RECAP: Everybody got to know that Preeta was being blackmailed. Some cute Preeran moments and introduction of Rihvani's kids. Finally Preeta told the truth; the reality of Prithvi Malhotra who was seeking revenge for the death of his sister Sherlyn, Rishabh's ex-secretary.

[If you guys forgot, re-read the last part of the previous chapter]

After a while, Preeta stopped crying and calmed down. Everyone got a grip of themselves since the story was not yet finished. Karan spoke up a question which was on his mind.

"You said you were leaving in one month without informing anyone? Then what changed? You left one week after graduation." He said, his voice void of any emotions but you could hear a tiny curiosity in it. Preeta looked at him.

"I was happy despite my fate that you guys were finally safe. I was mostly relieved for Karan since he wasn't in India. It was one of his really long out of county voyage. He got hurt while not being in India and it really worried me. So to know that no-one is behind you all put me at ease a bit. I let my guards down for a bit and this action bite me back.

When Karan came for my graduation as a surprise, I couldn't tell you how happy I was. I was thrilled, overjoyed. After weeks of stress about these accidents, my final exams, I could finally breath again some happiness. What more could I want? My best friend, my two families were all reunited to see us graduated from university. It was enough for me.

You all know all the youngsters went clubbing as celebration. After sometimes, Karan and I sneaked out to celebrate it our way. We went to eat ice-cream and then to the beach where we spent some hours drinking there. We pretty much wasted so we decided to spend the night at Luthra Villa since it was closer." Preeta controlled her blush which were on the verge to come, remembering what happened at the villa.

Karan was observing her keenly. Was she also recalling what happened there? That night they were so wasted that they ended up kissing. Then they both broke away and were pretty embarrassed about it. Did she remember what happened afterwards?

"So the next day... I-I received a call from him. Prithvi was so furious that I spent the night with Karan despite him forbidding me to spend the time with Karan. I asked him how did he know? Turned out that only for me, he had still kept someone to watch over me even though I asked him not to do so.

But the person he kept to follow me wasn't his men; it was his accomplice. They were working together. I didn't know what the accomplice had against us but he did reveal he had something against me alone. I don't know how he looked. He had a hoodie and his face was covered.

The person came to meet me that day. No-one was home. Prithvi told me that he'll be behind me to makes sure I won't back out..." Preeta couldn't keep on talking. It was becoming harder for her but she must do it.

"Back out from what?" Roo asked.

"As I told you, Prithvi was furious about what I did. Earlier his plan was to take me from there without informing anyone. But to punish me he changed his plan. He knew that I wouldn't be able to bear if you all, especially Ananya and Karan, hate me that's why he forced me to break my friendship with Karan." Karan let out a gasp.

Everything started to makes sense. He knew that his Preeta could never say these words but that day he was so hurt and angry that he couldn't understand what's right or wrong. He started feeling more guilty for all the words he said to her. All the insults, the bad words, he told her that he hated her. How could he had been so stupid.

"He told me to break Karan's heart and make him hate me. I refused but he told me to think about my family's life. He wouldn't hesitate to hurt you all again as he did before. I had no choice but to comply to his wish.

That night, it wasn't only Karan and I, his accomplice also was there but he was hiding in the shadows. To make sure I won't chicken out the last moment, he had directed his gun towards Karan. Where he stood, I could see him since he was behind Karan.

Karan didn't realise that he literally had a gun pointed towards him. I couldn't tell him too else the accomplice would not hesitate to shoot him. I was trapped. I needed to do this and I did it. I broke my best friend's heart along I broke mine also." Preeta and Karan both got lost again in that painful memory.

[If you want to read that moment again to understand it better, it is found on chapter 11]

"Then? What happened next?" Kareena asked.

"Then, I started packing my things. I still had two weeks left but Prithvi decided that I left one week before. He just told me to write a letter. He didn't want anyone to come to search for me. He knew if I requested some times alone, mom won't deny me. Everything was set up, I was to leave India and I left without informing anyone. 

He knew that London were too common, that's why he was in Manchester. He came to fetch me up and bring me to his house. I was basically locked in the house as a prisoner. I wasn't allow to go out for anything. He didn't let me work; he said that he was already working and his money was enough for both of us. I didn't know what to do; I cried myself to sleep everyday. I was missing all of you. I didn't have any contact with the outside world....

