Aditi POV

"I think now we should leave, it's already evening," I announce when I notice the time on my phone.

"Aww, so soon? We are having so much fun." Maria exclaims unhappy.

After having lunch, Maira yanked all of us to Riya's room for some girl talk. An hour later, Sana joined us and from then we have been talking nonstop.

"Yes, it was fun. Thank you. But look at the time, it's already 9," Maanya admits standing up and fixing her clothing.

"I will be staying here tonight," Sana tells eyeing me. I know what she means by that.

Paakhi has been calling us continuously for the last hour.

But I asked Maanya and Sana to not reply.

I want to talk to her before it's too late.
Why I'm saying this? Because when Maira yanked us to this room, I left my phone downstairs. And to retrieve it, I went back to the living room. On my way back, I heard voices coming from a room at the end of the corridor. Following the source, I found myself in front of Viren's room. Slowly, I sneaked up on the guys to listen to their conversation. Hearing Shaurya yelling at Viren for leaving them, I got an idea that he is leaving because of Paakhi.

"I will go see Arhaan before leaving," Maanya announce, walking down the corridor.

I shrug and decide to see Shaurya before leaving.

Remembering the way to his room from my last visit, I reach his door and knock.

A few seconds later, his door open.

"You look like a mess." Is the first thing I blurt catching a glimpse of his puffy eyes and runny nose.

"You are still here?" He asks turning around and walking inside his room. I follow him and take a seat on his bed.

"What happened to you?" I ask Instead.

"Nothing..." He murmurs falling on his bed, exhausted.

I crawl over to him and nuzzle my head on his arm.

"Tell me," I gently urge.

He passes a sigh and tells, "Bhai is leaving."

"But he'll be back soon, Just as his work finishes," I assure.

"Now that's what is disturbing me," he announces abruptly standing up.

"Because I know this time it will be never. He'll never return. This place has given him nothing except pain. Whenever he wore his heart on his sleeves, someone or the other crushes it under their leg. Leaving my brother hurting. And knowing Paakhi did something like that, I'm devastated." He confesses.

I stand up and walk over to him. Taking his hand in mine, I say, "Paakhi love him,"

"And that is why she left him?" He scoffs.

"You and I both know, that she loves him more than anything. I don't know why she did what she did, but I promise that I will do anything to bring them together. " I promise him.

"Really? Because I too believe that they are meant to be." He says pulling me to him. Shaurya is very kind-hearted, he gets happy and sad very easily. And that is what I love about him.

I snuggle into him and pray that Paakhi realizes her mistake soon.

"Will you help me?" I ask.

"Always!" He declares.

"But what do I have to do?" He asks confuse.

"That I'll tell you on our way to find Maanya so that we can go home and talk to Paakhi," I say tugging him towards the door.

He nods and excitedly pulls me towards where I assume is Arhaan's room. On the way, I explain to him my plan.

Thankfully we didn't need to barge on them because they were already waiting for us.

After our goodbyes and some persistence, that we'll take a cab, we hail a cab to our home.

"It was a bold move there," I say, deliberately making small talks so that drive ends soon.

"What?" She asks confused.

"Getting married without telling anyone," I reply with a smirk.

Due to the dim lighting in the car, I can just make out her lips moving.

"Everything just happened so suddenly. Arhaan asked me to Marry him and I accepted." She confesses.

"Are you happy?" I ask frankly.

"More than happy, after what happened in past, I never imagined someone will ever..." She suddenly stops talking and I hear a muffled sob.
I inch towards her and give her a side hug.

"Let it be, don't spoil your day like this. Whatever happened was meant to be and look at the end, you are happy now. So all of it was worth it." I say quoting what Paakhi always tells me when I remember my past.

"Ya... I just hope everything remains like this." She mumbles.

"Not everything is okay right now, we need to talk to our strong-headed sister before she makes the biggest mistake of her life and regrets it," I announce.

"Yea, but I don't understand what she did, after seeing Viren I know he was not playing with her, then what was the reason for her to reject him. Because as much as I realize now, she is madly in love with him. Is it because of me?" She instantly exclaims.

