Pranav made sure his Mithu was sleeping after throwing up everything she had due to her morning sickness. She was so tired that her yesterday's enthusiasm was in pit. Oddly today he felt happy that she is having her morning sicknesss which is making her take ample rest and not put her brain to any absurd thinking. Before he finalizes on whatever shit is happening in Pari's life he doesn't want his wife to sniff anything.

Sighing he held the phone close to his ears to listen to the same voicemail message umpteenth time of the day from Adi's number.He tried the other number of the person whom he want to confront on these confusions. Luckily the line went through and heard a female voice

"Miss.Joshi?"

"Yup. Who is this? " the same strong feminine tone hit his ears

"Pranav Rao, Anumithra's Husband. Listen, I need to have a talk with you in person. Can we meet today and before you deny let me put it straight its sorta emergency" his voice and his stance did throw her senses to caginess

"Mr.Rao, I am sorry but whatever it may be, it needs to wait until morrow morning. Hope you understand the crux. I am running behind the last minute details on arrangements" Pranav could not help but go with what she said. After all, if his assumptions are to be proved true then for safety of their Pari that felon should be caged. Deciding to meet by the day break he hung on the call.

Almost by midday, Adi reverted Pranav's call.

"Jiju what's up? Is Di good? I have got too many calls from you. I was busy finalizing a tender quote for the upcoming summit that's happening in Mumbai. We are participating first time so I made sure am not disturbed " Adi rushed in seeing the unusual number of calls from his Jiju.

"Mithu is good Adi. I just want to speak to you and Aju. Can you come down here by evening?"

The playful banter or the usual soothing texture in his tone never echoed from Pranav which made Adi wonder what has suddenly gotten into him?

"Sure Jiju. Another couple of hours I will be done for the day. I will straight away come home. Arjun will be not reachable for today and tomorrow. But plan is that he will come home with Choti tomorrow. Anything wrong Jiju?" Adi asked unable to withstand the indifference in his Jiju's voice

"Nah! Come home lets discuss" Pranav relaxed thinking at least with Adi by home in evening he will get to know everything that's happening around them!

"Pranav, I am ready shall we go ?" Mithu's voice disturbed his stance and made him look up at her to see she was ready to go out somewhere.

It was already evening but yet Adi hasn't arrived as promised making him totally restless. Seeing his clueless looks Mithu sauntered towards where he was sitting and launched herself beside him in the loveseat

"Pari and bachu will come tomorrow we need to surprise them right? Due to our junior I was totally couched in bed today but now at least we will go for some shopping and get Pari some gifts." The hope shining in Mithu's eyes made Pranav nod his head for her demands.

By the time they returned Adi was back from office serving himself to the food available. He was about to open mouth asking reason for innumerable calls that his jiju left him but the way his Jiju gestured towards his Di made him zip his mouth.

"Di how are you ?" Adi asked moving towards her to gve a hug

"I am tired Adi, your Jiju was in his own world and never helped me in shopping " she mocked Pranav making him sigh on his foolishness. This is the least thing Pranav wanted on his list of problems to sort.

"Angry Mithu is hard to handle , angry pregnant Mithu is an untouchable subject. So now dear brother in law get back to your room let me cool my wife's temper down and come to your room for a talk" indicating Adi that there is going to be some men talk to happen laters ,Pranav took Mithu to their room.

*****

CHANDINI POV

There was heavy feeling making me simmer down thinking a day has gone and all I have is one night with my Arjun. I hope against hope that when I get to meet my family tomorrow they should happily give me a farewell for the shift I have to do for my job. But these two days are going to be hard with upcoming confrontations queued up. First going back to Mumbai, meeting that swine to give back on his face for things happened, meeting Di with Arjun and professing everything in open to let them choose the best for us, meeting Bua and Kavya to fill up the things am missing and finally to let my man know that I was aware of his foolish revenge plan which is deep down in the gutter.

I sighed taking my mobile to check time out of habit and reminding myself the next minute that I switched it off due to the series of texts I received from that hog, once I switched it back after landing. Pulling myself from those cheap texts and that bastard's thoughts, I budged towards Arjun's room. Rest of hours with him should be spent happily to bag myself with lots of happy moments.

I stood cross legged in the foyer watching Arjun do pushup's just in his sandos and shorts. My breath hiked seeing him in a different sight for the first time and my legs betrayed me by derailing towards his sweaty form. He was oblivious to the knowledge of my presence in the room, continuing his push up's. In a mo, I was tackled down by the pull on my wrist and I was sitting on his tummy with him giving me a smug look.

"Close your mouth Basanti, you are giving me some early morning mottos " he said chuckling at my wide-open mouth.

Though blush started creeping up my cheeks I smacked his shoulders, floundering to the floor thus helping my mind and heart to keep in sync to have a coherent talk with him.

"How did you sense my presence Arjun?" he turned towards me and chortled saying "You gave away your presence baby"

"Nah I was quiet "

"I meant your fragrance –lime and you- the mixed scent "he said giving me his killer smile.

