Kiara lay motionless on her bed, her eyes dry and red from crying, yet still fixed on the ceiling with a gaze that seemed to bore into the very soul of the room. 

Her heart felt heavy, weighed down by the crushing burden of her own decision. It was a choice that would alter the very fabric of her existence, a choice that would change the course of her life forever.

 The silence around her was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of her own ragged breathing, as she struggled to come to terms with the consequences of her actions.

As she lay there, Kiara's mind wandered back to the events that had led her to this moment. She thought about the tears she had shed, the sleepless nights she had endured, and the countless moments of self-doubt that had plagued her. 

And yet, despite all the uncertainty and fear, she had made her decision. It was a choice that would bring about a new chapter in her life, one that was filled with unknowns, but also possibilities.

Kiara's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her own heartbeat, which seemed to be pounding in her chest like a drum. 

She felt a sense of trepidation wash over her, as she realized that there was no turning back now. Her decision had been made, and all she could do was move forward, into the unknown.

 With a deep breath, Kiara slowly sat up, her eyes still fixed on the ceiling, as she steeled herself for what was to come.

Manisha's heart was heavy with concern for her daughter as she made her way to Kiara's room, a tray of food balanced carefully in her hands. 

She had expected to find Kiara's door closed, a barrier between her daughter's sorrow and the rest of the world. But as she approached the room, she was surprised to find the door open, a sliver of dim light spilling out into the hallway.

 Stepping inside, Manisha's eyes scanned the room, expecting to find Kiara curled up on the bed, tears streaming down her face. 

But instead, she was met with an empty space. Kiara's bed was untouched, her pillows still fluffed, and her blankets still smooth.

 Manisha's gaze darted around the room, her mind racing with questions. Where was Kiara? Had she gone out? And if so, why hadn't she said anything? A sense of unease crept over Manisha as she set the tray down on Kiara's dresser. 

She felt a pang of worry, mixed with a dash of fear. Something didn't feel right. Manisha's instincts told her that Kiara was in trouble, that something was terribly wrong. And as she stood there, frozen in uncertainty, Manisha knew she had to find her daughter, no matter what it took.

Manisha's eyes scanned the room once more, her mind racing with possibilities. She checked the washroom, but Kiara wasn't there, and a sense of unease began to settle in.

 As she turned back to the room, her gaze fell upon a piece of paper on the side table, partially hidden under a book. Her heart skipped a beat as she walked over to the table, a feeling of trepidation building up inside her. 

 She picked up the paper, her hands trembling slightly as she unfolded it. The handwriting was Kiara's, and as Manisha began to read, her eyes widened in shock and dismay.

 The words on the page were a mixture of sadness, desperation, and determination, and they spoke of a decision that Kiara had made, one that would change her life forever. Manisha's eyes welled up with tears as she read the last sentence, her heart heavy with the realization that her daughter was gone.

Maa, 

 I'm sitting down to write this letter to you with a heavy heart, knowing that the decision I've made will cause you immense pain. But I have to be honest with you, Maa, and with myself. I've been struggling with my feelings for a long time now, and I've come to realize that I just can't bear the thought of Abhir with anyone else. 

 I love him, Maa, with every fiber of my being. I love him for who he is, for his kind heart, his beautiful smile, and his infectious laugh. I love him for the way he makes me feel when we're together, like I'm home. But most of all, I love him for being my best friend, my confidant, and my soulmate.

 But I also know that I can't be selfish, Maa. I can see that Abhir's happiness lies with Charu, and I don't want to come between them. I don't want to be the reason for his unhappiness. I want him to be happy, even if it means that I have to let him go.That's why I've made the difficult decision to leave this city, this country, and start anew.

 I'm going to London, Maa, to start a fresh chapter in my life. It's not going to be easy, but I know it's what I have to do.I hope you can understand my decision, Maa, and forgive me for the pain I'm causing you. 

I know this isn't what you wanted for me, but I hope you can see that I'm doing this for Abhir, for his happiness. I promise to stay in touch and keep you updated on my life in London. 