"No, no, don't fret yourself, we will find out though..." I assure her, seeing we have reached our block.

We exit the cab and walk towards the elevator.

"What will we say?" She asks somewhat nervous.

I shrug, honestly, I don't know.

Reaching the apartment, I use my key and unlock the door.

"Why is everything so dark here?" I ask, flipping the switch on.

"Is she not home?" Maanya inquires, walking towards the living room.
I follow her, "I'll go check her room," she announces walking towards Paakhi's room.

I nod and look in the kitchen and then in the washroom.

Passing the balcony door, I see it's slightly open. So I walk outside and see Paakhi curled up in the corner looking at the sky. I walk over to her and take a seat beside her.

"Why didn't you pick up my call?" She whisper.

"Because I'm angry at you," I whisper back.

"Why? What did I do?" She asks with a smile. A smile that portrays pain, hurt, and misery rather than joy.

"Ask me what did you not do?" I scoff. The worst part is that she is talking looking into the sky. She is speaking like everything inside her has fallen. I feel like crying seeing her like this.

"Will you look at me!" I implore feeling irritated.

"What?" She asks looking into my eyes.

"Tell me?" I ask her.

"Tell you what?" She asks still staring at me.

"You know what Paakhi..." I assert.

"Oh yes, I wanted to ask you that when are we going for your doctor's appointment?" She asks looking away.

"Will you stop doing this, were you not the one who always told us to  share our feeling with each other because we are family?!" I implore feeling irritated.

"What am I suppose to share with you guys when nothing happened?" She laughs it off.

"Now come let's get you something to eat." She says standing up and tugging me up.

"Why Paakhi? why did you do it?" I ask softly, feeling tears pooling in my eyes.

She halts for a second, and I feel like now she'll open up.

"Something is better left untalked." She replies tugging me inside.

"Not when those things involve so many lives." I implore, jerking my hand from her grip.

She stops and whirls around, angry.

"Stop talking about things you don't know anything about. Be happy with your boyfriend." She yells.

It felt like a blow to my heart.

"Then tell us what is that we don't know?" Maanu intervenes joining us in the living room.

"Woah, so now both of you are teaming up against me? " she starts clapping mockingly.

"When did you guys become so caring? And Maanya you should be happy right? No more Viren in my life." She exclaims.

I can see she's channeling her anger on us. She is baffled by the emotions surging.

"I never had anything against Viren, I just thought he was not serious about
You." She confesses sadly.

"Then what changed?" Paakhi implore.

"My perception, seeing that man hurt because of you, I realized that he loves you," Maanu exclaims walking towards her and taking her hand in her own."You always say that destiny plays its role and our meeting and making a small family was part of it. But now it's playing again, we met amazing people and one of them became special to us. For me, it is Arhaan, For Aditi it's Shaurya, and for you..."

"For you it's Viren," I say walking forward and taking her other hand.

"But he is wrong for me, we belong to two different worlds. We can never become equal. And what is the meaning of a relationship where two people can never be equal?" She mumbles looking at both of us.

"Paakhi, Your heart chose him, so he can never be wrong for you. And for being equal, money never makes anyone equal, it's love. Today you have money tomorrow you might not have it, but your love for each other remains the same. And that love makes you stand for each other." Maanya acknowledge.

"Do you love him Paakhi?" I ask.

"I do, I love him very much. But my mind tells me that I'm cursed to be alone. No one can ever love me. He thinks he loves me but soon he'll know he was wrong. And when he'll leave and I'll be over. I don't have the strength to know that he doesn't love me. It is better to think that I was the one to reject him and not the other way around." She admits. I never thought that the person who seems so strong and always motivates us to stay positive has insecurities. She is scared, she is scared to lose Viren.

"What happened yesterday at that balcony?" I ask the one question that is the start of this mess."What did he say?"

"Nothing! I didn't give him a chance to say anything." She replies ashamed.

"Then how can you infer that he doesn't love you? What if yesterday he was going to confess everything? You didn't even give him the chance." I chide feeling like slapping her.

