Author's POV

As Priya stared at the silver chandelier hanging from the ceiling of her room, her thoughts ran like a mesh, tangling and toppling on one another. 

She felt a different kind of peace. Sometimes she thinks what if she had chosen differently earlier, would she have felt this peace before? But she just can't help with the past. It was done. 

"What are you thinking?" A figure crept behind her, making her gasp in shock. Soon, she calmed down after seeing him. Vicky. 

"Vicky, you… should've knocked." She took a deep breath.

Vicky shrugged and said, "Do I really need to? We are even going to marry. Now answer me, what were you thinking?" 

Priya's eyes drifted. With confusion tangling her thoughts, she asked, "Did I choose right this time?" She looked to meet his eyes. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at her. "Maya and Ajay… Was I right?" Her voice cracked.

"Yes, what else? You did well." His soothing words touched her soul. She didn't know if she ever deserved someone like him but she was too grateful to have him. 

That day when Akash met her, she felt too happy. To relive those days, was beautiful. It didn't take long for her to see through his motive when he showed her an old picture that she totally hated. She was wearing a pumpkin dress with horrible third-grade makeup of ghosts. She cringed badly and was horrified seeing that he still had that picture.

In the end, she decided on helping Maya with high risks. That picture would be enough to ruin her social image. 

Once, she even thought to tell Alisha ma'am everything but then, Vicky was the one who suggested she follow her heart. Priya realized that it was time that she took her stand and not be a minor chess piece on their board.

"So, what about the date?" Vicky asked, looking at her with hopeful eyes.

Priya came out of her trance on hearing that. Now, it was not just about the picture, it was about her. 

"Are you free today?"

"Of course. I am free only for you." Vicky winked, putting his arms around her waist. She smiled, pulling his collar towards her. Her breath mingled with his as their lips were just an inch apart. "I am busy." She pushed him slightly. 

With a smug look on her face, she winked at him before saying, "Let's do it at night." Giving him a satisfied grin, she walked out of the room.

★★★

"What are you saying?" Maya asked, her voice conquering the silent room. "Ishaan, are you serious?" Her voice dropped to a low volume in a second. 

Ishaan drifted his eyes away. He was going through a lot of emotional trouble as he closed his eyes. He nodded, his black orbs looking at Maya. "I am serious." 

"Then the picture you took?" She pointed towards his phone. 

"Oh… that's just a memory." 

Maya's eyes wavered as she asked, "So, you will not do anything? You suffered so much—" She halted, dropping her gaze to her feet. 

"Maya, do you think revenge will be enough for what I went through all my life? Even if I take revenge, what will happen? She is still my mother and I am still her son and I am never getting my father back." Ishaan took a deep breath as he seemed to hold back his tears. "I can refuse this and live in the dark but it's the truth." 

Maya had nothing to say anymore. Nothing would be enough. 

"I would rather live like this than lose my mother because of revenge. I should be going." Ishaan picked up his car keys before leaving the room.

Sarah, who had been talking over to Ajay on the phone, walked inside the room to see Ishaan rushing out of the room. Confused, she walked over to Maya and asked, "What happened?" 

"Alisha ma'am— Ishaan doesn't want to do anything about his mother. I wanted him to do something but what he said is also right. How can a son take revenge on his mother?" Maya looked at the door too long before turning to Sarah.

"If he doesn't want to, I will do what I have to." Sarah gave a serious glance at Maya. 

"Sarah, please think about it. We should not act here I think." 

"I waited for a long time. I wanted him to leave that past behind but he only got sucked into it deeper and deeper. This time, as his best friend, I will do what I need to do," she said, before rushing off with her phone and handbag. 

Maya, who was left behind, couldn't help but think, "What the hell is happening?" She flipped her hair off her face when she received Ajay's call.

"So you told her? Okay." Maya facepalmed, having no idea what was about to happen.

★★★

No sooner did the car pull near the Kapoor mansion than Sarah jumped out of it. With an unwavering spirit yet a shaky heart, she dashed through the guards when they tried to stop her. 

She didn't care even a little.

Soon, she was standing in front of Alisha Kapoor. Glaring straight at her eyes, she stood right in front of her.

"I heard it. Ajay and Maya— they are together. Where is Ishaan, then?" Alisha Kapoor asked, her face showing no emotions.

She didn't show her that she just learnt that she heard about it. She pulled the chair next to her and sat on it. "Ishaan… Where do you think he is?" Sarah put her legs over each other, crossing them as she looked around.

