FLASHBACK,

Antara: Guddan aisi nahi thi pehle. Mummy Papa ke death ke baad wo bilkul badal gayi hai. I tried every possible way to make her back to normal but with every attempt I failed.

She said on the verge of crying but held her tears back. This was the first time she was expressing her thoughts and feelings infront of someone. Both the brothers were listening to her after they got to know that their parents were no more from the news article. The article stated the demise of their parents with their picture and when they saw the same persons infront of them in the photo frame they concluded that the persons who died were indeed their parents making both of them drown in guilt. One for thinking ill against them and the other for hurting their daughter.

Akshat: Don't say so, Antara. You are trying your best and that's what matters.

He said trying to relieve her at which she shook her head and wiped the tears streaming down her eyes.

Antara: Uske hote huye na ghar me itni shaanti kabhi nahi ho sakti lekin ab ghar me pata hi nahi chalta ki wo hai bhi ya nahin. Use thodi der ke liye khaali chhod dun to wo un yaadon me kho jaati hai isiliye use kabhi akela nahi chhodti. Aur ab to kitaabein uski saathi ban gayi hai, din raat bas un kitaabon ke beech ghusi rehti hai. Kabhi kabhi lagta hai ki achha hai wo us sadme se baahar aa jaayegi lekin kabhi use aise dekh kar bohot takleef hoti hai.

Her words stabbed Parv with guilt. The words he used for her and the way he made fun of her had such a traumatic reason behind. He was now hating himself for doing that and feeling something for her as she was good enough to not speak a word against him.

Antara: I guess tum isiliye Guddan ke baare me aisa keh rahe the.

She said directing towards Parv and he just nodded unable to form any words.

Antara: Tum usse kaise mile? Classmates ho?

Parv: Nahi. Wo first day seniors ragging kar rahe the to maine help ki thi.

Antara: Ragging? Guddan ki?

He nodded his head in approval.

Antara: Aur usne kuchh nahi kiya?

He shook his head making Antara sigh and smile sadly as she remembered an incident.

Akshat: Kya hua?

Antara: Ek baar School me usne apne Senior ko aisa punch maara tha ki uski naak toot gayi.

Both the brothers looked at her wide eyed listening about the little stunt of Guddan. They would have never thought the easy go looking girl would ever pull such a stunt.

Antara: I am Sorry, meri wajah se tum logon ka itna time waste ho gaya. I think you all should leave now.

She said glancing at the clock.

Akshat: No aisa kuchh bhi nahi hai. Infact, we are sorry, we didn't intend to hurt you both.

Antara: It's Ok. Aaj nahi to kal ye sach baahar aana hi tha to aaj hi sahi.

Akshat: Can we just meet Guddan before leaving? We just want to apologize.

He requested looking at her pleading internally to accept his request.

Antara: I don't have any problem lekin Guddan... Wo jab bhi andar jaati hai nikalti hi nahi hai atleast for two hours. But we can try.

She said giving him some hope. She knocked at the door but gained no response as expected.

Antara: Guddan, please ek baar baahar aa ja.

Even after trying for few times, she didn't respond. This time, Akshat came forward and knocked on the door.

Akshat: Guddan, we are leaving. Ek baar bas baahar aa jao.

He too gained no response but he tried for second time and luckily he was successful in his attempt as she opened the door.

They looked at her face, her eyes bloodshot and swollen, her nose red, her lips lightly bleeding and she was continuously rubbing and fisting her hands to stop them from shivering. Antara looked away wiping her tears as she couldn't see her sister in this condition and she felt so helpless. Both the brothers were drown in guilt, one to remind her of her parents demise and the other for his behaviour.

Akshat: I am Sorry Guddan. We didn't want to hurt you. It was just unintentional.

She just nodded without even glancing at them.

Akshat: And don't worry, we are always with you. Always!

