Pehle kyun na mile hum
Tanha hi kyun Jale hum
Milke muqammal hue hain
Yaa the tanha bhale hum
Saware.. saware.. saware...
Na humaara Hua na tumhara huaa
Ishq ka ye sitam na gawara huaa

═❋═❋═

I'm tired of fighting, slaying all the dragons I know I'm not alone in this, I want to win this fight cause my heart and my body can only take so much it is charred with scars given by those dragons, each time I'm trying to fight I'm only falling deeper into the dark pit.

Where is the magic, in which I have always believed? When someone will come to rescue me?

My demons are constantly whispering in my ear, constantly reminding me that I'm nothing and I'm not sure for how long I can hold off for how long I can ignore and not believe what they are telling me.

These days it is becoming harder and harder for me to let the happiness settle in because I'm afraid that the ghosts are standing right outside the door and when I start to let myself enjoy they will come and snatch it away taking away the last shred of it.

How am I supposed to think straight when my demons won't let me?

"Mihika, what are you doing out here?" Maa's voice pulls me out of my train of thoughts.
I realized it has started pouring I ran inside the house"I...I uh didn't realize it was raining".

"What is wrong Mihika, something is bothering you," Maa says bringing a towel for me.
"I honestly don't know anymore" I answered back.

I don't know what is bothering me more Anay being gone or me feeling something towards Viraj or maybe both of them.

"Talk to me Mihika, this is not like you" Maa goes on making circles on my knuckles, her warm hands giving me a soothing feeling.
"Maa, I'm standing at a two-way street, and I don't know in which direction I belong" my eyes welling up with tears.
"It's simple Mihika, ask what your heart wants and you will get the answer," she says smiling.
"Only if it was that easy Maa" my voice got small and broke down.

"Listen Mihika, you can only hold onto the memories of Anay so tight but you cannot let those stop you from living your life, moving on finding someone who would fill that void you feel," she said.

"I know this won't be easy for you, but sweetheart you have your whole life in front of you, and at some point in time everyone needs someone" she adds.
"I know Maa, I'm not ready to let go of Anay" I replied as a soft sob escapes my mouth.
"Meri Bachi, Anay is already gone all you have his memories and I'm not saying to let them go always remember that cherish those but you also need to find happiness for yourself" she continues.

I nodded she gives a kiss on my head "you better sleep now" she says and leaves for her room.
I got up and went into my room, it was getting a bit chilly here now also it is been raining for a whole week, which reminds me I haven't seen Viraj didn't even call I just couldn't bring myself to go see him though I have been taking updates from Kabir.

I lied down on the bed looking at the ceiling which has stars and moon they twinkle when we turn the light off, Maa never changed my room it is been the same since I was a kid I was obsessed with these stars and moon.

People say time heals everything but what if it doesn't, I have cried shed tears from the day I lost Anay. Everything inside me is getting desolated day by day though we meet often whenever I close my eyes but lately, that image is getting blurred almost like the mind is trying to replace it with some other person's face.

What should I do? I have felt helpless before but this is something else.

I closed my eyes trying to ignore the facts my mind keeps throwing at me and try to sleep again, which doesn't come to be easy nowadays.

∆∆∆∆

The warm rays of sunlight set on my skin I open my eyes welcoming the new day in the hope it will bring something good in my life that is all I can hope for.

I took a bath helped Maa prepare breakfast then we left for the grocery shopping, on the way there I got a call from Kabir to come down to the station.

"It's okay I'll take the taxi," Maa says giving me her warm smile.

I quickly drove in the direction to the station and when I reached it I saw Kabir, Jai and Bani I wonder what they are doing here hoping everything is fine at home.

"What is it, Kabir?" I ask stepping up the flight of stairs.
"Well your idea worked and also these two have something to say to you," he says and went inside.

"What is it, guys?" I ask Jai who had this embarrassed look on his face.
"We heard Ma talking on a call with someone, she was saying that she gave one job to them it was to kill you and Viraj but that didn't happen" Jai lets out.

"She seemed so angry Bhabhi" Bani adds.
"Maybe it's the guy who tried to kill Viraj in that accident" it's possible because all the other three are in police custody or maybe he was calling the shot all the while.
"Bhabhi, please be careful I never thought even in my dreams Maa would do something like this" Jai says as he looks at me with an embarrassing look on her face.

"Don't worry Jai, everything will be fine" I said giving him an assuring smile.

We sat there in silence for a moment then Kabir came out "we have the confession" he had a triumphant smile.

"So Manmohan was involved in the embezzlement, later Jai's mother found out somehow she blackmailed him the only thing he did was cut the oil line and the goons were hired to scare you, but there is someone else in the picture who was in direct contact with Padmini Auntie" Kabir explains further.

I took a step back" are you sure?" I confirm again.
"Yes Mihika he took her name, now all we need is a confession from her that's where you come in the picture," Kabir says.
"How am I supposed to do that she is not just going to confess everything?" I question.

"Call her and tell her we have a confession of everyone, rile her up a bit I'm sure it will work" Kabir adds.
"Are you sure it will work?" Jai questions with a doubt in his voice.
"It should and don't worry Mihika my team will be there to back you up" Kabir replies.

