Meanwhile,
Ashok seeing Mini enragedly sitting in the car with tears in her eyes and driving off, came to Meeta tensely.
Ashok: Meeta... Gaadi me baitho... Mini aankh me aansu lekar nikli hai.... kahin nazar dhundhla gayi to aage accident na ho jaye... Khud gaadi chalaane ki kya zarurat thi emotional hoke... Gussa me vaise bhi kuch dekhti nahi hai.
Meeta told the maid to take care of Mishti while sitting in the car and Ashok drove behind her.
They were on the turn when saw Mini's car stopped and Mini stepped out of it.
They saw Neil too coming out of the car and as soon as he came in front of her and was about to hold her, she fell on her knees, crying with her face in her palms.
They were shocked and they saw Neil too was.
Stepping out of the car, they saw Neil sat on his knees infront of Mini and wrapped his arms around her while she leaned on him. He patted on her head consoling her.
They walked towards them getting worried but stopped seeing them.
.
.
Neil eyes too got teary when Mini cried leaning on him.
Mini sniffed in his smell, trying to get a hold on herself and stop the thoughts of her past to roam in her mind but couldn't.
"Tujhe tere papaji zyada sahi lag rahe hai.... Sach kaha tha Saroj ne... Khoon to unhi ka hai na tu... Rahegi to tu hamesha apne baap ki hi beti na"
"Tum meri beti ho... Mera khoon ho aur hamesha rahogi... Padho kya likha hai ispe... Mini Ashok Khurana... Yahi naam hai tumhara aur yahi rahega puri zindagi bhar.... Khurana khaandaan ki vaaris aur Ashok Khurana ki beti...."
"Main subah aake Mini ko le jaunga... Iska saaman taiyaar rakhna...."
"Main vahi rahungi jahaan meri Babes rahegi.... aur aapke saath to nahi aa rahi main"
"I am not Mini Khurana anymore.... Only Mini... Sirf Mini.... Khurana is out"
"Hello Hanuman Uncle... Aap Ashok Khurana ko dhund rahe the na?... Aapka mujrim mil gaya hai."
"Apna dhyaan rakhna Mini Beta... Hmm?"
"Rahegi to tu hamesha apne baap ki hi beti na"
She rose up a little on her knees and wrapped her arms around Neil's neck, snuggling to him, hiding her face in the crook of his neck with her arms wrapped tighter around his neck.
Mini's cries was getting louder and Neil couldn't understand her sudden breakdown.
He bent down his face and rested his chin on her temple. He slid his arm under her overcoat and rubbed her back to console her.
Her hard sobs and heavy gasps in between her cries which he felt on his neck, increased his worry.
He too had his eyes closed while consoling her.
Feeling her breaths trying to get normalised again in between her loud cries starting to get calmer, Neil rubbed her back and stroked her hair gently.
Mini eventually calmed down and slowly parted with her head lowered while taking sobs.
Neil wiped her tears still looking at her. He tugged her handbag which was hanged across her shoulder and opening it, took out the tiny waterbottle he told her to keep it with her, to take the medicines she carried as precautions, if any such situation arises.
He kept the bottle near her lips after opening the lid and she held it.
Taking a few sips of water in between her sobs, she calmed herself.
Neil: (keeping his hand on her cheek, raised her chin to meet her eyes) Mini... Kya baat hai?
He saw tears were still present in her eyes.
Mini: Ab na mujhse yeh sab bardaasht nahi hota hai.... Vo sab memories... Jhagde.... Taunts... Avoid karna chahti thi main.... Nahi sochna chahti hu main vo sab dobara....
Meeta: Dekh lo tumhari harkate kitna affect kar chuki hai Mini ko... Abhi vo tumse isiliye baat nahi karna chahti.
Ashok: Ha jaanta hu main vo affected hai... Par baat to kar sakti hai na?... Maafi mang lunga main...
Neil couldn't understand her reaction this time. All they had the convo about her father was only twice. Firstly when Mini was consoling him after he was broken to know Keya isn't his daughter and secondly when Mini was drugged. He still remember every word she had said.
