Happy Sunday to you all💕
After having lunch together Priya went with Pihu to make her sleep for sometime.
Ram was in his office room when he decided to call Sara.
Sara: Hello Ram. Is everything all right?
Ram: Umm...yeah in our home everything's okay. But in Vikrant's it's not. Sara di I went to meet Ishaan in the morning.
Sara: Ha umm...Vikrant ne bataya.
Ram: Sara di he's getting his deserved punishment. I can understand that you need time to think but not talking to him, giving him silent treatment is not going to fix anything.
Sara: Ram I'm sorry. Mujhe nahi pata mujhe kya karna chahiye. I don't know how to bring myself to talk to Ishaan.
Ram: I completely understand. But you need to understand that he's not well mentally. Sara di Priya is not okay. She's in so much pain. But I'm here to listen to her. Ishaan ko aapki zaroorat hai abhi. Main samajh raha hoon ke aap ko itna bada sach ab pata chala hai apko problem ho rahi hai sab manne ko. But I just want to give you one advice- Don't neglect your child. I'm saying this because I've done this and I'm regretting the choices I made 5 years ago. I could go there and search for the truth but I didn't! And I'm the one responsible for that not Priya. Be there for him in whichever way you can because you don't know when you're going to regret your decision. I'm not forcing you just trying to make you understand the situation. I really want to be there with him but meri bhi kuch limitations hai.
Aap samajh rahi hai main kya keh raha hoon?
Sara: Ha. Main samajh rahi hoon Ram. I'll go meet him.
Ram: Hmm...okay.
Sara: Ram aap se ek baat poonchu?
Ram: Ha?
Sara: How are you handling everything strongly?
Ram: Sara di situation hi aisi hai. I can't expect Priya to handle everything. She already has a lot of her plate. She took care of Pihu almost alone all these years. Jab mujhe sab kuch strongly handle karna chahiye tha maine kuch nahi kia. This is the least I can do for her and Pihu. They are my family Sara di, I love them both the most. I want to be there for them always.
Sara: Hmm. Galti meri thi Ram. Mujhe Ishaan ko Varun ke saath akele rehne dena nahi chahiye tha. Mujhe shaadi bass usko naam dene ke liye nahi karna chahiye tha. Kaash mujhe pata hota uske baare mein. Khair chodiye woh baat. Aapne thik kaha Ram. Itne saal main nahi thi uske saath. Ab iss muskil waqt par mujhe uska hath nahi chodna chahiye. Thank you.
Ram: Your welcome.
Ram cut the call then sighed loudly.
It was 3:30pm when Ram and Priya got ready to go for their first therapy session while Pihu pouted, standing on the bed as she didn't want them to go.
Pihu: Mumma Papa please don't go.
Priya: Pihu humne bataya na bachhe it's important. Jana padega. Hum thodi na bohot time ke liye jaa rahe hain. We will be back soon.
Pihu: Popsie!!
Ram didn't know how to tell her that they had to go while she made the cutest pout in the whole world.
Ram(kissing her cheek): Bachhe we will be back soon. Please Tarun ke saath reh jao Cupcake. Waise ek surprise hai.
Pihu(whining): Surprise? What surprise?
Priya smiled at Ram as she knew Pihu would love the surprise.
Ram: Chalo dikhata hoon surprise.
Pihu: Yayyy!
Ram: Priya chalo niche.
They went downstairs and saw Brinda sitting in the living room.
Pihu ran to Brinda and hugged her.
Pihu: Jaannnn!
Brinda: Hi sweetheart! Kaise ho?
Pihu: Thik hoon. Aap thik ho?
Brinda: Bilkul. Maine socha aap ke saath time spend karne aa jaati hoon.
Pihu smiled widely.
Ram: Toh surprise kaisa laga?
Pihu: Bohotttt achha.
Priya(caressing her cheek): Achhe bachhe banke rehna Pihu.
Pihu: Okay.
Ram(kissing Pihu's hand): Sab hain yahan koi stress mat lena. If you want to talk to us, tell Bri or Tarun to call us. Okay bachhe?
Pihu: Okay. Jaldi aana.
Ram: Of course jaldi aayenge.
Priya: Hum aate hain Pihu. Brinda aate hain. Bye.
Pihu and Brinda waved at them.
Ram and Priya sat in the car after waving at them and drove away.
Priya sighed deeply.
Ram: Achha hua Bri aa gayi sunke ke hum bahar jaa rahe hain. Bass parso hi toh ghar aayi hai Pihu. Sab ke saath adjust kar liya hai usne but Bri hi hai jiske saath time zyada spend kiya hai usne.
