"Home sometimes turns out to be a person, your haven, your source of peace, but that doesn't mean they don't provide you with headaches." 

- SANJH

^^^

Harshad stared at the employee, looking at him with determination. "As we had discussed our goal. I have accumulated you all here, to discuss the first step towards our mission."

The employees were staring at him with hope and admiration. They could feel new energy radiating from Harshad. "We need to find information regarding Swara Ahuja's case." Harshad pointed at the file on his desk.

The conference room had a number of employees that shared a look with one another. "Years had passed since the incident. An employee working in our office was related to this girl. He had brought the news which was later claimed as fake but the girl had ended her life within the week the news was telecasted. Her parent had filed a complaint against our firm which was rejected. Our job is to find accurate information about the case and held back our reputation."

The girl among them raised a hand in question, and Harshad prompted her to continue. "I have a question, sir. How are we going to come up with information? Every proof would be erased by now. The case had taken place twelve years back."

"Our job is to wake the government, make them aware that there is something that needs justice." Harshad commanded, "we are going to read the details about the case and try to bring as much information as possible by next week. Am I clear?"

Everyone nodded in agreement, "we are going to see this case as providing justice to a girl whose life was taken from her at a small age." Harshad paused for a second keeping his emotion in check. "You all might leave." And soon he dismissed them all.

___

Rajeev was walking out of his office when the guard standing in the parking lot, rushed to him. "Sir, you have a parcel."

Rajeev stared at the package with suspiciousness. "Who gave it?" He searched for any information about the sender.

"He mentioned that he was your well-wisher." Rajeev frowned at the introduction, he dismissed the guard with a nod as he made his way toward his car.

As soon as he got into the car, he opened the package. And it contained a box filled with files, his frown deepened as he rushed to open the file. On the front page, it was highlighted with bold words.

"Swara Ahuja wasn't provided with justice."

He read the below words, the detail of the case was written down and at the end of the file a note was placed.

"I hope you will desire justice to be provided to your daughter."

-Your Well-Wisher.

"What the hell!" Rajeev growled in annoyance. He crumbled the paper and threw it out of the car. "Who is bringing the past out, again? Why someone is after my reputation?" He massaged his forehead in frustration. "Why can't someone allow me peace." His orbs landed on the picture of Swara.

Her eyes were smiling in happiness, and the flashes of her face return to his mind. The last time he had seen her was before she decided to take her life. The way he had shouted at her. Didn't provide her with an opportunity to justify her acts. He had announced that he won't ever stare at her face again. How she could behave so inappropriately? He was so proud of his kids. It was a crime to have sex before marriage.

Those files had brought back all the memories which Rajeev had locked behind his brain. He started the engine, trying to distract his mind from the painful memories.

___

"I am not coming for the shopping." Kiara groaned at Harshad's pleading face. Folding her hand around her chest as if gesturing to him that her decision was made.

"Kiara, we had decided it," Harshad grumbled in return. Staring at the enormous building before him. Numerous people walked in and out of the building with a number of bags. "I was of the view that girls like shopping."

"I don't come under that category of girls." Kiara grumbled, "and shopping with you is worse. You keep roaming from one shop to another, your idealistic nature is never satisfied." She faced away from the building as if that could wipe the building from her sight.

"Kiara, for once behave like a typical girl. I am taking you shopping without you asking me for it." Harshad tried to persuade her.

"But I am not interested," Kiara shook her head. "You should have asked someone else. Someone more typical to your choice." She whispered much to herself but Harshad heard it.

"Are we going to start with it again?" Harshad groaned, clenching his fist on the streeling wheel.

"You should consider it," Kiara pointed out glancing at his furious face. "Why don't you get it, Harshad?" Kiara attempted to touch his face but he shrank away, exasperated with the turn in the conversation. "You deserve much better," she lowered her head in embarrassment.

"I don't want anyone better," Harshad repeated the same word.

Kiara would bring the conversation up at frequent intervals. Kiara felt guilty for playing with Harshad's feelings. She should have distanced herself from him but her heart was acting selfish.

"If you don't like my company, I won't bother you," Harshad muttered making Kiara glance at him in horror.

"You and I, both are aware that the problem is with me," Kiara whispered with brimming tears. "I won't ever be able to provide you with the love you hold towards me. I don't even know if my heart will ever heal to love someone to that extent. I don't hold Dhruv responsible for my damage. I have no grudge towards him." Kiara had a slight smile on her face.

"But I am a fragile human, I am not that strong to deal with and move on. Maybe I had accepted my past. But maybe my heart won't ever have those feelings again," she shivered in fear.

"Kiara," Harshad called her out. She stared at him with a fearful gaze. "I won't ever hurt you." He promised to make Kiara's heart skip a beat.

She shook her head, "don't do this with me, Harshad." She pleaded, "it's getting difficult to restrict you. I might lose myself," she confessed averting her gaze from him.

Harshad grabbed her elbow, forcing her to face him. "Lose yourself," he whispered staring straight into her black orbs. "There isn't anything wrong in acting selfish."

"Love isn't acting selfish, Harshad." She muttered back, tears continuously flowing down. Harshad was attempting to brush them away. "That's the reason I am scared." She confessed, sobbing silently. "Love means sacrifices, love means selflessness and with you, I am just acting the opposite. I am acting greedy, keeping my happiness over yours." She shook her head, jerking his hand away from her face. "I can't be selfish. I can't sacrifice your peace for my selfishness. You deserve better Harshad."

