Kiara took a spoon full of rice as she was having dinner along with her parents. Though it was official that Rajeev had lodged a complaint against Ranbir and Kiara, even visited the police station to record her witness to the case, explaining how he had tortured her as a kid. But nothing was discussed among them, Rajeev did not bring the topic forward in any manner.

"I heard to have invited Kabir for a dinner," Kiara muttered, grabbing Rajeev's attention from the plate full of food in front of him.

Rajeev sighed, glancing at Kiara. "I wanted to apologize for my deeds. I had cursed him a lot in the past." It was getting difficult for Rajeev to make eye contact with Kiara. As if he was ashamed of himself.

"You're not at fault," Kiara started to justify her father but Rajeev interrupted her.

"It was," he declared. "During so many years I kept blaming my daughter for the torture she had to undergo. She was assaulted by her uncle, among these walls." Rajeev felt disgusted, "how am I ever going to forgive myself? These walls will keep reminding me of her pains." He held back his tears. "I wasn't able to provide a safe environment for you to grow up. I wasn't able to be a good father." He lowered his head in embarrassment.

Kiara and Kajal objected to his words but Kiara stood from her chair and walked toward him. "Don't you dare to point a finger at my dad." She warned him, wrapping her arms around his neck and placing her chin on top of his head. "My dad is the best dad on the planet."

Rajeev smiled at her words, Kajal adored them from a distance.

___

"You kept us hidden from such a big part of your life?" Yami sounded stunned. "How could you be so strong to handle it alone?"

"I hadn't handled it alone. I had seen the struggles my sister had undergone. She wasn't present physically but I could feel her presence." Kiara softly wiped her tears, and Harshad groaned wrapping his hand around her shoulder.

"Why do we have to discuss it again?" Harshad glared at Yami, making her displeased with his behavior.

"I don't admire the way you keep prioritizing her above all," Yami grumbled making others laugh but Kiara stared at her in concern.

"I had always prioritized her above the rest," Harshad confessed without a hint of hesitation.

"But you don't even attempt to keep in contact. Not a single text or call," Yami was voicing her complaints.

"He isn't doing it purposely, his schedule is very tight Yami. I don't understand how can a human work so hard?" Kiara shook her head, recollecting his sleeping schedule, he hardly got five hours of sleep.

"Oh! My!" Avni exclaimed loudly, "is she the same person that grumbled about his lack of discipline?" Kiara felt embarrassed at Avni's teasing, Harshad chuckled but voiced his fake objection.

"Don't tease my best friend," Harshad commented placing a kiss on her cheek.

"I am highly against this open romance," Aditi and Avni objected in unison while Harshad and Yami laughed and Kiara was attempting hard to hide her face.

"Aditi you don't have any right to voice a word against it. I frequently come across your cheesy comments on each other's posts." Harshad argued back, a smile playing on his lips on glancing at blushing Kiara.

"I know," Avni agreed with him. "I am seriously jealous of you all." Avni made a pout, "I don't want to die single."

"Don't forget I am going to accompany you as well," Yami muttered having a smile.

"You at least got to experience it but I couldn't even taste the honey."

"It's better that you didn't," Kiara muttered. "You escaped from the pain it brings along with it."

Harshad stared at Kiara, whose eyes were fixed on the mug before her. The table went silent after Kiara's statement.

___

Silence prevailed around them as Harshad was driving the car to drop Kiara home. Kiara stared out of the window for a minute longer before sparing a glance at Harshad.

"You still think that I hadn't moved on from him." Commented Kiara, making Harshad glance at Kiara with a questioning gaze.

"Why would I think so?"

"I spoiled the mood by mentioning the past."

Harshad shook his head, "it's your past Kiara. Suddenly, your memory won't erase those flashes. It will stay with you for life long as a lesson learned and there was nothing wrong that you mentioned to Avni. Yami would agree with your words." His eyes were fixed on the road before them.

"But you won't agree with it." It came as a displeased statement.

"Because I was fortunate to have only happiness linked to that feeling. I wasn't offered with any pain."

Kiara waved her hand as if dismissing his statement. "Don't be ridiculous," she remarked. "I know, I had offered you a lot of pain."

"It was nothing compared to yours," he argued back.

"Pain doesn't have to be compared. Providing pain is wrong whether it was extreme or small, it doesn't matter."

Harshad jerked his head in her direction. "Don't you dare to decide that I am better off without you." He pointed figure in accusation. "I won't ever forgive you for it."

