The University

Pia was continuously dialling her lab friends number to get to know about the actuality of Harish's health condition.

"Aghh...why doesn't he pick the phone?!" saying so Pia slumped the phone on her desk and dunked her head hiding herself in her arms.

"Hey! What's up? Why are so upset?" Tia came near her and elbowed her trying to gain her besties attention.

"Nothing, I have been trying to reach my friend in the lab. He is not answering my phone," Pia said frustrated at the n number times that she had tried reaching out to her friend.

"Pia, have you forgotten?!" Tia asked getting a confused look from Pia.

Tia huffed saying "All the medical officials are on strike...till day after tomorrow,"

Pia face palmed herself saying "No wonder he was not taking my calls. They said something about not taking services for their patients...ugh!! What am I gonna do?!"

Tia asked her the reason for her tensed self. She told her that she was looking for someone to test the blood samples for the evidence of any unknown drugs.

Tia told her to wait till the strike was over as she would not get any labs who would test it out immediately.

Lucky cam jogging towards them and smiled receiving frowned faces. To which he suggested to head to the library as they were supposedly late on their assignment submission.

So, the trio went to the library to work on their assignments.

Joshi residence

Hardik's room

Hardik came out of his washroom drying his wet hair to find his brother royally playing on his PSP4.

Hardik marched towards him and grabbed him by his back collar. He peeled him from the gaming seat and made him to leave the room.

"Dude! I was on the last level! What's your problem?! Sheesh!" Himanshu shrugged his shoulders straightening himself.

"And moreover, I am your elder! Give me some respect dude!" Himanshu was slightly upset with his younger brother who used to behave like the eldest at times.

Hardik avoided him and went to his closet to change into his causal wear.

He donned the tommy Hilfiger white windowpane check twill casual shirt with his regular denims and white sneakers. He styled his hair with some gel to set them on place.

*Whistle*

Hardik gave a death stare at his sibling who apparently didn't leave his room even after the humiliation.

"Somebody is gonna get slayed tonight! Poor Sanya! Hope she has insurance; coz you are going out to kill!" Hardik turned around scrunching his facial muscles at his awful comments. He just tossed him his spray bottle onto him and moved out of his room. Not before saying

"Get out of my room, Now!"

Himanshu gave a devilish grin and royally trodden out of the room.

In the living room

Nithya was assisting the maid in serving the dinner to the family members smiling elegantly as always.

Harshvardhan snickered at the fake care that his daughter in law was pouring on his lovestruck son. He thought that if not her love, excessive sugar would definitely give diabetes to his son.

"Dadu!" Harish came towards the dining table to get a smile from his grandpa.

"Shri! Arrey? Where are you going? At this time? Anything special?" 

Hardik came towards them and spoke

"Dadu, we want to meet up with our friends. So, a small get together that's all," Dadu was relieved that Hardik was accompanying Harsh giving him a breath of relief.

Both the brothers moved out of the house ignoring a specific person even after she approached them to have their dinner. Hardik politely told her some random excuse and moved out as he was forcefully grabbed by his elder.

"Why do you need to explain to her? Its not like she is our real mother!" Hardik gave a disappointing look to his brother but understood his reasoning.

"Even though. Dad loves her and we have to respect his decision. Have I not told you before to atleast talk to her...for the sake of our father!" Harsh gave a 'what' look and shaked his head.

Hardik didn't waste any time and drove to their usual club to meet up with old friends.

Barve residence

"Where is this girl? I tell her everytime, not to waste her time and energy in that house! But who listens to me! humph! Let her come, I will really..." Mrs. Barve was waiting for Pia near the front door blabbering and cussing at the Joshi family to take the major part of her daughter's life.

Pia came jogging towards the front door and smiled at her mom. But her smile turned upside down seeing the anger face of her mom.

"Is the time to come home, huh? Haven't I told you to not spend your time and energy with those selfish family, huh? Why don't you listen to me, Pia?!!" Pia tried to speak but her mom continuously shouted at her.

She just stood there till her mom finished her lecture.

After some time, Pia found the gap to explain to her mom that she had stayed back in the university library to finish her assignment.

