"My father...." I licked my lips. And that caught his attention. His head snapped towards me and he looked like he was waiting for me to continue.

"My father told me that I had to get married first in order for Riya to be settled down. They are worried that her marriage would be affected if I stay single too long." I said and there was the same silence in the air.

Vikram's POV

My eyebrows drew together and I had to wait for a few seconds to digest what she had just said. Father? Like seriously? Riya to settle down? Who the fuck was she? That statement itself sounded as stupid as it was. How could they think of executing it in real?

"Riya? As in your younger sister?" I asked and she nodded her head.

"And your sister is okay with that?" I asked, completely flabbergasted about how her family was dealing with problems. Instead of solving, they were creating bigger problems.

"She didn't say anything. However, at the end of the day, that's the truth. I am sitting like a burden in the house. They need me to get moving in life before anything good can happen in that house." She said with a cute little pout. Yeah, her family was insane and they were driving this baby insane too.

"Your family is speaking as if you are some old granny? You are only twenty four, Jaanvi Mishra!!!" I emphasised and she scratched her nose cutely.

"In my family, everyone gets married by twenty three.... Mine is already late." She sighed deeply. Late??? Well...okay, I am turning thirty by the way. Nice to meet you.

"Seriously? How old is your sister then? They are already rushing for her marriage?"

"She is twenty three...but seems like they are receiving a lot of alliance for her now. So, they are kind of rushing mine." She mumbled, looking down at her palms. This family was mental, for sure.

"You know that marriage isn't the end to all the problems, right?" I asked, very well knowing how disastrous this plan was.

"It doesn't look so bad, okay? Don't try to brainwash me. Sid seems like a nice person..." she said and licked her pouty lips. Nice my foot.

"Nice? You call that nice? He was not even supportive of a single decision of yours." I argued and she inhaled a deep breath.

"What? What's your problem if I am getting married? If I lose him, are you going to give me a life?" she asked and my eyes visibly widened. Okay what?

I just stared at her, speechless. I was sure she didn't mean it that way. But my mind was actually contemplating along the same lines. It suddenly didn't seem like a bad idea. Satan and me... we could be great friends.

"You are talking as if being single is a bad thing?" I asked and she just shrugged helplessly.

"I am lonely, Vikram...." She sighed and her shoulders slouched in defeat. "You won't be able to understand what I am going through. It's not easy. I am feeling so lonely and vulnerable. I actually want a companion right now. I crave for someone and this marriage sounds like a perfect plan. I don't care if he's not the 'perfect' one for me. I stopped believing in perfect-man. He sounds like he's a flawed guy. But that's perfectly fine, because I am extremely flawed too. We both could make a perfect couple and that's what I want to work on. I am okay with compromising." She breathed, making me completely flabbergasted.

Such mature words at her age was really commendable. Beauty with intelligence was rare and Jaanvi was a rare species. She was so intelligent that it started to grow on me. No one....simply no one could have looked at her and told that she could speak so much of wisdom. People would only think that she was young and naughty. But she thought of such solutions in a different way.

Everyone would think that her parents were spoiling her life. But Jaanvi wasn't everyone. She contemplated on ways of how this alliance could be for her betterment. She always looked at the positive side. I knew that she had this extraordinary side to her.

The serious and understanding side made her the stronger person she was.

"So, you are okay with marrying Sid?" I asked, feeling a little agitated.

"Yes I am."

"Okay, if you say so." I raised my hands in surrender and looked at her smugly. At least I tried, right?

There was this lingering silence again, until I decided to speak.

"Heard that Dr Sha had hell bring down on you two weeks back?" I spoke and quickly regretted it. Just die dude. Just die.

Jaanvi's eyes squinted and she looked at me confusedly.

"Dr Sha?"

"Dr Sonakshi Sharma, aka Dr Sha." I explained and she literally rolled her eyes at me.

"Oh that... Wait, did she tell you?" Jaanvi gasped and I just shrugged. No, I had been reading the star, genius.

"I am her neighbour. She often tells me things which are really keeping her mind loaded. Guess you were too much on her mind." I chuckled to my own joke and saw her shaking her head at me. What??? It's funny, okay?

"Yeah, you must have been overjoyed. Did you bitch about me behind my back?" she spat and I dramatically placed my hands in my heart.

"What's with the constant 'Bitch' word. Its not nice.... Anyways, nope. We didn't talk bad about you. She was just....just worried." I sighed.

"Ya, she must be worried after putting everyone in problem." Jaanvi just mumbled and I looked at her weirdly.

"What's wrong with you?"

"She holds grudges. What have I ever done to her? She said that she doesn't recognise a drug addict like me!!! You know how it hurts? A doctor? She's a doctor and she looks at me that way. If a professional doctor looks at me that way, how would a normal person in the society look at me?" she asked and my heart felt stabbed. I inhaled a deep breath and shook my head.

