The one that you all have been waiting for is here! Arjun's past is about to be revealed!
We are going back in time. This is taking place on the night before the flight.

Arjuns's P.O.V
After a long day we were all tired. We had packed our stuff within a rush and we weren't sure whether we packed everything. But it was late and we needed that tiny bit of sleep to survive the media tomorrow.

"Arjun! Stop worrying already! You've packed enough dude! Come to sleep!", Parineeti whined. She was already laying in bed, waiting for me, and she was not very patient. She had worn her usual outfit: a pink nightdress  made of silk which reached all the way down to her knees.

"I am coming dear! Just wait a moment!", I said as I walked by the list in my head once again. Clothes? Check. Socks & underwear? Check. Toothpaste and toothbrush? Check. And so on and on.

When I was pretty sure that I had everything I needed, I went to bed. I switched off the lights and I turned around where I saw Parineeti staring at me with big eyes.

"Why are you half naked today? Where is your shirt?", she asked me with big eyes. She was continuously gazing at my chest and my abs.

"Oh. Well, I packed them. Didn't figure out that I was going to need it anyways", I grinned.
"Besides, you are going to keep me warm right?"

Her face flushed and she started blushing. "You have a dirty mind Kapoor! Go to sleep!", she said blushing.

I chuckled. "I will Pari."
I planted a soft kiss on her forehead. Not willing to go so easily, I extended the kiss for a couple more seconds before I pulled away. She noticed and smiled.

"Sweet dreams Kapoor"

"Good night Pari"

I went to sleep with a smile on my face.

Someone was shaking me. "Pari? It's not morning yet. Sleep...", I said while half sleeping.

Again someone shook me. "Parineeti.. let me go..."

This time I heard a soft cry. Again someone shook me. I slowly opened my eyes, only to see that Parineeti was no longer laying in bed. She was gone.

I opened my eyes slowly and I sat up straight. She was standing behind me with tears in her eyes.

"Arjun? Who is Anita?", she said with a shivering voice.

Anita.....

That was how my mom was called...

"Anita? Why?", I asked confused.

"You were screaming for her Arjun! And you were screaming very loudly! I thought that you were having just "another" nightmare but you started crying and you were tossing and turning the entire time. And then you screamed in my ear that it was my fault, that I should've been there instead of drinking in a pub. And then you calmly slept again yaar!"

Oh shit.
Shit..
SHIT!!
This is not good

I sighed deeply. Well, this was it. It makes no sense to hide it anymore.

"Arjun what's wrong? What happened?", Parineeti asked me.

"It's a long story. You might want to sit down", I said nervously.

"Hold on a sec" She climbed back into the bed and shifted underneath the blankets. Once she was in a comfortable position, she nodded at me.

So I started telling her the story about my past. The story of my mom. Her final story.

Rewind time—>2 years ago...

Third person's P.O.V

"Damn! I am so sorry! I'm coming there right now!", a woman who was in her late forties apologised on the phone. She quickly pinned her badge on her chest. On it was written Anita.

She was running late for her meeting. Well actually, she already was. But since the company she was supposed to meet had no other choice than Anita, she was still welcome.

Anita quickly grabbed all her papers. She needed a ride. And fast. The only person who could bring her this fast was her husband Dev. But Dev wasn't home. In fact, Anita had no idea what Dev was doing or whether he even was available at this point. Still having high hopes, she decided to give him a ring.

"Hello? Dev? Yeah uh hi, this is Anita speaking"

"Anita? What do you want this time?", the man also known as Dev said annoyingly.

"Dev, I am sorry if I'm interrupting you with work. It's just that I need a ride m. Could you bring me to-"

"I am busy! I don't have time for you!", the man spat back.

"Dev, I'm just asking for this dear. The last few weeks you're not coming home either... Where are you?"

"I'm busy I said! And if you really wanna know, I'm in the pub across the street!"

"Okay..When will you have time for me again? I miss you", Anita said carefully, aware of the reaction it might cause.

"Never! I am busy!"

"With drinking for Gods sake! Dev, please I just need-"

Beep Beep Beep

"That asshole! He even got the guts to hang up on me! What a loser! Can't believe I ever fell in love with him!", Anita said frustratedly.

Well, I guess it's just the public transport then.

She quickly sent a message to the company that she might arrive a few minutes later and that they shouldn't worry about it.

Soon she found a taxi. She gave him the address and hopped in the backseat. Then her phone rang. Anita looked at the caller-ID and saw that is was her best friend Louis who she hadn't talked to in a long time.

"Hey Louis! It's been a long time right?", she smiled.

"Yeah definitely! It's just work, work and work these days", Louis laughed.

"Dude, I really miss you. When do you have time to grab a cup of coffee? We should catch up!"

