At the kitchen of the hotel, Kayzad follows Nitya in order to persuade her,

"Nitya tum usse ek baar baat karke to dekho. Wo ab wo Vikram nahi raha!",

his brows knit together in frustration.

"Kayzad please mujhe iss baare mein koi baat nahi karni. Vikram kaisa tha; kaisa hai; aur kaisa rahega, main achi tarah jaanti hoon.",

says Nitya, strictly, her head bowed and eyes rolled up, staring Kayzad strictly.

Shaking his head a little, looking away briefly, then looking back towards Nitya, he says,

"Dekho Nitya mujhe nahi pata tum dono ke beech kya problem hai, all I know is ke Vikram tumse bohot pyar karta hai."

Nitya knits her brows and asks him,

"Acha? Aur ye baat tumse kab kahi usne?"

Kayzad stares her dumbstruck.

"Kuch din hue nahi tum dono ko miley hue aur tum Vikram ko pehchan chukey?",

she chukles, sarcastically.

She turns away and says,

"Please Kayzad better hoga ke tum inn sub chakkaron mein na parho.",

whilst resuming with her work at the kitchen counter.

"Par Nitya....",

Kayzad gets cut short by Tanvi, who comes in between the two of them, staring Kayzad seriously, her lower arm folded up against her upper arm, and her left arm resting under her right elbow and in her right hand is a spatula which is resting against her right shoulder. Her neck tilted leftwards.

"Tum Nitya aur Vikram ke beech mein mat parho warna...",

warns Tanvi.

"Arey aise kaise beech mein na parhun? Mera dost raat-raat bhar sota nahi hai, majnu bann gaya hai tumhare pyar mein aur tum kehti ho ke main inn sub chakkaron mein na parhun?",

shouts Kayzad.

That comes as a shock for Nitya and Tanvi. Tanvi slowly looks towards Nitya to gauge her reaction.

"Tu...m.. jhoot keh rahe ho na?",

asks Nitya, doubtful.

Kayzad looks away briefly in frustration before turning back to look towards Nitya.

"Jis raftaar se uski sharab ki botalein khatam ho rahi hain na, mujhe darr hai ke kahin usey hospital na admit karna parh jaye.",

says Kayzad.

Nitya and Tanvi stare him in utter shock.

"Magar... magar wo to restaurant mein bilkul normal lagta hai!",

says Nitya, anxious about Vikram's well being.

"Tumhare liye uska pyar usey nashe mein daalta bhi hai aur uska nasha utarta bhi hai!",

says Kayzad.

Nitya and Tanvi widen their eyes, respectively.

"Tumse milne ki bekarari pichle raat ka saara nasha utar deti hai uska!",

he says.

Nitya gets tensed and wonders!

"Agar usey koi ab sharab mein doobne se rok sakta hai to wo sirf tum ho Nitya, sirf tum!",

says Kayzad, pointing his index finger towards her.

Nitya stares him, shocked.

Tanvi too wonders!

●●●●●

"What?!",

exclaims Vikram, turning to look towards Kayzad.

"Tu pagal ho gaya hai? Ye tu ne kya kiya?",

asks Vikram, walking towards Kayzad, who is sitting in front of him in his cabin.

"Mere dimag mein jo aaya maine keh diya.",

says Kayzad, coolly.

"Abey tu ek baar soch to leta ke tu keh kya raha hai! Tu jaanta hai main drink limit mein leta hoon. Ab uske saamne sharaabi banne ka natak kaise karunga?",

asks Vikram, shocked.

"Hi guys, kya ho raha hai?",

enters Manira in his cabin.

Kayzad and Vikram turn to look towards Manira, Vikram's brows still creased.

"Hi Manira.",

greets Vikram, his spirit low.

Taking her seat next to Kayzad, crossing her legs, Manira asks,

"Kya hua tum dono ke muh kyun utre hue hain? All good na?"

Vikram and Kayzad look at each other to gauge each other's face expression and look away immediately as their pairs of eyes meet each other.

