She stood there astounded.He did the most unexpected thing..........her mangalsutr. The one which she had thrown away ,which she thought she would never see it again ,which binded them in a relation was there with him and now with her.He safeguarded it carefully........does it mean he was safeguarding their relation also?She thought. But by touching it she forgot the question and was feeling the answer with her hands...........tears were not stopping but her smile too.Unexpected things from the unexpected people gives unbounded happiness.........that's true!

She is waiting for him since morning but he didn't turn up untill late night.She slept.

He entered the room and found her sleeping on the bed.even though he got recovered she was habituated sleeping beside him.......he went to her side and sat beside her.As soon as he saw her face,he noticed a slight yet beautiful smile on her lips,he felt happy.

Karan(surprised): yeh royi nai? Yeh has rahi hein.......itna kush ki neend mein bhi hasi nai ja ri.Thank god mein kuch zyada hi socha.....socha hein thum mujhpe chillaogi royegi aur firse (he remembered how she had thrown the chain and gulped) aise kuch bhi nai hua.(smilingly kissed her forehead)

He went to fresh up and laid beside her.He was looking at her smile....

Karan(dubious): kya iss kushi meri wajah se ya .....?

A thought triggered.At that moment,he saw her hand on pillow he slowly took his hand placing on her's,he hold her while in sleep also she hold his hand making them perfectly entwined.He slept happily.

NEXT DAY

Preetha woke up and saw karan sleeping beside her.

Preetha: meine bahot wait kiya hein kal? Thum nai aaya....kyun?

She was complaing to karan when her phone rang.She saw here and there for her mobile and found it on side table which was on Karan's side.She was getting up but got a pull,she surprisingly saw him but he was sleeping then she saw aside to find their entwined hands which made her amused.

She was admiring their entwined hands when her mobile rang again,she sighed and thought to have a look at it.She was slowly opening her grip but he was not at all leaving her.Trying many times and failing everytime,she gave up and decided to take the phone from the bed it self.

She holded his hand properly like before,slowly moved close to karan untill her other hand reaches the mobile.She took the mobile and he turned making her fall on him with a jerk.

Preetha's face was at his neck,her hands on his abs,his one hand entwined with her and the other on her waist........ karan slowly opened his eyes feeling weight.He can feel someone lying on him as her breath was touching his neck.

Karan(sleepy): ka....kaun hein?

She was startled as he woke up.She immediately lifted her head up to see him.He opened his eyes clearly to see a pair of shocked, surprised and widened eyes.

Karan: thum......thum mere upar kya kar rahe ho?

Preetha: wo.....wo....ahh...

She was stammering and about to get up but again hits him.He gasped and she too.Lifting her head, she saw that her mangalsutr and his chain were entangled.They both saw that and then each other.Preetha was losing her hand from his when he noticed their entwined hands. He looks at her and she too.....lovking their eyes.Preetha came out....

Preetha: m....me....mein karthi hu.

She was busy in untangling while karan was staring her.........her pink cheeks,red nose,black hair and her lips which were slightly being bitten by her teeth.Unknowingly,his grip beacame tighter and he came close to her. She could not free the chains and annoying lifted her head when she felt their noses touching and their faces an inch apart.

Preetha(nervous): ka.....karan....

It made him lose more in her.When he was about to move closer,her phone rang again.He came back to senses and she looked at him.

Preetha: karan mujhse nai ho rai .....ek baar thum try karo?

Slightly disappointed,he was untangling them when her phone was ringing continuously.

Karan(irritated): arey kaun hein subah subah.neend kharab kar raha hein......phone uthao thum.

Preetha(looking at their position): aise uthau?

Karan: haa uthaona........video call thodi hein ki wo hame dekh payega.ab thum jaldi uthao ya thumhara phone dobara phigal jayegi meri haathon se.

Preetha(annoyed): utha rahi hu.....

She lifted the call and the next word made karan shocked.

Preetha(little loudly): mannu....

He saw her.

Preetha: kab se try kar rahi hu thumhe .......kaise ho thum?

She didn't care about him.

Preetha: uncle kaise hein?  That's a great news.......acha flight bookings sab hogaya? Mein bahot kush hu ki uncle ko sab theek hogaya aur aap log wapas aa rahe hein.jaldi aa jao na(karn looked at her) thumse bahot baath karni hein......acha take care.bye....

She smilingly put off the phone while he was glaring her.

Preetha(confused): kya hua?

Karan: maarna hein.

Preetha(confused): kya? Kisko?

