Next morning, Purvi went with Kavin, Sonam and her friends for picnic. It was a beautiful land near a lakeside and waterfall. The area of the green land was larger with lots of bushes and trees scattered here and there. The lake and the sky were meeting at the horizon. It was a mesmerising sight to behold.

Kavin smiled when he saw Purvi sitting alone and giggling while playing with the water of the lake. When Purvi saw him smiling at her she looked to the other side at the waterfall. Kavin smiled and walked near her.

"Ek baat puchhoon Preeti?"...He asked, sitting beside her.

Purvi looked at him and then again turned her gaze towards the waterfall.

"Puchhiye"...She said, looking at the waterfall.

"Thodi der pehle tum has khel rahi thi, aise lag raha tha tumhara beeta hua jeevan is jharne ki tarah hai, umang bhara"...Kavin said, looking at her.

"Lekin aaj..."...Purvi uttered, looking down at the rocks.

"Aaj...Aaj is jheel ki tarah hai, jo upar se shaant hai lekin iski gehrayion mein na jaane kitne armaan machal rahe hain"...Kavin said to her, looking at the lake.

Purvi stood up and walked ahead.

"Preeti...Duniya mein jheel ki gehrayian hi sab kuchh nahin, aur bhi bahut kuchh hai...Jaise ye phool jo muskurahat dete hain"...Kavin said softly, looking at the flowers beside the lake.

"Aur murjha bhi jaate hain"...Purvi said with a sad smile.

"Jaise ye khoobsurat shaam jo masti lutati hai"...Kavin continued speaking, looking at the evening sky.

"Aur raat ke andhere mein kho jaati hai"...Purvi said sadly, looking back at him.

Kavin also looked at her.

"Preeti...Agar tum chaho to is raat ke andhere se nikal kar aakash ke ujaale ko chhoo sakti ho"...He said softly, moving close to her.

"Iske liye mazboot sahare ki zaroorat hoti hai"...Purvi said with tear brimmed eyes.

"Sachcha pyaar hi zindagi ka sabse mazboot sahara hota hai Preeti"...Kavin said softly, wiping away her tears.

Purvi lowered her gaze.

"Bhabhi"...Sonam called out, setting up temporary make-shift umbrellas with her friends.

Purvi went to her before glancing back at Kavin. Kavin smiled and looked at the evening sky while thinking about her. Meanwhile Sonam's friends came near him.

"Jheel aur jharna neeche hai aur picnic party peechhe...Phir aap upar kya dekh rahe hain bhaisahab?"...One of them asked, tapping his shoulder.

"Khoobsurati"...Kavin uttered with a pleasant smile.

"Khoobsurati...Kiski khoobsurati?"...Another girl asked.

"Pree...Aa...Shaam ki...Shaam ki khoobsurati"...Kavin said nervously, looking at them.

"Shaam ki!...How romantic!"...The first girl remarked with a bright smile, looking at him.

Kavin shook his head and smiled.

"Ise to har waqt romance hi nazar aata hai...Khair coffee tayyar hai, hum aapko lene aaye hain"...The second girl said to him.

"To phir chaliye"...Kavin said with a smile.

The girls nodded and went with him where Purvi, Sonam and the other girls were sitting.

"Are aap kyun banane lagi coffee...Hum to aapko picnic par enjoy karne ke liye laaye the...Magar aap shayad humse bore ho rahi hain"...Sonam said, looking at Purvi who was making coffee.

"Apnon ke saath koi bore hota hai kya!"...Purvi said softly, patting her right cheek.

Sonam smiled and served coffee to everyone. They sipped their coffee and had their lunch.

After sometime, some got engaged in their conversation, some got busy playing games while the others got busy exploring the place. Kavin and Purvi were sitting together with Sonam and two of her friends. Since Kavin was good at singing and was carrying his guitar, Sonam and her friends insisted him to sing. Kavin looked at Purvi who smiled and gestured him to sing. Kavin smiled and hummed a song while playing his guitar. Purvi, Sonam and all her friends enjoyed his singing.

The day trickled away, filled with enthusiastic chatters, casual conversation and jokes.

Purvi returned home from the picnic, she was looking very happy. Her happiness faded when she saw Suhas in the house. Suhas was laughing while talking to Dipankar.

"Lo bhai! Aa gayi bahu"...Dipankar said with a smile as his gaze fell on Purvi.

Suhas turned back and looked at Purvi with a smirk on his face. Purvi marched towards him in anger.

"Aao bahu...Dekho to Suhas babu kabse tumhara intezaar kar rahe hain"...Dipankar said with a smile, looking at her.

Purvi looked at Suhas in anger.

"Namaste...Dipankar sahab ne bataya ki tum picnic par gayi ho...Kitni khushkismat ho Preeti ki tumhe itne achchhe sasurji mile hain...Warna koun apni vidhwa bahu ko is tarah ghoomne phirne ki ijaazat deta hai"...Suhas said, looking at her.

