The group is out on an exciting rafting adventure. The rapids of the river roar as the raft bobs along, the water splashing against the sides. The crisp mountain air fills their lungs, and the excitement is palpable. Kartik and Naira are laughing, enjoying the thrill, while Namrata nervously clings to the side of the raft, trying to keep her balance. Ranbir and Prachi are sitting close together, a mixture of excitement and tension in the air.

Kartik: (laughing, to Naira) "Yeh toh mazedaar ho raha hai(This is getting so fun!)"

Naira: (laughing) "Bas, thoda dhyan rakho! Agar hum dono hi gir gaye toh koi bachaayega nahin(Just be careful! If both of us fall, no one's saving us!)"

Namrata: (clinging to the raft nervously) "Main toh bas bas... please bas karna. Main yeh sab nahin kar sakti(Please, stop this! I can't do this! )"

Esha: Bechaari Namrata...main use samajh sakata hoon(Poor Namrata...I can understand her)

Ranbir: (laughing) "Arre Namrata, chill yaar! Ab toh maza aana chahiye(Come on, Namrata, chill  man! Now this is supposed to be fun!)"

Prachi: (nervously) "Ranbir ji, main thoda scared hoon... lagta hai... agar kuch ho gaya toh (Ranbir ji, I'm a little scared... what if something happens...)"

Ranbir: (looking at her, concerned) "Kuch nahi hoga, Prachi. Sab kuch thik rahega. Tum bas relax raho(Nothing's going to happen, Prachi. Everything will be fine. You just relax.)"

As they drift down the river, the raft hits a rough patch. Water splashes everywhere. The sound of the water crashing is deafening, and the raft begins to wobble. Prachi, trying to steady herself, reaches out to hold onto the side, but the raft tips slightly. Namrata, trying to help her, loses her balance and is almost thrown off.

Namrata: (crying) "Jiji! Jiji! Pakado(Sister! Sister! Hold on!)"

Prachi, trying to reach for the paddle, loses her footing and is thrown off the raft. Everything seems to happen in a blur. The icy water grabs her and pulls her downstream. Ranbir's heart stops. He sees her struggling, gasping for air as she's swept away by the current.

Ranbir: (screaming) "Prachi!! NO!!"

Esha: Oh my Goodness! 😨

In that moment, everything becomes chaotic. Namrata screams, her voice full of panic, as Kartik and Naira try to hold on to the raft.

Namrata: (crying, frantic) "Jiji!! Kahan gayi woh?! Jiji(Sister!! Where did she go?! Sister!)

Ranbir's heart races as he dives into the river, his eyes fixed on the spot where Prachi was last seen. His thoughts are a whirl of fear and desperation. Every second feels like an eternity as he desperately tries to find her.

Ranbir's POV:

My heart is pounding in my chest. The world around me is a blur. I can't lose her... I can't lose her like this. I'm not ready. I don't even know if I'm capable of living without her... This trip, this moment, this—everything—everything was supposed to be perfect. But now... now she's gone, and I can't... I can't...

I dive deeper into the freezing water, and I feel her hand—weak, slipping from me—but I pull her up with everything in me. I can't breathe. The river is pulling me down, but I pull her to the surface, gasping for air as I drag her back toward the raft.

Prachi's POV:

The cold water is overwhelming, and the world is spinning. I can barely breathe, and every part of my body aches. It feels like I'm drowning... suffocating. But through the haze, I feel a hand—strong, pulling me, holding me tightly. It's Ranbir. His voice, panicked but determined, fills my ears as he drags me up from the icy waters.

My breath is shallow, and I can barely catch it, but I hear him—his desperate, scared voice—telling me to hold on.

Ranbir: (desperate, pulling her to safety) "Prachi! Prachi, please! Tumhe kuch nahi hoga, main hoon yahan(Prachi! Prachi, please! Nothing's going to happen to you, I'm here!)"

Esha: Prithvi par tumhaara bhagwan yaheen hai(Your God in Earth is here)

He pulls her back onto the raft, his hands trembling as he holds her close. Her face is pale, her lips blue, and she's barely breathing.

Ranbir: (screaming, panicked) "Kartik! Naira! Namrata! Koi doctor bulao! Jaldi(Kartik! Naira! Namrata! Call a doctor! Hurry!)"

Namrata: (crying, frantic) "Jiji! Jiji! Kya hua? Prachi, uth jao na(Sister! Sister! What happened? Prachi, please get up!)"