"Don't tell me ke abhi bhi losses face karna parh raha hai humein!",

exclaims Manira, widening her eyes, holding her breath.

"Tumhari zid thi Vikram ye ke tum iss restaurant mein invest karoge. Iss restaurant ka kuch share khareedoge. Dost hone ke khatir mujhe tumhe haan kehna parha. Magar tumne mujhse waada kiya tha ke ye sauda ghatega sauda nahi hoga.",

reminds Manira, almost like warning him.

Vikram gets irritated hearing her, but keeps himself calm.

Taking a deep breath he says,

"Haan Manira mujhe yaad hai. And trust me you won't regret it."

"Good! Although mujhe dekhkar lag nahi raha ke regret nahi karungi.",

she says.

Vikram looks away out of anger.

"Magar iss restaurant ki income barhane ke liye humein kuch karna hoga Vikram. Purane chefs hata kar naye chefs laane honge. New chefs main hire karungi. I am sure isse iss restaurant ko kafi faida hoga.",

suggests Manira, revolving a small crystal globe at the desk.

"Yahan ke saare chefs ek parivaar ki tarah hain!",

Nitya's voice startles all of three.

Vikram looks towards the door of his cabin. Kayzad swivels his chair to pay his attention to Nitya. Manira too turns to look towards her.

Manira and Nitya stare each other. While Manira had a sarcastic smile on her face; Nitya glares her for she dared to put forward her thought of firing the chefs of the restaurant.

Walking into the cabin, glaring Manira throughout, Nitya says,

"Sub poori jee-jaan se koshish kar rahe hain iss restaurant ke customers barhane ki."

"So better hoga ke tum kisiko bhi iss hotel se nikalane ki baat apne dimag se nikal do!",

warns Nitya, emphasizing on 'nikalne' and 'nikal'.

Smiling a little, sarcastically, Manira says,

"Nitya ye restaurant tumhare gusse se nahi chalta!"

Nitya's anger increases.

"Strategies use karni parhti hain.",

she adds.

"Aur ye hai aap logon ki strategy? Trustworthy employees ko bahar nikal do!",

shouts Nitya, glaring Vikram.

"Wo chefs jo din-raat iss restaurant ki service behtar karne ke baare mein sochte rehte hain?",

asks Nitya, she turns to glare Manira.

Suddenly Vikram has a headache. Resting his right hand's index finger on his temple, Vikram closes his eyes, knitting his brows.

Nitya's anger vanishes immediately. She gets tensed about Vikram's well being. She straightens up, staring Vikram throughout.

"Aapko medicine lena chahiye Sir!"

The sudden softness in Nitya's tone and her concern towards him, skip Vikram's as well as Nitya's other two listener's heartbeats. All three of them stare Nitya in utter shock. Manira and Kayzad slowly, their mouth opened out of shock, look towards Vikram to gauge his reaction.

Vikram briefly after the shock, nods his head, staring Nitya throughout. Vikram and Nitya stare each other. Nitya turns uncomfortable under his constant seductive gaze, wherein he is now having a seductive smile on his face that is churning Nitya's insides. It's messing up with her brain - two opposite emotions - anger and concern both implied towards Vikram!

Nitya turns to look towards Manira, in order to distract herself from Vikram.

"Hum kuch chefs ko jaante hain jinhe hum iss restaurant mein kaam karne ke liye bulayenge. I am sure isse faida hoga. Aur jo zyada productive kaam nahi karte unn chefs ko jaana parhega.",

says Manira, relaxing in her seat.

Then turning to look towards Vikram, resting her left elbow on the left handle of her chair, she says to Vikram, turning her head a little towards him, to keep Nitya in her peripheral vision to witness her reaction to her words, Manira says,

"But Vikram, I am afraid, yahan par productive kaam...",

then turning to look towards Nitya, smiling sarcastically, Manira continues,

"...productive kaam karta kon hai?"

That boils Nitya's blood. She hates Manira further.