"Tumhe pata hai Neil, Mere babes se shaadi ek 1 month baad hi mere papaji London chale gaye. Me 17 saal ki ho gayi aur vo sirf 4 baar wapas aaye vo bhi thode time ke liye. ek baar jab me 1 saal ki thi....phir jab 3 saal ki thi.....ek baar jab me 12 saal ki thi aur ek last baar jab me 17 saal ki thi aur meri babes ka divorce hua....meine kabhi unke andar ke papaji dekhe hi nahi... phir mujhe hanuman uncle mile...unse mujhe vo pyaar mila jo mere papaji ko mujhe dena chahiye tha.....vo mujhe.....apni beti jaisa mante tha....mere papaji ke liye mere man me utni respect, utna care, utna pyaar nahi hoga jitna mere papaji na hokar bhi hanuman uncle ke liye tha, hai aur hamesha rahega....."
"Unme kabhi meine apne papaji ko dekha hi nahi.... Jab dekha to as a son, as a brother, as a disloyal husband but not ever as a father. But tumhari baatein sun ke laga that maybe he also would have felt as a father....maybe not as much as I felt bad in loneliness as a daughter but still... Maybe unhe kabhi apna father side dikhane ka mauka nahi mila.... But I still hate him.... Unhone koshish bhi nahi kari.... kabhi nahi.... never a single time ever in his life."
Neil: Mini.... you have felt the loneliness of not having your father for you.... to aaj jab vo milna chahte the... baat karna chahte the tumse..... to tumne kyu nahi baat kari?....
Ashok: Mini felt so lonely?
Mini didn't answered him and lowered her gaze.
Neil: You hated him right?..... because he didn't made any move to contact you except that letter... Haina?.... But today you got to know na?... He had tried many a times to contact you... Phir bhi tum suna ke aa gayi... Kyu?
Ashok: Usko pata hi nahi tha ki main aaya tha usse milne?
Neil was hell confused as she still didn't said anything.
Neil: Bolo na Mini.... Batao to sahi mujhe.... Samajh nahi paa raha hu main...
Meeta: Mini kuch bol kyu nahi rahi?
Mini: I don't want you to understand.... Chalo ab hotel chalte hai.
Neil was blank after listening this. She stood up and Neil too did. She turned to the door of the car but Neil, holding her hand, tugged her, and made her turn back to him.
Neil: (held her arms) Par kyu Mini?
Mini: Ek baat bolti hu.... aur agar tum soch bhi sako to bataana mujhe.
Neil: Hmm...
Mini: Tum apna naam Neil Oberoi.... Bade pride se lete ho na?
Neil: Ha.
Mini: Aur yeh tumhara surname.... tumhara family name.... tumhara pride nahi humiliation hota to kaisa lagta tumhe?
Neil couldn't even think of it.
Mini: Soch sakte ho?
Neil nodded in a no.
Mini: Maine feel kiya hai vo... Khurana surname drop karne ka reason vahi humiliation tha jo mujhe feel hota tha aur main ek tag ki tarah apne naam ke saath yeh humiliation nahi rakhna chahti thi...
Ashok and Meeta were taken aback listening her words.
Neil was looking at her trying to understand her point.
Mini: Kabhi socha hai kaisa lagta hai jab parents ek dusre ko hate karte hai?.... Ek dusre ko humiliate karte hai?.... jab sharam aati hai apne father ko father kehte hue?
Neil's eyes got moist understanding that she's right that he can never relate to her that how painful is the feeling of parents hating each other as he can never ever even imagine that, not even in his head. He took back his hands from her arms.
Ashok: Mini ko itna zyada hurt hota tha?
Neil: (bemused) Maine to..... iss tarah.... kabhi.... socha hi nahi Mini....
Mini scoffed at her own past life.