Prithvi told me he came to meet you all. He told me what he told you all; that I ran away with a rich guy and tried to tarnish my image. He rubbed it in my face; he told me how miserable you all were. I must admit; I was happy when he came back with bruised face and that Karan thrashed him. But Prithvi was proud of one thing; he finally throw himself and I from you all lives. He was sure that you all were not going to suspect him any longer for my disappearance. 

I was locked in his house for one month. I spent my time in my room or in the kitchen. I was forced to cook food for him. He wanted to marry after his business is well settled. But it started to fall so he was forced to let me work. I got a job at the hospital and I was paid well. But his business was no more doing well; losses were occurring. He became distressed; he drank up his sorrow with alcohol. That's when it started..." The flashbacks were becoming too much for Preeta. She could never escaped them; they were the cause of her panic-attacks. Preeta started taking deep breath to calm down her heartbeat. 

"You can stop if it's becoming too much for you." Shivani said with sympathy.

"No...I need to do this. For how long will I keep on running away? I need to face it." Preeta said determinedly. 

"It started with a slap...in his drunk state, he slapped me and then fell unconscious while I was still trying to understand what happened. It..It has left a mark on my face. I had to cover it with concealer. Prithvi apologised to me the next day. I didn't say anything. I thought it was only one time...How wrong I was..." Preeta whispered the last part but everyone heard it and gasped when they realised what she meant.

"Were-were you ab-abused?" Sarla said with a trembling voice. Preeta just look down, confirming her worst fear. The rest got shocked while Rishi, Shrishti and Shivani looked away in pain. Karan remembered the scars he saw on her bare back that day in the mall and how she panicked. 

"I was abused physically and emotionally. He came to his house very late at night drunk. Sometimes I'm already asleep, he would wake me up and beat me just because I didn't wait for him. I'm not supposed to eat without him. Everything rolled around his decision. I can't do anything without his permission. 

The only times I'm saved are when I'm working. But it was hard; I needed to go to the hospital as if everything was alright...as if I was not being abused by my blackmailer. I was just an intern; I wasn't a doctor yet. My superior could see I was tired and asked me to rest but I refused. My body were sore from receiving so much injuries. Sometimes he just slapped me. The worst were when he cut me with his broken beer bottle. I couldn't put on a fight; I was alone, away from my family. I didn't have any strength left. Everyday I pray for death; I just wanted to die. I couldn't bear it anymore."

"Did he..." Karan started but couldn't finish his sentence. Preeta understood what he wanted to ask.

"No, he didn't force himself upon me. He was old-fashioned; he wanted to marry first then he could claimed me as his. But we didn't marry but I was forced to behave as if I was his wife." Preeta wiped her tears.

Karan felt his heart clenching. He couldn't bear the sight of his babydoll crying. Never in his wildest dream did he ever thought that something like that happened to her. While he was here in India, cursing her for hurting him and his family, she was there in England fighting for her life. She sacrificed herself for them. It showed how selfless she was; the fact she thought of them before herself. Karan could feel the tears flowing but didn't make an effort to wipe them.

"I lost all hope. I accepted that I will spend the rest of my life like this; that I would rot in this hell with no-one saving me. But then, a miracle came in my life no no two miracles who saved my life." Preeta looked at Rishvani smilingly who gave her a smile back in return.

"My branch in Manchester had some problems. So I needed to come there. I didn't want to leave Shivani alone since she was 5 months pregnant and I didn't know how much times it would take. So I took her and Arav along with me. We have a house in Manchester so we settled there." Rishi continued.

"Coincidentally, I had a check up in the same hospital where Preeta worked. We bumped into each other. To say I was shocked when I saw her is an understatement; she was not looking like the Preeta I know. She had lost weight, her eyes didn't have the spark, she was so fragile that I was scared she might broke any moment. While we were catching up, she fainted in my arms. I cried for help and they admitted her. I called Rishi while the doctor was examining her. When Rishi got there, the doctor told us his doubts that Preeta was being abused since they found the scars and the injuries." Shivani said.

