[Scene: The Kapoor mansion at dawn, adorned with vibrant decorations. The air is filled with the aroma of freshly cooked food and the soft chatter of women gathering for the Sargi ritual.]
[In the Dining Hall]
[Married women (Aarohi, Akshara, Janvi, Manjari, Mahima, Swarna, Sheetal, and Shefali) gather together, dressed in beautiful traditional attire. Kalyani and Suhasini are present, ready to begin the Sargi ritual.
Kalyani Kapoor: (with a warm smile) "Good morning, everyone. Let's begin the Sargi ritual. This is a special tradition to bless our daughters-in-law for a happy married life."
[Kalyani starts by giving Sargi to her daughter-in-law, Janvi, who accepts it with a smile.]
Janvi Kapoor: "Thank you, Maaji."
[Next, Suhasini gives Sargi to Swarna, followed by Janvi giving it to Aarohi, and Manjari giving it to Akshara and the others. The Sargi contains an assortment of food, fruits, and sweets.]
Kalyani Kapoor: "May this Sargi bless you all with a long and happy married life."
[The women eat the Sargi, sharing smiles and stories. The atmosphere is filled with love and blessings.]
[As they eat, the room is filled with laughter and the sounds of traditional Karwa Chauth songs playing softly in the background.]
Manjari: "It's wonderful to see everyone together, sharing this beautiful tradition."
Mahima: "Indeed. Karwa Chauth is not just a ritual; it's a celebration of love and dedication."
Sheetal: "I agree. It's a day to reaffirm our bonds with our husbands."
[Aarohi looks around, her eyes filled with happiness. Arjun enters the room, making his way to Aarohi. He sits beside her, taking a piece of Sargi.]
Arjun: (smiling) "I’m fasting with you, Aarohi."
Aarohi: (surprised and touched) "Arjun, you don't have to do this."
Arjun: "I want to. It's my way of showing you how much I love you."
[Akshara, watching this, feels a pang of jealousy. She can't help but comment.]
Akshara: "There’s no such tradition for men to fast. Why does Arjun have to do it?"
Janvi Kapoor: (calmly) "Though there is no such tradition, Arjun does it out of love for Aarohi. He's done it every Karwa Chauth since they got married."
Aarohi: (smiling warmly) "It's one of the many reasons I love him."
[Arjun and Aarohi share a tender look, their bond evident to everyone present.]
Manjari: (with a hint of concern) "Akshara, it's a personal choice. Let's respect it."
[The women nod in agreement, feeling the spirit of the festival.]
[The ritual continues, with everyone, including Arjun, eating the Sargi together. The mood is light and filled with the warmth of family and tradition.]
[Scene shifts to the courtyard where the women are gathered, for chitchatting.]
Mahima: "It’s beautiful to see such love and commitment in our family."
Swarna: "Yes, it's inspiring. Karwa Chauth is more than just a fast; it’s a celebration of love and dedication."
Sheetal: "I agree. It strengthens the bond between husband and wife."
[The women start discussing their plans for the evening, sharing their excitement about the upcoming festivities.]
Janvi Kapoor: "I remember my first Karwa Chauth. It was such a special day. Aarohi, do you remember your first one with Arjun?"
Aarohi: (smiling) "Of course, Ma. Arjun surprised me by keeping the fast with me. I was so touched."
Sheetal: "It's wonderful to see such dedication. You both are truly made for each other."
[Arjun, hearing this, joins the conversation.]
Arjun: "And I plan to keep surprising her every year."
[Aarohi blushes, and the women tease her playfully.]
Manjari: (to Akshara) "Every Karwa Chauth has its own special moments. Let's create beautiful memories today."
Akshara: (forcing a smile) "Yes, Ma."
The women gather around in a common area, where a special setup for applying henna has been arranged. The atmosphere is filled with excitement and the scent of mehendi (henna) and fresh Flowers
[Aarohi, Akshara, Janvi, Manjari, Mahima, Swarna, Sheetal, and Shefali sit together, their hands extended as professional henna artists begin applying intricate designs.]
Janvi Kapoor: (smiling) "This is my favorite part of Karwa Chauth. The mehendi always turns out so beautiful."
Aarohi: (excitedly) "I love how it smells and how it looks. It's like carrying a piece of art on your hands."
Manjari: "And the deeper the color, the stronger the love between husband and wife, they say."
[The women laugh and chat as the artists work on their hands and legs, creating intricate and beautiful henna designs.]
Mahima: "Look at Aarohi’s design, it’s so intricate. It’s going to look amazing once it’s done."
Swarna: "All of our designs are beautiful. It’s the love and tradition that make it special."
[Meanwhile, the men—Arjun, Abhimanyu, Shakti, Tej, Harshvardhan, and Manish—are gathered in the living room, discussing the day's events and sharing light moments.]