"No..." I shook my head, finding my energy to stand up for Sona.

"See, she really feels bad for what she has done. I know she was mean. She even admitted it to me. But she feels bad for her behaviour. She feels ashamed of what she has become. On her defence, Arjun was a close friend for her even before she married Dev. They have a strange, but cute relationship. Dr Sha would take a bullet for him if she needed to. Seeing Arjun going through a heartbreak created an anger inside her." I justified and saw Jaanvi's face falling miserably.

"Yeah... okay. And how is Arjun dealing with a heartbreak now? He fucking got married. Right?" she asked and I kept quiet. Well, what could I say?

"Don't be so hard on him."

"Okay, then do what? Listen to what everyone says?"

"No, just lay low until things get settled. Find a job and then see where life brings you."

"Life??? There's no life Vikram. Everyone who's spoiled my life are all living happily now. Do you understand how depressing this is? Sonakshi who doesn't even know me well, is not giving me any respect. What you want me to do? She so deserved what she's getting. Good that Dev got rid of her!" she grunted and my eyes widened.

I rubbed my mouth in frustration and looked again at her. She didn't just say that?

"Dr Sha is suffering enough. Don't say things like that when you don't know anything. She's gotten a rough life. She lost a child in her womb while another child was snatched from her. She is dealing with depression and fear. She is not what she tries to be." I breathed sadly. I just didn't like it when someone had a go at Sona. She didn't deserve anything.

Jaanvi looked sad when I said that. She almost looked like she was wanting to say something. It almost made me think why she always controlled her tongue. What was stopping her?

"What's going on in your devilish mind?" I asked and she gave me a poker face.

"You must be happy that I didn't say anything to her. Imagine if I said that on her face, would she be able to look at herself again? I was so happy to see her, you know? I even initiated a conversation. But she pushed me way like a trash. She said mean things...... At least I was considerate, right?" she asked, looking so hurt. I looked at her and my heart melted. Yes, she was right. Jaanvi was a stronger person when compared to Sona.

Sona did not handle grief well whereas Jaanvi was made of stronger elements.

"I am sorry for what she said." I finally grumbled.

"You must be sorry for many things." She suddenly said and faced me. Okay what?

"I saw how her marriage was stopped. I googled it. Was so horrible." She frowned sexily. Yeah that frown was my undoing. It always got to my head.

"Oh..." I looked away. I needed another smoke.

"I was looking for you in that video. You didn't wear my suit?" she faced me now, in her angry avatar. I looked at her wide-eyed and shook my head. Suit? Really? Was that the only thing she saw there?

"Suit? Really Satan?"

"Yes really? Did you even wear it? I designed it with so much effort you know" she pouted. She looked like she wanted to cry.

"I didn't even attend the wedding, trouble-maker! I had important things to go for that day."

"But Dev is your friend." She whined and I just pinched my temples. She was a motor-mouth at the worst times. I couldn't believe how easily she got distracted with the topic.

"Yeah and the dumbass stopped the marriage. Glad that I wasn't there. I would have punched him and asked him to go back." I shook my head tiredly. But Jaanvi scoffed. This little shit....

"Don't worry... you aren't half as strong as Dev. You would be lying dead before you attempt anything on him." Jaanvi confidently spoke and Vikram brushed his hair with amusement. Really? He wanted to laugh at that, but decided to hear her view.

Was that what she thought? That Dev could beat him down? Wow.... Dev must have been her hero, then. Well, nice...

"But I really felt bad for Sonakshi. No one deserves that amount of pain in life... I saw how devastated she was. But again, I can't go hard on Dev. He must have had his reasons... I would always take his side, because he took mine when I needed him the most." She said with a faraway look. I am officially hating Dev.

"Uhuh, looks like you know him too well."

"I know him well enough." She said and abruptly stood up from the chair. Fuck, I wanted to keep talking.

"Where are you going?"

"To the forest to die!" she retorted and I rolled my eyes. Can't she answer a question seriously.

"Do you always have to be difficult. Can't you just give a simple answer?"

"Whattttt?? Of course, I am going home." She frowned and I wanted to pinch her frowny lips.

"I can drive you home." I offered, trying not to look like a stalker.

It was surprising when she agreed to come with me without a tantrum. I was so used to her non-stop chattering, that now her silent side was looking eerie. During the drive, she was quiet for the first five minutes. Like five fucking minutes!

When the silence got to her, she started squirming uneasily. Like she couldn't keep her hands still on her lap for more than two minutes. When she looked at my side, I knew her mouth was going to run. Three, two, one...