Karan(annoyed): ab utho upar se meine chuda diya hein......

Preetha realised that their chains got free.She immediately got up.

Preetha: ohh I am sorry mujhe pata nai chala

Karan: kaise pata chalegi dhyan tho kisi aur ke upar tha naa.......waise thum na thoda dieting karo.kitna moti hogayi ho.....(she glared and he acted) ahhh mera kamar.........

Preetha: dieting thumhe karna chahiye thum cricket khelna hein mein nai.Weak body and weak minds.

She huffs and turns the face when he glares.

Karan: hey whose weak body haa......I had a very strong body.dekho....(shows his abs and muscles) I have one of the good bodies and good minds.....you Dumbo!!!

Preetha(irritated): subah subah itna acha news suna hein meine aur thum ho meri saari achayi udayi lete ho.....duffer!

She moves out and taking her clothes when karan immediately ran to washroom before her.She stamps her foot.After a while,he comes out.

Preetha(giving him tablets): your morning dose...

Karan sees her and the tablets.

Karan: yaar ab tho mein theek hogaya na ab yeh tablets kyun khaana hein?

Preetha: For your kind information puri tarah se theek nai hua hein thum.....so tablets khaana hein.

Karan: mein theek hogaya hu....dekho...

He moves his shoulders and hands but when he is stretching he gets pain and screams.Preetha cares him immediately.

Preetha: bahot dekhliya meine thum kitna theek hogayi ho.....ab fatafat khaalo.

Karan(taking tablets): bilkul thumhari tarah jaise hein.....kareli types

Preetha: Thumne wo kahawat suni hein........kaaton ko kaaton se hi theek kar saktha hein.aise hi thumhari jaise karela ko meri jaise kareli hi theek kar sakthi hein.karele.....

Karan: achaa.....thumhare matlab yeh hein ki preetha hi karan ko theek karsakthi hein.

He smirks while she widen eyes.

Preetha: me.....meine aise nai kaha...

Karan: arey abhi kaha naa thum......

Preetha: meine kab kaha hein......thu...thumhare kaan kharab hogaya hein.

She huffs and goes to washroom while he keeps an annoyed face.

Karan: yaar ye tee match nai ho rai.....I will change.

He chose another shirt and about to wear it when he saw her and his moment stopped and he stood still.

She was in reddish orange saree, wiping her wet hair, without looking at him went before mirror.He was dumb struck seeing her.She was looking beautiful......just beautiful.Lost in her,he moved towards her.She was checking her bangles and didn't notice him while he saw her through the mirror.The nupital chain adorning her neck was what made his eyes smile.He immediately turned her towards him,she was shocked and looked at him confused.That's when he looked at her eyes.......those beautiful eyes which drowned him completely.

Without thinking anything, holding her waist with one hand and her face with another,he locked thier lips.

He came out of it and saw her eyes which were closed.He left her and taking a deep breath,she opened eyes to see him.He wore the tee and was going out while she was standing clueless of what happened.She was in another world when he came back again and gave a soundful kiss on her cheek.Winking at her,he left outside and there is No need to say about her......

AT DINING

Mahesh,rakhi and dadi were at the table.Karan came and hugs his dad.

Karan: Good morning dad

Mahesh : Good morning karan......aaj 1st hug and 1st wish  for me!

Karan: aaj se aapko hi 1st hug aur wish milega......

He then hugged rakhi and dadi.He sits beside her.

Dadi: bahot kush lag rahe ho aaj? Kya hua?

He remembers what happened in the room and smiles.

Karan(happy): mein tho hamesha aise hi rehtha hu dadi.......

Rakhi: ahaaa preetha kaha hein?

Karan: ready ho rahi hein mom....

Just then preetha enters and they gets surprised seeing her in saree.

Preetha: Good morning dadi,papa,ma

Rakhi: Good morning beta......aaj bahot khubsurat lag rahi ho.

She hugs her.

Karan(murmur): Right mom.......aaj kuch zyada hi lag rahi hein!

Krithika: babhi..... looking very beautiful!

Mahesh:preetha bahot achi lag rahi ho(she smiles)waise sab itna surprised kyun hein?

Sherlyn: papa aaj preetha ne pehli baar sari peheni hein.actually preetha ko yeh sab bilkul pasand nai hein.......isiliye achanak usko aise dekhkar thoda shock lag rahi hein.

Preetha feels irritated,karan too.

