Outside Saaniya's Room
Rudra and Aniket stood near the door, silently listening to the conversation unfolding inside.
A trembling voice of a woman reached their ears — she was apologizing to Saaniya, tears in her voice, “Please forgive me! I... I lost control in the grief of losing my son. It wasn’t your fault that you couldn’t save him… The truth is, I couldn’t save him! I was his mother… but I could never ease his loneliness. I could never give him the love of a father, or the comfort of a home…”
Hearing that, Aniket whispered to himself, half confused, half shocked, “Wait a second… isn’t this the same woman who slapped Saaniya after hearing her son died?!”
Rudra caught the words and mumbled, “Yep. Same woman. Now shut up, Sherlock.”
Aniket made a dramatic pout and thought sarcastically, “Wow. This world is full of part-time aunties and full-time Oscar-winners!”
Inside, Saaniya’s voice came through—low, steady, and heartbreakingly calm, “You should be with your son right now. He’s waiting to go home… and for his last rites. Go to him.”
The woman, stunned and tearful, said softly, “Yes… I should go. He must be feeling alone…”
She turned to leave, but suddenly—Saaniya’s hand reached out and gently held her dupatta. Her next words came out like a whisper carrying the weight of years:
“Maa… please forgive me. Ask my mother... to hug me once… just once…”
The woman turned, stunned. “What?”
Saaniya, eyes cold and blank as ever, yet piercing through the woman’s soul, looked straight at her. “Your son… those were his last words before he slipped into unconsciousness. That’s all he wanted. Did you… did you hug him?”
The woman’s knees nearly gave way as tears gushed out. Saaniya turned her gaze away, almost as if she couldn’t bear to look anymore. Maybe because… she saw the shadow of her own helpless mother in that woman’s breakdown.
Through sobs, the woman confessed, “It’s all my fault! I should never have filed for divorce. He had promised me that he’d never meet that woman again… but I still walked away. I couldn’t give my son a father… and I couldn’t even give him a mother’s warmth.”
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Saaniya, with rare urgency in her voice, said, “No. It’s not your fault. If someone you loved betrayed you… then the blame is on them, not you. It’s never your fault, Ammi (mother)…”
A sharp pause.
The realization hit her. She had just called that woman “Ammi.” Her expression faltered for the first time. Eyes dropping to the floor, she stammered, “I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I just meant to say, you’re not the one to blame…”
The woman wiped her face and asked shakily, “Do you think my son knew that too?”
Saaniya softened, and for once, her voice didn’t sound distant. “Yes. He knew. I’m sure of it.”
She paused and then asked, “Can I tell you something else?”
The woman gave a faint nod.
“From now on,” Saaniya said gently, “don’t let these memories bring tears. No child likes it when their mother blames herself for someone else’s sins. And if you don’t have a reason to live right now… make someone your reason. Adopt someone. Devote your life to a soul who needs you. Because when we lose someone we love, it feels like our world ends. But if we stop living… we erase their memory too. You… understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”
The woman’s eyes still held tears—but this time, they were accompanied by a small, peaceful smile. And she slowly turned to leave.
Outside, Rudra and Aniket moved away from the door.
Inside, Saaniya slowly collapsed into her chair, her eyes shut tight. But even in the darkness behind her eyelids, she could see her mother—the woman who left her behind in this cruel world.
Meanwhile…
Aniket stepped forward, ready to enter—only to be yanked back by Rudra.
“Hey! What the hell?!” Aniket yelled, flailing like a grumpy kid. “Who are you?! Some mysterious ninja uncle kidnapping strangers now?!”
Rudra didn’t answer. He dragged Aniket straight to the terrace.
Breathing heavily, Aniket snapped, “EXCUSE ME! What are you?! Some evil TV saas(mother-in-law)?! And I’m your innocent bahu(daughter-in-law)?! Why are you dragging me up here like we’re shooting for ‘Saas vs Bahu: Endgame’?!”
Rudra, completely unfazed, cracked his knuckles and smirked like a villain in slow motion. “Answer me honestly—why were you listening to Saaniya’s conversation?”
Aniket gasped theatrically. “Wow. WOW. The thief is blaming the watchman now! Mister, you were already standing there eavesdropping when I showed up! And FYI—I didn’t even come to listen in. You parked me there like your personal handbag! I actually came to talk to Saaniya!”
Rudra sighed. “Just so you know… I was the one who convinced that lady to come here. And I didn’t park you anywhere! I just stopped you from barging in like a bull in an emotional china shop!”
Aniket blinked. “So… basically… we both judged each other wrong?”
Rudra nodded thoughtfully. “Hmm. Seems like it. Honestly, I thought you came to guilt-trip Saaniya or start an argument. So why did you come?”
Aniket, suddenly all dramatic, placed a hand on Rudra’s shoulder. “What can I say, dost (friend)! Friendship… is a life-threatening disease! It kills me daily with its emotional blackmail!”
Rudra looked suspicious. “Wait. Saaniya is your friend?”
Aniket looked like he’d just been called a cockroach. “Saaniya?! That witch?! Not even in this lifetime… or the next hundred! I came for my actual friend—Aditya.”
Rudra raised an eyebrow. “Your friend… what happened to him?”
Aniket rolled his eyes and said with mock horror, “Love happened! Yes! The most dangerous illness in the world. Makes people crazy.”
Rudra squinted. “Wait… don’t tell me he’s in love with—”
“Nooooo” Aniket cut him off dramatically. “No no NO! Things aren’t that tragic! He’s in love, yes—but not with Saaniya. With her friend, Anamika. Apparently, Anamika and Saaniya had some kind of fight, and now she’s all sad. So my dear friend wants me to help fix things between them. He’s waiting at the hotel with Anamika, and I have to somehow bring Saaniya there… without her finding out.”
Rudra smiled like he just found a fun puzzle. “That’s it? Then your mission is as good as accomplished.”
Aniket squinted. “Wait. You’re going to help me? You?! We don’t even know each other’s names, bro!”
So…
Will Rudra really help Aniket pull off the secret mission?
Or… is Aniket about to land himself into yet another storm he didn’t sign up for?