"Are you single now?" she asked as expected.

"I don't understand how it affects you."

"Are you and Vishalini a thing now?" she looked like she was having a fun time. Hell no!

"Nope."

"Last time I heard, she was hooked up with you?"

"Last time I heard that you were chased out of a restaurant for mingling with my affairs?" I asked, equally cockily.

"Okay, how many siblings do you have?" she asked and I inhaled a deep breath.

"Two... one brother and one sister."

"Wow... both younger?" she chirped and I just nodded. Focus on the road, Viki. She will damage your brain.

"Are you a full time psychiatrist?"

"No, I sell popcorns at movie theatres. What the fuck??? Of course, I am a full time doctor." He gritted, not being able to understand her logic.

"Jeez, take a chill pill. Don't get hyped..."

"Then don't ask stupid questions." I sighed and she just spread her arms like she had no idea what I was talking. After my outburst, anyone would think she would have stopped.

But Jaanvi was just Jaanvi. She didn't stop asking her questions. One hour. One freaking hour of journey was proving to be extremely tiring. Her mouth was literally her only weapon she had. She could have become a lawyer for sure. She would speak so much until the judges gave up and made her win. She just kept talking non-stop until I was on the urge of smacking her mouth.

Honestly, I never felt this draining in my entire life. I was fresh out of ideas. How do I deal with this? I felt like doing something to her. I really was. I was on the verge of holding her face and kissing her madly till she sealed her lips up. Her pouty lip was breaking my exterior.

She would frequently frown, make funny faces, push her straight brown hair behind her ears, look at me wide-eyed, lick her lips in annoyance, spread out her hands and even twitch her nose cutely.... If I looked at them, I would instantly lose his mind. So instead of focussing on her face, I watched the road with all my might. For the first time, the psychiatrist in me didn't want to see someone's face.

"Where do you stay?" Invasion of privacy darling.

"Not going to say it." I exhaled. Every question was proving to be a nightmare.

"I know you live in Purley Avenue...." She laughed and my heart suddenly stopped. What the fuck?

"How did you know?"

"I saw the parcel in your car behind. Found your address there!" she giggled like she cracked some big case. Yeah, she was cute. But a big ball of trouble. A very big one.

"Okay, now get out." I finally managed to say when I reached her house. The longest journey finally came to an end.

This was probably the most draining experience in my life. It felt like babysitting thousand children at once. Jaanvi Mishra was an energy sucker. She could be the holiday every man needed. Even if you brought her to the forest, one could end up being an absolute entertained by her.

The more I spent time with her, the more I was amused with the kind of life she showed me. She was one of the very rare ladies who made me smile from my heart. Arjun was indeed an unlucky guy to have lost her. She was too adorable and fun to be with. But very mischievous that you would want to toss her upside down.

"Thank you for the drive, reports and the flowers. Anything else I missed?" she asked, sliding the hair off from her face.

"Don't marry that guy. He's not for you." I expressed. I didn't know why I did, but I had to blurt it. It was the truth. He didn't seem like the guy who would fit Jaanvi's shoes. He lived in a different world and Jaanvi was made for a different world.

They would have lots of troubles if they started off in this. One person would definitely end up being unhappy.

"I can't do that Vikram. But still, thanks for making me feel like I have a choice." She raised her eyebrows. She was a savage lady, okay?

"On a brighter side-"

"There's no brighter side Vikram! There's nothing. Simple. Dead end." She ruffled her fingers through her wavy brown locks as they rested down the shoulders to her chest. Yeah, very beautiful hair she has. Oh well.... Everything was now going to belong to a fucker called, Sid.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at that thought.

As I watched her walking inside, I couldn't help but think how beautiful it would have been if we had met at different circumstances.

(POV ends)

-------------------

Two days passed and Sid's family were very interested in fixing a date for the marriage. Jaanvi had pretty much no say in anything. Her parents were so elated when Sid said 'okay' for the marriage. Like what the hell? She wasn't even asked if she was okay.

Sid came around the next few days and spoke to her family members. He seemed to be getting into everyone's good list. Jaanvi too found him a bit nicer than what she saw the first time. During his second visit, Sid showed up with lots of flowers to the house. She had to admit, she was impressed.

Jaanvi realised that Sid and her were two different people. But they respected each other's opinions a lot. Jaanvi was happy with that. She saw how Sid made a few efforts to get to know her. She made a mental note to take note of all the things that he liked too. Sid was a guy who loved energetic sports. He was an outdoor guy who loved to get hands-on with activities and games. But Jaanvi was a loner.

She loved arts and indoor games. She was good in mind sports and drawing. She loved the artistic part of life. Poems, designing and chilling described the best about her. Her hobbies were one of losers. Sometimes she was even ashamed to talk about them. They were as boring as her.