"Hush..." Maanu orders me and tugs Paakhi towards her.

"We can not guarantee love, you know that. But imagine what if you guys are meant to be? You not giving both of you a chance is cowardness. And if God forbid it didn't work out, you will still have memories to smile too. But right now you rejecting this opportunity will snatch this chance forever." She expresses.

Paakhi lay her head in Maanya's lap and sobs leave her mouth.

"Will he talk to me after I hurt him?" Paakhi mumbles sadly.

"He might have, but..." Maanu says.

"But what?" Paakhi asks terrified.

"But he's leaving, he might be at the airport right now." Maanya lets out.

"Leaving? Where is he going?" Paakhi asks mortified.

"New York. And maybe forever." Maanya mumble.

Hearing it Paakhi fall to the ground and tears sprung out of her eyes continuously.

"I lost him... I destroyed my happiness. " she rambles.

"Now I can never apologize for my mistake and tell him how much I love him." She mumbles sadly.

"You can!" I exclaim abruptly.

They both look at me appalled.

"How?" They both ask together.

"We will go to the airport, I can stop him! You are great!" Paakhi suddenly exclaims and vaults towards the door.

"I was saying..." I yell behind her.

"This girl!" I chide, collecting my wallet and phone and running after her.

"You use the elevator, I will go after her." Maanya exclaim running downstairs.

I press the button impatiently. Then my phone chime and I grab it to see a text from Shaurya. His text put a smile on my face.

I ditch the elevator and take the stairs. The baby is not here yet, and anyway, no one is here to notice.

Exiting the building I see Paakhi and Maanya running down the lane.

"This girl acts like an idiot." I huff. Is she planning on jogging to meet Viren?

Seconds later I hear the screeching of tires and a car park in front of me.

"Where are they?" Shaurya asks looking behind me.

I point down the lane and then look at him to see his face contour into an expression saying, 'crazy girls!'

"Hop in, they have already left for the airport." He exclaims.

I nod and rush towards the passenger side.

"Did you eat anything? And did you take your meds?" He asks driving down the lane.

"No, I will once everything gets over," I answer.

"I will let it pass this time but never miss your meds again." He chides and blows the horn, causing Paakhi and Maanya to look back.

"Are you planning on jogging to the airport?" I jest.

Paakhi flush red and Maanu laugh. They both enter the car and we zoom towards the airport.

"Can you drive fast?" We hear Paakhi ask from the back.

"I'm driving as fast as I can, and this might not happen if you would have not hurt my brother." Shaurya retort.

I turn back to see Paakhi looking outside the window, tears streaming down her face. So I hit Shaurya and scowl at him.

He rolls his eyes and apologizes, "I'm sorry Paakhi."

"No, you are right. This is my fault. But thank you for helping me." She softly replies.

Her voice comes out strained because she is holding her tears back.

We all ride in silence, everyone anticipating what will happen now.

Sometime later, his phone ring, he picks it up, "Bhai?"

"My tire punctured, I'm just coming." He answers his phone.

"Early? Why?" His tone becomes anxious.

"What happened?" I aks when he hangs up.

"He is flying early. Within 5 minutes or so." He replies dejectedly.

"What?! Why? This is not possible! They can't prepone a flight like this." I exclaim.

"He can, it's his jet. He informed the authorities earlier." Shaurya exclaim.

"Wait, you thought he is taking a public flight?" He asks noticing confusion on my face.

"He has his private jet." He chuckles seeing my eyes go wide.

"Man! He's filthy rich." Words blurt out of my mouth.

"We will not make it on time..." Smile disappears from my face when I hear the painful tone of Paakhi.

___________________________________________________

Viren POV

"We will miss you brother," Arhaan whisper, hugging me.

"You can visit me anytime," I tell staring at my brother and imprinting everything about him in my brain. Who knows when will I see him again.

"Where is Shaurya? I have to leave..." I say glancing at my watch.

"His tire got punctured. He's on his way." He informs.

"Okay, so I will call him then. Take care of everyone, and look after her for me, please." I request.

"She's the reason you are leaving and you want me to look after her?" He scoffs.