"Okay, we do this tomorrow" I answered with confidence, this is it everything ends now.

My Anay will finally find peace, and my heart will be at peace knowing that person who hurt us will be behind bars getting what she deserves.

I may have been covered in wounds from the fight we all have been fighting but I'm glad I didn't give up or forget the reason behind this fight, this love inside me for Anay has proved that it can be both beautiful and powerful. It was my love for him that turned out to be powerful and my strength.

We all left and I drove off to the hospital, I have to tell Viraj he would be so happy to know this new information on the way I informed Maa that I'm going to the hospital.

I reached the hospital Viraj was looking much better now he was asleep looking so peaceful at the same time.

Should I wait for him to wake up? Or should I wake him up?

"Mihika?" He calls out my name in his raspy tone.
"How are you?" I sat down on the stool.
"Never been better" he replied with a chuckle sitting up.

"How is the investigation going?" He asks.
"We got them," I said with happiness in my tone.
"We got them?" He asks as to confirm.

I nodded and we pull in each other for a hug. He groans a little before putting his hands around my waist and suddenly I felt this weird rush through my body leaving a tingling sensation all over me. We stayed there for a moment until we realized the position we were in I was the first one to pull away, he clears his throat.

"We got the confession now all we need is a confession from Chachi Ji," I said to clear the awkwardness in the air.
"I knew those bastards will come around and will spill everything" Viraj adds.
"I uh gotta leave I'll drop by later," I said hesitantly moving away from him, I shouldn't have done that.

"Mihika" his soft voice stops me and the light grip on my wrist.
"Look Viraj, this cannot happen," I think it's better if I'm being straightforward with it, I don't want him to be thinking anything else.
His face drops eyes followed to our hands the way he was holding it, was doing something to me, I don't want him to keep holding my hand neither I want him to let it go.

But I mustn't go in that direction it will only bring pain to both of us, I love Anay too much to let anyone take his place in my heart or my life. The look his eyes hold is like he is telling me his heart is open, exposing his feelings, pure and naked though his mind is also filled with doubts.

"No, you are right," he sighs, and let go of my hand and suddenly I regret saying that it won't work.

Why my mind is like a rollercoaster right now? Why can't I think straight?

I have always been sure of things in my life but somehow Viraj is bringing the worst doubts out of me, I can hear my heart calling for a change, holding some kind of invisible door waiting for me to get through it so I can finally be ready to embrace my life without Anay but something is stopping me how am I supposed to move forward just like that.

Is it even right?

If I take a step forward in this direction will I be able to ever forgive myself, will I ever have peace of mind, which seems to be far away from my reach even now.

I left the room abruptly and drove off to somewhere, where probably my thoughts will be a little less loud and I can hear what my heart has to say.

I went to the abandoned building where Anay and I used to come to spend some time away from everyone and now this is the only place where I seem to be at ease and peace. Anay is that part of me that I can never let go of, which I can never just lock away he will always be my husband.

The ringing of my phone brings me out of my thoughts it was Kabir " yes Kabir".
"It's time Mihika, you need to do it now, they all are ready to testify against her," he says, sounding like gasping for air.
"I thought we were doing this tomorrow" I questioned, something doesn't feel right though.
"Okay, I'll invite her to my house" I replied hesitantly.
"No need we have a place it's like uhh off-site location where we investigate criminals so you come here rest we'll handle from here" he adds, for some reason I was having troubled feeling a little voice in the back of my mind is telling me I shouldn't listen to him.

"Kabir let's do it tomorrow I don't feel right" I wasn't sure exactly why I'm feeling like this but something is wrong.
"No, it has to be today Mihika don't you want her to be behind bars as soon as possible" he tries to convince me, his voice had this urgency in it as if more eager than me he is dying to get Padmini Chachi behind bars.
"I want this to happen Kabir, but as discussed" I answered back sternly.

There was a silence for a moment on the other side "look Mihika if you don't come to the said place right now, you might lose someone else and I'm sure you don't want that" the voice from the other side of the call was unfamiliar, maybe it's that other guy who Chachi Ji hired.

"You don't have much time now, Mihika" I heard Chachi Ji's loud voice followed by her laugh before I could say anything the call was disconnected.

I quickly dialed Jai's number but it was not reachable, I tried Bani's number but same response. I hope what I'm thinking is not true there is no way Chachi Ji would hurt her son, without wasting more time I drove off to the address I just received.

On my way there I texted Viraj at least someone should know where I'm going so at least someone will be there to get the backup, I'm not going down that easy and I'm not letting Padmini win this fight, she has lost all the respect and love I had for her in my heart. I should've seen this coming from the start but I was too blinded to even think that someone from our family could betray us but then it is always the least expected people who stab you in the back leaving you to bleed on the floor and just stand over you holding all the power making you feel hopeless and powerless.

I reached the abandoned factory, one of ours this is the place where Jai is been planning to start his own business.

I entered inside taking all the steps carefully, I walked more inside and saw Kabir tied to the chair, along with Jai and Bani. The sight of Kabir gave me gut-wrenching pain he was beaten to pulp almost looked unconscious as for Jai and Bani they were alright not even a scratch then what are they doing here.