It was another day where Sid came down to her house. When he was there, Jaanvi's mother and Riya were also in the living room. Sid sat down and spoke to everyone casually like he owned the place. Jaanvi smiled as she saw how engrossed his mother and Riya spoke to Sid. They all seemed happy to be playing the family game.

Jaanvi made the cups of coffee and served everyone before she took a seat with them.

"Jaanvi, are you free next week? I want to take you to the shoreline near my workplace." Sid said and Jaanvi gave a wide smile.

"Sounds fun... Just boating right?"

"Yes. Do you do sea diving?" he asked and Jaanvi frowned sadly.

"No, Sid. Actually, for the love of god, I am scared of water. Even boats is quite difficult. But for you, I can try." She chuckled, making him smile.

"Yes, Jaanvi is really scared of water since childhood. She freaks out even when we used to go to the beaches." Jaanvi's mother laughed. Yes, thanks ma. Jaanvi rolled her eyes and looked at Sid.

"Come on Jaanvi, it will be so fun. Kayaking and sea diving are once in a life experience." Sid convinced.

"Gosh, Jaanvi you are such a mood breaker you know? Water activities are so fun. Can I come along, Sid?" Riya was now starting. Jaanvi was starting to feel a little off when everyone were against her ideas.

"Oh god, what if I lose face when I fall down? Jeez, Riya has always been a better water player than me. I won't win this Sid. She can come if she wants." Jaanvi huffed and smiled at Sid.

"Aww that's a shame. Looks like its me and Riya team against you then." Sid joked earning a glare from Jaanvi.

Jaanvi tried to keep her humour and talks light. She didn't want to make Sid feel like she wasn't interested. She really tried.

Despite what she told against water-sports, Sid was really insistent. Riya laughed and looked at Sid with a 'I told you' look. Sid seemed like he was enjoying the conversation so much. Jaanvi looked at the two of them and crossed her arms. She sat with her mother and told them that her mother was on her team.

But during the last minute, even her mother betrayed her and voted for Sid. So that weekend, Sid decided to bring them for skydiving. Riya was so excited that she tagged along the trip too. So, after all the song and dance, Jaanvi agreed to go out with a condition that Riya would accompany with her to the dangerous sports.

So when the day came, she was so unprepared. Everyone were excited for the trip. Even her mother gave her advises to behave. Jaanvi swore she was never as afraid as this as before. She was frowning all the time.

"What's with the face, Jaanvi?" Riya asked.

"Nothing... You know that I don't like water sports. Why would you provoke him?" Jaanvi asked in frustration.

"Seriously Jaanvi. Sid seems like a nice guy. Sometimes I feel like you don't appreciate him at all. He's so nice you know. Do you know that my friends' boyfriends are all loners and they love to slack at home. You should be happy that Sid is so active and full of life." Riya was giving her lectures.

"Yeah... A place full of water is not the way I would like to spend my weekends, Riya." Jaanvi mumbled sadly. She felt her heart sink in distress. Why did no one understand her?

When they reached the place, Jaanvi gulped when she saw the people playing the sports in water. She cringed when she realised how deep the waters were. Why did people do such dangerous activities?

"Riya... I am scared." Jaanvi whispered, but Riya just rolled her eyes.

"Suck it up Jaanvi." She said and walked away.

When Sid was calling them to give their names, Jaanvi decided to chicken out first. She was too scared. She knew that she couldn't do this. It was beyond her comfort zone and she didn't think it was right to force her in. She didn't liked to be forced inside an activity like this.

"I am sorry Sid. I really tried.... But I am so scared. The amount of fear I feel is real. I can follow you to any other things. I can try rock-climbing, table tennis or other sports. Just not the sea, please." She nearly begged.

"It's just water, Jaanvi." Sid was losing his patience.

"Trust me Sid, she is like this. Extremely boring.... Jaanvi, I have no words for you." Riya added, increasing Jaanvi's agony.

Sid's face was one of pure disappointment. Jaanvi apologised to him multiple times. She really couldn't see her getting inside the waters. To add on to her misery, she had sea sickness too. Riya seemed like she was putting her down infront of others. After so much of debate Sid and Riya went ahead without her.

Jaanvi felt sick inside her stomachs. These people made her feel so bad.

Jaanvi went further down the shore and saw how they were doing the kayaking. It looked fun... A long sigh left her lips. She sighed and slumped down on the bench sadly. She really tried. Deep inside, she knew that she tried to make him happy. She was done trying pleasing everyone. No one tried to please her or make her happy. But Jaanvi tried.

Riya was supposed to be her rock. Her strength during her weak times. But even she sided with Sid. Despite knowing how terrified Jaanvi was with waters, Riya didn't seem like she cared about it.

