➳ C H A P T E R  F O U R
the everlasting hatred.
― ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ―
 » after a week.

"Mum, are you sure you can handle amyra for today. She can be so naughty, sometimes," Preeta said, massaging her temples, "You know right?"

She heard a chuckle from her mother. "Preeta, you were litreally the same in your childhood. Don't worry, I'll take care of Amyra. You go and attend your meeting." Her mother assured.

Preeta let out a relived sigh. "Thanks Mum, I love you." She smiled, genuinely looking at the family picture, consists of―preeta, amyra, her mother, father, shrishti and her best friend, rishika.

"I love you, too, now get lost!" Her mother exclaimed and preeta laughed. She hung the call and placed the phone on the desk in front of her. She held her face in her palms, her elbows supporting her on the table. She can't imagine without these five people in her life. Even though, she deny it; she missed him. She was hurt with him, she wasn't angry. She was hurt. She was hurt, because he wasn't there for her, when she needed him. She remember how alone she felt, during her pregnancy.

"Ma, why did you come here? I said, I could take care of myself. Didn't I?" Preeta scolded her mother, who barged into preeta's house, with a basket of fruits and few baby clothes and products. Preeta was happy, that someone was there for her. Someone cared for her, during this phrase of her life.

"Oh, shush! Your dad will be joining us, soon. Okay? First of all,  you won't be going to office for one month. You're in your eight month, preeta! Take care of your health. Right now―your health is more important than your work! Shrishti and Rishika are already there in your office, working. Here, take this soup and chug it down. I don't want one trace of mushroom piece in there!" Her mother, gushed giving her the hot mushroom soup, from the basket she brought. Preeta shook her head and finally let out her smile, which she was hiding from past few weeks. Her pregnancy was hitting her hard. Morning sickness, nausea and mood swings.

"Thanks, Mum. I love you and I meant it." Preeta said, taking a sip from the soup and savouring the taste. Mushroom's had always been her favourite, since her childhood. Her mother patted her head and sat beside her, in the couch. Her mother was sad and proud of her daughter, who has been so brave; during this time.

"Last time I checked―today isn't mother's day. Why sudden love?" Her mother, joked and preeta stuck her tounge out. They both laughed and finally looked at each other. Tears were running out from her eyes and Sarla Arora quickly hugged her daughter. "Darling, sush. I'm here―right in front of you and even your dad is with us. We love you so much, Preeta."

"M-mum, I'm scared. What if I become a bad mother? What if my baby hates me?" Preeta hiccuped, while asking her mother. Sarla hated watching her daughter like this. She blamed Karan. Her favourite person in this whole world. She blamed karan. She was hurt by him. He had dissapointed her.

"Preeta, sleep for a while." Her mother patted her head and preeta nodded, placing her head in her mother's lap and drifting off to sleep. An escape from this world of chaos.

"Back to earth, Preeta!" Two fingers were snapping in front of her and she was finally out of the the devasting past, which was haunting her through nightmares. She quickly wiped away the tears and smiled at the worried Rahul. Rahul rolled his eyes and sat in one of the chairs, beside her. "Stop pretending your okay, Preeta. You can cry in front of me, you know? I won't judge."

Preeta's heart fluttered at his words. She was grateful―he's been there for her, when she needed a good friend. "I was thinking about . . . how my life changed in these seven years. I don't know how these seven years passed away."

Rahul smiled and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I know, it's been hard for you and amu without him. And, I want you to tell him about Amyra. He's the father of Amyra, Preeta! He deserves to know, at least!"

Preeta slapped his arm. "Will you just stop yelling? Someone might hear us, dumbass."

Rahul bit his lip and pouted. "Oh, right! Sorry. But consider my words, Arora."

Preeta rolled her eyes, before moving closer to him. "I don't know, Rahul. He left us, seven years ago, Rahul. I know, he's the father―but, I don't think Amyra is ready to know who is her father. I've been a single parent for amu. I'm not ready to share my daughter with that scumbag!"

Rahul sighed, running his hand through his hair. "But, preeta, it's not fair! He has to know, Preeta. You can't keep this a secret from his, like forever. One day, he'll know and you'll regret not telling him about this. It's better if you said him, now." Preeta looked away from Rahul. She don't want Karan to know about Amyra. She has been hiding Amyra from seven years from him.

"I know, Rahul. But, I've kept Amyra as a secret from him, for like seven years. I'm sure, I can protect my daughter from him for more years. I don't want to tell him and that's final!" Preeta yelled, banging the desk and getting up from the chair, she sat on earlier. She stood in front of the glass window, show casing the city's traffic, skyscrapers and pollution. This world is filled with chaos. She can't dare to expose Amyra to this cruel world.

➳ 

"Done making out, with Preeta Arora?"

Was the question, Karan asked, when Rahul entered his cabin. Karan is holding a glass, filled with whiskey. His eyes were burning with raging fire and Rahul smirked. He knows, where Rahul and Preeta's close proximity is going and Rahul's enjoying it.

"Of course, not. We still had some thing left behind, you know." Rahul smirked, checking the files. His gaze averted to Karan, who was fuming with anger. That's what, he wanted. Rahul wanted to bring their feelings for each other, yet again. And the confessions in preeta's cabin―are helping him.

"Oh."

Karan's comment made Rahul's smirk wider. "Why? Are you jealous?"

Karan snorted, after he finished the last sip of the whiskey. "Of course not."

"You wish."

Karan rolled his eyes and stormed out from Rahul's cabin and went straight to preeta's cabin. He leaned on the door. She was busy updating files in the desktop. But, this didn't stop him from bursting out. He broke the glass of whiskey, he was holding in his hand, in the middle of the room; earning a gasp from preeta.

"What the fuck!?"

"What the fuck? What's wrong with you, Arora? Making out with my best friend?" Karan asked, moving forward towards her. She squint her eyes and groaned in frustation.

"What the hell are you talking? With whom did I make out with?" She asked, folding her arms.

"With Rahul," he scowled at her and Preeta scoffed.

"You're mental. Why will I make out with him? Are you crazy?" She asked, scowling at him. "And even if I make out with him, why are you bothered? It's not like, I'm your girlfriend." She quoted 'girlfriend' with her fingers.

Karan groaned. "Oh, it's true then."

Preeta huffed. "Dude, what's your problem? First, you barged in my cabin and second; yelling at me like some lunatic. Get out, Karan. I hate you!"

Karan scoffed. "Feeling's mutual, Arora."

"I want to kill you, Luthra!"

"Feeling's mutual, Arora. Feeling's mutual, like always."

― ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ―

a u t h o r 's  n o t e
kalachashmas.

hey! i'm so sorry for not updating the story in a while. i'm currently going through writer's block, school and family issues. i just thought to write this in the morning and publish it, but apparently ― i didn't have time. now, i finished this draft in forty-five minutes! HOORAYYYYY! thank you for 400+ reads! love you, gems! 💕