Priya: Ha yeh thik kaha aap ne. Brinda ke saath bohot free hoke rehti hai Pihu. Goa mein toh dono ne bohot mazze kiye saath mein.
Ram smiled at her. Priya smiled back then started looking outside the window.
After sometime,
Ram: Are you stressed?
Priya(turning to him): About therapy?
Ram nodded.
Priya: A little. Ab aadat si ho gayi hai.
Ram: How was it? Matlab you were going to a psychiatrist for sometime now.
Priya: Okayish. It did help a lot with the panic attacks. But other than that it wasn't working. Maybe because I was not cooperative enough.
Ram(frowning): Matlab?
Priya(looking at her hands): She would ask me everytime what I really wanted and I had no answer to give her.
Ram nodded.
Ram: Do you know now?
Priya looked at him, gave him a small smile and nodded. Ram smiled back at her.
Priya: You're stressed.
Ram(clearing his throat): Yes I'm. I've no idea what's going to happen.
Priya: Aap kabhi nahi gaye therapy ke liye?
Ram shook his head.
Priya: Not even after losing dad?
Ram shook his head while Priya nodded slightly.
Ram: Only watched 'Dear Zindagi' a few times.
Priya(with a soft smile): Don't worry. You'll be fine.
Ram smiled back nodding.
Ram turned on the music system and chose to play "Tuta Pull Wahan" by Deepak Rathore.
The song started playing. Priya had never heard the song before but the humming part in the beginning melted her heart in seconds.
"Nadiyan baarish tujhse hoti thi
Sukhe baadal tu hi bheegoti thi
Wo titli jisne baahein chumi thi
Wo mitti ki gullak jo tooti thi
Kahti phir se tu ghar aaja
Tu ghar aaja mere yaar mere yaar
Tuta hai pull wahan
Tu mere paas aaja mere yaar
Dhundhla sa lage jahaan
Tu aake dhoop ban ja mere yaar"
Tears formed into Priya's eyes as the song elicited how much Ram missed her and he was trying to tell her that through the song.
"Dekha nahin tujhe arso se
Baat nahin ab barsho se
Khoye huye tere charcho se hai kahan"
As she heard those lyrics, she looked at him with tears in her eyes, he turned to her sensing her eyes on him then seeing her tear filled eyes, quickly passed a tissue to her. She began to wipe her tears away with it.
After the song ended, Priya played "Chan Kitthan" by Ayushmann Khurana.
"Kajle ton zyada kaale
Lagde ne ae ujale
Tere bin ove maahiya
Thandiyan hawawan aaiyan
Nindran udaa lai gaiyan
Akh na ae sove maahiya
Teri yaad vich jagdi rahi main taan
Taareyan de sath ve
Chan kitthan ghuzari oye
Ho chan kitthan ghuzari oye raat ve
Sachi dass de ja ae baat ve
Chan dilon zara mehsoos taan kar
Mere naina di barsaat ve
Chan kitthan ghuzari oye
Ho chan kithan ghuzari oye raat ve"
Ram felt like just with those words Priya poured heart out to him, telling him how she felt incomplete without him for the last 5 years.
He lifted his hand from the gear and gently held her hand, intertwining their fingers. Priya turned to look at Ram with pure love for him in her eyes while he gazed at her once then focused on driving again.
Soon they reached the building where the clinic was. They went to the 8th floor according to the instructions. The lift door opened and they entered the main clinic's reception area.
The name "Chasing A Peaceful Life" neon sign in a beautiful font looked very pleasing to the eyes. The hall was full of pictures, articles, quotes on mental health, some live plants which added bright colors to the space.
Priya was scanning the room around her with wonder in her eyes while Ram looked visibly stressed after entering the space. Sensing that Priya held his hand softly.
Priya: Mr. Kapoor it's okay. Why are you stressed?
Ram: I don't know. All of this is freaking me out. How are you so chill?
Priya: The place looks pleasant to me. Aapko kya laga yaha cupcake khilaenge aapko?
This made Ram chuckle.
Ram: Joke tha yeh? Bilkul funny nahi tha.
Priya: Par aap hasse na...
They smiled at each other then went to the reception.
The Reception(with a smile): Welcome. Do you have an appointment?
Ram(clearing his throat): Yes we have an appointment in the names of Ram Kapoor and Priya Kapoor.
The reception nodded and searched in the list of appointments.
The Reception: Yes Sir and Ma'am you have a 3pm appointment with Dr. Tara Mukherjee. It's 2:50pm on the clock now. Please sit there(pointing at the waiting area). You will be informed at the right time.
Ram: Okay. Thank you.
Ram and Priya started walking towards the waiting area while the receptionist looked the couple who had been talked about for a few days on the news, social media, everywhere. She was actually surprised to see them there.
