Kurukshetra
an online drama by Brandon IngramArchive for March 29, 2010
Triple Tamasha – Episodes 430, 431 & 432
Kurukshetra – Episode 430
Drishti watches Poornima nearing the room and has a flashback…
Urvashi sees Poornima coming to the kitchen from the corner of her eye and turns back to Rauktima.
Urvashi: So does that mean you don’t have any faith in the Bahus of Chandra Mahel?
Rauktima: When they have double standards and dishonest ways of thinking, no I don’t. And as long as the Betis of this house are around, the Bahus better keep their guard up because I’ll be watching your every move.
Poornima overhears this part of the conversation and walks into the kitchen.
Poornima: What are you saying Didi?
Rauktima: Poornima…
Urvashi: I was just offering her a helping hand and…
Poornima: No need to tell me Chachi, I heard everything. Clearly Rauktima Di doesn’t think that we can maintain a household to her liking.
End flashback…
Drishti turns to Urvashi.
Drishti: But be honest with me Urvashi ji, tell me about your Bahu Poornima. She acts like a smart cookie, but is she really?
Urvashi laughs.
Urvashi: Poornima? Smart? She wishes. You’re right when you say she ‘acts’ like it. I have manipulated that girl in more ways than you can imagine Drishti ji and every single time she just takes the bait you know. She has been a pivotal part of each of my schemes in the past and she hasn’t even known it. She has a mouth like a scissor so all I do is give her the appropriate material to cut with. In my opinion even my Bahu Jaya was smarter than her, although she never showed it. Poornima has and always will be just a pawn in this house that I can move around to my benefit in the games I play and…
Urvashi stops abruptly when she sees Poornima standing at the door. Drishti turns to look at her and pretends to look guilty.
Urvashi: Poornima… did you want something?
Poornima: All these years I’ve been so faithful to you and this is what you’ve thought of me all along?
Urvashi: What are you talking about I just…
Poornima: I heard everything you said about me Choti Ma.
Urvashi: No I was just…
Poornima: Please don’t embarrass yourself in front of your guest by changing your story. Excuse me.
Poornima walks off and Urvashi shakes her head.
Drishti: And she’s emotional too.
Urvashi: Aren’t they all?
Drishti: Their greatest downfall if you ask me.
Urvashi: Absolutely, shall we have a drink then?
Drishti: Why not?
Urvashi goes to get a drink and Drishti smiles to herself. Meanwhile… Rajind finds himself standing outside Chopra Mansion. He walks into the house and looks around. A woman around his age walks into the living room, she’s decked in jewelry and looks slightly vicious… She walks over to Rajind. He sees her.
Rajind: Hello Nirmala, how are you?
Nirmala: I’m fine thank you. What’s the matter Rajind? Have you forgotten the way to Chandra Mahel?
Rajind: No, I came here to see someone.
Nirmala: Oh goody… the great powers that be in the palace of the moon have decided to grace us with their presence.
Rajind: Um… is Ashvini Bhabi at home?
Nirmala: Bua ji is in her room, I don’t have the heart to disturb her…
Just then they both hear Ashvini’s voice…
Ashvini: Just say you don’t have a heart at all Bahu.
Rajind and Nirmala turn to look at Ashvini as she comes walking down the stairs. She hasn’t changed much, she just looks a lot calmer than she used to. She walks over to Rajind.
Ashvini: What brings you to Chopra Mansion Rajind?
Nirmala: I was just asking him the same thing Bua ji.
Ashvini: Really, well now that he’s here you might as well give him something to drink don’t you think?
Nirmala: Yes Bua ji.
Nirmala walks away and Ashvini turns to Rajind.
Ashvini: I don’t know how Vidhushi Bhabi tolerates her but she is Vayu’s wife Veer’s mother so I suppose I have to tolerate her as well. But that doesn’t mean you need to. The next time she says something cocky to you just tell her off Rajind.
Rajind just smiles.
Ashvini: Have a seat, tell me what made you come to Chopra Mansion to see me after all this time.
They both sit down.
Rajind: Actually Bhabi… I needed to ask you something about the past.
Ashvini: Sounds interesting. What did you want to ask?