"We talked about it, she's not the reason." I assert for the umpteenth time.

"Really? Because I don't believe it. I hate her, she is the most manipulative woman I have ever seen." He chides.

"Enough! Don't forget she's the woman I love. You can't speak about her like that. She had her reasons for doing what she did. And for the last time. She is the reason I learned to smile again. I have more reasons to love her and respect her than to hate her. She is a woman who my heart chose. It will always be hers. Maybe we'll meet again in another world." I reply remembering her beautiful face.

"I can never forgive her..." He mumbles, a tear slipping down his eyes.

I tug him forward and hug him.

"Be strong for Shaurya, and Mom. Now you have to look after them, he will be a father soon. Be there for him. And of course, your wife. Always keep her happy. "  I ramble things because remembering her, my heart is urging me to not go and my mind is telling me to leave. This inner conflict is making my emotions heighten.

So I take a step back and walk towards my jet.

I control myself from looking back.

Just as I reach the stairs, I look at the sky and remember her for the last time.

I'm going away for a fresh start, and taking her memories with me will only hurt me.

I close my eyes and recall her beautiful thick brown hair falling over her face. I remember her beautiful expressive eyes, her sensuous lips curling up into a full-blown smile. I recall her saying my name.

"Viren!" Her voice sounds so real.

I will miss her. Her beautiful soft voice.

"Viren!" Why am I recalling her voice again and again?

"Please don't go..." Hearing this my eyes jerk open and I whirl around.

There she stands, looking disheveled. Her hair is falling from her bun and her clothes are wriggled in places.

But still, she looks beautiful. Standing there calling my name.

"I'm sorry, please dont go! I can't live knowing I hurt you." She yells looking at me.

We are almost 10 feet away.

"I love you Viren, I love you very much! I was a fool to let you go. But not again." She confesses.

Seeing her crying, I recall yesterday. I was in her place begging, and she was standing there looking at me. Some would say she was cruel, but I know my crazy girl, she would have never hurt me without a reason. I could see the struggle in her eyes yesterday. She was in as much pain as me.

So without a delay, I leap forward and rush towards her. Seeing me coming, she runs towards me and meets me halfway.

We stand so close that if we move an inch our lips could touch.

"I'm sorry!" She mumbles, I forget everything and tug her towards me. Our lips clash and I kiss her feverishly. 

I could taste the saltiness of her tears but we don't stop.

The next minute, I hear hooting and clapping behind us.

Backing away, I worm an arm around her and pull her close. Now I can't stand a second when I can't feel her warmth.

"Finally!!!" Shuarya exclaim bouncing up and down.

Maanya and Aditi, rush forward and yank Paakhi from my arms.

"Bhai!!!" Shaurya exclaims excitedly and hugs me.

"Thank you for bringing her to me," I mumble to him.

"It was not me, your love pulled her to you." He lets out.

I feel a smile take over my face.

"Mr.Singh! Congratulations." Aditi exclaim and jumps on me.

"You can call me Viren," I tell her.

"Enough, you can hug me now." Shaurya exclaim, pulling her from me.

I laugh seeing my possessive brother.

"Congratulations, and welcome to the family," I tell Maanya when she walks over to me.

"Huh? Family?" I hear Paakhi exclaim.

Maanya and Aditi exchange a look before looking at Paakhi.

"What is it?" She asks adamantly.

Maanya looks down and Aditi looks away.

"What did you do Maanu?" She implores.

"We got married!" Arhaan shouts walking forward and taking Maanya into his arms.

Paakhi's eyes go wide. She looks appalled.

"Married? When?" She asks confuse.

"Today!" Arhaan retort.

"Why so suddenly? What were you thinking Maanu?" Paakhi implore.

"It was our decision and I don't think we need to explain anything to you." He retorts.

I scowl at Arhaan for being rude to her.

"Paakhi, please. I'm sorry." Maanu express.

"Maanu, I'm not angry, just... Just surprised. I'm happy for you, I know how much he loves you. I wish both of you a happy and healthy married life." Paakhi says stepping forward and hugging Maanya.