I could not help but feel goodish at the things he says to me.

"I never knew you were an exercise person .Or really you must not be, just showing off to me right?" I was pulling his legs .He let out a smirk, pulling me towards him he whispered in my ears "You are yet to know many things about me Baby .Care to explore "

"Are you trying to insinuate me into doing things Arjun?" I fake yelled making him simper.

"Nah Baby I was talking straight but seems your gutter mind is making you imagine things "with that said he rushed into the lavatory escaping from the pillow i grabbed from couch to hit him for making fun of me.

It was time to explore Goa but still Arjun is getting ready making me wait in the living room. I remember how Di use to say about his punctuality and now I can confirm such word never exists in his dictionary

"Arjunnnnn" I drawled for "N"th time making him stagger towards me finally. He enveloped me and walked towards the foyer.

We were walking along the streets on my insistence to shop for our family when he mused "Basanti, your lime fragrance is missing. Did you miss bringing your special cologne with you? "

I could not help but chuckle out at his confused face. "Yea I sorta missed it, but that's not any cologne that's the body wash I prepare myself with fresh lemon squash and I didn't get any lemons here." I struck out my tongue at him

"Shit that is why I could not find the exact fragrance from many of products , when I searched for it" he was talking to himself but the fact that he tried searching my preferences made me elite in happiness.

Hand in hand we walked choosing gifts for everyone when Arjun pulled me into a particular shop. It had a different racks of bangles displayed in various artistic designs.

"Basanti remove those bangles and try these ones " Arjun ordered me selecting few from other racks. I stood still at his command .Removing them here amidst crowd and letting him see my past in the shape of a scar which runs along my left wrist seemed a tough task that requires herculean amount of energy from me. I know he has to be let into my past so that he can be my future.I decided tomorrow is going to be the day but letting him know now will spoil my entire day of togetherness with him and I need someone's emotional presence around me when I put this out in open.

I am a harassment victim

I am a suicidal personality

And I am a schizophrenic

I have kept all these from my man for these past days. I zoned out in these whirlwind of emotions until I felt Arjun pushing some bangles in my right hand. I looked up to see him keenly gazing my face.

"Seemed you were lost in thoughts baby, so I used your empty hand to see my favourite bangles in them." He gave me a wink and choose few more bangles getting them packed.

I was completely tired with these thoughts that I said no to beach convincing Arjun that we can hit beach before taking of for the day tomorrow. He seemed to understand my crux, so we decided to end the day after dinner.

I want to relax right now before a headache bounce up .I staggered toward the mobile and switched it on to talk with Jiju or DI to take away my mind. I was supposed to be happy in Goa. Series of notifications piled up once my mobile was back to its life. Among them were couple of text from Kavya saying Buaji is now home. Next ones were from the Bastard .Involuntarily my hand played the video I have received from him. It was the one he had sent me before he boarded the flight to Mumbai hours ago.

"Baby girl, you have no idea how happy I was seeing you on video call yesterday. I have enough power and money with me now, nothing else matters to me until I have you. You are mine, you were always but I can get it stamped on 2 days legally. Then you have no escapes from me. From the moment I saw you on video call I can't help but go back to those old days where I kissed and did things to you. Do you remember all those days? Your beauty always have enthralled me and now I am going to have all of you. Wait for me Baby girl "the scary voice and the video came to an end making my head swivel in fear. Every time i try to come out of my haunting past he appears before me snapping my belief and power to overcome them. I wanted to reach out to Arjun but my voice seemed to be caught in my throat.

ARJUN POV:

I was sipping on to my coffee reflecting things happened on last day. There seems to be contradictory emotions fretting Chandini. Before boarding she seemed to be off until she found me beside her, same thing happened when we were on way to our hotel and then back on shopping. One thing she loves the most is staying next to nature but she avoided to even go for a beach walk.It is not so chandini. If am not wrong she must be stressing over the wedding. It happens right? Wedding in two days and you are in love with someone how hard it will be for the girl to behave happily. Though my plan was to bring her out of this agony she is still going through them. So it's better if I reveal about the restraint order. This trip is to cool her nerves so I better let her know that no way this wedding will happen.

Making my mind with a pep talk to address her I made my way towards her .I stood by the doorway transfixed to see her struggling for breath, her eyes fixed still. My hands chilled seeing her eyes watering and I scurried towards her and hugged her .I am clueless myself on what has happened with her.To act in such an emergency situation was a maddening task for me.I go blank at such eleventh hours . It was always Adi who used to mage the situation but now it should be me. I was tapping her chin to make her gaze face me but no response.I cradled her head on my shoulders but still no response, she was behaving as if she is in another dark world. Her eyes were continuously watering making my heart constrict in pain. She was never a woman of tears .I have seen her tears only when she talks about her mother and how she was of a rebel by then. Blocking my mind of thoughts that are unnecessary I shifted my attention towards her. I cupped her face and rubbed her tears trying to make her see me.

"Basanti baby. Can you hear me?" no response from her except for the flicker of her irises.

