The next day,all was ready for roka but still everyone are pacing around rechecking everything.The hall looks beautiful with lights,flowers,candles and especially with the smiles.

Preetha was made ready in beautiful yellow lehenga.Everything on her was aesthetic except her smile.All the girls went out when she went to balcony,she saw cars,people,decorations.She looked at the sky remembering rain.

Preetha(speaking to sky): mein jab bhi bheegthi hu mujhe bahot kushi hothi hai .mujhe aaj bheegna hai meri dard chupane ke.bahot bheegna hai......please aa jao naa!!! I....I need you.......

A tear drops when she feels a hand on her shoulder.Startled she quickly wipes and turns to see akash.

Preetha: Bh....bhai...thum yaha kya kar rahe ho?

Akash(smiles): pata hai.......jab bhi thum bhai bulathe honaa.mujhe dar lagtha hai ki kya hogaya thumhe.(cupping her face) dard ho raha hai?

Preetha nods.

Akash: kya mein roku?

Preetha: papa bahot khush hai

Akash: phir thumhari kushi ?

Preetha: aap sab mein hain.

Akash(smiles) : thumse badi hu mein lekin aaj lagtha hai ki thum mujhse badi ho.(assuring) I am sure he will keep you happy.

Preetha: I  trust you.

He kisses her forehead and leaves but comes back.he holds her hand.

akash: zindagi mein kabhi bhi kahi bhi zaroorat padi tho sirf ek call karo.ham udke ayenge.Ham sab thumhare saath nahi chodthe preetha.kabhi nahi.....we will always support you.

Preetha: mujhe pata hai.......isiliye mein ye sab kar rahi hu.sasural chalungi phir bhi thumhara picha nahi chodungi.....

They smile and hug each other.He leaves while tears escape from her eyes.After a few minutes,she again feels a hand on her shoulder.

Preetha(quickly wiping): Akash....main kush hu.thum jao naa.papa ki help karo

She turns to see karan standing there.She is shocked for a second.She didn't expect him there that too at that time.She was not happy but afraid seeing him.

Preetha: S.....sir a....a...aap yaha?

Karan(gritting teeth): ...ye sab kya ho raha hai?

Preetha: aap kab aaya aur....yaha kya kar rahe ho?

Karan(moving close ,angrily): ...kya ho raha hai yaha?

Preetha(afraid ): r....roka

Karan: kiska?

Preetha(seeing downwards): m....mera

Karan(closing his eyes): mujhe kyun nahi pataya?

Preetha:  aap l....london mein the aur roka kal hi fix hua tha.

Silence bruised between them.He dont know what to ask her and she dont know what to say to him.

Karan(holding her hand): kya thum kush ho?

Listening it,she looked into his eyes.They are vulnerable and tears clouding same as  her's.He is looking for right answers and she is looking for right questions.

Preetha: Mera papa khush hai.

Karan(holding her both arms): mein thumhare baare mein puch raha hu? kya thum khush ho?

Preetha's eyes welled up and before she break down, door knock is heard.

Preetha(alert): Koyi aaya...a...aap...aap jao?

karan: I want answer.

Preetha(free from his grip): ab....ab nahi.......aap jao.koyi aapko dekhliya tho.(afraid) aap jao yaha se

Karan tries to speak to her but she doesn't listen and urges him to move out.Listening enough of her,he pulls her by waist and closes her mouth by his hand.She is shocked by that sudden move and this was the first time she was close to him.

Karan: Shuuu......Shut up(she calms down). jawab chahiye mujhe.

She is just seeing his irritated eyes and listening his calm voice.Sensing that she is understanding him.

Karan: kya thum kush ho iss roka se?

She is silent but a tear drop falls on his hand saying her answer.He understands.

Karan(stammering): ki..kisiko pasand karthe ho?

Preetha sees him but an unknown fear always haunts her.

Preetha(mind): mein kyun darthi hu har baar.pehle mujhe acha lagtha hai phir dar lagtha hai kyun?

And he can see the fear in her eyes.He frees her and asks.

Karan(concerned voice): kyun darthe ho?

Preetha(in mind): har baar aapko khoneka ehsaas hothi hai.aur mujhe dar lagthi hai.kyun?

Karan(seeing her eyes): thumhe pata hai..... Where there is fear.......

Preetha(seeing his eyes): There is love....

Karan: and where there is love......

Preetha(realizing): There is life.