"Koi yahan se kahin nahi jayega!",

warns Nitya, crossing her arms, resting them against her abdominal.

Meanwhile Kayzad gives a tablet and a glass of water to Vikram. Vikram gobbles the tablet quickly.

"Hello...",

Manira was about to say something but gets cut short by Vikram by gesturing with his right hand to stop,

"Manira!",

and his left hand returning back the glass to Kayzad.

Kayzad puts it on the table and covers the glass with a lid. He feels himself as Vikram's servant and quickly returns back to Vikram in order to get away from the feeling of being a servant.

Manira looks towards Vikram briefly and rolls her eyes, lifting her hands in the air briefly she rests them back on the handles of the chair.

Vikram stares Nitya. Nitya stares back. The fact that he didn't oppose her comes as a surprise for Nitya. Her rate of heartbeat increases. She was up for an argument, but Vikram surprised her by accepting her decision. His reaction to her words; his acceptance, vibrate the strings of Nitya's heart, something she is trying hard not to acknowledge.

"Sub yahin rahenge.",

Vikram states, staring Nitya.

Nitya stares back, all serious.

"But Vikram maine jo itne ache-ache Chefs select kiye hain....",

Manira gets cut short by him,

"Mana kardo unhe.",

he doesn't look towards Manira.

"Aise kaise mana kardun Vikram? Humari reputation ka kya?",

asks Manira, shocked.

Turning to look towards her, Vikram says,

"Apology letter bhej do."

"Vik...",

she again gets cut short by him,

"Come on Manira, I am sure you can manage it."

Turning to look towards Nitya, he says,

"Main iss restaurant ka menu recreate karunga. Zaroorat parhi to Chefs ko train bhi karunga. Koi bhi purana chef kahin nahi ja raha. You have my words.",

he states, looking straight into Nitya's eyes.

He is doing it again, finding his way to her heart through her eyes. Nitya cascades her eyes.

"Excuse me!",

holding her breath, without giving Vikram another glance, Nitya leaves.

Manira and Kayzad, still in their state of shock, respectively, turn to look towards Vikram, who tears his gaze from the retreating figure of Nitya to look towards his remaining companions in awkwardness.

●●●●●

"Haan Naina! Aur ye baat maine uski aankhon mein bohot pehle hi parh li thi!",

reveals Rajveer.

(Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)

Naina stares him in shock.

"Ma..ine... mai...ne.. to aisa kuch mehsoos nahi kiya!",

says Naina, in utter shock.

Smiling sarcastically, Rajveer says,

"Jab tum tumhare liye meri feelings ko hi nahi samjh paayi, to kisi aur ki kya samjhogi?!"

(Rajveer-Naina revolt tune continues)

Rajveer and Naina stare each other where Rajveer accuses her for not understanding his feelings for her, through his eyes; there Naina stares him back with her eyes that bear guilt and apology!

"Agar samjh paati to mujhe kabhi unn sub ehsaason se nahi guzarana parhta Naina jisse tumhari berukhi ki wajah se mujhe guzarna parha!",

Rajveer accuses further.

●●●●●

Naina slowly cascades her eyes and says,

"Shuru-shuru mein mushkil hota tha aapse duur rehna. Mere kadmon ko to jaise aadat thi aapke room tak jaane ki."

Naina turns calm. Her eyes transfixed at a certain point in front. Her back rested against the pillow.

"Kitni baar... kitni baar aapse baat na karne ke dauran academy mein tehlte hue khudko maine aapke room ke bahar paaya tha. Bhaiya aur aapki soch mein doobi hui, pata hi nahi lagta tha kab aapke room tak pohnch jaati thi.",

says Naina.

(Slow Rajveer-Naina tune begins)

Rajveer's heart skips a beat hearing Naina.

"Jab hosh aata aur khudko aapke room ke baahar khada paati to ghabrakar wahan se bhaag jaati isse pehle ki aap mujhe dekh lein.",

says Naina, sadly, calmly.

"Aur main...",

Rajveer intervenes.