Prachi is unconscious, her breathing shallow and ragged. Ranbir, still shaking, gently shakes her, tears filling his eyes.

Ranbir: (softly, with tears in his eyes) "Prachi... tumhe kuch nahi hoga. Main tumhe jaan se zyada pyaar karta hoon... main tumhe chhodne nahi dunga(Prachi... nothing's going to happen to you. I love you more than my life... I won't let you go.)"

He holds her close, pressing his forehead against hers, willing her to come back to him.

Slowly, Prachi's eyes flutter open. She's breathing now, a soft gasp escaping her lips as she looks up at Ranbir, her face pale but relieved.

Prachi: (weakly) "Ranbir ji... tumne... tumne mujhe bachaya(Ranbir ji... you... you saved me...)"

Ranbir: (with tears in his eyes, holding her tightly) "Prachi... tumhe kuch nahi hoga... tum meri duniya ho(Prachi... nothing's going to happen to you... you are my world.)"

The others gather around, relief flooding through them as they see Prachi regain consciousness.

Namrata: (crying, hugging Prachi) "Jiji, tum theek ho na? Tumhe kuch nahi hoga... tum bahut mazboot ho(Sister, are you okay? Nothing's going to happen to you... you're so strong.)"

Kartik: (to Ranbir, softly) "Bhai, you saved her... you saved her life(Brother, you saved her... you saved her life.)"

Naira: (to Ranbir, with a soft smile) "Prachi ko tumne sambhala, Ranbir... ab tum dono ko ek dusre ki zarurat hai(You saved Prachi, Ranbir... now, both of you need each other.)"

As the group huddles together, the adventure that was meant to be fun has turned into a life-changing moment for all of them. 

The group has returned to the hotel after the rafting incident, and the festive cheer of Christmas fills the air. The hotel is adorned with twinkling lights, the sound of Christmas carols filling every corner. But amidst the celebrations, a heavy silence surrounds Ranbir. He sits alone in a quiet corner of the room, away from everyone else, his face a mask of unreadable emotions. The others are busy exchanging gifts, but Ranbir stays distant, lost in his own world.

Prachi's POV:

I can feel it. The coldness in the air is not just because of the snow outside. It's him. Ranbir has distanced himself from everyone, from me. He's sitting there, silent, as if he's a million miles away. He's not the same charming, funny guy I knew. He's so distant, so closed off, and it's all my fault.

I never thought something like this would happen. I almost died today, yes. But it's not the fear of dying that haunts me now... It's the fear that I might have put Ranbir in danger. He jumped into that river, risking his life for me. And now... now he won't even look at me. He's not the same. He's silent, avoiding everyone. And I can't take it.

Prachi (walking toward him quietly, but with hesitation): "Ranbir ji... sab log tumhara intezaar kar rahe hain... gift exchange ke liye... phir se sab kuch thik ho jayega, na(Ranbir ji... everyone's waiting for you... for the gift exchange... everything will be okay again, right?)"

Ranbir doesn't look up from where he's sitting. His eyes are distant, unfocused, and the pain in his silence is unbearable.

Ranbir: (softly, without looking at her) "Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye, Prachi. Tum jao, sab ke saath baitho(I don't need anything, Prachi. You go, sit with everyone.)"

Prachi stands there for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts, her heart pounding in her chest. She watches him, wondering what's going through his mind, her chest tightening with guilt.

He saved me. He risked his life for me. And now... now he's pulling away... because of me.

Prachi (gently, her voice trembling slightly): "Ranbir ji, main... main tumhein hurt karna nahi chahti thi. Tumne apni jaan daali thi... mere liye... aur ab tum mujhse baat nahi kar rahe. Kya main itni badi galti kar gayi (Ranbir ji, I didn't want to hurt you. You risked your life for me... and now you're not talking to me. Did I make such a big mistake?)"

Esha: Prachi it's not your fault! 🤧

Her voice cracks at the last sentence. She's struggling to hold back the tears. Ranbir's silence feels like a thousand words, but he still doesn't look at her. It's killing her.

Ranbir: (finally turning to look at her, his voice barely above a whisper) "Prachi... Tumne kuch nahi kiya. Tumne apni jaan khatre mein daal ke meri wajah se... mera dil to toot gaya tha jab tum behosh thi, jab tumhe main nahi bacha paya (Prachi... you didn't do anything. You put your life at risk because of me... My heart shattered when you were unconscious, when I couldn't save you.)"

