NIGHT

LUTHRA MANSION

Mahesh is in the front yard sipping wine when he hears a voice beside and sees Karan jogging towards him,

Karan: Aap yaha ho. Mein aap keliye pura ghar dhund raha tha.

Mahesh: Kyun?

Karan: Need your signature on Sharma's closing file.

He takes the file from Karan, signs and gives it back,

Karan: Thanks dad.

He is about to go but Mahesh stops him,

Mahesh: Arey kaha bhaag rahe ho? Thodi der spend karo mere saath.

Karan: Not now dad.Bahot kaam pending hei.

Mahesh: Aao chup chap.

Sighing, he keeps the file on easel and stands near him,

Mahesh: Small ya large?

He asks pouring himself a drink,

Karan: Dad aapko pata hein mein nai lunga.

Mahesh: Apna dad ka ek bhi aadat nai aaya thumhe.

He gives coke to Karan who chuckles,

Karan: Thank God.

Mahesh glares at him while Karan smirks and they begin strolling side by side,

Mahesh: Ha.Thank God for giving you a best father.

Karan: Best? Who?

Mahesh: Mein.

Karan laughs at his father's annoyed face,

Mahesh: Haslo haslo. Jab meri Bahu aayegi na tab bataunga mein.

And that abruptly stops the smile on his face while Mahesh realizes what he said.

Mahesh: I heard she joined as an intern today?

Karan just humms without looking at him. They walk around sipping their drinks as silence enveloped when Mahesh says something,

Mahesh: While you were in London Arun Sharma talked to us.

He glances at his father,

Mahesh: He proposed his daughter for you.

Karan is not surprised as somewhere he figured out his intentions in their talks but didn't expect him to approach his parents directly.

Karan(solely): Reject them dad.

Mahesh: Do you think I didn't?

That stops his steps and he surprisingly looks at his father who is smirking,

Mahesh: I know my son very well.

An understanding smile steals their lips as Mahesh takes him into a hug for a long minute,

Mahesh: Mein aur thumhari ma bahot miss kiya thumhe. (Coming out of it) Khabardar ab kahi aur chala gaya tho.

Karan: Don't worry. Even if I wanna go work won't let me.

His father chuckles,

Mahesh(soothingly): Zyada socho math. Sab theek hojayega!

Karan smiles gratefully at his moral support and Mahesh takes few steps from him but comes back,

Mahesh: By the way you got one trait from me.

Karan(curiously): What?

Mahesh: While I have my eyes only on your mom you have yours only on your wife.

Patting his cheek, he walks away leaving Karan dumbfounded.

Nahi jeena tere baaju
Nahi jeena, nahi jeena
Nahi jeena tere baaju
Nahi jeena, nahi jeena

His father's words unwantedly and involuntarily reminds him of today as he walks down to the pool and lies on the white chair looking at the dark sky remembering Her.He saw her after one whole month...... that too in his office as an intern.

Main tenu samjhawan ki
Na tere bina lagda jee

He completely forgot about her internship which he himself compiled.

A week before Rakhi, Varun called him asking whether Preetha could do internship in his company as he wanted to surprise her with that.Karan is more than happy to comply his wish and personally gave the letter to Varun who teased him to no ends as it was ready by the same day afternoon.

He even asked Preetha about Varun's gift to see the surprise look or an happy smile on her face but unexpected events took place during Rakhi which left him consoling her.

Tu ki jaane pyaar mera

Sighing, he turns on the pool chair and the empty chair beside him reminds him of her more.

While everyone visit the pool during day time, they always visit at night not to swim but just to talk and lay beside eachother.

The sight of the huge pool glistening in white lights and the path to it from the mansion located on the hill top is so mesmerizing that they used to forget all their stress.

Main karoon intezar tera
Tu dil tui-yon jaan meri

Caressing the now empty place where she used to sit while he laid down staring at his bright moon, his eyes droop.

Karan wakes up at the same place as yesterday night and gets ready for work. He is on his way to his floor with Ravi in tow when he sees her.

Main tenu samjhava ki
Na tere bina lagda jee
Tu ki jaane pyaar mera
Main karoon intezar tera
Tu dil tui yon jaan meri

Wearing a pink formal sheath dress covering till her knees with a clipped loose hair Preetha is ascending the glass steps, closely hugging a file with her both hands where the company ID is loosely tied to her left wrist. A slight smile steals his lips seeing her cautiously climbing the stairs, her gaze only on the floor and not on the person standing infront.

Main tenu samjhawa ki
Na tere bina lagda jee

Getting into senses,he composes himself and fastens his pace till he reaches his place.

He thought a lot about how to recieve her on the first day, how to burden her with work,how to scold her for silly things and then take her to Marine beach to pamper her. Wah!

But never ever thought there would come a day where he would walk away from her.

Mere dil ne chun laiyaa ne
Tere dil diyaan raahan

Completing his work, he is about to get inside his car when he sees Rishi picking up Preetha. Irritated, he slams the door shut and leaves.

Tu jo mere naal tu rehta
Turpe meriyaan saaha

He glances at the passenger seat in his car where she used to sit and sleep on his shoulder. To divert himself, he looks on the road where he sees roses. They remind him of the day when she brought roses for him. Not again!

