FLASHBACK,
MGM BUSINESS COLLEGE,

It has been 3 days since Antara and Guddan weren't attending the college which resulted in increasing the guilt of the brothers. Though, Akshat tried hard not to remember it but Antara's absence around him always reminded him of it.

As usual Akshat was waiting in the garden for Antara to arrive as he was doing since the past 3 days. It was just 5 minutes for his class to get started. Losing hope that she wouldn't be coming today too, he got up and was about to leave when he caught her sight. A smile instantly played on his lips as he rushed towards her.

He approached her breathing heavily making her look at him with concern.

Akshat: Hey Antara! Good morning! Tum thik to ho na?

Antara: Good morning! Mai to thik hun lekin tumhe kya hua hai? Itna bhaag kar kyun aaye? Is everything fine?

Akshat: Haa, sab thik hai. Wo tum itne din se college nahi aayi thi na aur Guddan bhi to mai dar gaya tha ki pata nahi kya ho gaya. Aur usse pehle hi din wo sab meri wajah se ho gaya tha, isiliye.....

Antara: Hey Akshat, it's Ok. There's nothing like that. Wo Guddan ki tabiyat thodi kharaab ho gayi thi isiliye ham donon leave par the.

Akshat: Kya hua Guddan ko? Is she fine? Tum use doctor ke paas le kar gayi ya nahi? Ek baar call to kar deti. Atleast bata to deti ki kuchh zaroorat hai ya nahi, medicines and all.

He said, his voice laced with concern.

Antara: She's completely fine now. Jab bhi wo roti hai to use headache aa jata hai phir fever.

Akshat: To tum use doctor ke paas le kar gayi ya nahi?

Antara: Nahi, it's normal.

Akshat: Aise kaise normal hai. Ye sab bilkul thik nahi hai. Matlab wo jab bhi royegi to fever aa jayega, ye kya baat huyi. Tumhe use doctor ke paas le jaana tha. Uske peeche koi problem huyi to?

Antara: Akshat, relax, it's a normal case for her. Bachpan se hi uske saath aisa hota hai. Tum kuchh zyaada hi pareshaan ho rahe ho.

Akshat: No, I am Sorry. Actually us din sab meri wajah se hua, aur phir wo meri wajah se hi ro rahi thi isiliye I was a bit tensed, Sorry again.

Antara: Akshat, it's Ok. Tumhe har baar khud ko blame karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. It was meant to be happen. Aur tum Guddan ke baare me jaante nahi ho. Agar us din wo us wajah se nahi roti na to rone ke liye koi aur reason dhundh nikalti. Wo aisi hi hai. Try to understand, it was nowhere your fault. So please stop blaming yourself.

Akshat: But still I am Sorry. I want to apologize to Guddan too.

Antara: Akshat, tum baar baar maafi maang kar mujhe guilty feel kara rahe ho. Mujhe tumhe ye sab nahi batana chahiye tha, you are making me regret it.

Akshat: Antara it's not like that. Tumhe guilty feel karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. It's not your fault.

Antara: Usi tarah you aren't at fault either. So please don't ever mention it again.

Akshat: Ok, I won't.

Antara: Promise?

She asked extending her hand towards him as he held it with a smile.

Akshat: Promise.

Antara: Oh no! Ek to mai itne dinon se classes attend nahi kar paayi aur aaj tumhari wajah se late ho gayi. You will be punished for this.

She said with fake anger as he tried to suppress his laugh as it was clearly evident that she was faking it. They then moved towards their class with a smile plastered on their faces.

XYZ JUNIOR COLLEGE,

Guddan was going towards the library to make notes for the classes she have missed when Parv noticed her as he was going towards her class to check on her if she was present today.

Parv: Guddan, Guddan wait!

He yelled from the other side so that she could stop. She turned around to find who was calling her and seeing Parv, she was about to leave when he called again.

Parv: Guddan, please wait, don't go.

He ran towards her as fast as he could and studied her face carefully. She looked away not feeling well under his gaze.

Parv: Guddan, I am Sorry.

