Set in the pre-wedding phase. The wedding gets postponed for six months here and thus, everything that we saw Netra doing after Shashank and Apurva’s marriage in the show – she does it here before that. You’ll know the rest as you read.  

| Part Sixteen |

Three Months Later 

In the dimly lit room, Shashank sat on the floor resting his back against the wall. His hands were wrapped around his knees that he had drawn closer and his face was buried in them. Having lost the sense of surrounding, he didn’t know how much time had passed 

He raised his head while taking his phone out of his pocket. It took him less than a minute to reach the desired picture in his gallery as if it were a routine. Emotions overwhelmed the moment he stared at his fiancee’s smiling face. 

He gave a long stare at his phone’s screen before he wiped his eyes, preparing himself for what was coming or rather what he was bringing into his life – a tornado that was going to ruin his life like nothing else could probably ever have. 

He stepped out of his room after having ensured multiple times that there were no traces of tears on his cheeks. He knocked on Dada-Kaka and Mai’s room till the door was opened.

Dada-Kaka’s sleepy eyes looked at Shashank. “Kay re, kay zala? Ajun zopla nahis?” Dada-Kaka wore his glasses and turned to see the time on the wall clock striking 1 a.m. 

“Lagnachi utsukta zopu det nahiye ki kay?” Dada-Kaka playfully teased but Shashank’s cold eyes caught him off-guard. He took a step toward Shashank, placing a hand on his shoulder, silently asking him what had happened.

“Mala saglyanshi bolaycha aahe. Mai la gheun khaali yeta?” asked Shashank.

Dada-Kaka wanted to inquire more but Shashank left before he could do so. While Dada-Kaka went to wake Mai up, Shashank called everyone downstairs.

As Kanitkars stood in the hall, clueless about what had happened, Shashank walked up to Dada-Kaka and stood in front of him. 

“Mala saglayashi j.ara,” Shashank paused, crossing his hands behind his back, “mahattvacha bolaycha aahe.” 

“Arey ho Dada pan itka kay hota ki tu aata ya veli saglyanna uthavlas?” Sumi asked, ignoring Nikhil’s hand that kept tugging at her arm as if asking her to keep quiet. “Udya sakali pan bolu shaklo asto ki aapan,” she said. 

“Tula Appu chi aathvan vagere tar yet nahi aahe na?” Prachi teased, joining the conversation. “Just a few hours more. She is all yours after the wedding.” 

“Gap basa re tumhi sagle!” Mai’s stern command caused a pin-drop silence as she moved toward Shashank. “Sagla thik aahe na?” 

Shashank’s eyes stayed glued to the floor ever since he had stood there. Before anyone could ask another question, Shashank joined his palms, bending his head. “Mala Apurva shi lagna nahi karaycha aahe. Mi Apurva shi lagna… karnaar nahi!” 

“SHASHANK!” Vitthu-Baba warned. “Hya baabtit maskari nako.” 

“Vitthu barobar boltoy,” Dada-Kaka added, narrowing his eyes at Shashank, “pan Shashank kadun hi asli maskari… mala apekshitach nahi!” Dada-Kaka tried to hold Shashank’s gaze, sensing a strange seriousness from his words but Shashank didn’t lift his gaze from the floor.

“Hi maskari nahiye,” he said, causing a sudden change in the expressions of everyone present around.    

“Maskari nahi tar kay aahe? Appu shi lagna karrnar nahi mhanje? ” Vitthu-Baba pulled Shashank to him, abandoning his otherwise calm demeanor. “Ka nahi karnar?”

Shashank did not try to get out of his father’s grip which had begun to hurt him by then. “Maza Apurva var prem nahi,” he said.

“Te aadhipasunach navta. Appu cha hi tuzyavar prem nahiye. Saglyanna mahiti aahe. Pan tarihi tumhi doghe lagnala tayaar hotech ki,” said Prachi but shut herself up the very next moment when her mother held her hand, silently reminding her to know her limits. 

“Pan aata nahi aahe karan tyancha mazyavar prem aahe. Tyanna mazyashi lagna karaycha aahe!”

