As Preeta made her way to her room Mahira clenched her fists.

"Galat kar rahe ho app log!" she spat "Yeh saab tumhari wajay se ho raha hai Preeta! Iss baar tumhe nahi chodungi!" with that thought in mind she reached for a knife that was sitting on the fruit bowl on the dining table and began heading up the steps.

As she reached Preeta and Karan's room she peered through the window and saw Preeta standing near her cupboard selecting her clothes. She looked around the room and not seeing any sign of Karan she walked to the door and silently entered the room. Sneaking behind an oblivious Preeta she raised her hand and swung the knife towards her...

Preeta sensing something amiss turned around only to see an empty room. She continued to look around the room and then focused on the door. Moving towards the door she stepped out of the room and looked down both sides of the corridor finding nothing amiss "Koi toh tha yahan" she said to herself convinced she has sensed someone standing behind her.

Lost in her thoughts she didn't realise that someone was silently observing her, they stealthily moved closer to her and raised their right hand. Preeta jumped around seeing a shadow in the wall in front of her "Tum?" she asked slightly breathless.

"Dar gaiyi?" he whispered in her ear causing Preeta to take a step back

"Mein woh... mein..."

"Yaar Preeta Luthra tum darti bohot ho!" He had stepped out of the bathroom to find his crazy babydoll standing just outside their bedroom door lost it her own thoughts, and Karan being Karan just couldn't stand by and watch. Chuckling at her reaction he stepped back into the room to continue getting ready. Not getting an instant reply he turned back to Preeta who remained rooted in the same place. "What?" he asked.

Seeing her serious expression he moved back to her "Kya huwa?" He asked.

Preeta looked at him and wondered if she should tell him but then decided there was nothing to tell.

"Preeta... Kya huwa?" he said gently cupping her cheek.

"Nahi, woh kuch..."

"Aab yeh maat kahena ke kuch nahi huwa hai, tumhaare chehare par saaf saaf dikh raha hai kee tum pareshaan ho! Tell me kya huwa hai"

The concern and warmth with which he asked caused her to well. Seeing her tears Karan pulled her into his embrace "Tell me babydoll kya huwa hai? Kisi ne kuch kaha hai? Bua ne kuch kaha? Yah uss chipkali Mahira ne?" she looked up at him in surprise at the anger she heard in his voice when he said Mahira's name causing Karan to come to the conclusion that, the cause of his babydoll's tears was Mahira.

"Uss Mahira ko toh mein abhi dikhata hoon!" he said through gritted teeth and letting go of Preeta started to walk towards Mahira's room only to be stopped by a warm grasp around his wrist. He turned to look at his wrist only to find Preeta's firm grip around it stopping him from moving away from her. He looked up at her innocent face questioningly only to find her smiling through her tears.

"Mujhe saach mein kuch nahi huwa hai, na hi kisi ne kuch kaha hai" Preeta said stepping closer to Karan without letting go of his wrist.

"Lekin..."

"Shhh" she said placing a finger on his lips "Calm down. Meine kaha na kuch nahi huwa hai. Woh mujhe laga ki mainne kisee ki parachhaiyee dekhi aur woh mujhpe hamla karne ja raha tha. Lekin jab mud ke dekha toh wahan koi nahi tha" she explained

"What!" he looked around to check if there was anyone around. Seeing no one he looked at Preeta with concern.

"Are tum bekar mein parashaan ho rahe ho, meine kaha na koi nahi hai. Woh saayad mera waham hoga" she smiled

"Lek..."

"Abb hato! Mujhe ready hona hai aur tum mera time waste kar rahe ho!" she said knowing exactly how to divert his attention.

"Main time waste kar raha hoon?"

"Nahi nahi tum nahi woh paas wale Sharmaji mera time waste kar rahe hai!"

"You!" he said pointing her finger at Preeta

"Yes me!" she replied

"Tum na aaj kal uss baaju waale Sharmaji ko bohot yaad karne lagi ho!"

"What?" she asked not expecting him to take the argument down this route

"What nahi NOT!"

"Kya?"

"I mean ke tum uss Sharma ke baache se dur raho warna..."

"Waarna? Kya waarna hunnh? Kya karloge?"

Karan grinned and in a snap Preeta landed on his chest and found herself trapped in his arms.

"Waarna main..." Karan whispered, his husky voice sending an electric current down her spine

"Tum..." she replied lost in his eyes

"Main tumhe..."

"Mujhe..." she closed her eyes as he dug his face in her neck

"saabke saamne..."