Even in London he felt the same. The London bridge, Cathedral, Clock tower, Uni drives and even the hot chocolate stall has  her memories.

Shaking his head, he drives fast.

Jeena mera.. hoye

He is at a business party of one of their associates and is busy talking with the people when he felt something or particularly someone's presence.

Tightening his hold on the glass, he doesn't turn back but he knew who is that.

Hun hai tera, ki main karaan

Preetha doesn't want to attend but her father insisted so she is there with her full family. As her best friend joined them, she entered holding his arm after her parents when Sameer sees as he is facing her,

Sameer: Bhai!

Karan looks at him,

Sameer: Babhi!

He says showing through his eyes when his brothers reply shocks him,

Karan: Pata hein!

Sameer was surprised as how does he know without turning ?

Tu kar aitbaar mera

As Preetha nears them her glance lands on Sameer who gives her a slight smile and at that moment she knew who is before him. Although she is angry and doesn't want to think about him, her eyes stare at him longingly but he doesn't turn.

Meeting people around, she glances at him when her hopes are listened and eyes are brightened as Karan looks at her straight in the eyes.

Main karoon intezar tera

He holds her gaze for a long minute. His gaze held a deep craving as if conveying he is waiting for her.

Before she could comprehend he turns and walks away.

Tu dil tui-yon jaan meri
Main tenu samjhawan kee
Na tere bina lagda jee

Without meeting any other, he leaves the place with his brother all the while thinking about not her but them.

Karan: What are you doing Preetha?

Ve changa nahion keeta beeba
Ve changa nahion keeta beeba
Dil mera tod ke

Seeing him leaving the venue, Preetha gets sad and disappointed. She too leaves informing her sister and is in her car looking at the passing vehicles. Its been more than 1 month they talked to each other. Milan night was the last time they talked and that's it. Don't know how but they just stopped talking. Even in the office he is behaving like he doesn't know her. Really?

After her father's birthday, term exams were scheduled and she made herself busy to keep away his thoughts.

When they were called to choose an MNC for their internship her gang voted on another and they tried to convince her to join them but she didn't. Rishi pursuaded her but he knew her choice is her choice. It never depends on others or changes for others.

Ve bada pachhtaiyaan akhaan
Ve bada pachhtaiyaan akhaan
Naal tere jod ke

She clearly remembers how happy she felt when Varun gifted her the internship letter signed by Karan Luthra. Its the best Rakhi gift. She thought so much about how to spend their time, lunch calls, going to office together and slowly she thought to tell her friends about Karan.

But it all went down the hill and they are not at all trying to climb it back.

Tenu chadd ke kitthe jawan
Tu mera parchhanvaa

When she is on her way to cabin, her foot slips and is about to fall down but she balances herself. Still it pains so she sits down on a nearby chair massaging it when she sees Karan who walks away ignoring her. Is he there all the while and still didn't help her?

That pains her more than the foot as she reminds his words during trekking in Goa.

Thumhe dard mein dekhkar mujhe bhi dard hoti hein!

She rewinds how carefully he treated her ankle and brought her down.

As her foot settles, she too proceeds to her cabin dismissing the sadness unaware of the eyes staring at her.

Tere mukhde vich hi main taan

Rab nu apne pawaan

She is choosing a dress for office when she comes across her yellow anarkali which he liked the most..

You know my sweetheart is looking like a walking light.

Touching it, she remembers the incident in the college and chooses it to wear.

Meri duaa.. haaye

In the same dress, she is in the temple with duppatta on her head wishing about her life when she turns back to see Karan standing at the entrance.

Sajda tera kardi sadaa
Tu sun iqraar mera

She is shocked. Why not? Karan never stepped inside temple. He always had the logic " I have everything. What should I even wish?" And now seeing him she is stuck to her place. "What did he lack?"

Main karoon intezar tera
Tu dil tui-yon jaan meri

Karan dropped Sahana at temple and is about to leave when some words strikes him,

"Know that God will grant your wish only when you ask"

Dubiously, he enters inside and stands infront of God closing his eyes only to see certain someone. Involuntarily his heart wishes for that person who appears as soon as he opened his eyes.

They both are shocked seeing eachother in temple. Preetha looks at him with tiny drops forming in her eyes when she sees Sahana with Karan.

Remembering her harsh words and insults, she composes herself and moves past them while her tears moves past her eyes.

Main tainu samjhawan ki
Na tere bina lagda jee

Going into her room she cries thinking about them.

How come they are here? He is turning her back to him and ignoring her. Does he even consider her as his wife? Or is he having same opinion as his mother?

But she didn't do anything. She tried her level best to fulfill all the responsibilities. One problem....... and he ran off for London. He could have talked to her but no. Will he do the same in future also. Actually if they even have future?

She didn't know when the thoughts pulled her into sleep.

After two days it is Friday night and Karan is on his way back home.He halts at the red signal when he hears taps on the window and glances that side to see a boy.

He lowers the glass and that boy sprays something on his face making him unconscious.

And continues in next part.....

Ready for an action and twisty month?