Rakhi: aise nai hein Sherlyn........preetha ne mujse kaha hein ki saris mein wo comfortable nai hein aur hame jisme comfortable hein wahi kapde pehenna hein.isiliye meine bhi kuch nai kaha........(to preetha)preetha ab bhi keh rahi hu jisme thum comfortable ho thum wahi peheno.hame koi problem nai hein...

Sherlyn gets angry while preetha feels happy.

Preetha: Thank you ma......mein ab theek hu.mein sari's hi pehenungi.....

Karan feels good listening her.Just then Rishab,karina,Mahira enters.

Rishab: Good morning everybody.........(noticing preetha)preetha ji you are looking beautiful.

Karan looks at him annoyed while Sherlyn and Mahira gets angry.

Karan: yaar sabko mein nai dikh rai kya? Mujhe bhi thoda tareef karo.....

Mahira(excited): karan thum kyun puch rahe ho..... you always look the best.

Kareena: karan thumhara kapde ka choice hamesha best hotha hein(he smiles,she taunts) zindagi mein bhi achi choice letha tho mein aur bhi kush hojathi

She says seeing preetha,karan understands it while preetha feels bad.

Karan: bua mera choice always best hi hotha hein chahe wo kapde ho ya zindagi.I always choose the best and get the best.

Karan and preetha look at each other.Kareena and mahira look at them angrily.

Rishab(pampering): haha you always choose best waise ek baath bathao.....(karan looks at him)thumhe kya hogaya hein aaj?

Karan: matlab?

Rishab: matlab ki thumhari iss face na bahot chamka rahi hein aur thumhari hasi tho chup hi nai ho rahi.....kya baath hein?

Karan: Rishab......mein tho hamesha aise hi rehtha hu na.aaj kya naya lag raha hein?

Rishab: yahi baath mein puch raha hu......itna kush kyun?

Karan: kuch nai hein yaar dekho.... dad theek hogaya hein,mumma bahot kush hein mein bhi theek ho raha hu aur itne dino baad sab kuch theek chal raha hein isiliye.....mein kush hu.

Rishab pampers his hair and kisses him.

Rishab: mein bhi bahot kush hu thumhe aise dekhkar.....

All of them admire both of them.

Mahesh: achaa bhai bhai ek hogaya aur papa ko akele kardiya?

Rishab and karan loot at each other.They both go to him and hug him from the either side.

Both: dad we love you a lot.....

He hug them both and kiss them.

Mahesh: Rishab tho pata hein lekin karan aaj bada pyaar dikh raha hein mujhpe......?

Karan: kya baath kar rahe ho dad mein hamesha aapse pyar kartha hu.

Mahesh: achaa meine tho kabhi nai dekha.

Dadi: karan sab ko pyar kartha hein lekin jathatha nai.....

Karan(giving a flying kiss): that's why you are my favorite dadi........

They smile.

Mahesh: lekin beta yaad rakh ......hame pyaar karthe hi nai jaathana bhi chahiye kyunki pata nai wo log kal hothe ya na hothe hamare saath

They become a little bit surprised.

Rishab: dad aap aise baathein kyun kar rahe ho?

Mahesh: sach hein Rishab.......aap dono mujhse bahot pyar karthe ho yeh baath mujhe pata hein aap kehne bina hi sahi.par hamesha aise nai hotha..........jo log se ham pyar karthe hein use bathana chahiye, jathana chahiye hamara pyaar warna hame bahot regret karna padtha hein ki ham kyun nai bataya un logon ko ham kitna pyar karthe hein unse....... Remember tomorrow is not ours you have only today.So celebrate love and life today itself.......(smiling at rakhi)

Karan and Rishab looks at preetha with different emotions and sighs.

Rakhi: bahot huyi baathein ab sab khaana khalijiye.

They start to eat but lost in other thoughts.Just then Sameer comes.

Sameer(in call): haa ok....you take care......bye.

Rishab: kaun hein Sameer?

Sameer: Armaan bhai

Preetha gets curious.

Preetha: mannu thumhe phone kiya hein....kyun?

Karan(irritated): hello....business partners hein wo log.baath kartha rehtha hein.....saari baath thumse batana hein kya?

Preetha glares him.

Sameer: nai bhai armaan mujhe business keliye hi nai casually bhi call kartha hein....

Karan glares Sameer.

Karan: aur thum kyun call kar rahe ho Sammy?

Sameer: friend hein bhai isiliye....

Rakhi: waise Sameer kaise hein armaan ka papa ....bahot din hogayi usse baath karke?