"Saabke saamne..."

"Kiss..."

"Kis... Nahi" she said snapping out of her trans and pushing him away

Karan chuckled seeing her wide innocent eyes and the pink colour that rushed to her cheeks.

"Main, main ready hone jaha rahi hoon" she said running into the bedroom.

Karan grinned and followed after her wanting her to tease his babydoll some more.

A few minutes after the sound of their bedroom door closing there was movement from behind the curtain at the end of the corridor. Sherlyn and Ramona emerged with a struggling Mahira whose mouth was being covered by Ramona to stop her from making any noise that would result in them being exposed. The duo forcefully dragged Mahira back to her room before letting go of her.

"Leave me!" she screamed as she tried to make her way towards the room door.

"Stop it Mahira! Tum kya kar rahi ho?" Sherlyn shouted back struggling to stop Mahira from running back to Karan's room to execute her stupid plan of killing Preeta.

"Leave me! Nahi chodungi mein uss Preeta ko!"

"Mahira stop!" Ramona tried to stop her daughter but Mahira's madness only increased.

"No Mom mein uss larki ko chodungi nahi!"

"Mahira listen beta tum aisa kuch nahi karongi!"

"No Mom!" she shouted running towards the door again. Ramona grabbed her arm and slapped her to bring her out of her psychotic episode. Mahira looked at her Mom stunned not expecting this reaction.

"Mom? Aap..." was all she could say

"Aunty aap ne Mahira ko thaapar maara..."

"Ha maara" Ramona replied still looking at her daughter "Maara kyun ke yeh aapne paagalpan mein khud ka nuksaan karne jah rahi thi".

"Mom woh Preeta, woh larki mere Karan ke kareeb aa rahi hai! Aapni jhooti maasoomiyat aur achaiyi ka dikhaava kar ke iss baiwakoof paarivaar kai logo ko aik aik kar kai aapni taraaf kar rahi hai! Aur aap mujhe rok rahi hai?"

"Ha rok rahi hoon, kyun ke uss larki ko maar kar tum Karan ko khud se dur kardogi"

"Mom..."

"Ha Mahira, usse maar kar tujhe kuch nahi milega. Aur waise bhi uss Preeta ko maar kar tum usse aazad kardogi isse kya faiyda?"

"Mom aap kya kahena chaahti hai ke main uss larki ko aise hi chord du aur maanloo ke main har gaiyi!" Mahira gritted

"No, maine aisa toh nahi kaha"

"Mom aap na yeh pahliyo main baat karna bandh karo!" Mahira shouted in frustration

"Aunty aap kya kahe rahi hai hume kuch samaj nahi aa raha hai" Sherlyn said placing her hand on Mahira's arm to calm her down.

"Mein yeh kahe rahi hoon ke Preeta ki kahani ka anjaam maut nahi hai, usski kahani ka anjaam woh hona chaahiye jo ki Gayatri ka huwa tha – maut se battar"

"Gayatri? Woh Dad ki ex-wife? Jisne Dad ko cheat kiya tha. Usska iss saab se kya lenna denna hai?"

"Nah nah cheat nahi kiya tha but ha tumhare Dad ki wife jisse 'ex' maine banaiya tha" She smirked maliciously recalling her past.

"What? Yeh aap kya bol rahi hai?"

"Tumhaare Dad se main ek party mein milee thi, aur unhe dekhte hi unhe dil de baithi. Baad mein pata chala ke woh already shadhi shudha hai. Lekin main bhi Ramona hoon aur mujhe jo pasaand hai usse main hassil kar ke raheti hoon".

"Mom," Mahira became excited listening to Ramona's words "Kaise Mom?" she asked

"Mahira darling have you ever seen a game of chess? If you want the king then you have to get rid of the queen! Lekin iss rani ko maar kar nahi, usse maut se baatar saaza de kar usse Raja ki zindagi se bahar phenkna hai aur woh bhi Raja ke haato se yani Karan ke haato" she laughed.

"Mom, Preeta Gayatri nahi hai. Woh Gayatri bohot seedhi thi lekin yeh Preeta..."

"Seedhi?" she laughed "Hogi woh seedhi lekin woh ek patni thi, aur ek patni se usska pati cheen na kabhi bhi aasan nahi hota!"

"Kaise Mom? How?" Mahira questioned in an excited tone. To any other mother the madness hidden within her excitement would have been a cause for concern but they say that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree right? So instead of being concerned Mahira's excitement spurred Ramona on to disclose her wrong doings in detail.

