Believe it or not, Agasthya has never been this hopeless in his entire life. The fact that Diya, the only person who can help him to escape from that hell is choosing not to do that seemed like the final needle in the coffin. He was holding on pretty tight but it wasn't getting any better.

He knew that Diya had her reasons. But still, he felt betrayed. That's why he paid no attention to the bright light that spread in his prison from that half-opened window.

Agasthya knew she was there. But this time they were strangers again.

"I want you to know that I am sorry that I can't help you Agasthya, I mean it..." Said Diya staring at Agasthya who was sitting still, not facing her.
"You have every right to hate me and I..."

"I don't hate you, Diya..." Agasthya cut her in the middle. His voice was too low and weak from all the crying.
"At this point, I don't hate anyone... Not even Varun, I guess... I just feel numb... That's all..."

Diya couldn't hold back her tears. He was losing it all... The hope, the will to live, the courage to fight... And she might be the reason.

"Family is family... Whatever happens, we just hold our loved ones close and forget about anything other than that. It's Ani bhaiya's theory so you don't have to apologize."

They both shared a moment of silence.

"I hope that you will forgive me..." Repeated Diya even after Agasthya's words. Somewhere in her heart, it felt like she was on the wrong side, but it was so hard to accept that.

Diya loved her brother-in-law. She can't even think about betraying him. She had to watch him break down into a thousand pieces after her sister's death.

They lost Neha in an accident. After that, nothing has been the same. Diya mourned her sister and she still misses her like anything but Varun's case was different. He was destroyed.

She still remembers the day when she found Varun unconscious in his room. He was rushed to the hospital and the doctors said it was a past traumatic response. She didn't understand the seriousness of Varun's trauma until she came to know his past through Agasthya.

Everyone he ever loved had to leave him... Fate broke him too hard that he became unbreakable. Now he seeks his revenge.

Diya didn't plan to share it all with Agasthya but ended up doing so.

"I just wish there was a way out of this mess without hurting anyone Agasthya..." She said. "But there is nothing for him to hold on to. No one can change him..."

"But he has you..." Exclaimed Agasthya blinking his eyes.

"What! I don't think I can change his mind..."

"Fate wasn't fair to any of us Diya... Neither me, you nor Varun. But it always leaves something there for you to hang on. A hand to hold or a heart to cherish. I lost my father but my brothers were there at the end of the tunnel. And maybe for you, it's your jiju and for Varun it's you..."

Agasthya's words left Diya stunned. She never thought that way. She knew Varun cares about her... Even when he was hospitalized for 3 months for therapy after Neha died, he made sure that Diya wasn't left alone and requested his foster parents to take care of her. They were good people and Mrs Brown treasured Diya as if she was their daughter, not as the sister-in-law of her foster son. After completing Varun's treatment period, she flew back to London with him from Canada and then to their current destination.

"I won't force you to help me, but I believe that you can be the change, Diya..." Agasthya whispered. "All of us have been through more than enough... We deserve to be rescued..."

************

"I said call your daughter and tell her to come back before I lose my patience."
Akash Malhotra roared but Geetha paid him no attention.

"This is not her home Akash... She deserves something better..."

"She deserves hell..." cursed Akash. "And if she continues to stay with those Thakur boys, she is going to get what she deserves very soon..."

Geetha was about to slap him across the face but he held her hand and pushed her into the bed.

"This is my final warning... If you want Simran alive then make sure she leaves them."

"So that you could finish her easily, isn't that your plan, you moron..." hissed Geetha but Akash laughed like a maniac.

"Oh come on... If I had any agenda to kill that stupid daughter of ours then why would I wait this long? More than that I did promise you I will spare her life that is why I am being generous here... A gentleman keeps his word..."

Geetha felt her nerves getting tensed. She was one hundred per cent sure that Akash neither cares about her nor Simran. So there is something more behind his behaviour. So she decided to play a little game.

"What a loving father you are..." she said sarcastically. "Our family is blessed..."

Akash exhaled to calm himself. His wife was a complete nuisance but he had no choice. He needs to stay out of the dirt and also keep his family name out of it. And Simran is still a Malhotra... So...

"Be wise and do what I say..."

"Of course honey..." mocked Geetha making Akash lose his temper.

"The end is near... He is going to come for them shortly and I don't think you wish your baby girl to get trapped in the middle of the war Geetha... The Malhotras always stay clean... That's the deal between me and the devil..."
Akash smirked.

"What do you mean? Who is that 'he'?"

"Varun."

"What?" Geetha frost in her spot. She couldn't believe her ears.

"You heard me right my dear..." Laughed Akash.

"Varun Prathap Deshmukh... The boy who lost his entire family because of me is back in town seeking payback. I knew it before each one of you... Even before Varun himself..."

"No... This can't be true..."

"But it is... There is a reason why I am the best in this business. I write my own fate... And my enemy's too..."

************

Diya was very much immersed in her thoughts that she failed to notice the time. She has been sitting in the corridor for more than an hour even though she closed the window long ago. But still failed to find the answer...

'I should get back now... Jiju must be home...'

A sharp chill passed through her spine when she saw Varun across the hall. He smiled at her but it didn't reach his eyes.

For the first time in her life, Diya was afraid of her brother-in-law.

"Today your little gathering took a lot more time than usual, didn't it?" asked Varun not losing the smile.
"I hope everything is ok between you and your friend over there..."

Diya couldn't utter a word. He knew she was with Agasthya. He knew it wasn't their first time.

Varun served them dinner as if nothing happened while Diya stood there like a statue.

"Come on dear... Help yourself..." He said setting the chair for her.
"I was waiting for you too long and I am really hungry"

Diya felt that she might pass out due to tension. She took the fork but her shivering hands couldn't do any work.

Noticing Diya's struggle, Varun signed.

"Diya it's ok... I am not mad..."

"Jiju I..."

"I need you to stay out of my business... That's it. We are alright..."

Hot tears channelled through Diya's face. She was in fear. And Varun sensed it.

"Are you afraid of me?" He asked.

She nodded her head 'no' but they both knew it was a lie.

Varun took a deep breath and looked into her eyes.

"I guess that you heard the story already from Agasthya so I am not going to explain anything again... And I also..."

"Jiju..." Diya cut him in the middle holding his hands tight.
"You don't have to do this... Let's go back... If not for me then for Neha didi... She wouldn't want you to be like this..."

"Neha..." murmured Varun keeping his head high."I am doing this for her also..."

"I don't understand..."

"When I said Rajeev Thakur is the reason why I lost my family I never excluded Neha from that... He killed me twice in the past 18 years and now it's my turn..."