"He taught me how to love, but not how to stop." 

- UNKNOWN

^^^

"What do you mean?" Harshad shook his head.

"I had seen it with my eyes, Harshad." Yami justified.

"I had simply joked about it, Yami." Harshad stared at Yami with an appalled expression.

"I know, even I was shocked on discovering it," Yami muttered, sounding concerned. "Kiara considers Aditi her friend, Harshad. Even after Dhruv's announcement about the wedding, she had never allowed herself to envy their bond. She always hated it. Aditi was enjoying seeing Kiara in pain. She was attempting to build doubts about Dhruv in her mind. To distance them from each other."

"Why would Aditi do that?" Harshad sounded confused.

"Because she fears that Dhruv will choose Kiara over her." Harshad jerked his head towards Yami.

"I don't think he has the guts to go against his parents," Harshad grumbled. His eyes fixed on the road.

"It isn't about guts but the respect he holds for them. He cares about their happiness and any parent will be fortunate to have such a son."

"Dhruv had charmed you as well..." Harshad was growling and at that moment Yami realized that hate was mutual between Harshad and Dhruv. They both hated the existence of each other. Yami rolled her eyes and concentrated on the view outside the window.

___

"Kiara, come on! You need to have that syrup." Dhruv was extending a spoon of syrup to Kiara.

"Doctor hadn't prescribed any such thing," Kiara was scowling as she was staring at the spoon in horror.

Amrita and Avni were enjoying their favourite exchange ever. They loved their cute batter, Aditi walked out of the room excusing herself about a case that she had to prepare.

"Doctor has prescribed many things that you don't take into account. Taking a spoon of syrup isn't going to do any harm to you." Dhruv scolded making Kiara offer him a puppy gaze.

"I didn't have a cold, Dhruv." She was attempting to convince him. "It's just the allergy," Dhruv narrowed his eyes at her. "Really," she pinched her throat making Dhruv melt into a smile but he attempted to hide it from her.

"Aww... so cute," Amrita cooed. "I missed the inner kid of Kiara that can be displayed only in front of Bhai." Amrita whispered in Avni's ears.

"And I missed the inner peace that only she can offer to him," Avni muttered making Amrita glance at Avni with an appalled expression.

"Do you?" Amrita's eyes widen in realization as she spared a glance at Dhruv. He was pulling a spoon filled with syrup in Kiara's mouth while pinching her nose to help her to intake the content. "Bhai? You don't think that bhai... bhai as well..." Amrita shook her head not able to believe the things knocking her brain.

"I don't know, Amu. I just feel that his happiness lay with Kiara yet he is trying to distance himself from her. I don't get him at times, he is so closed, so shut off. I hope he is at least going to allow Kiara to see beyond the façade." Avni muttered walking out of the room and Amrita followed her, sparing a glance at her brother's content face. So, she wished Dhruv could allow himself to be happy.

"See, it wasn't a big deal," Dhruv said, Kiara, rolled her eyes. "Now, take a rest."

"I am all fine," grumbled Kiara.

"Kiara, don't test my patience." Dhruv glared, "rest and that's final."

"Stop bossing around me." Kiara pouted averting her gaze from him. "Don't take advantage of my illness to dominate me. I am not going to listen to your orders. Don't forget I am still angry about the comments you made on Harshad." Dhruv's mood shifted to a furious one, his eyes narrowing in sternness. He took the bottle of syrup and kept it on the table. Walking out of the room without uttering a word. Kiara stared in his retreating direction with a pout.

"He can't deal with my ignorance but can offer his," Kiara grumbled laying down on the bed without opposition. "Why you even had to comment about Harshad? You know he dislikes him." Kiara pouted to herself, staring at the white ceiling. "But he also commented so harshly about me, about I being jealous of Aditi. But it wasn't a lie, I was jealous and am still jealous of her. She always got love and admiration; she was his best friend. Even now, he likes her more." A lone tear escaped from the corner of her eyes.

"It's fine, Kiara. He can love anyone he wants. It isn't his fault and haven't you run from the anticipation of him liking you? Hadn't you run from the possibility that he might hold feelings for you but that was because I didn't want Aditi's heart to be broken. Aditi loves him and she deserves him not me." Kiara closed her eyes in agony, "those arms never belonged to me then why does this heart still ache? Hadn't it rejected those arms? It didn't feel like home and don't it mean I had stopped loving him? But if it's true why are these tears flowing? What's wrong with me? What do I desire to gain? And from what am I running away? What do I even want?" Tears kept flowing down, pain floating in her heart.

