'TAPASYA!', a loud booming voice made its way into their ears. Ruhaan and Tapasya turned around to locate the owner of the voice and froze in shock.

Standing exactly five feet apart from the pool, was a fuming Kunal Dhanrajgir and next to him was his wife Tejaswi.

Taps: Dad?! Mom?!

Kunal: COME OUT OF THE POOL! NOW!!

Tapasya shuddered at his tone of voice. Her dad was the last person in the world who would ever shout at her.

But it wasn't like he caught her kissing a guy everyday!

Taps: Dad....I can explain-

Kunal: There's nothing to explain! Come out of the pool right now!

Tapasya looked at Ruhaan.Ruhaan gulped and nodded at Tapasya. Slowly and steadily, Tapasya got out of the pool and stood quivering in front of her Dad. Ruhaan followed after.

Kunal: See Tejaswi! This was exactly the kind of thing that I was worried about! I told you he wasn't to be trusted!

Tejaswi: Kunal.....

Ruhaan: Uncle.....

Kunal snapped at him and said in an angry voice, pointing his finger at him,

Kunal:(hissing) You! Stay away from my daughter! I don't want to see you anywhere near my family!

Taps: Dad, what are you saying? And how come you are here?

Kunal:(angrily) Well that was the surprise that I intended to give you! But now it seems to me that coming here was necessary!

Taps: Dad, it's not what you think..... please just...... listen to me once...

Kunal:(fuming) There's nothing to listen to! You're coming with us right now!

Saying that, he grabbed her by her arm.

Taps: But Dad-

Tejaswi looked at Ruhaan sadly. Ruhaan returned her gaze , with a lot of questions in his mind. Taking a last glance at Ruhaan, Kunal dragged Tapasya back to her room, with Tejaswi at his heels.

Ruhaan face palmed himself, not knowing what to do next.

Looks like Tapasya has got some Daddy issues to deal with!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mitali sat in the garden area with a few of Kavya and Jai's relatives, who were now getting ready to play antakshari. Since it was Jai and Kavya's last day before tying the knot, their cousins had thought of arranging a sweet gathering, only for the young generation. And that meant that no adults were allowed to be there.

No Bhajans and No Kirtans!

Anyways, as Mitali sat amongst the crowd, her mind wandered off to Adi. She hadn't meant to fight with him. But him being childish wasn't helping either. She frowned remembering his words,

'What if you go to Dehradun and fall for him......'

Was their bond so weak? Didn't he trust her? So what if she hadn't said those three magical words? That didn't mean that he was oblivious of her feelings for him. He knew how much her heart ached to see him with someone else.

As if on cue, Mitali spotted Adi coming at a distance. She was almost about to go to talk to him but then she spotted somebody else beside him.

It was Trisha , of course! She was giggling like a donkey. Adi had his arm around her waist and it looked like they were having a good time.

Ouch!

Mitali grunted in response and poured herself a drink from the counter which was arranged for the gathering. She was almost about to gulp it down when suddenly, Ruhaan intervened and took the glass from her.

Ruhaan: What are you doing?

Mitali:(sarcastically) I'm baking a cake!

Ruhaan: Mitali!

Mitali: What? Now I can't drink?

Ruhaan: You can, but not this. I'll get some coffee or a cold drink, okay? This (indicating the glass) is not good for youying that, he threw the drink on the grass.

Mitali: You're such a pain in the ass.

Ruhaan: Thank you. Now tell me what's going on?

Mitali: I don't know.......Jai and Kavya's relatives decided to throw a last party for them as it's their last day of freedom.

Ruhaan: Mitali, what's going on with.... you?

Mitali: Nothing. Uh..... nothing. I'm just tired.

Ruhaan: Mitali?

Mitali: Okay fine! I had a fight with your best friend. Happy now?

Ruhaan: What? Why?

Mitali: Some stupid matter. Don't bother. I don't wanna talk about it.

Ruhaan: Okay, but whatever it is I'm sure you guys will get past it.

Mitali:(under her breath) Not this time.

Ruhaan: huh?

Mitali: Nothing. Where's Queen B?