Before Sameer,preetha responds.

Preetha: wo uncle ......

Karan(interrupting her): ma Sameer se pucha hein........thumhe nai.thum bathao Sammy...

Preetha was confused.

Sameer:uncle bilkul fine hein chachi Operation successful hua........

Rakhi: bahot achi khabar hein.kab aa rai wapas?

Sameer: mujhe utna hi pata hein chachi.Actually bhai..... babhi ko hi pata hona chahiye akhir best friend hein unki......

Karan glarea him.

Preetha(seeing karan): yes Sameer......he is my best friend.(to rakhi) ma wo log next week aa rai subah hi baath kiya meine.

Rakhi: next week matlab hamara puja bhi next week hi heina(she nods) ek kaam karo usse bhi bulalo.......acha lagega.

Karan gets irritated while preetha feels happy.

Preetha: haa ma mein bolungi........uncle ko itna badi Operation hua hein mannu bhi bahot stress mein hoga agar yaha aaya tho thoda relax ho jaayega.

Rishab: Right preetha ji.......hame bhi acha lagega.kyun karan?

Karan forcibly smiles while mahesh confusedly looks whom they were talking about.

Mahesh: ek second...... ye armaan kaun hein?

Rishab: Dad aapko Vikram kapoor pata heinaa(he nods) unka beta hein armaan kapoor.

Mahesh gets excited.

Mahesh: kya wo business bhi kar raha hein?

Rishab: ha dad.....hamare saath deal bhi hua .aur mumma ka fav hein woh.....

Rakhi: ha mahesh ji bahot achaa beta hein......mein bahot pasand karthi hu.

Mahesh: ohh good.......ab tho mujhe bhi milna hein

Preetha: milogi papa.......just wait for a week.I am sure aap milthe hi mannu aapko bahot pasand aayega.....

Mahesh(confused): mannu?

Preetha(smile): actually armaan meri best friend hein isiliye mein use mannu bulathi hu

Mahesh: ohh.....ab mujhe intezaar nai ho raha hein mannu se milne.

He laughs ,preetha smiles,karan gets upset. he sees the excitement on preetha's face,he didn't like it.

Karan: oh hello......puja agla hafthe hein aaj nai..... itna bhi kush math ho. pehle aaj ke baare mein socho!

Preetha(confused): aaj?

Karan(annoyed): mujhe pata hein thum bhul gayi hogi.........waise kaise yaad rahega aaj kal thumhara dhyan kisi aur pe heina?

Preetha is still confused about what he is talking.

Karan(irritated): aaj party hein......20 years of bcl.(she remembered).....sab players, doctors aur officials ko invite kiya hein matlab thum bhi invited ho.

Preetha: yes.....right.

Karan: I know I am always right.......(she sighs) remember party starts at 7.

Preetha: hmm

Elders finishes the breakfast and they leave.Preetha and Sherlyn sit for breakfast.....

Rishab: actually karan we are also invited..... but I can't come beacuse I have to meet the commissioner.So Sameer thum jaao......

Sameer: ok bhai but commissioner se kyun?

Rishab: I don't know he asked me to meet.....you people go.ok?

Sameer: ok bhai......waise police se yaad aaya preetha babhi aap kal court mein kya kar rahe the?

Preetha was startled while karan was shocked.

Karan:  Preetha..... Court mein?

Sameer: ha bhai mein company ke kaam keliye waha gaya hein aur meine babhi ko dekha kisi se baath karthe hue.mein babhi ke paas chalne se pehle babhi chali gayi.....

Karan: preetha.....thum court mein kyun gayi?

Preetha(stammering): wo......meri friend hein.use kuch problem hogaya aur mujhe uske saath jaane ko kaha.isiliye mujhe jana pada.....

They gets convinced but sherlyn and karan doubt her.

Sherlyn(mind): mujhe kyun lag rahi hein preetha jhut bol rahi hein? Kya hein iske peeche?

Karan(mind): yeh jhut bol rahi hein.iski koi friend nai hein mein jaantha hu par jhut kyun bol rahi hein? Court mein kyun gayi?

He was in his thoughts when Mahira speaks.....

Mahira: karan kya mein bhi aa sakthi hu party pe?

Preetha(angry, mind):ab yeh bhi aayegi........ughh.jo kuch bhi ho uski marzi mujhe kya!

She annoyingly eats while karan observes this.

