° ° °

It was the night before Rhea's birthday. The little girl's excitement was on another level which is why it took shraddha almost an hour to get her to sleep and now she was standing on the terrace, giving a few minutes to herself.

But she was rather disturbed than at peace. Varun's strange behavior was bothering her to hell when it shouldn't. She knew about how his behavior can change from ice to fire in a quick span of time but this time she was sure that it wasn't just his mood swings.

He was lashing out at her on minor things. He was making a fuss about every little thing, which is something very unusual of him. She knew she shouldn't be concern about him but her mind couldn't help but drift in his thoughts every time.

She was trying hide to control and neglect these strange feelings everytime she gets when he's near around her. That tingling sensation, her stomach churning up, those slight goosebumps. But seems like her heart wasn't in favor what her mind was telling it to do.

She wrapped her arms around herself as a wave of cold breeze hit her body. She rubbed her arms slightly trying to warm her body a bit when she felt a presence behind her. She tilted her head slightly and saw varun standing at the entrance of the terrace before he moved to stand beside her.

"Still awake?" he asked breaking the awkward silence between them.

"I was just about to go to bed." she replied and turned around to walk away but he grabbed her by her hand and stopped her.

"Leave my hand." she said as she tried to get her hand out of his grip but it only got tighter.

"Will you please stop avoiding me?" he asked as he moved closer to her.

"I'm not avoiding you. Rhea's birthday is tomorrow and I need to get up early for preparations. So, will you please let me go!" she shot back.

"Not until you talk to me." he said and pulled her closer to him, making her turn towards him.

"Talk? The last time I did, you didn't seem to like it." she taunted and he closed his eyes for a second before opening them again to look at her.

"Shraddha... I know I shouldn't have talk to you like that... I was just stressed." he said and held her other hand too.

"And it makes you feel better right? Treating me like shit! It makes your mood better?" she asked with a sadistic chuckle.

"What? No!" he immediately shook his head as a frown appeared on his forehead.

"I don't know if you know that or not but.... I respect you. I truly do. Whether you believe it or not." he said as his thumb unconsciously caress her knuckles and she looked at him.

"I'm sorry, shraddha. And I'll make sure this won't happen again." he apologized to her and a small smile unknowingly spread across her face.

"It's alright!" she replied with a smile before she felt his arms wrap around her making her shock.

"Thanks!" he said, still hugging her. She hesitated at first but then slowly hugged him back, feeling herself safe around him.

She expected him to jerk back upon realizing that he was actually hugging her but to her surprise he kept her in his embrace long enough for her to completely melt into him and to be honest she wasn't minding it at all.

"Ehmm...." he cleared his throat before separating from her and she tugged her hair behind her ear looking away, trying hard not to blush.

"I should go... I better go.... Uhh.... Goodnight!" she stuttered totally looking like a dork before she ran off the terrace and Varun smiled at her actions.

For the past two days kartik's life had never been better. He and sara were now finally back on track and also that he'll be soon marrying the love of his life. He entered Sara's cabin with a wide smile on his face but it immediately disappeared upon seeing vivek.

"You! What are you doing here?" he asked, immediately drawing the attention of both Sara and vivek.

"I don't need a reason to be here." he smirked and was about to wrap his arm around Sara but she pushed him back.

"No. Vivek." she said and glared at him.

"You're denying me. You've no idea what will I...." he got cut off.

"What will you do, huh?" Sara said and gave his chest a push.

"Will you hit me again? Or will you mentally torture me?" she again pushed him back and Kartik smiled seeing her sudden boldness.

"Listen here vivek, I won't be your puppet anymore. That Sara... is long gone...." she glared at him and he gulped.

"I'm warning you!" he said raising a finger at her.

"Get out!" she told him as he looked at her angrily.

"You'll regret this!" he warned her yet again.

"Didn't you hear? Get out!" kartik said pushing him away from Sara. Vivek glared at both of them before rushing out of the office.

"Oh My God!" Sara took a deep breath, placing her hand on her chest still shocked that she finally took a stand for herself.

"I'm proud of you!" kartik said wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer.

"Couldn't have done it without you. Thank you!" she said as her hands made their way around his neck.

"Always!" he smiled at her before leaning in and placing a gentle kiss on her lips.

"Happy Birthday to you.... Happy birthday to you...." Rhea fluttered her eyes open as she felt shraddha whispering the birthday song in her ear.

"Happy birthday dear Rhea....Happy birthday to you!" she completed the song and kissed her cheek making Rhea smile.

"Thank you!" she replied with a smile before lazily pulling shraddha into a hug.

"Happy Birthday Princess!!!" Varun entered the room with chocolates and two bouquet of flowers in his hands.

"Daddy!!!!" Rhea immediately got off the bed and ran towards her father.

"Here you go!" he said handing her a box of chocolate and a bouquet of red roses.

"Red roses! You remember?!" she asked with excitement.

"Of course I do. As you said, princesses deserve red roses as a gift." he quoted her words making shraddha smile.

"Thank you daddy! I'll put it in a vase." she pecked his cheek before running downstairs with chocolates and flowers in her hand.

"Uhh...These are for you!" he said handing shraddha a bouquet of white roses and she looked at him.

"I-I really wanted to buy something for you-- and I thought red roses would seem kind of inappropriate to give so...." he explained innocently scratching the back of his neck.

"I love these!" Shraddha replied with a smile.

"I-I really meant what I said last night. And these... white roses are my symbol of respect for you." he told her motioning towards the white roses.

"Thank you!" she nodded with a smile and he smiled back.

° ° °