Mini: Kaise sochoge tum Neil?... Kyu sochoge?.... You worship your parents... Bhagwaan se kam nahi hai tumhare maa aur dad tumhare liye.... They are the perfect role models of life-partners for you... They are just the most perfect couple ever existed in the world for you... Your dad too lived away from your mom but he was as loyal as ever... You had seen their love and respect for each other when you grew up seeing them both together in every circumstances... You have had your own beautiful and happy family as a child... Both your parents deserve to be your inspiration.. your belief.. your faith in love.... (keeping her hand on her heart) I really respect that from the core of my heart.... I adore the same.... (holding his arms) Par jaante ho tum?.... (emotionally) I can never ever relate to that feeling...
Neil: (confused) Kyu tum relate nahi kar sakti?... Matlab theek hai I know tumhare father ne kabhi tumhe vo support provide nahi kiya.... But you were saying right?.... ki tumhare Hanuman Uncle were a father figure for you.... To tum?... matlab...
Mini: Tum apni maa ke ghar me unko feel kar sakte ho na aaj bhi.... Aaj bhi tum apne dad ki yaadon se muskura lete ho na?... Hai na vo ek aisa corner in this whole big world... jahan unke jaane ke baad bhi apni bachpan ki yaad me sirf sukoon milega tumhe chahe kitne bhi din bita lo tum?.... (Neil nodded)... Mere paas na aisa koi ghar hai... na aisi yaadein jahan mujhe mera bachpan yaad karke sirf sukoon mile... Ha meri life me jitna bhi role ek father ka tha vo Hanuman Uncle ka hi tha.... Maine Hanuman Uncle se ek beti jaisa hi pyaar paaya hai par beti 'jaisa' Neil.... beti ka nahi.... tab bhi mujhe to family nahi hi mili thi na...
Meeta: Kitna akelapan hai uski baaton me... Aisa lag raha hai jaise tarsi ho vo family ki liye...
A lone tear fell from Neil's eyes.
Mini: Tumse milne se pehle mujhe meri family kabhi nahi mili Neil.... (wiping his tears) Isiliye main nahi chahti ki tum samjho mujhe.... Jitna tum samajhne ki koshish karoge utna hi pain dikhega tumhe.... Maine kabhi Babes ko bhi to isiliye nahi bataaya... ab tumhe...
Neil: I wanna know Mini.... I wanna know.
Mini: Kya jaanna chahte ho tum?... Kyu jaanna chahte ho?.... Main bol bhi lungi to heal thodi na ho jayega yeh emotional void.... Agar mere bol lene se heal ho jaata to ab tak kabhi na kabhi to keh chuki hi hoti na main tumhe.... par isiliye nahi kaha na kyunki nahi heal ho sakta hai yeh... Phir kyu sunna chahte ho tum?....
Ashok: Vo kisi ko bataana bhi nahi chahti?
Neil: Kyunki aaj bhi vo emotional void tumhe hurt karta hai Mini... Pehle samajh nahi paata tha main.... aaj samajh aa raha hai ki kyu tum ekdum se gumsum ho jaati thi kabhi kabhi... Kyunki yahi emotional void chubhta tha tumhe.... Haina?
Mini nodded.
Meeta: Itna affect hua hai usko?
Neil: Mujhe lagta tha you miss your parents.... Tum tumhari Babes aur Hanuman Uncle ko miss kar rahi ho yeh lagta tha mujhe.... Mujhe laga tha tum vahi akelapan aur khaalipan mehsoos kar rahi ho jo main karta hu jab main maa aur dad ko miss karta hu... par aisa nahi hai yeh aaj samajh aa raha hai mujhe.... Isiliye jaanna chahta hu... taaki samajh saku tumhe... yeh jo tumhari chubhan hai usko samajh saku main...