She moved forwards to leave but he stood infront of her blocking her way.

Parv: Guddan please, ek baar meri baat sun lo. I am really Sorry. I know I shouldn't have spoke to you like that. Knowing about your past or not doesn't justify what I did but I am really Sorry and I mean it Guddan.

Guddan: It's Ok.

She started walking again and Parv too followed her not believing her words.

Parv: Tum ne sach me mujhe maaf kar diya?

She gave him a stern look and nodded looking away.

Parv: Thankyou, Thankyou so much. It means a lot. I promise iske baad mai tumhe bilkul pareshan nahi karunga, sachi.

Guddan: Ek ehsaan kar dena mujh par.

Parv: Aise kyun bol rahi ho.....

Guddan: Is baat ko college ki breaking news mat banana. Bas itna kardo kaafi hai. Don't even mention about me again.

Parv: Ok, I won't do that. Promise.

She nodded and signalled him to move as he was now standing infront of the Library's entrance.

Parv: Wo ek aur baat.....

Guddan: What?

Parv: Dad tumse milna chahte the lekin tum college hi nahi aa rahi thi. Aaj please unse mil lena.

He left saying that making her indulge in her thoughts. Everything happened in such a flow that day that she didn't even realise that their father would also get to know about it if they now knew it. She didn't want to face him because she felt herself losing infront of him when he didn't know about her and now when he knows everything, she won't be able to hold herself.

___________________________________

Guddan exited her class in an attempt to leave the college as soon as possible so that she couldn't meet Mahesh. But much to her dismay, the lecturer extended the class for extra 20 minutes and now she was rushing towards the exit looking around if he's there. She stumbled on a pebble and was about to fall but felt someone holding her from shoulders to support her. She stood straight only to face the person she didn't want to.

Mahesh: Itni jaldi me kahaan jaa rahi thi? Dhyaan kahaan tha tumhara? Abhi gir jaati to chot lag jaati na.

His voice laced with concern which made way for tears in her eyes. He made her sit on the bench nearby to examine if she was hurt somewhere. But she was busy staring at him as how concerned he was for her, for a girl whom he didn't even know.

Mahesh: Kahin chot lagi hai kya?

He now looked at her who was crying making him worried.

Mahesh: Kahaan chot lagi hai batao, ro kyun rahi ho? Zyaada dard ho raha hai kya? Chalo doctor ke paas.

He said trying to make her stand but she shook her head and made him sit again. She wiped her tears and tried to smile.

Guddan: Apa itne achhe kyun hai?

She asked but her voice choked at the end as she was crying.

Mahesh: Kya fayda hai itne achhe hone ka, tumhe to mai bilkul bhi nahi pasand.

He said wiping her tears while she shook her head as a fresh set of tears again drenched her face.

Guddan: Aisa nahi hai....

Mahesh: Isiliye to tumne mujhe sab bataya tha na?

Guddan: Nahi bataya isiliye aap pyaar karte hai warna sirf hamdardi hoti.

Mahesh: Kya bakwaas kar rahi ho.. kahaan se laati ho ye sab baatein is chhoti si dimaag me.

Guddan: Sach hi to hai....

Mahesh: Chup, paagal ladki. Aaj ke baad aisa bola na to agli baar se kabhi nahi milunga tumse.

Guddan: Sorry.

He looked away trying to show how hurt he was.

Guddan: Sorry na.

She apologized as she held her one ear and made him face her with her other hand.

Mahesh: It's Ok. Ab chalo mere saath.

He took her to his car where she saw Akshat leaning on the door of the car while Parv was talking to him. As he saw her he passed a smile making her heart skip a beat at his beautiful smile.

Akshat: Hi beautiful!

She shyly smiled at his endearment because he complimented her even though she was looking pale because of her sickness.

Akshat: Waise hame bhi to bataiye apne is khoobsurati ka raaz. What should we say?.... post sickness glow, right Antara.

He asked Antara who was sitting at the back seat making Guddan know that she was present too.

Antara: It's not at all funny, Akshat.

Parv: I agree.