"Enough!" Harshad's grip on Kiara tighten. "Don't you dare repeat those words." He warned, his orbs shooting daggers making Kiara shut her mouth. "You are none to decide whom I deserve and not." His orbs narrowed, slowly softening on seeing her scared orbs. He closed his eyes in defeat, and shook his head as he leaned his forehead on hers. "Can't I be allowed to love you?" He sounded exhausted. "Without any demand attached, I just want to be allowed to love you. I am fine being your best friend just don't force me not to love you or move away with someone. My heart can't bear it when you voice those words. You deserve me, Kiara, if there is anything then maybe I don't deserve a pure soul like you. Maybe none deserve someone as beautiful as you."

Kiara was going to object but Harshad opened his eyes, slowly caressing Kiara's cheeks. Their eyes were locked with one another. "And the beauty I am talking about isn't seen by eyes. Not that you aren't beautiful for my eyes," his lip turned upward in a peaceful smile. "But the beauty that had knocked me is the one your heart carries. The one that my soul can feel," he expressed. Pecking a kiss on her forehead, "nothing can match that beauty."

"Stop, flattering me." Kiara pouted making Harshad heartache in defeat. Only if he could listen to his desiring heart. His heart longed to taste her soft lip and she was making it more difficult for him. "This isn't going to convince me to go shopping." She stood firm on her stand.

"None can change your views," Harshad shook his head with a chuckle. His arms still held Kiara near to him. "How will I handle a stubborn daughter?" Harshad groaned at the thought but Kiara punched him on his head. "Ouch!" Harshad groaned, "stop getting jealous of my daughter." He joked further making Kiara jerk his hand away but Harshad grabbed her soon. "I was kidding," he pecked on her nose. "We won't have a daughter maybe a stubborn son just like you." He pinched her cheek while Kiara was struggling to get out of his grip.

___

Kiara didn't move an inch though Harshad had mentioned minutes back that they had reached home. Kiara had decided that she was prepared to get back to her house as her parents were frequently calling her and asking her to get back.

"Do you want me to turn the wheels?" Harshad inquired getting stressed about her.

Kiara shook her head, staring at the walls of her house with determination. "These walls had always carried those memories but it was hidden in the deepest, darkest corner but along with his arrival, those flashes are getting clear. I feel furious when I see him roaming causally around those walls where di's tears are hidden." Kiara was holding back her tears.

"You know," Kiara glanced back at Harshad. "She was planning to get married to her boyfriend, she wanted to spend a beautiful life with him." She paused for a minute, "maybe by now, I would be having a niece. My dad won't ever be hating her existence. He spoiled it all! Just for his hormonal need, he destroyed our family, di's life." Kiara sobbed and Harshad wrapped his arms around her shoulder.

"He is going to pay for the tears he has cost you and your family. Everyone has to pay for their deeds one day." Harshad was sounding furious as he was determined to provide Swara with justice.

Kiara slowly moved from Harshad's grip. "I think you should leave before dad gets a glimpse of you." She sounded concerned.

"You need me," Harshad pointed out.

Kiara smiled at his observation, "I don't want more complication between you two." She waited but Harshad's orbs were pleading with her. "I will manage myself," Harshad interrupted her.

"Should I call Avni and ask her to..."

"Harshad!" Kiara glared at him. "I had warned you that Avni isn't getting involved in the matter."

"I can't simply leave you alone," Harshad groaned at the thought.

"I am an adult and I can manage myself," Kiara seemed offended by his overbearing protective nature.

"I don't believe a word you uttered," Harshad commented making Kiara fume in anger.

"Then don't believe..." with those words she pushed open the door and walked towards the house without mentioning a word. Harshad groaned staring at her retreating figure.

"Why are you so stubborn?" He was grumbling to himself.

___

Kiara rushed into the house, planning to get into her room as fast as possible. "Kiara," a surprised voice of Kajal halted Kiara on her step.

Kiara groaned as she turned to face her concerned mother. Kajal looked as if she had grown older within the past few weeks, Kiara had spent away from the house. Suddenly, Kiara's annoyance was replaced with concern. Had the truth made her depressed? That was another reason she kept the truth hidden from her parents, she was aware that they weren't that strong to deal with it. And they would blame themselves constantly that they weren't able to protect their daughters'.

"You are back," it was a mixture of relief as well as fear. Her eyes scanned the surrounding. "You shouldn't have returned," she sounded concerned.

"Dad wanted me back," Kiara muttered trying to act confident. She needed assurance from Kajal but she was further stressing her up.

"How are you?" Maybe Kajal sensed Kiara's uneasiness as she changed the topic. Her hands reached to caress Kiara's cheek.

Kiara felt a sudden hit of emotional waves knocking on her feet. As if Kajal was asking her, how had she handled herself throughout those years. Was she fine? Was she healed?

Kiara shook her head, blinking her eyes to keep those tears in check. She couldn't allow herself to cry in front of her mother because she knew if she allowed one tear to slide down, she won't able to hold herself back. She would revisit those bad-dreadful memories and it would torture her to death.

"I need to freshen up," with those words she excused herself towards the room.

It was strange how she was never able to share those painful memories with anyone, not even her mother. She felt that remembrance of the events could stab her heart, it made her feel that someone was crumbling her heart but with Harshad, she simply could express her deepest inner-most secrets, secrets that she had never voiced to even her childhood friends. That was scary! 

^^^

IF GUYS LIKE HARSHAD ARE REAL I AM BADLY IN NEED OF ONE. THE WAY HE HANDLES KIARA! *HATS OFF*