(Karan recieves a call from Khushi and he picks it up)

Karan: Hello..
(As Khushi says something, his heart skips a beat)
Whattt?? Khushii.. Khushi mai aa raha hu.. don't worry Mai abhi aa raha hu.. bye!!
(He starts walking back to the door but dadi stops him)

Dadi: Karan.. maine tujhse kaha tha na mujhe tujhse kuch baat karni hai.. teri life ka ek bohot important faisla liya hai maine uss baare mein.. lekin hum ye karenge agar tu raazi hoga.. tujhe thik na lage to iss baat ko hum aage nahi badhayenge..

Karan: Dadii.. aapko jo sahi lagta hai aap kijiye mujhe koi problem nahi hai lekin abhi mujhe jaana hoga sorry..

Purvi: What? Pehle baat to sun..

Karan: maa maine kaha na.. Dadi ko jo thik lagta hai mujhe koi problem nahi hai.. mai baadme milta hu.. abhi jaana hoga.. bye..
(He runs away and goes to his car. He drives car as fast as he could and calls Janvi and Shiv on the way and ask them to reach City Hospital)

Shiv: Karan.. kya hua? Sab thik to hai?

Karan: Thank god Shiv, Jannu tum dono aa gaye.. Pata nahi yaar.. I hope ye sab thik honge.. kya laparwahi hai ye.. abhi dekhta hu..
(He looks at Khushi sobbing on Kartik's shoulder and Kartik and Sameer trying to hold her through. She looks at Karan, comes running to him and hugs him tightly and cries)

Shiv: (in mind: Hamare aate hi Khushi Karan ko hug karke rone lagi? Damn.. exactly hua kya hai yaha pe?)

Karan: Shhhhh baccha...!! Shant ho ja Khushi.. tu.. tu thik to hai na? Tujhe kahi chot to nahi lagi na? Tu thik hai? Kya hua hai baccha bol to sahi..

Khushi: h. ha.. Bhai.. Ma.. Mai thik hu.. Pa.. par.. pa..

Karan: Par kya Khushi? Just say it god damn it.. kya hua hai? Bol please.. (shakes her)

Jannu: Stop it Karan.. wo kuch nahi bol paa rahi hai..

Khushi: par.. wo accident... acci.. accident.. Kriti... Wo.. Kriti..

Karan: Okk.. ok.. Shh.. Relax Khushi.. tu Shant ho ja... Jannu please ise pani pila de..

Jannu: ha.. (she takes Khushi with her and makes her drink water and sit on a bench away from others hoping not to faint looking at the blood stains)

Karan: ab shanti se bata Khushi.. baccha kya hua hai exactly? Aur Kriti.. kaha hai wo? Kya bol rahi thi tu?

Khushi: wo hum cl.. club se bahar aaye aur.. wo accident.. Kriti ko.. gaadi.. highway tha wo..

Jannu: Karan she is not in right state of mind.. behki behki baatein kar rahi hai kuch thik se samajh nahi raha..

(Kartik and Sameer come near them and Jannu faints looking at their shirts soaked in blood)

Karan: Damn it Jannuu.. abhi nahi pleasee.. Kartik paani lao.. (they sprinkle water on her face)

Jannu: Ohh shitt.. shitt.. sorry guyss.. tum log pleasee mere piche ruko..

Karan: you are ok now?

Jannu: hmm.. Khushi..

Karan: Khushi baccha bol kya hua?

Sameer: Karan.. wo bohot disturbed hai tabse.. hum batate hai..

Karan: haa tum batao.. aur Kriti kaha hai? Chot vot aayi hai kya use? Dressing karayi kya?

Sameer: Ch.. chot.. wo..

Kartik: Karan.. hum club se bahar nikle aur gaadi nikalne ke liye humne pehle hi road cross kar liya tha.. ye dono araam se piche se aa rahi thi.. dono baato mein itni khoyi thi unka road pe bilkul dhyaan nahi tha.. humne dekha Khushi ke piche se gaadi aa rahi hai.. humne chilaya warn karne ke liye lekin Khushi samajh nahi paayi aur Kriti ne gaadi dekh li.. Kriti ne Khushi ko dhakka de diya aur Khushi baju mein jaake gir gayi.. use thode bohot scratches aaye hai lekin Khushi ko bachate bachate Kriti uss gaadi ke saamne aa gayi.. bohot bura accident hua Karan.. bohot khoon beh raha tha.. uski halat bohot kharab thi isliye hum use yaha le aaye aur Kriti ke gharpe, Yash ko aur tumhe immediately inform kiya..

