Toronto Airport

CST 11 p.m.

Harish was sitting in the waiting lounge to board his flight to India.

He was caressing the photo in his wallet creasing his eyebrows. When

"Hari! Dude where are you going?"

Harish looked up to see his friend Jack who hugged him tightly grinning.

"Buddy! I am going back," Jack backed him a little raising his eyebrows.

"Man! are you out of your wits! I mean why the sudden hurry to leave," Jack was bewildered at his friend's decision to leave the only place of solace that he had adored.

Harish had long back shifted to Toronto, Canada under the ploy of studies which he had completed 6 years back. He didn't want to go back to the place which reminded him of the trauma that he had suffered because of the one person he hated the most.

He had seen his father become the puppet under the spell of the puppeteer. He didn't want the person to control him too.

So, after completing his schooling and graduation in India. He shifted to Toronto, Canada to complete his MBA in the university.
He had bought an apartment in Toronto to escape out of the family which were stringed together under the false bond of togetherness. He hated it.

In Toronto he befriended Jack who liked Harish and was disheartened at his childhood struggle to trust people. Hence, Harish had very few friends whom he thought he can share his life with. Jack being one of them.

But when after gruesome struggle to avoid his family for 10 years he regretted that his dad and grandfather forced him to join them for the purpose of business. He couldn't refuse the two people who mattered him the most.

He had broken all the contacts even with his siblings. The only person he used to contact, if necessary, was Hardik who he thought the more sensible among his siblings. 

Chhatarpati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport

IST 5 p.m.

Harish was waiting near the parking lot for his ride. He was randomly scrolling through his phone when he heard the call of a familiar person calling him.

Hardik had personally come to receive his loving brother after a long gap of 10 years. He was closer to his elder than anyone in the house. They used to seldom meet each other but that was once in a 3 – 4 years.

Maybe they shared the same persona as each other. Both had the similar taste in food, clothing, and making friends as well.

So, when either of them wanted the need for a brotherly advise or just a friendly chat they knew they can count on each other.

"Bro, how are you!" Hardik gave a genuine smile to his loving brother who returned it back equally by hugging him tightly. 

After their initial brotherly hug, they departed to their house which was waiting to welcome their eldest son.

Barve residence

Priyanka was running around Ankush to feed his medicine when she softly dashed against a rushing Pia. 

"Ohh! Watch it! Pia! I almost fell down!" Priyanka scolded her for her clumsiness.

Pia smiled weirdly and grabbed her phone. She immediately touched her dad's feet for the blessings.

Rushing outside she lightly screamed saying "Mom, try to come early to Babu's house. Dadu was angry the last time we went late for the aarti! Bye! I will leave now,"

Radhika Barve strode to the dining table with the tea for the family who were peacefully having their breakfast.

Pradeep Barve looked at his wife's sad expression and asked her the reason for the same to which she replied.

"Pia! Who else? This girl spends more time in that house than here. Doesn't she know that she has a family here too! Her own for that matter! I don't like her going there and getting insulted by that Nithya! Humph!"

"Radhika, your daughter loves to go there. And she is always adored by the other members of the Joshi family, especially Hemant and Dadu. Don't forget that!" Pradeep tried to console her.

Radhika just shaked her head in disapproval and said "I know she is pampered by Hemantji and Dadu. But my Pia gets saddened by the loathing that she gets from her."

Priyanka came to the dining table clutching on the arms of Ankush and put him on one of the chairs of the table. She made him have his cereals with milk, saying

"Mom, we understand your worry. But let Pia only understand that Nithya Kaki doesn't like her presence in that house. Maybe after that she might lessen her visits in that house?"

"I hope so. But I don't want her to get the same amount of fate like..." Saying so, Radhika covered her mouth and moved from the table towards the kitchen.

Prathibha was an innocent flower who was pampered a lot by her family members.

Being the youngest didn't let her get spoiled too much. She knew her duties and responsibilities towards her family which she would fulfil to her best.

That is what worried her mother who knew her fate which was written and decided by both family members from time they were infants – Prathibha and Harish.

Joshi residence

The maids and servants were rushing here and there to make the arrangements for the welcome of their young master.

The whole house waited in anticipation for their young master. The most awaiting one was the youngest ones – Himanshu and Naina.

Himanshu shared a special bond with Harish as he looked upon him with adoration and respect.

