Flourish your ideas,

Maybe in the future when you get time,

Those ideas will become outdated,

And you will be left with a deep debt of regret.

______________________________

Date to remember?

Misha's POV

My first date turned out to be a truly memorable experience. Karan, the man I had the pleasure of going out with, proved himself a complete gentleman. He arrived at my doorstep bearing a bouquet, assuring my father that he would take good care of me. He even went the extra mile, opening the car door for me with a chivalrous flourish.

Throughout the car ride, I couldn't resist the urge to pester him about our destination. Karan, however, maintained an air of mystery, merely hinting that it was a surprise. As the minutes ticked away during our hour-long journey, my relentless questioning yielded no results. Frustration eventually gave way to silence, with only a soft melody playing in the background.

When Karan finally brought the car to a halt, I was taken aback by the scene before me. It wasn't a fancy restaurant or an elaborately decorated tent; it was a beach house, a place of significance in my family's history.

I couldn't help but stare at the house, and it was only when Karan opened my car door and extended his hand that I realized tears had welled up in my eyes.

As I stepped out of the car, I was greeted by the sight of a beautifully adorned backyard, adorned with my favorite white roses.

"Wow," I exclaimed, overwhelmed by his efforts.

"You have tears in your eyes not just for the decorations, but also for the place I chose for our first date," Karan remarked.

"Indeed," I replied honestly. "I knew you'd love it," he said, extending his hand.

I took it, and he led me to a table set with all my favorite foods. I couldn't resist making a playful comment, saying, "If I get to enjoy this delicious food on all our dates, then we must go out more often."

"As you wish, Princess."

I blushed at his endearing response, and we both shared a laugh before savoring our meal.

'Mere rang mein rangne wali

Pari ho ya ho pariyo ki Rani

Ya ho meri prem kahani

Mere sawalon ka jawaab do, do na..."

The song above👆...

The strains of an old Bollywood song filled the air once our meal was finished. Karan rose from his seat, approached me, and knelt down, taking my hand. I watched in awe as he slipped a beautiful diamond ring onto my finger.

"Close your mouth, honey. This is a promise ring I've wanted to give you since the day you agreed to our marriage," he said, his eyes brimming with love.

My heart swelled with emotion as I whispered, "I love you," not intending for him to hear.

But to my surprise, he did hear me and responded, "I love you too, Mish."

We danced to the song playing in the background, and Karan shared more about his family. It was an enchanting evening, and in the end, we visited my mother, who had shown signs of improvement, according to the doctors.

When Karan dropped me off at home, it was already quite late, and unfortunately, we didn't share the anticipated kiss.

However, my father and Sahil were awake, wearing expressions of deep concern when I entered.

"Dad! Sahil! Why are you both up so late?" I asked, puzzled by their unusual late-night vigil.

"We need to talk to you, Mish," Sahil said, his voice trembling.

My anxiety heightened as I inquired, "What's going on, Sahil? You're scaring me."

"Prepare yourself, Mish," my dad interjected. "Romi is back. He contacted us and made threats, proving he hasn't forgotten about you."

His words hit me like a ton of bricks, and I took a step back in shock.

"Sahil, can you please go to your room? I need to speak with your sister alone," my dad instructed.

"Sit with me, Mish," he said, patting the seat on the sofa beside him.

"I don't know how much of your mother's diary you've read, but I'm sure you haven't finished it. However, I'm also certain you've read about Romi, judging by your reaction when I mentioned your mother's coma," my dad continued, surprising me with his knowledge. I remained silent, prompting him to go on. "Regardless, you now know your enemy. Skip the remaining chapters for now and read the last one. You can revisit the rest later, but the final pages will be crucial for dealing with him now."

There was a long pause before he added, "I know you're strong, but I'm worried, Misha. Your mother was always by my side when I had to protect you both, but now I'm alone. I want to keep you safe, but I can't. You know I'm still involved in dangerous dealings, but my other enemies believe I have no family because I've kept you and Sahil a secret."

Karan and his family can provide protection, but they aren't legally bound to do so until we're married. Regardless, I want you to be prepared, Mish, because this will be a significant battle."

I nodded in response, unable to find the right words.

He patted my back, stood up, and retreated to his room with a quiet "goodnight."

I sat alone on the living room sofa, trying to process the weight of my father's words. Only moments ago, I had returned home from a wonderful first date, but now I was confronted with this alarming news.

