Apurva – I Am Sorry – One Shot – Thipkyanchi Rangoli

This is a one shot – a piece of fanfiction – written on the characters, Shashank and Apurva from the show named Thipkyanchi Rangoli that airs on Star Pravah from Monday to Saturday at 10 p.m.

Apurva let go of Netra’s hand when she stubbornly refused to leave the room. “Fine. तुला इथेच थांबायचं आहे ना… थांब तू. मला काहीही problem नाही आहे. ( Fine, you wanna stay here? Stay here. I have no issues. )” She patted Netra’s shoulder. “Rest.”

“अचानक एवढी कशी सुधारली तू? ( How did you suddenly change so much? )” Netra questioned, sitting with her legs crossed. “तुमच्या खोलीत… तुमच्या bed वर बसलीये मी आणि तू म्हणतेस की तुला फरक नाही पडत? कोणाशी खोटं बोलतेय तू, अपूर्वा? ( I am sitting on your bed, in your room and you are saying that you don’t care? Who are you lying to, Apurva? )” 

Apurva laughed, shaking her head. “Netra Tai… I feel so sorry for you at times. तुला काय वाटते… ही room माझी आणि खडूसची का आहे? या भिंतींमुळे? हा bed माझा आणि खडूसचा का आहे? या mattress मुळे? ( Why do you think that this room is Khadoos’s and mine? Because of these walls? Why do you think this bed is ours? Because of this mattress? )” She let out a deep sigh as she sympathetically patted Netra’s shoulder for yet another time. “ही room आमची बनते… माझ्या आणि खडूसच्या सोबत असण्याने! हा bed आमचा बनतो… माझ्या आणि खडूसच्या सोबत असण्याने. अगं आम्ही एखाद्या झाडाखाली जरी उभे असलो ना… तरी ती आमची room… आमची जागा होऊन जाईल. Netra Tai, it’s not about the place and things… it’s about Khadoos and I being together. तू घे ना अगं. काय घेऊ शकते ते घे. नेत्रा ताई… तू फक्त ही room आणि हा bed ch घेऊ शकते. बस तितकेच! ( This room becomes ours because of Khadoos and I being together in it. This bed becomes ours because of Khadoos and I being together on it. Even if we were to stand under a tree… that will become our place… our room. Netra Tai, it’s not about the place and things… it’s about Khadoos and I being together. Take whatever that you want to take. You can only take this room and this bed. That’s it! )”

“तुला असं म्हणायचं आहे का की शशांक सर तुझे आहेत? Wake up, Apurva. He was never yours. He is not yours and he will never be. ( Are you trying to stay that Shashank Sir is yours? )”

Apurva chuckled. “नेत्रा ताई… तुला खरच वाटते की तुझ्या वाटल्याने मला किवा खडूसला काहीही.. म्हणजे अगदी इतकासाही फरक पडतो? नाही पडत अगं! ( Netra Tai, you really think that Khadoos or I give a damn about what you think? We really don’t. )”

“तू शशांक सरांना deserve नाही करत. ( You don’t deserve Shashank Sir. )”

“आणि हे ठरवणारी तू कोण? नेत्रा ताई, इथे कोणतही competition नाही सुरू आहे ज्याची तू स्वतःला judge समजून बसलीये. You need to wake up, Netra Tai. You need to wake up. ( And who are you to decide that? There isn’t any competition going on here and you aren’t a judge, Netra Tai. )” 

“एका वर्षाने शशांक सर फक्त आणि फक्त माझे असतिल. ( Shashank Sir will be only mine after a year. )”

“एका वर्षाने ना? तेव्हाचं तेव्हा बघू. ( After a year, no? We will see it that time. )”

“आता ही ते माझेच आहे. बघतेय ना किती प्रेम आहे त्यांचं माझ्यावर. म्हणुनच तर इतकी काळजी घेताय ते माझी. ( Even now… he is mine. You are seeing how much he loves me, no? That is why he is taking care of me. )”

