Her eyes were very familiar. It was as if her eyes were pulling her towards them. Her eyes reminded her of a very precious person.

These were the sole thoughts that began to make rounds in Pragya's mind as soon as she came across the familiar stranger. Out of their own volition, her legs began to move in the direction of the young woman who began to walk towards her too.

"Kiara!" 

Pragya didn't know what made her say it. But something did. May be it was a mother's unconditional love that recognized her child even after an interval of twenty long years. May be a mother's heart recognized her child even though the eyes failed to recognize her face.

"You are my Kiara, aren't you?" Pragya whispered in a tear clogged voice.

The whispered words felt like the detonation of a bomb and the whole room went absolutely quiet. 

Abhishek looked in astonishment at Pragya and then at the newcomer. Was she right? Was this his baby, his Kiara? Was this really his Kiara? Was his Kiara alive? Tears welled up in his eyes. Could this be true? Had his prayers really been answered after all.

"Mama" Kiara's lips trembled as she choked out through the lump of emotions that formed in her throat.

Abhishek closed his eyes and tears cascaded down his cheeks. Yes, his prayers had been answered. His Kiara was back where she belonged.

Pragya grabbed Kiara's arms and pulled her into a warm hug like a woman who had lost something priceless and had finally found it back.

As they parted from the embrace, Pragya kissed her forehead. But before she could say something, someone placed a hand on Kiara's shoulder. Kiara turned around to see her father standing in front of her with teary eyes. 

"Papa" Kiara hugged him tightly and he reciprocated the hug with full force.

"Kiara...you are alive...but then where were you all this time?...why didn't you let us know?...And how did you meet Prachi and Ranbir?....And who is that guy?" Abhishek barraged questions over his beloved daughter, but it only showcased his worry and care for his beloved daughter.

Parting from his embrace, haltingly, Kiara told them everything, right from the moment she regained consciousness after falling into the water to the moment they decided to come home.

"And he is Kabir Khurana. My husband and a fellow doctor." Kiara concluded.

Kabir touched the elders feet and took their blessings. Abhishek hugged him and welcomed him to the family.

"I can never be enough grateful to your parents who saved my daughter and treated her like their own. From now on, you are my eldest son." Pragya patted his stubbly cheek while Kabir smiled gratefully as he received an entire family that day after losing his parents.

"And now that we have met you and got our Kiara back, we aren't letting you go back to abroad. You can take charge of MKK Hospital. You, Kiara and Sunny can be in charge there."Abhishek suggested.

Though Kabir made a few objections at first but Kiara made him agree. Sunny and Kiara gave each other side hug.

"So, my best buddy is back. Missed you loads." Sunny smiled.

"Yep. I am back. Missed you loads too." Kiara smiled back.

"Now that the whole family is complete, why don't we celebrate?" Vikram suggested.

"Yeah. Let's go for a picnic in our farm house." Purab suggested.

Everyone agreed to the suggestion with a lot of enthusiasm, unaware of the impending danger that was awaiting them.

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Farmhouse

Everyone was engrossed in their own chosen activities. In the lawn surrounding the farmhouse, Abhishek, Purab and Vikram were engrossed in conversation. Kabir and Sunny were discussing something about their medical field and soon Kiara joined in. Ranbir, Prachi, Sahana, Aryan and Mishti were engrossed in chit chats and pulling each others' legs. Pallavi, Disha and Pragya were arranging the snacks and beverages in the kitchen inside the farmhouse.

Pragya, Pallavi and Disha brought the snacks and beverages outside on the lawn. Pragya recalled in the nick of time that she had forgotten to bring the jug of orange juice and it was still in the kitchen.

"Prachi" Pragya called out.

Prachi excused herself from the group and walked over to Pragya.

"Yes, ma?" Prachi looked at her mother questioningly.

"Please go inside and bring the jug of juice from the kitchen." Pragya instructed.

"Okay Ma." Prachi replied and made her way to the kitchen.

Ranbir, who had been observing the entire exchange between the mother daughter duo, saw Prachi going inside the farmhouse. He decided to follow her as it was the first time he would get to spend sometime alone with his wife, away from prying eyes and ears.

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Prachi sauntered into the kitchen, unaware of the person following her and had just picked the jug up when two masculine arms wound around her waist. For a moment she was startled but then the familiarity of the touch dawned on her. She blushed slightly. 

"Ranbir! What are you doing? Anyone can come in. Let me go." Prachi muttered.

"That I can never do." Ranbir claimed, kissing her one cheek and then the other, making her blush even more.

"You are incorrigible!" Prachi mumbled.

"I know." Ranbir grinned shamelessly and nuzzled her neck.

Prachi was about to say something but was cut short as the landline decided to ring just at that moment. 

"Ranbir, go and see who it is. Everyone else is outside. I will take this jug outside. Go. Now." Prachi ordered.

"Okay, you Highness." Ranbir muttered reluctantly and with great reluctance disentangled himself from her and both made their way out of the kitchen.

