"One should be in relationship to have a breakup but I was never in one, yet my heart is been broke so many times...."

- KIARA AHUJA

•••

R

ajeev was staring at Avni with a suspicious gaze. "Why do you want to take her?" He sounded stern which took Avni by surprise. Rajeev had never behaved so arrogantly with her before, he had always considered her as his daughter.

"Actually," Avni hesitated for a minute. "I feel alone in there so I wanted company. Aditi is busy with her work so I was left with Kiara."

"You can stay over here?" Rajeev suggested but Kiara was fast to reject the option.

"She isn't staying back. I won't mind if you don't allow for the night out but she isn't staying back." Kiara was determined not to risk Avni's safety. "You can go, Avni." Kiara urged her to walk out. Avni stared at her in confusion. Why was she behaving so defensively? What was she hiding behind her protective nature?

"Kiara, wait for a moment." Avni glared at her, averting her gaze at Kajal. "What's the matter, aunt? Don't you trust me?" Kajal glanced at Avni with a guilty face. She turned to face her husband.

"What is her fault in the matter? We know Avni since childhood. She won't ever put Kiara in danger." Kajal attempted to assure Rajeev.

"What if we lose another daughter due to our foolishness? What if this stuff was planned to trap my daughter?" Rajeev was voicing out the fear underneath his anger. "Will you be able to bring my daughter back? We won't even be able to ask for justice as like before we will be denied because we don't have any power."

"You had always shown faith in her. Always trusted her decision in life then why are you doubting her today? Do you think, she will take such a bad decision?"

"I believed the same with Swara but she betrayed me. She walked on the wrong path. That monster succeeded in manipulating her mind what if history repeats itself again? What if the monster again attempts to gain control over..."

"That's the reason I want to walk away," Kiara whispered staring at his father in fear. "I want to run away from the monster before he can reach me, dad." She pleaded to him, "please allow me to..." her eyes were requesting him. She was begging him to allow her without inquiring any further questions.

"Only on one condition that you're going to protect yourself from the asshole. If you allow that moron to even touch you, I won't forgive you."

"I promise you, dad, I won't allow him to touch me until my last breath." Rajeev was talking about Harshad but Kiara was promising him about Ranbir.

Kiara grabbed Avni's hand and grab her outside the mansion. Rajeev kept staring at Kiara with fear in his eyes. He won't ever be able to forgive himself if he loses his daughter again.

"You don't need to worry, she will be safe." Kajal attempted to assure him.

"How can you be so carefree? You are well aware that Avni might be doing it to help two people in love not realizing that she is pulling her friend into the trap. Maybe that Harshad asked her to do that?" Rajeev accused, and Kajal gave a slight nod.

"I don't feel Harshad will harm her. If Harshad could, Kiara would never be that comfortable around him. Though we consider Kiara more innocent than Swara, but she is smarter than her in many aspects. She is very choosy about people she invests her time in and about Swara, I still feel she hadn't gone wrong."

"Don't be in-practical, she was growing up and usually youngster makes such decision on impulse. I don't hate her but I won't ever be able to forgive her. Seeing Kiara in Harshad arms, I felt that history was repeating itself. I was doubting my upbringing."

Kajal interjected, "I was always proud of my upbringing. My daughters won't ever take such a path. Swara died before letting us know about her truth, a truth that might knock the floor beneath us."

"What are you trying to say?" Rajeev asked sounding confused.

"I don't know... I am not aware of it myself." Kajal shrugged her shoulder, walking into the kitchen leaving confused Rajeev behind, implanting some doubt in his mind.

___

Kiara rushed towards Harshad's car. "Why you brought his car what if...?" She sounded nervous as she desperately got into the passenger seat.

"What happening, Kiara?" Avni sounded concerned as she took the driver's seat. "What are you both hiding from me? Why you wanted to walk out of your house why was uncle behaving so weird and why is Harshad not accompanying us?" Avni bombarded Kiara with questions as soon as she grabbed a seat.

"Please start driving before dad changes his mind," Kiara pleaded. "I will answer you on the way."

"Fine," Avni groaned but allowed it to slide away. "now answer," she started the engine and they drove from the familiar street."

Kiara averted her gaze at the window, her mind rearranging the words to put them properly before Avni. "Dad dislikes Harshad and doesn't want me to be in contact with him."