___

"Amu, I will miss you," Kiara muttered wrapping a hand around her shoulder.

"I am sorry Kiara for acting so rude that day." Amrita apologized looking guilty.

"Sorry? What are we kept hidden from?" Avni got curious.

"We had a small argument," Amrita informed.

"Argument? You and Kiara? That's impossible, isn't she, your favourite." Aditi teased but Kiara was staring at them with a blank expression. Dhruv had ignored her after their last argument and Kiara was aware, she was soon going to leave them all behind.

"But arguments do happen among favourite people," Amrita explained not wanting to mention the topic of the argument. "I will miss all of you, thanks for making my week worth remembering."

"I hope you will be back for our wedding. You aren't going to miss it?" Aditi inquired getting excited about the wedding.

"But still the date isn't announced. Maybe you people are going to wait for a year?" Amrita inquired for which Dhruv provided a small nod but Aditi disagreed.

"No!" But soon got startled on finding Dhruv agreeing. "Dhruv! Haven't we agreed to start the pre-wedding function at the earliest?" She sounded confused by Dhruv's change of mind. "You wanted the engagement to take place as early as possible."

"It was before you planned to run away from your own engagement," Dhruv growled at Aditi.

"Runaway? I didn't..."

"You did! You run away from commitment. I just need to make sure you aren't going to repeat the same in the coming function." Dhruv sounded stern his eyes fixed on the wall before him.

"Come on! Dhruv, why can't you get over it?" Aditi sounded annoyed. "We had enough discussion about..."

"Let's not make this about us as well. Amu is leaving for maybe a year, I want to offer her some relief of breath."

"Dhruv what do you even mean by..."

"Aditi! Please," Avni jumped in desiring to handle the situation but it only grew worse.

"Why do you people have to always support him? Not for once do you people consider my views. You don't even consider me as your friend." And with those comments without sparing a glance, she walked out of Avni's mansion.

"When is she ever going to grow up?" Dhruv grumbled.

"It's not only you that had grown up over here," Kiara growled making Dhruv glare in her direction.

"Kiara!" Avni warned but Dhruv interjected her.

"No, Avni let her speak. She is mad over me for defaming her boyfriend." Dhruv scowled while Kiara was fuming in anger as well.

"He isn't my boyfriend and I had mentioned it enough!"

"But you don't behave the same around him. The way you were laying in his arms didn't display the same. It fucking felt like you were fucking in love with him." Dhruv walked an inch closer to her.

"Even I am fucking in love with him. What's your problem? Why are you even interfering in my life? Have I ever interjected in yours?"

"Yes, why do I care?" Dhruv shrugged his shoulder. "I don't give a damn but I need to answer your parents. They trust me enough and I can't allow you to hang out with random strangers without their approval. Especially when that guy isn't good for you."

"Isn't good for me? Who are you to decide about it? Who even allowed you to give a character certificate to another guy? Questioning him, judging him. How much do you even know him? Stop controlling my life, Dhruv. You can't boss me around." Kiara groaned and was on the verge to walk away but Dhruv grabbed his elbow.

"You don't have any right to walk away from me." His orbs were blazing fire as if warning her if she took a move forward, she won't be forgiven.

"Command your would-be-wife, Aditi. Don't show your authorities..." Dhruv grabbed her shoulder, "on me..." the last words came as a mere whisper.

"Don't bring Aditi between us," Dhruv gritted his teeth in exasperation.

"She is already between us..." Kiara muttered a tear rolling down from her cheek.

"No, she isn't..." Dhruv's voice softened. "None is between us... no one... not even your that moron, Harshad." Kiara glared at his choice of words. "Fuck! I am never allowing anyone to come between us." He whisper promised and pulled Kiara in a hug.

"Idiot!" Kiara muttered as she sobbed in his arms.

"Not bigger than you," Dhruv commented back.

"I am not an idiot," Kiara grumbled.

"That's what you wish but it isn't the truth."

"Dhruv..." Kiara groaned making Dhruv chuckle and pull her even tighter in his arms.

"Is going away, necessary?" Dhruv paused pressing his chin on her head. "Can't you stay behind?"

"It is a better option for all of us."

"I miss your presence..." Dhruv whispered making Kiara's heartache. He pressed a kiss on her head, "but if that's what you want, I won't force...unless and until... I am not losing my friend."

"You aren't ever going to lose her."