Naina turns to look towards him.

"Aur main jab-jab akela hota to yahi sochta ke kitna waqt ho gaya hai tum mere kamre mein nahi aayi!",

says Rajveer, smiling sarcastically.

Naina stares him, her brows knit; her eyes moisten.

"Agar kabhi aati bhi thi to mujh par apni naaraazgi zahir karne.",

his cheeks turn red out of sadness.

"Har baar mera dil toot-ta tha, na hi sirf apne prati tumhari berukhi dekhkar balki uss umeed ko bhi toot-ta hua paakar jo main lagakar baithta tha tumse humesha. Ke ek baar... ek baar tum apni nafrat se parey hatkar meri taraf dekhogi. Ek baar... mujhse uss ehsaas ke baare mein baat karogi jo hum dono ke dil mein tha ek dusre ke prati, magar labzon mein kabhi ek dusre se bayaan nahi kar paaye.",

reveals Rajveer.

Tears roll down Naina's eyes.

Tears roll down Rajveer's eyes too because this is the emotion closest to his heart. This emotion holds the power even today to break him - once! twice! and heaven knows how many times in a row!

"Kya galti thi meri Naina?",

he looks towards Naina again, tears rolling down his cheeks non-stop.

(Rajveer-Naina revolt tune intensifies)

"Tum ek baar zikr to karti uss ehsaas ke baare mein mujhse, jo tum bhi mere liye rakhti theen.",

Rajveer knits his brows lightly.

"Kya humare beech sub kuch itna kharab ho gaya tha Naina, ke tumhe mujh par itna bhi bharosa nahi tha ke main tumhari baat ko samjhunga aur hum dono milkar iss problem ka koi solution nikalenge?",

asks Rajveer.

"Tumne apne dil ke darwaze mere liye band kar diye the. Aur main tumhare dil ke darwaazon ke bahar tumse ek mauka paane ke aas mein khada rehta tha!",

says Rajveer.

Naina finds it impossible to look towards him.

"Jis din mere saamne Naveen ki maut ki suchchai aayi aur wo maine tumhare saamne bayan ki; tab tak tumhara intezaar karte-karte main iss kadar thak gaya tha ke mujhe iss baat ka koi ehsaas nahi tha ke ab jab tumhe sub such maloom parh gaya hai to humare beech phirse sub kuch badal chuka hai!",

says Rajveer.

Naina's rate of heartbeat picks up pace.

"Pehle jaisa to shayad kabhi ho nahi sakta tha kuch bhi mujhe pata tha, magar ek nayi shuruat zaroor ho sakti hai humare rishte ki, mujhe iss baat ka ehsaas tak nahi ho paya. Main iss kadar toot chuka tha; thak-haar chuka tha.",

says Rajveer.

Naina feels sorry for him.

●●●●●

Sujal walks into his room.

Naushad and Meher smile looking towards Sujal.

"Tehl aaye?",

smiles Naushad, getting up and resting his left hand on Sujal's right shoulder.

Sujal nods his head, smiling.

"Thank you Kashish ka khyal rakhne ke liye.",

Sujal shows his gratitude towards them.

"Kaisi baatein kar rahein hain aap? Kashish ki zimmedari sirf aapki hi nahi hai hum subki hai.",

smiles Meher.

Sujal nods his head, smiling, looking towards Meher.

"Meher, I am sorry main aap par aur Naina par gussa hua. Darasal main Kashish ko lekar...."

Meher cuts Sujal short by saying,

"Sujal ji!"

Sujal stops abruptly and stares her.

"Na maine, aur na hi Naina ne I am sure, aapki kisi bhi baat ka bura maana. Hum jaante hain aap Kashish ko lekar pareshan thein. Aur aise mein humpar aapka gussa hona jaayaz tha.",

assures Meher, smiling.

Sujal smiles back in gratitude.

"Aur galti humari hi thi. Humein Kashish ko akela nahi chhorhna chahiye tha.",

says Meher, looking towards Kashish.