Mini: Nahi samajh sakte tum.... I know tumne bahot difficult loneliness face ki hai par uss khaalipan me jo anmani si ankahi si chubhan maine mehsoos ki hai na uska andaaza nahi laga sakte tum.... Father na ho to ek baar ko insaan tasalli kar sakta hai na Neil.... Par father hokar bhi na ho to ek tadap hoti man me.... vo nahi samajh sakte tum ki kaisi hoti hai.. kyu hoti hai... Tumhe pata hai?... Jab main 17 years ki thi na Neil... Aur pata chala tha humko.... ki mere papaji ne meri Babes ko betray kiya hai.... Uss ghar se uska haath pakad ke jab nikal gayi na main.... Sabko yahi lagta hai ki main ek deewar ki tarah khadi thi meri babes ke aage usko har problem se bachaane ke liye... Lekin kisi ne yeh jaanne ki kabhi koshish nahi kari ki mujhpe kya beet rahi thi uss waqt... Kabhi kabhi aansu beh rahe hote the aur main haste hue yeh keh deti thi ki aankh me kuch chala gaya hai... Sabne yeh dekha ki maine apni Babes ko kaise sambhaala aur himmat di par.... Kisi ne yeh janne ki koshish nahi kari ki un haalaton me maine khud ko kaise sambhaala tha.... Kisi se kabhi kaha nahi maine to kisi ne khud samjha bhi nahi mujhe... Aur yahi chubhta hai mujhe ki uss waqt meri Babes ke liye main thi.... Lekin mere papaji ko to meri bhi nahi padi thi.... Kabhi mujhe tak unhone yeh ehsaas nahi hone diya ki vo father hai mere.... Lekin baar baar ehsaan jataaya hai choti choti si baaton ka... Par ab?... Ab jab seekh gayi hu main bina ek father figure ke rehna.... Ab bas mere andar ke sawaal chubhte hai mujhe.... Vo sawaal jinke jawaab nahi denge vo mujhe.... Mujhe mere sawaalon ka jawaab kabhi nahi milenge Neil...
Tears rolled down her eyes while saying this and she hugged Neil, wrapping her arms around him, under his overcoat.
Ashok and Meeta too had tears listening to her emotional outburst.
Neil: Isiliye tumhari Babes aur tumhare Hanuman Uncle ke guzar jaane ke baad pehli baar jab tum mannaton wale mohalle ke ghar me gayi thi to vaha se nikal jaana chahti thi?
Ashok: Babita aur Hanuman Singh dono nahi rahe?
Meeta: It's shocking.
Mini: Ha... Mujhse vo sab memories bardaasht nahi ho rahi thi...
Neil: (caressing her head while holding her) So don't you think that tumhe kehna chahiye yeh sab unse?... Ek baar puch ke hi dekh lo vo saare savaal.... Hai to vo tumhare father hi na... Chahe jataaya ho ya nahi.... Bataaya ho ya nahi... Tumse attachment to unko bhi hogi... Shayad tum haq se pucho to jawaab de dein vo?
Mini: (sobbing) Tum jaante kitna ho unko jo tumhe lag raha hai ki vo jawaab de denge.
Ashok: Par kyu Mini puchna nahi chahti mujhse kuch?
Neil: Tum jaanti ho unhe?.... Tum khud kehti ho ki tumne kabhi unme kabhi father dekha hi nahi... I saw him as a father today in the park.... Isiliye bol raha hu.
Mini: (looked at him) Vo Mishti thi Neil... Mini nahi... Mere father vo kabhi the hi nahi...
Neil: (wiping her tears) Laga to nahi mujhe unki baaton se aisa.... I felt ki the father in him deserves a chance to speak.
Ashok felt a hope in his words that maybe Mini speaks to him.
Mini: Tum jaante nahi ho na abhi kuch.... Agar jaante hote to vo tum hi hote jo hum dono ke beech khade ho gaye hote taaki main hurt na ho jau.
Neil: Vo kyu tumhe hurt karenge Mini?....
Mini: (parted anxiously) Kyunki vo yahi karte aaye hai... Ho sakta hai itne saal ho gaye hai to shayad ek do din thoda theek se baat karlein... Lekin jab unhe gussa aayega vo vahi karenge jo vo aaj tak karte aaye hai... Unhone babes ko humiliate kiya tha.... M ko humiliate kiya tha... Kal ko mujhe karenge... Main unko mauka hi kyu du?
