Sunlight streamed through the parted curtains.

Ruhaan opened his eyes and looked to his right and found Adi sitting at the edge of the bed. He had a worried look on his face.

He shot up and asked,

Ruhaan: You woke up so early?

Adi nodded negatively and said,

Adi: I didn't sleep for a minute last night.

After his confession last night, Adi had refused to talk to anyone about it. His friends had left him alone seeing his state. Ruhaan had agreed to stay up till he fell asleep. But apparently, he had dozed off sometime around midnight itself.

Ruhaan looked at him empathetically and said,

Ruhaan: Why did you say those things, Adi?

Adi sighed softly and said,

Adi: I said what was right. I don't deserve her. He does. And anyways, she'll be more happy with him rather than with an idiot like me.

Ruhaan: But are you really going to give up on her?

Adi: I'm not giving up on her , Ruhaan. I'm letting her go. She deserves happiness. And if that happiness is with Rishi, then so be it.

Ruhaan: And you're going to be okay?

Adi: Maybe. Maybe not. But I'll not stop her from being happy in her life. She'll be happier with Rishi.

Ruhaan: Don't say that-

Before he could complete his sentence, there was a sharp knock on the door. They looked at the door and Adi went and opened it.

An anxious Tapasya stood at the door.

Adi: What happened?