Rajind: I don’t mean to bring up bad memories but there is something that I really, really need to know.
Ashvini: Alright…
Rajind: Bhabi… remember the time you… uh…
Ashvini: Rajind, I’ve done lots of things that I’m not so proud of. It’s alright to bring them up.
Rajind: Ok… Remember the time you kidnapped Shastra?
Ashvini is a bit taken aback… but she’s calm.
Ashvini: Yes…
Rajind: It was Rauktima Di who found you right?
Ashvini: Yes.
Rajind: Bhabi I need to know how she found you.
Ashvini: What?
Rajind: Yes it’s very important that I find out how she found you. I mean no one knew where you were and no one could find you but she did. How?
Ashvini starts to think…
Ashvini: Actually Rajind… All I remember is Rauktima coming into the house and then after that we fought briefly but then the police came and we all know what happened after that. To tell you the truth I don’t quite know how she found me either.
Rajind looks disappointed.
Ashvini: Why did you want to know?
Rajind: It was… I was…
Just then Nirmala walks back in with some tea.
Nirmala: Here you go.
Rajind: Thank you.
Nirmala stands around waiting for them to continue their conversation. Ashvini looks up at her.
Ashvini: Now don’t tell me you have nothing better to do in this house other than stand here and listen to our conversation Bahu.
Nirmala: Well I…
Ashvini: Come on, make yourself scarce.
Nirmala: Yes Bua ji.
Nirmala walks off and Rajind stands to leave.
Ashvini: Are you off so soon?
Rajind: Yes Bhabi. I have to get back home. Krithika needs me.
Ashvini: Krithika is back home is she?
Rajind: Yes she is. I thought you would know.
Ashvini: How would I? The ties between Chopra Mansion and Chandra Mahel seem to have been severed a long time ago. But it’s alright, what’s to be done.
Rajind: Thank you for your time and I’m sorry if I wasted it.
Ashvini: Not at all, and please drop by whenever you feel like it. You know I’m forbidden from coming to Chandra Mahel but no one is forbidden from coming here. I’m sure Naren Bhaiyya and Vidhushi Bhabi will appreciate it a lot and so will Vayu.
Rajind: Ok Bhabi. Thanks again.
He leaves and Ashvini smiles. Later… Urvashi is sitting in the great hall when Nachiket walks in.
Nachiket: Choti Ma, can I talk to you?
Urvashi: Of course, sit down.
Nachiket sits.
Urvashi: So I guess you’ve made your mind up about the offer then?
Nachiket: Yes I have.
Urvashi: And you’ve decided to sell?
Nachiket: No I haven’t.
Urvashi is taken aback.
Urvashi: What do you mean you haven’t?
Nachiket: I’ve given it a lot of thought Choti Ma and as big as this offer is, I can’t just let go of my mother’s company like that. It meant too much to her and therefore it means a lot to me.
Urvashi: Nachiket, this is no time to be emotional about the past.
Nachiket: Maybe I am being emotional but I believe that I’m doing the right thing. I can’t let everything she built for so many years just be taken away for some money.
Urvashi: Some money? Do you have any idea what kind of money we’re talking about here?
Nachiket: I do and I’m sorry but this is my final decision.
Urvashi breathes in deeply.
Urvashi: Well I’m sorry too but my final decision is that we are selling.
Nachiket is shocked to hear this.
Nachiket: What?
Urvashi: You might be dead set on making this foolish move but I’m certainly not.
Nachiket: But I don’t want to sell.
Urvashi: That may be so but I do want to sell and I will.
Nachiket: But you can’t do that.
Urvashi: Like hell I can’t. You forget that the day you moved into Agnihotri Incorporated we merged the Singhania Group of Companies with it. Your mother’s company is now a subsidiary of Agnihotri Inc. and therefore I get to take the final call on all these decisions. I asked you about what you want to do out of decency but if this is what you have decided then I’m going to have to overrule you. Singhania will be sold and that’s that.
At this point Poornima walks in as well.
Nachiket: And I’m telling you that’s not how it’s going to be.
Nachiket stands up.
Nachiket: I won’t allow it.
Urvashi: You won’t allow it? My dear boy I’m afraid you have no choice.