"Woh Gayatri, bohot maan tha usse aapne sindur paar aapne Suhag par. Lekin kya huwa na hi sindur raha aur na hi Suhag! Pardi hogi aapne bhudhe maa baap ke saath, shayad un mein se koi ek maar bhi gaiya hoga" she laughed.

"Mom please, bataiye toh sahi kya kiya tha aapne usske saath? Aur aapne Dad se shadhi kaise ki?"

"It's very simple Mahira, ek party mein meine usske aur tumhare hi Dad ke middle class manager ke drink mein nashe ki goliya miladi. Phir kya..." her smirk became wider as she remembered the dark night where she intentionally ruined someone else's life for her own selfish desire. "Phir un dono ko ek waiter ki help se hotel ke room mein eik saath bed pe leta diya. Jab tumhare dad ne un dono ko uss sharamnaak halat mein dekha toh..." hahahahaha she laughed like a mad woman.

"Wow aunty aap toh mujse bhi kamini nikli" Sherlyn laughed

"Sherlyn!" Ramona shouted offended at the Sherlyn's words

"Oh come on aunty, complement kar rahi hoon appko"

"Tum..."

"Mom aap Sherlyn ki baat chodo woh hamare liye koi maine nahi rakhti!" Mahira declared "Aur tum aapni aukad mein raho aur meri Mom se tameeze se baat karo!" she spat at Sherlyn.

"MAHIRA! Tum mujhse aise baat nahi kar sakti!" Sherlyn shouted taking an aggressive step towards Mahira.

"Oh shut up mere paas tumhari bakwaas ke liye time nahi hai"

"Mahira!"

"Aapni awaaz neeche rakho, yeh maat bhulo ke tumhara saach humme pataa hai. Aisa na ho ke main gusse mein Luthra paarivaar ko tumhare boyfriend aur uske najaayaz baache ke bare mein bata doon!" Ramona threatened causing Sherlyn to take a step back as if she had been slapped.

"Aunty..." she asked in a soft voice

"Don't look at me like that Sherlyn, mein Kareena yah Rakhee ki tarha bewakoof nahi hoon jo emotional fool ki tarha tumhari jhooti baato mein aa jaoon"

Sherlyn cursed the mother daughter duo, but she wasn't stupid enough to turn against them when she needed them. Yes she thought to herself, she needed these idiots to get rid of Preeta Arora who she hated from the depths of her heart.

"Aunty aap galat samaj rahi hai" she said

"Better" Ramona smirked "Agli baar aapni aakhoon ko jukake baat karna mujhse! Aur ha, tum hogi iss ghar ki badi 'bahu' but yeh maat bhoolna ka iss ghar mein meri beti se yeh jhethani wali harkat ki toh mujhse bura koi nahi hoga!"

"Ji" Sherlyn replied while internally cursing Ramona who turned to caress her daughters face. "Haas lo, haas lo aaj ka din tumhara hai lekin mein bhi Sherlyn Khurana hoon aur iss bezaati ka badla toh main le kar rahongi! Bass ek baar uss Preeta ko yahan se nikal doon uske baad tum dono ka woh haal karungi ki zindagi bhar iss baat ko yaad kar ke pashtaoge ke Sherlyn Khurana se kyun ulghe thai". She said to herself as she watched the mother and daughter.

"Mom toh aap bataiye ke humme aab kya karna hai? Aur kab karna hai?" Mahira asked

"Yes my darling yeh saab aaj raat ko hi hoga! Aaj raat ke baad preeta kisi ko muh dikhane layak nahi rahe gi aur saath mein woh Rajveer!"

"Rajveer?" Sherlyn asked a sudden fear raising within her.

"Ha Rajveer!" Ramona twisted her mouth in distaste. "Bohot bezaati ki hai ussne meri, toh aab time aa gaiya hai ke woh uss bezaati ka harjana bahre! Toh kyun nah hum ek teer se do shikaar kare" she laughed.

"Aunty mujhe nahi lagta humme iss waqt Rajveer ko involve karna chaahiye" Sherlyn advised causing Ramona to scoff.

"Sherlyn tum na... khud toh koi kaam nahi karti ho aur jo plans banati ho woh bhi tumhari tarha flop hi hote hai. Toh aapni yeh advice hai na aapne paas rakho!" Sherlyn clenched her fists at the further insult Mahira threw her way but remained quiet. Ramona smirked condescendingly at her before looking at Mahira.