Karan: Kri.. wo.. wo ab thik to hai na?Aur.. Khushi.. baccha tu thik hai na? Jyada lagi to nahi na?

Khushi: (crying) Mai thik hu bhai.. lekin Kriti.. wo thik nahi hai.. Use.. use agar kuch ho gaya to? Sab meri galti hai bhai.. Kritii.. use kuch hona nahi chahiye.. mai apne aap ko kabhi maaf nahi kar paungi bhai.. Kriti..

Karan: Shh baccha listen to me.. wo ek accident tha.. isme teri koi galti nahi hai.. samjhi? Aur Kriti.. wo fighter hai Khushi.. jab usne tujhe kuch hone nahi diya to use kuch kaise ho sakta hai.. I am sure ab tak to wo bilkul thik ho gayi hogi.. bata mujhe kaha hai wo.. Nahi.. pehle tu rona band kar.. (tears filled in his eyes) mujhe bata agar tu aise rote baithegi to uska khayal kaun rakhega? Waise bhi agar usne dekh liya na tu aise ro rahi hai to hum sabki khair nahi.. so stop crying ok.. stay strong and tell me.. kaha hai wo?
(In mind: ye sab kya ho gaya? Kriti.. usne apni life danger mein daalke Khushi ko bachaya? Khushi ko Kriti se acchi dost kabhi mil hi nahi sakti.. I hope she is fine.. lekin wo hai kaha.. aur ye sab kuch bol kyu nahi rahe.. mujhe dekhna hai use.. pata nahi kyu lekin aisa lag raha hai jaise dil ke hazar tukde ho rahe hai.. mai rona chahta hu.. lekin nahi.. Khushi ke saamne mai ro nahi sakta.. lekin Kriti hai kaha?)

Karan: Kartik.. uncle aunty kaha hai? Wo Kriti ko ghar le gaye hai kya?

Kartik: wo.. dono gaon gaye the.. raste mein bohot traffic hai.. wo yaha aa rahe hai lekin shayad unhe aur vaqt lagega aane ke liye..

Karan: lekin agar Uncle aunty yaha nahi aaye to Kriti kaha hai?

Kartik: Karan.. she is critical.. doctors kuch thik se nahi bata rahe..

Karan: Whatt??
(He gets a shock and he sits on the bench. Shiv goes to hold him. A nurse comes out of the operation theatre and everyone go to her)
Sister.. sister.. Kriti kaisi hai? Wo thik to ho jayegi na?

Nurse: Abhi kuch bhi kehna mushkil hai.. Patient ki condition critical hai.. jald se jald operation karwana hoga.. aap unki family hai?

Karan: Fam.. family.. nahi.. uncle Aunty ko to aane ke liye time lagega..

Nurse: Time bohot kam hai.. agar jald se jald in papers pe sign nahi hue to hum operation nahi kar payenge aur patient ki jaan ko khatra hai.. bohot khoon beh chuka hai..

(Yash arrives)
Yash: Mai.. mai sign karta hu.. Aap operation shuru kijiye..

Nurse: aap unke relative hai?

Yash: haa.. behen hai wo meri..

Nurse: ok then.. consent form bharke aap submit kar dijiye.. hum operation ki tayari shuru karte hai

Yash: Doctor.. jo karna pade kijiye.. jise bulana hai bulaiye jo treatment karwani hai karwayiye.. bass meri behen ko kuch nahi hona chahiye.. kisi bhi haal mein kuch nahi hona chahiye..
(Yash takes the form and goes to the reception)

Karan: (in mind: cri.. critical.. Kriti critical hai.. matlab.. nahi.. Kriti ko kuch nahi hoga.. iss vaqt mai kamzor nahi ho sakta.. Khushi, Yash, Sameer, Kartik.. pehle hi un charo ki halat kharab hai.. mai kamzor nahi ho sakta.. Karan stay strong.. kuch nahi hoga Kriti ko.. abhi tak to tune use apne dil ki baat bhi nahi batayi.. aur teri baat ka jawab diye bina wo kahi nahi jaa sakti.. kahi bhi nahi..)

Karan: Yash... Mai bhi aata hu..

Yash: hmmm..

Karan: Jannu.. please Khushi, Sameer aur Kartik ka dhyaan rakh.. they are very disturbed..

Jannu: h.. ha.. don't worry..

(Karan goes with Yash to fill the form and helps him stay strong)

Shiv: Jannu.. mujhe Karan ki chinta ho rahi hai.. un sabke saamne wo kamzor nahi padna chahta lekin andar se hil gaya hai wo..