Tapasya: Mitali is missing.

~~~~~~~~~~

The gang along with Rishi were huddled in Adi and Ruhaan's room. They were all worried as to where Mitali could have gone.

Ruhaan: Rishi, does anyone other than us know that she's missing?

Rishi: Payal does. She's currently keeping Dadi busy to keep her away from Mitali's room.

Ruhaan nodded and turned to Shanu,

Ruhaan: Shanu, how did you come to know that she was missing?

Shanu: Well I went to her room as soon as I woke up to check on her and when I got there, I found her bed empty. I checked the bathrooms in the house along with Ananya and the backyard,but she was no where to be found.

The frown on Adi's face deepened by the second. He looked down.

Daksh: Where else could she possibly go on the day of her engagement? She isn't an irresponsible person.

Ruhaan: Rishi, do you know any such place that she could go?

Rishi pondered for a moment before saying,

Rishi: There is the tree house that we used to go to a lot....and....

He suggested a few places that Mitali would be when she was disturbed. So Ruhaan,Adi and Rishi decided to go find her.

Rishi looked at Adi through the rear view mirror while driving. He could see that he was visibly disturbed. He sighed.

Rishi: Don't worry. We'll find her.

Adi looked up at him for a split second and nodded slightly.

They didn't find Mitali in any of the places that Rishi had suggested. They were trying to call her but there was no answer from the other side.

Suddenly, Rishi said,

Rishi: There is only one place left where she could be.

Ruhaan and Adi exchanged glances before Ruhaan asked,

Ruhaan: Where?

Rishi: Her home.

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

A little while later , their car pulled up in front of an abandoned two storied house. The walls were the colour of burnt cinnamon sticks and they looked like they'd crumple down any minute.

Ruhaan asked,

Ruhaan: This is her home?

Rishi: Was. Before that horrible fire accident 8 years ago.

Adi breathed heavily. He could never even begin to imagine the trauma that Mitali had to go through, and that too at such a young age.

Rishi : There she is.

His eyes were casted on the bay window which was in rubles towards the corner end of the first floor. Following his line of sight,Adi and Ruhaan spotted a speck of her ebony hair before she walked away from the window.

Rishi: If you guys don't mind, can I go and talk to her alone?

He and Ruhaan looked at Adi. Adi nodded slightly.

Rishi nodded and walked into the abandoned house, leaving Adi and Ruhaan to wait anxiously outside.

As he entered the house, he immediately covered his mouth. There was so much dust accumulated in that place that he could hardly exhale.

His eyes searched for Mitali amidst the broken pieces of tiles and bricks that laid around the house.

Finally,he spotted her at a distance. She had her back to him. He slowly walked up to him and called,

Rishi: Mitu...

Mitali slowly turned around and faced him. Her eyes were brimming with tears and she was trying hard to control herself.

Rishi: Oh Mitu....

He walked up to her and embraced her in a tight hug. Mitali clutched the fabric of his shirt as she buried her face into his arms. He softly patted her.

They stayed that way for a while. Making sure she wasn't crying anymore, Rishi slowly pulled away and said,

Rishi: Everyone's worried about you, Mitu. You left the house without telling anyone.

Mitali sniffled and said,

Mitali: I'm sorry.... I was just.... I couldn't stay there anymore...... I felt so suffocated......

Rishi: It's okay.....Mitu.

Mitali shook her head and said,

Mitali: I was just..... I miss mom and dad so much. I just wish they were here for me. I don't what to do anymore. I'm so...lost.

Rishi: Hey...hey.... you're not lost, okay? And aunty and uncle are here with you always. In here.

He pointed to her chest, indicating her heart.

Mitali; I know... I just... I'm so tired.....of fighting with the fact that.....

Rishi: That you still love him?

He whispered mostly to himself but when Mitali's face softened, he got his answer.

Rishi: I heard you guys yesterday.

The silence between them was so revealing that no words needed to be uttered. He knew it, so did she.

Mitali turned to him instantly and said,

Mitali: I do love you. You know that right?

She gripped his hands as if afraid he might slip away.

Rishi smiled at her.

Rishi: I don't trust easily nor am I right about many things. But one thing that I'm undoubtedly sure about and would bet a hundred aloo parathas on, is that you love me.

He gripped her hand and pulling them closer to his chest, said,

Rishi: But the thing is.... you just love him a teeny bit more.

Mitali choked on a sob and looked away,

Mitali: You must hate me.

She then looked back at him and holding his hands against her cheeks , she said,

Mitali: Hit me! Scream! Swear! I don't deserve your kind words.

Holding her face , he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

Rishi: I love you, Mitali. You have such a beautiful heart and soul, and while I may not be the keeper of it, I know that I have a big place in it.

Mitali sniffled as a lone tear escaped her eyes.

Mitali: You have a big place in my heart, Rishi. You don't even know.

Rishi wiped the tear and said,

Rishi: This isn't the end for us, you know. I won't let it be.And if you even think for a second that I'm just letting you leave from my life, then you're sadly mistaken.

Mitali chuckled softly and said,

Mitali: I don't think I'll be able to.

Rishi smiled weakly and said,

Rishi: You were my first everything but sadly I wasn't yours.

Mitali: You were the first guy I ever punched.

Rishi chuckled softly and nodded,

Rishi: Yeah.

Mitali held his face and looked at him with a concerned look on her face.

Rishi: Hey, listen to me. I don't need to have a ring on my finger or some elaborate celebration to know that you're there for me. So we're not getting married, big deal. I know that I love you and you love me, and it would always be that way. Adi really loves you, Mitu. I wouldn't have taken this decision if I wasn't sure of his feelings for you.

Mitali looked at him with concern and asked,

Mitali: And you?

Rishi nodded and said,

Rishi: I'm happy, Mitu.

Mitali gave him a look that indicated that she didn't really believe him.

Rishi: You know I'd never lie to you. Yes, I am hurt. I love you a lot and letting you go stinks. But I can't hurt you by keeping you with me. Maybe this is for the better.

Rishi paused before continuing,

Rishi: I won't ever forget you and maybe that is the only forever the two of us together were meant to have.

Instead of replying to him,Mitali moved forward and pulled him into a bone crushing hug.

Rishi: Hey, Mitu..... I'm not losing you, Mitu. I refuse to.

Mitali: You won't..., Rishi.... I promise you won't lose me because I can't lose you.

Pulling away, Mitali searched his eyes.

Mitali: Are we going to be okay?

Rishi smiled and said,

Rishi: We're going to be perfect.

Mitali: Pinky promise?

Rishi chuckled softly and nodded,

Rishi: Pinky promise.

He caressed her cheeks softly and said,

Rishi: Go.

Mitali gulped and a slow smile broke on her face. She nodded and slowly traced her way back outside. Rishi trailed behind her.

She found Ruhaan and Adi standing on the front porch.

Ruhaan nudged Adi seeing her. Adi straightened up . He looked at the duo anxiously as they came out.

Adi's heart was beating faster than ever. His lapis lazuli finally met her red rimmed eyes and at that moment, he knew he succeeded.

Taking slow steps towards him, Mitali stopped few centimetres away from him. A soft smile threatened to ricochet on her lips.

Adi looked at her questioningly and moved a strand of her hair from her face.

Mitali: I'm sorry..... I should've never misunderstood you. But.... I.....just felt so....betrayed. I never...even tried to talk it out with you....ask you whether you actually gave her that ring or not..... I'm just.... I'm so....so sorry...

A soft sob escaped her lips. Adi smiled and sighed softly. Adi held her face , making sure she was looking at him.

Adi: No , I'm sorry..... it's my fault.... I should've never made the dumb decision to make you jealous..... I should've known when to stop.... I'm so sorry too...

Mitali: No, I'm sorry..... it's my fault....

Adi: No, it's my fault.... I...

Mitali: No, it's not. It's mine.

Adi: No, I'm....wait.... you know what....this could go on for a while.

A soft chuckle left Mitali's lips as her face lit up with a smile. Ruhaan and Rishi smiled too.

Mitali: I love you, Adi. It was always you. It was you yesterday. It was you today. It will be you tommorow. And for the rest of my life, its always going to be you. I love you.

The smile on Adi's face reached his eyes.

Adi: I love you too. You'll be my one and only forever.

Her eyes glittered with the essence of the smile on her lips. She nodded slightly and said,

Mitali: You'll be my one and only forever too.

They slightly touched their foreheads and smiled widely.

And all was finally well!

Aight! I'mma go cry!