"But why?" Avni sounded shocked. "Did he behave inappropriately?"

"Moreover, my dad is manipulated." Kiara sighed. "He is having some misconception about us and he doesn't trust him."

"So, he was suspicious whether I was letting you both meet secretly. Does he think that you have grown feelings for him?" Her eyes enlarged in realization as she glanced at Kiara for confirmation.

"He thinks that Harshad is trapping me in his charm and is going to take advantage of me." Kiara groaned at the end. "Why do people have such cheap views about him? Just because he is over-friendly in nature doesn't provide people with the right to provide him with a character certificate." She paused shaking her head in disbelief, "but that idiot motivates such concepts by his behaviour. I had voice to him at various intervals but he have to act a hero."

Avni giggled listening to Kiara's grumble. "You both are very adorable. The way you people annoy each other but also care the most about one another." Avni shook her head, "Harshad reminds me of the bond you shared with Dhruv. The way his mere acts could hurt you."

"It still hurts me, Avni." Kiara spared a glance at her. "It still does..." she muttered to herself at the end. The mood shifting from furious to sadness. Avni picked Harshad from the route and he attempted to a strike a conversation but on sensing none of them were in the mood, he shut his mouth.

Kiara was the first one to walk out of the car. Harshad opened his mouth the minute Kiara left them. "What's wrong? Did she had an argument with her father?" He sounded concerned, Avni shook her head.

"Our conversation drifted her back into the past." Avni voiced out with caution, "in Dhruv."

Harshad's orbs darken, his jaw clenched. "Why can't he leave her alone? Why he keeps troubling her?"

"She hadn't completely moved on..." Avni was going to clarify but Harshad interrupted her.

"She had moved on, she had walked from him. She was putting herself together when he knocked back on the door. She allowed him to enter, to destroy her again." Harshad shook his head, "keep the keys in." He demanded, "I have some work to attend."

"Where are you going?" Avni inquired getting shocked. "Aren't you going stay behind?"

"She isn't in need of my support. Dhruv will be over here at any minute, I better walk off as I won't be able to see them together." Harshad muttered, "I was always furious that why Aditi behaved in such a manner today I am able to understand her struggles." He opened the door getting out and opening the door for Avni. She hesitated but got out, her eyes finding it's way to confused Kiara.

"What am I going to answer her?" Avni stared at Harshad with concern.

"Tell her to take care of herself." With those words he got into the car and drove from there.

___

Kiara was laying on the bed, her eyes wide awake. She couldn't find peace in the chaotic thoughts.

"Kiara are you fine?" Avni questioned for the fifth time. Kiara glanced at her, those orbs staring at her with guilt.

"I am disturbing you. Due to me, you're not able to sleep. I will go and lay down in some other room. You sleep peacefully, you have a college to attend."

"You don't worry about me. I had dealt with sleepless nights before." Avni confessed, pressing a sad smile. "Do you want to share something?"

"Do I make sense if I say that I am feeling restless as if I am missing someone's presence that can provide me with peace."

"Are you talking about Harshad? Do you want me to call him?"

"I wanted him to stay back but..." she shook her head, returning her gaze to the white ceiling above her. "Avni, my consciousness is making me guilty. It makes me feel that I am attracted to Harshad because he reminds me of Dhruv in many ways. And he covers up for Dhruv's flaws as well. I always wanted Dhruv to be more vocal about his needs, more expressive about his feelings and Harshad is doing the exact thing yet I am not able to force my heart to love him."

"I feel that throughout this months, I have constantly used his feelings. I like to talk to him, he brings joy and happiness in my life. I get jealous when I see him with someone else and I thought that was the sign that I liked him but he doesn't make me feel the things Dhruv did."

"You are still confused with your feelings?" Avni shook her head. "Why can't you allow your past to let go."

Kiara raised herself from the bed, "I need some answers. I won't be able to let go off my past until I am offer with it." She got from the bed, Avni raised herself as well.

"Where are you going?" She sounded startled.

"To find my answers..." she muttered walking out of the mansion, carrying Avni's car keys as she drove away before Avni could rush and stop her.

"Oh! God," Avni cursed herself. "What should I do? Where had she gone? Should I call Harshad? It will be better maybe she had gone to visit him." She walked inside the house in search of her cell.

---

Kiara walked into the bar, "a glass of vodka." She ordered taking a seat at the crowded location. She glanced at the surrounding, her mind doubting her decision but she was stubborn to end it today.

