Raghuveer silently goes to his room followed by Sarla.They try to sleep but couldn't as the things which they are avoiding came knocking on their door.Though they were sad but the thought of next day made them better.

RAKHI

All get up and gets ready for the day excitedly because of two reasons.........one is Preetha being with them after a long time and the other is Varun's gift for her.

This occasion is special for Arora's as it is celebrated only between Varun and Preetha.Every year he brings a special, unexpected gift and hides it somewhere.......she has to find it.This year is also the same and Preetha is so excited about this.

She wakes up early,prepares sweet as their tradition and goes up to get ready.Sarla,Mahi and Varun are in the living area chatting and waiting for her when they hear the foot steps they see the stairs side to see Preetha coming down with her eyes down carefully descending the stairs.She is wearing a yellow color Salwar kameez with matching accessories,duppatta to her neck and has her bag on the shoulder.They are seeing her with amusement,

Varun(to mahi): Still she is looking like a child.

Mahi: She is a child!

And they smile looking at her.Meanwhile she comes near them and greets them with a good smile,

Preetha: Good Morning

Sarla goes near her and kisses her forehead affectionately,

Sarla: bahot khubsurat lag rahi ho!

Preetha: thanks ma

Mahi: She is my sister ma.....she has to look beautiful.

They chuckle,

Sarla: beth jaao mein abhi aathi hu.

Preetha nods and sits on the chair,

Preetha: so jiju kya gift laaya aapne mujhe?

Varun: 5 Rs 5 star.....

Preetha glares him,

Varun; kya? is it too costly?....ok then 1 Re as per your choice.

Preetha(yells) : Diiiiiiiii.........

Mahi: Don't involve me its between you two.

She shrugs off seeing her mobile,Varun laughs while Preetha sees her unbelivably,

Varun: dekha yeh thumhari behen nai hein behna meri biwi hein yeh

Preetha: Can't believe it!

Sarla comes with a servant holding the Rakhi thali,

Varun: chalo behna........jaldi baandhlo Rakhi 1 Re is waiting for you.

Shaking her head,Preetha takes the thali and goes to Varun who sits straight in his place while she begins with putting the tilak and ends with tying the Rakhi on his hand.

Varun: Wow preetha.......sweet is so good.I want another one.

Preetha: jiju pehle mera gift

She says it while distancing the bowl from him,Varun chuckles,

Varun (mind):She is a child.....

Varun: thum tradition ko bhul rahe ho.agar thumhe thumhara gift chahiye tho pehle mujhe kuch dena hein!

Preetha: Ridiculous......rakhi pe brothers sisters ko gift dete hein lekin hamare ghar mein mere gift keliye mein aapko kuch dena hoga.yeh na insaafi hein!

She says it huffing,

Varun: achaa.......we brothers not only promise you to protect you but we should also gift you a lot.yeh na insaafi nai hein kya?

Preetha: But we sisters pray for you,wish for you 

Varun: At the cost of our pockets.

Preetha shrugs,

Preetha: That's the tradition.What can we do?

Varun  I am born to change traditions you know!

He says it with attitude while preetha whines,

Preetha: Diiiiiiiii......

Mahi as usually shrugs,

Mahi: I told you not to involve me.

Preetha: Maaaaa.....

Sarla too shrugs making Preetha huff and Varun smirk.

Varun: See sissy i am not a student like you I have to go to hospital my patients are waiting......if you want gift make it fast.

Preetha: achaa theekey........ kya chahiye aapko?

Varun smiles seeing her irritated and helpless face,

Varun: A promise.

She doesn't understand,

Preetha: kya?

Varun: mujhe thumse ek wada chahiye!

Preetha: k.....kaise wada?

Smiling he goes near her and shows his palm,

Varun: Wada yeh hein ki thumhe kabhi bhi kuch bhi ki jarurat padegi tho mujhse bolne se peeche nai hatoge.Ek dam se mujhe call karoge aur demand karoge thumhe kya chahiye jaise ab thumhari gift demand kar rahi ho waisa.

Preetha is overwhelmed,

Varun: Promise me now!

She keeps her palm on his,

Preetha: I promise you(her eyes get wet)........you will be the first one to call whenever I have a problem.

Varun's eyes also get wet but he doesn't show it,she hugs him,

Varun: You are my sister,best friend, partner in crime and my........ first child Preetha. Just don't forget that I am and will be always there for you.

Her tears falls down as she nods her head while he caresses her.Sarla and Mahi adore them with a smile while mahi decides to lighten the mood,

Mahi: Preetha ne tho wada diya Mickey ab teri baari......Ask him where's your gift?