After exactly 10 mins a woman came to them.
The Woman: Ma'am Sir come with me. It's the time for your appointment.
Ram and Priya nodded and followed her. They were walked through a long corridor and the woman stood in front of a door and knocked. After a few seconds, a woman in her mid 30s opened the door with a soft smile on her face. She had very curly hair, brown eyes.
She welcomed them inside the room. Ram and Priya noticed the huge bookshelf on the right wall of the room.
The Woman(Forwarding her hand for a handshake): Hello. I'm Dr. Tara Mukherjee. My pronouns are she/her. Nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Kapoor.
Ram and Priya shook hands with her.
Ram and Priya: Nice to meet you too Dr. Mukherjee.
Tara: Call me Tara please. Please take a sit.
Ram and Priya sat down on the couch while Tara sat on the one seater across them with a diary in hand.
Ram looked visibly uncomfortable to Tara.
Tara(pointing to the two glasses of water): Have some water. You would feel better.
Ram swallowed hard and took the glass in hand, pulling out his medicine bottle from his pocket.
Ram: Umm...yeh filtered hai na?
Tara(with a little smile): Yes of course.
Ram: Okay.
Ram was fumbling with the bottle and glass in hand, stressing out. Priya took the bottle in her hand and gave him one pill which the gulped down with some water. Priya then sheepishly smiled at Tara who was watching the couple with utter curiosity, smiling a little.
Ram's eyes then fell on the bowl of chocolates wrapped in colorful wrapping papers that were kept on the coffee table in front of them. He looked at that and then at Tara.
Tara: You can eat them Mr. Kapoor. Dark chocolate hai.
Ram(grabbing two chocolates from the bowl): Thank you.
Tara noticed that he thanked her then his whole focus shifted to the chocolates.
Tara: Mrs. Kapoor please help yourself with the chocolates.
Priya(smiling): No. Thank you.
Ram(munching the chocolate): Yumm...it's Belgian chocolate Priya. Too good.
He looked at Priya and then Tara and realized where he was and what they were doing there.
Ram(keeping the wrappers inside his pocket): I'm sorry.
Tara: It's okay. You don't have to apologize here for liking something. This should be a safe space where you feel free to share everything.
Those words made Ram feel a little relaxed.
Tara: Are you both feeling okay? Shall I start or do you need more time? Both are fine.
Ram and Priya both looked at each other. Ram nodded to her.
Priya: We are fine.
Tara: Okay. So before we start our session I need to inform you that whatever you speak here will be handled with utmost privacy. Nothing you share here will go out to the outside world. Even if I use some any instances of our sessions it'll be done keeping your privacy in mind. So please feel completely free to share everything you want to as that would help you and me to understand each other better.
Ram and Priya nodded.
Tara: So tell me how are you both?
Ram and Priya looked at each other then at Tara while she patiently waited for them to answer.
Priya: Umm....happy....after 5 years.
Tara nodded with a smile then looked at Ram.
Tara: And you Mr. Kapoor?
Ram took a deep breath then smiled.
Ram: I'm on cloud nine....after 5 years. Ummm...call me Ram please, not Mr. Kapoor.
Priya smiled a little listening to him.
Tara nodded, smiling.
Tara: You both said something that I rarely hear in the first sessions when I ask this question and also it's very rare to see a couple entering here holding hands.
Ram and Priya gave her a sad smile.
Tara: What do you expect from our session?
They again looked at each other.
Ram: Ummm...we got separated 5 years ago due to a lot of things actually.
Priya: And we want to resolve the issues we have. So we need your help.
Tara: I see. You both are stressing on 5 years so much, so what's your story? You can tell me if you feel comfortable enough or we can wait also. You choose the pace.
They again looked at each other. Ram nodded to Priya.
Ram: It's....a long story.
Tara(with a smile): I'm all ears.
Ram looked at Priya, pouting slightly, wanting her to start.
Priya: Ummm...so we met almost 6 years ago because of my brother and his sister. Actually not my own brother, cousin but mere aapne bhai ki tarah hi manti hoon usse main.
Ram: Akshay and Shivina. They both were in a relationship.
Priya: Yes and his family arranged Shivina's marriage to his business partner's brother without properly knowing her will. She wanted to marry Akshay not that guy, Sid.
Ram: Priya Shivi ne hume bataya nahi. Bataya hota toh main woh kabhi hone nahi deta. And they're my step family. Not Shivi of course.
Tara frowned as Ram mentioned step family.
Priya: I know. But you should have asked her properly. Anyways so on Shivina's sangeet night she ran away from her home to our house to talk to Akshay and us.
Tara: Akshay didn't want to marry her?