Apurva smiled. “त्याला normal लोकं humanity असं म्हणतात. शिकली नाही का ग तू? आणि मुळात… खडूस माझा नवरा आहे आणि जोपर्यंत मी त्याची बायको आहे ना… तोपर्यंत तो तुझा होईल असा विचारही काढून दे मनातून तू, नेत्रा ताई. कारण एका वर्षांसाठीच का होईना… बायको मानतो तो मला त्याची आणि या नात्याची respect तो कायम करेल. आणि कसं असते ना, नेत्रा ताई… कोणी कोणाच्या कितीही गळ्यात पडलं तरी काही बदलत नाही अगं! दुसर्‍या व्यक्तीच्या मनातही गळ्यात पडण्याची इच्छा असावी लागते आणि खडूस तुझ्या गळ्यात पडायला अजून डोक्यावर पडला नाही आहे. आणि मी पडूही देणार नाही त्याला so तू… rest कर! Take care ( Normal people call that humanity. Did you not learn? And Khadoos is my husband and get rid of the idea that he will be yours till the time I am his wife. Because even if it’s for a year… he considers me as his wife and he… will always respect our relationship. Always. Also, you know what, Netra Tai… no matter how desperately someone goes after someone… it doesn’t kinda work. It needs the other’s person willingness also and Khadoos is yet to fall on his head to run after you and I won’t let him either so… you take rest and take care!”

“अपूर्वा… करशील ना तुझ्या बहिणीसाठी एवढं? नाही तर मी हो म्हणायचं आणि तू धक्के मारून बाहेर काढशील! I hope, तुला काही problem नाही आहे. ( Apurva, you will do this for your sister, right? Otherwise, I will say yes and you will kick her out.)”

“Problem? Erm, I don’t think I have any. जोपर्यंत तू तिला माझ्या डोक्यावर आणून बसवत नाही तोपर्यंत मला कसला आलाय problem! कसं आहे ना, खडूस… नेत्रा ताईच्या मनात माझ्याविषयी ज्या अतिसुंदर भावना आहेत ना… त्यांचं वजन नाही अरे झेपणार मला. काय आहे… scholar नाही आहे ना मी तुमच्या दोघांसारखी! शिकलेच नाही मी तुमच्या सारख्यांना झेलण्याची कला! ( Until and unless you bring her to sit on my head, why would I have a problem? You know, Khadoos… the kind of beautiful feelings that Netra Tai holds for me, no?… I won’t be able to stand their weight. You know, I ain’t a scholar like you. I never quite learned the art to deal with the people like you two!)” 

Sumi suppressed her chuckle, keeping in mind that the whole family was standing right there but Kukki and Amey made no attempt to hide the giggles that broke out of their lips, listening to Apurva. 

Suva Aai walked up to them, curled her fingers around Apurva’s wrist and pulled her behind her. As she stood in front of Shashank, she glanced at Apurva once before looking back at Shashank. “Elaborate what you just said.” 

Knowing what she was hinting at, Shashank glared at Apurva before tearing his gaze down to the floor. “Those are not my words but hers. Why don’t you ask her instead? In fact, hold on. I will make you hear those words then you won’t ask me to elaborate. One minute.”

Excusing himself, he quickly rushed toward Netra. “Give me your phone.”

Netra clutched her phone tighter as a sudden uneasiness gripped her. The fear of getting exposed did not let her hand over the phone to him. She was so lost in her thoughts that she did not even realize when he bent and took the phone from her hand.

Anxious, she rose to her feet in an attempt to stop him. “Let it be, Sir. I don’t want to cause any problems.” 

“पायाला लागलय ना, नेत्रा? विसरलीस वाटते!( Your leg is hurt, no, Netra? Seems like you forgot about it! )” Nikhil commented, drawing everyone’s attention to Netra’s visibly perfect leg.

“Ah.” She sat back, holding her leg, resuming her drama but the suspicion in everyone’s eyes refused to leave her. She adjusted her specs as she started blabbering, “I was just… trying to stop Shashank Sir. I ignored my pain because this family’s peace are more important to me than this pain.”

“Ah, how lovely, Netra! I wonder why you were so stubborn in taunting Appu over her and Shashank Dada’s outfits at Babi Aatya’s wedding if this family and its peace is so important to you!” Sumi joined the conversation when she couldn’t resist after watching Netra’s drama unfolding.

“काय? काय बोलली ही अपूर्वाला आणि का? ( What? What did she say to Apurva and why? )” Dada-Kaka interrupted, narrowing his eyes at Netra.

“ते असू द्या… दादा… या नेत्राने Appu वर हात सुद्धा उचलला होता. आणि कशासाठी? अगदी काहीच कारण नसताना. ( Let that be, Dada. You know, this Netra had even raised her hand on Appu and that too for no reason. )” Amey shared the incident that Apurva herself had once requested him to keep away from everyone since she did not want it to reach her Aatti.