Nachiket: That’s what you think Choti Ma, but I am no fool. I read those papers before I signed them years ago. Singhania remains a subsidiary of Agnihotri Incorporated only for as long as I do. If I leave the company then Singhania goes with me.
Urvashi: Are you threatening me?
Nachiket: I think you’ve got this the wrong way around. You are the one making threats and leaving me with no choice. I will not sell this company at any cost and if I have to leave Agnihotri Inc. to keep it that way then I will.
Urvashi: You will be making a big mistake.
Nachiket: Actually I think the biggest mistake I made was joining hands with you. You will have my resignation within the hour and I’ll be moving to Singhania Mansion with Poornima and Shubh as soon as possible.
He turns to Poornima.
Nachiket: Come on Poornima, we have to pack.
Nachiket walks up and Urvashi stands up, she goes to Poornima.
Urvashi: Explain to your husband that he’s making a mistake and help him see…
Poornima: I’m sorry Choti Ma, but I’m just a stupid pawn am I not? Yesterday I did your bidding and today I’ll do my husband’s bidding.
Kurukshetra – Episode 431
Urvashi looks angry and Poornima continues to stare blankly at her.
Urvashi: Listen to me Poornima…
Poornima: The time for listening is over because I’ve heard all I had to hear. If this is Nachiket’s final decision then as his wife all I can do is support it. I’m sorry Choti Ma but if he says we’re leaving then we’re leaving.
Poornima walks away and Urvashi is left frothing in fury. Just then Drishti walks in.
Drishti: That didn’t go so well did it?
Urvashi: Can you believe how stupid these people are?
Drishti: Let them go Urvashi ji, let them go. They can stay tied to their emotions for the rest of their lives and never gain any success. Don’t think of this as a loss but as something you have gained. This way, when the Amsterdam project takes off and the profits come in, you won’t have to share it with anyone.
Urvashi thinks about this for a while.
Urvashi: You’re right. You’re absolutely right.
Drishti: There, don’t you feel better now?
Urvashi: I do. Thank you Drishti ji, you’ve been such a good friend to me through all this.
Drishti: Urvashi ji, you’ve opened your house to me and you’ve treated me like a member of this family, why wouldn’t I be there for you, as your friend.
Urvashi: It means a lot to me.
Urvashi smiles and walks off and Drishti smiles as well, she thinks to herself…
Drishti: I’m playing the same game you played on this house Urvashi and you can’t even see it. You too came into this house as a friend and then turned into our biggest enemy after which you destroyed everything. The same way, today I’ve come back into this house as your friend and you don’t even know that I am indeed your biggest enemy and I won’t stop until I’ve destroyed you completely.
She turns around to walk away and sees Geet standing there.
Drishti: Geet?
Geet: Dad told me about what you had said to Nachiket Maama.
Drishti: Did he now?
Geet: How could you be so cold and cruel?
Drishti: I was merely trying to explain to him that…
Geet: Save it, Mrs. Drishti Kaul. Explanations are expected from those who are your own and you mean nothing to me. I wish you had stayed away from us, I wish you had stayed dead!
Drishti is hurt when she hears this but Geet just walks away ands she fights back a tear, thinking to herself…
Drishti: I’m sorry Geet but I’m doing all of this to save our family from Urvashi. You will understand why I’m doing what I’m doing one day and then you’ll see why this was the only way.
Later that evening, Rajind is in deep thought on the terrace when Dushyanth sees him. He walks over to him.
Dushyanth: Jeeja ji.
Rajind is jolted out of his train of thought.
Rajind: Dushyanth, I didn’t see you come in.
Dushyanth: I noticed. Is something on your mind?
Rajind: No… I was just thinking about Krithika.
Dushyanth: I’ve been thinking a lot about her as well.
Rajind: Sometimes I don’t have the strength to even sit down and talk to her. She used to be so full of life and now…
Dushyanth: Don’t worry Jeeja ji, she will be fine.
Rajind: I hope so.
Dushyanth: You know, the other day when I was with her, she did say something to me.
Rajind: Really? What did she say?
Dushyanth: It was something about telling Kartik Chachu something.
