Disclaimer : All the characters written below are imaginary and a work of pure fiction. There is no resemblance to any incident or situation and is written as work of fiction.

The sangeet night was in full swing. Ritwik and Muskaan had danced together and all the time he had his eyes on Mishti. She was standing alone in a corner and he was sure that he had seen her wipe the corner of her eyes a couple of times.

She had gotten a phone and went aside to the pool area to attend it.

"haan ji papa i will come back....no it's Taani's wedding i needed holiday for that....so i didn't resign....it is not fair to take off in notice period...." she said on phone and spoke to her father for sometime.

"bye papa....take care....love you...." she said softly and disconnected the call and turned to see him standing there with her hand crossed across his chest.

"Mishti why are you doing this?" he walked closer to her.

She was about to walk past him when he held her upper arms and pulled her close to him , dangerously close.

"sir...." she struggled under his grip.

"stop calling me sir....it's Ritwik...." he said intensely. "and you are not going back to Delhi....i cannot let you go...."

"my father wants it sir...." she said closing her eyes.

"please Mishti....don't do this...." he said urgently , his voice dripping with feat and restlessness.

"sir please....don't be impractical....talk to Muskaan....do what uncle has asked....trust me it is best for all of us....you don't know anything...." she muttered with tears.

"and i don't want to know anything Mishti...." he said angrily. "i just know that i love you....and that is enough for me...." he literally scolded her. She looked at him in disbelief as tears trickled down her cheeks.

"I love you Mishti...." he said cupping her cheeks and said softly. "i cannot let you go away from me do you get that?" he said looking into her eyes.

She shook her head in denial as more tears dropped from her eyes.

"this is not possible....sir please leave me...." she said choked.

"what the hell is wrong with you?i could have understood if you didn't love me back but i can see it in your eyes that you love me....then what is your issue?" he made her look at him and asked in irritation.

"it is complicated....and now is not the time to talk about all this....just know that we cannot happen....it is not possible....please don't ask any more questions which i cannot answer you sir....this is forbidden and please handle yourself and let me handle myself....it is better if i go back to Delhi....say yes to Muskaan...." she said breaking down into tears.

"are you crazy?" he asked angrily. "you think this is a bloody joke?say yes to Muskaan....we are spoiling our lives and you want me to spoil her life as well?" he shouted at her and she flinched.

"please sir....this is just a phase...." she sobbed knowing thay she was lying. They were destiny. They were soulmates. Or else they wouldn't have met after years.

"stop calling me sir will you?and this is not a phase....how dare you call my love a phase?" he gritted his teeth.

She covered her face with her palm not being able to take it anymore.

"just look at you...." he chuckled. "you are broken....devastated....that is how much you love me....and still you don't want this....you want to push me away to another girl....when you cannot even freaking see her hug me or dance with me....you want us to get married?and you will be able to see that?"

"i won't be here to see that...." she muttered. "that is why i am leaving sir please understand...."

"i do not understand stupid people okay?and you think going to Delhi will sort things out?your best friend and brother is my brother in law....you think you will never meet me?and Muskaan if at all we get married?" he asked sarcastically.

"i will never meet you again....i will make sure....leave that on me....i will just serve the notice period or even better i will pay the penalty and go....please sir...." She said raising her voice. She was a mess.

"just shut up you fool....you think running away is the option?you are being so stupid...." he shouted at her.

"fine....fine i am stupid....i admit that....now please leave me alone....please sir i beg of you...." she screamed with tears and ran away to the empty lawn. He followed her immediately.

She sat on the bench and covered the face with her palm and broke down completely. She was sobbing and gasping for air.

He walked with long strides but before he could reach her , he saw his mom sit on the bench beside her.

"Mishti beta....what happened beta?" she said caressing her hair.

Mishti looked up and saw her. She was broken and was in a mess and her choti Maa was sitting there with her palm on her head. She couldn't control anymore.

"choti maa...." she cried hugging her making his mother gasp in shock. She couldn't process anything.

"Mishti betu....my mishtu....my laddoo...." she muttered and immediately hugged her tightly with tears falling continuously.

Ritwik stayed there rooted listening to them. He closed his eyes and let the tears fall.