➳ C H A P T E R  T W E N T Y - F O U R
the papers.

― ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ―

It was exactly six AM when Preeta felt, something, or, someone moving beside her. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled softly at the injured baby beside her. She doesn't have a slight idea how she ended up in this small bed beside him. He just looks so intimidating and always bossing around people – but, he's such a soft roll inside. He's vulnerability, his insecurities and his anxiety takes up on him all over and he had been suffering himself all on his own in these seven years and she felt guilty. Somewhere, inside, something crunched. She felt like crushed. He was alone. Like, alone. And no one were there to pull him into embrace, tell him that it was okay, he was not at the fault and everything will be okay. She had her people around her.

She just stared at him with so much of adoration. He had gone a lot – just like her, but, there were someone beside me. Who held her hand, who told her its okay, who told her they were lucky to have a daughter like her and all; but Karan had none. He was just thrown into dark abyss. She looked at his peaceful face – which had the most beautiful features. His lashes were dark and thick, draping the small part of skin underneath the eyes. His snub-nose was rather a bit of crimson – with a bandage on it. His dimples would always make her go weak in her knees and he had always made sure to tease her with that. His pink, plump lips were slightly parted, taking medium breaths in and out. His chest moving up and down, rhythmically and a protective arm draped around her waist, tightly. She felt safe. Mostly – she felt home.

She placed a lingering kiss on his forehead and this sudden affection woke Karan up. He opened his eyes, looked around. In a swift move, his eyes were towards his girlfriend – it felt so foreign and honored to call her his girlfriend. She was his. When his eyes found hers, he couldn't help, but see something which made him crazy. Her eyes were tired, exhausted and mostly beautiful. The mustard honey color in between the black color of her eyes was definitely a sight to watch and he would kill to watch her like this every morning. Everything about her made his hairs on the skin go up and pupils dilate. She was just lying on the bed – a plain, cotton polyester white sheets were around her. She was in her kurthi, her hair messed up; all around the pillow and few strands on her forehead. And that's it. She looked like Goddess. She was an ethereal princess. And not to mention – she was his.

And the moment, she smiled at him – realizing he was thinking something or checking out her – he felt his heart would burst out of his ribcage. She was beautiful; and he would do anything to protect her and this moment.

 ▬▬▬▬▬

"Where were you last night?" Karan asked her while digging into his not-so-favorite soup.

Preeta shrugged, while reading her favorite Vogue Magazine in her hands. "I went to Rahul,"

Karan gave her a pointed look, before throwing the orange beside him. "Why?"

She swiftly caught the orange, before it could hit her arm and averted her position towards Karan. "You seriously can't be jealous of Rahul can you? He's like my brother for God's sake!" Karan shrugged, while Preeta throws her hands up in exasperation. "I was only gone for half an hour, Karan. You remember the hotel rules, right? The lock will be opened through the owner's fingerprint or proof. He called me—asking me to come and help his distress ass!"

Karan laughed, whilst Preeta continued to rummage the Magazine's papers. Out of nowhere, Karan's mind flashed few memories of his rival, Manjdeer. The issue with his rival is still not solved and he knew somewhere he is planning to kill him and his lover.

Karan glanced at Preeta, who's looking at the Magazine's page with awe – probably looking at her favorite, Scarlett Johansson. He had to do something – to protect his family. If he can't protect himself, he had to protect his family. That's what matters the most to him.

He has to do something, which will end Manjdeer right then. He needs a foolproof plan. And before that, he wanted to talk to Preeta before.

"Preeta, come here." he told her and she obliged without any consent – seated beside him. He caressed her cheek area with thumb and she slowly leaned in. Their forehead touching, their soft sighs and breaths mingling and they just stayed there. They didn't kiss. But, it was more intimate than anything. Their eyes fluttered close and she put her hand on his shoulder for the support. If it weren't him – she would just fall.

"I-I think, the issue with your uncle hasn't still solved. He still has our company papers with him. I know for sure, he would come back at me, Preeta. Do me a favor and please—you and Amyra fly elsewhere. I don't want you both to get hurt, Pree—" he was stopped mid-sentence, when Preeta slapped him, again.

The man in front of her was going nuts. How can she leave him again with all the distress and the rivalry? She was fuming with anger and Karan didn't dare to look at her. He was petrified and flinched when she slapped him and somewhere in the inside – she regretted the slap, but he deserved it.

"NO! I mean, how can you be like this? You really don't have sense do you? You're a fool, Karan Luthra! I mean—how? Of course, I'm not leaving YOU the fuck alone! Hell no. We're together in this war. Till now, you were alone, Karan. Now, that I've come—you're not alone anymore. We're together in this! Let's die together or live together—but not alone. I can't bear to live alone without you, again. World will again see, Preeta and Karan again! And this time, they are stronger than ever. They are almighty. And they are going to demolish everyone, who is against them!"

Both of them were surprised by her words. Karan was the most surprised in between. He never seen the outraged Preeta and he was proud of how fierce and impregnable she is.

"I'm so proud of you, Preeta," the words slipped out of his mouth and she smirked. "But—no, you're still not in this with me."

Preeta rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation. All those powerful and motivational words are gone in vain. She huffed and folded her arms – still a grim look on her face.

"Are you serious? Of course, I'm going to come."

"No. You are not."

"Yes, I am."

"NO."

"YES."

"NO."

"YES."

"UGH! GET OVER IT, ALREADY!"

"SCREW YOU."

 ▬▬▬▬▬

After an intense bickering session, Karan agreed – reluctantly, though. Later, Karan was discharged – both the pair reached the hotel and called their parents. They had to expect the tears, scolds from their parents and they bear their parent's scolds for the forty-five minutes – still knowing, all they are worried is for this duo.

Karan and Preeta decided it's best if they told Amyra and Ayaan about them now. When both kids got to know the truth – they handled it like a pro. Not too surprised or disappointed – this made their elders really proud and happy. Now, when their family glitches are cleared – they worked on their plan to ruin Manjdeer Arora.

 ▬▬▬▬▬

This duo decided to fly to California. That's where Manjdeer Arora stayed – His Company, his house and all. Finding his address from Karan's sources, they managed to get a car for themselves – by Preeta's sources in California. Well, perks of being rich and influential.

With the address in their mobile and GPA, they managed to scrub by his mansion. It was night, approximately eight or eight-fifteen, when they observed the house gates were closed, the watchman was busy snoring. The fences were off rusted copper wires – with electricity running through them.

Preeta sneaked through the huge door; which was slightly opened and her petty body fit right through it. Without making any slightest noise, she entered the room of CCTV camera supervision. She averted her gaze towards right, finding the system of electricity fences. With her mechanical engineering knowledge – she successfully managed to turn off the electricity. With a low, inside happy shriek, she travelled towards the lawn – where the fences are. She dialed Karan's number and asked him to jump off the fence; which wasn't particularly high.

He managed to jump and both sneak into the house from the backdoor.

"Preeta you search here downstairs and I will on the upstairs," he told her and she gave a swift nod. Both parted their ways without making any noise – reaching their destinations.

 ▬▬▬▬▬

It was Karan who found those evil papers in the wardrobe of Manjdeer. His eyes found his old rage and his lips curved into an evil smirk. The old Karan Luthra will be back – breaking all his forbidden boundaries. 

 ― ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ―
a u t h o r s  n o t e
kalachashmas.

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