God only makes happy endings. If it's not a happy, then it's not the end.

~Unknown

Jagati

"Shreya! Are you sure we can make it?" I asked her with sweaty palms climbing down the stairs of this unknown building with fear of life creeping down my body.

"I am sorry Janu, but these broken stairs are the only way we can get out without getting caught. Shyam sir and the team are waiting in the basement." Shreya exclaimed feeling guilty as I hissed in pain stepping down.

Today turned out to be one of the most dreadful days of my life, I was so happy last night to get the new startup merge with Global, I got up with hope and enthusiasm to win this new government bid for shipping.

All our phones had to be turned off as it's a very private and confidential bid, and my life changed to a completely 180 as I got out, there was press and so many people outside of the building waiting for me.

Wanna know why?

Because my dad announced that his daughter is alive and he justified himself saying that he hid the truth to protect me, on the last day of his campaign.

Why would he do that? Why couldn't he just inform me before doing it? Why does he take decisions about me without my involvement in it?

"Can you walk Janu? Do you need help? " She asked holding my hand, pulling me back to the present.

I scraped my knee and elbows in the process of getting away from the press and all the unknown people who came to watch me.

"Don't say sorry Shreya! Neither of us expected this. I am fine, Are you okay? You are hurt too. " I asked her as she peeked around before I got to another floor.

"Nothing I can't take." She assured herself and me but I could see the trickle of blood falling off her face.

We were just two people trying to hide from the eyes of all the news channels in the world. As soon as Shreya realized what was happening she dragged me back into the state building and locked me in a room with herself in it, for the last 4 hours. I sat in dark room reminiscing all the times I got hurt just because I was the daughter of a Chief Minister, and a IAS officer. My phone broke into pieces as we were running away and I didn't have the chance to go back for my broken phone to ask for help.

Careful and cautious of the surroundings Shreya took me to the dusty and dark basement where Shyam bhaiyya was waiting for me with some other people.

"Take Shreya to the hospital bhaiyya, she got hurt." I told him getting into the car.

"Are you okay Jagati Maa?" Bhaiyya asked me I nodded feeling overwhelmed at the last 4 hours of my life.

"Drink this water and calm down, you are shivering." He said handing me a water bottle and I gulped down all the water with so many emotions flowing through my body.

The 4 hours in that room reminded me what it was like being the daughter of my father, my first kidnap, the attack before joining college, the shooting at my college. I didn't want this, I was better when the world knew I was dead, why would my father do this knowing this would cost me my freedom. I can't go back living behind closed doors.

"We are home." Bhaiyya said getting me out of my thought spiral.

I opened the car door and found myself outside the house, the one my grandfather build for all of us.

I walked into my house with Shyam bhaiyya by my side and found my Papa, Mama, Uncle, Aunty, Grandma, Grandpa, Karthik, Dev and his parents sitting in the living room.

Mama and Papa ran to me and pulled me into a hug making me wince in pain, because of the force.

"What were you doing in that state building? And why didn't you inform me that you were gonna be in town?" My Papa questioned me and I lost the last straw of calmness I was holding on to.

I moved back from my father and mother for the first time in my life, because in that moment I felt suffocated.

It was because of him, that I suffered in a dark place again for hours and now he has the audacity to question me.

How can he ask me that? When he made all the big decisions of my life without my hand in it.

"Did you inform me when you went up on the stage and announced about me? Did you ask me if I wanted to live in the US after the surgery 3 years back? Did you ask my opinion when you said to everyone in the world that I was dead? Did you ask me if I wanted to get homeschooled?" I questioned him with all the anger raising in my body, while he looked devastated, drained and so did my mom.

"Let me tell you the answer, NO..you guys never did. When I was at home, you go to work early in the morning and come back late night, do you know who was in the house all day waiting for someone to talk to?"

I don't know why I am doing this, but my heart feels so heavy and the rush of the pain and fear, the fear of being alone and lonely like I was in the past.

Humans are not meant for loneliness, it is such a dark place and I don't wanna go back there.

"It was always about your state, your people and their welfare. What about me?"

My papa tried to open my mouth but closed it not able to say anything, my Mama is in tears and it hurt me more because I am the reason behind them.

