Riya (teary-eyed) Not Dad, Manik. Harshad.

Manik (angrily)- What did that bastard do? And how can these people even do such things? It is so disgusting.

Riya (chuckling sadly)- I wish I could change something, Manik. I wish I had a normal family where people value love over money and status. But nothing can be changed now.

Manik- Kya kiya Harshad ne? You don't have to fear them anymore, okay? Vo log kuch nahi kar sakte ab.

[Manik- What did Harshad do? You don't have to fear them anymore, okay? They can't do anything now.]

Riya (in tears)- Jab mere khud ke parents aisa behave kar rahe the toh baakiyon par bhi uska asar to hota hi. And we all were kids. Harshad saw that Mom and Dad didn't love me, and they even used to ask him to insult me and hurt me in whatever way he could. I was 15 years old. Mom and Dad were out for a party, and I was alone at home. Harshad came home drunk, and with him was his new girlfriend. I was sitting in the hall when he entered and told me not to tell Mom and Dad about this. Vo uss ladki ko lekar apne room mein chala gaya, and after a few minutes, I heard the girl screaming from his room. I got scared thinking about the worst, but when the screams didn't stop, I went to his room. His room's door had glass in it so I could see what was happening inside. Manik...he was forcing himself on that girl, and she was crying in pain. She saw me standing outside and called for help. I removed the vase from the table, smashed the glass on the door, and opened the lock. I used the same vase and injured Harshad by hitting him with the vase on his head. The girl escaped, and it satisfied me that at least I could save her on time. But I didn't know that I had awakened the monster in my brother.

[Riya (in tears)- When my own parents were doing such deceit, it would have affected others as well. And we all were kids. Harshad saw that Mom and Dad didn't love me, and they even used to ask him to insult and hurt me in whatever way he could. I was 15 at that time. Mom and Dad were out for a party, and I was alone at home. Harshad came home drunk, and with him was his new girlfriend. I was sitting in the hall when he entered and told me not to tell Mom and Dad about this. He took the girl to his room, and after a few minutes, I heard the girl screaming from his room. I got scared thinking about the worst, but when the screams didn't stop, I went to his room. His room's door had glass in it so I could see what was happening inside. Manik...he was forcing himself on that girl, and she was crying in pain. She saw me standing outside and called for help. I removed the vase from the table, smashed the glass on the door, and opened the lock. I used the same vase and injured Harshad by hitting him with the vase on his head. The girl escaped, and it satisfied me that at least I could save her on time. But I didn't know that I had awakened the monster in my brother.]

(Riya cries more, thinking about all that happened, and Manik takes her in a comforting hug.)

Manik- Shhh... It's all over now. And you have been so so strong throughout.

(Riya further hugs him tightly and fists his shirt tightly.)

Riya (cryingly)- I couldn't be strong that night, Manik. I lost my hope. My brother did this to me. I lost my innocence. And above all, I lost my brother forever. Mujhe lagta tha ki vo Mom Dad ki influence mein aisa karte hain but no. That night, he crossed all the limits. He.. he...

[Riya (cryingly)- I couldn't be strong that night, Manik. I lost my hope. My brother did this to me. I lost my innocence. And above all, I lost my brother forever. I used to think he did things under Mom and Dad's influence, but no. That night, he crossed all the limits. He.. he...]

(She breaks down crying, and he hugs her more tightly to console her.)

Manik (consoling her)- Shhhh, Calm down. No one's hurting you now. It's okay.

Riya (cryingly)- He tried to molest me, Manik. He said that I needed to pay compensation for helping that girl. He tried to molest me. He...he dragged me with him and pushed me onto the bed. He was touching me everywhere, and it felt like my body was burning with his touch. I tried to stop him... I told him I was sorry, but he didn't stop. He just didn't stop.

(She cries more, hugging him tightly in fear while he is fuming in anger by now. He wraps his arms around her more protectively and kisses her on her head to console her.)

Manik (controlling his anger)- Shhh! It's all okay now, Baby. You are safe here. Kuch nahi hoga aap ko. You are safe. And now you don't have to handle everything alone. I am here for you now. Sab theek ho jayega, Bacha. Shhh.

[Manik (controlling his anger)- Shhh! It's all okay now, Baby. You are safe here. Nothing will happen to you. You are safe. And now you don't have to handle everything alone. I am here for you now. Everything will be fine. Shhh.]

