As Prachi stepped inside the mansion, which was tastefully decorated with flowers, silk draperies on the glass windows and lights, accompanied by Parth, she looked around. Her beautiful eyes were filled with the bone deep dejection that had become her constant companion. Only she knew how difficult it had been to convince herself to come here, to participate in the engagement, to see the one man she loved and wanted for herself taking the first step towards belonging to someone else. How he must hate her. And he should. It will make it so much easier for him to move on in life and leave behind the memories of the time they had spent together as nothing but a hideous nightmare. He will move on and live a life full of happiness with his family. But what about her? Would she ever be able to forget him and move on in her own life? Prachi sighed dejectedly. No. No, she wouldn't be able to forget him. How could she? He was her first love, her only love and she was aware of his love and loyalty towards her. How could any other man measure up to him, her Ranbir? Prachi's musings broke abruptly as someone called her. Blinking in confusion, she turned around.

"Prachi, why did you stop here? Let's go inside." Parth urged.

Turning away from him with an irritated hiss, Prachi made her way into the hall. Parth was such a pain in the neck but she had to bring him as it would be the last step to enable Ranbir to sever any remaining tie with her.

Prachi stopped when she reached almost in the middle of the room and looked around. The members of Mehra, Khanna and Kohli families were engrossed in welcoming the guests and conversing with them. Even after being surrounded with so many people, Prachi felt alone, so alone. The one man who had become not only the love of her life but also her best friend and shield, the one man with whom she could share anything, was not with her. She could not share the crippling grief, the truth behind her terrible behavior with him. Her mother's life and happiness depended upon it. She could only apologize to him but was unfortunate enough not to be able to do so aloud. She could only apologize to him in private.

Forgive me, Ranbir. You will never know how sorry I am. My heart broke too while breaking yours.

Prachi smiled through the unshed tears glittering in her eyes. Her throat burned with the need to howl out in excruciating agony. Her beautiful features distorted with pain as she stared vacantly in the distance. A voice made her blink and a few tears cascaded down her cheeks. She stiffened instantly and swiftly rubbed her cheeks off, cleaning the evidence of her agony.

Slowly, she whirled around. A few feet away from her was standing the groom to be, Ranbir Kohli. She schooled her features to look as nonchalant as possible as Ranbir began to close the distance between them.

"Welcome, Prachi Arora. Welcome to my engagement party. Do you like the arrangements? And where is your 'current' boyfriend?" Ranbir's eyes were glittering with a ruthless determination.

"Oh, the arrangements are fabulous as always. And Parth is right here. Parth, could you come up here, please?" Prachi called out as she met Ranbir's gaze with an indifference she had struggled long and hard to portray.

As Parth came and Prachi looped her arm around his, the only thing that betrayed his feelings in Ranbir's otherwise blank face was slight tightening of the jaw. Then, however, he smiled, though the smile never touched his eyes.

"Ah! Here she comes. My beautiful would be fiancé." Ranbir stretched a hand towards Prachi and even as Prachi stared at the outstretched hand in innocent confusion, he moved it towards her left and a petite, female hand was placed on his outstretched one.

He pulled her towards himself until the other woman was standing by his side and placed an arm around her shoulder. Rhea grinned like the cat that got the cream while Ranbir smirked.

"Prachi and Parth. Meet Rhea Mehra. Won't you congratulate us, Prachi?" Ranbir challenged.

For a second, Prachi dropped her eye lids to conceal the stark pain that flashed across her beautiful eyes but not before someone else had witnessed it. When she looked up, there wasn't a single trace of the storm that had been ravaging her insides in Prachi's eyes.

"Congrats." Prachi smiled, her smile too didn't touch her eyes.

And then Ranbir turned his attention towards Parth, who looked inordinately agitated, and raised a brow.

"Con...congrats." Parth stuttered.

"Thanks. Enjoy the party. We will have to mingle. So excuse us." Ranbir smirked and looping an arm around Rhea's waist, moved away briskly.