"You say you are protecting me by doing that.. but you either leave me alone or send me away. Why would you do that? When all I ever wanted is to stay with you." I said them brushing the tears off my cheeks reminiscing those awful days of me staying in our home alone.

"The one time life went my way was, when you said yes for college. I had friends for the first time in my life, I had Devansh, but sadly he hurt me too. You wanna know why, because I hid the truth about being your daughter, one lie, one mistake and it was meant to protect him and your jobs but he hurt me every imaginable way possible."

All my life I had to fight for the smallest pleasures, nothing ever came to me easily and when I had it all for the first time my bad luck came again trying to take over my happiness.

"Just remember that, It's not just parents who sacrifice their kids, most of the time, us kids sacrifice everything we love for our parents. Sad thing is no one ever recognizes our effort..but you guys for once in your life, I am begging you to care about me..more."

Saying that I left the living room with blurry eyes and a heavy heart which didn't feel light after yelling at all of them. All the pain and anger didn't go away instead I was being filled with a new emotions like guilt and regret.

As I got out of the house, I realized that I had no where to go, Whatever happened they are my family and I couldn't give them more tensions by running away.

So, I settled myself in the seating area of our lawn in the back, regretting what I said to my family. I heard the crunch of the leaves and footsteps making me look at the sound and it was Devansh carrying a first aid box in his hands.

"If you are here to tell me what I did was wrong, I know that already." I said to him before he could.

"I am not, I won't say a word. Let me clean your wounds." He said kneeling before me.

He rolled my pant up took out some cotton and patted on the wound gently trying not to hurt me and finished wrapping up my leg, he took my hand in his and rolled the sleeve up and starting cleaning the blood off.

"I am messed up and selfish Dev..I hurt my parents and you, again and again..Why do even like me? You can leave if you want to, unlike us you still have the chance, you are not born into this." I told him as he keenly wrapped my elbow with a medical tape.

"I love you Janu and for me leaving you is never an option. I will stay here as long as I can, if that proves to you that you are all that matters to me." He said with so much sincerity in my voice.

Why is he so nice? I did do something good in my life to get some one like him as a boyfriend.

"Why are you so understanding and nice? Why are you not mad at me for whatever I did a few minutes ago?" I questioned him but he just started singing.

"I remember when we broke up the first time, all the voices in my head said why did you let her go, and I knew that I did something bad, because Losing you was blue, like I'd never known, Missing you was dark gray, all alone. But now, I am Standin' in front of you sayin' I'm sorry for that day. I promise everything will be alright if you keep me next to you, You are the best thing that's ever been mine. I want you for worse or for better, Broke your heart, I'll put it back together, I would wait forever and ever." He said them all in a singy tone making me laugh.

"Did you just quote Taylor swifts songs there? " I asked him sniffling through my tears with a smile and he nodded looking back at me with a shy smile on his face.

"Look what you made me do... I could go on if you want."

"That's enough." I stopped him before he could start combining more songs and I pulled him closer to me and placed a kiss on his head.

"I love that smile on your face, I could die peacefully looking at it, Marry me..." He blurted out the last part and my heart just paused at what he said.

"For real Janu, I promise to hug you when you are low, hold you tight when you cry, coddle you with your favorite food and cherish you for life. But remember that there is no relationship without fights, arguments and differences, whatever happens we will figure it out together, just don't give up on me, hold on to me and I promise I'll be there as long as you want me to, because I care about you more than me." He said sitting in a chair before me holding both my hands in his.

The words he spoke just melted away all the anger, pain, fear and all the other negative emotions and filled me with happiness.

"I was ready to marry you 5 years ago and I am ready to marry you now. Also I am sorry for lying to you Dev and bringing up the past again today .." I said to him while he pulled me into a hug, kissed me and made me settle in his lap.

"Don't be sorry, I deserve it." He said clutching me tight and I laid my head on his neck, wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders feeling relaxed in his hold.

"So, I have to tell you a few things before we start over again." I told him and he hummed in response.

"Your parents know about my parents and me.." I paused to look at his face and capture his emotions, but this man is not shocked.

"I figured that out, When did that happen?" He asked calmly hugging me.

"As soon as I woke up in the hospital and realized I am not coming back. I called Uncle, Aunty and told them everything." I replied and he just nodded.