Akshat: Tu chup kar. Mera bhai ho kar kisi aur ki side le raha hai. Chal hat yahaan se.

He pushed him aside as he was standing at the door of the back seat. He opened the door for Guddan and extended his hand signalling her to be seated.

Akshat: Please have a seat, my lady.

Guddan's face flushed listening to his endearment making new feelings arise for him but it was just little trials he was making to cheer her up.

Mahesh: Arey jaldi baitho, saara din yahin nahi rehna hai hame.

She looked at him and then at Antara who nodded at her as she settled beside her. Akshat sat on the passemger seat while Parv sat beside Antara in the back seat.

Parv: Waise Antara Di,....

He was about to ask her something but was cut by Guddan.

Guddan: Tumse kitni baar kehna padega ki wo meri Di hai. Tum unhe Di mat bulao.

Antara: Guddan it's fine.....

Guddan: Nahi Di. Aap sirf meri Di hai aur kisi ki nahi isiliye koi aapko Di nahi bulayega.

Parv: Yaar ab aap bhi batao mai aapko kya bulaun. Bhai aapko naam se bulane nahi dete, aapki behen Di bulane nahi deti, ab kya mai aapko Bhabhi bulaun.

Everyone glared him while Guddan felt her heart clench at that thought. Feeling everyone's heated gaze on him he laughed nervously.

Parv: I was just kidding.

Akshat: Kahaan se seekha itna ghatiya mazaak karna?

Though he felt happy as if he had a glimpse of his beautiful dream, he didn't want to let it out this soon.

Parv: Aapse hi to seekha hai. Kyun sahi kaha na maine?

He turned towards Antara and asked her at which she nodded.

Parv: Waise agar mai aapko aapke naam se bulaun to aapko koi problem nahi hai na?

Antara: No.

Parv: To Bhai aap apni dhamki apne paas hi rakhiye kyunki mai inhe inke naam se hi address karunga.

Akshat: Itni himmat nahi hai tujhme.

Parv: Mai aapse nahi darta hun Bhai.

Akshat: To kisse darta hai? Guddan se?

Parv: Haa.... nahi mai kyun usse darunga. Wo nahi chahti to mai kyun use baar baar pareshaan karun.

He said remembering the promise he made to her just few hours back.

After a short journey, the car halted at a place and Mahesh got out of the car.

Mahesh: Bachhon, andar hi rehna mai abhi aaya.

Akshat saw a Ice-cream vendor so he got out of the car while Parv stopped him.

Parv: Bhai, Dad ne baahar jaane se mana kiya hai.

Akshat: Wo tum bachhon ke liya tha mere liye nahi.

Saying that he went to the Ice-cream vendor and bought Ice-creams for all of them. He gave it to Antara and Parv and lastly gave it to Guddan who was smiling whole-heartedly looking at the Ice-cream.

Guddan: Thankyou!

She thanked him and started unwrapping the Ice-cream but was stopped by Antara.

Antara: Guddan, Ice-cream waapas karo.

Guddan: Di.....

She whined like a small baby making everyone aww at her.

Antara: Kya Di? Kal hi bistar par se hi uthi hai, ab phir se bimaar hona hai kya.

Akshat: jaane do na Antara. Ek Ice-cream se kuchh nahi bigadne wala. Aur Guddan is time agar bimaar huyi na to mujhe bhi bula lena. Ham saath me masti karenge kyunki tumhari Di ke saath to tum bore ho jaati hogi na.

He said making Guddan laugh at her sister's angry face and both Akshat and Guddan hi-fied each other. Antara smiled looking at Guddan who was smiling without any pain.

Guddan unwrapped her Ice-cream and started eating it. Unknowingly, some cream was smeared on her nose while eating. Akshat who was looking at her leaning on the window pane of her side, wiped her nose with his thumb making her heart flutter under his touch. He smiled at her which she returned trying to hide her blush.

Akshat: Aise hi hamesha smile karte rehna.

He said expressing a different kind of emotion through his eyes and internally making a promise to himself to always maintain that smile on her face.