A Search for Lost Connections

                                    

                                          


Ram stood in Meera's home. He was surrounded by the familiar faces, as he prepared to address the truth that had been concealed for far too long. Adi, Vik, Kunal, Bri, Maitri, Sara, Sandy, Ishaan and Krish were all present. All were shocked on seeing Ram in the Sood House after years. The truth was about to be revealed, and everyone's emotions were running high.
Taking a deep breath, Ram began to speak, Joining his hands. As he began, his voice started trembling with a mix of guilt.

"Main aapse maafi maangna chahata hu Meera maa, Priya aur aap par bharosa na karne ke liye maafi maangna chahata hoon. Aapka paksh na sunkar maine bohot badi galti kar di. Maine apne gusse aur darr ko apne faisalon par haavee hone diya, aur apne sauteli maa ke chaalon mein khud ko fasne diya, jiske kaaran hamey, khaaskar meri Priya ko bahut badi keemat chukaani padi. Priya ko itna kuch jhelna pada aur padh raha hai. Mujhe Priya ke liye, Hamaare liye, Hamaare bachhe ke liye ladna chaahie tha aur mai....", he starts sobbing before ending his words.

Meera: (Shocked) Ram..aap yeh..kya..?
Ram: (voice chocked) Meera maa, Mujhe sach ka pata chal gaya hai. 
Meera: (still shocked) Sach...Kaise..kis...kisne..?
Ram: (Forwarding her the letter to saara) Yeh..yeh letter mujhe Ishaan ne diya, aaj.
Meera: (tears filled eyes) Ram, bachhe, isme sirf aapki galti nahi hai, Priya aur hamari bhi hai. Humey aapko sach bata dena chaiye tha par hum darey huye the, Ek toh hamarey paas koi saboot bhi nahi tha aur aap humse gussa bhi the, upar se Nandiniji ki dhamki....jiske kaaran meri beti(burts into tears).
Ram: (wiping her tears) Aap please royiye mat maa, Abb mai sab theek kar dunga. Priya ko kahin se bhi wapas dhoondh ke le aunga.
Meera: (sobbing) Ram, meri bachhi ki koi galti nahi hai. Usne jaan bhujhkar kuch nahi k...
Ishaan: (Interrupting) Meri galti hai. Uss din...

Ishaan confessed his involvement in Shivi's accident in front of everyone present there.
Sara, unable to contain her anger, jumped up from her seat. Her eyes were burning with fury. "Ishaan, Tune Shivi ko dhakka diya? Tu aise kaise kar sakta hai? Tere kaaran tere maasi ko kitna kuch jhelna pad raha hai. Tujhe kam se kam mujhe sach bata dena chahiye tha, mai teri maa hu. Maine tujhpe kitna bharosa kiya!"
She made a move to slap Ishaan, but Ram swiftly intervened and pleaded to calm down.
Ram placed a hand on Sara's shoulder, and said,
"Sara di, Aapka gussa hona jayaz hai, Par yeh mat boolna, Ishaan ne aakar apne gunaah ko maana. Koi aur hota toh, chup rehta sach batane ke wajaye. Bacchon ke upar haath uthaane se baat sulajhta nahi balki aur bigad jaata hain. Ishaan ne apni galtiyon ki zimmadaari li hai, aur mera yeh manana hai ki, he deserves a chance, ek mauka apni galtiyon se seekhne ke liye, usse sudhaarne ke liye. Aur mai make sure karunga yeh ho."

"Thankyou RK, " Ishaan cried.

The room fell into stunned silence as the weight of all revelations sank in. Meanwhile Ram's friends rea the letter and teared up.
Adi, Vik, Bri and Kunal exchanged glances. Their eyes were filled with remorse for not standing up for Priya during those difficult times. Bri reached out to hold Ram's hand, offering him support and reassurance.
Adi, his loyal friend, spoke up, "Ram, Hum sab saari sacchai sunkar shock mein hain, Par abhi humey Priya ka pata lagana zyada matter karta hai. Humey usse wapas laake sab kuch theek karna hoga Ram."
Ram nodded, "You're right, Adi. Mujhe usse kahi se bhi dhoondh ke laana hain, Sab kuch theek karna, maafi maangna hain aur sach batana hai ki mai usse bohot....(almost inaudible) Pyaar kar..karta hoon."

