episode : 5

Scene: Family Home – Living Room – Afternoon

Rupsa and Hriday are sitting together on the couch. The atmosphere is visibly tense. Hriday’s mother stands nearby, watching everything with wide, astonished eyes. Her face reflects a strange mix of disappointment, disbelief, and suppressed tears masked by a faint smile.

Hriday’s Mother (angrily):

"How could you do this?! I dreamed all my life about your wedding! And you… you just show up married, like this?! What kind of son are you? I thought when you’d get married, it would be a grand event, a celebration… and instead, you just bring someone home, like this?"

Kartik (Hriday’s cousin):

"He's not a kid anymore, Ma. Just accept it."

Kartik’s Wife (calmly stepping in):

"Let it go, Ma. Whatever Hriday has done, that’s his personal decision. It’s his life, and we have no right to question his marriage."

Hriday’s Mother (visibly irritated):

"Of course you’d say that! You wouldn’t understand how it feels… I imagined a huge celebration for my son’s wedding… and look what he’s done!"

Rupsa remains silent, but her expression turns firm. She can already sense the challenge of entering this family.

Meanwhile, Hriday’s sister smirks from the side.

Hriday’s Sister (teasing):

"Wow! So, big bro was dating someone secretly all this time?"

---

Scene: Living Room – Evening Tea

The drawing room is lively in the evening. Hriday’s mother brings tea and snacks for everyone. Rupsa sits politely, her back straight, dressed traditionally. Everyone is observing her closely—like she’s on trial.

Kartik (whispering):

"Let’s see what the new bride knows. If the tea doesn’t have ginger, there’s gonna be chaos in this house!"

Kartik’s Wife (laughing):

"Your brother doesn’t touch tea without ginger, huh?"

Rupsa keeps sitting quietly, but suddenly, Hriday’s mother asks bluntly—

Hriday’s Mother (sharply):

"Do you know how to cook?"

Rupsa (softly):

"A little, Aunty… I mean, Ma."

Hriday’s Mother (raising an eyebrow, with a wry smile):

"Interesting. My son always had… unusual tastes. I didn’t expect a girl like you. Tell me—do you really love my son?"

Rupsa pauses. There’s a flicker of defiance and fear in her eyes. Then she speaks, calmly but firmly.

Rupsa:

"I do love him. And I want to stand by him."

The room falls silent. Hriday’s mother stares at her, sensing the falseness in her words, but impressed by her courage.

Hriday (casually sipping tea):

"Tea’s good, Rupsa."

Rupsa looks up—knowing full well it was Shiv who made it. She says nothing, just lowers her gaze.

Kartik (grinning):

"Looks like big bro is already smitten!"

Hriday’s Mother (irritated):

"You people joke about everything! Take things seriously sometimes!"

Hriday (coldly):

"I thought it through. Everything I did, I did with clarity."

Rupsa sits quietly, her eyes heavy. She knows this marriage is nothing but a contract—six months of pretending.

---

Scene: Hriday’s Room – 11:00 PM

Rupsa enters the large, cold, modern room. Hriday stands by the window, looking out. He doesn’t turn to look at her.

Rupsa (quietly):

"I’ll sleep on one side of the bed. If you want, you can take the sofa."

Hriday (flatly):

"Do whatever you want. You don’t need my permission."

Rupsa clenches her jaw but says nothing. She carefully adjusts her saree and sits on the bed.

Hriday, still staring outside, says—

Hriday:

"This act lasts six months. No romance. No questions."

Rupsa (evenly):

"That’s fine. I didn’t come here for love."

Hriday turns slowly, surprised. This woman—so composed in front of someone as cold and arrogant as him?

After a few seconds, he turns back to the window.

Hriday (to himself):

"Interesting... you understand the game."

Rupsa switches off the light and lies down. Her face is calm but wounded. She doesn’t cry. She won’t show weakness.

The camera pans slowly to the window, where moonlight falls softly on her face.

---

Scene: Next Morning – Dining Table

The whole family sits at breakfast. Rupsa enters, and all eyes turn to her—some smiling, others suspicious.

Hriday’s Elder Brother (sternly):

"Is this girl even fit for our family?"

Hriday’s Mother:

"The wedding happened so suddenly. None of us knew anything..."

Rupsa (clearly and politely):

"I’ll prove myself. I can take responsibility for this family. I won’t make mistakes."

The room falls silent.

Hriday (with a faint smirk from the corner):

"You will. Because you came to endure, not to love."

Rupsa’s eyes tremble. She lowers her gaze.

She knows—these six months will be the hardest test of her life.

---

Scene: Rupsa’s Mother’s Apartment – 3:00 PM

A small, quiet apartment. Rupsa’s mother suddenly collapses just outside the bathroom, gasping. A neighbor rushes in.

Rupsa’s phone rings.

Neighbor (panicked):

"Rupsa, your mom’s not well! I’m taking her to the hospital right now. Come quickly!"

---

Scene: Hospital – 8:00 PM

Rupsa stands outside the emergency room. Her eyes are weary with tension.

A doctor walks out.

Doctor:

"She has a kidney condition. She needs to be moved to a better hospital. The treatment will be long—and expensive."

Rupsa (nervously):

"...How much will it cost, Doctor?"

Doctor:

"Initial stage—eighty thousand. After that, even more."

Rupsa doesn’t cry. Her voice is low, steady—

Rupsa:

"I’ll arrange it..."

---

Scene: Hriday’s Office – 11:00 PM

Hriday is working alone on his laptop. He looks up, surprised, as Rupsa walks in.

Hriday:

"At this hour? Is something wrong?"

Rupsa (meeting his eyes):

"My mother is sick. I know this marriage is a contract, but can I ask you something… outside of that?"

Hriday (expression hardening):

"You know this is a transaction. So… what exactly do you want?"

Rupsa:

"An advance. For my mother’s treatment. Please."

Hriday (looking away):

"Fine. But remember—this help counts against your time."

Rupsa (calmly):

"Do whatever you think is fair. I’ll do anything for my mother."

Hriday stares at her for a few seconds, almost seeing her for the first time. The fire in her eyes—he wasn’t expecting it.

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