Pyaar ki Takrar

Chapter 28: Storm Before the Calm

The Sarna house had never been this quiet before, especially not after breakfast. Twinkle sat on the couch, nervously tapping her fingers against the armrest. Kunj had gone out to handle some work at the office, and she was left alone with her thoughts—and the tension in the air was unmistakable.

Neil’s call still haunted her. Kya chahta hai woh ab? Twinkle thought to herself. She had moved on, married Kunj, and tried to build a new life. But Neil’s reappearance threatened to unravel everything she had worked for.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Usha and Bebe walking into the living room. They exchanged quick glances, as if having an unspoken conversation. Usha sat down across from Twinkle, her expression serious but not unkind.

"Twinkle, beta," Usha began, her voice softer than usual, "I want to talk to you about Neil."

Twinkle’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected Usha to bring him up so soon, but she nodded, preparing herself for whatever was coming.

"Look," Usha continued, "I don’t know much about your past, but it’s clear that Neil was someone important to you at one point. And I’m not here to judge you for that. Lekin ab tum humari family ka hissa ho, aur main tumhari maa hoon. You are my responsibility, and I’ll protect you from anything—just like I’d protect Kunj."

Twinkle felt a lump form in her throat. She hadn’t anticipated this kind of support from Usha, especially after their rocky start.

"Thank you, Maa," Twinkle whispered, her voice shaky.

"But," Usha added, her tone firming up, "I need you to be honest with me. Is Neil dangerous? Should we be worried?"

Twinkle hesitated, glancing down at her hands. She didn’t want to stir up more trouble or put the family in harm’s way, but she couldn’t lie either.

"I don’t know if he’s dangerous," Twinkle admitted. "But Neil has always been… persistent. He doesn’t take no for an answer easily, and I think he’s trying to come back into my life. I just don’t know why."

Bebe, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. "Puttar, this family is with you. Kunj is with you. Jo bhi Neil ka plan ho, we’ll face it together. Lekin ek baat yaad rakhna—tumhara pyaar, tumhara rishta Kunj ke saath is stronger than anything from the past."

Twinkle smiled weakly, nodding in agreement. But even as she appreciated their support, the unease inside her wouldn’t go away. Neil wasn’t someone who gave up easily. And Twinkle feared that he wasn’t done with her yet.

---

Kunj’s Dilemma

Meanwhile, Kunj was at his office, pacing back and forth, his mind unable to focus on work. Neil’s sudden reappearance was a thorn in his side. He trusted Twinkle, but the thought of Neil trying to insert himself into their lives infuriated him.

"Kunj, you need to relax," Yuvraj said, standing near the window and watching his friend. "Getting worked up about Neil is exactly what he wants. He’s playing mind games."

"I know, yaar," Kunj gritted his teeth. "But Twinkle’s already been through so much. She doesn’t deserve this."

Yuvraj walked over, placing a hand on Kunj’s shoulder. "She’s stronger than you think. You both are. Neil ka kuch nahi hoga. You two just need to stick together."

Kunj sighed, rubbing his temples. "You’re right. I just… I hate seeing her upset. And if Neil tries anything—"

"Then we’ll deal with him," Yuvraj said firmly. "But for now, focus on Twinkle. She needs you, Kunj. Don’t let Neil come between you two."

Kunj nodded, his resolve hardening. "You’re right. Thanks, Yuvi."

As Kunj left the office to head home, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Neil’s return was just the tip of the iceberg. Something was brewing, and Kunj wasn’t going to wait around for Neil to make the next move. He was ready to fight for Twinkle—and their future.

---

The Sarna Family Drama

When Kunj returned home later that evening, the atmosphere was noticeably tense. Usha, Bebe, and Twinkle were sitting in the living room, their expressions grim.

"What’s going on?" Kunj asked, immediately sensing that something was wrong.

Before Twinkle could speak, Usha cleared her throat. "Kunj, we need to talk. Neil called Twinkle again."

Kunj’s fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tightening. "What did he say this time?"

Twinkle stood up, walking over to Kunj and taking his hand in hers. "He didn’t say much… just that he wants to meet and talk. But I don’t want to see him. I don’t trust him."

"Good," Kunj said, his voice low but firm. "You’re not meeting him."

Usha exchanged a glance with Bebe before speaking. "Kunj, Twinkle, we all agree that Neil can’t be trusted. But I think it’s time we involved someone else in this. Someone who can help us handle him legally."

Twinkle’s eyes widened. "You mean, the police?"

Usha nodded. "Haan, beta. I think we need to file a restraining order against Neil. We can’t let him keep harassing you."

Twinkle swallowed hard, the weight of the situation sinking in. She had never imagined it would come to this, but maybe Usha was right. Maybe they needed to take legal action before things escalated any further.

Kunj placed a reassuring hand on Twinkle’s shoulder. "I’ll take care of everything, Twinkle. You won’t have to deal with him anymore."

Twinkle nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and anxiety. She knew that taking legal action against Neil was the right thing to do, but part of her couldn’t shake the fear that it might provoke him further.

As the family discussed their next steps, the doorbell suddenly rang, cutting through the tension in the room.

Everyone exchanged confused glances. "Who could that be?" Bebe asked, standing up to answer the door.

But before she could reach it, the door swung open, revealing none other than—Leela, Twinkle’s mother.

"Maa!" Twinkle exclaimed in shock.

Leela stood in the doorway, her expression a mix of anger and concern. "Twinkle, what is this I’m hearing about Neil? Why didn’t you tell me he was back?"

Twinkle blinked in surprise. "Maa, how did you—?"

Leela cut her off, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. "I got a call from someone who told me that Neil is trying to come back into your life. Why didn’t you tell me earlier, Twinkle?"

Twinkle opened her mouth to respond, but Leela wasn’t finished. "You’re my daughter. You should have come to me first!"

Kunj stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Aunty, we didn’t want to worry you. We’ve already decided to take legal action against Neil."

Leela’s eyes softened slightly as she looked at Kunj. "I appreciate that, Kunj. But Twinkle is my only daughter. I need to protect her too."

Twinkle felt tears well up in her eyes as she looked at her mother. "Maa, I didn’t want to involve you in this. You’ve done so much for me already."

Leela shook her head, pulling Twinkle into a tight hug. "Beta, you’ll always be my responsibility. I don’t care how old you are or if you’re married. I’ll always be here for you."

Twinkle hugged her mother back, feeling an overwhelming sense of love and gratitude.

As they pulled apart, Leela turned to the rest of the family. "I’m staying here until this is over. Neil won’t get anywhere near Twinkle—not while I’m around."

Usha and Bebe nodded in agreement, and Kunj placed a comforting arm around Twinkle’s shoulders.

Neil’s shadow might still be looming over them, but with her family by her side, Twinkle felt stronger than ever.