“अमेय दादा… ( Amey Dada…)” Apurva intervened, shaking her head as she urged him to stay quiet.

“नाही, Appu. हा शशांक सगळं विसरला असेल. आम्ही नाही. ( No, Appu. Shashank might have forgotten everything.  We haven’t. )” 

“निखिलराव, हे तुम्ही – ( Nikhil, what are you – )”

“One minute, Shashank,” Nikhil held his palm in the air, making Shashank shut his mouth. “I would appreciate it if you don’t interfere because enough is enough. या नेत्रा मुळे अजून Appu ला hurt झालेलं मी नाही बघून शकत. अरे तिने चक्क आरोप केलाय Appu वर तिला धक्का दिल्याचा! तू बस गप्प हवं तर, नेहमी सारखा पण please… आमच्या मध्ये तर तू आज बोलूच नको. Please, okay? ( I can no longer watch Appu getting more hurt because of this Netra. She had legit accused her of having pushed her from the stairs. You are free to stay quiet like always but please, just do not speak in between us today. )”

Apurva squeezed her eyes shut as she watched the chaos created in their home and she couldn’t help darting a glare at Netra who was responsible for disturbing the peace of her home.

“थांबा सगळे. आधी अमेयला बोलू द्या. काय बोलत होता तू? या… या नेत्राने अपूर्वा वर हात? का? ( Hold on, all of you! Let Amey talk. What were you saying? This Netra had raised her hand on Appu? Why? )” Dada-Kaka shushed everyone when they derailed from the main topic that was burning his ears ever since it fell into it.

“मी सांगते, दादा ( I’ll tell you, Dada ),” Sumi said, her furious gaze going to Netra for a brief moment before she shifted it back to Dada, “Appu chi bachelor party होती ना… तेव्हा या नेत्राने शशांक दादाला phone करून तब्येत खराब आहे म्हणुन बोलवून घेतलं होतं. Appu बिचारीला तिची काळजी वाटली म्हणुन तिची party सोडून आम्ही सगळेच या नेत्राला भेटायला गेलो. ( When we had gone to Appu’s Bachelor party, this Netra had called Shashank Dada saying that she is not well. Poor Appu got concerned and worried about her so we all had gone to see Netra. )”

“तिथे जाऊन बघतो तर काय… काहीही झालेलं नव्हतं इला! Appu तिला घरी चल, आम्ही तुझी काळजी घेऊ म्हणाली तर या मॅडमने तिच्यावर हात उगारला! आणि एकदा नाही तर अनेक वेळा, ( And when we reached there… Netra was just fine. Nothing had happened to her. When Appu wanted to take her home to take better care of her, she slapped Appu. Not once but several times. )” Amey continued, without trying to hide the disgust on his face.

“जेव्हा शशांक घरी आला नव्हता आणि आम्ही त्याला शोधायला त्याच्या institute मध्ये गेलो होतो तेव्हा सुद्धा ही अगदी नको नको ते बोलली होती Appu ला ( When we had gone to Shashank’s institute when he hadn’t returned home, Netra had blurted out a lot of things that were uncalled for even there, ),” Kukki added, clearly not seeing a single reason to stay quiet after Netra took her drama to a whole different level altogether. 

Suva Aai glanced at Apurva who stood still as the revelations unfolded one by one. Netra’s presence had always bothered her but she hadn’t thought that matter had gone that out of control. She slipped her fingers into Apurva’s, silently casting the spell of her protection around her.

“तुम्ही सगळ्या गोष्टी वेळच्या वेळी का नाही सांगत? ( Why don’t you guys tell things on time? )” Suva-Aai questioned the Kukki gang. “शशांक कडून तर अपेक्षा सोडल्याच आहे मी आता पण तुम्ही? ( I have no hopes in Shashank anymore but you people? )”

“आई? ( Mom? )” Shashank helplessly murmured.

“निखिलराव बरोबर बोलले. शशांक… तू खरच नको बोलूस. आता या क्षणी तर अजिबातच नको. जेव्हा बोलायची वेळ आणि गरज होती तेव्हा बोलायचं होतं. ( Nikhil was right, Shashank. Stay quiet, really. Especially at the moment. You should have spoken up when it was needed. )” Suva-Aai’s stern tone left no scope for any argument.