"When Rishi and Shivani barged in my room, demanding what was happening, I was forced to tell the truth. From the beginning to where I was then. Rishi was so angry and wanted to kill Prithvi but Shivani calmed him down. We needed a plan to throw Prithvi in jail. 

We started to meet secretly to gather proof. Prithvi didn't suspect of anything since he thought I didn't have any friends in Manchester. He didn't know Rishi and Shivani, so we used it as an advantage. Rishi proposed a deal to him because we suspected that his business was illegal. 

I was tasked to gather proof in his house and Rishi in his office. We had taken some photos of my body to prove that I was abused. We installed secret cameras also in his house so that Rishi cold keep an eye on me to make sure Prithvi isn't hurting me much.

We had gather enough evidences and presented it to the police. Prithvi was arrested. Then started the court dramas. Everything was in our favour but he managed to turn in his favour for a moment. Prithvi had forced me to sign a blank page the first day I came in Manchester. He knew a person who could make official documents looked so true that no-one could tell if it's true or fake. 

He claimed that we were married for the last one year despite being in Manchester for only 3 months. He claimed that I was having an affair with Rishi and that these injuries were given by him. He submitted morphed photographs of me and Rishi. For a while all evidences were against me. 

But we managed to prove that the photograph were morphed. With the evidence of his business doing illegal transaction plus my photos and a video which clearly could be seen that he was beating me, we won the case and Prithvi was awarded with 10 years of imprisonment." Preeta said with a smile, remembering how relieved she felt to be finally free from him.

"By then Shivani was 7 months pregnant. I wanted to go back to London so that Preeta could start afresh but both refused. Travelling in this state wasn't a good idea and I was still having some problems in my office. So we decided to stay there until Shivani's delivery. Preeta started living with us and Arav loves her so much. She took care of Shivani despite the latter was a doctor herself." Rishi said. 

"I wanted to complete my internship. I could have continue it in London but I prefer to finish it there. Life was going back to normal but it wasn't the same. I had regular panic attacks and nightmare. I nearly slipped in depression if it wasn't for these two who helped me cope with everything. Then after the birth of KV, we went back to London where I joined the same hospital where Shivani was working and worked again as an intern before finally becoming a physiotherapist. 

That's it; the truth of my life. The reason why I left you all." Preeta concluded with a faint smile.

Preeta agreed she had faced the worst; those times were very dark for her. She didn't know if she would have ever seen the light again. But these incidents had make her grown as an individual. She became stronger and more confident. Every night she looked at her scars which reminded her that she had faced the worst. The small insignificant daily problems are nothing compared to what she had gone through. Those thoughts were what motivated her to push forward. She was a fighter; a survivor of wrong doings and she was proud. 

"But why didn't you came back then? Why did you choose to remain in London?" Ananya asked in a hurt voice. Preeta smiled sadly at her.

"I don't know. Maybe the guilt that I didn't listen to my best-friend despite him warning me several times? The guilt that because of me, you lost your child. The guilt that I put our family in danger. Some fear that if the accomplice got to know about Prithvi's arrest, he would hurt you all? The shame of facing you all after putting you all through sadness and trauma. Many things... I did what I felt was right at that time and I felt that staying away from you all was the best decision. I thought that you all will eventually stop from worrying about me and move on. I don't know, it was a stupid decision." Preeta chuckled lightly. Everyone looked at her sadly.

"Then why did you decide to come back now?" Sarla questioned. Preeta, Shrishti, Shivani and Rishi shared a look.

"One day while working, I received a bouquet of flowers. No name mentioned but there was a message. 'I'm back Baby, miss me?' Immediately, I realised that Prithvi was back. I didn't understand how he was out of prison. He still had 5 more years to serve. I contacted Rishi. We fear that he would take revenge on me and he would do that by harming those who are precious to me that is my family. 

It was a rushed decision. I don't know if, during these 5 years, he had put people to follow me and you. I just knew I needed to come back because I was 100% sure he would hurt you all. I accepted the offer of becoming physiotherapist here so that I could keep an eye on you all.

The first person I contacted was Shrishti. She already knew the entire truth from Shivani so we made a plan. I knew Sameer won't question her so I asked her to tell Sameer to install cctv camera. I'm sorry I did that without your knowledge." Preeta quickly apologised seeing Luthras' shocked face.  