Every head turned toward the door upon hearing the familiar voice speaking the most unbelievable words that Kanitkars could have ever expected to hear. 

“Netra? Hi hya veli ithe kay kartey?” Sumi murmured to Nikhil who seemed too dazed to react. 

Amey and Manasi exchanged glances before shifting their eyes to Kukki who stood across them. Visibly stressed, he could see that Netra wasn’t entering alone in the Wada. She was bringing destruction along that he wasn’t sure if he could stop.

Shashank pulled Netra aside, his eyes demanding an explanation. “Why are you here? I told you I’ll handle it,” he whispered.  

Netra freed her wrist from his grip. “Prem aapla aahe tar tumchya gharchyancha raag tumhi ektyane ka face karaycha? Mhanun aaliye mi.” She was unapologetically loud, unlike Shashank.

“Arey hi kay boltey?” Vitthu-Baba’s voice quivered with the a of confusion and anger. “Aani mulat hi aata ithe kay kartey?”

Mai rushed to Shashank, unable to accept the situation in front of her. “Shashank, he sagla kay aahe? Prem? Netra var? Tuza… Netra var prem aahe?”

Netra held Mai’s hands, nodding in confirmation. “Khup aadhipasun. Aani mazahi tyanchyavar titkach prem aahe.”

“Tu khota bolteyes, Netra. He asa kahi asta tar Dada Appu sobat lagnala kadhi tayaarach zala nasta!” said Sumi, not bothering to tone down her anger in front of the elders. “Shashank Dada, tu he sagla chupchap kasa kay aikun ghetoys? Aaplya family matter madhe tuzya assistant chi garaj nahiye. Hila jayla saang.”

“Tyanna kay vicharteyes? Mala vichar, mi saangte na.” Netra moved toward Sumi and stood in front of her. “Mala saang, Shashank Sir Apurva shi lagna karayla lagech tayaar zale hote ka?”

Sumi’s gaze went to Shashank. His silence was the betrayal that she hadn’t seen coming.

“I think tula tuza uttar already milalela distay,” said Netra. She returned to stand beside Shashank. As she held his hand in his, she looked at his family that still stood dumbfounded. “Shashank Siransathi tyanchi family priority aahe. Nehmich rahili aahe pan tyancha mazyavar hi khup prem aahe mhanun jevha tumhi tyanchyavar Apurva shi lagna karayla dabav taakla… te nahi mhanale. Pan tumhi saglyaani aikla nahi aani shevti tyanna honara traas pahun aamhi vegla honyacha nirnay ghetla aani zaalo hi pan… far kal rahu nahi shaklo.”

Gasps echoed in the Kanitkar Wada as Netra’s words hit ears. Shashank’s silence could only be seen as his support for the statements that she was making. 

Recalling the firm refusal of Shashank to marry Apurva followed by the helpless giving in, Netra’s claims sounded convincing. 

The fact that he did not attempt to let go of their intertwined hands even once was the stamp of confirmation which his godfather, Dada-Kaka looked at as a slap in his face.

“Mala tuzyakadun aikaycha aahe. Hi… khara boltey?” asked Dada-Kaka, his nails digging into his palm as he clenched a fist while waiting for Shashank’s answer.  

“Tumhi sagle hicha kay aiktaay? Shashank aapla mulga aahe. Aapan tyala olkhat nahi ka?” Babi Aatya finally intervened after holding the silence of what it felt like an eternity to her. She regretted taking that long to process and act. “Konala fasavne ha Shashank cha swabhavach nahi. Aaplyala tar nahich nahi. Aani Shashank-”

“Netra khara boltey, Babi Aatya!”

Babi Aatya’s face paled after being cut off by Shashank. She couldn’t find the voice with which she was trying to convince everyone of his honesty.

“Maza eka mulivar prem aahe he manya karnach mazyasathi khup avghad hota. Mi khup prayatna kela he sagla mazya manaatach thambavnyacha pan kahi upayog navta. Pan khara hech aahe… mazyasathi ti khup mahattvachi aahe. Itki ki mi tichyasathi,” Shashank said, his eyes going to his hand that was still in Netra’s hold, “kahihi karu shakto.” His voice grew steadier with every passing moment as he spoke of the woman he adored.

