Her heart was pounding hard.
Ambar found it difficult to swim though she was able to breathe under water with the help of her scuba mask.
Her legs weren't helping her to move.

Suddenly a hand gripped her arm and she snapped her head to look at him.

He pointed his finger to look around and she did.

The most beautiful scenario appeared in front of her eyes. She felt as if she was dreaming.

Colourful rocks, exotic fishes of different types, little turtles, corals and reefs.

It reminded her of the movie 'Finding Nemo.' It was one of her favourites.

Nakul helped her to move rather than stay at one place.

Earlier she was so afraid... Afraid to lose her life in the ocean but now everything was forgotten.

She started to live in the moment. She was a quick learner.

She swam though very slowly holding his hand.

It was one such experience that she was going to treasure for lifetime.

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The entire room was awfully quiet. Amrita tightly held his hand and Mayank knew she was hell nervous.

So was he!

"Sir, I want you to know that I would never hurt your daughter and the child, she's carrying. I want to protect them. They'll be mine and I would take good care of them..." He promised.

Vinay's eyes shifted to his daughter.

"Amrita! Do you want to marry him?" He straightaway asked her.

"Yes, Dad." She replied looking up to meet his eyes.

"Are you sure that you won't regret this decision later on?" He queried and she shook her head, "No, I won't regret it." She replied and glanced at her mother, who absolutely appeared unconvinced at her answer.

The tension was thick in the air.

"Well then my blessings are with both of you." Vinay finally let out a smile whilst his wife gasped at his reponse.

"No Vinay, are you insane?" She tried to say but Vinay immediately cut her off, "Sandhya! We won't commit those same mistakes again and again. Let her live the way she wants. It's her life and she has a right to choose her life partner and I don't find anything wrong in this proposal. In fact I'm honoured to have this man as a part of our family from now on." He told her.

Sandhya grimaced and rose up from her place. She turned on her heels, leaving them alone.

It tore her heart that her own mother couldn't understand her.

Mayank gently squeezed her hand.

"Don't worry about your mother. You should only think about yourself and the baby." Vinay said and she feebly nodded her head.

"Have you talked to Mrs. Suri?" Vinay turned to Mayank.

"Yes... I did.. She has no objection with the proposal."

"Good. I'm very ashamed for whatever happened last time. Mr. Nakul and Ambar, did they know?" Vinay asked.

"Not yet but we'll inform them soon." Amrita uttered and he bobbed his head.

"When are you going to get married?"

"By the end of this month..." Mayank immediately replied.

"Isn't it too soon?" He queried.

"It'll be better if we tie the knot before Amrita goes into labour." He said and Vinay agreed.

"Just keep my daughter happy. I want nothing else." He said.

Mayank smiled, "Don't worry, I promise."

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"Are you cold?" Nakul asked her.

"No... I'm fine." She shivered.

He sighed and immediately wrapped his coat around her, "This will keep you warm." He whispered and it did.

Not the coat but his presence itself was the most comforting and warmest thing, she felt.

"Where are we going?" She asked him, glancing at the road.

"I want you to meet someone." He said.

"Someone, who?" Terror invaded her soul.

His girlfriend? No!

"You'll know..." He smiled at her and focused on the road ahead.

She nervously bit her lip and remained silent throughout the car ride.

The car halted in front of a huge skyscraper.

He unfastened his seat belt and got out of the car. He opened her side of the door and offered his palm to hold.

She stepped out, holding his hand.

"Why are we here?" She asked him.

"Like... I said earlier.... I want you to meet someone."

She was perplexed.
Why did he bring him here?

To a hospital.
She knew that he hated hospitals then why here?

She quietly followed him and stopped outside a ward facing one person whom she wasn't able to recognise.

"She's my aunt..." He murmured. Ambar eyed him immediately.

His face depicted pain and guilt.

"Why is she here? I mean. What happened to her?" Ambar enquired gazing his hurtful expressions.

"She's suffering from schizophrenia..." He said.

"Wh- What?" Ambar stammered.

"A psychotic depression." He added.

"I have been avoiding her since I returned but I had to come today.... and at the same time, I couldn't do this alone so I brought you here with me". He spoke.

"Why didn't you visit her before?" She questioned her.

"Because I can't see my near and dear ones in pain that is why I hate hospitals. She's not only my aunt but also my caretaker, my best friend. My Yogita Masi, my mother's sister." He confessed.

The lady stirred and opened her eyes slowly.

"Masi!" He whispered and moved towards her bed.

He touched her hand but she swatted his hand.

