Niharika throughout the night, thought about her mom's and Prisha's words. She was confused.  Was she doing the right thing or the wrong thing ? What was the right thing to do ?

Putting her thoughts aside, she recalled Prisha's words. She knew that if not now, then in the future, she had to get married. There's no way out of that and she had decided what she had to do.

It was 8 in the morning and she thought that it was the perfect time to call her mom as her Dad would be home at the same time.

"Good morning. So what have you decided ?" Her mom asked her after wishing her.

"Good morning Mom. I'm ready to get married."Niharika informed her mom while switching on her laptop.

"You've taken a really good decision Niharika and it's just the perfect timing too." She heard her Dad speak. "Parth uncle and your Neeti Maa called us yesterday asking your hand for Abhinay."

"Abhinay?" Niharika asked suprised putting her laptop away.

"Yes. Abhinay. Parth and Neeti's son. When you met Neeti at Pune during that family function, she saw you and really liked you. Abhinay doesn't love anyone and hence, he wanted an Arranged marriage." Spoke her Mom. "We want you to meet him and give it a shot."

"Yeah ! Fine. As you people wish. I'll meet him and give it a shot." Niharika replied.

After talking about general topics for a few more minutes, she ended the call and went to talk with Prisha.

"Prisha, I've agreed to get married." Niharika revealed to Prisha who was very much busy in her cup of coffee.

Prisha looked up at Niharika for once shifting her attention from the coffee to Niharika.

"Repeat." Prisha said surprised.

"I agreed to get married." Niharika repeated.

"Are you serious?" Prisha asked trying to confirm if what she heard was right.

"As serious as I can ever be and it's Abhinay." Niharika confirmed and gave her an extra peice of information.

"You mean the same Abhinay from your past ? I mean, your childhood friend ?" Prisha asked.

"Prisha you've become a questionnaire. Yes, the same Abhinay. My past is chasing me. I've just realised that." Niharika answered looking elsewhere.

Prisha walked up to Niharika and took Niharika into a hug. "Niharika, your past is past. Focus on your present and future. Things will fall back into place." She said comforting a lost Niharika.

On the other side at Vizag, The Vardhan family was busy spending some quality time with each other.

Neeti excused herself as she recieved a call. When she came back, she spoke loud enough to gather everyone's attention "Niharika has agreed to get married."

Everyone looked at her as she announced the news. "Abhinay, I'd like if you meet her personally and you both decide what you want to do. Neither any pressures from our side nor from Prakash and Parineeti's side."

"Sure Mom. When shall I meet her ?" Abhinay asked after agreeing like an obedient son.

"Aren't you off to Mumbai day after tomorrow for some college research ?" His dad asked him and Abhinay nodded.

"You can meet her then. Abhinay, just text her and ask her if she's fine with it." His dad told him.

"Okay Dad."

"Kabir, Alya and Sid, you'll be accompanying him." Neeti ordered.

"Mom, but why me ? I mean, Niharika and Abhinay are supposed to meet and we haven't booked the tickets to Mumbai as we hadn't planned to go." Alya retorted.

"So plan now. Alya, it'll be a reunion for all of you. It'll be fun and don't you want to meet Niharika after almost 10 years." Neeti justified.

Alya nodded and looked at Kabir. Kabir took her hand into his and passed an assuring smile.

Alya and Kabir excused themselves and moved to their room.

"How can I go to Mumbai, Kabir ?" Alya asked tensed.

"By flight." Kabir answered casually.

"Kabir" Alya glared at him.

"Sorry. Bad joke. Alya, for how long are you going to run away from your past ?" Kabir asked her taking her hands in to his.

"I can't Kabir. I simply can't face my past. Even the mere thought of stepping into that city brings me shivers." She said sitting on the edge of the bed and holding her head in her hands.

"Alya, I told you this before and I'm telling it to you again. No matter what happens, I'm always with you and I'll never leave your side." Kabir assured her.

"Kabir, that's not the thing. I know that I always have your back. It's about, my past and your past, our past. What if it comes back haunting us when we go to Mumbai ?" Alya retaliated.

"Alya, calm down. We'll face it if it comes haunting us. With each other by our side, we can face any danger in this world. One day or the other, we need to face it right ?"

"But Kabir, I can't lose you. I don't want to go to Mumbai."

"Alya, I can't lose you either. I can never lose you to the past. That day, a few months ago too, I couldn't lose you. Today, the same thing applies. Alya, do you trust me ?" Kabir asked her to which she nodded. "Then, we're going to Mumbai okay ? If not for us, then for Abhinay." Alya nodded.

On the other side, Sidharth is in his thoughts.

Should I ask Niharika about her ? Does Niharika know the whole story ? Did she tell anything to Niharika ? For years, I've been thinking about her, but she, she cut off from me, forever. She didn't contact me once, not even as a friend. I searched for her everywhere, but all my efforts went in vain. But will Niharika tell me about her ? Afterall, I was the reason for our breakup.

Abhinay brought Sidharth out of thoughts and said "Sid, book three more tickets to Mumbai please. I'm a little busy."

"Sure Abhinay." Replied Sidharth.

Abhinay moved to his room and opened his Instagram. He immediatly searched for Niharika's ID.

'Niharika Prakash'. He typed in.

He found results and scanned through a couple of accounts before he could find the Niharika he was looking for.

He sent her a request to view her pictures as her account was private and on the other side, Niharika, who was checking her Instagram, recieved a friend request from Abhinay. She accepted it and followed him back.

She indeed has grown into a beautiful woman. He thought while looking at her pictures.

It's been years since I've seen him. He's completely changed. He doesn't look like a kid anymore, like he used to, 10 years ago. She thought looking at his pictures.

He sent her a DM.

_abhi28. : Hey !

_niharika_ : Hey hi !

_abhi28. : Long time

_niharika_ : Yup. Almost 10 years.

_abhi28. : How have you been ?

_niharika_ : Fine. You ?

_abhi28. : Same here.

_niharika_ : How are Sid, Alya and Kabir ?

_abhi28. : Yeah ! They're great.

_niharika_ : Hmm..

_abhi28. : I'm coming to Mumbai day after tomorrow.

_niharika_ : So, we're meeting then ?

_abhi28. : I guess so. Depends.

_niharika_ : On ?

_abhi28. : If you want to meet me.

_niharika_ : Umm. Yeah. It's going to be a reunion. You can stay at my place.

_abhi28. : No. It's fine. We've made hotel bookings.

_niharika_ : Dude, come on ! I'm here at Mumbai and you guys are gonna stay in a hotel. It's not fair. You guys are coming to my place and it's decided.

_abhi28. : Okay. I give up. By the way, Alya and Kabir are married to each other for 6 months now.

_niharika_ : Yeah ! I heard from Mom. That's great ! I need to catch up.

_abhi28. : Yeah. Ttyl. Bye.

_niharika_ : Yeah bye. Do forward me your flight details. I'll pick you up.

_abhi28. : Sure. Tkcr

_niharika_ : You too.

Two more days to go. I'm going to meet him and then, I'll need to make a decision that will turn tables of my life. I'm ready to face my past. She thought.

I'm coming to meet you Niharika, after ten long years. Let's see what fate and destiny have in store for us. He thought.

“Sometimes you can't let go of the past without facing it.”

💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓

Next update : Tomorrow ;  3rd April  2017.

Heya readers ! How was this chapter ! There's a lot of suspense right. I assure you that it won't be revealed till the 30th chapter atleast and it ain't April 1 so I'm not fooling you !

And, there's a good news. This book stands #122 in general fiction from the very first day it has been published on ! All thanks to you !

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