"Uh no no it's okay..." Rishabh replied unsure himself. Should he be relieved or afraid that cctv camera was installed without his knowledge?

"So yeah where was I? Ohh yes. I really don't know why I did not tell you the truth at first. Maybe I was scared that you guys will take me as a selfish person that came back only to protect you all from evil? I was scared also that you guys won't believe me since I broke your hearts by disappearing from your lives without a trace. That's why I prefer to make peace before telling the real reason.

It was tough to be honest. Karan and Ananya were the hardest to win over again. Moreover, I continued to get these threatening message which would remind me that I don't have enough time. But I strove through it and I succeeded in reconciling with most of you all.

My only mistake I made was to put down my guards. We were all so happy and excited for the upcoming ceremonies that I forgot the danger that was looming over us. I'm so sorry because of me the sangeet function was ruined. Sameer, Shrishti, I'm sorry." Preeta brought her hands together and apologised. Sameer and Shrishti nodded in no.

"Don't be sorry, It was not your fault. It's not the time to play the blame game. Now, we need to find out how that happened? Who cut the rope? Do you think Prithvi managed to sneak in to cut it?" Sameer questioned.

"No, Prithvi is smarter than this. I think he must have paid someone to do this job," Rishi said and at the same time his phone pinged, "Nice, I got the cctv footage. We can check who did it." 

Sameer connected his phone to a laptop and everyone watched the screen. A man in a waiter uniform was seen cutting the rope. The Luthra brothers furrowed their brows.

"This man? He is not part of our personals." Rishabh spoke up.

"Which means he is one of Prithvi's men. Of course, he knew the workers of Luthra Family are too loyal to betray them." Preeta said in a serious voice and turned towards Rishi.

"Tighten the security around the Luthra family and mine and called for more bodyguards. No-one should travel without a bodyguard. For you also Rishi, I don't want Prithvi to harm you two and the children." Preeta shared a look with Rishvani who nodded and the trio left the room. The rest watched them confusedly. 

No-one had the strength to talk about what they discovered so they retreated to their rooms. Karan needed some times to gather his thought so he left to his usual spot. Ananya also left for the terrace and asked for not to be disturbed. 

In the garden, Preeta and Rishi were arguing with each other.

"He deserves to know the truth! The more you delay the more difficult it will be to reveal and the more hurt he will be. It's his right to know! You and I both know I'm right." Rishi exclaimed.

"I'm not saying the opposite but I need some more time. I admit our relation has greatly improved but it's still weak. He will be so angry at me. He will hate me more. Please Rishi don't force me. I promised after we solved this Prithvi problem, I will tell him." Preeta pleaded.

"As a best-friend, I will support you but don't come crying to me when he discovered the truth from somewhere else than you. Don't say I didn't warn you." Rishi stormed out of the garden. Shivani placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Give him some time. You know it's for your own well-being he is saying all this. He loves you very much. You are like his sister. He didn't mean it in a wrong way." Shivani said in a gentle voice. Preeta didn't say anything and hugged her instead.

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Ananya was staring at the sky, a hand placed on her belly but her eyes were not giving any indications of her emotions. Preeta, who was bringing her food since she skipped her lunch, felt guilty for putting her in such condition. She knows that her sister was blaming and cursing herself for what happened to her. 

"Di ?" Preeta said in a cautious voice. Ananya jerked from her thoughts and wiped her dry tears.

"Pi-" No, she lost the right to call her that. She cleared her throat and continued, "Preeta, come." Ananya turned her gaze back to the sky while Preeta sat next to her, placing the food on the table.

"How are you?" Preeta said awkwardly. For the first time, the sisters don't have anything to say making the atmosphere awkward and uncomfortable.

'Oh god, the atmosphere when di was not talking to me was better than that.' Preeta thought.

"I should be the one asking that. After all you got hurt trying to save me." Ananya said looking at her but then turned her face. How can she looked at her after what she did to her?

