pregnancy, we suffered losses, failures, and whatnot. Ashwin started losing deals at the office, and I lost my job, too. Why? All because of my third pregnancy.

(Anita says so, pointing the finger at Riya, referring to her as the third pregnancy.)

Ashwin- At one point, we were like koyi baat nahi, agar beta hi hua to hume hi fayda hai. Vo bhi humare business ko badhane mein humari madad karega. Ghar mein aur paise aayenge. But to our bad luck, Anita gave birth to you.

[Ashwin- At one point, we were like no problem, if we have a son, then the benefit is ours only. He, too, will help us to grow our business. More money will come to the house. But to our bad luck, Anita gave birth to you.]

(Tears roll down Riya's eyes as Ashwin says so, and Riya sees only hatred and disgust for herself in his eyes.)

Ashwin (a little angrily)- Aur jis din se tum paida huyi naa, uss din se humari life jaise barbaad ho gayi hai. Anita humesha se sahi kehti hai. You are a curse. Just a bloody curse. Jiski vajhe se hume itna suffer karna pada.

[Ashwin (a little angrily)- And our lives have been ruined from the day you were born. Anita always used to tell me. That you are a curse. Just a bloody scourge. Because of whom we had to suffer so much.]

Riya (whispers, in tears)- Don't do this... please.

Anita- Arey hum log kya kar rahe hain? Bas tumhe sab sach bata rahe hain. Vaise to you already know that we hate you, now we are telling you why we hate you.

[Anita- Hey, what are we doing? Just telling you the truth. Actually, you already know that we hate you. Now we are telling you why we hate you.]

Ashwin- And you seriously don't deserve our love. Aaj tak problems ke alava tumne hume diya kya hai haan? (he now raises his voice a little) Jis din se tum paida huyi ho humne sirf dukh dekhe hain. Ek bhi baar khushi di hai tumne hume?

[Ashwin- And you seriously don't deserve our love. Apart from the problems to date, what have you given us? (he now raises his voice a little) From the day you were born, we have only seen sorrow. Have you given us happiness even once?]

Anita- Khushi to chodo Ashwin. Ek chain ki saans nahi lene di isne hume. Pura din aage peeche Mumma ye Mumma vo kar ke pareshaan karti rehti thi mujhe.

[Anita- Leave happiness, Ashwin. She did not let us take a sigh of relief. The whole day back and forth, she used to keep disturbing me with her Mom this, Mom that things.]

Riya (crying badly)- Aap ko isiliye bulati thi kyunki bachi thi main. Pyaar karti thi aap se aur chahti thi ki aap bhi mujh se pyaar karen. Jaise baaki bacho ki Mumma karti thi. Aur aap please baar baar mujhe blame mat kijiye. Maine kuch nahi kiya hai. Aur kaise samjhau main aap ko ki meri koyi galti nahi hai. Jis age mein main kuch samajh bhi nahi paati thi uss age mein main ye sab kaise karungi? Aur aap mujhe issi vajhe se naa pasand karte hain... Kiya kya maine?

[Riya (crying badly)- I used to call you because I was a kid. I loved you and wanted you to love me too, like other children's mothers used to do. And please don't blame me again and again. I did nothing. And how do I explain to you that it was not my fault? How will I do all this at an age where I could not understand anything? And you don't like me because of this... What did I do?]

Ashwin- You just know how to do a drama, right? Jab tumhe pata hai ki saari galti tumhari hai phir bhi tumhe ye rona dhona karna hai aur apne aap ko innocent prove karna hai.

[Ashwin- You just know how to do a drama, right? Even when you know that all the fault is yours, you still have to wash it off and prove yourself innocent.]

Riya- No... I...

(By now, Riya is badly in tears, and her memories have resurfaced in her mind. Adding to that is the father-daughter moment she witnessed in the corridor, which now makes her more restless. She looks around the room as she feels suffocated by Ashwin's words ringing in her head. She then turns to take the glass of water from the table, but Anita holds her bruised arm to stop her, and Riya cries more in pain.)

Riya (cryingly)- Mom, please leave me.

Anita (acting innocent)- Arey har baar tum hi chahti ho ki jab tum aise bimaar ho yaa hospital mein ho to hum tumhare paas rahe aur tumhari care kare. Vahi to kar rahe hain ab.

[Anita (acting innocent)- Hey, every time you only want us to stay with you and take care of you when you are sick like this or in the hospital. I am doing the same thing now.]

Riya (shouting in pain)- I don't need you. Just go away! Just go!

(She rubs her chest as she feels a painful sensation there, and Ashwin laughs.)

Ashwin- Arey hume tumahari chot to dekhne do. Parents ke touch se chot jaldi theek ho jaati hai.