He said cupping her left cheek with his hand with a slight smile rising new feelings in her. She looked at him and just for a moment her gaze travelled towards his brother who was looking at her. She instantly looked away as his mere look reminded her of his harsh words and the amount of hurt she felt. Parv looked down in guilt and shame and just wanted to vanish from there.

They both left the house and Antara couldn't help herself and crashed Guddan in a hug. She cried silently but Guddan couldn't control herself and cried uncontrollably with loud sobs.

JINDAL MANSION,

Mahesh: In donon ko kya hua hai? Gaye to aise the jaise duniya ki saari khushi lene jaa rahe ho aur waapas aise aa rahe hai jaise kisi ke maatam me gaye ho.

He spoke looking at both of his sons who just returned. They had a dull look on their faces as they were completely indulged in those thoughts which happened at Antara's house.

Jaya: Aap bhi na kuchh bhi bolte rehte hai. Bachhe baahar gaye the thak gaye honge.

She said passing water to both of them while they nodded at her.

Parv: Dad, aap Guddan ki behen ko jaante the?

Mahesh was a bit shocked and confused listening his question as it was unexpected for him.

Mahesh: Mai jaanta hun ki uski ek behen hai lekin mai kabhi usse mila nahi aur na hi uske baare me kuchh jaanta hun. Lekin tum ye kyun pooch rahe ho?

Parv: Mom, aap jaanti thi ki Antara Di, Bhai ki classmate, mere college me kiski admission ke liye gayi thi?

He asked ignoring his father's question.

Jaya: Nahi, usne sirf itna kaha tha ki wo uski behen ka admission kara rahi hai lekin wo koun hai, mujhe nahi pata. Lekin baat hai kya beta, tum ye sab kyun pooch rahe ho?

Parv: Kuchh nahi Mom. Mujhe laga aap donon ko pata hoga ki wo donon behnein hai.

Mahesh: Wo donon behnein hai? Guddan aur Antara?

Both his sons nodded at his question.

Parv: Do you know about her parents?

Mahesh: Usne ek baar kaha tha ki wo uske saath nahi rehte. Wo apne Di ke saath rehti hai, I thought her sister to be some elderly person like someone who's married or independent and can actually can take care of her sister but not someone this young.

Parv: Aap ham se chhupa rahe hai ya sach me aap nahi jaante?

Mahesh: Mai kyun kichh chhupaunga. Baat kya hai?

Parv looked at his brother and gestured him to tell.

Akshat: They are no more.

Mahesh: Who?

Akshat: Their parents.

Mahesh: What??? When? Kaise hua ye sab? Kal hi to mai usse mila tha. And by parents do you mean both mother and father?

He questioned continuously worrying about their condition right now but none of the both answered his questions.

Jaya: Beta, tunhare paas uska phone number hai ya address? Hame unse milna chahiye. Pata nahi unke saath koi hoga bhi ya nahi, any relatives or anyone.

Akshat: Mom, Dad, relax. It happened few months back even before you met them.

He said making his parents get indulged in their own thoughts. They remembered every time they mentioned about their parents how they would divert the topic and not speak about them.

Mahesh: Tum address do mujhe uska. I want to meet them. Now!

Akshat: Dad, please don't do that. Wo jahaan rehte hai wahaan ke rules bohot strict hai and they won't appreciate you visiting at this hour of time.

Parv: Bhai sahi keh rahe hai, Dad. You can meet her anytime aur waise bhi aap college me to usse milte hi hai na.

Mahesh nodded understanding their words.

NEXT DAY,
MGM BUSINESS COLLEGE,

Akshat was waiting in the garden for Antara to arrive. Even though whatever happened was unintentional he still was very guilty. All the time the only thought which crossed his mind was about her parents and how ill he was thinking about them which always ashamed him. He waited for her but she didn't show up and it was time for the classes so he attended his class.

The whole day passed by him thinking about her. Her absence was increasing his guilt as he thought that it was somewhere related to whatever happened yesterday. He again sat in the garden lost in his thoughts when Aniket came and sat next to him enquiring about him but he shrugged saying nothing.