Arjun: (smiling) "The women are having so much fun with their mehendi. Maybe we should join them."
Abhimanyu: (sarcastically) "Yeah, right. You just want to sneak a peek at Aarohi’s design."
Arjun: (laughing) "Caught me there, Abhi. But hey, nothing wrong with wanting to see my wife."
[The men laugh, and Shakti nods towards the courtyard.]
Shakti Kapoor: "Why not? Let’s go and see how they’re doing."
[The men get up and head towards the courtyard, where the women are busy with their henna application.]
[As they reach the courtyard, Arjun's eyes search for Aarohi. He spots her and walks over, smiling at the intricate design on her hands.]
Arjun: (softly) "Your mehendi looks beautiful, Aarohi."
Aarohi: (blushing) "Thank you, Arjun. I’m glad you like it."
[The other men also admire the designs and compliment their wives and the other women.]
[Janvi looks at Arjun and Aarohi with a teasing smile.]
Janvi Kapoor: "Arjun, since you’re here, why don’t you apply a bit of mehendi on Aarohi’s hand?"
Arjun: (laughing) "I’m not sure if I can match this level of artistry."
Aarohi: "Come on, Arjun. Give it a try."
[Arjun takes a small cone of mehendi and carefully draws a tiny heart on Aarohi’s palm. Everyone claps and cheers.]
Akshara: (jealous) "Isn’t this a bit too much? It’s just mehendi, after all."
Mahima: "Oh, Akshara, don’t be such a spoilsport. It’s all in good fun."
[Suhasini and Kalyani arrive, carrying trays of sweets and drinks for everyone.]
Kalyani Kapoor: "And remember, the deeper the color, the stronger the bond."
[The women continue chatting and laughing, while the men enjoy the festive atmosphere. Akshara tries to taunt Aarohi, but Aarohi responds gracefully.]
Akshara: (snidely) "Aarohi, you seem to be really enjoying this, don’t you? Trying to show off in front of everyone?"
Aarohi: (calmly) "Akshara, it's Karwa Chauth. It's a day to celebrate love and togetherness, not to compete. Let's just enjoy the festivities."
[Akshara fumes silently, unable to respond. The scene shifts to the preparations for the evening rituals.]
[The women, now with dried mehendi, gather around to share their designs and stories. The courtyard is filled with a festive spirit.]
Sheetal: "Aarohi, your mehendi turned out so dark. It’s beautiful."
Aarohi: (smiling) "Thank you, chachi . It’s said to be a sign of deep love."
Shefali: "And look at Janvi Aunty's , it’s equally stunning."
Janvi Kapoor: "It’s all about the love and dedication we put into it.
"[Arjun watches Aarohi from a distance, feeling grateful and blessed to have her in his life. He walks over and takes her hand, looking at the mehendi.]
Arjun: "It’s perfect, just like you."
Aarohi: (smiling) "Thank you, Arjun. You always know how to make me feel special."
[The courtyard is filled with laughter and chatter, but Akshara stands apart, looking at her mehendi with frustration. She frowns as the color isn’t as dark as she expected.]
Akshara: (angrily) "Why is my mehendi so light? This is ridiculous!"
[Abhimanyu approaches her, trying to calm her down.]
Abhimanyu: "Akshara, it's just mehendi. It doesn’t mean anything."
Akshara: (snapping) "Just mehendi? Do you even understand what it signifies? Everyone’s mehendi is so dark, and look at mine!"
[Abhimanyu sighs, realizing this is not going to be an easy conversation.]
Abhimanyu: "Akshara, please don’t make a scene. It's Karwa Chauth, let’s just enjoy the evening."
Akshara: (furious) "Enjoy? How can I enjoy when everyone is looking at me like I’m a failure? My mehendi isn’t dark, and now this whole day feels ruined!"
[Their voices begin to rise, drawing the attention of nearby family members.][Arjun, noticing the tension, walks over to try and diffuse the situation.]
Arjun: "Is everything alright here?"
Akshara: (glaring) "No, everything is not alright! My mehendi is light, and Abhimanyu is acting like it doesn’t matter."
Arjun: (calmly) "Akshara, the color of your mehendi doesn’t define your relationship. It’s the love and commitment that matter."
[Akshara scoffs and turns away, still fuming. Aarohi, who has been observing from a distance, walks over to Arjun.]
Aarohi: (softly) "Is everything okay?"
Arjun: "Just a bit of a misunderstanding. Let’s not let it ruin the evening."
[The evening rituals are about to begin, and the excitement in the air is palpable.]
Kalyani Kapoor: "Alright, everyone, let’s get ready for the evening prayers and the moonrise. It’s going to be a beautiful night."
Suhasini: "Yes, let’s make this Karwa Chauth a memorable one."