Rajind’s ears pick up.
Rajind: What did she want to tell him?
Dushyanth: She just kept saying that she had to say something to him before it was too late. Does that mean anything to you?
Rajind: Well, the day Krithika lost her baby she was found outside Dad’s room. She insisted that she wanted to tell him something but then…
Dushyanth: So she never mentioned what it was that she wanted to tell him?
Rajind: No… but it had something to do with Nakshatra’s death.
Dushyanth: What? So maybe she knew that Kartik Chachu was going to do something and…
Rajind: That’s the thing. She never accused him of anything.
Dushyanth: Then whom did she accuse?
Rajind: Choti Ma.
Dushyanth is shocked to hear this.
Rajind: She said that Choti Ma had Nakshatra killed.
Dushyanth: But that doesn’t make any sense. Why would Choti Ma kill her own son?
Rajind: According to Krithika, Choti Ma’s entrance into this house happened through a major conspiracy. She said that…
Rajind tells Dushyanth the whole story. Dushyanth listens with his mouth opened and is very shocked to hear all of this.
Rajind: And soon after that Krithika was sent to the mental facility. None of us wanted to believe she was mad but at the same time, the things she was saying and add to that, everybody knew that she reacted the same way when she lost her first child.
Dushyanth: But do you believe her now?
Rajind: I don’t know what to believe anymore… I went to see Ashvini Bhabi today.
Dushyanth: Why?
Rajind: I wanted to ask her how exactly Rauktima Di found her and Shastra.
Dushyanth: Did she say anything?
Rajind: According to her Rauktima Di just showed up one day with the police. She never knew how she found her.
Dushyanth: I suppose the only way we can find the truth out is by making Krithika well again.
Rajind: I guess.
Meanwhile… Krithika has made her way downstairs and is walking aimlessly around the house. She sees the mandir and walks into it. She spends some time there looking around and then she walks out again. At this point, Urvashi has also walked in and she sees Krithika.
Urvashi: You… what are you doing out of your room?
Krithika doesn’t answer her and just stares into space.
Urvashi: Silly me, I’m asking a madwoman what she’s doing roaming around. What’s the matter Krithika? Are you looking for things that will help you remember your past? Are you trying to resurrect your memories of Chandra Mahel and of all your brothers and sisters? Too bad you won’t be able to.
Krithika looks up at Urvashi at this point.
Urvashi: You know when I first brought you back home I was always a little afraid of how things would turn out. I didn’t know what condition you would be in. But when I see you now, I know that nothing will go wrong. You know why? Because you will never be well again.
Urvashi walks over to Krithika and starts circling her.
Urvashi: You and your sister thought you would rule Chandra Mahel but look at what happened. The only person who rules this house now is me. And frankly, you have no one left to even take care of you except that worthless husband of yours. All your darling brothers are gone…
At that point Dushyanth walks in.
Dushyanth: What are you saying Choti Ma?
Urvashi turns to look at him.
Urvashi: I was just talking to Kritihika in hopes that she would remember something.
Dushyanth: Didn’t sound like that to me.
Urvashi: Well either way it’s not like I care.
Urvashi shrugs and walks off. Dushyanth goes over to Krithika.
Dushyanth: Don’t listen to her Di. The others may have gone but I’m still here. Your little brother is here to take care of you. Don’t worry about a thing. Come with me, let me take you back to your room.
Dushyanth takes Krithika by the hand and then Krithika looks up at him.
Krithika: Dushyanth…
Dushyanth is both surprised and thrilled to hear her say his name.
Dushyanth: Didi… did you just call me by my name?
Krithika stares at him for a long time.
Dushyanth: It’s ok, you don’t have to say anything else… it’s alright Di… Come on, let’s get you to your room.
Dushyanth leads Krithika away and unknown to them Drishti is watching all of this. She thinks to herself…
Drishti: This is how we used to be. No matter what disaster befell this family we were always there for each other. But everyone has just given into Urvashi out of fear or helplessness. I promised myself that I would break this family completely before I made it again and that’s exactly what I’m doing. The most important thing is that everyone understands Urvashi will go to great lengths to satisfy her own desires. Everyone who has left will return and that will be the day that this family is together again. It will all be over soon…
The next day… Urvashi is having breakfast when Drishti walks in. She goes over to the table and sits down.
