Lasting Infinity And Beyond

Goodbye

It was a sad occasion. Everyone was crying and hugging each other. There were many goodbyes being said.

This was because a member from Taarak Mehta ka ooltah chashmah was leaving permanently. It was Jheel Mehta, the person who played Sonu aka Sonalika Atmaram Bhide, the daughter of Atmaram Tukaram Bhide.

Also a member of Tapu sena in the show, which consisted of Tapu, the leader of Tapu sena and the most mischievous one, Goli, the hungry one, Gogi, the over-excited one, Pinku, the eldest of Tapu sena and finally Sonu, the only girl of Tapu sena.

She had to leave the show as she wanted to concentrate on her studies. She was also in 10th standard and had SSC exams that year. She was so serious about her studies that almost without hesitation, she decided to leave the show she was in for nearly four years. She was finding it hard to juggle studies and shooting both so she chose to opt out of Taarak Mehta ka ooltah chashmah.

Now there was a farewell party for her to show how much she meant to all the cast and crew members. It was more of a tears and hugs party, with most of the people crying and hugging.

Jheel looked around her. It was one of the sets decorated with balloons, streamers and a beautiful banner with her picture and 'Goodbye Jheel' on it. Tears clouded her vision as she thought how foolish she was to leave all this. All this was only for her. She almost thought of not leaving and staying back. But maybe this was fate. Maybe it was written in destiny for her to leave the show. She was really sad however she knew it was for the best.

Just then one of the directors of Taarak Mehta ka ooltah chashmah, Malav Rajda, called her up on stage to deliver a few words. Everyone clapped and encouraged her to go up. She slowly walked up on the stage and breathed in deeply. She was not scared she just did not know what to exactly say.

She closed her eyes for a few seconds formulating what to say in her mind. She took the microphone in her hand and said, "Dear fellow co-actors, cast, producers, directors and crew, we have come a long way since the show first started in 2008. We have all grown close together in these 4 years. It has been a memorable journey for all of us so far. I am really happy to have had spent these years with such wonderful people like all of you. But I am afraid my journey with everyone present here ends today. It was a really tough and painful decision for me. I know that once I leave I can never come back again. I also know that I will be replaced by someone else and I hope that all of you will accept her into the Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah family with time. To end off I would like to say a big Thank You to everyone once again. "

Once she came down from the stage, everyone clapped. She just gave everyone a sad smile. She was attached to this set. It was almost like a second home for her. A lone tear dropped from her eye. She was really going to miss everyone so much. Inside her heart longed to stay but she knew that was not possible anymore.

After the party, everyone took one last group photo before waving Jheel off. She waved to everyone before stepping into her parents' car. And with a last look at the place she had spent for the 4 years, she left without a backward glance.