(She breaks the hug cryingly and starts speaking again.)

Riya (cryingly)- Bohot dard ho raha tha Manik. Par mujhe jaise hi chance mila main bhaag gayi vahan se. I don't know kya hua, but he felt dizzy, and his hold loosened on me. Aur main bhaag gayi vahan se. Phir... phir maine apne room ka darvaza ache se band kar diya tha. But he came after me and started banging on the door. Main tab bed ke neeche chupi huyi thi. He was shouting and yelling, asking me to come out. Par achanak se... vahan Dad aa gaye. He took Harshad with him, and for the first time, he saved me. Chahe sab unintentionally hua ho. But his actions saved me that day.

[Riya (cryingly)- I was in a lot of pain, Manik. But as soon as I got a chance, I ran away. I don't know what happened, but he felt dizzy, and his hold loosened on me. And I ran away from there. Then... then I locked my room's door. But he came after me and started banging on the door. I was hiding under the bed. He was shouting and yelling, asking me to come out. But suddenly... Dad came there. He took Harshad with him, and for the first time, he saved me. No matter whether he did it unintentionally. But his actions saved me that day.]

Manik- And what was that Aryaman Dixit doing? Jo jisne kaha bina soche samjhe maan liya usne? Itna bewakoof hai vo?

[Manik- And what was that Aryaman Dixit doing? He accepted and agreed to anything someone said to him? Is he this stupid?]

Riya- He has always been under Dad's influence, Manik. And he thinks I give pain and stress to his family. That I am not an ideal daughter and sister.

(She covers her mouth and cries, and he looks on sadly.)

Riya- Aur ye sab chod ke Mom hates me so much ki unko ye tak nahi pasand ki main unhe Mom bolu. She always used to tell me ki she is not my mother so mujhe unko Mom kehne ka koyi haq nahi hai and I should call her Mam. Meri apni Mom Manik. My family did this to me.

[Riya- And apart from all this, Mom hates me so much that she even hates when I call her Mom. She always told me she was not my mother, so I had no right to call her mother, and I should call her Mam. My own mother, Manik. My family did this to me.]

(He again hugs her tightly, and she breaks down crying more in his arms. They stay in the same position for moments, and he then breaks the hug and cups her face.)

Manik- You okay?

(She nods her head in yes and wipes her tears.)

Manik- Now listen to me. The terrible phase of your life is over now. I swear I won't let them hurt you ever again. Be it your parents or be it your brothers. No one will hurt you. Okay? And always know that I am here for you, and you have been so strong throughout, and I am so proud of you.

Riya- Really, Manik?

Manik (wiping her tears)- Yes. You have been such a brave girl and fought all your battles alone. But now you have me, and I will never let you fight alone. We will fight this battle together.

(Riya nods her head in yes, and he cleans her face.)

Manik- Okay now enough crying, so get fresh quickly, and then we will have food.

Riya- Hmm.

(She then goes to the bathroom to get fresh, and Manik covers his face as Riya's voice and her painful cries echo in his ears.)

Manik- Kaise insaan hain ye log. Apni khud ki beti ke saath aisa kaise kar sakte hain. Unbelievable. But why do I feel ki ye pura sach nahi hai? There's more to this story that is still hidden from everyone.

[Manik- How are these people. How can they do this to their own daughter? Unbelievable. But why do I feel that this is not the entire truth. There's more to this story that is still hidden from everyone.]

(Manik looks on tense and decides that he needs to find out the whole truth.)

(Manik and Riya have just had their dinner and are about to head back to their room when the butler comes to them.)

Manik- Kya hua kaka aap abhi tak gaye nahi?

[Manik- What happened Uncle, you haven't left yet?]

Butler- Vo baba hume pata nahi tha ki aap aane waale hain to hum saare rooms clean nahi karva paye the. To kal baaki kamre bhi saaf karvane hai phir uske saath aap ka vo kamra bhi saaf karva de? Uski chabbi aap ke paas hoti hai naa.

[Butler- Actually we didn't know that you were coming here, so we couldn't get all the rooms cleaned. So tomorrow we are going to get the rest of the room cleaned as well, then should we clean that room of yours as well? You have his key with you, don't you?]

(Manik gets lost in some thoughts, and he then looks at Riya, who further looks on, confused because of his gaze.)