All the words, the insults, the curses, everuthing she said against her little sister came to her. What a bitch she was! She was so engrossed in her pain that she converted into anger and hatred that she refused to listen to the rational part of her mind and heart. Her heart told her that her pihu was innocent, that she must had a big reason behind this but the evil side of her took control and poisoned her mind against Preeta. 

She remembered how she tried to turn her own family members against Preeta. Mostly Karan. It's not a secret that Ananya considered Karan as her child. She had seen how broken he was after Preeta's departure. She knew that Karan loved Preeta wholeheartedly. She was his life, his reason to live. After she left, Karan was just a walking body. He tried to behave normally but everyone could see that he had no soul and chose to ignore it. That's why she hated Preeta even more.

But now, knowing the entire truth, she realised how selfish she was. She thought about herself and her family that she never tried to make an effort to think about Preeta, in what condition she was, what push her to take such a step. She failed as an elder sister. She might have been a good wife, daughter-in-law, mother, daughter but she failed as a sister which mean she failed everything. What kind of daughter and daughter-in-law tried to turn her mother and in-laws against her own sister? What kind of mother she is to not even tell her son about his aunt? She failed all her relations. 

Preeta heard sobs and realised that Ananya was crying. Preeta felt her heart clenching in pain seeing her elder sister blaming herself. Preeta didn't have the heart to comfort her as she knew Ananya wouldn't accept it nor herself. She felt ashamed to admit that she felt good to see her sister guilty of her actions but the goodness in her reprimanded her. This was really not the time for this. Which counted is that Ananya has realised her mistakes and is repenting for them even though it hurts to see her like this. 

"Di? Please don't cry. Please don't blame yourself." Preeta said placing her hand on her shoulder.

"How? How can I do that? Do you even realise what I did to you? Preeta, I considered you dead! It's not a small thing. Here I was cursing you and you there was getting beaten. My curse could have been true. You could have been really dead and you are telling me to not blame myself. 

I tried to turn everyone against you. I tried to poison Karan's mind against you. Do you know what atrocity I commit these last 5 years. I blamed you for the heart attack of mom even though I know her heart was already weak and it's not the first time she suffered one. I blamed you for all the misfortune we passed through not knowing that you literally sacrificed yourself for us. I literally didn't tell my son about you. He got to know you as Dr Pretty instead of maasi. 

I'm the root of this problem. If Rishabh didn't meet me and fall in love with me, Sherlyn wouldn't have commit suicide and her brother wouldn't be behind you. I'm the reason of all misfortune of this family. I'm a bad daughter, sister, wife, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, mother. I'm just bad." Ananya cried miserably. Preeta also got tears in her eyes. 

"Ananya-di please don't blame yourself. I should have told you all of the situation. I shouldn't have tried to deal it myself. I'm the one who brought Prithvi in our lives just to make Karan jealous....I'm sorry." Ananya nodded in no.

"Don't be. I'm the one who should say sorry. I'm so sorry for not being there for you during your darkest time. I'm sorry for ignoring you. I'm sorry for saying these cruel words to you. I'm sorry for behaving as a stranger. I'm sorry for your miseries. I'm sorry for not being your elder sister. I'm sorry for all." Both sisters hugged each other and that's how they spent the rest of the afternoon. 

By pouring out their feelings that they have hidden during these 5 years. Preeta fed Ananya just like how the latter used to do. They were recalling their childhood, teenage years, their lives when they met the Luthras and their lives during these 5 years. By the end of the day, both hearts were lighter than usual and their relation were stronger than before. Talking about what happened during these 5 years of separation don't hurt anymore because they accepted it as a nightmare. It was finally the time to move on and left behind them the pain of the past to build a joyous future. 

That's how the youngsters found them when they went to call them for dinner; Preeta laying her head in Ananya's lap while talking to her baby bump while Ananya was caressing her hair gently. Both of them having that smile which say that they have reunited after painful years and aren't planning to get separated once again.

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"Hi!" Preeta exclaimed, sitting in front of Karan. 

"What are you doing here?" Karan said rather coldly. Preeta ignored his attitude and smiled.

"Why? Can't I come here?" Preeta teased.

"You know I didn't mean it like that. Why are you even talking to me as if everything was normal?" Karan said confusedly.

"How should I talk to you then?"