He had immense love, care and respect for Harish. He might once go against his father but would not disobey Harish.

As he had seen Harish's struggle to accept his step mother and ignore his father for the sake of peace and serenity in the house.

So, he had a soft corner for his elder brother.

Naina on the other hand was always disappointed at the rejection from Harish for the love that she used to shower on him.

Maybe, the reason was Nithya. Harish didn't hate her but did not like her too. So, it was a no go approach to their relationship dynamics.

However, Naina didn't stop her love for her elder brother. She used to barge in the video call between Himanshu and Harish. She used to snatch the calls to put forward her demand of cosmetic and clothing products.

Harish used to pass on only half of what she used to demand with a half heart. But Naina was overjoyed when receiving gifts from her brother.

So, when they heard that their beloved brother is going to come back to their home, they happiness had doubled.

A Black Maybach S-class parked outside the Joshi Mansion bringing their beloved child back to his abode.

Hardik came out of the car to witness the surprised expression on everyone's faces who were standing on the entrance.

They stood with the welcome aarti to ward off bad evil that might have befall on their sunshine during the travel.

Harish was witnessing the ordeal with a half heart and saw the one person who was standing in the front with the aarti thali. But then he saw a face he couldn't recognise at first. A face who was peeping from the back while softly jumping. The light brown almond eyes marked with light kohl were trying to get a glance of him. He smiled at her efforts and decided to end her torture. 

https://youtu.be/96YyRY8vkhY

He came out of the car and strode towards the crowd to enter the 'house' which he despised.

Nithya smiled at him with tears in her eyes and took his aarti to welcome him inside the house. He had his sunglasses on to hide his grimace for her – his mother.

Hemant knew that his son had carried the hatred for so long would have only grown with time. So, he signalled his wife to make him enter the house to ease the tension.

He managed to sit on the couch in the living room with the servants offering him freshly made juice and some snacks.

After some time, Harish excused himself to retire to his room to relax. Nithya called out the servant appointed for him to escort him to his room.

Harish moved towards his room and watched those kohl eyes which looked dazed at him. Still, he was not able to see her face which was hidden by the people in the room.

Harish's room

He went to the balcony and looked up in the sky with zero emotion. He was not understanding why he left his peace and came back to the one place he hated the most.

As he was reminiscing his thoughts, he heard the sweet sound of anklets entering his room. He slightly turned to see the most wonderful sight his eyes have ever witnessed followed by a servant pushing a food trolley.

Her kohl eyes smiled at him and spoke

"Tea?" he just looked at her and smirked remembering her.

He slowly strode to her and picked the tea cup thanking her.

The servant went out leaving them alone in the quiet space. Harish noticed her restlessness smilingly and sat on the couch watching her.

"Prathibha?" Pia looked at him lovingly to hear her name fall from his lips. Her heartbeat paced faster hearing his voice which she missed for 10 years. She couldn't stop her tears and pursed her lips.

Harish worried at her stance and walked towards her. She strode back at his approach and wiped her tears.

He tried to grab her shoulders but she moved back. He then didn't force her and spoke

"How are you? How is Kaka and Kaki? I will visit them once I..." He looked at her who was keeping her head down listening to him.

She nodded her head and looked in his raven eyes remembering his love for her.

But now she saw new emotions which quizzed her. She scrunched her eyebrows and tried to understand his eyes which carried a stroll of guilt, hurt and an unknown emotion which she found difficult to decipher. 

https://youtu.be/ki00ZrVgCds

He noticed her and moved his eyes away from her. He knew her ability to understand people's emotion through their eyes.

He wanted to avoid her eyes as he knew she would be disheartened if she knew how much her Shri has changed. She would be shattered and above all ashamed.

He went towards the study table and asked

"Do convey my love to them. I will visit them tomorrow. Is Priya here and what about Akashjiju? Sorry I couldn't attend their marriage? It would have been a grand affair? Right?!" he tried to smile remembering her family who loved and cared for him.

When Harshini died, Barve family were the one who gave him the care and love that he wanted the most at that crucial time.

So, he loved and cared for their precious as his own. But the recent events that he had surpassed in his 10 years of life apart from them, made him realise that he couldn't bring back their love and care for him.

He knew that he was not worthy of her now. So, he can only care for her like a true friend and nothing more.

Pia has lost her Shri to the cruel world which didn't plan to release him so soon.

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