Manik- Main subha chaabi de dunga aap ko aap saaf karva dena.

[Manik- I will give you the key in the morning. You can get the room cleaned.]

(The butler nods in a yes and leaves, and Manik sighs deeply.)

Riya- Aisa kya hai uss room mein Manik?

[Riya- What is ​​in that room, Manik?]

Manik (taking a deep breath)- It has stuff related to my paintings. The colours, portraits, and everything. I will show them to you tomorrow.

Riya- Yes, sure.

Manik- So abhi ke liye, let's sleep because you have cried so much today and need to rest.

[Manik- So for now, let's sleep because you have cried so much today and need to rest.]

Riya- I am fine, Manik, and today when I have let everything out in front of you, it's like some weight has been put off my chest.

Manik- And gradually all of that weight is going to come down as well.

Riya (chuckling)- Okay, okay, fine. You need rest too, so let's go and sleep now.

(He looks at her keenly for a few moments and then goes forward and kisses her forehead, and she closes her eyes, feeling content. They both look at each other for moments and then go to their room to sleep.)

(Manik and Riya wake up by 09:00 AM and then come for breakfast after getting ready. Manik has been lost in some deep thoughts since the morning, but Riya has not questioned him about that, as she knows that the place would have brought back many good and bad memories regarding his passion for painting. She looks at him and thinks about how he supported her yesterday.)

Riya (thinks)- He trusted me yesterday. And he was there. He didn't leave me saying that a father can never do this, and I was lying, but he consoled me. Aur mere saath ye ho kya raha hai. Kal jab Manik ke saath sab share kiya to kitna light feel hua. And that forehead kiss after dinner. Jab bhi vo mere paas aata hai to itna alag kyu feel hota hai mujhe? Vo darr aur hesitation bhi nahi hoti hai jab vo touch karta hai. Oh God, what is happening with me? Please help me.

[Riya (thinks)- He trusted me yesterday. And he was there. He didn't leave me saying that a father can never do this, and I was lying, but he consoled me. And what is happening to me? Yesterday, I felt so light when I shared everything with Manik. And that forehead kiss after dinner. Why do I feel so different whenever he comes to me? There is no fear and hesitation even when he touches. Oh God, what is happening with me? Please help me.]

(Her trance breaks when Manik calls her out and stands up from his chair.)

Riya (confused)- Huh?

Manik- Come. Room saaf ho gaya hai.

[Manik- Come. The room has been cleaned.]

Riya- Ohhh! Haan chalo.

[Riya- Ohhh! Yes, let's go.]

(They both reach the room, and Manik sighs deeply before entering. Riya enters after him and looks around to see everything dark.)

Riya- Manik, there are no lights around?

Manik- Abhi ke liye nahi hai par kaka ko bol diya hai vo dekh lenge. Abhi tumhe sunlight se hi kaam chalana padega.

[Manik- Not for now, but I have told Uncle he will see to it. For now, we will have to work with sunlight only.]

(He then opens the curtains, and some light enters the room from outside, making things visible. Riya looks around the room and gets amazed to see all the stuff there- especially all his paintings.)

THE ROOM

(Assume the entire room to be full of paintings. Riya admires his work with a smile, and he too looks around and chuckles sadly.)

Riya- These all are so beautiful, Manik. You made all these?

Manik- Yes. Aur jitni bhi paintings banayi hain vo yahin hain iss room mein because bahar to kisi ko unki value nahi hai. Isiliye inn ko yahan chupa kar rakha tha sab se. No one was bothered too ki maine kya kiya apni paintings ke saath so it became even easier to lie.

[Manik- Yes. And all the paintings that I made are inside this room. Because outside this room, no one valued them. That's why they were kept here, hidden from everyone. No one was bothered about what I did with my paintings, so it became easier to lie.]

(She goes to him and keeps her hand on his shoulder.)

Riya- But you don't need to hide what you like, Manik. It is your passion, and you are so good at it. You can always carry this on side by side.

Manik- Jitna aasaan bolne mein lagta hai utna hai nahi ye sab karna. Because now, this has just become a hobby. That passion died the day I saw MY PARENTS using their power to defame me rather than support me.

[Manik- It is not as easy to do all this as it sounds. Because now, this has just become a hobby. That passion died the day I saw MY PARENTS using their power to defame me rather than support me.]