"Preeta, stop behaving so nice. You are kind of rubbing salt on my wounds with your goodness. You are supposed to be angry. After what I did to you, how I behaved with you, every bitter words I said to you, you aren't suppose to talk to me." Karan turned his face away from her.

"Did you and Ananya-di practiced what to tell me because your words are similar to her?" Karan narrowed his eyes at her.

"Preeta, I'm not joking." Preeta sighed and dropped her cheerful attitude.

"Okay, let's be serious. How are you feeling really?" Preeta asked.

"Dead." Karan said with a deadpanned expression. Preeta glared at him, "Dumbo, how am I suppose to feel when I learnt what you passed through? I feel as a failure. I failed to understand my best-friend." Karan let out an aggravated sigh. He rubbed his face in frustation.

"Preeta leave me alone. I don't want to talk right now." Preeta ignored the hurt she felt and came closer to Karan. The latter avoided her eyes.

"Karan, look at me," Karan refused but Preeta held his face in her hands, making him looked at her, "Stop blaming yourself for what happened to me. It was my own fault. I should have listen to you when you told me Prithvi is not a good guy."

"But I shouldn't have said these words to you. I hurt you badly that day. In anger, I don't know what I said. I just know that I must hurt you just like you hurt me. I'm so bad...I feel satisfaction when I saw your broken expression. I broke you and you are telling me stop blaming myself?

Preeta do you realise you were abused? Because of me. We shouldn't have gone to Luthra villa that night. Because of me, you were forced to leave earlier. Because of me, you were forced to break my heart since I was in danger. I'm the cause of your miseries. 

I had promised you to always be with you, stand by your side. Karan Luthra won't let any harm to come in your way but see, I failed. You were hurting right under my nose and I freaking didn't know. I failed as a best-friend." 

"No don't say this. You didn't fail. You are The Karan Luthra, a superstar and the jaan of your family. You are my bajarbattu, the person who was always by my side, my protector. You were always gentle with me, bear my tantrums. You threatened to kill anyone who make me cry-"

"And I was the cause of your tears. Don't lie to me; during these past 5 years, how many times have you shed your tears over me? I promised to never let tears come to your eyes because it hurt me to see you crying but I also fail this. I was the freaking reason of your tears." Preeta shook her head but Karan ignored it. 

"I'm a bad person. Who curse their best-friend only because they hurt you. My ego and anger was so strong that I refused to listen to my heart who was pleading your innocence. What did I say? 'You were the biggest mistake of my life' that's false. I'm the biggest mistake of your life. You should regret being friends with me. I don't deserve you. I-" Karan stopped when he felt a burning sensation on his cheek. Preeta was glaring at him, her face red with fury but tears present in her eyes. 

"Get up!" Preeta ordered, getting up herself. Karan got up and stumbled when Preeta grabbed his collar and brought him closer to her.

"Now listen well Mr Karan Luthra. You don't have a say in my life and especially about you. Open your ears well, you are not a mistake in my life. You are my greatest blessing. If I chose you as my friend that's mean you are special because Preeta Arora doesn't make friends easily." Karan let out a small chuckle.

"Are you seriously praising yourself in a middle of a serious conversation." Preeta shrugged.

"Kya karu, adat se majboor," Both chuckled, "But I'm serious tho. Karan, don't ever doubt yourself. You mean the world to me. You are so important that I can't imagine my future without you in it. You don't know what you really mean in my life."

"But I don't deserve it. I don't deserve all this. I hurt you Preeta. I wasn't with you. I didn't listen to you. Rather I left you alone that night, ignoring your tears and shouts. I said I hated you. How could I utter these dreadful words. 

You said you will work for my trust again but I don't feel it is necessary. You were blackmailed to leave me. Technically you didn't break any trust. You had a good intention behind it. I should be the one who must be working for your forgiveness right now." Karan felt to his knees and joined his hand together in front of Preeta. By now, he was crying badly.

"Karan, what are you doing? Get up!" Preeta tried to make him stand but Karan stood his ground.

"I know saying sorry won't change anything but still I'm sorry. I-I'm s-s-sor-r-y. I'm so sorry. Sorry for breaking your heart. Sorry for cursing you. Sorry for behaving as a jerk. Sorry for just thinking about me and my pain and ignored yours. Sorry because of me you were abused. Sorry for everything. I'm sorry." Preeta also burst into tears and launched herself in Karan's arms. 