"Guys...sorry to interrupt but I'm hungry. Can we go eat something?" Aditi exclaim.

Everyone nods and Shaurya takes her towards his car.

Just as Paakhi steps away from me, I hold her hand and tug her back.

"What?" She asks smiling at me.

A contagious smile spread over my face.

"Let me see you to my heart's content," I say looking at her from top to bottom.

"Stop," she announces hitting me lightly. "you are making me embarrassed."

"Why?" I ask pulling her closer.

"I look like a maniac right now, my hair is everywhere, my clothes are coiled up and I have tear stains on my face." She concedes.

"Yet you look beautiful," I admit and nuzzle her face with mine.

"Viren?" She lets out.

"Hmm..." I mumble.

"I'm sorry, for yesterday." She professes.

"It's okay, I'm happy you are here though." I acknowledge.

"Were you going to leave tonight?" Her voice sounds painful.

I exhale gradually and answer, "yes."

"Because of me?" She asks glancing at me.

"Not entirely, I have work calling for me," I answer, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"But I was a reason..." She mumbles sadly.

"I love you Paakhi and admitting my feelings for you was a struggle on its own. But when you denied my feelings, I had a breakdown. I remembered things that would have destroyed me. Somethings occurred in my past and loving again became a struggle for me. But I did I fell in love with you. And it was the most beautiful moment of my life. But when you said no, I thought it's better to leave with good memories and start new. I don't know how I would have done that, but I decided to do it." I admit.

"I'm sorry, I behaved so inconsiderately, and I..." Her voice break. I gently soothe her.

"What was your reason though?" I ask one thing that has been bugging me.

"My insecurities and responsibilities." She murmurs.

"Responsibility and insecurity?"  I ask confuse.

"I needed money for Maanya and Arhaan's wedding and of course for Aditi's pregnancy, you know doctor appointments then medicines, everything needs money. And I don't have a lot of it." She mumble, I can hear the vulnerability in her tone.

"You were going to resist your feelings for others?" I ask surprised. Who is this woman? I never met anyone in my life who is more selfless than her. I know more than selfless she is self-reliant, she would have never asked for money from anyone.

"But that's not the actual reason, I guess my insecurities played a bigger role. I..." She take a deep breath and look into my eyes.

"I felt that you don't love me, I just don't deserve to be loved. Every time I love someone or the other they leave me. My parents couldn't love me, why will you?" She lets out and takes a step away from me.

"I know you will realize that you don't need me and you'll leave. And then I will shatter. So I thought it's best to reject you before you do." She admits staring at me.

"Why would you think that? Of course, I love you, and more than that I care for you. Paakhi this isn't a college romance that I got Impressed by your looks or something. Your heart tugged me to you. You are special, you are the most caring and honored person. And being deserving, I think, I don't deserve you..." Just as I decide to tell her about my past.

"Sir, we need to leave now." My pilot interferes.

"Leave? I thought you'll not be leaving?" Paakhi asks terrified. She steps towards me and grabs my hand.

"I promise I will not make stupid decisions again, please don't leave..." Tears spill out of her eyes.

"Hey, don't cry, I will be back in two days. I promise. There is some problem at the office in New York, and it needs my immediate assistance. " I explain.

"You will be back?" She asks like a scared child.

"I will always return to you. Because my heart belongs to you and I can't live without it for a long time." I jest at the end.

She passes me a smile, making my heart bloom.

"Hey, love birds? If you don't scramble now, my baby mama will eat me." I hear Shaurya shout from his car.

"Sorry, I'm just saying my goodbyes here," I exclaim back.

"Goodbye's?!" Aditi exclaim from beside him. Just as I nod, simultaneous opening of car doors is heard.

"What did she do now?!" "Is it because of her?" "Paakhi!" These are the things we hear.

"What kind of woman are you? " Arhaan scoff looking at her.

I see Paakhi feeling hurt by his tone.

"I have some work, I need to take care of, but I will be back in two days," I announce.

"Aww, we thought now you will take her to someplace private and make love to her, then soon we will have babies together. They can be best friends." Aditi pout.

