As the rays of sun light made their way into the room disturbing his sleep Karan smiled. He had spent a lot of the night lying on his bed thinking about his babydoll and then when he had finally fallen asleep all his dreamed too revolved around her.

"How could you Karan Luthra!" he suddenly reprimanded himself. The thought itself seemed so absurd, how could he have not trusted Preeta? It was like he didn't trust his own heart! His heart began to race as he thought about what he had put her through... would she ever forgive him? He asked himself. The more he thought about it the more his mood dropped. Why would she? His mind asked, she has every right to hate you Karan Luthra and that is exactly what she will do!

It was like his mind was pushing him deep into a dark hole with no place to escape – he began to realise that he had lost her! As the light began to dim his heart spoke giving him just enough to hope... But she was worried for you it said and he realised that no matter how much she denied it Preeta still cared about him... no not care... she loved him he thought.

The thought was comforting but with it bought an immense sense of guilt – guilt for what he had done to her, for the hurt he had caused and most of all guilt for not trusting her. It was like a repetitive cycle, a fight between is heart and mind and he sat up frustrated not knowing who to listen to.

He stood and made is way into the shower. As the warm water hit his back, he remembered Rishabh once telling him that if ever, he was in a situation where his heart and mind were at war, to close his eyes and really listen to what his heart was saying. He had never really thought much of it before but today his brothers words seemed like his only salvation.

As Karan closed his eyes Preeta's smiling face appeared in front of him making him smile. The more he concentrated flashes of their happy memories filled his heart and mind.

"Bajarbattu mein promise karti hoon ke mein tumhe kabhi chorke nahi jaungi chaahe tum kuch bhi karlo! Ha agar tumne mujhe parishaan kiya toh punishment zaroor milegi!" she teased as he nodded and pulled her into a warm hug.

Her words snapped him out of his thoughts, he couldn't even remember what had bought on that conversation, but her words were echoing in his ears loud and clear as though she had just spoken them. Words that gave him new strength.

"Babydoll mujhe har punishment kabool hai lekin tumse duri kabool nahi!"

With that thought in mind he dressed and came out of the shower only to realise that it was only six in the morning. Everyone would still be in their bedrooms especially since they had a fairly late night. With nothing to do he sat on the windowsill and decided to spend his time productively... obviously thinking about his babydoll.

Back to the previous evening

The sound of smashing glass broke Karan and Preeta out of their moment. Preeta pulled away and looked at Karan in shock.

"Kitana bolti ho babydoll" he grinned and pulled her closer and whispered in her ear, lekin aab mujhe tumhe chup karne ka bohot hi aacha tarika milgaya hai!"

Preeta's eyes widened in shock and her cheeks coloured bright red, she pushed him back with all her strength and as quicky as she could dashed towards the door. This time he didn't stop her, he watched as she hastily opened the door and ran out like her life depended on it.

Karan chuckled to himself and put his fingers through his hair thinking about his first kiss with his babydoll.

Present

Karan grinned thinking about how red her face had turned when she realised he had kissed her,

"Babydoll aab toh tum gaiyi!" he smirked "Jaab bhi tum mujhe daatogi toh mein tumhe aise hi chup karaa dunga"

He then thought back to what had transpired between them in her bedroom

Back to the previous evening

As he lost his balance, he wrapped his arms tightly around her to stop her from hurting herself at the impact of the fall. Landing on the bed he looked at her to make sure that she was okay and like always found himself getting lost in her face. The blush caused her to turn as red as a red rose – no not any rose... his rose, made her look even more beautiful. He smiled at her closed eyes and continued to admire her.

Preeta who was lost in his kiss hadn't even realised their position or the fact that Karan had broken the kiss eventually opened her eyes. She became lost in his eyes and would have probably remained so if Karan's phone hadn't started ringing.

She tried to push Karan off her but he continued staring at her in the in the same position, not moving an inch.

"Hatto!" she demanded

"Kya?"

"Meine kaha hatto!"

"Nahi hattunga kya karlogi? Aur waise bhi babydoll mujhe patta hai tumhe mera kareeb aana aacha lagne laga hai" he replied stroking her cheek with the back of his hand. He smirked as the movement caused her to shiver and she swatted his hand in anger.

"Tum abhi ke abhi hatto mere uppar se! Kintni baar kahu ke tum mujhe aache nahi lagte... aur tumhare paas aane se mujhe koi faraq nahi parta! Are tum toh mere type ke larke hi nahi ho..."

"Toh koun hai tumhare type ka? Woh Rajveer?" he snapped

"Tum Baar baar Veer ko beech mein kyun larehe ho?"

"Usse mein beech mein nahi laraha woh khud beech mein ghuss raha hai Bloody..."