Ruhaan's face paled at her mention.

Mitali: What happened? Why are you getting so nervous?

Ruhaan: She's in her room right now. With her parents.

Mitali: Wait...... where did they come from?

Ruhaan: I don't know. They arrived in the afternoon. And....

He narrated the whole incident to Mitali. Once he was finished, Mitali burst out laughing.

Ruhaan: What's so funny?

Mitali:(chuckling) Oh My God! Her dad caught you guys kissing?! Oh I totally missed it!

Ruhaan: It's not that funny. Her dad was very mad. I'm lucky he didn't kill me right then and there.

Mitali: Poor you. And poor Queen B! Aw she must be getting a load full from her dad right now.

Ruhaan: Yeah, Gosh I feel so guilty.

Mitali: You don't have to. She's probably gonna convince her Dad that you guys are dating and a little kissing never hurts anybody.

Ruhaan: God! I hope so. Cause he was quite mad at me as well. He even told me to stay away from his family especially Tapasya.

Mitali: He's a Dad, Ruhaan. Every girl's dad hates the guy who dates his daughter. It wouldn't be a shock if he shot you in the head with a rifle.

Ruhaan: Yeah, you're right. That's a possibility considering the perfect first impression I made!

Mitali: It's gonna be ok.

Ruhaan just shrugged his shoulders. Just then, Mitali spotted Daksh at a distance, going towards the coffee counter.

Mitali: Uh.... Ruhaan, I'll just be back. I need to meet Daksh. But update me on the Queen B situation later, alright?

Ruhaan nodded and left. Mitali half ran half walked her way to Daksh. As she tapped on his shoulder, he turned around to face her. Mitali widened her eyes in shock.

His face was paler than before. He had dark circles under his eyes and he looked like he hadn't slept for days.

Mitali: Daksh, wha-

Daksh: Coffee?

Mitali: No, I need to talk to you. Come on.

Saying that, she brought him to a nearby couch and they both sat down.

Daksh: What did you wanna talk about?

Mitali: Yeah, I'll tell you later. But first tell me what's going on with you? Why do you look so sleep deprived?

Daksh: Because I am sleep deprived.

Mitali: Yeah, but why? You didn't come out of your room for two days. Why?

Daksh: Are you seriously asking me that? You, of all people?

Mitali: Daksh, if this is about Ananya, then that doesn't qualify as an excuse to not sleep. You've practically become like a zombie. Please don't do this to yourself.

Daksh: It's not for me to control. I can't sleep even if I want to. Every time I close my eyes, I see her. And I don't wanna see her!

Mitali: Daksh, I know you're mad at her right now. But you've got to understand. There's something that she's hiding. I know it. You can't see it because you're mad at.......

Daksh: No, Mitali. The only thing you can't see is that she is liar. You're wearing this blindfold of friendship which is making you not see the truth!

Mitali: Well, I can't say there's any friendship for now atleast..........

Daksh: What do you mean?

Mitali narrated the whole incident with Shanu.

Daksh: I can't believe this!

Mitali: Me neither. That's what I'm saying. There's got to be something there. She wouldn't jeopardise her friendship with us for Ishaan. I know that.

Daksh: Mitali, why are you still bent on this? She has made her feelings clear. God! You know, right now I don't feel bad for myself as I did for the last two days. I've known her for what....like a year? Shanu knew her for 4 years. She stood by her through thick and thin. Ananya herself admitted that to me. And after all that, this is what she gets?

Mitali: No, Daksh. You've got to have faith in her. You know deep inside that she can never do this. Unless she's compelled to do so. There's something that she's hiding. And I need to know what.

Daksh: Okay, suppose for a second I believe you. I believe she's hiding something. How do you plan to get it out of her?

Mitali sighed heavily and said,

Mitali: I have a plan. But I'm gonna need your help.

Daksh: If this help involves convincing Ananya, then I'm out.

Mitali: No. I think we should tell Tanya about this.

There was a long pause before Daksh spoke again,

Daksh: Why would you do that? What good is that going to bring for us?

Mitali: I don't know. But I can't just sit and let that innocent girl be in the darkness. She deserves to know the truth, if anything.