Jaanvi looked down at her phone and saw zero notifications. No calls, no messages and no nothing. This is how life would look without friends, she thought.

She looked up and saw Riya having a blast of her life. Riya was always the more sociable person. She loved mingling with people, compared to Jaanvi. She thought hard about Sid's life. If he loved such dangerous sports all the time, how would she accompany him after marriage?

Deciding to kill her time, she picked up her phone and saw the missed calls she received last week. She had received a call from Vikram when she first sent him an oversized t-shirt. A laughter left her lips when she recalled the incident. It was so hilarious how he found her out. He was shocked to the core.

Not being able to deal with the boredom, she opted on calling him. To her surprise, Vikram picked up in the second ring itself.

"Yeah Satan! What's up now?" he asked and her eyes enlarged widely. What the hell?

"For your information, I do have a name. J.A.A.N.V.I" she spelled out and heard a loud sigh from the other side.

"Okay. Is there anything more important that you called me for? I am busy." He stated and Jaanvi frowned heavily. Why was everyone so busy?

"I just wanted to call.... I was wanting some advice." She said even before she could stop herself. She honestly felt like crying when those words came out from her mouth. She realised that she had no one to rely on for help. Her parents, siblings, friends... No one were willing to listen to her.

She was actually forced to call a stranger for help. How pathetic?

"Okay... Is something wrong?" Vikram's voice sounded more serious now. He didn't have his usual mocking or playfulness anymore. He really sounded concerned.

"I came out with Sid and Riya.... For kayaking and sea diving." She mumbled, not knowing how to start the conversation.

"Okayyyy....and?"

"And they asked me to join them."

"You don't like those activities, right?" he asked, sounding worried.

"Yes. They knew it, but they still wanted me to try. I actually thought that I should give it a go. I came all the way here. But things didn't end up the way I wanted. I was actually scared to try it. So I backed out. I didn't dare to go ahead. So, Riya and Sid went without me. They look like they are having a fun time without me now. Thank goodness Riya came. Just imagine, if she wasn't here, then Sid would have returned back angrily." She kept speaking like she has lost it.

"Jaanvi-"

"I know you are going to say that I should have tried it. Everyone has fears and they should overcome it. But I can't. It's not like I haven't try-"

"Jaanvi..."

"I know that you will say that I should have tried a little more. I mean, I know."

"If you know everything, then why call me?" he asked, sounding a little amused.

"I just called you to talk." She pouted. Vikram actually remained silent for a while to let her speak. But when she didn't say anything, he decided to reply.

"I am a psychiatrist, Jaanvi. You can speak to me anytime when you feel like it." He sounded like he really meant it.

"But I am not looking for counselling. I know what you are going to say. I know you are going to say that I should leave my fears behind and-"

"Everyone fears something, Jaanvi. Having a fear is not your fault." Vikram inhaled, feeling agitated with her ridiculous thoughts.

"I know, but... wait what?" Jaanvi choked and Vikram seemed to be over her.

"I mean, even you should know this. What's wrong with having a fear. I mean if you don't like water sports, they should respect it. Why do they bring you there for?" he asked.

"You are saying that I am right?" she asked again.

"I am saying that your fiancé is stupid." Vikram spat angrily.

"Don't say like that. He's just showing his side of things." Jaanvi felt the need to defend Sid.

"Yeah, despite knowing that you are terrified of the place, he still brings you there. I must be praising him, right?" Vikram's sarcasm was just dripping like iron melts.

"Heyyy, it's not so bad. I mean, I didn't tell him that I was so scared. He might have thought that I was willing to try." Jaanvi cringed at her own voice.

"If he was willing to let you try, then he wouldn't have let you sit down like this and gone with your sister. Do you understand how ridiculous this is? Is your fears more important that the stupid kayaking? He needs to respect a girl in order to get into her good books. Not aggravate her and make her feel low. That's the lowest kind of blow." Vikram explained.

"Well, he doesn't need to get into anyone's good books. He is already liked by many people. Only I need to work harder." Jaanvi stated blankly.

"If you start putting yourself in a lower scale, then he will step on top of you, Jaanvi. Sometimes you have no idea of the amount of nonsense you utter. You need your sass back. Show it to him. Stop chickening out."

"I am not chickening out. I just want this relationship to work!" Jaanvi snapped.

"Why? Why are you so desperate to please him? Give me three reasons what you are going to achieve from marrying this Sid?" Vikram was exasperated.

"I will get stability, blessings from my parents and a life-long companion." She frowned, biting her lips hardly.

"You can get these from marrying anyone, sweetheart."

"No! No one will marry me, Vikram. You don't get it."

