Continuing from the flashback...

"YOU!" Both Preeta and Karan shouted when they both saw each other.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!"

"I ASKED FIRST!"

"STOP COPYING ME"

Both said at the same time. Karan closed his eyes in frustration and looked up as if asking God why did He sent this girl in front of him again.

"Listen girl, I won't repeat myself again. So I advice you to tell me calmly what are you doing here." Karan said, trying to keep his anger at bay.

He didn't like this girl; someting about her makes him irritated or it's just that this girl hurt his ego earlier and he's still not accepting that a girl like her has talked to him in this tone. Did she really didn't know who he is?

"Oh boy! Are you in your right state of mind? You're standing in front of MY house and you dared to ask me what am I doing here? I should be the one to ask you that!" Preeta said irritatedly, emphasizing on 'my'

Karan was going to retort back when he stopped after he processed her words. Wait a minute! Did she said 'my'.

"Your house? As in you're the owner of this house?" Karan said confusedly. His mind is working at a small pace since all his rational thoughts are out of the window since he saw Preeta again.

"Are you stupid? Yes my house. I lived here with my mother and sister. Now tell me why are you here?"

Karan's eyes widen in shock. His mind has finally processed what was happening and shock was a small word to describe what was he feeling.

"This means that she is Ananya bhabhi's younger sister." Karan said to himself.

He remembered that Ananya has mentioned once that she has a younger sister but the latter was studying in Delhi and was living with their maternal uncle. He didn't know that her sister was back nor did he expected that her sister would turn out to be that stupid girl he met today at the University.

Unknown to Karan, Preera heard him and was confused. How did he know her sister and why did he referred her as 'Ananya bhabhi'? Then Preeta remembered that she opened the door for her jiju's brother. If Karan was standing in front of her door that's mean...? Preeta was the one who is stunned now. If Rishabh is his brother, this mean that they are going to be relatives?

It seemed both if them had the same thought because they both shouted a very loud 'NO', which even scared the birds as a flock of them flew away, while the two stared at each other in horror.

Inside the elders jumped when they heard the shout. They realised that neither Preeta nor Karan were back and this shout was probably from them. Sameer was sweating from inside. God knows why they shouted so loudly.

"Sameer, go and see what is happening. Why is your brother shouting so loudly." Mahesh said and Sameer nodded, praying that both of them aren't dead already.

"Karan bhai please don't fight with her. Just calm down and don't do anything that might break Rishabh baiyya's alliance." Sameer pleaded to Karan when he came to them.

"Tell that to her. Did you know she is Ananya's younger sister?" Karan asked curiously. By then, Preeta went already. She went back inside when she saw Sameer coming.

"No. I just saw her when she came down with Ananya bhabhi. Trust me, I nearly died of suffocation when I saw her. But it was too late to warn you; you've already rang the bell."

"And she couldn't answer it as a normal person. She literally asked me what I was doing here in a tone that suggested that I stalked her. Never in my life would I stalk that girl. She isn't worth it." Karan mumbled

"Whatever but don't say this in front of Ananya bhabhi. She really loves her sister; her sister is her life." Sameer said.

Sameer was the more sensitive of all brothers. He could tell what a person was feeling just one look at his eyes; he was an eye reader. He would observe silently and got his answer. He could see how much Ananya loves Preeta. That's why he was warning Karan because he knew that Ananya would take Preeta's part and would even break his relationship with Rishabh for her family and he didn't want that neither do Karan.

"Fine but only for Rishabh bhai's sake. But I swear if she irritates me, I will give her a taste of her own medicine," Karan said determinedly, "let's go inside. Mom must be waiting for us." he added.

Sameer watched him go away and face-palmed himself. He knew that they wouldn't last a journey before they start fighting again. But as we said: there is a thin line between hate and love. Sameer has seen the same fire in both eyes. They both, even though they were completely different, they do have something in common and that is their love for their family. Sameer wouldn't be surprised if they ended getting along during the wedding preparations or if they ever fall in love. He bet that at the end of the University, they would be dating and will be madly in love with each other.

Sameer shook his head at his own stupid thoughts. If Karan heard them, he would beat him to pulp. Sameer followed Karan and went back inside.

Sameer was brought back from his memory lane and smiled sarcastically. Look at the play of fate; they were and are still madly in love with each other as he has predicted 9 years ago but they aren't together. He knew that Preeta loves his brother. Maybe more than Karan could ever loves her. But he still didn't know why Preeta took such a big step; he didn't know why Preeta broke his brother's heart but he was sure that the reason behind it must be big, so big that she couldn't told Karan and prefer to have him hating her than putting him in danger.

Sameer didn't know why he was thinking about this today but something is telling him that their destiny will be changed soon. He's feeling as if all their miseries will be gone very soon. He just needed to keep on hoping.

At XYZ Cafe

Preeta was feeling very nervous about this meeting. After five years she is meeting her best friend; her partner in crime and sister from another mother. The person who always had her back in any situations. The one who never back out of a fight nor a challenge. Her soul sister, her Shristi.

Preeta was looking anxiously at the door then her watch. It's already quater past three and Shristi was still not here. Preeta felt her hope slipping away. What if Shristi didn't take the message seriously and thought that it was fake? Maybe she should have mention it was her in the text. Preeta was getting ready to go, already feeling disheartened when the bell of the Cafe rang. Preeta looked at the door only to feel the tears coming to her eyes. Shristi was finally here!