Prachi: (softly, moving closer) "Ranbir ji... yeh jo ho gaya, ismein meri koi galti nahi thi... par phir bhi... tumne apne aap ko bachane ke liye... meri jaan ki parwah ki. Tumhe lagta hai, meri wajah se tum khud ko khatre mein daal rahe ho (Ranbir ji... what happened wasn't my fault... but still... you cared about saving me, even when you were risking your own life. Do you think you're putting yourself in danger because of me?)"

Ranbir: (looking at her with conflicted eyes) "Main dar gaya tha, Prachi. Tum sabse zyada mere liye important ho... agar tumhe kuch ho gaya, toh main jee nahi paata (I was scared, Prachi. You mean the most to me... if something had happened to you, I wouldn't have been able to live.)"

His words hit her like a wave. She didn't realize the depth of his feelings until now. Ranbir's usually playful and charming persona has been replaced by someone who's vulnerable, someone who can't bear to see her in pain.

The weight of their unspoken feelings hangs between them. Prachi steps forward, hesitates for a moment, and then takes his hand in hers. The touch is gentle, full of vulnerability, and the connection between them feels like it's been waiting to happen for so long.

The warmth of the Christmas festivities is in full swing. The whole family is gathered in the cozy, decorated living room, with the soft glow of the Christmas tree lights flickering in the background. There's laughter, cheer, and the sound of jingling bells in the air. Everyone is exchanging gifts, excitedly unwrapping their surprises, but for Ranbir and Prachi, the moment feels heavy.

Prachi has been trying to avoid his eyes, but Ranbir knows something's off. His heart races as he stands up from the group, holding a small, beautifully wrapped gift in his hand. He walks towards Prachi, his heart full of emotions.

Ranbir: (softly, as he hands the gift to her) "Prachi... yeh tumhare liye. Merry Christmas(Prachi... this is for you. Merry Christmas.)"

Prachi: (looking at the gift, but not meeting his eyes) "Ranbir ji, yeh... yeh tumne itni mehnat se diya hai... par(Ranbir ji, you put so much effort into giving this... but...)"

Ranbir smiles, but there's a sadness in his eyes. He knows she's not ready, but he can't hold back his feelings anymore.

Ranbir: (gently) "Prachi... tum jaanti ho na... tumse kuch zaroori baat karni hai(Prachi... you know I need to tell you something important.)"

Prachi hesitates for a moment, feeling a lump in her throat. She knows what's coming. She knows the weight of this conversation, and the truth she's been holding inside.

Prachi: (softly, with hesitation) "Ranbir ji, main... main aapko is tarah... jawab nahi de sakti. Mere dil mein... kuch aur chal raha hai(Ranbir ji, I... I can't give you an answer like this. There's something else in my heart.)"

Her voice shakes slightly, and Ranbir's smile fades. His heart sinks at her words, but he tries to remain hopeful.

Ranbir: (gently, trying to understand) "Kya matlab hai? Tum kahan jaa rahi ho, Prachi? Tumhe batao, hum dono ke beech jo hai... main tumhare saath hoon(What do you mean? Where are you going with this, Prachi? Whatever's between us, I'm here for you.)"

But Prachi steps back, feeling torn. She holds the gift in her hands, her fingers trembling slightly. She looks at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty and guilt.

Prachi: (with a shaky breath) "Ranbir ji, mujhe tum bahut achhe lagte ho, lekin... main tumse... waisa pyaar nahi kar sakti. Main... main abhi... ready nahi hoon(Ranbir ji, I like you a lot, but... I can't love you... like that. I... I'm not ready yet.)"

Her words hit him like a storm, and for a moment, Ranbir feels as though the world has stopped spinning. His heart feels heavy in his chest, like someone just ripped a piece of it out.

Ranbir: (voice faltering, hurt) "Kya... yeh sach hai? Tum mujhe pyaar nahi karti, Prachi? Tumhe koi aur hai(Is this true? You don't love me, Prachi? Is there someone else?)"

Prachi's eyes well up with tears, but she forces herself to look away. She can't tell him the truth yet. She can't tell him about Kunal—the man who still holds a shadow over her life. She's terrified, but more than anything, she's scared of losing Ranbir.

Prachi: (shaking her head, voice barely a whisper) "Nahi... Ranbir ji, koi aur nahi hai... bas... bas main abhi... samajh nahi paayi hoon. Meri zindagi thodi complicated hai(No... Ranbir ji, there's no one else... it's just... I don't understand yet. My life is... complicated.)"