[Ashwin- Hey, let us see your injury. The injury gets healed quickly with a parent's touch.]

Riya (terrified)- No... No, please. Just go from here, please. (cryingly) Manik! Manik, send them away, please.

Anita- Manik kyu chahiye ab tumhe beta? Hum hain naa tumhare paas.

[Anita- Why do you need Manik now? We are here with you.]

(Anita tries to touch her face, but she gets back and cries more in pain. Also, her injured foot poses more problems here as she cannot get up and move away from them. So she gets more and more back into the bed, trying to get away from their touch.)

Riya (in a choked voice)- Please leave me. Please.

Ashwin- Awww, baby to dar gayi Anita. Dekho dekho. Awww. Mat daro hum se beta. Hum to tumhare Mom Dad hain. Aur...

[Ashwin- Awww, baby got scared, Anita. See see. Awww. Don't be afraid, baby. We are your parents. And...]

(He again tries to touch her, and she closes her eyes in fear and gets away from him, shaking badly. But what she hears next is a roaring angry voice.)

Voice- How dare you to come here, you bastard!

(Riya opens her eyes and is highly relieved as she sees Manik making Ashwin stand up from the bed by pulling his collar and pushing him away. She gets back on the bed and looks at Manik, terrified to the core.)

Anita- Leave him, Manik! How can you misbehave with him like this?

Manik- And how can you behave with your daughter like this? What wrong has she done to you guys?

(Riya covers her ears tightly and shuts her eyes as the loud voices, especially Anita and Ashwin's actions, are triggering her past and making her state more vulnerable. While Manik is fuming in anger and is blaming himself for leaving Riya alone.)

Ashwin (laughing)- Mujhe to ye samajh nahi aata ki issi iss ladki mein aisa kya dikha jo isne shaadi ke liye haan kar di. She is just a piece of shit aur yahan ye usse itna special treatment de raha hai.

[Ashwin (laughing)- I do not understand what you see in this girl that you said yes to the marriage. She is just a piece of shit, and he is giving her such special treatment.]

Manik (shouting angrily)- She is not a piece of shit! She is my wife, and she is a blessing! A blessing for the people who know her value and care for her! And you are a fucking piece of shit! I had warned you! I told you guys to stay away from her. How dare you both come here!

(The ward door opens, and Ridhaan comes in, all shocked after witnessing what is happening inside.)

Ridhaan- Manik, what are you doing. Leave him.

Manik- I will not leave him, Ridhaan. He tried to harm my wife, and I cannot let him go like this. He needs to learn a lesson.

(Saying this, Manik thrashes Ashwin on the wall and punches him in his stomach. Ridhaan looks on, concerned, at Riya, who has shut her eyes and ears tightly and is mumbling something, crying badly. He rushes to her, removes her hands from her ears, and cups her face gently. She tries to speak but cannot, and Ridhaan tries to calm her down.)

Ridhaan- Riya, look at me. Calm down. It's okay. Nothing is wrong.

(She moves her head in a no and tries saying something but cannot. While on the other side, Anita tries pulling Manik back, but he is strong enough to resist her efforts, so he keeps punching Ashwin, who is now semi-conscious with a bleeding nose and a bruised jaw.)

Manik (fuming in anger)- Isko ab meri last warning samajhna. Agar aaj ke baad tu Riya ke aas paas bhi bhatka naa, to tera main kya haal karunga naa ye tu kabhi soch bhi nahi sakta.

[Manik (fuming in anger)- This is my last warning. If you ever came close to Riya again, you can't imagine what I will do to you.]

(Manik leaves Ashwin, and he slumps down on the floor while Anita looks on angrily at Manik.)

Anita- Itni kitni important ho gayi vo ek mahine mein tumhare liye Manik? Aur abhi tum uske liye jitna ladd rahe ho naa, dekhna kaise pura sach pata chalne pe usse utna hi durr bhagoge tum.

[Anita- How important has she ​​become for you in a month, Manik? And as much you are fighting for her today, you will run away from her when you know the whole truth.]

(As Anita says this, Riya gets still and stares at Anita, all shocked. Whereas Manik comes towards her, gritting his teeth.)

Manik (angrily)- Meri biwi Riya Manik Malhotra, mere liye bohot important hai. Chahe aaj ho yaa chahe kal ho, vo mere liye utni hi important rahegi aur iss baat ko koyi badal nahi sakta. Aur rahi baat sach ki to saara sach to main bohot jaldi jaan hi jaunga. Par uska nahi tum dono ka. Aur jis din mujhe sab kuch pata chal gaya naa, ki tum ne usse kitna dard diya hai, uss din se tumhari aur tumhare unn beto ki ulti ginti shuru hogi. To jitna udna hai udd lo. Bohot kam time hai tum logon ke paas.