He didn't realize her words but after a minute he understood what she meant.He smiles widely with tears and hugs her.He had the correct question and she had the correct answer. She at that moment realized what he meant to her and hugged him tightly.

They are happy in the embrace, to say clearly its just their world.They come out of the hug and see each other happily while preetha is shy when her hair strand falls on her face.He sighs lovingly and keep the strand back.Preetha sees him while he cups her face.Suddenly they hear another knock.

Nitya(banging door): preetha.... preetha......

Preetha: kaun hai?

Nitya: Yaar mein nitya hu.thum kya kar rahi ho andar

Preetha(remembering the sari chaos): mein Mr.Nitya se baath kar rahi hu

Karan widens eyes and laughs remembring it.

Nitya: kyaa? mein yahi hu aur thum kisse baath kar rahi ho

Preetha: mein aaungi thum jaao. 

Preetha then remembers whats happening in the house.

Preetha(worried): s...sir...ro..

Karan(interrupts): kyaa...kya kaha?

Preetha: wo..woh....roka sir.

Karan: Kya ? Sir?

Pretha(confused): hmm....Sir

Karan(annoyed): kaunsi subject ki physics ya chemistry?

Preetha(confused):  Kya bol rahe ho sir?

Karan(irritated): arey phir se?

Preetha does not understand what he is talking about.

Karan: thumhe ab bhi samaj nahi aaya

Preetha nods no

Karan(irritated) : thum iss dimag se medical topper kaise bangayi?

Preetha(irked): jaise aap bangaya.

Karan(narrowed): thumhari dimaag se medical topper kya LKG topper bhi nahi ban saktha(she widen eyes)

Preetha(widen eyes): What? kya kaha?LKG mein top?  LKG mein top nahi hotha hai yeh baath aap samjlo.......waise meine kya kaha aap aise baath kar rahe ho?

Karan(in mind): isse argue karna hi bekaar.Go straight..... 

Preetha(waiting): bathao sir....

Karan(irritated):  thum mujhe aise bulana band karo okay? aisa lag raha ki mein koyi old aged professor hu.(she understands)

Preetha(inconveniently): But you are my senior....

Karan(sarcastically): tho kyaa? hamare bache ke samne bhi thum sir hi bulaogi mujhe?    

Preetha widen her eyes and her cheeks redden up while karan notices it.He smirks and starts moving forward.She unknowingly moves backward.

Karan(with slow steps towards her): koyi.... baath..... nahi....... mein......... bathatha...... hu... kya...... bulana.... hai.......

She realizes that she cant able to move back and she looks at him.He sees her pleasantly for a while.He then pulls her through waist while she closes her eyes as their noses touch.She is nervous and he gently turns her 

Karan(whispers in ear): Open your eyes Dr.Preetha

She opens and sees that she is standing before mirror.He stands behind without touching her but seeing her admiringly.

Karan: Aise khoobsurat ladki mera jaise handsome ladke ko sir nahi bulathe hai.

Karan(whispers in ears): call me by my name.

Preetha just feels his words.

Karan: Muhurat chahiye?

Preetha(sweetly): karan

Karan smiles and his smile shows his happiness.He acts like something is piercing in his heart and she smiles seeing his antics.

Preetha sees his happiness.But she remembers that its her roka today

Preetha(nervous and afraid): No.....no yeh sab nahi hosaktha.

Karan(worried): Kya hua ?

Preetha(anxious): Mera rishtha fix hogaya....mera roka hai aaj.Papa bahut kush hai...mein unki kushi barbaad nahi kar sakthi. yeh sab....yeh nahi hoga..

Karan(shocked): kya keh rahe ho?

Preetha: sach hai....mein aise nahi karungi...kuch bhi nahi karungi.....

Karan: Preetha listen to me

Preetha: nai....jao aap yaha se

Preetha is very worried and he knows the reason.To cool her,he hugs her tightly.She at first gets shocked but her worry line fades away.

Karan: Calm down.....mein hu naa.I will take care.

Preetha just listens hugging him.After few seconds,

Pretha: I am sorry (a tear escapes)

Karan(cupping her face): ek aur asu nahi.....pata nai kitna ro rahi hogi.dekho kaise bangaya ankhe......ab ek aur nai.actually I am sorry .....mein thumhe asu tak nahi pochana chahtha tha par thum mereliye itna.......(tears clouding in eyes) Sorry ....(cutely)

Preetha: aap bhi roya na....dekho (she wipes his tears)

Karan(wiping her tears): bas ab aur zyada hogaya tho makeup hat jayegaa....(serious tone) I know thum apna parivaar ki bahot respect karthi ho aur pyar karthi ho mein unpe kuch daag nahi aane dunga.I promise.