Ram continued, his gaze shifted from one face to another. "Agar aap mein se kissi ko bhi Priya ke baare mein kuch bhi pata ho toh please hume bata dijiye. Maa? saara di? Krish?", He pleaded joining his hands together.
The room was filled with a mix of somber silence and whispered conversations. Adi, Vik and Kunal exchanged worried glances, realizing they had lost touch with Priya after the divorce. 
Krish stepped forward, "Ram, Mujhe Priya ka exact location toh nahi pata lekin yeh jaanta hoon ki woh Goa ke ek chhote se gaon, I guess Corgao mein rehti hain. Mai tumhari help kar sakta hoon. Mere paas uska phone number hai."
Krish, being Priya's trusted friend, stepped in to assist. He immediately dialed Priya's number, but it showed as unreachable. Being a professional investigator, Krish contacted his team and provided them with Priya's phone details to track her location. Meanwhile, Ram requested Adi to arrange a flight to Goa as soon as possible, only to learn that the flights were disrupted due to heavy rain. Undeterred, Ram instructed Adi to arrange his private jet for the journey.
With Krish's help, they began to gather any information that could lead them to Priya. Phone calls were made, connections were reached out to, and every effort was made to trace her steps. They knew that time was of the essence, that they couldn't waste a moment in their search for the woman who held Ram's heart, and the child who had Ram's blood running in her body.
The night wore on. With Priya's location details in hand, Ram and Krish left on their journey to Goa, boarding Ram's private jet. As the rain poured outside, their determination to find Priya and Pihu grew stronger. Landing in Goa, they quickly arranged a rental car to reach Priya's location.
  

             ................................


The clock struck 10 PM, and the rain poured down relentlessly casting a melancholic ambiance. Priya stood by the door entrance, gazing at the raindrops cascading down. She was lost in her thoughts. Each droplet carried memories of the past reminding her of how Ram had an affinity for rain, and a pang of bittersweet memories washed over her.
She longed to feel its touch, to find solace in its soothing rhythm. 
"Baarish! Uff...I love the rain..."
Brushing off her thoughts, she forwarded her hands towards the rain droplets finding comfort in it.
"Aaj toh toofaan bhi aaye na toh it's welcome, kyunki kehte hain jab toofaan aata hai, toh uske saath hawaein aati hai. Aur hawa ke aane ka matlab hai ki mausam badal raha hai, Aur mausam badalne ka matlab hai ki yaa toh kuch bohot achha hone waala hai ya phir....khair Pihu andar akeli soo rahi hai,"

With a deep sigh, Priya closed all the windows and doors, ensuring Pihu's comfort and safety. Exhausted, she laid down beside Pihu, who was still asleep, and tried to find comfort in the warmth of her embrace.


             .......................


As the car sped through the rain-soaked streets of Goa, Ram's mind was filled with a mixture of emotions: hope, fear and longing. The raindrops on the car window served as a backdrop to their quest for love and redemption.
Ram spoke to himself,  "Aisa nahi karna tha tumhe Priya, Par meri bhi toh galti thi, Divorce toh maine diya tha tumhe, Mai tumpe itna gussa ho gaya ki tum mujhe trust nahi kar payi. Khair, tum jaaha bhi ho, mai tumhe dhoondh nikalunga. Pehle tumse maafi magunga, tab tumse baat karunga aur sab kuch theek karunga, Tumhe diye gaye har ek ek dard ka hisaab hoga. I promise." his voice trembled with a mixture of anxiety and determination.

As the car approached Corgao, anticipation hung in the air. Ram's heart raced with every passing second. The rain poured down, mirroring the intensity of his emotions. The car finally come to a halt, and Ram stepped out. His eyes started searching for that home that held his long-lost love.
As Ram and Krish continued their search for Priya and Pihu, they took out the pictures and showed them to passersby and neighbors in the area. They approached a kind-hearted neighbor who recognized Priya from the photo and eagerly pointed them in the direction of a small home where she has been living with Pihu.

"Tumi kohnn saaheb? ", The neighbor asked in the local Goan Konkani.

Ram blinked for a moment, not understanding what he just heard and answered "I'm Ram Kapoor from Bandra. I'm her husband.", and left towards Priya's direction.
They followed the neighbor's directions and arrived at the doorstep. Ram's heart swelled with a mix of emotions as he stood outside the door, knowing that Priya and their daughter are just a few steps away.
He took a deep breath, mustered the courage to face the woman he loved, unsure of how she would react. 
As he reached the door, his hand trembled, but determination guided him. He raised his hand and rand the bell. His anxious eyes started searching for a glimpse of Priya. 
The sound of the doorbell echoed through the house and broke the tranquility of the night. Priya, who had been sleeping with Pihu in her arms, startled from her slumber.  
With a mixture of disbelief and fear, She hurried to answer the door.

As she opened the door, there he stood, Ram, her Mr. Kapoor, love of her life, right in front of her....



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