It happened in a flash. One moment I was grinning as if I was the happiest and most fortunate woman on the face of this earth and the very next moment everything came crashing down to prove that happiness and I do not go in a single freakin' sentence. 

We are like two poles of a bar magnet, which can never come together.

"Sir, It's Sullivan." One name was enough to make me aware that I do not deserve happiness. Mr Khanna held my hand in a death grip." Neela ma'am.", DD hesitated and my anxiety heightened.

"What happened to maa DD?"

"Sir, you need to reach here." DD ended the call hastily and Mr Khanna squeezed my hand." It will be fine. I'm with you.", his words were reassuring but call it a female's intuition, something in me knew it won't be fine because my fate and I are never in best terms.

My heart was racing and panic was crawling my senses. The only thing that was keeping me sane was the fact that Mr Khanna was with me.

The ride to wherever we were going was filled with tense silence, Mr Khanna didn't leave my hand even for a single second for which I was grateful to him because it took everything in me not to pull my hair. 

My mind was pooling with adverse thoughts. What if he was here? What if he found maa? or worse, What if he hurt maa?

My heart was thudding so loudly I could hear it in my heart. Mr Khanna's grip on the steering wheel was so tight I could see his nerves popping out. The car halted at a cosy home at the periphery of Mumbai but what caught my eyes was the number of vehicles and a greater number of guards.

I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt and came out of the car, Mr Khanna hot on my tail. He clasped my wrist and we walked near the house. DD came out of the house but his hands were painted in crimson red.

Red?

Blood?

Fresh freaking Blood?

Why the hell does he have blood on his hands?

"What happened DD?", Mr Khanna asked in a low voice, if not for the deafening silence It would have been inaudible. DD gave me a look of sorrow and sympathy." Sir..we..we got late.", he muttered meekly, his head was hung low in shame and guilt.

My mind had started weaving its theories, all negative to be specific but the few sparks of positivity kept my hopes high. It won't be what I'm thinking. It can't be. It can't be.

"What? What do you mean by t-that?" I asked with the little courage I had.

"Sir when we reached here the five guards along with Charles, all..all of them were laying in their blood." I knew what was coming next."Neela ma'am.."Someone stop him, please! I don't want to hear it "We lost her."

And the tiniest hope shattered.

She left.

My heart ached thinking I couldn't even talk to her nicely, last time when we talked was the night of the ball. I don't know if she even forgave me. My heart clenched thinking what kind of a big failure I was in the form of a daughter. Mr Khanna at once pulled me to his chest.

He pressed his lips to the crown of my head. My tears drenched Mr Khanna's white shirt. I couldn't even form words, It felt I had a huge lump in my throat.

"Why did this happen Mr Khanna?", I sobbed in his arms." I'm such an abomination. It's all because of me", his arms tightened around me but today I couldn't even relish his warmth, I felt horrified, numb and unfortunately-

Broken.