Priya: Nahi aisi koi baat nahi hai. Uski family ne shaadi tay kardi, Shivina brokeup with him because he wanted some time to establish himself and she did't want that and he wanted her to be happy. so yeah...
Tara(nodding): Okay. Then?
Priya: So Shivina came and told us what happened and that she wanted to marry Akshay. And then Mr. Kapoor came at our house with his step brother Shubham to accuse us of kidnapping Shivi.
Ram: Ee...ek second! Aisa nahi hai.
Priya: Toh aapne yeh nahi kaha tha ke humne Shivi ko kidnap kiya hai?
Ram: Nahi matlab....I was stressed. Shivi nahi mil rahi thi.
Priya pressed her lips together then looked at Tara who gestured her to continue.
Priya: So humne baat ki...
Ram: Nahi nahi...baat nahi ki. tumne mere saath jhagda kia, humee taunt kia, mujhe Tauji bulaya tumne. TAUJI!
Priya: Aaapne yeh kaha ke humne Shivi ko behekaya hai Akshay se shaadi karane ke liye as if she's a baby jisse lollipop dikhaya hai humne.
Ram: Tumne mujhe paani bhi poora peene nahi dia. (muttering under his breath) Khadoos.
Tara: Okay then?
Ram(softly): Then Shivi ne mujhe bataya ke woh Akki matlab Akshay se kitna pyaar karti hai.
Priya: Phir hamare ghar police aayi kyunki innhone complain ki thi.
Ram: Arreeyy yaar main gaya tha na resolve karne.
Priya: Ha par batana toh padega na....
Ram sighed loudly, closing his eyes.
Ram: Toh main jab Akki se unn dono ki shaadi ki baat karne gaya toh usne mana kar dia yeh kehke ke woh shaadi nahi karega cause uski Priya didi ki shaadi nahi hui and bhai hone ke naate woh Priya ko khush dekhna chahta hai.
Priya: Then we met in the court as my friend Twinkle and his friend Vikrany, unn dono ka divorce settlement tha.
Ram: Aur wahan bhi humne fight ki because mere dost ko alimony nahi deni thi aur Priya ki dost ko chahiye tha. Aur uske baad umm...humne matlab meri aur ek dost ne dekha ki humare dost Kunal ko umm...Priya pe...interest hai.
Priya rolled her eyes thinking about it.
Priya: So he told me that he wanted to talk to me about Akki and Shivi's marriage and wanted to meet me and that I can bring someone with me cause he's bringing Kunal with him kyunki BAAT ACHHE SE HOGI PHIR.
Ram(with a smile): Aur ussi din hum pehli baar baarish mein bheege the aur mujhe yeh pata chala tha ki Priya ko baarish bilkul pasand nahi hai.
Priya(smiling): Aur inhe baarish se bohot pyaar hai.
Tara smiled at them both as she could understand that 'rain' had an important role in their story.
Priya: Ha toh jo bol rahi thi main ke inhone socha mujhe uss baat ke liye bulake Kunal ke saath meri shaadi ki baat chedenge.
Ram: Arreeyyy yaar main toh bass yeh chahta tha ke tum dono mil lo. Tumhe force thodi karta main yaar!
Priya: Ha toh yeh pehle hi batas dete main pehle hi mana kar deti aur uss din itna drama nahi hota!
Then she remembered how Sara and Maitri were praising Ram for how handsome he was and how successful he was and smiled proudly.
Tara(noticing the change of expression): Mrs. Kapoor want to share anything important? you're smiling.
Ram looked at Priya and saw her becoming all nervous in a moment.
Priya: No. No. Nothing. Nothing.
Ram: Are you okay?
Priya: Yeah yeah.
Ram: Mujhe batana chahiye tha pehle and I'm sorry for that. Main manta hoon meri galti thi. But you also behaved very rudely Priya. Ha mera tareeka galat tha but mera intention tumhe hurt karne ka or tumpe ehsaan ka nahi tha.
Priya took a deep breath, blinking back her tears. Tara noticed it and wrote that down.
Priya: I'm sorry for that.
(With disgust)Mujhe yeh baat pata chali cause he was talking to his FRIEND VEDIKA about it aur maine sunn liya.
Ram looked at her sadly but Priya looked away. Tara wrote down something in her diary.
Tara: Then?
Ram(clearing his throat): Then we fought very badly. Main uspe chillaya, woh mujhpe chillayi. And then again we met when she came to tell me that she didn't want to marry me. Mujhe pata nahi tha kahan se yeh baat aayi cause mujhe kisine kuch nahi bataya.
Priya: His step Mom came home and proposed his marriage with me and I hated the idea. Mujhe nahi karni thi shaadi. But I didn't know that he had no clue about it. Toh maine bohot gussa dikhaya.