(He sighs sadly, goes towards a painting, and chuckles sadly, looking at it.)

Manik- You know, this was the first proper portrait I made. Pehle bachpan mein to bohot practice karta tha and ye meri pehli drawing thi jisse dekh kar sab khush huye the aur...Dad ne meri choice ko low grade kaha tha.

[Manik- You know, this was the first proper portrait I made. Earlier in my childhood, I practised a lot, and this was my first drawing, which everyone was happy to see, and...Dad called my choice low grade.]

(Riya looks on sadly at him as he sits on the stool present in the room and lets out a deep breath.)

Manik- Main naa humesha wait karta tha. Ki kab Mom Dad ghar aayenge aur kab humare saath time spend karenge. Kab main unko jaa kar apni new drawings dikhaunga. Aur vo weekend pe ghar aate the aur jab main unhe apni drawing dikhata tha naa...usse phaad ke phenk dete the dustbin mein. Aur kehte the ki I am not worthy of their time and money. Kahan mujhe business mein interested hona chahiye aur kahan mein painting kar raha hoon.

[Manik- I always used to wait. That when will Mom and Dad come home and spend time with me. When will I go and show them my new drawings? And when they came home on weekends, and I showed them my drawings, they used to tear them up and throw them in the dustbin. And they used to say I was not worth their time and money. That I should be interested in business and here I am painting.]

(Manik chuckles sadly, teary-eyed, while Riya keeps her hand on his shoulder and presses it to tell him he is there with him.)

Manik (teary-eyed)- They were never there for me. Never. And I never complained too. Cabir and Mukti's responsibility was on my shoulders, too but I loved them so much ki kabhi complaint nahi ki maine unn se. Ki vo aisa kyu karte hain? Humara dhyaan kyu nahi rakhte? Because unn ka answer humesha fixed hota tha. Ki vo itne paise kamaa rahe hain vo humare liye hi to hai. Aur unke hisaab se jab main future mein unki company ko aage lekar jaunga to ye saare paise mere kaam aayenge. Huh, their bloody greed for money destroyed our lives.

[Manik (teary-eyed)- They were never there for me. Never. And I never complained too. Cabir and Mukti's responsibility was on my shoulders, too but I loved them so much that I never complained to them. That why are they doing this? Why don't they take care of us? Because their answer was always fixed. That they are earning all this money for us only. And according to them, when I will take their company forward in the future so all this money will help me. Huh, their bloody greed for money destroyed our lives.]

(He keeps the painting away, then goes towards a cupboard and takes a drawing book from it. He opens it, and a teary smile comes on his face as he goes through the pages.)

Manik- Manik Malhotra, class 5th. My Drawing Book.

(She goes to him and looks at the different paintings and drawings in the book and takes a sad sigh, looking up at him, who is biting his lips to control himself from breaking down.)

Manik (in a choked voice)- How can they be so inconsiderate towards their children? Money, money, money. Sirf paisa matter karta hai aur sirf paise ki hi bhasha samajh aati hai unhe.

[Manik (in a choked voice)- How can they be so inconsiderate towards their children? Money, money, money. Only money matters and they understand the language of money only.]

(He keeps the book away and then paces around the room, covering his face.)

Manik- You know Dad to Dad unke saath Mom bhi. She made the way to her dreams by crushing her children's hearts. Koyi bhi school function ho yaa meeting ho, all she was concerned about is money. Her status. Her reputation. But I don't understand that they both didn't put the same pressure on Cabir and Mukti. Why? Because they just wanted an heir for their family business, and that had to be their elder son. Chote jo marzi kar le, but the elder one needs to join their business by hook or crook. Aur mere mana karne par saari haddein paar kardi unhone. Taaki main khud haar maan loon aur unn ka business join kar loon. They even took away the only support I had.

[Manik- You know, not just Dad but Mom too. She made the way to her dreams by crushing her children's hearts. Be it any school function or meeting, all she was concerned about was money. Her status. Her reputation. But I don't understand that they both didn't put the same pressure on Cabir and Mukti. Why? Because they just wanted an heir for their family business, and that had to be their elder son. The younger ones can do anything they want, but the older one needs to join their business by hook or crook. And on my refusal, he crossed all the limits. So that I give up and join their company. They even took away the only support I had.]

(Riya looks on, confused as Manik looks up at her.)

Manik- Aditi.