Pia moved inside the house and went straight to the kitchen to have a glass of cold water. She quenched her thirst and looked at the confused state of her mom.

Keeping the bottle on the kitchen counter she went near her mom and spoke

"Mom, I promised you that I would break all ties with that family. Then why don't you trust me? I didn't go there today! I was busy with my work in the university and moreover you know I would never break my promise, especially with you," Mrs. Barve felt guilty at the words that she blurted out at her honest daughter without knowing the truth.

Pia moved out of the kitchen clutching her bag to freshen up in her room.

Pia's room

Pia came out of the washroom drying her hair. Her mom was sitting on her bed clutching her childhood photo caressing it.

Mrs. Barve sensed Pia and spoke "You were 6 years when you wanted your first barbie doll. After much deliberation and your non-stop crying, we bought it for you. Do you remember?"

Pia nodded her head smiling.

"And this is the first lab toy that you wanted for your 14th birthday. You ditched your birthday dress for this piece of plastic junk saying that you can wear those flashy dress whenever you want but you wont get the first edition medica lab toy after it is sold out! I bought it for you that too,"

Pia came near her mom and put her head on her shoulder to get a soothing caress.

"But Pia...please don't ask me for something that I don't want to give it you. Someone who can ruin your life and make it a living hell. I can't stand that...I am your mother... I cant see my own flesh and blood getting tormented every day of her life. So, I hope you understand that,"

Pia understood the context of her mother's words and looked up to her. She wiped her mother's tears and spoke

"And I am your daughter who knows that whatever you have wished for me will only give me happiness...a 1000 times...no less...and as I have told you mom, I would never break my promise. I will agree to marry with whoever you fit good enough for me..."

Mrs. Barve pursed her lips and nodded looking down. She spoke

"They are coming tomorrow to...do the official meet up and maybe after the initial match up of the star signs and all. We might have the perfect match for my princess, hm?"

Pia gave her best smile and nodded to get a loving kiss on her forehead. Mrs. Barve hugged her daughter getting assured that no bad evil will befall on her princess.

The Club

Hardik and Harish were vibing to the blasting music in the club and catching up along with their college mates.

"You should meet her... I mean I was like really...is she the same Rashmi that used to wipe her nose and plait her greasy hair! I mean God really does some serious shits with time?!!" one of their college mates were explaining one of their college mates who had promised to visit them after a long gap of 12 years.

After some time, the music played by the DJ moved with the seductress who entered the club making each and every being turn their attention to her. 

She had worn an off shoulder black and silver mermaid dress with silver accessories to accentuate her bold look.

Hardik was wide eyed at his college mate who had suddenly turned from being a bookworm to a seductress.

"Hey boys, remember me?" Rashmi made herself comfortable in one of the chairs and gave a teasing look at the wide-eyed men. But her sight went to the one person who was least bothered with her presence. She immediately recognised the ill tongued, bad brat of the Joshi family who apparently was her saviour in college.

"Harish Joshi, long time no see, old pal! When did you land and you never called me! how rude!" Rashmi brushed her fragile hands on his toned biceps which were holding inside his Armani checkered shirt.

"Why? Coz the last time I checked; you were a totally different person! Not the plastic version...of you," Harish whispered the last words bending near to her. Rashmi smirked saying

"People change Shri! Some for goodness, while some to hide their goodness. *sigh* enough about it. Tell me...how are you?"

Harish looked at her and saw the same glitter in her eyes that he had seen in the last day of their college.

'Shri, promise me that you will call us when you reach in your dorm in Toronto,'

'I don't want to give fake promises. I have already broken a heart. I don't want to break any more,'

'Shri, we are your friends, you will never break us. We have been through thick and thin'

'That is the reason why I don't want to keep this friendship anymore'

'Shri!'

"Breathing! For now..." Rashmi understood his context and looked at the dance floor. She looked back at him and grabbed his arms nudging to the dance floor. He refused at first but she was adamant and swore on their old friendship bond.

Harish danced freely with Rashmi ignoring the death stare from his college mates who were obviously jealous of their cold-hearted friend getting all the attention from the seductress. 

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