He looked at Babi Aatya before taking his hand off Netra’s grip and walking toward his aunt. “Aaplya premabaddal aaplya gharchyanshi bolna thoda avghad asta. Gharchyanna fasavnyacha hetu nasla tari pratyek goshta ghari bolta yet nahi. Lapvnyacha uddeshya nasla tar saangta yet nahi. Ajun koni nahi tar tu tar samjuch shakte na?”

“SHASHANK!” His mother warned. “Kahihi zala tari aapan konashi kay boltoy yacha bhaan visru nako!”

His family felt like they were hearing a stranger. Babi Aatya couldn’t help her tears as Shashank’s words brought back the unpleasant memories she had been trying to kill for years. Already tormented by Bhaskar’s return, she backed off from the scene after being hit where it hurt the most.

Sumi noticed Nikhil was busy on his phone. She nudged him, quite upset by his behavior. “Konala message kartay?” He shook his head and shoved his phone in his pocket.  

After a minute’s frightening silence, Dada-Kaka asked, “Apurvacha kay? Kay saangun lagna modaycha aahe?”

Shashank pretended to think for a while. “Barich karna deta yeil. Tichyat aani mazyaat kahich samaya nahi. Eka shrimant bapachi ladavleli lek yapalikade tichi mazya nazret kuthlihi olakh nahi. Samja aamcha lagna zala tar udya tila as mazi bayko introduce kartana ti B.A. failed aahe he saangna atyanta lajirvana hoil aani-“

He immediately halted his words after Dada-Kaka raised his hand in the air. Visibly infuriated, Dada-Kala walked to him. “Tula Apurva itki napasant hoti tar 6 mahine ka gappa rahilas?”

“Jasa Netra mhanali… aamhi vegle zalo hoto. Aani hya 6 mahinyaat mi Apurva shi julavun ghenyacha prayatna kela aani…” He inhaled a sharp breath. “Netra la visarnyacha hi pan… mala donhi goshti jamlya nahi.”

Having the most ideal and absolute favorite son of his confessing his sins so unapologetically left Dada-Kaka shaken to the point where he couldn’t utter a word for the next minute.

Was it for real? How could it really be?

Mai rushed to Dada-Kaka’s side as he clutched his head in his hands when the reality became too harsh to handle.

“Dada…” escaped Shashank’s panicked lips as he took a step forward and tried to hold Dada-Kaka’s arm but immediately got pushed away.

Unable to take the weight of the broken promises, Dada-Kaka exploded, pulling Shashank by his arm. “Tula kaltay tu kay boltoys te? Tula kay khel watla ka ha sagla? Sakhar puda, kelvan, halad… sagla zalyavar he aata..” He furiously pushed Shashank and looked at Mai. “Aikteyes na ha kay boltoy te? Udya lagna aahe aani ha mhantoy karnaar nahi! Kasa tond dakhwaycha aahe aapan Dr. Kaushikanna? Aani Appu cha kay?”

Dada-Kaka’s eyes were ablaze with fury by merely imagining the tears that his son’s betrayal was going to bring into Apurva’s eyes. “Tu he karuch kasa shakto?” he yelled, too disgusted to bring the details over his lips. “Tuzya manaat ekdahi ha vichar aala nahi ki Appu la kiti traas hoil? Tula ajibaat farak padat nahi? He asa sagla hota tar lagna tharuch kasa dila tu? Jevha ek lagna modta tyacha saglyaat jasta traas mulapeksha mulila sahan karava laagto, he mahit nahi tula? Appu chya bhaavnanshi kheltana laaj nahi watli?”

“Mala nahi farak padat.” Shashank’s voice was calmer as he accepted, walking toward the main door, “aani khara baghaycha zala tar he sagla zalach nasta jar tumhi mazya manaviruddha maza lagna Apurva shi tharavla nasta. Maza hokar milavnyasathi tumhi mala emotionally blackmail kela.”

Stop it already. Kukki pressed his palm against his face. 