"What? Why? Tell me, so that I can understand." Vikram shook his head while he listened to her absurdity.

"You can't understand Vikram...." She finally said in a lower tone. She wanted to say so many things, but she couldn't voice it out. Not here.

"Yaya, tell whatever that soothes your mind. I am running out of ideas." Vikram said like he already knew the outcome.

Jaanvi suddenly felt angry at his words. It was almost as if he knew her so well. The more she tried to step into the positive side, the more Vikram tried to tell her otherwise. She was starting to feel suffocated with his advises.

"I don't like talking to you." She said, almost feeling like the world was giving up on her.

"Yeah, feelings are mutual. This is why I don't give my personal number to anyone. But once a Satan, always a Satan." Vikram was speaking to his own self.

"If you hate me so much, why did you even answer my call?" Jaanvi was really sulking.

"Hate is a strong word. I don't hate you. If I did, you wouldn't have survived the rehabilitation centre."

"Okay, then do you like me?"

"I don't like you either..."

"So, its practically called hate." Jaanvi rolled her eyes.

"It's not. I don't hate you, but I don't envy you either. It's a complicated feeling." He chuckled, making Jaanvi smile.

"Yeah... I am hard to like." Jaanvi whispered and heard some mumblings from the other side. Looking up, she realised that Sid was already walking back with Riya. Jaanvi had her back up and clutched the phone tighter.

"Okay I need to go. They are back." She whispered and Vikram scoffed.

"Don't get married, Jaanvi. This guy is not right for you." He whined.

"Okay bye. Thanks for the advice nevertheless." She huffed and switched off her phone. She had no idea what she had done. Speaking with Vikram didn't bring her any mental peace. Instead, he made her reconsider her decisions more.

She believed that making her life better was in her own hands now. She had a choice. To dwell on the past and suffer with miseries, or create a new future and move ahead. She decided on the latter. She would try and make this work.

After everyone was back, Jaanvi was on her best behaviour the whole day. Sid seemed to be on a better mood too. They went for a dinner afterwards and had a great chat. Jaanvi pushed herself forward to make her life better as possible. She tried to impress him at every opportunity.

When they returned home from that long trip, Jaanvi texted Sid a long thank-you message. Jaanvi had never gone so far to impress any guy. She was a looker and guys were always eager to know her during her college days. But she never gave them a second look and concentrated half her life on studies. Her first real relationship was with Arjun. Yeah, the man whom she lost easily.

Yet, she was not going to give up.

Three days passed and Jaanvi started to message Sid with ease. She would always wish him a morning message, text him during lunch hours and even wish him a goodnight. They would sometimes speak about random topics. But Sid would never bring the conversation further. After ten minutes, there would be a dead end to the conversation and things would become awkward.

There were days when Jaanvi would really try to make the first move and ask him fun topics. She would start the conversation by asking him his favourite movies or hobbies. But his replies were always one-worded or something that was alien to her. She never understood him. He would speak to her happily if he was free. Then there were days where he would just give her some weird replies, telling that he isn't in that mood.

As days passed, Jaanvi's parents were busy with marriage talks at home. No one asked Jaanvi for her opinions and things started to get inside Jaanvi's head. She was feeling all sorts when she was at home. The feeling of loneliness crawled up her head.

There was a time when Jaanvi almost wanted to stop the marriage. Almost....

But the decision was changed when her father spoke to her one night.

Her father sat in the dining area and looked at Jaanvi keenly. Jaanvi was tensed as usual when she looked up at her father. She didn't know why her father was looking at her that way. She felt that he was going to tell her something. She so felt it... The father who brought her up with so much of love, changed ever since she was back from the rehabilitation centre. But today, he actually gave her a smile. More of a sad smile.

"Jaanvi..." he called and raised his hands to touch her head. Jaanvi's food choked on her throat as she looked up with a strong heart. She could not swallow the food inside as she felt the food choking inside her throat. The pain inside prevented her from digesting it. It was so painful when he caressed her hair. Almost like he did in the past.

"D-dad?" she gulped heavily.

"Eat well. You have been losing lots of weight." He said with a smile and Jaanvi just kept looking at him.

It was the first time after so long, he spoke to her. Jaanvi was in the verge of tears. She could no longer swallow her food. She felt so sad. The amount of agony she went through in the dining table was more than what she had ever gone through in life. It was so heart-breaking when her father looked at her with love. How could she hurt him?

She would even die, if it made him happy. That's how much Jaanvi loved her parents.

If this marriage made them happy, she would do anything to give them that happiness. She would learn to accept that marriage. She would learn to love Sid. She would learn to adapt his lifestyle. She would learn to do everything that he wanted.

This marriage would happen, no matter what.