Daksh just sighed heavily.

Mitali: And there's also a possibility that maybe under pressure Ishaan might break and then Ananya will get to see that he isn't what he pretends to be.

Daksh: But what if he doesn't? What if he admits to his fiance that he is in fact in love with Ananya?

Mitali: Well, that's a risk I'm willing to take.

Daksh: Whatever. What help can I provide with?

Mitali: Moral Support. Now come on.

Saying that, the duo made their way to Tanya , who was busy laughing and taking pictures with her relatives.

Mitali: Tanya?

Tanya looked up at the duo and said,

Tanya: Mitali, right?

Mitali just nodded.

Tanya: Ha bolo?

Mitali looked at Daksh and then back at her and said,

Mitali: We need to talk. Could you come...... for a second?

Tanya: (hesitantly) Sure.

Saying that, she got up and followed the duo. Once they were in a secluded corner, Mitali turned to her and said,

Mitali: Look I'll just get to the point.

Tanya: Okay , you're scaring me right now. What's going on?

Mitali looked at Daksh as if pleading him to speak.

Daksh: We saw your fiance with our friend.

Tanya paused as if to understand the whole situation and said,

Tanya: So?

Mitali: We saw them........ feeding...... each.... other. And also hugging.

Tanya shook her head and said,

Tanya: No, you must be mistaken. Are you sure you saw Ishaan?

Mitali: Positive.

Tanya blinked furiously and glanced here and there. After a long pause, she asked,

Tanya: Who was he with?

Mitali and Daksh looked at each other and then at her. Daksh finally decided to rip the band aid off,

Daksh: Ananya Mathur.

Tanya: Why does that name sound familiar?

Mitali:(hesitantly) You're fiance has a history with her.

Tanya's face looked as if someone had taken the wax strips off her feet without informing her.

Tanya: Wait.........is that the girl who used to call him? The girl he was in love with?! What is she even doing here?

Mitali just nodded and said,

Mitali: She's our friend. Sahil's friend too.

Tanya contemplated things as if trying to put puzzle pieces together.

Tanya: But he told me that he was done with her! That he was over her! He ended things with her in front of me!

Suddenly, Ishaan's voice made its way into their ears,

Ishaan: Hey Tanya!

All three of them turned their attention to him. Daksh tightened his fists. Tanya looked like she could kill a soul or too.

Ishaan gulped noticing Mitali and asked in a trembling voice,

Ishaan: What's going on?

Before he could get an answer to that, Tanya slapped him across his cheeks. Mitali widened her eyes.

Ishaan: Tanya! What the heck?!

Tanya then went on to hold his collar and shake him. In a furious voice, she asked,

Tanya: How dare you cheat on me?! Why did you do this?! Tell me! Why?!

Sensing the situation, Ananya came to check whether everything was fine. Her eyes widened as she witnessed a furious Tanya holding Ishaan by his collar.

Ishaan: Tanya, just let me explain-

Tanya: Tell me! Did you cheat on me?! That too at my cousin's wedding?!

Ananya's eyes then wandered off to Daksh and Mitali who were silently witnessing the situation unfold. She marched her way to them and asked,

Ananya: Did you guys tell her?!

Daksh: So what did you want us to do? Lie to her like you lied to us?!

Ananya: It wasn't your secret to tell!

Daksh: That's not for you to decide! And are seriously saying those words?!

Before Ananya could respond to that, Tanya jerked her by her arm and asked,

Tanya: You! You are Ananya Mathur, right? (Turning to Ishaan) This is the girl that you were in love with, weren't you?

Ananya: Tanya...

Tanya: Shut up! Don't you dare take my name! I'm talking to my fiance. So stay out of it!

Ishaan: Tanya , just listen to me.....

Tanya: Tell me! Are you cheating on me with her?!

Ishaan: I was going to tell you. I swear Tanya, trust me......

Tanya: Trust you?! You said that you were over her! You said that you had ended things with her! The past three years, I tried so hard to be the perfect life partner for you! You said you didn't want to get married soon and I agreed to that! And this is what you give me?! Betrayal?!