Meeta: Mini ko yeh lagta hai ki tum usko bhi humiliate karoge Ashok... Dekho kya image bana li hai tumne...
Neil: (held her arms) Yahi keh raha hu main.... Tum apni babes ke disloyal ex husband se nahi... apne father se baat karo.... Mini... How can a father disgrace his daughter?.... It will never happen.
Mini: I don't trust him.
Ashok: Mini aisa sochti hai?
Neil: Don't even try to... Lekin at least you can have a conversation with him na?.... Ask your questions.... Try to soothe your emotional void... (tightening his hold on her arms, holding her closer) Don't run away Mini... You are not an escaper.... You are a fighter... Face it... Just be you... (keeping his hand on her cheek) Kyu pareshaan ho?.... Main hu na.... Trust me... I won't let anyone hurt you ever.
Mini: (nodded) I trust you.
Meeta: I am glad koi to hai jispe trust kar sakti hai vo.
Neil: (caressing her cheek) Fine now?
Mini nodded in a no and her gaze was still lowered.
Neil patted on her cheek to comfort her.
Neil: Koi na... Load mat lo... Hmm?
Mini: (raised her face to look at him) I am trying.
He smiled at her empathetically and motivatedly.
Neil: (wiping her tears) Main khada hu na tumhare saath to chinta kis baat ki hai tumhe?.... Tumhi to kehti ho... hum saath hai to koi bhi problem overcome kar sakte hai... Believe in it then..... Jo hoga saath dekh lenge.... Smile karo yaar... Sab theek ho jayega...
His motivated smile made her anxiety vanish.
Mini smiled and nodded.
Neil: (holding her arms) We are in it.... ?
Mineil: Together.
Both smiled at each other.
Ashok and Meeta were shocked at Mini's sudden relief at his comforting words.
Neil: (patting on her shoulders) Relax Mini Madam.
Mini: Hmm... Let me relax then.
She rose up and wrapping her arms around his neck. Neil held her by her waist and bent his face closer to her. Mini rested her cheek on his, wrapping her arms more tighter.
Both closed their eyes and he wrapped his arms around her waist raising her comfortably. Mini snuggled her face closer to him and they shared a comforting hug.
Almost a couple of mins later,
Neil: (raised his face a little and turning slightly, pecked on her temple) Ab theek ho?
Mini: (snuggling on his neck) Yeah.... Much better.... Thanks.
Mini sighed and parted.
Neil: Raat dekho kitni ho gayi hai... Kal subah meeting hai na?.... ya postpone karne ka vichaar hai?
Mini: Are kyu nahi hai meeting.... Phir to sab ki flights hai... Usse pehle parting instructions dene zaroori hai... Apni firm ki head hu main... Deadline wagera ka to notice pehle hi dena padega na.
Neil: To chalein?... Ab drive main karunga... Pata hai?... yeh jo ek min tumne drive kiya na.... meri to tumhe dekhke band hi baj rahi thi.... ki kahin thok na do tum.... Kahin chot na lag jaaye tumhe.... (pinching her nose) Gussa jo naak pe baitha rehta hai tumhara..... Kabhi kabhi to control kar liya karo...
Mini: Aisa kuch nahi hona tha... Main bahot dhyaan se drive karti hu.... Thoki hai maine kabhi?
Neil: Almost.
Mini: (sulked at him) Tab to seekh rahi thi na main tumse.
Neil: Accha ab muh to mat banao..... Itni mehnat se mood sahi kiya hai yaar tumhara.
Mini: Accha?... Kaunse pahad khudwa liye maine tumse?
Neil chuckled and Mini smiled. Neil was relieved to bring her back to normal.
AsMe were surprised to see Mini normal again after the hug.
Neil: Ek baat puchu?
Mini: Hmm?
Neil: You will talk to him?
Mini: (after a long pause) May... be....?
Neil: Ok.
They stepped to the car.