Who was this person Romi? What was his true identity? Why was he resurfacing after so many years? How did he locate us? And most importantly, was he so dangerous that both my family and Karan were concerned about his return? And why hadn't my dad shared this information with me? Did he not know the whole truth?

My thoughts were interrupted by a ringing phone.

Karan: I love you. I don't know why, but after dropping you off, I'm feeling worried. Are you okay? Is everything fine at home?

I marveled at how accurately he had gauged my feelings. Despite the wonderful time we had together, I didn't want to burden him with my worries at this late hour. I resolved to tell him everything the next day; I didn't want to keep any secrets.

Me: I'm fine. We'll talk tomorrow. I'm just tired.

His response came with a smiling emoji and a wish for a good night.

I smiled to myself, grateful for such a caring and understanding fiancé.

Fiancé...

I blushed again and retired to my room. I wasn't in the mood for a shower, so I changed into comfortable clothes and picked up the diary from my bed.

Diary POV

Mish read the final and crucial chapter of her mother's diary with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. The gravity of the situation became clearer as she delved into the heartfelt words her mother had left for her.

"Now that you're aware of the threat you're facing, Mish, let me share some insights that might aid you in this battle. Firstly, I have a strong intuition that the enemy will attempt to kidnap you. In those moments, I want you to remember: don't succumb to fear.

I can't predict whether I'll be by your side when you confront this monster, but I need you to understand your strength. When I married your father, I accepted the constant danger that came with his life. Facing enemies never made me nervous because I knew how to defend myself. You, my daughter, have that same strength within you.

Do you recall the time when your father's behavior hurt you deeply? Prisha's actions at school led to an unjust suspension for you, and it caused a strain between you and your dad. I never wanted that for you. That day, I gave you a locket, telling you it would make your dad love you, and I asked you to hold on.

I advised you not to lose hope, and that is perhaps the most crucial lesson you'll ever learn. Life doesn't always grant our wishes.

During Romi's time in our home, I learned some of his weaknesses. Let me share those with you."

...

...

...

"These insights might be your key to facing him. I pray that you marry Karan before Romi tracks you down.

With all my love,

I hope to be back with you before you finish this diary."

I meticulously absorbed the list of weaknesses Romi had, feeling a mixture of astonishment and relief. For a man with so many vulnerabilities, he must have held a significant position, possibly even as a mafia kingpin. Knowing these weaknesses could be a significant advantage in the upcoming struggle.

As I closed the diary, a profound sense of longing for my mother enveloped me. "I miss you, Mom," I whispered softly, then carefully stowed the diary in a drawer beside my bed before switching off the room's light. I had expected to have trouble sleeping, but to my surprise, I drifted off within moments.

However, my slumber was abruptly interrupted when a hand gently cupped my face. A surge of anger washed over me, and I questioned if I was in the midst of a dream.

As I stirred, I became increasingly aware that this was no dream. There was a presence in my room, and the emotions I felt weren't those I would experience in the company of my father or Sahil.

My senses heightened as I sensed someone moving quietly around me, seemingly searching for something. What could they be looking for? Was I in the process of being kidnapped? The very thought sent a shiver down my spine.

Despite the tension, I remained surprisingly composed. Curiosity mingled with my unease as I wondered who this intruder might be. It was evident that they were unaware I was awake, and I saw an opportunity to observe them without revealing my consciousness.

The intruder seemed to be inspecting my wardrobe, opening and closing it noiselessly. My heart raced, and my mind raced as I tried to make sense of the situation.

Then, I felt their breath near my ear. It was an intimate proximity that would have startled anyone, but I maintained my façade of slumber. The intruder spoke softly, sending a shiver down my spine.

"You are more beautiful than I imagined in my dreams, baby. You don't remember me now, but soon I will make you mine, and you will forget all these people who kept you here away from me. I promise you. I will be back."

His lips brushed against my cheek as he delivered those chilling words. My instincts screamed at me to open my eyes and confront him, but I restrained myself. I wanted to learn as much as I could about this person without giving away my awareness.

He eventually departed, and I heard the window in my room open as he made his escape.

After that unsettling encounter, sleep eluded me. I lay awake for what felt like hours, watching the minutes pass on the clock beside my bed. The time inched closer to when my alarm would ring, but my thoughts were consumed by one burning question.

Why had he come here?

_______***_______

What do you think about Romi's character?    -> answer here

Thanks for reading

Lots of love

xxx