Jai (shocked): Ye possible nahi...

Sarpanch: Abhi pure gaav ke samne aapne haan boli.

Jai: Main ye bol raha tha ke aese ho to phir se padhna badi baat nahi. Ho jayegi pass. Uski umar hi kya hai? Usko padhna chaye. Uski shaadi ke liye layak ladka milega.

Sarpanch: Ye sab bolne wali baate hoti hai. Abhi haa kar abhi aap mana kar rahe ho. Gaav wale koi bhi nahi karege aesi ladki se shaadi. Aapne haan bola. Aapko karni hogi humari beti se shaadi. Ye kya shahar wale rishto ka mazak bana rahe ho.

Abhishek (gritting his teeth): Hum rishto ka mazak bana rahe hai. Beti ki shaadi uske chacha se. Ye rishto ki izzat karna hai? Baap sare aam beti ke sapne tod raha hai, usse beizzat kiye jaa raha hai. Ye rishto ki izzat karna hota hai?

Old groom (angrily): Bas... Humare parivar ke utsav me humne aapko bhulaya khushi baatne ke liye. Jo bhi chal raha tha hum usme khush the. Aa kar vo utsav ko kharab aap logo ne kiya. Sawal aap logo ne uthaye. Hum sab seh. Aap log bade apsar ho isliye sab shanti se suna. Par humare ghar ki beti ki shaadi aese tod di aur upar se hume gyaan de rahe ho. Humare ghar ki izzat uchali. Aap humse umeed kar rahe hum sab chup chap dekhe. Itna hi tha to jaise dusre log mubarak deke, khana kha kar jaa rahe hai. Aap bhi chale jate. Ye kya tarika hai kisi ladki ki sab ke samne shaadi tod uska apman karna.

Jai (raising his eyebrow): Khushi? Aap ek baar apni beti se puchiye vo is shaadi se khush hai? Aaye bade khushi ki baat karne. Puchiye ek baar sab ke samne. Haa bola usne hum yaha se chup chap mubarak deke chale jayege.

Sarpanch: Hum apni beti ki khushi kis me hai jante hai.

Abhishek: Theek hai. Puchiye ek baar usse humare samne.

Sarpanch and his brother looked at each other. They heard murmuring from people who were around. "Sarpanch ne to kaha tha ye sab Aarya ke marzi se ho raha hai" "Aese kaise Sarpanch apni beti ki shaadi kyun karayege uske marzi ke khilaf" "Ye seheri logo ko muh tod jawab dena chaye. Seedha Aarya se haa bhulva de muh par. Kya hi aukaat rahegi phir humare gaav ke mamle me aane se pehle 100 sochege".

Being affected by crowds' words. Sarpanch took the veil from Aarya's face. A teenage girl who was dolled up for her mehendi function. She has tears in her eyes. Tears were rolling on her cheeks it seemed like she was crying silently. Her eyes were red. Jai and Abhishek saw her face.

Old groom: Aarya bol tu humari shaadi se kitni khush ho.

He said with full confidence as if she was dying to marry him. Aarya didn't respond.

Sarpanch (angrily): Haa bol Aarya.

He said holding her arm in grip. She was looking down and sobbing silently.

Sarpanch (shout in anger): Aarya haa bol.

She still didn't respond and her face was down.

The old groom held her arm, pulling her towards him. He raised his hand to slap her. Before he could. Abhishek held his hand.

Abhishek (gritting his teeth): Don't you dare to raise your hand.

Again murmurs were heard. To shut everyone. Sarpanch gestures something to one of his men. The man pointed a gun at Jai's head. This action was shocking for Jai and Abhishek.

Jai (scared): Bhai bachao mujhe.

Sarpanch: Jaan pyaari hai to kal meri beti se shaadi ke liye tayar ho jana. Sarpanch apni beizzati nahi sehne wala pura gaav ke samne.

Abhishek: Jai kisi aur se pyaar karta hai. Shaadi kaise kare aapki beti se?

Sarpanch: Vo hum nahi jante. Haan bolne ke baad piche nahi hat sakte hai.

Abhishek: Ye kya zabardasti hai? Apni beti ki life aese kharab kaise kar sakte ho? Aapko chalega Jai usko zindagi bhar pyaar na kare to?

Old groom: Vaise bhi kaun sa vo layak hai kisi ke pyaar ke? Jaan jayegi ya shaadi hogi. Teri vajah se meri aur Aarya ki shaadi tut gayi. Ab tu aese kaise jayega?

Abhishek: Ye aap log galat kar rahe ho.