"Nahi, aapki kya galti? Aapki koi galti nahi thi. Aapko kya pata tha ke aisa kuch hoga? Agar pata hota to I am sure aap kabhi Kashish ko yun akela nahi chhorhteen.",

says Sujal.

Meher nods her head, sadly and turns to look towards Kashish.

Naushad smiles.

"Ab inn sub baaton se bachne ka sirf ek tareeka hai.",

says Sujal.

All of them look towards him, wondering what it could be. He says,

"Hum yahan se nikal chalte hain. Chaley jaate hain apne-apne ghar.",

suggests Sujal.

"Haan shayad yahi theek rahega.",

says Meher.

"Aap log shayad ye bhool rahe hain ke Kashishji ko KKN channel waalon ko interview dena hai abhi.",

reminds Meher.

Sujal and Kashish knit their brows, wondering.

●●●●●

"Arey sunna bhaiya ye house number B 114 kahan hai?",

asks Ananya, reaching Mathura Road to a random passerby.

"B 114!",

the man stares Ananya in horror.

"Aapko wahan kya kaam hai?",

asks the man, suspeciously, taking a few steps away from Ananya.

"Actually dekhna tha zara.",

says Ananya.

"Khareedne ke baare mein soch rahi hoon.",

she adds, in order to get a reaction from him.

"Kya?!",

the man widens his eyes, his heart skips a beat.

"Haan kyun kya hua?",

asks Ananya, alert.

"Aapne pehle kabhi suna nahi kya iss ghar ke baare mein?",

asks the man, getting closer to Ananya.

"Kya nahi suna?",

asks Ananya, turning her head a little towards left while her eyes stay intact on the man in front of her.

"Iss ghar par unka saaya hai! Isliye yahan koi nahi rehta!",

says the man.

"Saaya? Matlab bhoot-pret?",

asks Ananya.

The man nods his head.

"Hun! Hun! Kya bakwaas hai!",

says Ananya, brushing off his words, shaking her head, her right hand holding the right side of her waist and her left hand indicated towards the man.

"Bakwas nahi, such hai.",

he says.

Ananya stares him.

"Dekhiye....",

she stops abruptly and asks,

"Waise naam kya bataya aapne apna?"

"Ji Samarth.",

he replies.

"Samarth ji, main kaise maan loon ke ye such hai? Aapko kisine koi kahani sunai hogi aur aapne bharosa kar liya hoga bina jaan-parhtal kiye. Waise kinka saaya hai?",

asks Ananya.

"Ye uss din se hua hai jis din se iss ghar ke chaaron logon ne faansi laga li thi.",

says Samarth.

Shivers run down Ananya's spine.

"Pura parivaar ek jhatke mein tabaah ho gaya tha!",

adds Samarth.

"Kya hua tha?",

asks Ananya.

●●●●●

They sit on a bench at a corner and the man begins to dictate her the story.

"Paise ki tangi ke chalte meeya-biwi mein aaye din tu-tu main-main hoti rehti thi. Aas-paas ke sub logon ko jaise aadat si ho gayi thi."

Ananya listens to him with full interest.

"Phir achanak ek din logon ne gaur kiya ke unke ghar se ab larhayi ki aawazein aani band ho gayi theen.",

he says.

Ananya knits her brows in curiosity.

"Subko ye baat badi atpati si lagi. Aap logon ko to jaante hi ho, unhe to mauka chahiye baatein karne ka. Sub aapas mein baatein karne lagein ke akhir aisa kya hua ke inke ghar se ab ladai-jhagde ki koi awaz nahi aati."

"Agar wo kahin aate-jaate bhi to unhe sub ghoor-ghoor kar dekhtein thein. Wo kisi se zyada baat nahi kartein thein. Unke bachchey doosre bachon ke saath khelte thein magar dheere-dheere dusre bachon ke ma-baap ne unhe unke bachon ke saath ghulne-milne mein rok laga di."

