Sameer was pacing around his room; he had been trying to call Shrishti for they last two hours but no one answered the phone. He finally got tired of listening to her answer phone and called the Arora house landline

"Hello" Janki who was going to the kitchen to get tea answered the phone.

"Janki aunty..."

"Ha main Janki Aunty bol rahi hoon par aap kon ho bahi?" she cut him off before he could ask for Shrishti.

"Janki aunty mein Sameer, mujhe...Shri...Shrishti se baat karni hai" he choked out. There was a long pause on the other end before Janki aunty replied.

"Sorry wrong number..." and with that the phone disconnected.

Sameer looked at this phone in shock, did Janki aunty put the phone down on him? Why? He questioned. Maybe she didn't hear him properly he thought so he tried calling again, but he was greeted by an engaged dial tone. After trying both Shrishti's mobile number and the Arora house landline a few more times Sameer finally gave up. He dropped done on his bed with a thump finally accepting that Shrishti was deliberately ignoring him.

What he couldn't understand was why, what had he done? Why was she punishing him? And Roo... what was her fault? But then the Shrishti he knew would never hurt Roo right? No! no she wouldn't... she must be unaware of what this Akaash had done! But then why was she marrying him? Why had his Shrishti agreed to get married to someone that wasn't him? Maybe... maybe Sarla aunty forced her too... that must be it... the same way she made Preeta Bha...Di agree to marry that Dadhi wala bakra.. yes that's it and she must have taken Shrishti's phone to stop her from reaching out for help! Sameer consoled himself and soon began his attempts to call her again.

Karan stood at the door and watched the emotions play on his brothers face. He was worried for Sameer, worried that his little brother wouldn't cope with the heartbreak! Somewhere Karan was beginning to feel that whatever was happening with his siblings was a result of his crimes - yes... what he had done to Preeta in his anger and ego was no less than a crime!

Not having the heart to enter the room Karan decided that he had to do something for his brother and sister, he could not... No he would not sit and do nothing. With one last look at Sameer he turned away from Sameer's room - he knew exactly what he needed to do.

As Karan raced down the stairs he passed by Sherlyn, Ramona and Mahira who were seated at the dining table. His mind registered that they were having their lunch and laughing about something and he almost marched up to them to demand an explanation - everyone in the house was so upset that no one had bothered to come down for food yet these women could sit and laugh like nothing was wrong! But he didn't want to speak to them he was on a mission and nothing and no one was going to distract him today!

As he walked towards the front door Mahira called to him,

"Karan tum kahan ja rahe ho? Aawo na luch karlo humare saath" but he dint reply and didn't bother to turn around to look at her. Not getting an answer from Karan an upset Mahira turned to her mother.

"Karan, yeh kya batameezi hai? Mahira tumse baat kar rahi hai our tum na to jawab de rahe ho our na hi usse dekh rahe ho" Ramona snapped still sore from the insult Rakhee threw her way earlier.

But Karan didn't bother turning,

"Mujhe faltu logo se baat karne mein koi diljasbi nahi hai..." and with that he headed out of the door leaving a stunned mother and daughter duo. Sherlyn on the other hand laughed in her mind at the state of those around her.

Karan started his car and headed to his destination; on the way he probably broke more than a few traffic rules but he didn't care. The grim faces of his brother and sister swam in front of his eyes, he knew that the key to helping them both was one in the same and with that thought his car screeched to a holt near Arora house. He looked towards the porch to see Sarla aunty and Dadi instructing the decorator to put up flowers outside the house. He knew that there was no way that Sarla aunty would let him in the house after what he had done but, he had to meet her as only she could help him, she was the only one that could help his family - but the question was would she help him? No he wouldn't give her a choice he decided - She would HAVE to help him!

Karan parked his car on a side street a little away from the house so that no one would notice. He then made his way to the side of the house and looked up. Preeta's bedroom window was open he could see it clearly from where he stood. Standing here in this spot bought back so many memories of the many time he had barged into her room in the middle of the night; sometimes to ask for her help, sometimes to share her worries, sometimes simply just to annoy her and sometimes just because his heart needed to see her. The thought bought a smile to his face, how happy they were and then she had to go and ruin it all! And with that his anger was back.