 With all my love,Kiara

Manisha's eyes widened in shock as she stumbled backwards, the letter still clutched in her trembling hands. 

Tears began to roll down her cheeks, unchecked and unstoppable, as she felt her world crumbling around her. Without a thought, she turned and rushed downstairs, her feet carrying her on autopilot to the living room where the Poddars and Goenkas were gathered. 

 The room was filled with the sound of laughter and chatter, the atmosphere electric with excitement. Manisha's eyes scanned the room, taking in the smiling faces of her family and friends, all gathered to celebrate the impending alliance between Charu and Abhir. 

But Manisha's heart was heavy with the weight of Kiara's secret, and she knew that she had to act fast to prevent a disaster.With a deep breath, Manisha pushed her way through the crowd, her eyes locked on the smiling face of Abhir, who was laughing and chatting with Charu and their families.

"Armaan, Kiara!" Manisha cried out, her voice trembling with emotion as she handed over the letter to her nephew. 

The room fell silent, with every eye fixed on Manisha and Armaan, wondering what could have caused Manisha such distress. 

The atmosphere, which had been filled with laughter and chatter just moments before, was now heavy with anticipation and concern.Armaan's expression changed from curiosity to concern as he took the letter from Manisha's shaking hands. 

He scanned the pages, his eyes widening in shock as he read Kiara's words. The color drained from his face, and he looked up at Manisha, his eyes filled with a mix of confusion and alarm. He couldn't believe what he was reading - Kiara, the bright and bubbly girl who had always been the life of the party, was leaving? And why? The questions swirled in his mind as he tried to process the contents of the letter. 

 "What is it, Chachi saa?" Armaan asked, his voice low and urgent, as he tried to make sense of the situation. Manisha's eyes welled up with tears, and she shook her head, unable to speak. She felt like she had been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her. 

She had always known that Kiara was unhappy, but she had no idea it was this bad. The room remained silent, with all eyes fixed on the unfolding drama, as they waited with bated breath for someone to explain what was happening. The tension was palpable, and it seemed like time itself had come to a standstill.

"Chali gayi woh mujhe chhod ke, hume chhod kar," Manisha wailed, her voice cracking with emotion as she fell to her knees. Her eyes blazed with anger and sadness as she glared at Abhir, her words dripping with venom.

 "Yeh sab iss Abhir ki wajah se hua hai," she snapped, her finger shaking with accusation.Abhir's expression changed from confusion to shock as he realized what was happening. He felt like he had been punched in the gut, his breath knocked out of him. 

He stumbled forward, his eyes fixed on Manisha, as he tried to make sense of the situation. Without thinking, he snatched the letter from Armaan's hand, his eyes scanning the pages as he tried to understand what had driven Kiara to leave. 

 As he read the words, a lump formed in his throat, and before he knew it, a tear fell from his eye, rolling down his cheek. He felt a wave of guilt and regret wash over him, as he realized that he had unknowingly hurt Kiara so deeply. 

The room around him faded away, and all he could see was Kiara's smiling face, her laughter echoing in his mind. He felt like he had lost something precious, something he could never get back.

The memories of their chat, which he had thought was with Charu, came flooding back, and Abhir felt like he had been punched in the gut all over again. He remembered the words he had said, the things he had confessed, and the feelings he had shared, all under the assumption that he was talking to Charu. 

But now, he realized that it was Kiara all along, and that thought was like a knife twisting in his heart.He felt a wave of shame and regret wash over him, as he thought about how he had unknowingly hurt Kiara. 

He remembered the way she had responded, the way she had poured her heart out to him, and the way he had callously dismissed her feelings, thinking that she was someone else. 

The weight of his mistake was crushing him, and he didn't know how he was going to make it right.Abhir's eyes scanned the room, searching for a glimpse of Kiara, but she was nowhere to be found. 

He felt a pang of desperation, knowing that he had to find her, to apologize, and to make things right. But as he looked around, he realized that he was alone in his regret, and that Kiara was gone, leaving him with only his thoughts to haunt him.