The loyal disciple of Dada-Kaka talking back to him was not even the last thing that Kanitkars could see coming. The Wada fell silent as everyone struggled to process everything that had come out that night.

Shashank turned around to face the backlash as he stood at the door. “Apurva chya bhaavnanshi khelaycha maza hetu navta pan mala watata je hotay te tichyasathi chaanglach aahe. Lagnanantar hi mi tichyavar kadhihi prem karu shaklo nasto. At least aata ti tyachyashi lagna karu shakte jyacha tichyavar prem asel.”

Dada-Kaka closed his eyes as a teardrop rolled down his cheek. The pride he had always taken in Shashank being called his junior version was shattered that night.

“Tula kharach ajibaat farak padat nahi?” Dada-Kaka asked, commanding his feet to take him to where Shashank stood. 

Standing opposite him, Dada-Kaka searched for a glimpse of remorse in Shashank’s eyes. How could he be so casual about wanting to abandon his fiancée on their wedding day?

“Apurva chya bhaavna… tila honara traas… jar aapan hyabaddal bolat aaho tar… mala nahi farak padat!” Shashank hung his head, crossing his hands behind his back about to defy everything that he had been taught. “Tichyasarkhya kapde badalto tase boyfriends badalnarya mulila hi he lagna modlyacha kahi ek farak padnar nahiye, mi lihun deu shakto-”

The ground beneath everyone split open. Dada-Kaka’s heart constricted painfully as his words landed like a blow to his chest.

It seemed like Shashank had left no stone unturned to make everyone lose their temper. 

The moment he dared to make that comment, Dada-Kaka’s hand raised to punish him, aimed at his cheek but in the split second before the impact, before his fingers could imprint themselves on Shashank’s cheek, five fingers curled around Dada-Kaka’s wrist.

Shashank who had not made a single attempt to escape the attack as if willingly accepting it stared at the hand that was protecting him. 

Almost dazed, he stared at the familiar bracelet in that hand for a bit too long before he looked back only to find that it was his fiancée.

His ex-fiancee to be precise now that he had backed out from the wedding.

Apurva stepped forward and stood beside Shashank. Her gaze traveled inward for a brief moment. She was too used to seeing smiles on those faces to like them smeared with anxiety. Her heart raced as she looked at every face one by one until she reached her cousin.

Her eyes which had softened upon encountering the profound distress in the Wada now burned with rage as she glared at Netra.

“Appu, tu ithe? Halad laaglyavar baher padaycha nasta. Ashubh-” Mai stopped herself as immediately as she could upon realizing what she had said out of habit. 

Looking at the storm that had already gotten inside their home and almost destroyed everything, she knew she shouldn’t open her mouth to talk about auspicious and inauspicious.

“Yapeksha waait tar kayach hou shakta,” Sumi said, glaring at her brother.

Apurva let go of Dada-Kaka’s hand, lowering her gaze in acknowledgment of her act. “Sorry, Dada-Kaka,” she quickly mumbled an apology.

“Why are you here?” Shashank whispered to her, visibly caught off-guard by her sudden appearance.

“Why? Am I ruining your plan? Did you not prepare for this? One must consider every possibility, Mr. Kanitkar. Don’t blame me for your incompetence. You are a novice. Not my fault,” she muttered in a tone only audible to him. “After what you’ve done, I am not answerable to you but I’ll still be generous and tell you why I am here. I am here to fulfill my promise.”

He leaned to her side, momentarily forgetting the prying eyes of Netra that still lingered on him. “What promise?” he inquired, his low voice laced with curiosity.

“To come whenever I feel you need me regardless of if you call me or not,” she said.

“Huh?” Confusion clouded his expression. He pulled themselves a step backward. “Whom had you made that promise to?”

There was a moment of silence when she held his gaze before taking his hand off her arm. “Myself.”

Thank you for reading. Do let me know your views in the comment section.
I’ll write a note about why there are no guests in the Wada in the next chapter.

P.S. Ignore typos, if any. Yet to proofread. <3

I N D E X

Part One

Part Two  

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Part Eight

Part Nine

Part Ten

Part Eleven

Part Twelve

Part Thirteen