"Aisa karne par bhi unke ghar se koi kisise shikayat karne nahi aaya. Unke bachche phir aapas mein hi khelne lagein."

"Mrs. Grover housewife theen aur Mr. Grover accountant the. Iss gali mein chaar building chorh kar unka office tha.",

he gives details about Mr. Grover's workplace, indicating towards a particular way.

"Kamayi zyada nahi thi unki iske chalte wo ghar ka kiraya nahi de paate thein. Aisa kayi baar hua jab wo kiraya nahi de paaye. Makan malik ne unhe kayi baar kaha ke wo ghar chorh dein magar wo iske liye bhi raazi nahi hue.",

he says.

"Ek roz unke ghar ke saamne tab bheed jama hui jab doodhwaale ne ghar ka darwaza na khulne par khidki se ghar ke ander jhaank kar dekha. Andar ka manzar dil dehla dene wala tha. Usey dekhkar doodhwaale ki cheekhein nikal gayi!",

he says, his eyes wide opened in horror.

"Aisa kya dekha tha usne?",

asks Ananya, straightening up, never blinking her eyes.

"Uski ankhon ke saamne uss ghar ke chaaron sadasya ghar ke beech-o-beech chaar kursi par baithe thein chaaron ka muh khidki ki taraf tha aur ankhein charon ki khuli huin theen magar pura shareer neela parha hua tha!",

he describes the scenario.

Ananya covers her mouth out of horror as she visualizes the sight.

"Maine bhi dekha tha ye manzar! Bhulaye nahi bhoola jaata mujhse!",

exclaims Samarth.

"Police investigation hui. Magar baat sirf itni hi nahi hai. Uss doodhwale ka ek dost jo ki ek paanwala tha wo investigation ke dauran uss ghar mein aaya jaya karta tha uss doodhwale ko hosla dene ke liye. Wo paanwala bhi uss parivaar ko janta tha ache se kyunki Mr. Grover uske wahan se cigarette khareeda karte the."

Ananya nods her head.

"Achanak unn kuch dino mein se ek din jab wo doodhwala uss ghar ke ander tha paanwale ke saath aur baki puri investigation team thi, apna kaam karne ke liye puri team alag-alag kamron mein bikhri hui thi, to uss doodhwale ne uss ghar mein Mr. Grover ki aatma ko dining table ki chair par baitha hua dekha. Doodhwale ki cheekhein nikal gayin.",

Samarth dictates her the story.

"Phir?!",

askes Ananya, shocked.

"Pehle to darr ke maare wo kuch bolne ki haalat mein hi nahi tha. Magar jaise-taise usne hosh sambhala aur subko puri baat batai.",

he tells.

"Magar subne uska vehm bolkar ye baat taal di."

Shaking his head, he says further, confidently,

"Nahi! Vehm nahi tha wo. Maine uski ankhon mein dekha tha. Darr! Suchchai! Iss ghatna se pehle wo wohin tha; nidar khada tha. Darr uski ankhon mein tab aaya jab usne Mr. Grover ki aatma dekhi!"

Ananya stares him shocked and ponders at his words.

"Postmortem report mein kya aaya?",

asks Ananya, curious.

"Postmortem report mein dum ghutne ko maut ki wajah batai gayi. Magar tajub ki baat ye hai ke na koi faansi ka fanda; na koi aisi cheez jisse latak-kar wo faansi lagayein. Na hi galey par kisi ke ungliyon ke nishaan. To phir shareer ka theek ussi tarah neela parhna jaise oxygen ki kami se ho jaata hai, ye kaise mumkin hua?",

he asks.

Ananya wonders too.

"Ungliyon ke nishaan to nahi par haan inn subke galey ke charon aur (taraf) ek gaadhe kaale rang ka nishan tha!",

he describes the mark he witnessed.

"Maano... maano khoon sookh kar kaala parh gaya ho.",

he adds.

"Phir kya hua?",

asks Ananya, curious.

"Phir kya hoga? Wohi hua jo har case ke saath hota hai. File mein cause of death suicide likhkar case ko band kar dia gaya.",

he says.

