Beyond the Past

Can't Cuff her

5 years later

 In Shimla, in a cafe

On a table for 2, there were a man and woman sitting drinking coffee. "Sammy?" the woman called out, "What's wrong why do you seem so upset." 

Sameer looked at Shrishti with a stern look, "Why do you think Shrishti?" 

"If I knew I wouldn't have asked you," Shrishti replied in an irritated tone, "Tell me directly, why do you seem to be off today?" 

"Because my family is pressurising me for a marriage yet again!" Sameer bellowed. "And this time I don't have another excuse left to avoid it. Shrishti, I told you that I am willing to tell my family about our relation. However, I need you to speak with Preeta Bha...Di as well. Otherwise, what am I gonna tell them that I am waiting for someone that doesn't want to take the next step."

"Who said I don't want to?" Shrishti asked, "Of course I want to. But you should try to understand my side as well, if I tell Di she will tell me to cut off all the contacts with you. Sammy, what's wrong with the way we are now? We are basically a married couple, just not legally." Shrishti put her hand on his and tried to calm him down. 

"That's exactly what's wrong Shrishti," Sameer exclaimed, " I don't want to be a 'basically married couple' anymore. I want you to be my legally and ritually wedded wife. I don't want to keep on doing up and down from Mumbai to Shimla and Shimla to Mumbai anymore. It's been five years already."

"There is no difference!" Shrishti exclaimed. She gulped and tried to yet again convince him, "Sammy, if I talk to Di about this then she would never agree. Instead, she will stop this relationship as well. I don't need to explain to you how much Di hates the Luthras." 

Sameer sighed, and held her hand, "Shrishti, if she refuses then we can convince her! But we will never know about it if you never bring it up!" Sameer saw Shrishti's dejected face and stood up. "Shrishti I am going back to Mumbai today, I will return back in 4 days. Please talk to Preeta Di about our marriage, otherwise, we might have to rethink our relationship." Sameer kissed her forehead and left the cafe. 

Shrishti went limped. 'Now what do I do? Di had clearly warned me to never associate myself with the Luthras, how will I explain this to her?' 

Shrishti walked in the middle of the road, towards her house, lost in her own thoughts. When a car was moving towards her at high speed. "AHH.." 

In Brighton, UK. 

In a hospital's cabin, a lady sat reading files seriously. "Dr Preeta, your next patient is here," the nurse informed her, "after this, the investors are coming to meet you as well. You should hurry up." 

Preeta nodded with a smile and went ahead to attend to the patient. "Good evening, Mrs Rogers," she greeted the elderly woman with a smile, "How's your leg movement holding up?" 

Soon the duo was busy making a plan for the next session of rehabilitation. After Mrs Rogers, left Preeta was about to leave to attend the meeting with the investors when her phone rang. "Hello Dadi, how are you?" Preeta asked cheerfully. 

"Preeta beta," Dadi cried, "Shrishti..."

"Shrishti? What happened to her," Preeta asked anxiously. 

"She met an accident beta, a car hit her. Please come here, I can't understand anything over here," Dadi sobbed. 

Preeta heaved, "Da...Dadi can you tell me which hospital she is in?" 

"The city hospital..."

"Why did you put her there?" Preeta asked, "You should have taken her to our hospitals... Okay don't worry, I will send someone there to take care of everything till I reach there." She hurriedly cut the call and rang someone else. "Hello? Rohan? I need someone to leave for the city hospital in Shimla as soon as possible and handle everything about Shrishti Arora's case okay?" Hearing an affirmation from the other side, Preeta informed Suzy to book a flight to Dehli as soon as possible with connections to Shimla.