Preetha then gets out his hug,

Preetha: jiju mujhe emotional karke aap bach nai paaoge........Tell me wheres my gift?

Varun smiles,

Varun:  In your room on your favourite place.Go.....

Smiling widely,she runs to her room and takes a look around.She smiles as she finds the place.Its her study place which she designed personally.............two racks and chairs on either side,a coach facing her back yard in between,two lamps fixed to the racks and her table which has her lappy,penstand and above it a wall showing her goals.She sees it proudly and goes there to search for the gift.

She finds a big rectangular box which is gift wrapped,she smiles and runs downstairs.

Preetha: I found it!

Seeing her excited face and excited smile,they feel so happy.

Varun: kholo fir!

She nods and sit down unwrapping the gift.Her eyes widen seeing it,she slowly touches it and the smile on her face gets disappeared with tears in her eyes.For few minutes,her eyes and heart struck to it.

Mahi and Sarla curiously walks to her to see the gift.They were shocked seeing it.........its their family picture from last year Rakhi.Raghuveer and Sarla are sitting on the chairs,Mahi and Varun sitting on the ground before them while preetha is standing behind their parents and her face is between their faces while they are holding the three with their hands.It's indeed a beautiful picture reminiscing them.

Varun sits beside Preetha,

Varun; Hows it?

Preetha carressing it,

Preetha: Beautiful!

Varun: Then.......(taking something from his pocket) What about this?

He gives it to her.It's an envelope.Preetha takes it and opens to see a letter.She unfolds with confusion and excitement and starts reading it.Once she completes,she couldn't believe and sees him with wide eyes,

Preetha: ma.....mat....I ....me....I do....

She couldn't form words while Varun smirks,

Preetha: N.....no....I mean......

Shaking her head,she hugs him and he hugs her back.She sees the letter in her hold hugging him then she realises it's true and this makes her cry,

Varun: kya hua Mickey? Thumhe pasand nai aayi tho bathado mein kisi aur ko deta hu......

She comes out of hug,

Preetha: Nai....nai.I liked it.....I liked it a lot.

He smirks,

Varun: I know that you will like it.

She slams on his shoulder,

Preetha: kya jiju aaj aapne mujhe rulane ka plan kiya hein kya?

Varun: Yes but its a very bad idea you know kyunki thum rothe hue bahot bure lag rahe ho.

Preetha pouts,

Preetha(whining): Mummaa........

They laugh seeing her........she also smiles seeing them.

Sarla: Waise letter mein kya hein?

Mahi: ha....ha...bathao na kya hein?

They both ask her curiously when Varun and Preetha see each other and smirks,

Both: Come here.....

Sarla goes to Preetha,Mahi goes to Varun,they both whispers in their ear,

Both(mind) : Secret!

Laughing they both hifi each other while the other two huffs.Its a happy morning for her when she sees the time......

Preetha(loudly): Oh my god!

Mahi: kya hua?

Preetha: Its near to 10 I will be late for college.Shit!

She gets panic,

Varun: Don't worry we are also going for hospital.We will drop you.

Preetha gets relived but she knows she will be late,

Preetha; Thanks jiju lets go.......otherwise i will miss the class.

As Sarla knows her daughter,she quickly puts the sweet in the box and gives it to her though she resists.The driver brings the car to the Porch,Varun takes the drinving and the girls sit inside with Preetha silently hoping to reach the college early.   

COLLEGE 

As soon as varun stops the car,preetha rushes out bidding bye to them hurriedly,

Mahi: Mickey careful ok.......

preetha: yes yes di.....bye.thanks jiju,thanks di....

Kissing her cheek she runs inside,

Mahi: Oh god kaisi bhag rahi hein yeh ladki......ek class skip karegi tho kya hoga?

Varun: She is Preetha mahi..........class skip karna bahot door ki baath hein wo aise soch bhi nai sakthi.

Mahi: It's good for certain time Varun but studies and career are not only the important things in life.There are other things she needs to focus. 

Varun: Chill mahi........she is a young girl who has ambitions and goals in her life.She wants to achieve it and as a family we have to be her support,her pillars. 

Mahi: I know that Varun and i will support her no matter what but she should not neglect her personal life for her career.It's time for her to change her priorities(scared) .........i am afraid what will happen if she continues giving studies as her first thing?

She is concerned for her sister a lot,Varun holds her hands,

Varun: Don't worry ........she knows her priorities and can handle them well.She will be fine.  

He assures her,she nods and looks aside to see her college,

Mahi (mind): mujhe aise kyun lag raha hein ki yeh college preetha keliye acha nai hein.Something is not right here or..........for her! But I hope what you say is true Varun......she should be fine!    