No one else was there I ran towards them to untie "ah ah not so quickly Mihika" I felt cold metal on my head.
I took a step back from Jai"what do you want?"
"You know what I want," she says with a gun on my head.

"You don't?" She asks with a smug look on her face.

"Okay, no worrying I'll tell I want a confession," she says.
"Confession?" I raise my eyebrow at her, she has lost it.
"Yes, that you murdered our sweet boy Anay for his money, business, and everything," she adds faking concern and wiping fake tears.
I laughed at her"you must be joking".
"No, I'm not and you will give confess to killing your husband or this little detective goes boom boom" she continues, she is talking nonsense.

"You are not getting lies from me" I spat out every word angrily.
"Oh I am or else you will lose him or maybe these two" she points a gun at first to Kabir's forehead then Jai and Bani.
"He is your son and daughter-in-law, how can you even think of killing them" I looked at her in shock and disbelief.
"Everything is for them, now confess," she fumes in anger.

She clicks removing the safety on the gun "okay wait, wait I'll confess" I said surrendering.
"That's like a smart girl" she smirks looking at me putting the gun back.

"Why are you doing this?" I question, now that she is standing away from them I have to buy us some time so Viraj can get here with backup.
"I'm not stupid enough so you can trick me into talking" she laughs.

"So now confess, you killed your husband and our friend Kabir when he found out the truth now that you cannot bear the guilt of all you are taking your life too," she says giving me a piece of paper on which this all was written, Jai looks at me nodding his head negatively. He was trying to say something but because his mouth was covered we couldn't understand.

Padmini removes the cloth "Bhabhi you won't say anything of the sort".
"Quite a little army you have got for yourself," how can she do all this, this is not the love of a mother, she is turning into some psychopath.

"I never asked for your help Maa, I was trying to build my own business but you ruined everything, you want confession right well guess what you are not getting any," he yells at her in anger.
"Oh, I am my sweet little boy, and you will keep your mouth shut or....she trails off with the sentence looking at Bani, she struggles to get away from her.

Is she threatening her son of killing his wife? I never thought that Chachi Ji would stoop so low just for money and business, Jai can have anything Anay would've given everything to him but doing something like this committing a crime is not going to get him anything because along the way of getting all these things he will lose the most precious thing in his life, his mother.

"Chachi Ji why don't you understand you are not going to get anything out of this, by making me confess forcefully, and even if I do, in the end, you are the one to lose the most because to get all this look what you did, you lost your son, your daughter-in-law, and your family too" I try to convince her, hoping this would work on her.

She looks at me for a moment, comprehending what I said, "Bhabhi is right Maa, you did all this for me, but now you have lost me and don't even think I will ever forgive you if you make Bhabhi take the fall of Bhai's murder" Jai adds giving me an assured nod.

"No, no shut up both of you, I tried to make a deal with you but it seems you don't get it" she screams, she picks up her phone and calls someone maybe the other goon who Jai heard her talking to.

A guy walks out with another gun in his hand he was about to pull the trigger on Kabir "okay, okay I'll do it just let them go".

" If I let them go then I know you are not talking they are my leverage," she lets out.
"No, let them go or I'm not talking" I push her buttons, it's a gamble but I have to be sure of their safety.
"Okay, fine untie these two, but Kabir is staying here," she says ordering the guy.

I nodded looking at Jai, and she starts recording on her phone" I, uh, Mihika Singh Raizada, umm...confess to murdering my husband, I did all of this to get his property and business, and when Inspector Kabir found out about it I killed him too, I - - uh I married Anay just for the money I never loved him, and now as I stand here and recording this I cannot bear the guilt of killing two men so I'm killing myself too" as soon as she stops recording and tears start to flow down my cheeks.

I was a fool to think I had a chance to win this fight, against her, I'm not strong enough I never was.

"Now, now no need to cry come on it's time to see your husband," she says smiling, that goon picks me up tying me to another chair.

"Why kill me, it's not like I would do anything after getting arrested," I ask her.
"I'm doing you a favor by killing you, this way you will always be with your husband" she smiles at me in a disgusting sick way.

"Then let us do a favor by arresting you" a man in uniform walks in with full force, he is a senior officer of Kabir I met him once during the investigation.

Her face lost color and looked pale, the goon ran away as fast he could some of the officers ran after him, the gun was pointed at my head now," come any closer and I'll blow her head off" she warns the police.

They still walked in our direction "I said do not come any closer" before any of us could react or do anything she pulls the trigger.

••••

Hello and Namaste Everyone.

I'm so sorry for not updating earlier, I couldn't write any of my books this past month it was like I don't know how to write but now finally after ages, the chapter is here and I hope you all liked it.

The cat is out of the bag now.

What do you guys think of the chapter?

So sorry for leaving you on a cliffhanger like that.

How many of you want to see Viraj and Mihika together in the end?

And how many of you want to see them just as friends?

Please answer these questions guys it's important for me to know your opinion and also do tell me what do you think of this story till now.

Till next time.

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