Ranbir stands still, looking at her, trying to make sense of her words. He can feel the distance growing between them. He doesn't know what's stopping her, but he's starting to fear the worst.

Ranbir: (his voice cracking, but he tries to stay composed) "Main tumhare saath hoon, Prachi. Tum jahan bhi jaana chahti ho, main tumhare saath hoon. Tumhe bas mujhe apna saath dena hoga(I'm with you, Prachi. Wherever you want to go, I'll be with you. You just have to let me be by your side.)"

But Prachi shakes her head, the tears now spilling down her cheeks. She takes a deep breath, trying to fight the emotions that are overwhelming her.

Prachi: (softly, apologetically) "Ranbir ji, main... main aapko bahut hurt kar rahi hoon, aur mujhe yeh nahi karna tha. Par main apni feelings ko samajhna chahti hoon, aur jab tak main yeh clear nahi kar leti, main kisi ko galat umeed nahi de sakti(Ranbir ji, I... I'm hurting you so much, and I didn't want to do that. But I need to understand my feelings, and until I figure this out, I can't give anyone false hope.)"

Ranbir's face hardens, his heart breaking more with each passing moment. He wants to say something, to make her understand, but the words feel stuck in his throat.

As the family looks on, shocked and heartbroken by Prachi's words, Ranbir retreats into himself, unable to process everything. Prachi's mind is clouded with her own fears, her own inner battle, and though she loves him, she knows she can't give him the love he deserves yet.

The room is filled with a haunting silence after Prachi's words. The family watches with sadness as Ranbir stands there, trying to digest the heavy rejection. He looks at her one last time, his heart shattering into pieces.

Ranbir: (in a low, broken voice, almost to himself)

"Main tumse kuch nahi keh paaya... par tumne jo kaha... woh sab mujhe kaise sambhalna hai(I couldn't say anything to you... but how do I handle what you just said?)"

Ranbir: (his voice trembling, walking away slowly, as he tries to hold back tears)

"Mujhe laga tha tum meri zaroorat samjhogi... lekin lagta hai tumhein sab kuch samajhna nahi hai. Tum... tumse pyaar karna mere liye... ek sapna tha. Aur ab yeh sapna... tut gaya(I thought you'd understand my need... but looks like you don't understand anything. Loving you... was a dream for me. And now, that dream... is shattered.)"

With those words, Ranbir turns and walks out of the room. He's fighting to hold back tears, but his chest aches as if a part of him has been torn apart. He storms into his room and slams the door shut, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

Prachi stands frozen, her heart thumping painfully in her chest. Her face is wet with tears, and she tries to steady her breath. The hurt in Ranbir's voice was too much to bear, but she couldn't say more, not now. She runs to her room, unable to face anyone else, the weight of her decision sinking deeper within her. She locks herself in and falls to her knees, her sobs echoing through the walls.

Prachi: (crying, barely able to speak)

"Maine usse chhod diya... main usse door chali gayi... aur mujhe pata hai main bahut bura kar rahi hoon... lekin Kunal... Kunal ko yeh sab nahi pata chalna chahiye(I let him go... I walked away from him... and I know I'm doing something horrible... but Kunal... Kunal shouldn't know about this.)"

In the hallway, Namrata overhears Prachi's cries from her room. She feels helpless and knocks gently on the door, worried about her sister. She enters slowly, seeing Prachi in a complete breakdown.

Namrata: (rushing to her side, holding her tightly)

"Jiji, kuch nahi hoga. Sab thik ho jayega... par tumhe apna dard sabse pehle sabse zaroori hai (Sister, nothing will happen. Everything will be okay... but your pain is the most important right now.)"

As Namrata comforts Prachi, her eyes glance down at the phone in her hand. Another message from Kunal appears, and she freezes. Her heart sinks as she reads the words that make her stomach churn.

Kunal's Message:

"Prachi, yeh jo tumne kiya hai... yeh tumhare liye sabse achha hai. Tum Ranbir se door ho, lekin mujhe tumse zaroori baat karni hai. Tumhe samajhna hoga, ya main tumhara sab kuch... cheen loonga

 (Prachi, what you did... this is for your own good. You're away from Ranbir, but I need to talk to you. You have to understand, or I will take everything from you.)

Namrata's hands shake as she reads the message. She knows Prachi's fear of Kunal. But now, she understands why Prachi has been so hesitant to give herself to Ranbir. She looks at her sister with sympathy, knowing that Prachi's heart is torn, but she also knows something needs to be done about Kunal.