"You all planned this, right? What are you planning? Tell me." Her furious glance fell upon Sarah who laughed her fear off. 

"Yes, we did. You know what we are planning to do?" Sarah came closer and whispered near her ears. "We want to break Ishaan's heart. We will tell him that Maya and Ajay never separated. Maya never fell for him and everything he thought to be true will just be nothing. Won't it be amazing, aunty?" She emphasised the word 'aunty' as she smirked.

Alisha ma'am looked like she was about to smack someone's skull. Slamming her fist against the table, she said, "What did my son do wrong? Are Maya and Ajay more important to you? Ishaan is your best friend then why?"

"Exactly. That's my point." Sarah's demeanour changed. "Ishaan is your son. What did he do wrong to be treated like that?"

Alisha ma'am couldn't look any more confused. "What?" Her voice calmed down.

Sarah looked at her watch. It felt like Ishaan would be arriving soon. "Aunty, first can you tell your manager and others to stop Ishaan, when he comes, in the gate? I want to talk to you personally."

After thinking a lot, Alisha ma'am closed the doors, ordering everyone to not let Ishaan or anybody in. "What is it? Tell me. What do you mean?" 

Sarah took a deep breath, halfway ignoring her words. She hung her head low as she thought hard about how she was going to tell this. She had no prior plan of doing this but well, nothing can be helped now.

"I am here to tell you everything…" As Sarah finished telling her every detail, her face changed. She looked dangerous when she finally stared at Sarah.

"You all planned this and Ishaan and Priya were in your team? Wow, impressive. You are his best friend, then you must know everything. Did Ishaan tell you that I killed someone?" Alisha ma'am sat down, pretending to be relaxed as she saw the twisted expression on Sarah's face. 

Sarah didn't utter anything for a while before she composed herself. 

"I didn't kill his father but I wanted to." Alisha ma'am moved her glance from Sarah. "Do you know why? He wanted a son so much that I left my film career for it. When I stepped back into the industry as a director, he couldn't digest my success. That man took away everything from me while pretending to be a great father. He wanted to take my son away and divorce me. Who knew that man would die before I could end his life?" 

Her every word scared Sarah as she stood like a stone. Like looking into her wrath-filled eyes. "Till date, Ishaan doesn't know anything so he loathes me. I didn't want to tell him that the father who he looks up to is a jerk. I am a mother. I have every right. I am doing everything for him. Why can't he... understand me?" Her bloodshot eyes starting right into Sarah's.

Sarah flinched. "Sarah, you know as well, right? The glamour world is too dark. You tell me, am I wrong for caring about Ishaan?" 

"Aunty, do you call this caring? Ishaan never wanted this fame, this glory and this kind of title next to him. All he wanted was love that he never got. When you would be out for work, he would stay awake at night just for you. Then, he would run to you but did you ever notice him?" 

As if something struck her, Alisha ma'am fisted her palm, daring to look beside her. She saw a faint glimpse of the little boy, holding a painting in his hand, rushing to a woman as he called in his joyful voice. "Mommy. Look at this. I drew our family." 

Then, she turned to the woman, the past reflection of herself who made a crossed face as she left the room, discussing things on her phone. The child left behind gaped at the retreating figure before sadly looking at the picture, and wiping off his tears.

Alisha ma'am closed her eyes, her palm covering her mouth as she could feel it for the first time from his son's point of view. 

"Ishaan loved Maya so he couldn't bear to see her heartbroken. He told her everything when he could easily win her heart like you wanted him to do. But do you know how much strength it took for him to let go of his love for her? It was because he loved her." 

Sarah paused before continuing, "And today too, he didn't want to take any revenge on you. Why? Because he still loves you. That kid waited for long. Please don't hurt him anymore. Please."

It shook her.

Her eyes wavered as her heart hurt. She held onto the table, holding back her emotions.

As Sarah was about to tell something, they heard someone knocking on the door. "Mom, what's wrong?" Ishaan's voice came from outside.

"I think I was able to tell you my point. I will leave now." Sarah took her bag and was about to leave when Alisha ma'am stopped her.

"Wait for a second. I too have something to tell."

~•~

Hope you like this chapter!

The story will be ending soon!
I have such a love-hate relationship with this book. I wanted to finish the story yet I know I will miss Ajay, Maya and others so much. ❤❤😭

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