Drishti: Good morning Urvashi ji.
Urvashi: Drishti ji, good morning, have some breakfast.
Drishti: I will, thank you. Actually I wanted to talk to you about something else.
Urvashi: Tell me.
Drishti: An important business associate of mine has just flown into India and I promised to take him out to dinner. But now that we’ve become partners I was thinking it would be nice if you could join us too.
Urvashi: Oh lovely.
Drishti: I’ll have to call the hotel and organize the thing for this evening so…
Urvashi: Hotel? What nonsense. If this associate of yours is as important as you say then you might as well bring him here to Chandra Mahel. I mean it’s no hotel but it is a palace.
They both laugh.
Drishti: Urvashi ji, you’ve already done so much for me, I don’t want to trouble you or the household anymore.
Urvashi: What nonsense. Just set the time and let me know, I’ll have the servants prepare a feast.
Drishti: Are you sure?
Urvashi: Of course I’m sure.
Drishti: But wouldn’t it be impersonal if he’s coming to Chandra Mahel and only the two are present for diner.
Urvashi: You’re right. I’ll tell you what, I’ll ask Aksh to join us, if that’s alright with you.
Drishti: Of course it is.
Urvashi: And I’ll ask Dushyanth to join us as well. Now that the others are no longer here I might as well turn to the people I can depend on.
Drishti: That’s great. Thank you so much Urvashi ji. Shall we say eight this evening?
Urvashi: Sounds perfect.
Drishti: I’ll go make the call.
Urvashi: Ok.
Drishti gets up and leaves. Urvashi continues to eat. Meanwhile… in his room, Rajind gets a call.
Rajind: Hello?
Ashvini: Rajind, it’s Ashvini.
Rajind: Hello Bhabi, what can I do for you?
Ashvini: Actually there maybe something I can do for you.
Rajind: Did you remember anything about what I asked you?
Ashvini: I did. You looked so tense I decided I owed it to you to think about all I remembered. You know while I was in hiding with Shastra I did all I could to make sure no one saw me and I was certain no one did. But then I remembered that one day when I was out shopping there was a woman who was giving me strange looks. I didn’t know her at the time so I presumed she was just curious. But it never crossed my mind that that woman was Urvashi Chachi.
Kurukshetra – Episode 432
Rajind’s eyes go wide in shock.
Ashvini: You see I didn’t know who she was at the time and so it didn’t really matter. But now when I think about it I realize that it is possible she recognized me and then she may have followed me to where I was hiding. Apart from that I can’t think of any other way that Rauktima could have found out where I was.
There is a moment of silence.
Ashvini: Hello? Rajind are you there?
Rajind: Yes Bhabi, I am. I uh… thank you so much for calling. I’m in a bit of a hurry now so I’ll call you back.
Ashvini: Alright. Take care.
Rajind: You too.
They hang up and Rajind continues to look shocked.
Rajind: If Choti Ma was the one who told Rauktima Di about where Ashvini Bhabi was hiding then that means that everything Krithika was saying was true.
Rajind feels as though someone has ripped the earth out from under his feet.
Rajind: God save us… then that means that… no… how can this be possible? That means that Choti Ma really did kill Nakshatra. That means that she purposely sent Krithika to the mental facility and kept her there all these years because Krithika knew the truth and Kartik Chachu is in jail for something he didn’t do.
Voice: Yes it’s all true…
Rajind feels the blood drain from his face as he slowly turns around to see who has heard him. He is shocked beyond belief to see Drishti standing there.
Drishti: It’s all true Rajind. Everything that you suspect is all true.
Rajind: What are you doing here? What do you want?
Drishti: I want to tell you the truth about what happened in Chandra Mahel twenty years ago.
Rajind: But how would you know what happened here?
Drishti: Because… because I’m not Drishti Kaul…
Rajind’s eyes almost pop out of his head.
Drishti: It’s me… Rauktima.
Now Rajind is reeling in shock.
Rajind: What?
Drishti walks in and closes the door. She then goes over to Rajind.