He slowly climbed up and perched at the edge of the window and peeked into the room. But it looked like luck wasn't on his side as the room was empty. He was about to jump back down when he heard noise coming from near the bathroom and so decided to wait. After a few minutes Preeta steped into the room. All Karan could do was stare - he was lost in the pretty angel that stood in a white suit.

She had just stepped out of the shower and walked to the mirror and picked up a vial of sindoor. Looking at the vial for a few minutes she sighed. Karan noticed she wiped a tear from her eye but another followed, she sighed again before applying the sindoor and then started at her reflection. His baby doll was always beautiful but with the sindoor adorning her parting he couldn't find words that did any justice to describe her. The only thing marring her beauty were the tears streaming down her face and he almost jumped into the room to wipe them away, however he was stopped by the sound of Sarla aunty calling Preeta's name. As the sound got closer Karan noticed Preeta quickly wipe away the tears and plaster a smile on her face.

"Preeta... Tu tayar hai?"

"Bus maa abbhi paanch minute me tayar hojaugi. Lekin aap kyu itni parishan lag rahi hai?"

Sarla looked at her daughter and smiled, this child of hers always knew when something was worrying her and just being around Preeta resolved all of her worried. But every time she looked at Preeta she felt angry at herself for ever trusting the Luthra's, for ever trusting Karan!

"Maa, aap kahan kho gayi?" Preeta bought her back to the present.

"Dekh na Preeta, yeh saab itni jaldi ho raha hai. Phele Ramkishan Bhaisaab or Janki bhenji achank se aake Shrishti ka haath mang te hai... our fir Akaash ka yun achank se raat ko aana or kehna ke woh do din mein sagai karna chata hai... Tuje nahi lagta hai ke saab bohot jaldbazzi meh ho raha hai?"

Preeta understood her mother's turmoil, she herself was confused about what was happening... Shrishti loved Sameer... there was no doubt in her mind about that. So why did she agree to this engagement? When Preeta had questioned her about it Shrishti given her a satisfactory answer but still something didn't feel right. Preeta mulled over the questions running through her mind but decided that there was no point in stressing her mother out even more. At the end of the day Shrishti was old enough to make her own decisions and she had decided...

"Maa, aap ase hi parishaan ho rahi hai. Mein Ram Papa or Janki maa ko bachpan se janti hoon woh Shrishti ka bohot khyal rakhenge. Our aap Shrishti koh bhi janti hai..." she laughed "Agar woh uska khyal nahi rakhenge toh woh unka kya haal karegi." Sarla also laughed feeling a bit more relaxed.

"Tu itni achi kyun hai?" Sarla said getting emotional "Ha Preeta tu itni achi kyun hai ke saab tera fiyda uthate hai?"

"Maa aap bhi... Wase hai kahan woh jali? Zaroor bhar matargashti kar rahi hogi" Preeta looked around the room changing the topic, sensing her mother was about to start talking about her marriage. "Mein abhi usse bula ke aati hoon" Preeta smiled at her mother and walked out of the house to go and find her crazy sister before her mother could say any more.

Karan watched the exchange and guilt gnawed at him but along with this another feeling gripped his heart when he heard Preeta refer to Akaash's parents as Maa and papa. "How dare she? Preeta has never referred to my Mom and Dad as Mom and Dad.. so how dare she referred to this jerk Akaash's parents as Maa and Papa" he whispered as his heart screamed in what he named as annoyance.

But wait... Preeta didn't seem to have a clue about what had happened with Roo? She's acting his mind screamed but then he replayed the conversation in his mind and his heart told him that she didn't know. He thought back to Sarla aunty's words about how the Shergills had come to ask for Shrishti's hand and then were rushing the engagement and suddenly worry for the Arora family gripped his heart. Was it possible that the Shergills had some ulterior motive? Was Shrishti in danger? No he couldn't let anything happen to her! It would kill three of the most important people in his life if anything were to happen to Shrishti - Roo, Sameer and Preeta.

Realising that while he sat lost in his thoughts Preeta had gone to call Shrishti, he quickly jumped back down and made his way into the street. His thoughts ran wild... she was outside, he needed to get to her before she went back in the house... this was his only chance and he wasn't going the let it slip through his fingers.

Outside -

"You? What are you doing here?" before she could continue Karan approached her and covered her face with his hand, she quickly realised that he was making her smell chloroform but before she could do anything to stop him she lost consciousness.