"I won't ever do it," Kiara confessed. "I understood how painful it can make the person on the receiving hand to feel." Kiara lowered her gaze, "I know, you don't admire it when I bring Dhruv into our conversation but he had made me feel, how painful it can be to know that someone provided you with pain because that person was coward to face his fear." Kiara paused for a minute, "I don't want to repeat the same mistake. I won't ever be able to forgive myself if you broke into pieces."

Kiara reached for Harshad's hand that was on the streeling wheel, though he had stopped the car, his eyes were fixed in front. Kiara could sense his nervousness. "I want to provide this with a chance. I can't promise you that I will act well because I don't have trust in myself. There will be instances when I would wish to run away, to hide due to the fear showering me but still I want to give it a chance. I want to see if we can make it work. We can make whatever that is between us, work."

"Kiara, you're taking decisions in an impulsive manner. Give a thought about it. I don't want you to force yourself into..."

"Harshad," Kiara squeezed his wrist. "Can't you just glance at me for once?"

"I can't," he whispered not sparing a glance at her.

"Why?" Kiara felt rejected but she grabbed her heart tight not letting the insecurities overpower her senses.

"Because if I do, I will give in." His words were softer than usual. "I don't want to be selfish."

"If you want to help me in the process of learning to love again, you will have to act selfish."

Harshad glanced at her. Kiara's orbs soften. "Damn..." Harshad cursed under his breath. "Why do you make everything so difficult?"

Kiara stared at him in confusion, "don't stare at me like that." Harshad groaned and shook his head. "I don't want to scare you off," he was whispering to himself.

"Are you even aware, how confusing you're at times?" Kiara shook her head. "Even if I give my best yet you end up annoying me." She rolled her eyes making Harshad chuckle.

He pulled her cheek, as he started the engine. "The way I can imagine our future at the moment." Those words brought a blush to cover Kiara's cheek.

___

"I don't get him!" Kiara concluded after having three bites of her chocolate.

Avni and Aditi shared a look but Aditi muttered having another bite of her chocolate. "I don't get him, even." Aditi made a pout staring at her friends. "How can he dislike football? I mean, shouldn't guys be crazy about it."

Kiara groaned, hiding her face in her palms in exhaustion while Avni rolled her eyes at Aditi. "Just because you love football doesn't mean he should as well."

"But won't that mean we will have differences which in turn end into future arguments? He will get annoyed with my craze for football and me with his lack of interest."

"Some compromises are necessary for any relationship." Avni attempted to make her naïve friend understand. "Like we do compromises in friendship. You don't mind watching a romantic film with us for our happiness even if it bores you. In the same manner, partners compromise for each other, which gives them inner happiness."

"Whatever..." Aditi shrugged her shoulder, "I am not getting a word."

"Seems like your boy is going to have a tough time," Avni muttered to herself, concentrating on the other friend in need. "What's the problem with you?"

"I just confessed to him that I want to give us a chance and he denied it." Kiara sounded appalled, "what does it even mean?"

"What!" Aditi jumped on the couch with enthusiasm. "What did you do?"

"Why would he do that?" Avni muttered softly.

"Exactly, he told me that I am behaving impulsive and I need to give it a thought."

Avni shook her head, "maybe he fears that you will change your decision. He is scared as you're, of getting his heart broken."

"He isn't that type... he had confidence in himself. He won't be having insecurities like mine..."

"People have insecurities but it doesn't arise with every single person but only with those we consider special. You hold value to him and he had never hesitated to express it loud but he fears of losing you as well or he won't have walked back into this mansion and requested you to stay in his life. He depends on you and can't imagine his life without you. He wants you to stay if it means keeping you as a friend, he won't mind..."

Kiara stared at Avni for longer minutes, "maybe you're right."

___

Kiara was playing with the spoon, as her eyes were rooted on the dish before her but her ears were busy listening to the conversation happening on the table.

Kiara was convinced by Avni's idea that Harshad was scared of getting involved in a relationship and Kiara had no worries related to it as she wasn't prepared for the relationship tag as well but the view before her was giving her a different view.

"Oh, damn! You were staying in the city for so long and you didn't feel a need to contact me." Harshad was scolding his friend.

Harshad and Kiara were having dinner when an unknown figure approached her. Much to Kiara's dislike the figure wasn't unknown to Harshad. She was shorter in height and a foodie in nature could be displayed in the way she was narrating an essay on each dish mentioned on the menu. She seemed an enthusiastic spirit, not keeping her mouth shut for even a second.

