The finger slowly tapped the floor it was lying on, and the lids freed the eye balls a little. Both the lips separated from each other and a painful groan escaped his mouth. There was no visibility inside the room. A fierce blackness. His mind was nothing but vacant. Strikes of pain were hardly hitting from one vein to another.

"Preeta.." The only word, he knew. He didn't know what is his life, but the life remembered it's living. How even can the heart forget it's beats?

_________

All the family members were gathered in the hall, some standing while some seated on the sofas. Aroras were also called, so Sarla was there too. Bringing Shrishti or Janki was not really a good idea in Sarla's opinion, and Bee ji was not feeling well. All were aware of the decision Mahesh has taken, and were somewhat in favour. However, some of them didn't really like the decision, but they had no reason to disagree, also in a practical view this decision sounded suitable. Although Kareena had objected, but her protests ended up in nothing.

"Preeta, dear I know.. your heart is not ready for what we've decided, and you are absolutely correct in your place. No wife would like to marry her husband's.." Rakhi halted in between by Bani dadi's finger gesture. Dadi kept her hand on Sarla's shoulder and signed her to talk to Preeta. Sarla went near Preeta and sat beside her taking Rakhi's place, as she moved back. She took her hand in hers and spoke, "Preeta.. my child, I'm your mother.. and you know how much I love you, and will never take any wrong decision for you," Her breathe heaved and she kept her hand on Preeta's face, "Life keeps moving, and we also have to keep moving with it. Not only for us, but the people with us, who are connected with us, who love us. See, Rishabh is a very good boy, also you both are very good friends, he respects you, you respect him.. This marriage will at least ease the worries everyone is going through. Please.. for us, for me.."

Preeta had decided that today she'll give them an answer for once and for all. She's Karan's wife, and that's it. But her mother's words, her wet eyes made her weak. She had gotten her mother back after an age, she loved her more than herself. She couldn't see her crying, and that too for her. Sarla knew, that Preeta is right at her place. She is Karan's wife, and how much she loves him. How hurtful and difficult it is for her to agree to this decision, but more she cared about her future, her life. She didn't want her daughter to spoil her life like this, waiting for a light of which there's no hope to come back.

Sarla lowered her head and started to cry. Preeta was panicking seeing her crying like this and tried to stop her from crying but Sarla didn't stop, and in the end, Preeta surrendered herself. "Ok, I'm ready." She said in an emotionless voice. Nothing was left there now.

Sarla kissed Preeta's cheek and wiped her tears. "And I can assure you my child, one day you will happily come to me and thank me for getting you ready for this marriage," she said with a happy smile. Preeta was looking at her in disbelief, unnoticed by anyone. All got busy in discussing the marriage, and she scoffingly chuckled in her throat with a lone tear escaping her eye. They won, I lost. She said in her mind.

"Ok, then it is final. The wedding is going to take place the day after tomorrow." Preeta came out of her thoughts listening Mahesh's voice. A shock appeared on her face."What? This is so soon Mahesh ji," Rakhi spoke. "I have talked to the priest Rakhi ji, and this date is perfect. The next date is to be after 8 months. We can't wait for that long, this has to be done now only." It made sense, so nobody objected.

Preeta moved her feet back, and slowly ascended the stairs making her way to her room. She kept her hand on the door and pushed it open, and locked after getting inside. She roamed her tears-filled eyes around the room, having fills of each and every part. It had his pictures, his sensation, their memories. She took a breathe and went inside the washroom.

The washroom was occupied by a long time silence. There were no laughters, no fights, no touches, no hugs. She stood under the shower, and turned it on shutting her eyes tight. The cold water was drenching her into it, hiding behind all the tears the eyes were shedding. She rested the back of her head on the wall and sat down on the floor. Clutching her legs tightly, she shouted her heart out & then broke into sobs under the water. Her shouts and cries echoed around the walls of the washroom, but secured from reaching out.

Karan, where are you... please come back, please.. your babydoll needs you Karan, I need you! She said in her mind.
_________

FLASHBACK

"I had told you already that it will break, but you and your stubbornness." He frowned while looking for a way to fix the broken faucet. "What! My stubbornness? Or yours?.. I told you to let me try, I'd have fixed it already but no, you think only you are the smartest and others have come from Pluto,"

"Pluto doesn't exist."

"So?"

"So nobody can come from there idiot."

"Ugh, stupid!" She annoyingly patted her forehead. "Let m.." Her feet slipped on the wet floor and she was about to fall but got saved in his warm arms. He slowly traced a circle on her waist making her bring herself closer to him.

"You shouldn't have." He whispered.

"What?"

"Called me stupid."

"Why?"

"The floor didn't like it, see,"

"You.."

"What?" He asked smilingly, making her face full of blush.

"You're crazy!" She said while hitting her hand on his chest. He brought his face close to hers and rubbed his nose with hers.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too." She replied and kissed his cheek, making him smile widely.

FLASHBACK OVER.

_________

Sun rays were scattered over her face but there was not the glow like before. As if the sun is also sharing the hurt with her, as if it also misses to fall over the faces of two beautiful souls, cuddled together every morning.

She opened her eyes while rubbing them, and straightened up on the bed. Her eyes shifted towards the door as she heard a knock. The door got opened and Rakhi came inside. "Rakhi auntie, come," Rakhi slightly smiled and went to Preeta and sat on the bed in front of her. She couldn't make an eye contact with Preeta, nor was Preeta saying anything. There was an uneven awkwardness between them, which was never there. The mother-daughter comfort they always had, no matter what, was not to be found. Rakhi had a guilt in her heart which was making her feel embarrassed with Preeta.

Realising Rakhi's discomfort, Preeta kept her hand on her shoulder. "What happened auntie?" She asked calmly, trying to provide Rakhi some freeness that she needed. Rakhi took Preeta's hand into hers. She took a breathe and settled herself a bit. "I'm really sorry, Preeta. I couldn't do anything, I had no reasons.. I," she stopped as Preeta interrupted. "Rakhi auntie, it's not your fault, please don't feel guilty for anything," Preeta said controlling her tears. Rakhi nodded while tightening the grip on her hand. "I don't know, how to say this but.. there's your and Rishabh's engagement in the evening," Rakhi said, not meeting her eyes with Preeta, leaving her in a surprise. "What? But there was no engagement planned!" Although her marriage with Rishabh was about to happen, she had a contentment in her heart that there's a day left. Either to feel being in Karan's name for a day more, or for the hope for some miracle to happen. But this all of a sudden news of the engagement just made her shook.

"Our family priest suggested that the engagement should happen at least, to join the ties of the two hearts," Rakhi said in an emotionless, ashamed voice. Preeta bit her lower lip, and rolled her eyes in the disgust she felt. "And take off your mangalsutra." Rakhi said in a low voice while standing up, and went out of the room closing the door. Preeta gritted her teeth and angrily clutched the blanket, throwing it on the floor. She kept her elbows on her thighs and entered her hands inside her opened hair closing her eyes.