[Manik (angrily)- My wife, Riya Manik Malhotra, is very important to me. Whether it is today or tomorrow, she will be equally important to me, and no one can change this. And as far as knowing the truth is concerned, I will find out everything very soon. But not about her. I will find out the truth about you both. And the day I came to know everything, how much pain you have caused her, from that day the countdown of you and your sons will start. So fly as high as you want. You guys have very little time left.]

Anita- Manik you...

Manik- Mere paas tumhari bakwaas sunne ka time nahi hai. Just take your husband and leave.

[Manik- I don't have time to listen to your nonsense. Just take your husband and leave.]

Anita- I will not...

Manik (shouting loudly)- I said leave! Get out right now! Call the security Ridhaan. And throw these shitheads out of here.

Ridhaan- Don't worry, Manik. They will be taken care of.

(Ridhaan then calls the security, and they hold up Ashwin and take him out while Anita follows them, murmuring curses for Riya and Manik. As they leave, Manik roams around the room to calm himself down, and Ridhaan rubs Riya's back to calm her down as she is crying uncontrollably, which is not good for her health. He then rushes to Manik, who is standing in a corner in the room.)

Ridhaan- Manik go to her. She needs you.

Manik (teary-eyed)- It's all my fault, Ridhaan. Mujhe usse akela chod ke jaana hi nahi chahiye tha.

[Manik (teary-eyed)- It's all my fault, Ridhaan. I shouldn't have left her alone.]

Ridhaan- Manik it's all done now but itna stress uske liye acha nahi hai. She needs to calm down nahi to bimaar pad jayegi yaar vo. She was on the verge of getting into a panic attack. Go to her, please.

[Ridhaan- Manik, it's all done now, but this much stress is not good for her. She needs to calm down. Otherwise, she will fall sick. She was on the verge of having a panic attack. Go to her, please.]

(Manik covers his face with his hands and lets a deep sigh. He then nods in yes and cleans his eyes.)

Manik- Don't worry about her, hmm. I will handle her.

Ridhaan- I know Manik. Now go to her.

(Ridhaan pats Manik's shoulder and then leaves from there, and Riya looks on, scared towards Manik, thinking that he believed what Anita and Ashwin told him. Manik turns towards her and looks sadly in her eyes as her face is drenched in tears and her eyes are blood red and puffy. He takes slow steps toward her and sits in front of her on the bed. He is about to speak up, but a meek whisper from her side stops him.)

Riya (whispers meekly, still crying)- I am not a curse.

(He looks sadly at her as more tears flow from her eyes.)

Riya (slowly)- Main curse nahi hoon. Vo jhoot bol rahe hain.

[Riya- I am not a curse. They are lying.]

(He moves closer and cups her face, wiping her tears.)

Manik- I know, Baby. You are not a curse. You can never be. In fact, you are a blessing. You are a blessing to me.

Riya (in a choked voice)- Vo mujh se pyaar kyu nahi karte Manik? Why do they hate me so much?

[Riya (in a choked voice)- Why don't they love me, Manik? Why do they hate me so much?]

(Saying this, she breaks down crying, and he takes her in a comforting hug, to which she hugs him back tightly and digs her face in his chest.)

Riya (cryingly)- Sab khatam ho jayega Manik. Vo log tumhe mujh se durr kar denge. Mujhe akela mat chodo, please.

[Riya (cryingly)- Everything will end, Manik. Those people will take you away from me. Don't leave me alone, please.]

Manik (caressing her hair)- Koyi mujhe aap se durr nahi karega baba. And I promise, chahe kuch bhi ho jaye, I will never leave you.

[Manik (caressing her hair)- No one will take me away from you, Baby. And I promise that no matter what, I will never leave you.]

Riya (in tears)- Everyone hates me, Manik. Sab ki life mein problems hoti hain naa meri wajhe se. No one needs me. I try my best Manik, ki kisi ko meri wajhe se koyi problem naa ho par har baar... (with her voice cracking) har baar kuch naa kuch galat ho hi jaata hai. Aur uska blame vo mujh pe daal dete hain. But I did nothing, Manik, I swear. Maine kuch nahi kiya.

[Riya (in tears)- Everyone hates me, Manik. There are problems in everyone's life because of me. No one needs me. I try my best, Manik that no one has any problem with me, but every time... (with her voice cracking) something goes wrong. And they put the blame on me. But I did nothing, Manik, I swear. I did not do anything.]

(She clutches his shirt tightly and cries out while he keeps rubbing her back and caressing her hair to console her.)

Manik (kissing her head)- Now tell me, you trust me?

Riya (slowly)- I trust you, Manik. I trust you a lot.