Jannu: Hmm.. mai bhi yahi soch rahi hu.. jab hame use sambhalna chahiye wo bechara in sabko himmat dene mein laga hai.. pata nahi andar se kitne volcanoes phut rahe honge uske andar..

Shiv: Sameer, Kartik tumne Kriti ko utahaya tha na? Tumhare kapdo par bohot khoon laga hai.. please jaake fresh hoke ye saaf karke aao.. you will feel better.. aur Jannu bhi behosh nahi hogi..
(Kartik and Sameer goes to the washroom and Yash comes back after filling the form. He is lost in his thoughts and Karan sits on a chair far from them. He looked broken)
Jannu.. jaake Karan ko sambhal.. mai Khushi aur Yash ke saath hu yaha.. Karan is not in right state of mind..

Jannu: haa.. in dono ka khayal rakhna please..

Shiv: haa.. mai hu.. jaa tu..
(Janvi goes to Karan)
Yash, Khushi.. She will be fine.. Kuch nahi hoga hamari Kriti ko..

Khushi: Ye pehli baar nahi hua hai Shiv.. ye sab pehle bhi ho chuka hai.. sab ho chuka hai.. ye sab meri vajah se ho raha hai.. sab kuch meri vajah se.. uss vaqt humne jo kimat chukai thi wo wapas nahi chuka sakti mai.. Kritii.. Yash.. Yash mai hamesha tujhse sab kuch chheen leti hu na? Pehle bhi chheen chuki hu aur ab Kriti.. Sorry Yash.. I am really sorry..

Yash: Stop it Khushi.. Dare don't say this again!! Kriti ko kuch nahi hoga.. jo kimat chukani thi.. humne chuka di.. teri galti nahi thi.. Kriti ko kuch bhi nahi ho sakta.. kuch nahi.. Khushi ab mujhme himmat nahi nahi hai aur ek.. nahi.. Kriti nahi jaa sakti..

Shiv: Yashh.. Kriti kahi nahi jaane wali.. Relax.. Aur Khushi.. jo kuch bhi hua tum use badal to nahi sakti na? Aur ye sab sochna band karo.. isme tumhari koi galti nahi thi.. It was just an accident... Aur tumhe thodi na pata tha aisa kuch hone wala hai.. aur waise bhi.. jab tak Kriti ke paas tum sabke jaise dost hai, Yash ke jaisa bhai hai aur Karan ka saath hai.. use kuch nahi ho sakta.. trust me..

Khushi: Karan?

Shiv: Haa Khushi.. Karan.. tumhare saamne wo bohot strong rehne ki koshish kar raha hai lekin wo tut chuka hai Khushi.. iss vaqt use tumhari jaroorat hai.. tumhe strong rehna hoga.. sirf apni best friend ke liye nahi balki uske liye bhi jisase tumhara bhai bohot bohot pyaar karta hai.. you have to fight for them Khushi kyuki aaj khudanakhasta Kriti ko kuch hua to tera bhai bhi jeete jee mar jayega..

Khushi: Tum.. tum sahi keh rahe ho.. Karan.. he needs me.. lekin mai kya karu Shiv.. mai nahi hu itni strong.. Kriti ki ye halat...

Shiv: tumhe strong to rehna hi hoga Khushi.. jab wo apni zindagi ke liye ladh rahi hai tab tumhe uske saath khade rehna hai ya pehle hi uske liye shok manana hai ye decision ab tum logo ka hai.. do choices hai.. rote rote use jaane do ya phir uske saath aur uske liye ladho aur wo jaha kahi bhi hai use wapas le aao..

Khushi: mai ladhungi.. Kriti ke saath bhi aur Kriti ke liye bhi.. batao kya karna hai.. (she wipes her and Yash's tears)

Shiv: Umm.. Hospital ke mandir mein chalke pray kare? Sabse bade court mein chalte hai.. ye case to hame jeetni hi hai.. (he forwards his hand and Khushi holds it)

Khushi: Chalo..

(Khushi, Shiv and Yash goes to the temple to pray for Kriti)

Jannu: Karan.. yaar please ro le.. ye andar andar ghutna band kar.. yaha Khushi ya baki koi bhi nahi hai.. just let it out Karan..

Karan: I.. I am fine.. Jannu.. mujhe nahi rona aa raha..

Jannu: nahi rona? Kuch feel nahi ho raha?

Karan: Feel? Nahi.. Jannu.. mujhe.. mujhe kya feel hoga.. I am fine.. mai to soch.. raha tha.. Kh.. Khushi ke baare mein..

Jannu: Khushi ke baare mein? Really now? Fine... Mai chalti hu phir.. bye..