Ram: Aur rone lagi. mujhe bohot bura...laga kyunki maine yeh sab nahi kiya tha. Toh maine...Priya ko ek tissue dia aur ek joke sunaya.
Priya(letting out a chuckle, shaking her head): It was too bad.
Ram: But she laughed and she was the only one who ever laughed at my bad jokes.
Ram and Priya smiled at each other.
Ram: Then my step mother told me that Priya had agreed to marry me and then I got to know that Shivi was pregnant toh maine bhi Shivi ke liye Priya se shaadi karne ko raazi ho gaya. Par jab main Priya se mila usse baat ki toh pata chala ke usne ha nahi kaha.
Priya: Phir ye pata chala ke Shivi pregnant nahi hai. But Akshay's demand stayed intact. I wanted Akki and Shivi to be happy so I agreed to marry Mr. Kapoor.
Tara: So Mrs. Kapoor you call your husband Mr. Kapoor?
Ram started laughing heartily but stopped the moment he saw Priya glaring at him.
Priya: Ummm...yes. It has become a habit. Call me Priya please.
Ram: Jo woh mere hazar baar bolne ke baad bhi nahi badlegi. And to be honest mujhe bhi aadat ho chuki hai.
Tara slightly nodded and gestured them to continue.
Ram: So we met at a restaurant to discuss about Akki Shivi's marriage and our's too.
Priya: And there only he clearly told me that he's not marrying me to find love or a partner and that if our marriage happens trust, respect, understanding sab rahega bass pyaar nahi rahega. It was just for Shivi and he understood that I was only marrying him for Akki's happiness and for my mother also that he didn't know. And also told me that nothing would change after marriage, I could live my life in my own terms. We were so different from each other in every aspect be it financially or individually but something was common between us, we loved our families, their happiness was our top priority.
I agreed because I liked his honesty. Maine socha bhi ke hum dono ke beech pyaar na ho ek sachhai hogi, respect hogi.
Ram: So we got engaged a day later. and that day I got to know that Priya dated a guy called Neeraj...yuck why am I even talking about this? Ugh! But you need to know this Tara. So Neeraj publicly humiliated Priya by telling everyone that he broke her heart and got married to her sister Maitri.
Priya looked downwards as she remembered that day.
Tara: Priya it's okay if you want to stop this discussion. We can do this when we feel comfortable enough.
Priya looked at Tara.
Priya: I don't care about Neeraj. Mujhe koi problem nahi ho rahi. Yeh sab bohot peeche chodke aa chuki hoon this doesn't prick me even a little bit.
What mattered to me that day was that Mr. Kapoor supported me.
Ram: When I told her that it hurts when someone breaks your heart, she told me that it hurts more when your trust breaks. Aur aaj lagta hai sahi kaha tha Priya ne.
Ram stopped talking and became silent. Tara waited as she felt he wanted to talk more, just needed some time so she blinked her eyes at Priya to tell her to relax. Priya nodded.
Some moments later,
Ram(in a very low voice): And I umm...told...her that...I still love my ex. I ummm...asked her if she wanted to meet her. But Priya said she didn't wanted to know as she stopped believing in love. (He laughed a little, then started fidgeting with his fingers looking at his hands) Maine Priya se kaha ke pyaar mujhse behtar koi nahi samajh sakta. (Again chuckled softly) Ahh! Overconfident tha main. Khudko iss khel ka raja samajhta tha. (He looked at Tara with a soft smile) Par uss khel ki asli rani toh koi aur hi thi.
Priya was looking at Ram utterly shocked listening to him. She became teary eyed.
Tears came to Ram's eyes also as he remembered how Priya showed her love for him without even uttering a word time and again.
Tara passed them the tissue box. Ram pulled out a tissue and passed it to her, making her smile. They both wiped their tears.
Ram: I'm sorry.
Tara: It's okay to cry if you feel like it. Don't apologize for letting out your inner emotions.
Ram nodded with a small smile.
Tara: Priya were you okay with the fact that Ram was still in love with his ex?
Priya just didn't want to face that question.
Priya: Jab pata chala I was okay with it cause anyways our marriage was just a deal for Akki and Shivi.
Tara: There's a but.
Priya nodded.
Priya: And I don't want to talk about it right now.
Tara: Okay. You can continue if you want to.
Priya: So ummm...the next day they got to know about the truth of our family.
Tara: What truth?
Priya: My biological father left my.... mother because she gave birth to 4 daughters. All our childhood he abused us and continued to do it even when I was getting married. He left my mother, married another woman, had a son with her and we had no idea of that for a long long time. He was living two lives. Hamare pass aake humpe torture karte the, aur unke saath khusi khusi apni life jeete the. He was not a part of our life for the longest time.