"Don't touch me." She looked frightened.

"I... I."

"Don't come near me... Go away... GO." She yelled and tears streamed down his face.

She look quite horrified, Ambar walked towards her and held her by her shoulder.

"It's okay... You don't have to be scared." Ambar soothed her as she continuously rubbed her back.

"He won't do anything. He's your nephew... He's Nakul." She stretched her finger to point at him.

He stiffened.

"Na... Nakul.."

"Yes... Nakul. We came to meet you. He brought me here." Ambar said softly and blinked at him before strolling out of the room giving them some time and Nakul couldn't be any more grateful.

It was only after his aunt had gone to sleep, Nakul came out.

"Thank you." He mumbled with a small smile.

"How did it go?" She asked him.

"Better than I thought." He told her.

"Okay." She mashed her lips.

"So you won't ask me anything?" He quirked his brows.

"Should I really ask?"

"I thought you'd be curious." He said.

"I'm always curious... especially when it comes to your life." Ambar grinned.

"Why?" He hoped to hear something new.

She pursed her lips. "Because... because you intrigue me." She murmured.

"Really?" She nodded in response and he smirked.

"So tell me, what were you saying?" She asked him changing the subject.

He inhaled sharply, "It's about me." He paused to look at her and she smiled.

"There are a lot of things which you don't know about me..." He said in a serious tone.

"Are you a vampire?" She asked, terrified.

"No.. No.." He laughed.

"Then don't talk in puzzles. I won't judge you." She assured him and he nodded before closing his eyes.

"My dad died because of me... He burned himself, in the process of saving my life. My mother took the charge of handling the business after his death... I was so devastated that I'd stopped talking to everyone." He paused and she bobbed his.  head.

"Yogita Masi was there to take care of me..... but I always shoved her away.... I wanted to be alone.. to deal with myself.... and one day, I rudely asked her to leave.... and she did..."

His eyes were filled with tears.

"If I hadn't done that then nothing wrong would had happened." He sucked breath in.

"That night, she was molested and tortured by six drunkards who were trafficking women. Thankfully, police arrived on time and she was saved....but I lost my chirpy aunt that day... She couldn't stay in India so Mom shifted here with her for better treatment... Many of the lives had been destroyed because of me.... There's one more thing I want to tell you, maybe you'd start hating me after this." He muttered.

"Your dad... He worked in my father's factory." She appeared perplexed after he spoke.

He continued, "Unfortunately your father was among the ones who were severely injured in the factory fire. I got to know this few days ago.. I had accidentally spilled alcohol... it's all my fault..." He palmed his face. "You hate me, don't you?" He asked her.

She shook her head. "It's not your fault, Nakul! It was an accident." She tried to explain.

"I'm a bad omen, Ambar.... I had a terrible fate...." He opened his eyes to gauge her reaction. She had tears in her eyes. "No... You're not... stop blaming yourself."

"I really had a terrible fate ... until.... until... you stepped in my life." He said, "-And you saved me twice from falling into the dark."

"Twice?" She queried but he didn't clear her doubt but asked her something else.

"Are you free tomorrow evening?"

"Yes." She replied, baffled.

"Good then be ready by six..."
"Why? Another adventure?" Her expressions made him chuckle.

"No... I have to attend a conference tomorrow and after that there's a party in the evening. I want you to come with me." He told her.

"Another party?" She was skeptical remembering the last time.

"Yes but this one is completely different. So would you come with me?" He enquired.

"Okay." She let out a smile but then a yawn escaped her lips.

"You must be tired... Let's take you home." He said and opened the car door for her and she hopped in.

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

"If you need anything then just call me and I'll also pick up Aakash today from school so you don't have to go anywhere. Just stay home and rest.." He set forth before picking up the briefcase.

"Thank you."

"Take care. Ms. Melanie will come by twelve." Mayank smiled before getting in the car.

"Have a nice day." She said and stood at the door till the car vanished from her sight.

She sighed and sprinted to the couch. She picked up the book which she was previously reading from the coffee table.

Suddenly the doorbell rang.

She got up and rushed to the door, expecting him to have forgotten something.

As she opened the door, her mind withered in confusion to find her in front.

"Mom!"

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So now what is Sandhya upto?

What will happen in the party?

Something unexpected!

I'm really very sorry for not updating on Monday but my chapter wasn't ready by then.

I'm trying my best to utilise time.

I hope you all understand.

I'll try to update as soon as possible.

I'm sorry if you find any mistakes in the chapter.

Thank you all.

Please vote & comment.

Until next time.

♥♡♥.