"The cricket day was not the first time I saw you shirtless, I kinda peeked when we were in college once and I don't like your abs, they are not comfy and pillowy. " I complained and he smiled making me peck his cheek.

"You can look at me all you want...I am yours. And about those abs, I can easily replace it with a beer belly like Thor did." He whispered against my ear making me laugh at his silly answer.

"Are you feeling better now? Did you get hurt anywhere else? I lost my mind and it felt like someone punched me out of breath, when I saw Shreya dragging you into the building, I had to come see you." He said and I could feel the trauma he went through as his heart beat went up higher.

"I am good now, you wrapped my knees and elbows in bandages.." I replied feeling relaxed in his arms.

"Now be the good girl you are and go apologize to your family."

"I knew you were gonna make me do that. Did you come here for me or them? " I said making fun of him.

"Listen to me Janu, I agree that he tells you what to do, what not to do  and all the restrictions but the intentions behind them were never to hurt you, they are just to keep you safe and protected.  You have to understand that behind their every action, there is pure love and it's just for you." He said trying to convince me rubbing my back but I know what he said is true.

All my anger previously was me feeling helpless about not being able to do anything and I just took it out on them.

"I know Dev. Let's make a deal, I will apologize if you convince my mama and papa to let me marry you." I grinned at his shocked face.

"Are you planning to kill me before we get married?" He whined like a little baby.

"Let's divide and conquer, I will take your parents and you take mine." I said to him with an evil smile on my face and I could smell the fear coming from him if that's even possible.

"That's not fair, my parents already love you more than me, whereas your whole family hates me. You didn't see them glaring at me when I walked out behind you." He said while I laughed at his misery pulling his cheeks.

"Not my problem, Let's go and talk to my Papa." With that I stood up and dragged him alone with me into the house.

He kept mumbling that today is gonna be his last day, and praying to god to save his life.

I reached my papa who was sitting with my mama and the others in the living room. They looked at me and Devansh, and my papa focused on our hands which are intertwined together.

As soon as Dev felt my dad's eyes on it, he removed himself out of my hold and walked away to his parents.

Traitor, if he scared off touching me before my dad, there is no way in heaven he is gonna ask him permission to marry me.

"I am sorry for bursting out at you. I was confused and overwhelmed.." I said sitting between  them looking down not able to look into their eyes.

After what felt like a long pause my mama said

"We are sorry for not asking your opinion. It's hard for us to come to terms with the fact that you are not a little girl anymore, you are grown up and are capable making your own decisions. But I am glad that you are safe."

"I am still your little girl Mama." I said wrapping my arms around her, regretting my whole fit.

"Papa, Talk to me. I am sorry, Don't be quiet." I shook him as he sat numb.

"You didn't give the chance to talk earlier, Why should I talk now? I got hurt because of your words, you said that I didn't care for you enough and that I left you alone." He pouted at me, and now you know where I get my drama from.

"That should be forgotten, I didn't mean it Papa. I am sorry okay! Don't be a brat and hug me." I said opening my arms to him and he joined me.

Now I feel relived knowing that I did apologize for my mistakes.

"I did tell everyone you are alive and I didn't care if I win or lose the next term because I wanted everyone to know how proud I am of my daughter, for once in my life I wanted to show off my kid to the world and scream at everyone saying that I have the best girl in the world, and when I did do that my little girl yelled at me instead of being happy. And to be honest I was tired of lying to the people who respected me the most, at some point I felt like I didn't deserve it..I am sorry precious but I am really proud of you. And just so you know I love and care for you more than anyone in this world." He ended bringing me to tears.

"I love you too Papa, and I hope you win again." I said and hoped from the bottom of my heart, while he kissed me on my head.

"She threw such a big fuss and you forgave her that easily Uncle, if I was you I would've made her sulk for one more week." Karthik took his shot at me and I glared real hard at him.

"Aunty, Uncle! Let's give him to Samanvi and get rid of him. I promise I will take care of you better than he does." I said to Karthik's parents and everyone laughed.

"No way, you get married and go to your Dev's house. I am staying with my family forever." He struck back at me and i went stiff and stopped breathing looking at my father confused face.