The pain was evident in her voice, the saved up hurt could be seen on her face. Priya sighed loudly holding her head between her hands.
Ram looked at Tara gestured him not to talk.
Some moments later, Priya looked up and drank some water.
Priya: I'm fine.
Tara: Shall we continue?
Priya nodded.
Tara: So what happened when the truth came out?
Priya: He said that they had the right to know everything as Akki Shivi were getting married and for them we were getting married. I absolutely agree and I wanted to tell him about everything but I needed some time. Sab kuch itni zaldi ho raha tha. I just couldn't bring myself to tell him and as always the truth came out in a very bitter way.
Tara: And what do you think about that?
Ram: I will say the same thing I said that day that Priya is not responsible for any of this. She left that day so she didn't hear me saying this.
Priya looked at Ram shocked knowing that he stood up for her even that day also.
Tara nodded.
Ram: Then the prenup drama happened. My family wanted Priya to sign a prenup.
Tara: And you didn't want to?
Ram: Of course not. I never wanted that. Aisi kaisi shaadi hai jo aise shaqkh se shuru hoti hai. I didn't wanted her to sign it but....
Tara: But?
Ram: But my step mom and brother they wanted her to sign it as they thought if our marriage breaks for any reason Priya won't take away everything! Well kya popat banaya mera. And ummm...my friend Brinda repeatedly told be to say no to that. Even Shivi.....! Shivi was so angry when it happened. But...
Tara: But...
Ram: But Nandini Kapoor! She told me to make Priya sign that contract. (In broken voice, tears again pulling in his eyes) I didn't want to. I didn't.
Priya caressed his arms.
Ram: I'm fine Priya.
Tara: And Priya how did you feel when they wanted you to sign the prenup?
Priya(looking at Tara): Disrespected.
Tara(nodding): So sign kiya tumne?
Priya nodded.
Tara: Why?
Priya: Because I took a loan from the bank. And Mahendra Sood who is my biological father, he told the bank that Mr. Kapoor would give it back jab ki aisi koi baat hi nahi thi. Bank se unke paas call gaya tha toh zahir si baat hai ke unko laga ke aisa ho sakta hai ke agar kuch hua toh main alimony mangungi. I don't blame him for that. Jante bhi nahi the ek dusre ko. For his future's sake if he did that I really don't blame him. He supported me when I didn't expect him too. It's the least I could do to make him trust me.
Ram looked at her stunned. He didn't know how Priya was still defending him on that matter.
Some moments later,
Ram: Achha Tara ek question hai mera.
Tara: Hmm...
Ram: If you want to help someone do you consider that person to be incapable of doing something?
Tara: No. I don't think so. If you genuinely want to help, it's no make that other person's job easy.
Ram(with a wide smile): Thank you. Can you please do me a favor and make Madam(pointing at Priya) understand that 22%pe loan nahi lete! I was just trying to help to make her understand ke baad mein she's the one who's gonna suffer.
Priya: Aap phir se woh baat leke baith gaye! Mr. Kapoor mujhe loan ki zaroorat thi tab and in a short period of time. 22% zyada hai I know that gadhi nahi hoon but I needed that money urgently. 5 years ho gaye aap iss baat ko chodte nahi.
Ram: Phir bhi 22% pe kaun loan leta hai Priya!
Priya: I really have no mood to talk to you about this again and again.
Priya looked at Tara who was waiting for them to finish their little fight.
Priya: I'm sorry. So umm...uske baad hamara sangeet tha. And usme...
Ram remembered how he danced with Meera, how he used to call her Meera ma, then how she betrayed him.
Ram: I danced with her....mother and that made her happy.
Priya(smling): And also he remembered that I told him ke hume hamare income ke 20-30% donate karna chahiye. And he arranged a performance of the kids who blind of an NGO.
Ram smiled back at her.
Ram: And ummm...then our wedding day came and I thought of inviting her father to our wedding because I thought Priya would want him there and he should be there even if they don't talk.
Priya: Well aapki soch galat thi. Mujhe woh bilkul nahi chahiye the hamari shaadi mein.
Ram sighed loudly.
Priya: And then when the marriage rituals were being performed police came.
Tara(frowning): Police kyun?
Priya: So on the sangeet night when we were going back to our house, a car came in full speed and was about to hit my youngest sister Sandy. It was a blue Sedan and number plate ki photo bhi li thi. So I lodged a complain and the police came to arrest Shubham his step brother as it was his car. Shubham started shouting at me because maine usse gaadi chalate huye nahi dekha. Baat bohot badh gayi and Mr. Kapoor decided to leave our wedding in the middle without a proper explanation. He didn't tell us if he's going to come back nor not, he still wants to get married or not bass kuch nahi bola aur chale gaye aur main mandaap pe khadi reh gayi.
