Preeran room,

It was almost 10 pm,Preeta was laying on bed on her back with her legs flying in air rested to the headrest,

She was holding a book with a frown on her face,

Preeta - pareshaan kardiya hai iss economics ne mujhe...kuch smjh hi nahi aa raha!saara ka saara hawai firing! Huh!

Preeta - upar se micro macro chicro tacro...har jagah cro cro kar raha hai...dimag ka dahi kardiya!

She was reading her book when Karan came out of washroom,she tilted her head and looked at him,her jaw dropped seeing him shirtless,water dropping from his hairs,he was ruffling his hairs with towel making the atmosphere hotter,

Her book dropped from her hand while she was drooling over his hotness,

He looked at her and saw her staring him with open mouth,he smirked and went towards her,

Karan(closing her mouth with his index finger) - muh band karlo madam makhi chali jaayegi!

She blinked her eyes and came back to senses,

Karan - I know I am hot...par aise dekhogi to nazar lag jaayegi mujhe!

She narrowed her eyes and threw a pillow at him,

Preeta - shut up...mai koi aapko dekh vekh nahi rahi thi!

Karan - achaa ji...to kya avehi dewaar ko taad rahi thi aap Mrs Luthra!

Preeta - aa...don't disturb me...mai already piritt hu iss wakt!

Karan(wearing his t-shirt) - kyu kya hogaya?

Preeta(whining) - kal exam hai...aur mujhe kuch nahi aata...aur ye book...mujhse jyada bekaar to ye book hai...kuch shi se smjh nahi aa raha!

Karan - to ek kaam karo na...tv on karo...aur aaram se movies cartoons dekho...shayad top karjaao exam me!(she glared him) what...aise ghooro mat...pure time tv ke saamne baith rahogi to kya smjh aayega tumhe...last moment padhne baithi ho!

Preeta - shut up!mai aise hi...exam ke last night padhti hu..par abhi kuch smjh nahi aa raha...sab upar upar se jaa raha hai!

Karan(sighs) - dikhao!

He sat beside her on bed and took her book,

Preeta - aapko aata hai?

Karan(glared her) - business bhi hai mera...padha likha hu mai...gunda mawali nahi jo pantar giri karta hu!

Preeta - ha ha pata hai!wo kya hai aapke jamaane me.....

Karan - what do you mean by mere jamaane me...4 saal ke difference hai hum dono me 40 saal ka nahi!

Preeta(bits her tongue) - ok..sorry sorry!

She stares him for a while when he goes through her book,

Karan(looking at the book) - sidhi baitho!

Preeta(whines) - kyuuu!

Karan(strictly) - sidhi baitho Preeta!

She huffs and sat straight beside him,he starts explaining her the chapter while she was listening him keenly as well as staring his face with a smile in between,

After an hour,

Karan(sighs) - smjh aaya?ya bhoot bankar bas baithi rahi?

Preeta(nods like a kid) - ha aaya aaya...sab smjh gayi!

Karan(suspiciously) - pkka?

Preeta - are haaa...(takes her book back and keeps it aside) aap mujhe ye batao...ki aap itna kuch jaante ho...itne ache se smjhte ho...to business par jyada dhyaan kyu nahi dete?

Karan - kyuki mere pass aur bhi bahot kaam hai!

Preeta(mocking) - ha ha...ye mafia ka kaam to business se better hi hai...bina kisiko maare koi kaam kaam jaisa kaha lage!

Karan - was that a taunt!

Preeta - of course!

Karan - then I am not going to discuss this now!

Preeta - are par kyu Karan...acha khaasa business hai aapka...fir kyu ye bekaar mafia waafia ke chakar me hai aap!

Karan(stood down from bed) - we are not going to discuss this Preeta!

He was about to go but she held his hand and stood down,

Preeta - no wait!we need to discuss this! Karan kya milega ye khoon kharaabe me...jab hmesha aapki jaan ko khatra hi hai...to ye karke kya faayeda! Aur jab khud ka business hai hi to kyu karna ye!

Karan - Preeta kya chahti ho...kya karu mai?