Manik (caressing her hair gently)- To agar main aap se kuch kahunga to aap meri baat maanoge?

[Manik (caressing her hair gently)- So if I say something to you, will you obey me?]

Riya (meekly, like a kid)- Hmm.

(He sighs, breaks the hug, and then wipes the tears from her face. She has stopped crying but is still scared and needs assurance.)

Manik (cupping her face)- Koyi chahe kuch bhi kahe yaa kuch bhi samjhe. But you won't let that affect you. And always remember this ki Manik will only and only trust Riya. Baaki sab chahe jo marzi kehte rahe, but I will only believe what you tell me. That will be the only truth for me.

[Manik (cupping her face)- No matter what anyone says or understands. But you won't let that affect you. And always remember that Manik will only and only trust Riya. Whatever everyone else wants to say, I will only believe what you tell me. That will be the only truth for me.]

Riya- Really? You trust me, Manik?

Manik (softly)- Yes.

Riya (like a kid)- Yes?

Manik (softly)- Yes, Baby. I trust you.

(He rubs his thumb on her cheek gently, and she takes a deep sigh of relief, finally calming down. He keeps looking at her for a minute and then again hugs and kisses her head. She too hugs him back and rests her head on his chest, feeling protected, and he promises himself that from now on, he will let no harm touch her.)

(These 03 weeks pass with Riya's injuries healing and Manik taking care of her with Mukti and Cabir. Riya's test results were normal, and she recovered entirely in this period. Life has been quite normal for both Manik and Riya as Ashwin and Anita were still under the effect of Manik's lesson from the hospital, and Raj and Neyonika were still not home, which led to a peaceful environment in the Malhotra Mansion for Manik- Riya and Cabir, Mukti as well.)

(It is a breezy day today, and Riya is sitting in her cabin in the hospital and attending to patients. As soon as her lunchtime starts and she gets free, Ridhaan enters her cabin with a serious face.)

Riya- Finally, you are here, Ridhaan. Aaj subha se dikhe hi nahi tum hospital mein. Girlfriend se milne gaye the?

[Riya- Finally, you are here, Ridhaan. You have not been seen since this morning in the hospital. Went to meet your girlfriend?]

Ridhaan- Nahi yaar. Koyi girlfriend banti hi kahan hai meri.

[Ridhaan- No no. I don't have a girlfriend.]

Riya- To mujh se tips lo naa. I am sure usse pakka ban jayegi.

[Riya- So take some tips from me. I am sure she will definitely agree after that.]

(Ridhaan then thinks something and looks on shocked.)

Ridhaan- Yaar main itni serious baat karne aaya tha aur tune topic hi change kar diya.

[Ridhaan- I had come here to discuss such an important topic, and you changed the conversation.]

Riya- Haan to kar le naa baat. Maine kab roka hai. Bol kya bolna hai?

[Riya- Yes, then speak up. When did I stop you? What do you want to talk about?]

Ridhaan- I want to discuss you, Riya. You and Manik specifically.

(Riya looks on at him, and he continues.)

Ridhaan- I mean that it's been 02 months since your marriage. And I think he has the right to know everything. Tune aur kisi se share nahi kiya par at least usse to kar please. He is your husband, and he cares for you. More than anyone else. He deserves to know the truth, Riya.

[Ridhaan- I mean that it's been 02 months since your marriage. And I think he has the right to know everything. You did not share with anyone else, but please do it with him. He is your husband, and he cares for you. More than anyone else. He deserves to know the truth, Riya.]

Riya (standing up from her chair)- I know Ridhaan. I know he deserves to know, and trust me when I say this... I also want to tell him everything. But I don't know how to tell him everything. How will he react to all this?

Ridhaan- One thing that I am damn sure about is that he will definitely support you no matter what. You just talk to him once. He will definitely understand.

Riya- I know he will, Ridhaan, and I already have this in mind. I will talk to and share everything with him whenever I sense the right time. So don't worry about it. And calm down, please.

Ridhaan- Of course, I am calm. Why would you think otherwise?

Riya- Yes, yes. I could see how calm you were moments ago.

Ridhaan- That was because you are my only best friend. And I was worried about you.

Riya- I know that my only best friend. But abhi please emotional baatein nahi karte hain aur please get me a coffee. I am starving.

[Riya- I know that my only best friend. But now, please let's not talk emotional, and please get me a coffee. I am starving.]

Ridhaan- Ruk jaa bhukkad. Mangvata hoon teri coffee.

[Ridhaan- Hang on. I will order the coffee.]

Riya- Aww! You are so sweet Ridhaan.

(Their banter continues, they enjoy their lunch together, and Riya decides to talk to Manik about her past.)