Drishti: Look at me… I’m Rauktima.
Rajind: You can’t be… you’re…
Drishti: Dead? No… Drishti is dead.
Rajind: I don’t understand.
Drishti: We don’t have a lot of time but I need to tell you everything fast.
Drishti tells Rajind about Urvashi’s ill intentions and how she wanted to break Kaushik and Darpana’s marriage but then how she set her eyes on Kartik. She then tells him about how she found out where Ashvini was holding Shastra and blackmailed Rauktima into getting her married to Kartik. She goes on to tell him about how Urvashi intentionally attempted to kill her and how she went into a coma for six years and she follows it up with the deal she made with Gajendra Kaul and how she spent the last fourteen years creating a name for herself as Drishti Kaul so that she would have all the power she needed to return to Chandra Mahel and destroy Urvashi once and for all. Rajind feels like he’s on information overload.
Rajind: Didi? Is that really you?
Drishti: It is… I’m so sorry about everything that I have said and done since I came into Chandra Mahel but I only did all those things to ensure Urvashi would never doubt the fact that I was Drishti and not Rauktima. I had to turn my heart to stone and say mean things to my brothers, insult my sister and show no love to the children of this house. But I did all these things to make each and every member of this family see that Urvashi was manipulating them all these years and that she only cares about herself.
Rajind frowns for a while.
Rajind: But Didi, if what you’re saying is true then Aksh knew about Urvashi from the beginning.
Drishti: Yes he did.
Rajind: Then why did he lie to me?
Drishti: What do you mean?
Rajind: I went to ask him if he knew how you found Shastra and he said you never told him. And when Krithika first accused Choti Ma of all these things Aksh never once opened his mouth to side with her.
Drishti is shocked to hear this.
Drishti: He was just silent?
Rajind: Yes.
Drishti: Maybe Urvashi is threatening him with something.
Rajind: But that still doesn’t account for why he’s lied to us for all these years. Didi my wife has spent twenty years in a mental facility. How could he do this?
Drishti: That is something we’re going to have to deal with later. Right now I need your help because apart from me and Krithika, you’re the only one who knows the truth. But I can’t act on anything because I need to continue maintaining this act of mine instead and Krithika is in no condition to reveal anything and even if she does Urvashi will just do what she did to her twenty years ago. But now that you know the truth you have to be very careful Rajind. No one must know about this until the right time. Tell me are you with me? Will you fight with me to rid this house of the evil named Urvashi?
Rajind feels a new kind of strength come over him. He looks at her straight in the eye…
Rajind: Of course Didi. I’m with you.
Drishti smiles.
Drishti: Thank you… now this battle will end far sooner than I expected it to. But before we take Urvashi on, there’s one more thing we have to do.
Rajind: What’s that?
Drishti: I’ve severed her ties with this family one by one. It was me who made the call to Dadi Bua, bringing her here but I made the call from Jaya’s phone so that Urvashi would be forced to punish her by revealing her secret. I was the one who staged Manasvi’s kidnapping so that Urvashi would lose her hold on Katya Bhabi and I was the one who called Manisha Chachi and brought her here to reveal the truth about Manasvi’s paternity. Then I used Sangeeta Chachi’s company as leverage to make Nachiket open his eyes to Urvashi’s reality and it all went as planned. All three families have left her and now all she has left is Dushyanth. But after tonight, she won’t have him either.
Rajind: How are you planning on doing that?
Drishti: I wish I could tell you but if I did then you would try to stop me. But you need to know one thing Rajind, when we get together as a family again it has to be without secrets and tarnished pasts. Everyone has to come to terms with their past and so do their children. That is the only way we’ll ever have peace in Chandra Mahel. Otherwise, every day someone keeps on holding to some semblance of what was and they keep using it against us. But if we deal with our past now then no one can trouble us in the future. So now Dushyanth has to come face to face with his past just like the others did.
Rajind: But Didi…
Drishti: Trust me, please… All I need you to do for now is take care of Krithika and don’t let any misfortune befall her. Keep her safe and when the time is right we will make Urvashi pay for what she has done.
Rajind thinks for a while and then nods his head.