“ठीक आहे. मी नाही बोलत पण जिची बाजू घेऊन भांडताय तुम्ही तिला तरी ऐकाल ना? ( Okay, fine. I won’t say a word but you will listen to her words whose side you are taking and fighting for, no? )” He looked into Netra’s phone and played the recording that she had made him hear in the car.

By the time the recording ended, Netra’s forehead was covered with sweat beads and Apurva stood there in shock but the Kukki gang and Suva Aai did not even flinch.

“आता काही नाही का बोलायचं तुम्हाला, hmm? ( You have got nothing to say now, hmm? )” Shashank dropped the phone on the table behind him as he moved toward Apurva. “का बोललीस तू तिला हे सगळं? मी तुला सांगितलं होतं की तिला माझ्यामुळे लागलं आहे म्हणुन तिला बरं वाटेपर्यंत तिची काळजी घेणे ही माझी जबाबदारी आहे. ( Why did you say all of these things to her? I did tell you that it is my responsibility to take care of her until she feels better because she got hurt because of me. )” 

Before Apurva could say a word in her defense, Sumi grabbed Shashank’s hand and dragged him away from Apurva.

“Sumi… Sumi… What are you doing?” He jerked her hand off his as he yelled at her.

“Sorry to say, Shashank Dada but you have never understood Appu and looking at this scenario, I don’t know how long it will take you to understand her. How can you react based on a minute of recording from their entire conversation? You – not even once – considered that maybe… maybe Netra could have said or done something that forced Appu to lose her cool?” Sumi lashed out.

Shashank folded his hands across his chest. “What could she possibly have done that justifies what Apurva said?”

Sumi let out a bitter chuckle before asking him to wait for a moment as she rushed to the couch to take her phone. A couple of seconds were all that she needed to find what she was looking for.

“Here. Manasi Vahini and I were recording a song in your room and we had to rush out for some work. I had forgotten my phone in your room and accidentally left the recording on so here is the raw, unfiltered recording of Appu and Netra’s conversation. Here you go.” 

Sumi had just placed the phone in Shashank’s hand when Apurva rushed and grabbed the phone. She turned toward Sumi, shaking her head. 

Sumi placed her hand on Apurva’s arm. “तू नको विचार करू की सगळे काय विचार करतील नेत्रा बद्द्ल! तिने केला का विचार तुझ्यावर असा आरोप करण्याआधी? नाही ना. बस तर मग. ( Stop thinking about what everyone will think about Netra. Did she think even once before putting such a sick accusation on you? )” Sumi forcibly pulled Apurva aside and handed the phone back to Shashank.

And the Kanitkar’s house stood in absolute silence as they heard Netra degrade, shame and humiliate Apurva but apart from the Kukki gang and Suva-Aai, nobody could recover from the shock after listening to Netra’s words, asking Shashank to leave Apurva and be hers. Not even Shashank himself. 

He almost stumbled upon his step and had to hold the chair for support when his ears burned with the blazing fire of humiliation that Netra had put Apurva through. 

For a moment, he almost couldn’t believe that Netra had gone that far with Apurva. He couldn’t even bring himself to look at Apurva after the truth was out and he realized that he had miserably failed in the test of trust that he was put through. 

“अजूनही कोणाला असं वाटते की नेत्राने इथे राहावं? ( Anyone still feels that Netra should stay here? )” Nikhil asked.

Apurva raised her hand. “मला वाटते की नेत्रा ताईने इथेच राहावं. खडूस मुळे लागलय ना तिला. ती जबाबदारी आहे त्याची. तिने ईथेच राहिले पाहिजे. ( I think that Netra Tai should stay here. She got hurt because of Khadoos, no? She is his responsibility. She must stay here. )”

“But, Appu -“

“No, Sumi. Let her stay here. I am anyway going back with Baba.”

“तू कुठेही जायचं नाही, Appu. जर कोणी जाईल तर ती ही नेत्रा आणि गरज पडली तर हा शशांक पण तू… कुठेही जायचं नाही. ( You will not go anywhere, Appu. If anyone will go, then it will be Netra and even Shashank if needed but you… won’t go anywhere. )” Suva-Aai turned to Dada-Kaka who silently assured her that she was doing the right thing and that he was with her. 