I feel Paakhi curve up behind my back, when I peek at her, I see her flushed face.

"I wish I could do all that, But right now I need to leave. But when I get -" I feel Paakhi punching me.

"Shut up, both of you!" She scowls at us, but her still blushing expression makes her look cute.

"Sir..." My pilot intervenes again. I see the urgency on his face.

"Okay guys, I will see you in two days," I exclaim to everyone else.

And then turn towards Paakhi, "Take care of yourself, and when I return we will talk about us and everything else, no more secrets." I affirm.

When she nods, I steal a kiss and jog to the plane, before our aviation time expires.

Seeing her standing there with everyone, I feel like taking her with me, because she belongs with me.

______________________________________________________

Paakhi POV

"He'll be back," I hear Shaurya whisper to me.

I nod and wipe the tears from my eyes.

"Now let's go, after all this drama, I'm famished." Aditi exclaim. I nod and follow her to Shaurya's car.

Once again I look into the starry sky and pray for his safe flight. I feel sad that he had to leave, there is so much to say and talk about. I don't know how these two days will pass, I'm missing him every second that passes by.

"What do you want to eat baby?" I hear Shaurya ask Aditi.

"Something spicy!" She perks up.

"No" "No" both Shaurya and I exclaim concurrently.

"It will harm the baby," Shaurya chide.

"No, it won't" Aditi retort.

"Yes, it will!" Shaurya exclaim.

"Paakhi tell her!" He asks me.

"Umm...actually, the spicy food will not hurt the baby but will cause Aditi heartburn and indigestion," I explain.

"Oh, but still no spicy food," Shaurya says.

I smile seeing how caring he's acting towards Aditi.

"Shaurya..." I ask.

He glances at me through the rearview mirror and I proceed, "Are you still angry at me?" I ask consciously.

"I can never be angry at you Paakhi, I love so much to remain angry with you." He admits. I feel a sigh of relief leave my mouth.

"I love you too," I exclaim and leap forward, between their seats and pass him a grin.

"Now you are scaring me." He jests, causing the three of us to laugh.

"I missed seeing you smiling," I hear Aditi whisper, when I glance towards her, I see she's looking at me with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," I mumble hugging her.

"I'm happy everything is finally okay," she admits. Caressing my hand.

"Not yet, you need to tell everyone about your pregnancy first." I confide.

"Hmm..." She mumbles dishearten.

"What say we get married like Arhaan and Maanya?" He exclaims abruptly.

Both Of us look at him, and his smile vanishes seeing our frowning faces.

"Do you think your mom will be able to take it? Especially your aunty Reshma?" Aditi scowl.

"Yaa.." Shaurya nods in understanding.

"What did their Aunt do?" I ask seeing Aditi cursing this Aunt.

"Ask me what did she not do," she chides and looks outside the window.

"Tell me?" I urge.

"Okay so listen," she starts, and our chat continues when we decide to go through a drive-thru. To Shaurya's dismay, Aditi was so angry at his aunt that she scolded him for being his nephew and barged out of his car.

Poor Shaurya just kept nodding his head to whatever Aditi was saying. When I asked him to come upstairs he said that he would better sleep peacefully till he can, because soon he'll have to tend to his moody girlfriend.

I laughed at his exhausted face and wished him a good night before going upstairs.

Just as I was exiting the elevator, I bumped into Arhaan.

Before I could say anything he turned around and took the stairs instead of the elevator.

Seeing his coldness towards me, my heart aches, Arhaan, and Shaurya are like brothers to me. Especially Arhaan, he is the only one who understands me.  But I messed it all up. Now he's so angry at me that he'll not look at me for a second without glaring.

Entering the apartment, I see Maanya and Aditi both already in their room, So I walk over to mine and lay down, not before texting Viren to call me when he lands.

Sleep comes to me instantly, and I get lost in the events of tonight.

_______________________________________________________

Hey lovelies, what's up?

So how was the update, I know a little boring but I promise next will be a lot of fun.

Thank you for reading, please vote and comment.

Have a great day ahead.