----------------------

"So, any updates on Sona?" Dev was restless as he faced his useless friend.

"It's between doctor and patient. I can't share it." Vikram puffed his smoke and offered it to Dev. But Dev didn't smoke, so he grabbed it away and discarded it inside the rubbish bin next to him.

"What the fuck?"

"You know that I don't smoke. Why give it to me, for?" Dev gritted.

"Then you should know that I don't speak about my patients too. Why ask me for?" Vikram threw back Dev's questions at him.

"Vikram... this is not funny. I really need Sonakshi back. I can't fucking survive man! There's a guy who's after my life now. How do I dodge the attack. More importantly, how the hell do I save Sona from those people?"

"Give her back the child." Vikram suggested and Dev's face changed.

"What?"

"Give Simi back to her. She will come to you without any arguments. I swear, the child will be the way to bind you guys back again. Simi needs her mother, Dev. I mean... I know why you took Simi away. But right now, Sonakshi needs Simi in her life." Vikram said strongly, making Dev paranoid.

"Give Simi and do what????"

"Divorce her!" Vikram was dead serious. Dev looked at his friend and just stoned for a few seconds. He did not know why Vikram even said those words. Hearing it hurt him so badly that Dev had to shake his head off.

"You got to be kidding me?"

"No Dev. I am dead serious. File a divorce and hand it over to her. Make it believable that you are leaving. You have to do this Dev. Leave her, so that she would find what she really wants." Vikram took another smoke from his packet and light it up.

Dev looked at Vikram and rubbed his stumbles angrily.

"No Vikram... That's impossible."

"Try me."

"But Vikram-"

"Just shut up and go to your lawyers." Vikram was honestly pissed.

"What if she signs it?" Dev was exasperated.

"Then come and shoot me." Vikram said, feeling all the confidence in the world.

"Vikram!!!"

"Sonakshi is not dumb, Dev. She loves you a lot. She just needs a push to confess her feelings. Her hatred is blinding her love and its understandable. Now that your mission has come in, you have to make decisions fast. If you are planning to go inside that dangerous mission, make sure you plan it right. But know that Sona will never divorce you. She will even kill herself, but never detach herself from you."

Dev listened carefully and nodded. At this point, his mind was in many places. But he knew what he was going to do.

He looked up at Vikram and exhaled heavily.

"Vikram, can you do me a favour?"

"What?" Vikram asked, looking sceptical.

"I want to pass you a letter. In case, if I die... can you pass that letter to Arjun?"

-------------------

As days passed, Jaanvi was feeling very agitated. She tried her best to fit in the society. People in her neighbourhood kept away from her as if she was some disease. Nevertheless, Jaanvi stayed strong.

Jaanvi knew that she needed harder things to break her and society wasn't one of them. They could go to hell for all she cared. She helped her mother at home most of the times. Jaanvi's mother was always lecturing her on how to behave after marriage.

Listening to her mother, Jaanvi would just nod and smile. She loved her mother so much. Riya would often come and talk to Jaanvi. She was also slowly easing up on her sister. They no longer seemed so tensed anymore. Riya would help Jaanvi with shopping and make Jaanvi feel a little better. Jaanvi's only solace was Riya's lamest jokes. She missed her sister so much.

After the sea diving sessions, Sid pretty much kept to himself. Jaanvi didn't know what he was thinking. Maybe he was reconsidering his decision, she thought. No matter how hard she tried, at the end of the day, her thoughts ended up about Arjun.

(Flashback)

"Arjun, how many kids do you want to have?" she randomly asked as they stood outside her college during her lunch break.

"Hmm.... Ten. Wait nope! Eleven?" he said and Jaanvi nudged him playfully.

"Eleven? Why? What's with those numbers?"

"I am trying to create a football team, jaan." He answered and Jaanvi just pinched her temples.

"Yeah right! Doesn't seem like that. I don't want to have a childcare centre at home. Only two kids, okay?" she warned and he gasped dramatically.

"What the hell? No, I want many!!!" he whined like a kid.

"Arjun stop with your nonsense It's enough for a day." She giggled as she snatched her hands from his and ran back to her college.

(Flashback ends)

All her thoughts were put to an end when Sid suddenly called her.

"Hey Jaanvi, what's up?" he asked when he answered the phone.

"Hi Sid. I wanted to call you yesterday...But I was thinking you might be busy." Jaanvi trailed as she bit her lips hardly.

"No worries... Sorry, I had work last few days. I couldn't speak to you." He said in an apologetic tone.

Jaanvi smiled and exhaled. "It's okay. Sid. I mean, we could always catch up after you become free."

"Yes, that's what I was thinking. Do you have any ideas on where we can go?" he asked hesitantly.