Apurva slipped her hand around Suva-Aai’s arm. “Suva-Aai, thank you but I need a break from everything. I want to go back to Baba’s house and give my mind a break from all of these things. It is kinda tired of dealing with the same stuff over and over. Let me go? Please?” Apurva urged, landing Suva-Aai and the whole Kanitkars in distress. 

“Where is Netra?” Amey asked when he caught Netra’s chair empty.

“Must have run away with her perfectly alright legs?” Nikhil did not bother hiding his sarcasm directed toward Shashank who stood, leaning against a pillar with his hands crossed across his chest and his gaze fixed on the ground.

Apurva let go of Suva-Aai’s hand as she turned to Nikhil. “जाऊ दे ना, निखिल दादा. कशाला इतका त्रास करून घेतोय स्वतःला? ( Let it be, Nikhil Dada. Why are you troubling yourself so much? )” 

“मी करून घेणार आणि तिला त्रास देणार सुद्धा कारण तिने माझ्या बहिणीला त्रास दिला आहे. कायम. आणि माझी नेत्राला ( I will and I will trouble her as well because she has troubled my sister… always ),” he said as his gaze went back to Shashank, “आणि तिच्या आगाऊपणाला पाठीशी घालणाऱ्यांना सहन करण्याची क्षमता संपलीय आता. ( My patience to tolerate Netra and the ones to support her has ended. )” 

Apurva couldn’t hold back the thin layer of tears shining in her eyes as the overwhelming love, affection and concern that Nikhil showered her with overwhelmed her. She could only weakly smile at him as she struggled to find words to form a coherent response. 

Dada-Kaka walked toward Apurva and placed his hand on her head. “जायचंच आहे घरी? ( You really do want to go? )”

Apurva nodded.

“ठीक आहे. तुला जे योग्य वाटते ते कर पण एक लक्षात ठेव… तू जितके दिवस परत यायला लावशील तितके दिवस हे कानिटकर कुटुंब तुझ्या आठवणीत काढेल. पण फार वेळ घेऊ नकोस. तुझ्या शिवाय राहण्याची ना आता सवय आहे ना मनाची तयारी. खरं तर तुला जाऊच द्यायचं नाही आहे मला पण मला कळतेय… तुला तुझा वेळ हवा आहे आणि तो तुला मिळालाच पाहिजे. तू घे हवा तितका वेळ पण… लवकर परत ये. आम्ही वाट बघतोय. ( Okay, do what you feel is right but remember one thing… this Kanitkar family will spend all the days in your memories however long you will take to come back but please don’t take too long. Neither are we used to living without you nor are our hearts willing to stay without you. Honestly, I don’t  wish to let you go but I know that you need time and you must  get it. Take all the time you want but come back soon. We will be waiting for you. )

“I will.” Apurva shared a quick side hug with him before she rushed back to his room without looking at anyone else, knowing that a single glance at them will weaken her decision to leave. 

Everyone left the hall, leaving Shashank to stand alone in the hall where the absolute silence that hovered over him began to suffocate him. 

He had chosen to believe his eyes and ears over his heart. He had to pay the price for making that choice. 

I’ll hate you forever. You were supposed to tell her what I feel for her tonight but you… ruined everything. His heart miserably wept and he had nothing to say. All that he had was regret and guilt.

The regret for not trusting Apurva enough.

The guilt of letting Netra hurt Apurva and push her so far from him from where he wasn’t sure if he would be able to bring her back.

I am sorry, Apurva, I am sorry. 

Some Clarifications.

1. Apurva and Netra’s conversation that I wrote above should have also got recorded in Sumi’s phone, no? But I did not want to bless Shashank’s ears with that so… Sumi’s phone’s memory got full right at that moment. xD.
2. This already got longer than expected so I deliberately avoided writing everyone’s reaction that I otherwise would have loved to explore.
3. This is the approach that I was talking about that I feel, Apurva needs to pick. The current one is not kinda working. There is no point in getting hurt because of Netra. I kinda agree with Shashank that going indifferent is the only and the best way to deal with people like Netra.

That’s it. Game over. Ta Ta Bye Bye. Ab Jaana Aur Wapas Nahi Aana, Netra Ma’am! xD.

Now, let me tell you that this is an extremely unrealistic shot because there is no way on the earth that can expose Netra in a go. Which is kinda unfortunate. But then, tomorrow’s precap really got me writing this. Though I am hoping Shashank wouldn’t fall for Netra’s tactics, he might will. Sigh.

Do let me know how you found this one in the comment section. 🙂