Ishaan: Tanya, we can talk about this. But not here. Please, there's plenty of people around. Let's go to our room. We'll talk there. Just the two of us. Please.

Tanya: Why should I listen to you?! You scumbag son of a bitch! Let the people hear what an awful person you are!

Ishaan: Tanya please. Tumhe tumhare Dad ki kasam, please just come with me. I'll explain everything. Please not here.

Tanya huffed angrily, tears streaming down her face. Without another word, she stormed her way back to the hotel. Ishaan took one last glance at Ananya and then followed her back in.

Once they were out of sight, Ananya turned to Daksh and Mitali.

Ananya: I can't believe you too.

Daksh: Hey! Stop putting the blame on us. You're the one who is screwing around with somebody else's fiance!

Ananya: We are not just screwing around! We love each other! How many times do I have to say this?!

Daksh rolled his eyes, preventing Ananya from seeing his glistening eyes.

Mitali: Cut the crap, Ananya! I know you are hiding something. This is not you. You don't go around hurting people like this. Why are you doing this?

Ananya: I'm gonna say this the last time, Mitali. I am doing this because I love him. I don't care what people think or say. This is my life. I get to make the decisions!

Mitali: But what if the decision you're making is wrong?!

Ananya: I get to decide that! I will be the one facing the consequences, not you!

Mitali threw her hands in the air in frustration.

Daksh: Come on, Mitali. She's not worth the effort.

Ananya: Yeah really! Why don't you guys mind your fucking buisness?! I mean it's the least you can do to help me!

Daksh: Well sorry for looking out for you! I was under the impression that we were friends! And friends look out for each other!

Ananya: Yeah, but friends don't go around spilling each other's secrets! They are supposed to have each other's back and not backstab each other like you just did.

Daksh: So what, you were going to keep that innocent girl in the darkness?! And for how long, did that scumbag suggest you do that for?!

Ananya: Stop calling him that! You have no right-

Daksh: No, you have no right to put your friends through this! And that too after putting up an act of depression and heartbreak for three fucking years!

Ananya: That wasn't an act!

Daksh: Seriously Ananya though, you are quite an actor! I mean, you almost convinced us all that you were actually going through a heartbreak!

Ananya: It wasn't an act. He broke my heart three years back but he told me why he did it.

Daksh: And let me guess, you forgave him the minute he told you that he was in love with you, right?! Now riddle me this, if someone broke your heart so badly that you were almost at the verge of ending your life, how did one apology and those three magical words make up for it?

Ananya: You wouldn't understand!

Daksh: Why wouldn't I?!

Ananya: Kyunki tumne kabhi kisi se pyar nahi kiya hai!

There was an uncomfortable silence following that. Daksh was at a loss of words. It felt like a hundred knives were plunged into his heart. It almost felt like he was paralyzed. Not one word was finding it's way out of his mouth.

Mitali stood helpless in her spot, watching the cruel turn that fate had planned for her two friends. One who was hopelessly in love with the other, but couldn't say a word and the other who had unknowingly ripped his heart completely with a mere sentence.

After what almost felt like an eternity, Ananya said,

Ananya:. No...... Daksh....... I...... didn't...... mean that....... I.....

Daksh: No, you're right.

Both Mitali and Ananya looked at him questioningly.

Daksh: I am no one to say anything to you. It's your life. You get to decide who you wanna be with.

Ananya looked down in regret. She shouldn't have said those words. Mentally cursing herself, she looked up and met his eyes. That was when she noticed that he had bags under his eyes and he looked like he hadn't slept for days.

Daksh: I won't bother you, ever again.

Saying that, he started walking backwards , still keeping his gaze on Ananya. Ananya lowered her eyelids in guilt.

And when she looked up again, there was no one around her.

'I'm sorry', she whispered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey guys,so here's an update! Hope you liked the chapter and the confrontation between Ananya and Daksh, which was long overdue.

Anyways, if you liked the chapter please drop a VOTE!

And what are your views on Ishaan? Comment down below!

Target-45 votes.

I have a list of chapters written and I'll update as soon as the target is completed!

Love you loads,
Bosedisha