"Hey, we could always catch a movie and then go for dinner. How?" Jaanvi asked excitedly while Sid went silent for a while.

"I think movie idea seems good for now. Are you free this Wednesday? I can book the tickets." He asked and Jaanvi grinned like an idiot.

"Yes, sounds great." And that's how, Jaanvi managed to grab the opportunity with Sid again. Jaanvi told her parents about the movie date and they seemed very happy about her progress. Jaanvi looked forward to the Wednesday. When the day came, she was suddenly nervous.

She actually made an effort to look good. Wearing a loose white shirt which reached up to her mid thighs, she wore a blue-faded jeans with some mascara and lip gloss. Straightening her hair a bit, she looked at the mirror and cringed. Did she over do this?

She closed her eyes and looked around her room. She needed advice from someone. But her parents were the last person she was going to ask.

Should she call Vikram again?

---------------

Arjun ran behind Dev's child, Simi who had now started to crawl. She was such a beautiful child when she was smiling. Exactly like Sonakshi.

Arjun fed the little girl in his hands and kissed her nose lovingly. He passed her a random empty vessel and watched her as she played with it. Tara who walked in after an exhausting day of work, came forward and sat next to him. She leaned on Arjun's shoulders and sighed in content.

"She's so cute, isn't she?" Tara asked to which Arjun just hummed silently.

"She's my annoying chipmunk." Arjun said when she eventually took the last spoon of her food and crawled away as fast as she could. Arjun sat back, realising that she was safely back into her mattress there. Looking at Tara, he raised an eyebrow playfully.

"How's work?" he asked, kissing her forehead.

"Work is fine. Just, feeling a little out of sorts." She confessed, grabbing Arjun's full attention.

"What's wrong love? Is everything okay at work?" he asked, pulling up her chin towards him.

"Yeah.... It's just... I got a call from dad." She breathed.

"Okay. And?*

"He was just.... Just saying...."

"Saying what Tara? Just tell me." Arjun said softly. He somewhat had a feeling that it wasn't good news.

"He was asking when are we planning to have kids. He seems to want grandchildren soon... etc etc." She frowned a little. Arjun could tell that it took all of her energy to ask this question.

"And what did you say?" he asked patiently.

"What do you expect me to say? Of course, I didn't say anything. I just hummed for everything question he asked." She looked irritated.

"Okay, so why are you so pissed now?" Arjun was worried when Tara was this stressed. She was a person who was mostly calm and collected. If she was worried, then matters were serious.

"I want kids Arjun... I want children too. I mean, I understand that you aren't ready. But can you give me a time frame? Until when?" she asked, looking devastated.

"Tara..." Arjun rubbed his unshaven stumbles. He looked at her and leaned back on the chair.

"See, you were willing to wait for me, didn't you? I mean... I said it even before we dated. I just don't want to have kids for some time. It's nothing to do with you or commitment. It's just me and my mind. I feel like I can't handle this yet. Can you give us a little more time?" he asked and her eyes faltered in defeat.

"Yeah okay... What else can I do, right?" she mumbled and got up from her seat without letting Arjun speak, she just walked out of the room.

Arjun felt like shit. He couldn't do this. It was haunting and painful. He could never really move on without feeling pain. There was so many things that were unsaid and hidden in the shadows. His heart hurt at every memory.

More than anything, the mention of children had become a huge nightmare after Jaanvi's betrayal in his life. How he wished he could have turned back time and never met her at all. But it was too late now.

Even saying that, his heart hurt so much. He made a mistake. A huge one and he didn't know how to rectify it. It was a secret that he had to take to the grave. If it was ever revealed, then the hell would be unleashed.

Everyone thought that he hated Jaanvi. But nobody knew that he was saving her. He was saving her from going into pits of hell again. For the first time in his life, Arjun did so many things without the knowledge of his family. He had hidden a huge part of his life even from Dev. He didn't know how to come clear with his family about the news. They would be crushed.

He would have waited for Jaanvi for a lifetime, only if that news didn't happen. If only that day didn't happen.

Although Tara knew that he was engaged to Jaanvi before, she wasn't aware of a lot of things that went down in their relationship. It was a painful period of time where Arjun dealt with it silently from the world.

It was funny that Dev didn't hold a grudge against Jaanvi. Because he didn't know the truth. He just didn't.

Despite Dev's insistence, Arjun didn't go ahead to meet Jaanvi. Arjun knew that if he met her, he would break her further. He played a huge role in destroying her. So, he decided to set her free from him. That would be the only way both of them could move on. He had to crush his heart to give Jaanvi a better life.

But nobody.... Nobody knew the secret behind his decisions.

Not even Jaanvi.

****************

So, what do you think about Sid and Jaanvi?

What do you think Arjun is hiding?