"Stop apologising. It hurts me seeing you crying miserably. Karan shup." Preeta said rubbing his back but Karan continued to sob. Preeta broke their hug and wiped his tears and hers. She placed a tender kiss on his forehead before joining hers with his. Karan placed his hands on hers which were still on his face.

"Now stop apologising. Let bygones be bygones. We can't change the past but we have the power to change the future. Sitting here, crying over our past won't change anything. We make mistakes and it's alright. We are human after all, we are no gods. 

We have realised our mistakes and this is what mattered. Our mistakes will make us grow as an individuals. We were still young when all of this happened. I forgot that till my family is there with me, no-one have the power to hurt them. I had you also and I should have told you. I shouldn't have tried to deal it myself and I learn from it. 

We are mature now and we will tackle this problem together as mature adults. No more tears and this blame game. Are you with me? Will you stand by my side once again? For our family?" Karan nodded.

"Yes. I will always be with you. Together we will overcome this situation. You are no longer alone. It's become our fight. Let's fight for our family." Preeta let out a bright smile at Karan's words and hugged him again.  

After a while, Karan is shown sitting on the ground while leaning against the bridge. Preeta sat between his legs and rested her back against his chest. Both of them were calmed after their emotional interaction. Preeta was playing with on his hand while the other hand was wrapped around her waist. Both of them could finally enjoyed the nature without any feeling of anger or awkwardness. They were finally back as Bajarbattu and Babydoll. 

Just like with Ananya, Preeta and Karan discussed their lives within these 5 years. Karan narrated mostly his cricket matches and Arhaan. Sometimes he would open up about his feelings and she also. Preeta also told him about her life in London and how Rishvani's children mean the world to her; they were her rays of sunshine in her dark world.  

"I swear when we catch this dadi wala bakre, I won't leave him alive. How dare he to raise his hands on you. I will thrash him so good that it will be difficult to recognise him later on." Karan exclaimed in anger. Preeta bit back a smile and rubbed his hand in comfort. It got quiet again before Karan spoke up.

"Babydoll," Preeta hummed in response, "I need a promise from you. Promise me that you will no longer hide anything from me again, that you will always tell me the truth. I don't want to lose you again. If you leave once again, I don't know how will I live. I will be broken beyond repair. Please promise that you won't leave again and won't hide anything from me." Preeta could hear the desperation in his voice. 

Preeta remained quiet; now is a great time to reveal another truth which might destroy their relation but Preeta couldn't find it in her to utter these words. She was scared of his reaction. She doesn't know what to do. She was in a dilemma. 

'Say it Preeta and let it be over for once. He might understand you and won't be angry at you.' The reasonable part of her said.

'No don't tell him now. He had gone through enough trauma today. He won't be able to handle himself. He will refuse to see your face. Wait for some more times.' Another part of her said. 

"Babydoll?" Karan shook her and Preeta came back to her senses.

"Huh? I-I'm sorry, what were you saying?" 

"I was saying promise me that you won't hide anything from me and won't leave me again. Do you promise?" Karan turned her towards him and forwarded his hand. Preeta looked at his hand then at his face who was full of hope.

'No I can't break his hope. I will tell him some other day.' Preeta thought.

She hesitantly placed her hand over his, sealing the promise. Karan smiled and kissed her forehead. Preeta closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his lips on her forehead and wished that she could always remain like that. 

That's how they spend the rest of their night, in each other's arms, their personal heaven and it's theirs only. They finally got reunited and until nothing can defeat them since they have each other. 

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6300+ words excluding recap and author's notes.
Sorry again for a late update, getting too busy with school and other stuff.

Finally the entire truth is out! Do tell me if you guys were expecting something like this or did I manage to surprise you all.

Try to guess what the other secret Preeta is hiding from Karan and what should she really do.

What about the emotional patch up of Aroras' sisters and Preeran moment.

Don't forget to vote and leave your reviews.

See you guys soon and thank you for your love and support towards this book. Love you all ❤️

23/07/2021