This little annoying piece of meat had to tell my dad now, I was planning it to one step at a time not like a full blown bomb on my dad's head.

I looked at Devansh who's sitting straight and sweating bullets in a fully air conditioned room.

"What are you saying Karthik? Why would my Janu marry him?"Papa asked in doubt and I looked at my Mama to back me up but she just shrugged.

Great! Now is the time for her to give up on me. I am gonna have to sail this boat alone.

I slowly placed my hand in my papa's trying to calm him down before he gets angry at the words coming out of my mouth.

"Papa, I love Dev and he loves me. He asked me to marry him and I said yes.." I said as slowly and in the calmest tone possible.

"That's true sir, I love her more than my own life. I promise to look after her and never make her cry, Would you please give me the permission to marry your daughter?" Dev asked my dad standing up from his place.

"NO, I don't agree to this.. you are not good enough for my Janu...and I am not giving her to you...No offense to your parenting skills Mr and Mrs. Raghuvaran." My papa said wrapping his arms around me protectively while everyone in the room laughed at my fathers reply except for me and Dev.

"She should get married some day Jagadeesh, What are you gonna do then?" My grandma asked my dad and this is what he said.

"There is no rule that a girl should get married. Why does she need someone else when she has me? " My father argued back and I don't know if I should feel happy at his love or sad for Dev and me.

"Then why did you marry my daughter, because you love her right. In the same way Janu and Devansh love each other Jagadeesh." Grandpa tried to make papa understand but my father was in no mood to listen to any living being right now.

"Just because you gave your daughter away doesn't mean I am doing it too. She is not going anywhere or marrying anyone.." He stressed out the last part.

And the argument went this way for another 10 min, with my father not agreeing to get me married off to anyone. I was starting to get worried, looking at my adamant father, at this rate there is never gonna be a Janu and Dev.

I got up from my spot and walked to the kitchen and signaled Dev to follow me. I took a glass from the cupboard and filled it with cold water from the fridge while waiting for him.

"Do you want something?." Dev questioned standing behind me and I jumped a little, spilling some of the water.

"Let's run away and get married." I said facing him after a lot of thought.

"Are you planning to get me killed today? Didn't you hear what's going on in the living room?"

"I did and that's what my problem is? My papa is never going to say yes and I want you, let's get married and come back to him." I tried to convince him but he just looked at me in shock and shook his head vigorously.

"That will hurt your father more Janu. Stop thinking to much and calm down..we will figure it out together okay ?" He questioned holding my hands and I agreed with him as he pulled me into a hug.

Why can't he be immature and hot headed for once?

We have you for that.

Our warm and comforting hug was broken as I heard someone cleared their throat and it was Dev's father, I looked in the direction and found my whole family standing there looking at us in awe except for my papa who is literally digging holes into Dev's body with his eyes.

"Can't you see it? They love each other and She is like my daughter too." Dev's mom said to my dad and I had tears for her love towards me.

"As much as I hate him for what he did, he is the only one who can put up with this ruckus of a daughter we have." Mama said backing me up and threw her hands in the air looking at my disagreeing father.

"Either you get her married to him or I am going back to my parents." She gave an ultimatum and my father frowned.

After what felt like an eternity and lot's of thinking in the room

"Fine, She can marry him.." He agreed with a pout and the room erupted in happiness.

Holy Moly, Chicken and Guacamole..My papa said yes to Dev.. 

I stand corrected today is the best day of my life.I held Dev's hand tighter and looked at his face which is reflecting the same happiness as I am. I mouthed him an I love you and he whispered me too.

Papa slowly walked to me and took my hand from Dev and placed in his.

"I said yes, doesn't mean you keep touching her, Lay your finger on her again and I will kill you.." Papa gritted his teeth at Devansh and walked away dragging me with him.

And that's end of all the sorrows in Janu's and Dev's lives.

I hope you are happy with the way how this is ending. I am having mixed feelings in this moment.

One more chapter and and I will officially be done with Lies and Love.. I am not crying..not at all..

Are you ready for the epic finale? 

I am planning to write a wedding but I got zilch on Indian weddings, the last one I went to was in my 3rd grade.

Let me see what my brain can cook and let me know if you have any awesome ideas that I can implement.

Don't forget to vote and comment.

Love,

Sneha