Preeta - chor dijiye ye sab...business par dhyaan dijiye...waha naam kamaiye...ye mafia banke naam kyu kamana!

Karan(angrily) - are you crazy! Kya mtlb chor do ye sab...Preeta jis baare me knowledge na ho...uske baare me baat mat karo...tumhe koi takleef nahi ho rahi hai na...to chup chaap se apne kaam se kaam rakho!

Preeta(yells) - kya mtlb apne kaam se kaam rakho! We are married Karan! Aapki wife hu mai aur mujhe nahi pasand aapka ye sab karna...ye hmesha ek gun lekar ghumna nahi pasand mujhe!

Karan(snapped at her) - chillao mat Preeta...aur jab maine bola ki iss baare me mat bolo...to mat bolo...you are not going to tell me ki mai kya karu kya nahi!

Preeta - Karan kya milta hai jaan lekar...kyu leni hai aapko jaane...ye sab chorkar kuch aur krenge to better zindagi hogi hamari!

Karan - to abhi kya kuch problem hai tumhe?ha? Batao na kya problem hai...koi...koi kami nahi hoti hai...sab kuch hai...to fir dikkat kya hai?

Preeta - sbse badi dikkat hi aapka mafia hona hai Karan!jaan ka khatra rehta hai hmesha aapko...are kab kya hojaaye kise pata..to aisi zindagi jee kar kya faayeda!

Karan - kisi me himmat nahi ki Karan Luthra ko koi kuch krde!

Preeta - aap smjh kyu nahi rahe Karan...kyu iss bekaar si chiz me fase pare hai...jab khud ka business hai to usme kaam kriye na!ye sab chor dijiye!

Karan(angrily) - thats it!mujhe aur behes nahi karni! Jitna bola hai utna suno...mai kya karta hu kya nahi usse mtlb rakhne ki jarurat nahi hai!

Preeta(shouts) - par Karan..aap aise...logo ki jaan kaise le skte...khoon bahate hai aap logo ka! Are kisiki jaan lene ke baad aap itne chaain se reh kaise skte hai! Mai to goli ki awaaj se bhi sehem jaati hu...aur aap...whi goli naajaane aaj tak kitno par chala chuke hai...koi faayeda nahi hai iss khel me Karan...ek din sab khatam hojaayega...kyu aap isme khud ko barbaad kar rahe hai! Ye sab chor kyu nahi dete!

He held her shoulders tightly and yelled at her,

Karan - maine kaha na...you are not going to choose for me...tumhe koi haq nahi ye bolne ka ki mai kya karu kya nahi..(she looked at him hurtfully with tears) koi haq nahi hai tumhara mujhpe...smjhi tum!you are no one to me...no one!!I don't give a damn about you and what you think so just stay out of this...stay out of this! And don't you dare to raise your voice at me ever again! tumhe sab mil raha haina..usme khush raho...mai kya karta hu usme dhakhal dene ki jarurat nahi hai! Stay out of this Preeta!

He pushed her angrily and left outside banging the door,she flinched,tears rolled down her cheeks,

She wiped her tears harshly and sat on bed,

Preeta(crying) - bahot bure hai aap bahot bure! Kitni pagal hu mai...yaha aap mujhe kuch smjhte hi nahi...koj haq nahi mera aap par...aur mai...mai aapse pyaar kar baithi...jabki aapke liye mai to...koi maayine hi nahi rakhti...kuch nahi hu mai aapke liye!

She sobs keeping her hands on her face.

On the other side,

Karan went to the terrace and threw the pot kept there angrily,

Karan(punched on the wall) - damnit!

He pulled his hairs and sat on the bench trying to calm himself,

He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder and looked at his side,Ahaan sitting there,

Ahaan - theek hai tu? Pareshaan dikh raha hai!

Karan - ha bas...wo....

Ahaan - bata Karan!

He sighed and told him about his fight with Preeta,

Ahaan - sach me pagal to tum dono....aur sbse bara bewakoof tu hai! kyu itna chilaa diya uspe!

Karan - mujhe uspe...upse bas gussa aagya tha!