"Tho aaj shaam ko jo party hai Hotel Park Plaza mein, ussi mein hum iss plan ko anjaam denge!"

"Toh Mom isske baad Karan sirf mera!" Mahira clapped.

"Nahi" Ramona said thinking of what would happen once Karan threw Preeta out of his life.

"Mom yeh aap kya kahe rahi hai?"

"Ha Mahira isski koi guarantee nahi hai ke Preeta ko aapni life se nikal ne ke baad Karan tumhe aapna lega.

"Yeh aap kya kahe rahi Mom? Aapne kaha ke aapne Gayatri ko issi tarha Dad ki zindagi se nikala tha aur phir unhone aap se shadhi ki"

"Maine kaha ke maine issi tarah Gayatri koi tumhare Dad ki zindagi se bahar nikala tha, yeh nahi ke unhone phir mujse se shadhi ki" Mahira looked at her mother questioningly only for Ramona to smirk before continuing "Tumhare Dad uss Gayatri ko bohot maante the, pyaar karte the uss se, aur usske doke ke baad unho ne sharaab peena shuru kardiya theek ussi tarha jaise Karan ne peena shuru kardiya tha jab Preeta ne usse alimony notice bheja tha – yah yeh kahoon ke Sherlyn ne Preeta ke naam pe usse notice bheja tha" she laughed looking at Sherlyn who didn't deny the claims before continuing,

"Aur unke peene ka faiyda mujhe huwa. I mean theek waise hi jaise tum dono ne Holi ke waqt Karan ko bhaang wali thandi piladi thi meine bhi tumhare Dad ke drink mein nashe ki goli miladi. Farq itna hai ki Holi par uss Preeta ne Karan ko baachaliya aur tumhare Dad" Hahahah "Bechaare tumhare Dad, nashe mein mera faiyda uthane ke guilt mein unhone mujhse shadhi karli jabki hamare beech kuch huwa hi nahi tha!" she gloated

"Wow Mom you are the best!"

"I know sweetheart I am the best"

"Dekha Sherlyn, tumhe na Mom se kuch seekhna chaahiye. Holi par tumhara woh stupid plan flop hogaiya tha. Yeh toh aacha hai ke kisi ko paata nahi chala ke uss din nashe mein Karan aur Preeta ne aapna rishta pura kiya warna Rakhee aunty aur tumhara woh pati Rishabh Karan ko kabhi mera nahi hone dete! Aur unhe yeh saach bhi paata chal jata ke uss Mahesh Luthra ko Preeta ne seediyo se dhaka nahi diya kyun ke Preeta to iss halaat mein hi nahi thi ke woh kuch kar sake! Uss bhudhe Mahesh ko hum dono ne dhaka diya tha lekin woh baach gaiya uss Preeta ki wajay se" she said clenching her fists

"Har baar, har baar yeh Preeta beech mein tapak jati hai aur humara plan barbad kardeti hai, jaise shadhi ke din" she spat remembering the events of the day "Agar uss din ussne hamari baate na suni hoti toh meri shadhi Karan se ho gaiyi hoti aur shadhi ke baad hum dono ne uss Mahesh ko upar pochadiya hota!" she said looking at Sherlyn. "Mom..." her tone suddenly turned to panic "Mom woh Preeta bohot chalak hai kahin woh humara yeh plan bhi barbad na karde! Mom main Karan ke bina nahi gee sakti!"

"Mahira beta calm down" Ramona said seeing her daughter getting hyper, "Mahira, Mahira beta relax, don't worry" she continued as Mahira seemed to calm down "Jabtak tumhari Mom zinda hai woh Preeta kuch nahi kar sakegi! In this game of chess I will ensure that my daughter is the victor!" she declared.

"I love you mom!" a grinning Mahira hugged Ramona.

Sherlyn watched in silence only just processing the extent of the madness that seemed to be a genetic trait among then Khanna women. She clutched her phone tightly thinking about the video she still had of Mahira pushing Preeta in front of the truck and also one of her pushing Mahesh Luthra down the stairs. It was her only solace that she would use to get rid of the duo once they finished doing her bidding. "Preeta Arora bohot bardsht karliya tumhe aab aur nahi! Bohot bachaliya tumne in Luthra's ko aab aur nahi aab na tum rahogi aur na hi woh bhudha Mahesh aur yahan se shuro hogi in Luthra's ki barbaadi aur isse koi nahi roksakta!" she said to herself.