Ram was looking downwards, feeling extremely ashamed and guilty.
Tara left out a small sigh and nodded.
Priya took some deep breaths.
Priya: Meri behen ko kuch bhi ho sakta tha. But he said that it's wrong that you're accusing my brother. Mujhe kya pata tha ke kaun gaadi chala raha tha aur hua kya tha. Bohot kuch ho sakta tha yeh sochke maine complain ki thi Shubham ko accuse karne ko nahi. Mr. Kapoor problem yeh nahi hai ke maine complain ki, problem yeh thi ke aap maanne ko taiyaar hi nahi the ke apka bhai kuch galat kar sakta hai. Hume bass jitna clue mila uss gaadi aur driver ko pakadne ke liye humne ussi se complain lodge ki. Yeh hi karte hain log.
He left and his step mother stopped me when I was going to search for him. She asked me if I really thought that our marriage was the right thing. She told me she doesn't judge people by their financial status. She told me not to marry him cause that would cause so many problems between the families. Unhone mujhse kaha 'main maa hoon na Priya sautela hi sahi', and that I should not marry him.
Ram was looking at Priya, wide eyed as he didn't know that so much happened after he left.
Tara: Ram, will you tell us why did you left?
Ram(clearing his throat): Main sab kuch sort out karne ke liye gaya tha. And I was feeling very very sick. I couldn't breathe or talk toh gir gaya tha.
Tara(frowned): Okay then?
Ram: Uss din Bijaya Dashami thi toh Hanuman saje the aise kuch log aaye aur mujhe doctor ke paas lekar gaye. I had an allergic reaction. He gave me the meds and then I went back. I didn't know mere jaane ke baad Priya ko itna kuch sunna pada.
Priya: Mr. Kapoor janne ki zaroorat nahi padhti hai. Of course log mujhe taunt karenge, mujhe blame karenge kyunki hamari society mein aisa hi hota hai. Log aap se ek sawaal puchenge, mujhse hazar. Aur yahan meri galti nahi thi. Yeh aap maane ya na maane. I was the bad guy because police came to arrest Shubham. Shubham ne kaha ke main gaadi nahi chala raha tha toh mann liya inhone. Kisine bhi yeh nahi poocha ke Sandy ko chot aayi ya nahi? Woh thik hai ya nahi.
Tara(nodding): Then what happened?
Priya: Mr. Kapoor wapas aaye aur unhone yeh kaha ke main aap ne waade se peeche nahi hatta aur shaadi kar sakte hai ab.
Tara: And you wanted to marry him?
Priya: No.
Ram felt like a big rock hit his head.
Priya: But I agreed because of my...mother's happiness. Unhone zindagi mein bohot kuch sehna pada hai I didn't want to add another. And he didn't tell us that he fell sick or anything. Meri baat woh hai bhi nahi. I just want to ask one thing when you left the hall you didn't even tell me if you're coming back or not. Baithi rahoon kya yeh sochte huye, logon ke taane sunu cause yeh hi hota aaya tha mere saath aur mere shaadi wale din bhi aisa hi hua.
Maafi maangi inhone meri maa se shaadi ke baad. Aisa nahi hai ke maafi nahi maangi.
The pain was clear in her voice when she said the last two sentences.
Ram: Priya I wanted to apologize to you but I didn't know how would you react. I wanted to tell that I fell sick. I apologized to you later.
Priya: What? When?
Ram: Woh tumhare ghar mein raat ko. Par tum...so...gayi thi tab.
Priya looked at Tara.
Tara: Ram she needed to hear that when she was conscious not sleep. A conversation happens when both the people are in their proper senses. And you apologized to her mother?
Ram nodded.
Tara: Okay.
Priya: That's how we got married.
Tara nodded.
Tara: Okay so this session is almost done. We have 10 minutes left.
Ram: But we haven't told you the entire thing.
Tara: I understand that. We can continue in the next session. Now I have some questions and it will be helpful for me to understand everything better if you both answer these.
Ram and Priya looked at each other and then at Tara and nodded.
Tara: I want both your family and your step families details cause I can understand that the problem is related to you both and equally to your families and of course what I know from media.
Ram: Media? So you know us both?
Tara: Of course as a psychologist I should have as much information as possible about everything happening around us. Aur aap dono ki khabar toh kuch dino se chal rahi hai.
Priya: Then why didn't you tell us before?
Tara: Because I wanted to tell you at the end. Asking you the first of what is happening in the media would make you both conscious and to be honest what media fabricates and what the reality really is...inn dono mein antar zyada hota hai. I needed you both to be truthful here.
Ram: Why would we not be truthful?