Shristi, on the other hand, was looking for her mysterious person when she felt a strong gaze on her. Her eyes meet the person who was staring at her and she stumbled back. She could never forget these eyes; these brown eyes that always look at her with care, love, concern whenever she got hurt or the fake anger and irritation whenever she pulled a prank or did some mischief.

Shristi took a small step forward and Preeta did the same. Finally both reached each other and they just stood there, staring at each other.

"Shristi..."Preeta said and the next second, she was pulled in a tight hug.

Shristi embraced Preeta tightly, not believing that she was really there. But when she felt Preeta's eyes on her shirt, she knew she wasn't dreaming and she herself burst into tears. She didn't care that they were in a Cafe or that the other customers was looking at them strangely. All that matters was that her Preeta is here now after five freaking long years and she wasn't planning of letting Preeta go again. Finally their lives are changing and it's at last back in the right direction.

"Preeta. You are really here? Where were you yaar for all these years. Do you know how much I miss you. You didn't even contact me even though you promised to do so. Shivani-di was the one who inform me of your wellbeing. Do you known at home how much does everyone miss you? I'm so happy that you are back." Preeta chuckled at Shristi's excitation and broke the hug.

"Let's sit down. What would you like to have?" Preeta asked after they settled down.

"A coffee please and cookies just like the old days." Preeta smiled brightly and signaled the waiter to take their orders. After the waiter left, the atmosphere suddenly turned tense.

"Why did you decide to come back? Is everything alright?" Shristi knew that Preeta wouldn't come back to India for nothing. Something must have happened for her to come back on such short notice because she talked to Shivani some days ago and she knew Preeta was with her. So how come she is now in India? 

"Shristi... What we were fearing is happening." Preeta said gravely and Shriti blanked. Her heart stopped beating for a moment. Fear was creeping on her but she took a deep breath to calm herself down.

"You don't mean that he....." She couldn't finish her sentence nor did she want to finish it since Preeta already nodded. The waiter served them their coffee and food and left from there. Preeta took a sip and felt instant relief for headache. She was still jet-lagged; she just wanted to go back to her hotel and rest but the matter was so serious that it couldn't wait.

"Have you already inform Karan sir about it?"Shristi realised she made a big blunder when she saw pain in her best friend's eyes. How foolish of her? Of course she didn't tell him nor did she think she will told him. Preeta looked down and Shristi sighed. 

"How is he?" Preeta ask desparately.

Shristi freezed. Should she say the truth or just lied to her face. But seeing her face, already crumbled and in pain but with a small hope, Shristi counldn't lie.

"Honestly? He is not fine. For five long years, he put up a brave face and make his family think that your departure did not affect him. He succeeded in fooling everyone except Sameer and me. He is hurting; he misses you very much. Every year on that day he left you, he would go back there and get so drunk that Sameer have to pick him up and sneak him back into Luthra house without anyone's knowledge. He is devastated Preeta. You guys could fool the entire world but not yourselves; you and I know how much he loves you and you also love him as a mad. I don't understand why are you guys refusing to accept it!" Shristi blurted the truth and Preeta closed her eyes to stop her tears from flowing.

"You know this is not easy for me Shristi. Sometimes people who are meant to be together aren't together because God has other plans for them. Karan and mine relation is like that. You know that everything I'm doing is for his own betterment. I will meet him and ask for his help but I won't be able to tell him the entire truth some other day. Let me settle down and think for some days but Shristi, I will need your help." Shristi was going to protest but decide against it. She just nodded and started discussing the plan.

"I will call you later and we shall start putting it in action." Preeta said when they were leaving the cafe two hours later. Shristi nodded and turned to go but stopped hearing Preeta's voice.

"Shristi, please don't tell anyone I'm back to Mumbai. I will visit them myself. I just hope they will forgive me and understand my helplessness." Shristi hugged her and promised her.

Preeta was back in the hotel and called Shivani and Rishi and told them about her meeting with Shristi. Despite being tired and it was nearly 10p.m, Preeta couldn't sleep. She tossed again and again but in vain. Being fed up, she changed her clothes and went out for a walk.

Preeta was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice where she was going. Next thing she knew was that she had her eyes closed and was ready to touch the ground. But she felt arms wrapped themselves around her waist and she gasped as she recognised this touch, these feelings and this current which passed through both of them. Her doubt was confirmed when she opened her eyes and found herself in the arms of the one person she wanted but, at the same time, dreaded the most to meet...

Karan as in The Karan Luthra...

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Exactly 2222 words. The longest chapter I have written till now and it's only the third chapter.

I know I promised to update Sunday but I was so busy that I didn't have time to write. I was planning to update yesterday but it wasn't completed so as an apology, I wrote a longer chapter than usual.

Well I wasn't planning to put Karan and Preeta meet up again in this chapter but what to do, my mind had other ideas :)

Well I hope you like this chapter and comment down your thoughts in it. Don't forget to vote :)

A big thank you to all of you. This book have reached above 400 reads in less than a week with some chapter reaching above 100 reads. I'm so happy so thank you very much. Please continue to support me like this.

Happy belated Woman's day. I believe that women's day must be celebrated everyday because we are special. So happy woman's day to all of us. We are stronger that we are and we are special in our own way.❤️

Thank you again and I will see you soon and will try to update at the soonest I can.

09/03/2021