Ranbir came to a halt in front of the landline while Prachi trotted off. Looking wistfully at her disappearing figure, He picked the receiver up.

"Yes?" Ranbir answered the call.

"Mr. Mehra?" An anxious voice inquired from the opposite side.

"No. I am Ranbir Kohli. Who is it? What's wrong?" Ranbir frowned.

"I am inspector Salunkhe. There's a very bad news for you all..." The inspector delivered his news to Ranbir.

Ranbir was shocked to hear the news and looked on incredulously.

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Everyone was enjoying themselves but Prachi was a little restless as Ranbir hadn't still come out. She glanced around anxiously and sighed in relief as she found Ranbir striding down the lawn. However, her relief was short lived as he perceived the alarm on Ranbir's handsome visage. Prachi started walking towards him too. They came to a halt as they reached each other.

"What happened, Ranbir?" Prachi looked at him anxiously.

"We are in grave danger, Prachi." Ranbir looked at her worriedly.

Before he could say anything more, someone fired a bullet and the noise resounded in the quiet area, spelling doom and destruction.

Everyone jerked around and looked towards the direction from where the noise was heard, utterly shocked. Aliya was standing there with guns clutched in their hands.

"Aliya! What's going on? How did you break out of jail?" Abhishek gaped at her incredulously.

"I have broken out of the jail, where you had left me to rot, dear brother. And now all hell will break loose on you. Just as you all have left me in that hell. I will not spare anyone. Each one of you have done injustice with me. I will finish everyone off today. I will avenge myself on your death." Flames of a demented fury was dancing within Aliya's frenzied eyes.

"Don't you dare, Aliya! It's you who have done one injustice after the other. It's you who have committed crimes after crimes and we have forgiven you until we couldn't do so any longer." Abhishek roared.

"NO! I haven't done anything wrong. I had just fought for my rights. That's it. And look at the man I have fought with the world for. He is happy with another woman, he left me for another woman and my dear brother, left me for this Pragya. I am gonna kill this Pragya and Disha first of all." Aliya long hair flew back with the gust of wind and the frenzy in her eyes leapt up a notch or two.

Aliya pointed the gun towards Pragya. Many things happened at once at that precise moment. Abhishek lunged forward, shielding Pragya while Purab did the same with Disha. Before Aliya could pull the trigger, a booming voice resonated in the area.

"Aliya Khanna! Drop your gun! Surrender yourself to the police!"

Everyone looked around to see that without them being aware of it, police had entered and were at the moment standing in a line with their guns raised, targeting Aliya.

Aliya looked around with the same frenzied gaze. She had the appearance of a demented woman at the moment. No rhyme or reason was going to penetrate the thick cloud of vengeance and fury that shrouded her mind.

"NO! I WON'T SURRENDER! IF I DIE, I WILL MAKE SURE TO TAKE THEM WITH ME. ALL OF THEM."

Screaming like a deranged woman, Aliya pointed his gun at Purab. A firing of bullet resounded in the area.

Aliya cackled like a lunatic. Everyone looked at the other to check if they are alright. Disha frantically checked Purab for any trace of blood but there was none. All of them turned to Aliya to see that her cackle was dying down. Aliya looked down. Her white dress was smeared with blood.

The bullet from the police officer's gun had hit her on the back and tearing through her body, left through her chest.

Aliya's grip on the gun loosened and it dropped down on the ground. Aliya, finally, went down. She toppled over on the ground beneath.

Everyone took a few moments to recover from the shock and gathered around her. Abhishek went down on his knees.

"Why did you do this? What did you get? You ended your life in your quest of the unattainable." Abhishek's eyes refused to remain dry, she was his younger and once beloved sister after all.

"I....I...am....sorry....bh...bhai. I...ha...have... commi...committed...only... crimes. I...repaid...your...lo...love...with m...my...evil...deeds. I...tried...to...snatch...your...love....away.....
from...you. Forgive...me...please. Pragya...you...also... forgive...me. Purab...today...I...really...wi...wish...that...you...live...a....happy...life...with...Disha.
Forgive...me...all...of...y...you." With these words, Aliya breathing became more laborious and finally her head dropped down on the ground carpeted with green grass and eyes closed slowly.

Aliya Mehra Khanna, the glaring example of what happens when one let their whim, ego and caprice take over their better judgement, breathed her last.

Abhishek squeezed his eyes shut as tears cascaded down his cheeks. Pragya went down on her knees beside him and put her arms around the bereaved brother whose little sister was lying dead in front of him as a consequence of her own evil deeds.

"We didn't want to shoot him but we had no option." The police officer sighed, looking at the corpse.

The officer then walked over to the place where Ranbir and Prachi were standing and thumped Ranbir on the back.

"Hats off to your presence of mind in difficult situations. Way to go, young man. Keep it up." The officer praised.

"What are you talking about, officer?" Vikram inquired.