Ananya tears her gaze from him and looks at the infinity, wondering.

"Case to band ho gaya....",

his words drags Ananya's attention again, she looks back at him.

"Case to band ho gaya magar uss ghar ko khareedne waala ab koi nahi tha. Kon aise ghar mein jaana chahega jis ghar ke saare sadsyon ne ek saath faansi lagali!",

he says.

"Sub uss ghar se koso duur rehne ki koshish karte the. Subko wo ghar manhoos lagne laga. Issi wajah se kisike dimag mein ye baat nahi aayi ke uss ghar ka shudhdhikaran karana zaroori hai. Koi hawan; koi sudhdhikaran, kuch nahi!"

Ananya knits her brows tighter.

"Abhi unke tervi ko guzre hue ek hafta hi hua tha ke pados mein rehne waale Mr. Agarwal ko uss ghar mein kisike hone ka aabhaas hua!"

Ananya's heart skips a beat hearing him. Her eyes open wide.

"Bahar se taaka-jhaaki karne par unhe ghar ke ander chair par Mr. Grover baithe hue dikhe!",

his eyes open wide in horror.

Ananya's rate of heartbeat begins to pick up pace.

"Such mein?",

asks Ananya, in utter disbelief, her eyes glued to him.

He nods his head.

"Darr ke maare logon ka dimag kaam karna band kar deta hai, iss baat par phirse yakeen ho gaya mujhe uss din jab mujhe pata chala ke Mr. Grover ko wahan dekhkar Mr. Agarwal darr ke maare ye tak bhool gaye ke wo unke saamne kaise ho sakte hain? Aur aise mein kya unse baat karna sahi hoga?",

he knits his brows tight.

"Unhone unse baat ki?!",

exclaims Ananya in horror.

"Unhone unse poocha - 'aap.. aap to marr gaye the na?'",

he says.

The question though sounds funny and unreal but the extreme level of seriousness of the situation made Ananya to feel nothing out of the both.

"Aapne mujhse jo kuch bhi kaha kya ye sub aap camere par bol sakte hain?",

asks Ananya.

"Camere par?",

he asks, confused.

"Ji. Main darasal KKN news channel ki reporter hoon Ananya Kashyap."

Samarth raises his brows in surprise.

"Main wohi soch raha tha jis ghar se log koso duur rehte hain, uss ghar ko khareedne ki himmat kisi mein kaise aa gayi?!",

smiles Samarth.

Ananya smiles back.

"Dekhiye main duniya waalon ke saamne iss ghar ka such laana chahti hoon.",

says Ananya.

"Magar isse mere jaan ko khatra ho sakta hai.",

Samarth puts his concern in front of Ananya.

"Nahi Samarth aisa kuch nahi hoga. Aapko kisise darne ki zaroorat nahi.",

she assures him.

Samarth wonders.

"Theek hai. Main taiyaar hoon.",

he says.

Ananya's heart flutters in excitement and gratitude.

She records his interview.

"Thank you so much Samarth. Thanks a lot.",

smiles Ananya.

"Koi baat nahi Ananyaji.",

smiles back Samarth.

●●●●●

"Wo sub hum wahan wapas jaakar dekh lenge kaise karna hai. Magar ab yahan rukne ka koi matlab nahi hota.",

declares Sujal.

All three of them agree to his decision.

"Shayad ye jagah hi manhoos hai!",

says Sujal, looking all around.

"Sujal mujhe ghar wapas nahi jaana!",

says Kashish, holding her breath out of nervousness, knowing that this might become another reason for him to get angry on her.

Sujal looks towards Kashish and very politely asks, his brows knit together out of surprise,

"Uss ghar mein ab kuch bhi acha nahi lagta Sujal. Akelapan mehsoos karti hoon. Tum to office chale jaate ho. Mera dumghut-ta hai wahan. Mujhe nahi jaana wapas. Mujhe nahi jaana."