Ahaan - uspe ya khudpe...kyuki jo jo kaha usne sab sach hi to hai Karan!

Karan looked at him and then looked down,

Ahaan - tu jaanta hai jo jo uske kaha sab shi hai...jaan lete hai hum...jaan ka khatra khud hume bhi hai...kab kya hojaaye kya pata!to usne galat kya bola ye keh kar ki ye sab chor kar tu business kar!tere liye hi to bol rahi thi! Usse teri chinta hai...teri aur teri jaan ki fiqr aur kadar dono hai usse...to galat kya kaha usne!

Karan - I know...I know she is damn right...but mai...(sighs frustratedly) shit!

Ahaan - jakar maafi maang usse...you know she is such a kid...jaakar mana usse!

Karan nodded,Ahaan left from there,

you are not going to choose for me...tumhe koi haq nahi ye bolne ka ki mai kya karu kya nahi

koi haq nahi hai tumhara mujhpe

you are no one to me...no one

I don't give a damn about you

He kept his hand on his face thinking about his behavior,

Karan - ye anjaane me kya keh diya tumhe maine...godd...kyu gusse me pagal ho jaata hu mai!kitni hurt hogyi wo...saaf dikh raha tha uski aankhon me...fir bhi bolta gaya tu Karan!stupid...stupid hu mai!

He rushed to their room and saw her sleeping on the couch shivering due to cold,he sighed sadly and went near her,

Karan - Preeta...(kneeled in front of her) kardiya na gussa tumhe!

He picked her up and made her lay on covering her with duvet,he laid beside her,

Karan(whispers) - please maaf krdena mujhe! I am sorry!

He kissed her forehead and slept caressing her hairs.

Next Morning

Karan stirred in sleep and puts his hand on the other side,he pats his hand there confusingly and opened his eyes to see Preeta wasn't laying beside him,

Karan(sat up slowly) - Preeta kaha gyi...roz to mere baad uthti hai...fir aaj!

He got down and checked the washroom,she wasn't there too,

Karan - itni subah kaha chali gayi!

He went downstairs and saw Rohit sitting in hall studying,

Karan - Rohit!

Rohit - good morning bhai!

Karan(nodded) - Preeta kaha hai?neeche aayi kya?

Rohit - are aapko bolkar nahi gayi kya?

Karan - kaha gayi?

Rohit - college!pata nahi kyu....bol rahi thi ki whi college ke library me hi baith kar revision kar legi!wo to ek ghante pehle hi chali gayi!

Karan - acha ha exam haina tumlogo ka..(Rohit nodded) breakfast karke gayi wo?

Rohit - nope...maine pucha to usne kaha canteen me khaa legi!

Karan sighed sadly and rubs his face,

Rohit - acha bhai mai bhi chalta hu...exam ke liye late hojaayega!

Karan - good luck ja!

Rohit smiled and left,

Karan - bine baat kiye chali gayi!aur dumbo exam ke din bina khaaye chali gayi...ye ladki bhi na!

He called her but she didn't pick up his call,after one more try she declined his call,

Karan - ofc...kyu uthaayegi mera call...aur kar gussa...kardiya na usse naraz!

He sighed and texted her,

Meanwhile,Preeta was sitting in the college library,

Preeta - nahi uthaaungi call...bahot hurt kiya hai aapne mujhe! I don't want to talk to you!

Her phone pinged,she looked at it,there was Karan's text,

Mr Adiyal Mafia
- Good luck for your exam! Ache se dena exam!

She frowned and didn't reply,her phone again pinged,

Mr Adiyal Mafia
- fine mat karo reply!
Par bina kuch khaaye exam mat dena...khaaye bina dimag nahi chlta tumhara...kuch khaa lena! Meri wajah se bhuki mat rehna Preeta!

She again didn't reply and looked away with tears in her eyes,she got another message,

Mr Adiyal Mafia
- I am sorry! Ho sake to apne Mr Mafia ko maaf krdena please!
Kuch khaa lo...aur jldi se ghar aajao!bye! Good luck again!

A tear escaped her eye,she smiled lightly and went to the canteen to eat something.

