Apna Bana Le - MsKrishita

2. PJ's and Pyaar

After dropping off the tourists at their hotel, Rishav arrived at his sister Muskan's college, to pick her up and go home to spend some family time together. As he stepped onto the bustling campus, he scanned the area for his sister, expecting to see her waiting for him with a bright smile. Instead, he spotted her sitting alone on a bench, her face buried in her hands, shoulders shaking with sobs.

Concern etched on his face, Rishav rushed to Muskan's side, kneeling down beside her.

"What's the matter, my dear warrior princess?"
Rishav teased gently, his voice filled with confusion and his eyes filled with worry. Muskan looked up, tears glistening in her eyes as she struggled to speak.

"I-I'm sorry, bhaiya,"
Muskan stammered, her voice quivering.
"It's just...I'm having a really rough day."
Rishav's brow furrowed in concern as he tried to decipher the reason behind his sister's distress.

Realization dawned on him as he noticed the telltale signs - the crumpled tissues in Muskan's hand, the slight cringe of pain on her face.

"Oh, Muski,"
Rishav said softly, a sympathetic smile tugging at his lips.

"Is it that time of the month?"
Muskan nodded, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Rishav's fatherly humor came to the forefront as he tried to lighten the mood, knowing that his infamous PJ (Poor Jokes) were his secret weapon in cheering up his sister.

"Ah, Muski, I always knew you were a dramatic one. Crying like a Bollywood heroine!"
he joked, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"Uffo, bhaiya,"
she sighed, shaking her head in exasperation.

"Aish, the joys of womanhood!"
he exclaimed with a grin.
"Just remember, Muski, it's a small price to pay for being a fierce warrior princess!"

Muskan's eyes widened in surprise before a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. But as Rishav continued to make light-hearted jokes, Muskan's smile faded, replaced by a scowl of annoyance.

"Bhaiya, please,"
she groaned, rolling her eyes.
"Can you be serious for once?"

Rishav's grin widened as he teased,
"Oh, come on, Muski! You know I'm just trying to cheer you up."

But before he could finish his sentence, Muskan's hand shot out, slapping him on the arm in a dramatic and exaggerated manner.

"That's enough, bhaiya!"
she huffed, her voice laced with mock anger.

Laughing at his sister's theatrical display, Rishav wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her into a tight hug.

"I'm sorry, Muski. I'll tone down the PJ's, I promise,"
he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Muskan couldn't help but chuckle at her brother's antics, the tension easing between them as they shared a moment of lightheartedness amidst the chaos of the day.

And as they made their way home, Rishav's thoughts turned to Nayan, his precious daughter who awaited his return with unwavering devotion. The image of her sweet face, her eyes filled with love and longing, tugged at his heartstrings, filling him with a deep sense of responsibility and love.

♪♪♪

Dil nai lagda

As the scene shifted to their quaint home in Kasauli, Nayan sat at the dining table, her untouched meal growing cold in front of her. Her small fingers absently played with her toys, her eyes darting towards the door every few moments, a silent longing for her father's return evident in her gaze.

Prerna and Neelamma sat in the kitchen, the subdued light casting shadows across their faces as they engaged in a heartfelt conversation. Neelamma's eyes softened with concern as she gazed at Prerna, a knowing glint shining within them, her voice gentle but firm as she broached a sensitive topic that had long been a source of pain and hesitation for Prerna.

Tere bina

"Prerna, my child,"
Neelamma began, her tone filled with compassion.
"I can see the love in your eyes for Rishav, but he needs more than just a partner in parenting for Nayan. He needs a companion, a wife who shares his joys and sorrows, who walks by his side in every moment of life."

Dil nai lagda

Prerna's gaze flickered with uncertainty, her heart feeling conflicted the weight of her past bearing down on her shoulders like a heavy burden as she struggled to come to terms with the complexities of her feelings for Rishav. Their marriage, born out of necessity for Nayan's sake, had never been defined by romantic love, yet a deep sense of companionship and understanding had blossomed between them over the years.

"I...I don't know, Neelamma,"
Prerna whispered, her voice filled with doubt.

Tere bina

"Our marriage was always about Nayan, about providing her with a stable and loving home. I'm not sure if what I feel for Rishav goes beyond that."

Neelamma nodded sagely, her expression tinged with empathy as she regarded Prerna with compassion. She knew that the scars of prerna's past still haunted her, casting a shadow over her present and clouding her hopes for the future.

Dil nai lagda

"I-I want to make things right, Neelamma,"
Prerna whispered, her voice filled with emotion.
"But the past...it still haunts me, and I don't know if I can move beyond it."

Tere bina

Neelamma reached out a wrinkled hand, placing it gently on Prerna's trembling fingers.

"My child, the past is a part of who we are, but it does not define our future,"
she said, her voice soft yet resolute.

Dil nai lagda

"You may choose to not believe me, but I will still say it. Prerna, Rishav loves you more than words can express, and Nayan deserves to see her parents happy together, not just as caregivers but as partners in life."

Neelamma nodded sagely, her expression tinged with empathy as she regarded Prerna with compassion. She knew the intricacies of their marriage, the unspoken truths that lingered beneath the surface, and the silent yearning that both Prerna and Rishav harbored in their hearts.

Tere bina

"My dear, sometimes love is not a grand gesture or a declaration,"
Neelamma said softly.
"It is in the quiet moments, the shared glances, and the unspoken words that pass between two souls bound by destiny."

Tears welled up in Prerna's eyes as the weight of Neelamma's words sank in, the longing for a future filled with love and happiness overpowering her fears and doubts.

Dil nai lagda

"I want that too, Neelamma,"
Prerna admitted, her voice cracking.

Neelamma's eyes sparkled with pride and love as she enveloped Prerna in a warm embrace, the silent understanding between them bridging the gap of past regrets and future hopes.

Tere bina

And as they shared a moment of unity and strength, Prerna looked towards the door, a silent ache in her heart as she thought of Rishav, who might also have been waiting on the threshold of their shared life, his own heart filled with a longing that mirrored her own.

Dil nai lagda
Tere bina