(She gets up but Karan holds her hand and Looks around to ensure no one was there, hugs her and cries his heart out)

Karan: I am so.. sorry.. mai wo.. Kriti..

Jannu: tu - wo - Kriti sab jaanti hu mai.. jyada natak mat kar mere saame.. it's okay yaar.. ro sakta hai tu.. hamesha har baat mein Great Wall of Karan Sharma banane ki jaroorat nahi hai tujhe.. kabhi kabhi aankho ke aasu, muh se nikle har jhoot ka parda gira deta hai Karan..
(He hugs her again and cries)
Feeling better?

Karan: hmm.. (he wipes off his tears) mujhe gharpe call karke inform karna hoga pehle.. (he calls home and informs his parents about everything. Kriti's parents reach the hospital)

(Meanwhile, Yash was sitting in the garden alone after praying and Khushi was restless. Shiv finds her sitting alone on stairs)

Shiv: Khushi tum wapas aake baith gayi? Tum jaanti ho na Yash iss vaqt andar se tuta hua hai.. iss vaqt tumhare alawa wo kisi ki baat nahi sunane wala.. he needs you Khushi..

Khushi: Tum sahi.. keh rahe ho.. you know Yash ke liye Kriti sirf behen nahi hai.. jaan basti hai yaar uski Kriti mein.. uski behen, best friend and what not.. iss vaqt sachme andar se tut raha hoga wo... No matter wo apne aap ko kitna strong dikhata hai lekin Kriti aur mai acche se jaante hai bilkul strong nahi hai wo.. bohot emotionally weak aur vulnerable hai.. mai jaati hu uske paas Shiv..

Shiv: Hmm.. go..

Karan: Shiv.. jara andar aa na..

Shiv: haa aaya..

(Khushi goes to Yash)
Khushi: Yash..!

(As soon as Yash sees Khushi, he puts his head on her lap and starts crying)

Khushi: Yash.. Shh.. kuch nahi hoga Yash Kriti ko.. tu jaanta hai na apni Kriti fighter hai.. dekh tu bohot jaldi wo hamare saamne hogi aur teri iss roti shakal par hasegi.. phir mujhe mat bolna ki maine tujhe warn nahi kiya

Yash: Kash yaar.. kash mai bhi tum logo ke saath hota.. shayad mai aisa kuch hone hi nahi deta.. pata hai maine doctor ki baat suni.. wo Karan se keh rahe the ki operation khatam hone tak wo kuch keh nahi sakte.. blood loss bohot jyada hua hai.. doctors to itna bhi nahi keh rahe ki wo thik ho jayegi.. Khushii.. maine ek baar ye sadma seh liya.. wapas nahi seh paunga yaar...

Khushi: Yashh!! Nahi.. andar tu hi bola na mujhe ki jo kimat chukani thi humne chuka di.. ab nahi Yash.. aisa kuch nahi hoga.. aisa hum kuch hone hi nahi denge.. aur tu dekhna.. abhi thodi der mein use hosh aa jayega aur wo tere saath ladne lagegi.. bandar bandar chidayegi wo alag.. isliye bol rahi hu uth jaa tu.. aur ye rona band kar.. Bhai.. agar usne tujhe aise rote dekh liya na to tere saath saath mujhe bhi daant padhegi aur tujhe rotadu jaisa kuch Kriti special innovative nick name milega wo alag.. usase behtar to sachme uth jaa tu..

Yash: Hmmmm.. sahi hai.. Khushi.. wo dekh Samu aur Kittu.. unke bhi saamne hua yaar sab kuch.. pata nahi unpar kya gujar rahi hogi..

Khushi: We have to cheer them up Yash.. bohot darr gaye the wo dono bhi

Yash: hmm.. chal..
(They go to Samu and Kittu, cheer them up take them to temple to pray for her and then take them to canteen to have some food)

(Meanwhile, in the hospital)

Shiv: Ha Karan Bol..

Karan: Shiv, andar Kriti ke parents aaye hai.. mai mila unse lekin baat karne ki himmat nahi ho rahi yaar.. chal na mere saath unke paas..

Shiv and Janvi: Karan ruk..
(They look at each other)

Karan: kya hua?

Shiv: mere saath chal..

Karan: kaha?

Shiv: Mandir.. kuch baat karni hai tujhse..

Karan: Par ander Uncle Aunty...

Shiv: Jaayenge waha lekin pehle mere saath chal.. jyada time nahi lagega..

Karan: ok chal.. lekin jaldi wapas aana hai.. Uncle Aunty andar akele hai..
(They go to the temple)
Hmm bol ab kya baat karni hai tujhe? Aur uske liye yaha aane ki kya jaroorat thi?

To be continued...

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