My mighty father really succeeded in making my life a hell.

~~~

It's been two days since that unfortunate night. How happy was I to go on a date with the love of my life! Who knew that night would become the most horrible night of my life. I am f*cking worthless.

A failure!

A loser!

I don't deserve happiness, I only deserve grief.

My phone rang for the nth time this morning. I had locked myself in my room since that night. I didn't let anyone enter the room, not even Mr Khanna. He had been worried sick for me since that evening. Every second hour that man stood in front of my door knocking till the moment I don't give him a hint that I'm listening to him.

Since the night, the door only opened twice and that too because Mr Khanna actually threatened me to break down the door if I don't open it. He literally begged me to talk to him but I couldn't muster enough courage. What shall I talk to him about?

I don't have any words. The sensation of pain and guilt that I couldn't save my maa from my own biological father is so huge, It seems with every single second I am drowning in it.

I breathed and finally decided to answer him. He doesn't deserve this. He doesn't deserve to be tormented.

"I'm fine.", I mumbled weakly.

"But I don't want you to be...sweetheart.", I jumped in my place. The voice that had been haunting me for years, the voice that scares the living daylights out of me even in my nights, the voice that doesn't let me even breathe reverberated in my ears.

"You."

"How I missed you sweetheart. Didn't you miss your father?", his voice held the same malignity it did fourteen years back, it feels like he never went to the prison." I came to know about Neela and genuinely I feel sorry about that. She was a nice woman, wasn't she?", the hatred in his voice was visible. His craziness didn't lessen, all it did was grow.

"Why did you do this, you bastard?", I yelled at him. My breathing was laboured, he wanted it, he wanted to see me in pain every second and he became successful. He broke me again.

"Now that's not a way to talk to your father, is it pumpkin?" Raw rage gripped my senses, the man just committed six f*cking murders and he didn't have a single ounce of regret.

"Why? Why did you do that?"

I felt he was waiting for me to ask this question because the answer he gave me made me feel that I was the unluckiest daughter on this earth once again. This man was my father, I felt disgusted by my own self.

"Because I hate seeing you happy.", he yelled at me" Because of that woman's son I spent fourteen f*cking years in prison so I had to take the revenge. Now she is with her son, what you used to say?", he paused and chuckled in mockery." near your stars. I remember your habits, don't I sweetheart?"

"Why didn't you come to me, if you wanted revenge you should have come after me.", I yelled at him.

"Oh, what fun would be in it pumpkin? Enough of the useless talks. Let's talk business now, shall we?"

"What? What business?"

"See your mobile and I'm sure my daughter is intelligent enough."

With shaking heads I saw the recent texts and my hands went icy cold seeing Aarav at gunpoint. "The f*ck is this?", I shouted at him.

"Ah, ah! Don't swear at me sweetheart, you're not in a place to even raise your voice." The calmness in his voice was so unbearable I can't express it in my words. How did he become so cruel." Arlan, he's just five, please don't involve him in all this.", I begged him.

"You haven't heard the phrase, dear daughter, everything is fair in love and war. So, since because of you my love was separated from me how could I let you have your love?" 

My heart raced as realization started dawning upon me.

"I'm your daughter Arlan. Your own blood, why can't you just let me live my life peacefully?"

"My dear Avni, you snatched what was mine from me, didn't you? How many times did I tell Sarah to give up on you but she was adamant about bringing the child into this world. Just because you're alive, my Sarah is dead. Do you really think I'm a fool that I'll watch you living happily with that lover boy of yours." The venom and bitterness in his voice made my heart sink. I knew where he was hinting.

"But you know what, I want to give you a chance to become a grateful child."

"What do you mean?"

"Leave that Khanna.", his words were sharp and loud. My knees gave up. I can never give up on Mr Khanna, he's the only one whom I can confide in.

"I won't."

"Ah! I see, then prepare for another funeral. Don't worry I'll make sure I order my assassinator to call you for a live show. Yeah, sweetheart?"

"What do you think I'll get terrified by your hollow threats?"

He laughed and my heart sank further."Who told you they are hollow, sweetie. I already have six murders on me, making another won't make a huge difference."

I couldn't believe I was the daughter of such a psychopath. As if the guilt of six deaths was not enough, if something happened to Aarav I won't be able to forgive myself.

"The clock is ticking, daughter. Choose fast."

"Don't do anything to Aarav, I'll leave Mr Khanna."

"That's just the half part of the deal sweetie. You need to leave Khanna and marry Dwayne."

I clenched my fists tightly and pressed my lips in a thin line, I'll better kill myself after leaving Mr Khanna because I know I won't be able to live without him.

"And don't you dare to think about killing yourself, sweetheart. After leaving Khanna, you'll come to me, Understood?"

Great! Now even death is not an option. What an amazing fate I got there. Great job stars! Excellent!

"I do. I understood."

"Good girl.", he laughed."Now chop chop you have fifteen minutes. The clock is ticking.", he sang and hung up.

I sank down the floor and clutched my hair in my fists." Why?", I screamed till the moment where my throat started paining. The knocks on my door increased incredulously. An excruciating pain shot in my heart.

Why don't I just die?

If something happened to Aarav, Mr Khanna won't be able to stand the pain I know that. He's the closest to him in the name of his family. And Naina di, I can't imagine her state if something happened to her son.

But I don't want to lose him, my heart constricted with agony and helplessness. What will I tell him?

"Miss Mehta please open the door.", Mr Khanna's distressed voice came from the other side of the door. It took everything in me not to run into his arms. Once again it was proved how pathetic and weak I am.

Within few seconds the door burst open revealing an anxious Mr Khanna. I clenched my fists and backed away as soon as he stepped towards me. Hurt flashed on his face, his hair was a mess, the white shirt from that horrible evening was crumpled and he had bags under his eyes.

I dug my nails further into my palm. I'm sorry Mr Khanna. I don't want to do this. He took another step towards me but I stopped him in his place. Panic surfaced on his features."Miss Mehta, just talk to me once. At least tell me what's running in your head."

I felt the blood seeping from my palm. I'm sorry Mr Khanna, I'm very sorry.

"It's all over.", I whispered.

'I love you.', my subconscious was screaming in agony.

Terror. For the first time, I saw terror on his face and tears, because of me. His beautiful brown eyes filled with unshed tears.

"What do you mean?", his voice was just a whisper, my arms yearned to embrace him. He doesn't deserve this pain.

'I don't mean anything.', my subconscious screamed.

"You couldn't protect my mother, Mr Khanna, she was the reason I forgave you for my Dada's orphanage and now when she is no more." a sob escaped me and more tears rolled down."Now when she's no more, I-I.. can't do this."

He stalked towards me and gripped my shoulders in a tight grip, "What do you mean you can't do this?", he yelled making me break down more.

I'm so sorry Mr Khanna.

I'm so sorry.

"Allow me to say what you want.", he pulled me towards him more and it took every ounce of strength in me not to just melt in his embrace." You are implying that you and I can't be together now, aren't you?", his words were like a sharp dagger stabbing right into my chest.

"Why are you silent, say something dammit?", it was the first time he raised his voice at me. My nails sank deeper into my skin.

"It was always you and your mother.", he pushed me away and my heart crumpled into pieces." It was never me. You Miss Avni Mehta, you never loved me, it was just an act to ensure your mother's safety and when she's no more you thought to kick me away. What a game you played there.", a mock chuckle escaped him.

Blood dripped from my palm to the ground tainting it. It's just his anger, he doesn't mean those words. He loves me and he knows I love him. My love for him was always pure and it'll always be.

He does.

He does.

He does.

He's in pain and that's why he's just rambling.

"Leave.", Mr Khanna whispered, my hands itched to wipe the single tear that escaped his eye." I said LEAVE.", he shouted making me flinch.

I wish it was a dream.

I wish he never loved me, it wouldn't have hurt this much.

I wish we remained strangers. I wish we'd never met again.

I wish we never meet again.

**The End**

*sighs*

I know the ending was horrible. I know but trust me it's just a start. You need to put the manure of separation in order to bloom the flowers of love.

Trust me, It's not the end.

Just go to the next page.<3

P.S. I'm not forgetting to write my statement, Imma leave it so that you guys read the next page.