"Baby see I am here ...Are you okay?" I pasted a chaste kiss on her forehead shifting my gaze again to her eyes. She nodded her head in a no and seems to speak something

"Arj ..Arjun ..Take me ...take me away from here..this room ,Please " her whimpers grew on time making me go to a panic state.

"Basanti see me, fix your stare on me. We are going from here .I am taking you to my room. Okay? Baby you are safe. I am here with you." I bundled her like a baby and took her to my room blathering somethings.I placed her on bed to fetch her some water when she held my wrist nodding for no.

"Baby I am not going away. I am just getting you water "

"Stay with me please." her vulnerability is killing me. This Chandini is very new to me and I am blind on what is making her stress this much.

Without giving her much more tension I choose to stay by her side. As soon I sat she moved to settle herself on my lap hugging me. I let her stay as such as because she seemed to cease her tears in my arms.

I preferred her being quiet than she being in tears, seeing her so vulnerable few minutes back made me confused if she is really worried about her impending wedding or is there anything more to this.

"Basanti are you okay?" I asked after few minutes of her silence by placing a kiss on her crown.

She nodded her head which was encased in my shoulder blade, a small smile trying to make its way on her lips.

"Arjun, Love me "she said positioning herself much more comfortable on my lap

"I Love you Chandini" I voiced out with all my love pecking her on cheeks. A frown marred her brows she looked at me and vocalized "Love all of me Arjun"

I smiled at her frown ,pecked her other cheek and voiced out "I love all of you Chandini"

Her temper grew by my actions where I am clueless why she is getting riled up when I do exactly what she said. She now sat in front of me and enuciated "Arjun I didn't ask you to say it I asked you to do it. Make me yours .All of me as yours "

Is she asking me to love her? Seriously !!!! One minute she was bunched up in wallow and now she is asking me casually to take her into next step of our relation!!Arjun pull yourself up she is confused and you should do nothing to make her regret any point of your relation

Taking her face on my large palms I lipped "Basanti !! Baby we still have time for all those things!! Without things happening between us too, You are mine, you will always be !! Why now sweetheart? What is happening to you??Let me in!! I am unable to streamline whatever is happening now ?"

Vexation etched on her face, she pushed my hands away and put her face on her hands breaking into sobs and wails "You don't want me Arjun" that was more of a question than a statement.

"Baby I love you with all of my heart. If I want something desperately then that is all of you and your love sweet heart. But you are now not in control and taking some big step is not very good idea."

"No Arjun you don't want me.I am no one and I have no one.Why should you love me?"

"Don't talk rubbish Basanti. Listen to me. You are mine and you have me..Let me in to your problems. Let's talk and sort this out baby."

She dodged all my efforts into bringing her within my space and kept on wailing saying some non-coherent things making my head fuzz. All I need now is sane Chandini not the one who is vexated or the one who is in tears. No amount of cajoling was helping me and I am losing my senses in front of her tears.

If that is all she wants and that is what I am going to give her. I will never regret anything with Chandini and I know she will not too.

"okay Chandini I give in .Now look at me " I said which stopped her sobs .She removed her face from her palms seeing me with a screen of tears blurring her irises from my sight.

She shook her head and said in a feeble voice "I don't believe in you. You are calling me as Chandini and not Basanti .You are staying miffed at me and trying to side-track me."

If someone can look and be innocent even at this time then it should be my Chandini. I pulled her into my arms and she voluntarily surrendered keeping her head close to my heart.

"No Baby if that is what you need I will give you. But please understand you are mine already not some physical intimacy is going to make difference."

She nodded for a yes making me go-ahead "Baby it is all supposed to happen with a flow not when we plan it " I tried putting sense into her but again her feeble sobs erupted.

"Arjun you think I am desperate for your closeness. You think am debauched " her voice devoid of octaves.

The last resort I had to make her quiet in hauling herself with names was to kiss her and that is what I did. Our foreheads enjoined I whispered "Baby don't demean yourself. You are not anything of those. You are my priceless possession. All I ask is let me in .Will you?" she nodded looking in my eyes.

"I love all of you Baby "I kissed her making her smile, the full blown one - first one in this evening

"All of me " she mouthed before joining me in for a kiss.

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

A/N:

 Heya sweets!! I am back..So i made it quick than i expected.But the next one ill be much more quicker !!

How is this ?Good /Bad??Bearable??

I honestly felt last two of my updates were not upto the mark :'((( So i tried my best in doing a fair job for this one.Longest one i have ever written :p I was going on writing then felt like i should at least stop here ..In next update prologue comes up !! And may be Adi and Kavya can meet in the next one :p

I am a sucker for romance scenes but never comfortable in writing intimacies!So don't bother me but understand they have done "THE DEED".

So any ideas why is Arjun gonna haul hatred towards Chandini and worry later?And what have everyone up on their sleeves to trap Pradeep?

New readers thanks for all your reads and the kind ones who left me private messages n comments i would be soooonishly replying all those!!!

~Rami <3