Harshad was engrossed in the conversation of the past, fully forgetting the presence of Kiara. From their conversation, Kiara got aware that the girl was Sneha, his college friend. They were not in contact for years as Sneha was out of the city for her further studies and later settled over there.

"I thought you might have forgotten me long back." Sneha laughed, hitting on his shoulder. "You weren't of a type to wait." She winked making Harshad chuckle while Kiara wasn't appreciating their conversation.

"As if you were fully devoted to me. I am sure you had a bunch of relationships after we departed." Kiara groaned, glaring at the food before her. Was it necessary to have the conversation before her?

"I did," she confessed giggling. "Apart from your dating life. How are things going?" Sneha looked around the table as if suddenly realizing Kiara's presence. "Are you ever going to settle down?" Sneha rolled her eyes as she gave another glance at Kiara.

"Sweetheart, you don't need to worry about my life. Just share more about you. How is your..." Things started fading away from Kiara's ears. The only word rooted in her senses was 'sweetheart.'

Did he call her sweetheart? She wasn't able to believe her ears. Her eyes glanced at the two individuals. They were busy having a conversation, and Kiara was attempting hard to dismiss her feeling.

Maybe Avni's conclusion was wrong. Sneha knew him better than any of them. She had mentioned clearly that he wasn't a guy to wait. Kiara might had test his patience enough, he was no longer interested in her. She blinked her eyes, she didn't want to let them glance at her tears. Why was she behaving so melodramatically? It was her fault that she allowed the opportunity to slide away.

Kiara finished the dish, quietly. Nodding to any question asked by Harshad. After having dinner, Kiara stood from the chair to excuse herself but that caught Harshad's attention.

"Where are you going?" He sounded shocked.

"I am done..." Kiara muttered, not meeting Harshad's concerned gaze. "I will wait for you in the car."

"No, need!" Harshad stood from his chair. He pressed a smile at Sneha, wiping his face in rush. "I hope we will meet again, don't mind that I am leaving you in between." He was soon beside Kiara, his orbs scanning her features.

"Oh! Stop adding formalities between us." Sneha waved it away, "but you hadn't touched your favorite dish." She sounded surprised as she glanced at his companion in interest.

"Maybe next time," he muttered, engulfing his arms around Kiara as he pulled her towards him as they made their way out of the building. "What's troubling my sweetheart?" His voice was soft but it got in Sneha's ears.

"Strange, he never acted in such a manner before." Sneha shrugged her shoulder, continuing with her dinner.

Kiara kept moving without uttering a word from her mouth. They reached the parking area and Harshad unlocked the door for Kiara. "What's the matter, sweetheart?"

Kiara glared at him at last, her eyes red in a fire. "Stop with sweetheart." She groaned seeing his baffled state. "That word is triggering me," she groaned louder.

Harshad attempted to reach her but she got into the car and shut the door. Harshad was left with the option to get into the driver's seat. He sat there not wanting to start the engine. He had never seen Kiara fuming in rage. He was mentally disturbed by her loud reaction.

"Had I done something?" He whispered softly, staring straight in front not having the courage to meet her eyes.

Kiara melted at his soft-concerned voice. Kiara glanced in Harshad direction in guilt. She sighed, shaking her head. "You don't allow me to get mad at you."

Smile was back on Harshad's face as he turned to face her. Those orbs glittered with hope. "Why are you mad at me?" He inquired getting desperate to know his fault.

"I can't tell you," She averted her gaze but Harshad cupped her face.

Pleading her through his eyes, "I want to know."

Kiara sighed again, "how can you make me melt so easily?" He grinned listening to her another confession.

"Because you are too soft to be hard." Harshad pecked on her nose. Kiara glared at him in an accusing manner. "Why can't I call you sweetheart?" He inquired further, pressing a peck on her forehead.

"Because you called her that," she grumbled making Harshad amused. "She is even aware of your favorites," Kiara narrowed her eyes.

"Are you mad at me because I called her sweetheart or that she is aware of my favorites?"

Kiara glared at Harshad, jerking his hands away. "Leave," she pushed him and stared out of the window not wanting to glance at his face.

"Haww... don't say like that. If my best friend will ask me to leave then who will be there for me?"

"You can always make a new best friend." Kiara pointed out and Harshad growled at the suggestion.

"I am not interested in investing my emotions and time again. I am going to have my sweetheart for the rest of my life." Harshad announced, pulling Kiara towards him as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to his chest. "And I won't call anyone else sweetheart if it means so much to you." He muttered those words in Kiara's ears, pecking a kiss on her cheek as he started the engine.