Preetha: hmm....sirf mera parivaar hi nahi wo ladka ka parivaar bhi hai.pata nahi kaise feel karega.......pata hai chairman ka beta hai woh.chairman sir kya kahega akhir unka izzat ka sawal hai.....mera internship zaroor cancel hojayegi .Sab guests,family (in her thoughts)sabse important dulha.......wo kaise react karega ki jab use patha chala ki mein yeh roka nahi karsakthi? 

Karan(suddenly): Oyeeee....thum mera fikar karni hai uski nai.thum yeh sochna hai ki mein kaise react karungi jab thumhari roka mujhse nahi hui tho.. ?   

Preetha: mein kyun sochu aapke baare mein? aap hi tho kaha tha  ki you are there.fir sochne ki kya baath hai.sach kahu tho dulha ki baare mein hi sochna hai ab? 

Karan(widening eyes): Kya?

Preetha: haa(worried) kaise feel karega woh? kitna dreams rakh liya hoga shaadi ke baare mein kitna shopping kar raha hoga.dulha ka kapde,dulha ka jhutti 

karan(irritated): thumna kisi aur ko dulha dulha bulana band karo.Ok...aur kya keh rahi ki kaise feel karega shaadi ka dreams etc tc.aur mera kya....thumhe pata hai kitna papad belna pada hai mujhe...baath kar rahi ho (turns face away)

Preetha(suspicious): jaise keh rahi ho ki mereliye tajmahal hi banwaya tha aapne (he angrily sees her)? achaa bathao kya papad bela hai zara mein bhi tho sunu......

Karan(angrily): thum ....thum...

Preetha: ha mein...mein bathao

Karan(bursting): thumhe kya pata hai .........thumhe hospital mein dekhne hi mera dil ka dadkan flat hogaya.chupke chupke se thumhara photos clicks kar raha tha aur thumhe dektha tha.thumse baath karne keliye kitna taras gaya mein.....par thum ...thum tho mujhe importance hi  nahi dete the.apna kaam karthi tha aur chali jathi thi.thumhe kisi ki farak hi nahi hai..yaha mein thumhe roz follow kartha tha....aur jab thumhe fever aaya thumhe dekhne keliye kitna feats kiya meine itna ki zindagi mein kabhi nahi kiya.mein gate chadkar aaya thumhare ghar mein aur shukar hai ki ladder hai waha.aur mein thumhare room mein aagaya...... aur thum thum kya kar rahi thi....aaram se soya.Ok...soyaa par thum kyun jag gaya kuch der aur so jaathi mein kuch der aur dekhletha ....nai thum ut gayi aur jor se chillaya ....thumhara papa bhai aagaya mein cupboard ki backside chup gaya.Aur bhagwaan jane kitna dar gaya mein aur kitni negotiations ki unke saath.......at last safely mera ghar gaya.Uske baad mera dil ki baath thumhe kehna ka preperations ki achanak london jaana pada...... mein london tho gaya par dil...dil tho thumhare paas hi the.wait kar rahi thi ki jab thum thumhari dil mein rakhogi..........aur kitna hopes , dreams se mein yaha aaya aur roka ka news suna meine .....fatse yaha aagaya.thumse confess karnekeliye dekho kya kya kiya......yeh sab thumhare liye kiya meine.....aur thum.....

His words got stopped as his lips are grabbed by her.She is holding his collar and kissing him.he is in shock and stood there numb.But she understood it and didn't hesitate to continue.She was stunned by everything he told.She always had the doubt but never mind it but it is in fact true.He did so much for her and she wanted to give a beautiful memory to him.and she did it........

Understanding everything he responded.His pain ,fear ,tiredness flown away.Its just them that matters.After a while they come out but karan kissed her cheek and joined there foreheads holding her waist and hand.

Preetha: thank you.....(kissed cheek) thank you for everything.

Karan smiles and hugs her.

Karan: dont worry..... I am there.

Preetha: I know you will.

Preetha: but kya karogi?

Karan(smiles sheepishly): just wait and watch.......

and continues in the next part.............