"Suhas babu...Main to yahi chahta hoon ki bahu khush rahe"...Dipankar said, looking at Purvi.

"Main kayal ho gaya hoon Dipankar sahab...Kitne achchhe khayalaat hain aapke"...Suhas said, looking at him.

Dipankar smiled while looking at him.

"Aane ki takleef kaise ki!"...Purvi exclaimed angrily, looking at Suhas.

Suhas laughed fakely and looked at Dipankar.

"Dekha Dipankar sahab...Main keh raha tha na ab tak naaraaz hai"...He said with a fake laughter.

Dipankar looked at Purvi who was now looking down in anger.

"Khair main to apna farz poora karne aaya hoon...Aur wo bhi Purvi ke naam ka"...Suhas said with a smirk, looking at Purvi.

Purvi looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Bhool gayi...Purvi...Meri patni...Tumhare bachpan ki dost"...Suhas said, looking at her with a smirk.

Purvi rubbed her palms anxiously and gritted her teeth in anger.

"Usne ek sone ki chain bhijwayi hai...Aarush ke liye"...Suhas added.

"Are bhai iski kya zaroorat thi"...Dipankar said, looking at him.

Purvi looked at him after calming herself a bit.

"Main Aaru ko sone ki cheezein nahin pehnana chahti papa"...She said calmly.

Dipankar turned his gaze from Suhas and looked at her.

"Tum khud socho Preeti...Meri Purvi ka dil toot jaayega...Bechari ne bahut pyaar se maata rani ke paon chhukar bheji hai"...Suhas said, looking at Purvi.

"Agar aisi baat hai, to le lo bahu"...Dipankar said softly.

"Aap kehte hain, to theek hai papa"...Purvi said, looking at him.

She looked at Suhas in anger.

"Chalo...Khud hi pehna do Aarush ko"...She said angrily.

Suhas smirked and followed her up to the bedroom. Dipankar smiled and got busy reading a book.

Suhas looked at Aarush who was sleeping peacefully on the bed.

"Kitna pyaara hai tumhara beta"...He said to Purvi, bringing his hand closer to touch Aarush's cheeks.

"Mat chhuo use"...Purvi said angrily, holding his hand.

"Theek hai...Apne haathon se tum ye chain ise pehna dena...Hmmm"...Suhas said, keeping the chain on her left hand.

Then, he freed his hand from her hold and laughed.

"Kaan kholkar sun lo...Mujhe tumhara yahan aana bilkul pasand nahin"...Purvi said sternly.

"Lekin mujhe yahan aana beyhadh pasand hai"...Suhas said, looking at her.

"Jab mera-tumhara koi rishta nahin to ye aana-jaana kisliye?"...Purvi asked angrily.

"Purana rishta badhane ke liye"...Suhas replied, moving close to her.

"Main tumhare iraade achchhi tarah se jaanti hoon"...Purvi said angrily, moving back from him.

Suhas stopped and looked at her.

"Tum meri majboori ka fayda uthana chahte ho"......Purvi said with tear brimmed eyes.

Suhas smirked and sat on a sofa.

"Kya tumhe mujhpar zara bhi daya nahin aati?"...Purvi asked in a teary voice, looking at him.

"Meri daya ki keemat hoti hai Purvi...Oh! I'm sorry...Preeti...Keemat chuka do...Phir main kabhi yahan nahin aaunga"...Suhas said, standing up from the sofa.

Purvi walked up to her cupboard. She opened it and took out some money which Dipankar had given her to keep safe.

Purvi: Mere paas sirf paanch lakh rupaye hain...Papa ki amaanat...Lekin...

"Thanks"...Suhas said, snatching away the amount from her hands.

Purvi got angry with his mannerless act.

"Ab tum jaa sakte ho...Apna wada mat bhoolna"...She said sternly.

"Purvi...Sochta hoon tum kitni mahaan ho aur main kitna zaleel...Lekin yakeen maano ab main apni shakal tumhe kabhi nahin dikhaunga...Bbye"...Suhas said, looking at her.

He turned around to go but stopped and looked again at Purvi.

"Aur haan...Yaad rakhna ye chain kisi ko jaanch padtal ke liye mat dena...Dekhne mein sone ki hai lekin hai asli pital"...He said and chuckled slightly.

Purvi looked at him in surprise.

"Bilkul tumhari tarah...Asli Purvi...Aur nakli Preeti"...He said with a smirk, looking at her.

Purvi looked to the other side as her eyes welled up with tears. Suhas laughed and walked outside the room.

Purvi went near the window of the room and threw the chain outside. Suhas looked up at her as the chain fell near his feet. Purvi closed the window in anger and went to Aarush. Suhas picked up the chain and left before glancing at the bungalow.