Meanwhile, in Ranbir's room, he has thrown the gift away in frustration. His body is shaking with anger and sorrow. He's pacing the room, not able to control the flood of emotions rushing through him.

Ranbir: (shouting, voice cracking with pain)

"Kya yeh sach mein ho raha hai? Kya main sach mein tumse pyaar karta hoon, aur tum... tum mujhse door ja rahi ho? Tumhe jaane kis baat ka darr hai, Prachi... lekin agar tumhe kuch chhupana tha, toh... mujhe kyun bataya (Is this really happening? Am I really in love with you, and you... you're walking away from me? What are you scared of, Prachi... but if you had to hide something, why tell me?)"

Esha: Ranbir please understand! 🥺

He stares at the gift he had bought for her, now lying discarded on the floor. A single tear falls from his eye, and he wipes it away quickly, not wanting to show weakness. He walks over and picks up the gift again, holding it tightly in his hands, as if trying to hold onto the love he still feels for her.

At the same time, Kartik, Naira, and the rest of the family are unaware of the turmoil running inside Ranbir and Prachi. But Kartik knows that Ranbir is not himself today, and he is worried. He walks to Ranbir's room and knocks lightly.

Kartik: (concerned)

"Ranbir chote, kuch baat hai? Sab theek toh hai(Ranbir little brother, is everything okay? Are you fine?)"

Ranbir opens the door slowly, his face pale and strained. He doesn't say anything at first, his eyes avoiding Kartik's. Kartik looks at him, his face filled with worry.

Ranbir: (voice hoarse, his heart still broken)

"Kuch nahi, Kartik. Bas... kuch samajh nahi aa raha. Main apne dil ke saath kahan jaa raha hoon... Prachi ko samajhne ki koshish ki, lekin... woh mujhse door jaa rahi hai(Nothing, Kartik. It's just... I don't understand anything. I'm lost with my heart... I tried to understand Prachi, but... she's walking away from me.)"

Kartik steps in, placing a hand on Ranbir's shoulder. He knows how much this means to him.

Kartik: (gently)

"Chote, jo tum feel kar rahe ho, woh hum sab samajhte hain. Par tumhare liye yeh waqt mushkil hai, lekin tumhe apni feelings ko samajhna hoga. Prachi ko bhi apne dard ka samna karna hoga. Tum dono ko ek doosre se baat karni hogi, samajh hai(Little brother, what you're feeling, we all understand. But this is a tough time for you, and you'll need to understand your feelings. Prachi will also have to face her pain. You both need to talk to each other, got it?)"

Ranbir nods, but he doesn't feel ready to face Prachi yet. He needs to gather his thoughts.

As Ranbir sits alone in his room, holding the gift he gave to Prachi, the pain of rejection hits him hard. The lyrics of the song "Dil Mera Churaya Kyun" start playing in his mind, resonating deeply with his broken heart:

https://youtu.be/mSu5cz2GFts

Lyrics:

"Why did you break my heart

Why did we fall in love

Why did you go away, away, away, away"

As the music swells, Ranbir's eyes fill with tears. He thinks about all the moments he shared with Prachi, the laughter, the connection, the growing bond that was building between them.

"Dil mera churaya kyun

Jab yeh dil todna hi tha

(Why did you steal my heart

When you wanted to break my heart)

Ranbir (in his mind):

"Mujhe lagta tha ki hum dono ka rishta... sabse khaas hai. Par jab tum ne mujhse yeh kaha, toh sab kuch adhura sa laga(I thought our relationship... was the most special. But when you said this to me, everything felt incomplete...)"

Humse dil lagaya kyun

Humse mooh modna hi tha

(Why did you fall in love with me

When you wanted to turn away from me)

Meanwhile, back in Prachi's room, Namrata holds her tightly, trying to comfort her as the tears continue to fall. Prachi's heart aches for Ranbir, but the fear of Kunal keeps her from truly opening her heart. Namrata gently wipes away her tears.

Why did you break my heart

Why did we fall in love

Namrata: (quietly, but firmly)

"Jiji, tumhe apni zindagi ka faisla lena hoga. Tumhare dil ka dard samajh sakti hoon, lekin Kunal ko yeh sab sabse pehle khatam karna hoga(Sister, you have to make a decision about your life. I understand your pain, but Kunal needs to end all of this first.)"

Esha: We will get revenge! 😡

The room grows quieter, and the weight of the secrets remains heavy. The family doesn't know what Prachi is hiding, but they are all about to face an emotional journey they could never imagine.

Why did you go away, away, away, away