She closes her eyes praying to god for Preetha and they start for hospital.

Preetha is running through the corridors ignoring everyone who is looking at her amazed.She knows she is late and after few minutes when she is near to her class she slows down and takes deep breathes.She walks towards the entrance panting slightly,

Preetha: Excuse me Sir

And she is shocked seeing ........ Karan in his formal shirts.Karan sees her........her hair is waving,little bit of sweat on her face,she is breathing heavily though she is controlling them but one can observe it,her ear rings are swinging as she was running before and all this mesmerizes him totally.

Preetha: Oh god ab hitler ka class tha!

She is scholding herself in mind while he is looking at her intently.She looks at the class where all are seeing her with wide eyes for two reasons as she is late that too for his class.........again.

Karan composes himself within a second,

Karan: You are late(gives a pause).....again!

Preetha sees him gulping,

Preetha: I....I am sorry sir.

Karan: I dont want your apology.See the whole class got disturbed because of you.(mind) mainly i got disturbed.

She looks down,

Preetha: Sorry Sir I wont repeat it.

Karan: Better be otherwise don't bother coming to my class.

Aadya smiles widely,Rishi feels sad while preetha lowers her head,

Karan: Now come inside....... Don't waste more time. 

She sees him gulping her tears as its the first time in her life a lecturer warning her that too it's karan..........looking away she walks inside to sit on her usual place beside Rishi.When,

Karan: Wait......

She stops and turns her face slightly to look at him,

Karan: Sit in the last row its your punishment for coming late and disturbing the class.

She fists her palms tightly and goes to the last row hurriedly.Settling herself on the last seat,she closes her eyes for few seconds calming herself before focusing on the lecture. 

Karans lecture continued for 2 hours,everyone listened and took notes of his lecture without any miss as he is one of their favourite but strict lecturer.

Karan; So that's the end of today's class.See you tomorrow!

Glancing at Preetha once,he leaves the class while Rishi goes back immediately.

Rishi: Hey......

Preetha stuffing her notes in the bag sees him,

Preetha: Hi

He knew she is upset and he didn't like that,

Rishi: Cafe?

Preetha: Evening.

Rishi: hmmm........(to lighten her mood) so varun jiju ne kya gift diya thumhe?

Preetha smiles instantly remembering the photo but decides to tease him,

Preetha: Secret!

Rishi: mujhe bhi nai bathaoge?

Preetha: Secret ka matlab hi chupana heina sab se!

Rishi: mujhse bhi chupaoge?

She nods smilingly,

Rishi: aise baath hein tho dekho mein kaise thumhari secret ko bahar nikaaltha hu.

Preetha: Mein bhi usse chupathi hu!

Rishi: thum na aaj kal mujhse bahot kuch chupa rahi ho.........just wait and watch kaise mein teri saari secrets ko bahar nikaltha hu

She snaps her head to him surprised and shocked by his statement,

Preetha: Se....secrets mere paas kya hoga? Kuch bhi nai!

Rishi: Thumhari iss reaction dekhkar mujhe aise kuch bhi nai lag raha.......(Seriously)kya chupa rahi ho Preetha mujhse?ha....

She sees him with shocked and tensed eyes,he sees her intently and bursts into laughter,

Rishi: Oh god Mickey........

Preetha doesn't understand whats happening,

Rishi: teri shakal tho dekho......

He again laughs then she understands he is just teasing her.She closes her eyes and breathes heavily,rishi holds her through shoulders still laughing,

Rishi: thum dar gayi Mickey......

He is laughing but she stands up suddenly,

Preetha: I ...i have to go to library Rishi kuch kaam hein mujhe.

She goes off without listening him making him confused,

Rishi: isse kya hua?She is looking tensed......par kyun? mein bas tease kar raha tha wo dar gayi thi aur......wait wait dar! wo dar kyun gayi? matlab mujhse kuch chupa rahi hein kya?(confused) mujhse kyun chupayegi? par.....wo aise kyun chali gayi? Maybe she is in a bad mood......haa.waise hi karan sir ne kuch zyada hi kaha! bachapan se koi bhi use punishment hi nai diya shaayad uski wajah se mood kharab hogayi hogi aur meine pareshaan kiya isiliye chali gayi.(scholding himself) thumbhi nai Rishi...........thum kuch dekhthe hi nai ho bas pareshaan karthe ho usee.chal uske paas......usse manao aur wo khubsurat wali hasi lauta do uski chehre pe. 

Smiling,he goes to the library.