As soon as they left, Prachi closed her eyes as mingled emotions of jealousy, pain and anger overwhelmed her. Her eyes flew open as someone touched her shoulder.

"Don't you dare touch me, unless it is to show them." Prachi ordered and strode away.

Parth sighed resignedly and followed her. He wouldn't have bothered coming here and putting up this act had she not threatened him to call the cops on him regarding the fake mms that he had made of her in cahoots with Rhea.

None of them noticed the person who was standing a few feet away from them, smirking in triumph.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Soon the lights dimmed and a spotlight fall on the center of the hall. Aryan stepped into the spotlight. 

"Attention everyone. Now it is time for some fun before the actual ceremony. Let's have Ranbir sing a song and someone accompany him in the dance. No, not Rhea. Couple dance will be after the engagement. Someone whom Ranbir will choose from the girls present here. Come on, Ranbir." Aryan cheered.

The other guests also cheered along with Aryan. With a smirk, Ranbir advanced towards the spotlight in a relaxed pace. Aryan moved away as Ranbir stepped into the spotlight.

"Today I will sing something different. Not a romantic song. And for this performance, as my partner I choose....Prachi Arora." Ranbir looked straight into Prachi's bewildered eyes with a devilish smirk, not paying any heed to a fuming Rhea.

Prachi was stunned at the suddenness of his announcement and was rooted to the spot when Ranbir closed the distance between them. This time he did not proffer a hand towards her. He took her hand in his and turning around, began to move towards the spotlight, making Prachi trudge along.

Prachi kept staring at him, befuddled. It was as if she was seeing someone entirely unfamiliar even though he was so very much familiar to her. Usually she could read him accurately, but at that moment, it was as if a shutter had come down over his face and she had not the slightest inkling of what was going on inside his head.

As they reached the spotlight, Ranbir twirled Prachi away from him, making her stumble a little. He, then, clicked his fingers and the expensive musical instruments, faded in the background, came to life.

Jo dil mein bhara tune
Dekhegi uss zeher ko

Ranbir grabbed Prachi's hand and pulled her into the circle of his arms and looked down into her eyes. Astonishment was reigning in her eyes while his eyes were curiously blank.

Bhugtegi mere gham ko
Meri aah ke kahar ko

Ranbir dipped Prachi backward and then straightened again.

Apni khudgarzi ka ab anzaam dekhegi

He twirled her out and then, holding her wrist, pulled her back again, causing her back to collide with his chest.

Thukra ke mera pyaar
Mera intkam dekhegi

He first leaned towards her left ear and then towards her right, gently blowing her hair out of the way and causing a shiver to run down her spine.

Chahat ka sila zaalim
Matlab hi diya tune

Ranbir turned Prachi around with a jerk and pulled her closer. Freeing a hand from around her, he ran his palm over her face, not touching her at all. The movement caused her to close her eyes and she recalled how she had made him believe that she was after his money and now, she had someone else in her life.

Majboor na thi phir bhi
Dhokha kiya tune

Prachi kept her eyes closed as she felt the frustration at her inability to express just how much helpless she was to hurt him this badly ravage her insides. She knew that if she opened her eyes, he would know in a jiffy. He would know just how much she loved him. She couldn't open her eyes before making sure that she had stowed away all emotions in the farthest corner of her heart, beyond his reach.

Nafrat ko meri ab tu
Subah shaam dekhegi

Prachi stepped away from him and turned away, not able to face him until she had her emotions firmly under control. 

Thukra ke mera pyaar
Mera intqam dekhegi

When Ranbir twirled her in again, she had her emotions firmly under control and looked up to meet his eyes impassively. However, as soon as she met his eyes, she couldn't help getting lost in their depth. Nor could he refrain himself from drowning in the black depth of her beautiful eyes.

They stood in each other's embrace, lost in each other's eyes and unaware of the world around them.

Here goes the first part. Hope you all like it. Don't forget to vote and comment. :) 

And also, no cliffhanger. LOL