Sujal gets trapped in a situation where he finds himself at a loss of words.

"Ahmm... agar... agar aisa hai to aa..p mere saath mere ghar aa sakte hain.",

suggests Meher, looking towards Naushad, for reassurance that she ain't making any wrong decision.

"Waise bhi mera pura parivaar - Ammi, Khaala aur meri dono behne - Amaal aur Jannat, meri teesri behn Bano ke saath Mumbai shift ho gayi hain. Meri behn Bano singer hai to wahan uske liye kayi opportunities available hain. Amaal ko bhi heroine banna tha to usne bhi keh diya ke wo Bano ke saath jayegi. Jannat ka journalism mein interest hai; blogger bhi hai, uska bhi kabse mann tha Mumbai jaane ka wahan uske liye kayi opportunities theen, magar uski himmat nahi hui kabhi Ammi se ye baat kehne ki kyunki meri tarah wo bhi kaafi responsible hai. Usey laga uske chale jaane se shayad main akeli parh jaun. Subko kaise sambhalungi main.",

smiles Meher, thinking fondly of her sister Jannat.

"Akhirkar maine zid karke subko Mumbai bhej diya. Main hospital chhorhkar kahin nahi jaana chahti thi. Iss hospital mein mera mann lag gaya tha.",

says Meher and looks towards Naushad, blushing, smiling a little.

Naushad's heart skips a beat hearing her. He tries hard to hide his state of surprise but fails miserably.

Sujal and Kashish stare Naushad and Meher, smiling a little.

"Gaadi aagey barh rahi hai lagta hai!",

teases Sujal, without looking towards Naushad and Meher, all serious.

Kashish slaps Sujal, who is sitting next to her, lightly on his upper arm. Sujal laughs. Kashish too laughs silently.

Naushad widens his eyes out of surprise. Blush creeps his cheeks.

"Konsi gaadi?",

asks Meher, knitting her brows, confused.

Kashish slaps her forehead, laughing silently.

Naushad could feel his heart in his mouth hearing Meher.

"K..uch... kuch nahi! Kya Sujal aap bhi!",

exclaims Naushad, his eyes wide opened.

"Meher, tum mujhe meri chhoti behn Charu ki yaad dilati ho. Wo bhi tumhari tarah thi; kuch nahi samjhti thi. Akshat bus usey hints deta rehta tha.",

smiles Kashish and shakes her head, thinking fondly of Charu and Akshat.

"Main kya nahi samjhi? Aur kaise hints?",

asks Meher, confused, looking towards the three of them.

All of them laugh out loud at her innocence.

Meher stares them, perplexed.

"Ahmm... anyways agar aap chahein to aap mere ghar ruk sakte hain.",

smiles Meher.

Sujal and Kashish look towards each other,

"Ahmm... nahi Meher it's...",

they say in unison, but gets cut short by Meher,

"Yakeen maaniye mujhe koi problem nahi. Balki mujhe to khushi hogi ke ghar mein ab koi hai mere saath.",

smiles Meher.

"Aapko bhi wahan kisi baat ki takleef nahi hogi I promise.",

assures Meher.

Naushad and Meher stare Sujal and Kashish expectantly.

Kashish and Sujal look at each other raising their brows, trying to make a decision, silently, letting their eyes to have the conversation.

Taking a deep breath, Sujal says,

"Theek hai. I think ye idea bura nahi hai."

All of them smile.

"Waise bhi mujhe apne Kashmir waale office mein jaana tha hi ek din. To soch raha hoon wohin shift ho jaun. Phir wohin se Nainital waale office ko bhi sambhal loonga. Kashish ka bhi Nainital waale ghar mein ab mann nahi lagta.",

says Sujal and looks towards Kashish.

Kashish smiles a little and nods her head. Sujal smiles back.

"But I hope Meher tumhe koi problem nahi hai.",

says Sujal, turning to look towards Meher.

"Bilkul bhi nahi.",

smiles Meher and shakes her head confidently.

Sujal smiles back.