Old groom: Hum ye sab nahi jante. Kal Aarya ki shaadi hogi. Tum nahi karoge to hum karege par shaadi to hogi.

With this, he left. Sarpanch held Aarya's arm and drag her from there. Everyone left.

Jai (with guilt): Bhai please help me. Vaishu di ki swear maine intentionally nahi kiya. I was just trying to save that girl.

Abhishek (patting his shoulder): Shant ho jaa. Dekh bhaagna solution nahi hai. Problem create hui hai to solve karni padegi. Plus, hum bhaag gaye to ye logo ko humare ghar ke address and details pata hai. Kal ko humari family ki life par risk aaya to. Better let's try to solve it.

Jai nodded in understanding. They went towards their room. A bodyguard of Sarpanch was standing there at the entrance.

Bodyguard: Hume aap dono ke phone, computer aur gadi (watch) zapat karni hai. Aap khud dege ya hum apne tarike se le?

Jai: Gadi? Vo kyun?

Bodyguard: Hum gaav ke log jarur hai par bewkoof nahi. Aap seheri logo ki gadi se phone lagta hai.

Jai (mumbling): Bewakoof nahi hai? Saala yehi joke mila tha marne ko? Samajh daar hote to aese zindagi barbaad kyun karte? Aaya bada bewakoof nahi hai.

He rolled his eyes. The bodyguard was looking at him suspiciously.

Abhishek: Theek hai hum dete hai.

The bodyguard let them in. They took phones, laptops and watches.

Abhishek: Jai phone and laptop password protected hai na?

Jai: Haa bhai...

Abhishek handed things to the bodyguard. The bodyguard left but another two bodyguards came and stood at the entrance. So, they won't run away.

Abhishek and Jai got fresh and laid on bed. They were thinking about what to do next. With this thought, both drift to sleep after a lot of struggle.

Next morning...

At Nigam's house.

Khushi was standing at Siddharth and Avneet's room entrance.

Avneet: Chachu ko uthao jab tak main tea bana doon.

Khushi nodded and walked in. Avneet went into the kitchen.

Khushi (tapping Siddharth's head): Boyfend...

Siddharth: Baby so jao aur sone do.

Khushi: Bad mammers. Dadi gussa kare.

Siddharth woke up and took her. He made her sit on his stomach.

Siddharth: Mammers nahi manners.

Khushi: You chup.

Siddharth giggle. Khushi made a sad pout. Siddharth looked at her. She seems sad.

Siddharth (cupping her face): Kya hua bache?

Khushi: Papa nahi aaye.

Siddharth: Aa hi rahe hoge.

Khushi (tears brimming in her eyes): Papa khushu chor nahi jaye.

Siddharth: Papa kabhi khushu ko chor kar nahi jayege.

Khushi (nodded): Mumma kyun gayi?

She said as tears rolled down her eyes. She misses her mumma a lot.

Siddharth (wiping her tears): Nahi bache. Mumma hamesha khushi ke pass hai.

Khushi (angrily): Nahi hai. Mumma gayi. Papa bolo khushu chor nahi jaye.

After Vaishnavi's death. This is the first time, Abhishek left her for a long time.

Siddharth: Bacha mumma ko god ne bhulaya na. God ko mumma se kaam tha. To mumma ko jana pada. Mumma loves Khushi.

Khushi: Mumma bolo kaam complete khushu pass aaye.

Siddharth closed his eyes controlling his tears.

Siddharth: Baby mumma ke pass bahut sara kaam hai.

He tried to explain. Khushi nodded with a sad pout.

Khushi (small smile): Chachu... Khushu good girl. Khushu jaye mumma pass. Hep liye (help ke liye).

Siddharth couldn't control his tears anymore. He pulled Khushi in a hug.

Siddharth (calmly): Khushi ke pass yaha hum sab hai na. Papa, chachu, Masi, dadi, nani, Nanu, mamu. To bas khushi kahi nahi jayegi. Abhi jao masi ke pass. Bolo chachu uth gaye.

He made her stand on the floor. He was looking in other directions to hide his tears from her. Khushi ran outside with a sad face.

Siddharth (looking at the family photo): Di meri khushi ko kyun aese akele chor kar chale gaye? Kisi aur ka nahi to ek baar us bachi ke liye sochte hume chor kar jane se pehle.

He cried, remembering her and Khushi's words. Khushi's words were pricking in his heart. A little girl is too innocent to understand the meaning of words. She was thinking of helping her mother but the real meaning is far different.

To be continued...

Best scene?