Drishti: Tonight Urvashi will lose her last pawn on the chessboard and then she will be mine to control completely.
Drishti and Rajind exchange looks one last time and then part ways. While Rajind is making his way to his room he runs into Aksh.
Aksh: Rajind… slow down. Where’s the fire?
Rajind: I’m afraid I’m too late to put it out. But it’s nice to know some people like watching it burn.
Aksh: What? What are you talking about?
Rajind: Sorry… just a little something a I read somewhere. By the way, I wanted to ask you one more time if you knew about how Rauktima Di found Shastra and Ashvini Bhabi.
Aksh: I told you… I don’t know…
Rajind: Yes, yes you did. Alright then. I have to go check on Krithika now.
Rajind walks off and Aksh looks confused. Later that evening, everything is prepared for dinner and Drishti comes downstairs looking more beautiful than ever. As she walks into the great hall she runs into Aksh who is on an intercept path.
Drishti: Oh for goodness sake do I need to ask you to watch where you’re going?
Aksh: No. I can see clearly ahead.
Drishti: Really? I always thought contrary. Excuse me.
Drishti walks off and Aksh shakes his head in dismay. She sees Urvashi giving the servants some last minute instructions and walks over to her.
Drishti: Urvashi ji, I have to say you have outdone yourself this time. Everything looks brilliant.
Urvashi: Thank you Drishti ji, it’s important to make a good first impression, that’s what I think.
Drishti: And I’ve always told you, I like the way you think.
Urvashi: Of course. Come, let’s get started on a drink and Dushyanth will be with us shortly.
Drishti: Excellent.
The two of them move over to a drink stand and Urvashi pours some drinks. Just then Dushyanth walks in.
Urvashi: Ah, you’re just on time.
Dushyanth: For one… but that’s easy, there’s less people clogging the taps in the house, so I was able to have a quick wash.
Urvashi gives Dushyanth a disdainful look.
Urvashi: Look I know you’re upset about your brothers leaving the house but I never asked them to go.
Dushyanth: I’d rather not get into this right now. Let’s just have dinner.
Drishti: We can’t, our guest isn’t here yet.
Dushyanth: Great, then I suppose I’ll join you for a drink.
Urvashi: Please…
The three of them now have drinks in their hand and they sit down to have them. At long last they hear a car outside and they all stand up. Drishti turns to face the other two.
Drishti: Wait here, I’ll go welcome him and bring him in.
Urvashi: Alright.
Drishti leaves.
Dushyanth: Why is she making such a huge fuss over this business partner of hers?
Urvashi: Apparently he’s someone very important and they’ve been working together for some time now and she obviously wants to keep him in the good books. I like the way this woman does business, she makes it look so easy.
Dushyanth: She has no other life, of course it’s easy for her.
Urvashi: We should learn something from an emotionless person such as herself… She’s a good example of how you must keep your distractions away when you’re dedicated to completing a task.
Urvashi looks away from Dushyanth to the entrance of the great hall and just then her jaw drops. Dushyanth sees the weird look on her face and he too turns to look at what she’s looking at. Suddenly he feels as though the room is spinning out of control. He tries to catch his breath but finds it increasingly difficult to do.
Drishti: Urvashi ji, Dushyanth ji, I would like you to meet one of my oldest business partners and a good friend, Mr. Sanjeev Thakral.
Sanjeev looks smart and well dressed but his face shows how uncomfortable he is standing inside Chandra Mahel in front of Dushyanth. Drishti knows exactly what is going on but still looks back and forth from Sanjeev to Dushyanth and Urvashi and pretends to act as though she’s sensing some bad vibe.
Drishti: Is everything alright?
No one says anything.
Drishti: Oh I’m sorry do you already know each other?
Urvashi: Actually… Sanjeev is from the Thalral family and even though Soumil is technically an Agnihotri, he grew up most of his life thinking he was a Thakral and therefore he and Sanjeev are like cousins…
Sanjeev: There’s more to that story Urvashi ji, and you know it.
Drishti: There is? Well what is it?
Sanjeev looks at Dushyanth.
Sanjeev: Do you want to tell her Dushyanth or should I?
Dushyanth looks dumbstruck.