___

Kiara was busy staring at the wide, blue sky open for her. Enjoying the blissful wind blowing around her, her eyes appreciating the beauty of nature. The blue sky was followed by blue water underneath, the waves spreading over the horizon. The sounds of wind along with waves were so peaceful for her ears. She had missed the calmness the place had provided her within a few days.

"I wasn't even greeted," Kiara heard a familiar voice and found Maya walking towards her with her signature sweet smile.

"I had my thoughts messed up," Kiara confessed, it was getting easier with Maya to confess things troubling her.

"Was walking back a good or a bad idea? Your stay was extended, I thought you were enjoying it." Maya said, taking a seat beside her in the sand.

"I won't say, I didn't. Spending time with childhood friends is always fun but things hadn't been sorted out. I thought seeing Dhruv engaged with Aditi would calm my nerves. I will get over him but that's not the case. I am really confused about where I stand for him. At times, I believe he values me over Aditi but his decision to marry her still doesn't make sense." Kiara shrugged her shoulder, "I don't even know if I should any longer keep my friendship with him. Won't it be an injustice to Aditi? He needs to be loyal to his wife if he wants to marry her. Even if he has no feeling involved, it's his decision to marry her and being loyal is the last thing he can offer her with."

"Agreed!" Maya muttered next to her, "don't you have any clue why he will be so obliged to marry Aditi without his wish?" Maya sounded curious.

"According to Aunt Renuka and my parents, uncle Atul is the reason." Kiara's eyes were rooted in the sea. "He is doing it to please his father. It isn't the first time he is walking on uncle's demand. He had always listened to uncle's wish but I had never thought he would agree to marry someone for uncle's happiness." Kiara shook her head though a smile was playing on her lip.

"You don't feel displeased about it, you never adored making someone else happy as a route to peace." Maya commented, "I always thought you will be against such a view. You will stop him from sacrificing his happiness for his father."

"He hadn't mentioned a word about it to me. He had confessed his feelings towards Aditi before my eyes. How can I question that he isn't happy with the event? He had never uttered such a word to any of us."

"But you feel that he isn't happy..." Maya muttered grabbing Kiara's attention from the waves.

"Yes, I have the feeling. He is dying in dissatisfaction, he is suffocating himself with the demand laid on him." Kiara averted her gaze once again. She needed to allow her thoughts out and staring into the sky was helping her. "I wish that I could free him from all the responsibility. I wish for once in life, he could forget about being a good son and only concentrate on providing care and support for himself. I wish I could teach him some lessons of self-love."

"Why can't you?"

"He never listens... he never learns to keep himself above others." Kiara shook her head in disappointment. "He taught me to keep him above my happiness, he taught me to find my happiness in him. He taught me what selfless love means. The thought of him in pain doesn't allow me to rest, he makes me desperate, restless." Kiara was looking beyond the sky, her thoughts revolving around him. "I don't know why I couldn't teach him to love himself. Why I couldn't make him consider himself above the rest? Maybe because he never loved me the way, I did." Kiara sounded disheartened.

"I always considered there was something as destined. I would fall for someone I was destined to for. I never thought I would start having feelings for someone that was beyond my reach." Kiara bit her lower lip to hold back her tears, to control the emerging pain. "Sometimes the thought of never being with him kills me. He will soon move away from me. Though he promises that he won't allow anyone between us but Aditi had already come between us." Kiara shook her head, "or is it me who had come between them?" A tear escaped from her eyes while Kiara slowly wiped it not letting Maya glance at it.

"It's love, Kiara. No one has any control over it."

"But maybe he wasn't right for me. Maybe God has created someone much more amazing than him." Kiara muttered attempting to convince her. "I simply don't know if I ever going to allow my heart to fall, again. It's scary... what if I don't feel the way he makes me feel? What if, no one can ever make my heart beat as fast as he does? What if none make me feel beautiful as his mere compliment does? What if none make me feel valued, special the way he does?" Kiara shook her head as tears were continuously flowing down her cheek. "What if I won't ever be able to replace him from my heart?"

"Does he make you feel so special?" Maya inquired, a small smile playing on her lips.

Kiara gave a slight nod, her eyes fixed on the sky before her. "He makes me feel things I had never imagined I would feel. I always thought the movies and books over-exaggerated the feeling of love but I was wrong the word 'love' is still underrated. The feeling it offers is beyond anyone's capability to describe. It's just out of the world."

"I wish you loved me the way you loved him." Came a familiar voice and Kiara jerked her eyes in that direction with horror written on her face. What the hell was he doing here?