On the other side,

Karan sighed sadly seeing her not replying to his messages,

Karan(murmurs) - bahot jyada naaraz kardiya yaar!bas jldi se ghar aajaaye!

It was almost 4 pm,

Preeta and Rohit were entering the house,

Rohit - tu ab bata rahi hai...kya hua hai tujhe Pree...subah se chup chaap...muh banakar ghum rahi hai!

Preeta - kaha na kuch nahi hua...bas mood off hai!

Rohit - kyu?

Preeta - bas asehi!ab pkka mat...hatt...mujhe aaram karna hai...mai room me jaa rhi hu!

Rohit - are sunto..(but she already left to her room) are yaar ye ladki!

Preeran's room,

Karan was sitting on bed scrolling his phone,but actually just waiting for Preeta,

Door opened,he looked up and saw Preeta coming inside,he smiled and stood,

Karan - Preeta!

She looked at him and then ignored him putting her bag on bed,

Karan(stuttering) - k..kaise gaya tumhara exam?acha tha na?

She just gave a small nod still not looking at him,

Karan - kuch khaaya tumne?

She again gave a nod ignoring him,

Karan - ab tak naaraz ho?

She stopped doing her work but still didn't look at him,a lone tear escaped her eye which didn't go unnoticed by him,

Karan(held her shoulders turning her towards him) - hey...please ro mat na!

He wiped her tears and tried to look in her eyes,

Karan - dekhogi bhi nahi meri taraf!(she kept looking away) I..I am sorry Preeta...please mujhe maaf kardo...maine kal jo bhi bola sab gusse me bol gaya...please maaf krdo!

Preeta(jerked his hand) - aap kyu maafi maang rahe hai...glti meri thi..maine aapki life me dakhal dene ki koshish ki! Aapki fiqr karne ki koshish ki... actually mujhe pata nahi tha na..ki..(looked at him) ki mera koi haq hi nahi haa aap par!

He nodded in no trying to hold her hand,

Preeta - I didn't know that I am 'no one' in your life! Pata hota to nahi bolti!

Karan - nahi please aisa mat bolo! I know...I know maine bahot utt patang bol diya kal...but I swear mai gusse me tha...jo kuch bhi kaha usme se koi sachai nhi thi! You do matter to me Preeta! Tumhara haq hai mujhpr...pura haq hai!

She chuckled bitterly,

Preeta - why are you even justifying me this! Kya jarurat hai kisi 'no one' ko ye sab smjhaane ki! You don't give a damn about me right! To kya hi farq parega aapko meri narazgi se...kya farq parega agar kisi din mai nahi bhi rahi to!

He pulled her closer and tightened his grip on her,

Karan - Preeta! Its...its not like that! It will never be! Mai gusse me bol gaya wo sab...you do matter to me Preeta! Tumhara hona mere liye bahot maayine rakhta hai! Tum bahot important ho mere liye! I swear I won't hurt you ever again! Please maaf krdo...subah se tadap raha hu tumse baat karne ke liye! Please please maaf kardo...chaho to ek thapad bhi maarlo..are ek kya jitne man utne thapad maardo...par please maaf krdo mujhe! I am sorry...I really am!

She looked at him,his eyes were clearly showing his guilt,

She sobbed and hugged him tightly,he smiled tearfully and tightened his grip on her back and caressed her hairs,

Karan - I am sorry...I am so sorry!mujhe wo sab nahi kehna chahiye tha! I am sorry!

Preeta(cutely) - fine...maaf kiya! Lekin agar agli baar aapne gusse me kuch bhi aisa kaha to mai apni mumma ke pass chali jaaungi...fir aaungi bhi nahi!

Karan - hatt! Mai kahi jaane hi nahi dunga...kursi se baandh ke kamre me band kardunga tumhe!

Preeta(hits him) - mtlb gussa karenge!

Karan(chuckles) - nahi nahi...kabhi nahi!

She smiled and broke the hug,he kissed her forehead and held his ears,she nodded in no keeping in hands down,

Preeta - its ok!

He smiled and hugged her again kissing her temple,she sighed happily in his arms.

To be continued.