"Mr. Ranbir Kohli was the one who was informed about Aliya Khanna's breaking out of the jail. He immediately requested police protection and suggested the concerned police station to contact our police station which was nearest to the spot. That's how we could arrive just in time." The officer concluded.

Everyone began to praise Ranbir's quick witted nature. The police took the body away. Finally, the cloud named Aliya dispersed from the horizon of their lives. However, not in a mood to enjoy anymore, they returned home after a few formalities as required at the time.

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A year later

Once again the whole mansion had been decorated like a new bride with flowers and lights. Once again happiness had knocked at their door after the cloud of gloom had passed away.

The windows had been covered with red and white draperies. Canopies made of red and white silken cloth were set up in the ground. They were to be served as dining area for the guests. A long line of car had queued up on one side of the grounds.

The day was the wedding day of not one but two couples, double wedding of two brothers - Sunny and Mishti and Aryan and Sahana.

After the rituals were done and the priest declared them man and wife, the two couples were led to the chairs set on a podium for them.

"Come on, kids. Let's celebrate." Abhishek declared.

Music began to play and a couple came forth.

Bole chudiyaan bole kangana

Prachi touched bangles of her one hand with the bangles of the other hand.

Hai main ho gayi, teri sajna

Prachi pointed towards her and then towards Ranbir.

Tere bin jiya naiyo lagta, main tey mar Gaya

Prachi twirled around.

Le jaa le jaa, soniye le jaa le jaa
Dil le jaa le jaa, ho o o o

Ranbir came forth, clasped her hand, twirled her in and then out.

Hai hai main marjawan marjawan tere bin
Ab toh meri raatein kat tey taste gin gin

Prachi intertwined her hands and placed them beneath her chin and looked up at the ceiling which no less than the starlit sky due to the lights adorning it.

Bas tujhko pukara karein, meri bindiya ishara karein

Prachi pointed towards him and then twirled around

Hoye, lashkara lashkara teri bindiya ka lashkara
Aise chamke jaise chamke chand ke paas sitara

Ranbir wound his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. Her hands clutch the front of his sherwani. They moved in rounds, holding each other.

Meri payal bulaaye tujhe, jo roothe manage tujhe, o sajan ji, haan sajan ji,
Kuch socho, kuch samjho meri baat ko

Kiara hit the anklet of her one leg with the anklet of the other one. She tapped her finger against her temple.

Bole chudiyaan bole kangana, hai main ho gayi teri sajna, tere bin jiyo naiyo lagda, main tey mar jaawa

Kabir joined the dance and twirled Kiara in, making her land on his chest.

Apni maang suhaagan ho, sang hameshaa saajan ho

Kiara moved a hand over the parting of her hair and extended a hand towards Kabir who clasped it

Aake meri duniya mein vaapas na jaana

Sehra baandhke maahi tu mere ghar aana

Prachi extended her hand on either side and twirled around

Oye soni kitti soni aaj tu lagdi ve

Bas mere saath yeh jodi teri sajdi ve

Ranbir danced around Prachi and then taking her hands in his pulled her towards him.

Roop aisa suhana tera, chand bhi hai diwana tera

Kabir placed a hand under Kiara's chin and lifted her face up gently, looking at her with loving eyes.

Jaa re jaa oh jhoothe teri galla hum na maane

Kyoon taarife karta hai tu humko sab kuch jaane

Kiara and Prachi moved away from their respective partners and danced together.

Ho, oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh, ho oh oh oh oh

Abhishek and Pragya stepped into the dance floor.

Mere dil ki duaa yeh kahe, teri jodi salaamat rahe

Abhishek cupped one cheek each of Prachi and Ranbir

O sajan ji, haan sajan ji

Yunhi beete saara jeevan saath mein

Pragya cupped one cheek each of Kiara and Kabir

Bole chudiyan, bole kangna

Haai main ho gaya tera saajna

Pragya and Abhishek left the dance floor, smiling and with their arms around each other.

Tere bin jiyo naiyo lag da main te margaiya

Le jaa le jaa, soniye le jaa le jaa

Dil le jaa le jaa, ho

Prachi and Ranbir and Kiara and Kabir were dancing with their respective life partners.

Abhishek and Pragya were watching them from a distance.

"All's well that ends well. How right it is." Pragya sighed happily.

"Yes, today I feel as if my family is complete seeing my daughters so happy in their lives and also I have you by my side for the rest of our lives together. And Purab has reconciled with his estranged family too. Whoever said is right that till everything becomes alright, it's not the end. So, I guess, this is the end of our story." Abhishek smiled.

Abhishek put his arm around her shoulders and Pragya placed her head on his shoulder. Together they kept looking at their happy family. 

The End

So, this is the end of the story. I will miss writing this story but everything has to come to an end sooner or later. This is the end for this story.  

Thank you so much all of my readers, for reading, voting, commenting and being a part of this journey. I enjoyed it very much. Hope you did too. And I also hope you will like this last part of the story too.