"Yeah totally! Let me check.."

Anita suddenly noticed that their taxi was not moving anymore but had stood still for the last 5 minutes.

"Hold on Louis, I just gotta ask my driver something", she whispered into the phone and smiled.

"Uhm excuse me? Why are we not moving?", she spoke to the driver.

"He turned his head around to talk to her. "I am sorry miss, but it seems like there has been an accident down the road. We may stay here for a couple of hours."

"Great", she mumbled sarcastically.
"Well, in that case I'd like to finish the trip and pay you for your time. Thank you for your service."

Anita gave him the money and was just about to walk away from the vehicle when the taxi driver spoke again.

"Are you sure you want to go? You could stay in the taxi if you want? We're stuck either way.", he said sheepishly.

Anita smiled. "That is really sweet of you but I can't. I have a meeting to catch and I'm already late. Sorry. Thanks for the offer though."

"No problem. Good luck and enjoy your day!", the driver said.

"You too!", Anita said.

As she walked down the roads she started to talk to Louis again.

"Have you found a date yet dear?", Anita asked impatiently.

"Yeah! Friday at 4?"

"Sounds good to me", she said happily.

"Friday it is then! Let me know when-"

At that exact moment, it seemed as if everything was in slow motion. Anita ,without knowing, approached the crime scene where another vehicle approached her at a high speed an collapsed.

Louis had heard the shock through the phone. His gut said that there was something off and he tried to kept on talking to Anita but it was too late.

Anita and the car had collided. The car had a huge scratch and was total loss. Anita was bleeding a lot. Her eyes were fixed on one point and her phone was still attached to her ear, not being able to move her arm due to schock.

"Tell Arjun I love him. I will always be there", Anita said in a weak voice.

She heard some screaming of people and no sooner she heard sirens approaching. It was the last sound she would ever hear.

Back to present
I hadn't noticed that I started crying until Parineeti wiped my tears away. She looked at me in sympathy and smiled.

She gave me a big hug and for a few moments all I could do was embrace her. Parineeti was all that existed for a few moments. She patted my bare back and whispered soft words in my ear.

I pulled back. "Thanks. I needed that", I said to Parineeti.

She smiled at me. "Don't mention it."

"You know... you are the first person ever to hear this come out of my mouth. Even my dad did not want to hear this. Later I understood why though. He was having an affair with the waitress and they were "busy" when my mother called.

I was so angry at him! I haven't spoken to him since he told me that he loved the waitress . She was hotter, my dad said. And my poor mother never knew", I said.

She gave me a hug. "You look like my mother Parineeti. A lot. You eat the exact same way. You talk like her. You have the same clothes taste like she had when she was younger. I was sick of being reminded of her every single second. But it didn't feel good when I started misbehaving with you. I thought that I'd create some distance between us so that I wasn't being constantly reminded of her. And honestly I'm sorry Parineeti. For everything. I'm sorry if I hurt you."

She looked up to me and I looked down to her face. She was smiling weakly.
"Thanks.. I really hated the way you behaved with me. Especially the whole jaan and tigress part"

She smiled. And I did as well.

"It actually feels really good to be rid of this. To talk to someone about it. I'm glad you're here for me Parineeti."

She yawned. "No problem. Btw shall we get back to sleep? I'm tired. She closed her eyes and sank into our hug.

I chuckled. "Yeah, let's get some sleep. That might be a good idea"

She smiled and I gave her a kiss on her forehead. She smiled even more.

"Should I tell the others Kapoor?",Parineeti asked me.

"No. Not yet. And if they ask what happened, then you had a bad dream okay? I don't want to be the subject about nightmares anymore!", I whined.

"Yeah well watch it otherwise they're going to start believing that our room is haunted", she laughed

We fell asleep not knowing that the next day we woke up, our legs were tangled and her head was on my chest.

We both laughed about it and we happily went to the airport.

When we arrived in India, the media was shocked. More than ever. They kept asking about the wedding of Alia and Sid and they just kept nagging about it.

I really pity Alia and Sid. They were constantly being dragged and pulled everywhere by the media. At a given point, Varun was fed up with it and started protecting Alia from the reporters.

Once we reached our homes we promised to stay in contact with one another. After all, the wedding was only in a couple of days.

Third person's P.O.V
They all went to their homes and started doing their bit of the plan. It was almost ready but a few details needed to be fixed. Alia would be present in every ceremony and would perform it with Sid except for the last one. The priest was informed of their plan and Shraddha would be taking Alia's role.

It was late in the evening when Varun got a message from Alia.

Alu💋
Hey
Can you meet me tomorrow?
I need to talk to you

A/N—> Yep. The truth is out. Just a few more chapters then this book will be done! Time flies guys!

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Love you 😍
varia_nv
23/4/19