Tara: Because a lot of people have problems opening up to us because they fear that they're gonna be judged. So we have to work always keeping that in mind.
Ram and Priya nodded.
Ram: So about my family, I lost my mother when I was 6 years old. My father was my whole world. He decided to marry Nandini Kapoor after falling in love with her. And they had 2 children Shubham Kapoor and Shivina Kapoor. My father died or should I say murdered, when I was 23 years old.
And I have four friends who are like my family only, who have been there for me since college, Adi, Brinda, Kunal and Vikrant.
Tara(nodding): I'm sorry to hear that. It must have been very hard for you.
Ram nodded.
Tara turned to Priya.
Priya: I already told you about my parents. So I have three sisters Sara, then I, Maitri and Sandy. Akshay is my cousin and Akshay's parents my mama, mami.
Tara(smiling): Okay. Are you not forgetting someone?
Ram(with a cheeky smile): Trust me Tara we are not. We didn't tell you yet cause we told you just about how we got married.
The girl everyone saw in the pictures, is our daughter Pihu. The apple of our eyes.
Tara(smiling): Okay. I agree that the events didn't reach to that point but when a child involved in all this its a big thing.
Ram: Yeah of course I understand.
Tara: Do you mind if I ask how old is she?
Priya: 4 years 4 months.
Tara: Okay. So I did watched two interviews that you both have given. I know your sister died Ram. And I know you were in jail for 2 years Priya for Shivina's accidental death. I know your father was murdered by Priya's biological father. These are the things I know from the media but I need confirmation from you both.
Priya: All are true.
Tara: Okay.
Ram: There's a thing you need to know.
Tara: What?
Ram: Priya went to a psychiatrist for the last six months. She experiences panic attacks and was diagnosed with PTSD and Anxiety Disorder.
Tara: Are you on meds?
Priya nodded.
Tara: Can I see the prescription?
Priya handed her the prescription.
Tara read it, with a big frown.
Tara: So do you take all the medicines?
Priya looked at Ram a little scared.
Priya: Ummm...no. Not the Antidepressants.
Ram: WHAT?
Tara: Why?
Priya: Because they make me feel sleepy and tired. I had Pihu to take care of all alone. How can I sleep that much?
Ram felt heavily guilty and shook his head.
Tara: Priya if the diagnosis is correct you need to take antidepressants. And I'm not gonna lie, they have side effects. But medicines doesn't suit you sometimes and you can do exercise, yoga to reverse the side effects. They help you to fight the sleepiness. Do you experience panic attacks often?
Ram: 4 times in the past 7 days.
Priya: Diazepam helps. I don't get panic attacks a lot now. A lot of things happened in the past week after we met.
Tara: And the medicine you take?
Ram: Very low dosage of diazepam. I have been on these for years now.
Tara: Okay. I would suggest you consult another psychiatrist because she needs to take proper medications. Priya some meds don't work but some does. I know it's difficult to handle antidepressants but to recover from panic attacks and anxiety you need to have those. Our sessions will help you to understand things better but a lot of times to understand things better we need to first stabilize your brain. If you experience foggy brain can you think straight?
Priya shook her head.
Tara(nodding): That's why it's needed. So our next can be scheduled 2 days later? I'm suggesting soon cause I need to have a full picture before we dive into deep space.
Ram looked at Priya who nodded.
Ram: Okay no problem.
Tara: We have a psychiatrist here too. You can consult her or you can consult who ever you want but I would suggest you to be on meds asap. It's important.
Ram looked at Priya who reluctantly nodded.
Tara(with a smile): Okay so we're meeting after 2 days. Please book an appointment before you leave. Thank you.
Ram and Priya(nodding): Thank you so much.
They all stood up as Tara opened the door for them.
Ram turned once to Tara before leaving.
Ram: I have a question.
Tara: Ask.
Ram: Do people fall asleep here?
Tara smiled listening to his questions.
Tara: Yes they do. A lot of times. Feeling exhausted.
Ram nodded.
Ram: Okay thank you.
Ram and Priya left the room. They booked an appointment then left the building.
.
.
PHEWWWW! I know it was a huge chapter and you all know almost everything cause of course it's a show. But in reality a therapist needs to have detailed information for the diagnosis and analysis. It matters how you talk, what words you use, your body language, facial expressions everything! If I added the paras just by mentioning the incident it would've missed those parts. Already it's difficult cause you're reading it, not watching it. So it made sense to me to write it this way.
So to be clear from the start, the first two sessions will be like this, telling the history. Then only I can start analyzing it.
I hope you all understand this. If you have any question regarding this, you can ask me in the comment section or you can dm me.
Thank you for the love and support. Hope you guys liked the chapter!