Aniket: Dekh tu mujhse kuchh nahi chhupa sakta. Ab jaldi se bata kya hua hai. Subah se aise muh lataka kar phir raha hai aur kuchh bhi bata nahi raha hai.

He sighed and started narrating everything that happened yesterday and how guilty he was.

Akshat: Mai na call karke khud usse pooch leta hun.

He took out his phone to call Antara but Aniket snatched his phone from him.

Aniket: Dekh, maine tujhse pehle hi ye sab karne se mana kiya tha lekin tu ne meri baat nahi maani and now you are regretting it. Ok, I understand that this was your mistake but learn from this mistake. Agar Antara ka aaj college nahi aana tujhse ya kal jo kuchh bhi usse related hai then don't mess it anymore for her. Let her handle this, let her come out of this situation alone. Last time you entered in the situation, you completely messed it up and you are guilt ridden. So try to make up for this mistake, so that you could come out your guilt rather than making other mistakes.

Akshat: Ek baar mujhe usse baat to karne de. I will apologize to her.

Aniket: No! Talk to her only if she is willing to talk to you. Don't force everything on her. Tu call karega, she will be forced to talk to you if she is not willing it. If she has taken leave let her be on a break, let her be with what she wants to be. Achha, tu ne use sab kuchh bataya? I mean what you thought about her parents....

Akshat: No!!! Mujhe to uske parents ke photo ke saamne khade hone me bhi sharam aa rahi thi. Agar mai Antara ko sab kuchh bata dunga to mai use kabhi face nahi kar paaunga.

He sighed and rubbed his temples trying to ease the tension in him.

Akshat: Thik hai, this is for Antara. I could make up for everything what I had done to Antara but what about Guddan? Uske liye kya karun? I had hurt her beyond limits. She was so hurt and broken.

Aniket: I didn't get you. What about her? What happened to her?

Akshat: I don't know yaar! Wo Guddan, Antara's sister, she is so.... I don't have any words to describe her. Jab maine rone ke baad use dekha na, I felt the urge to kill myself for hurting her. For making her cry. She... she seemed like a glass doll which needed to be taken extra care of and handled by extra care. I just wanted her to console in such a way that she never cries again. But I will make sure that this was the first and last time she cried because of me. This would be the last time I made her cry.

Aniket noticed a different kind of spark and determination in Akshat's eyes when he spoke about her. It was unlike the times he spoke about Antara, it was just completely different.

Aniket: Look Akshat, they already suffered a huge loss and all that happened yesterday was nothing compared to that. So stop bothering yourself that they are hurt because of you or they wouldn't forgive you. It could have been just because of the thick moment and nothing else. Don't already blame yourself for what they haven't. Just calm down and don't stress yourself much about it. Whenever you meet Antara and I don't mean going to her house and meeting her, no, not that, meeting her by chance or in college, talk to her, only if she is willing to and sort out things. Do it as early as possible because I know the more you would delay it the more it would burden you.

Akshat nodded and hugged his best friend for helping him out.

Akshat: Thanks yaar! Tu nahi hota to pata nahi mai kya karta.

Aniket: Ye thanks sorry chhod aur canteen chal, bohot bhool lagi hai and you will pay, Ok.

Akshat: As you say Sir.

He passed him a salute, making them both share a hearty laugh.

XYZ JUNIOR COLLEGE,

Mahesh arrived to meet Guddan but to his dismay she was no where to be seen. When he enquired about her in the office, he was informed that she was absent for her classes today. When he shared this with Parv, he was lost in his guilt. He wanted to apologize to her for how he behaved with her but he didn't get any chance to do it. Yesterday, he was so ashamed of himself that he couldn't even utter a word and today when he mustered up some courage to speak to her, she wasn't there. Her absence was indeed successful for being the reason for increment of his guilt.