She was exhausted staying in the delusion, hoping that one fine day, he would show interest. She wanted to believe that her intuition weren't wrong. She had imagined things. He cared and valued her more than friends. Those hints he provided weren't her overthinking mind imagining or connecting two different unrelated concepts.

She completed the shot on one breath, ordering another. She was trying it for the first time. She had came with her friends and seen Aditi getting into the waves of intoxication. Aditi had used it as a weapon to deal with the failure.

"Kiara!" Aditi voiced out into her ears making her smile wide. She turned at the source to find her narrowing her eyes at her. "What are you doing over here? And why on earth are you drinking?" Aditi was on her side in a minute, Kiara giggled.

"Aww... don't worry, I can handle drinks. I am not a kid," she pouted at those words. "He considers me kid," she made a crying face. "Do I look like a kid?" She questioned Aditi but was answered by Aditi's companion.

"No, what is before me is a beautiful lady." He winked at her and in return received a glare from Aditi. "Did your friend had a breakup?" He inquired sounding scared.

"Breakup?" Kiara laughed drily. "One should be in relationship to have a breakup but I was never in one yet my heart is been broke so many times...." She extended her hand to indicate the numbers.

The guy and Aditi shared a look, "we need to take her home."

"No!" Kiara opposed, "I am not going anywhere. I need to talk to him. I want my answers. I am not leaving until I get my answers."

"Are you here with Harshad?" Aditi inquired and scanned the bar for him.

"No," she pouted again. "But you are here with Dhruv." She lowered her head in sadness. "And once again, I am coming in between you both."

"No, you aren't!" Aditi struggled to lift Kiara's chin up as she had wrapped her arms around Kiara so she won't fall on the floor. "I am here with Jay," Aditi pointed a finger at her companion. "My colleague and also a very good friend." They shared a smile at Aditi's introduction.

"So, she is Kiara which you often talk about." Jay realised, "I hadn't thought we will meet in such a circumstance but never mind, life is unpredictable." He chuckled at the end, Aditi was shooting daggers at him.

"Sometimes I don't understand how can I spend even a minute with such a foolish character," she commented. "Kiara, come..." she attempted to drag her but Kiara rooted her legs on the ground not moving an inch. "What are you doing over there? Come and help me," she growled at Jay making him to laugh at her annoyance.

"Stop taking out the frustration on me," he chuckled.

"I am not going anywhere," Kiara yelled as soon as Jay touched her. "Don't you dare, kidnap me. I won't leave you," she was stumbling on her legs but had the confidence to challenge him.

"Do you all process such confidence?" Jay sounded impressed.

"I agree, you should have met her in different circumstance." Aditi groaned in insecurity. "I guess, it will be better to call him. Only he can handle her at such moments." And Aditi made Kiara to sit properly on the chair, ordered Jay to look after her as she slipped outside to call Dhruv.

___

"Hey," Jay protested as he was following Kiara from a distance. "Are you aware that your friend is going to kill me for allowing you out." He yelled after her attempting to keep a distance between them because Kiara would shout if he moves an inch closer.

"Do you know, how unfortunate I am?" Kiara groaned, expressing her miserable faith. "I don't understand why my life is showered with so much pain?"

"It's not a big deal to be called a kid. Girls usually like to be called a kid." Jay attempted to console her but Kiara gave a pointed look. Jay raised his hand in surrender, "I was just suggesting." He glanced around at the surrounding and sighed in relief. He was afraid that she might scream and people surrounding them on a vacant street get wrong messages about his character.

"He doesn't call me kid in such manner," she pouted again. She stumbled but managed her balance. "According to him, I am naïve, stupid, foolish and immature. I didn't grow up like Aditi." She paused for a second, "am I that bad?"

"No, you're not. Maybe he is all that so he considers you same. Haven't you heard that, often people who are wrong finds others as bad."

Kiara provided him with another pointed look, "he isn't bad. He is the sweetest guy, you would have ever seen. Don't call him... bad, he is just stupid and the biggest idiot. Don't know to express his feelings and people mostly misunderstand him due to it." Kiara grinned widely at the mention of him.

"What's the name of the guy?" Jay asked getting curious.

"Harshad..." Kiara muttered as her gaze was fixed on the person standing before her with a fuming gaze.