Karan(sees preetha): It's not possible Mahira.....(preetha sees karan) kyunki party pe outsider's are not allowed.(She feels happy,karan smirks) ......actually mujhe bhi thumhe leke janna chahtha hu but you know some restrictions ....... don't worry next time we will go for some other party and we will enjoy a lot!

Preetha gets angry.She gets an idea wantedly makes a distressed sound.

Krithika: kya hua preetha?

Preetha(softly): kuch nai krithika......mujhe bura lag rahi hein ki mannu nai hein yaha.agar hotha tho wo bhi aa jaatha party pe.But he is not there......I am missing him.

Now,Karan fumes.

Karan(gritting): meine abhi kaha ki outsiders are not allowed........I think thumhara kaan sunai nai de rai check karwalo.

Mahira smiles.

Preetha: first thum apna dimaag check karwalo choti umar mein hi memory problem aa gaya hein.

Karan: what do mean by that?

Preetha: what I mean is you forgot that armaan is one of the sponsors of the teams just like Rishab ji.(karan remembers) so he would be gladly invited if he was present in the city.

Karan remembers but seeing preetha's attitude towards him makes him angry.

Karan(controlling anger): achaa....... ab bhi kya hua hein? Bulalo...... aajayegaa raat tak.kuch kaam tho nai heina dono ko.bas dusre ka khaan bajana aatha hein.....

Mahira laughs.Preetha sees her.

Preetha(taunting,firmly): mera friend thumhari kuch doston (seeing Mahira) ki tarah vela nai hein ki jisko doosron ke zindagi mein ghusna hi kaam hotha hein.he is a big business man aur mein sach mein hi use kahu tho woh jaroor aajayega mereliye because he trusts me and respects me as his best friend.kuch logon ki tarah beech mein nai chodega meri haath......

Karan gets very angry and stands up suddenly scaring all of them.

Karan: dekho...... ye mera ghar hein.thumhara aur us armaan ka nai.mere ghar mein khade hokar mujhe lectures math do...... Mujhe koi interest nai hein kisike baare mein sunneka.meri ghar hein,meri parivaar hein aur meri zindagi hein........mein jo marzi karu.thum hothe kon ho yeh judge karne ka? Mujhe achi se pata hein kaun kaisi hein.so thumhari iss bathon se mujhe farak hi nahi partha.......and stop judging me.

He goes away leaving a happy sherlyn,Mahira and sad Rishab,Sameer, preetha.Preetha runs to her room.Sherlyn and Mahira goes to Sherlyn's room smirking while Rishab and Sameer sighs and goes to office.

IN ROOM

Sherlyn: waahhhh wahh kya scene hein.mujhe tho bahot maza aaya uski shakal dekhkar.

Mahira: yess mujhe bhi .ab tho mein fix hu ki meri aur karan ki shaadi jaroor hojayegi.

They both hug each other and are very happy.

Both: bas ab puja ki intezaar hein......uske baad.......

They smirkingly see each other.

IN CAR

Rishab: kya inn dono ki ladayi settle nai hua ?

Sameer: I don't know bhai mujhe laga sab theek hogaya hein lekin ab yeh dekhkar mujhe lag raha ki kuch bhi settle nai hua.doni waise hi hein(Rishab is sad) ab ham kya kare bhaiyya?

Rishab: intezaar Sammy.......puja ki intezaar. hamara haath mein kuch bhi nai hein bas bhagwan hi karna hein jo karna hein....

They both look at each sadly and sighs.

WITH PREETHA

Preetha (crying): kya hojatha hein karan ko? Kyun kartha hein aise? (Throwing pillows) ek pal mein mujhe Lagtha hein ki wo mujhe believe kartha hein mujhse bahot ache se baath kartha hein care kartha hein lekin doosri hi pal mein mujhe Lagtha hein mein use kuch lagthi hi nai hein.dooshman ki tarah treat kartha hein.........kyun karthe ho aise karan thum? Kyun?

She cries throwing the pillows.

WITH KARAN

Karan who was driving car angrily remembers the incident.

Ek baar use milo aapko bahot pasand aayega.

Ha he trusts me as a best friend.

Karan(banging the steering): ahhh.....meine kya kya bola preetha ko? Shit....gusse mein bahot kuch bola hein.but aise kyun karthi hein ? Ek pal mein Lagtha hein ki sirf mein hi use mayne raktha hu doosri pal mein Lagtha hein ki mein use kuch Lagtha hi nai hein! Kyun karthi ho thum aise preetha?

He also gets tears due to his anger and pain.

Letters were over but story not yet.......ab mein kya karu?