"Veer ke bare main koi galat baat nahi!" she pointed her finger at him in warning

"Kyun? Koun lagta hai woh tumhara?" he asked linking his index finger around hers preventing her from moving her hand back

"Veer mera..."

"Kuch nahi hai!" he almost shouted "Rajveer tumhara kuch nahi hai! Tum sirf meri ho!"

"Nahi hoon! Nahi hoon mein tumhari kuch!" she shouted back

"Biwi ho tum meri!"

"Nahi hoon! Nahi hoon mein tumhari biwi!" she said trying to snatch her finger back

"Aacha..." he smirked letting go of her finger "Kuch nahi?" he ran his finger down her face gently touching her forehead, then nose, then lips and finally her neck where he caught her mangalsutra and lifted it slightly to show her. "Toh yeh kya hai?"

"Isse kya sabit hota hai?" she fought back hating the look of victory in his eyes. He looked at her confused at what she was saying.

"Babydoll, tum na saach mein dumbo ho! Yeh mangalsutra hai koi necklace nahi... isse yeh sabit hota hai ke tum meri biwi ho!"

"Nahi! Isse yeh sabit nahi hota ke mera tumse koi rishta hai! Isse sirf itna saabit hota hai ke meri shadhi huwi hai! Aur mera pati toh koi bhi ho sakta hai... Prithviji... yah phir Veer..." she taunted "Mujhe toh yaad nahi hai ke meri shadhi tumse kabhi tai huwi thi... Jahan taak mujhe yaad hai meri shadhi toh Prithviji se ho rahi thi! Toh tum na mujhe baar baar faltu ka chunna bandh karo!"

Her words hurt him, serving as a reminder of how he had cheated her, but her constant need to speak about other men angered him. However this time he wouldn't let his anger overpower him he thought and with that thought in mind he took a deep breath to rein in his anger.

Although he would never regret marrying her, he did regret hurting her in his anger and petty need for revenge. This was a mistake he would not make again! But his male ego wouldn't let her get away with taunting him... especially not when she chose to speak of other men when talking about her husband! She needed to be punished he decided but he would punish her in the Karan Luthra way and with that thought he looked at her a devilish smirk.

Preeta sensed danger as she watched his expression change from angery to devious and she started struggling. She tried to push him hoping she could free herself but with little success.

"Babydoll..." he whispered leaning close to her ear causing a tingle to run through her body. "Tum shayad bhool gaiyi ho ke mein tumhara pati hoon aur tumhari shadhi mujhse huwi hai! Koi nahi aab tumhe yaad rahe ga!"

She looked at him confused as he pulled back a little only to bury his head into the side of her neck which had become exposed as her dupatta had slipped off. He dug his teeth into her soft skin causing her to hiss before gently soothing the pain with his tongue. Her hiss soon turning into a moan and her hand slowly made its way into his hair pulling him closer if it was at all possible.

Karan was rudely bought back to the present at the sound of Kareena Luthra's shouting. He looked at the clock only to realise that it was already eight thirty. He smiled again thinking about how easily he could lose track of time and space when he was lost in his babydoll and her thoughts.

"Mom! Bhabhi! Karan! Rishabh! Kahan ho saab? Jaldi neeche auo!" Kareena's shouts continued

"Babydoll kya hai yeh? Log mujhe chain se tumhare sapne bhi nahi dhek ne dete!" he huffed "Chal Karan Luthra chalte hai aaj ka naiya drama dekh ne!

As he made his way towards the stairs Rishabh who was rushing towards the living room worried that something had happened bumped into him.

"Ouch!"

"Kya hai Karan? Dekh ke nahi chal sakte?" Rishabh snapped

"Mein? Tu dekh ke nahi chal raha tha aur tu mujhse takraiya, aur tu mujhse kahe raha hai? 'The Karan Luthra' ko? Kya zamaana agaiya hai? Are 'The Karan Luthra' logo ko nahi, log 'The Karan Luthra' ko dekhte hai aur tu..." he replied overacting out his shock

"Karan tu aapna yeh drama bandh kar aur..."

"Mom! Bhabhi! Karan! Rishabh! Kritika!" Kareena shouted again

"Chod!" Rishabh said as he turned back towards the stairs and rushed to the living room where Kareena's voice seemed to be coming from. Karan too follow him wondering what had happened to cause such havoc so early in the morning.

As he made his way into the living room Rishabh frowned to see a livid Kareena looking towards the stairs.

"Kya huwa hai bua? Aap theek to hai?"

"Mumma kya huwa?" An out of breath Kritika who had arrived just after Rishabh and Karan also asked. However neither got an answer.

Rishabh looked at a Shocked Sherlyn who was standing next to Kareena. Her expression was almost comical and Rishabh would have laughed if the situation didn't appear to be serious. Karan however, had no such hesitation as he laughed out aloud and asked,

"Kya huwa Sherlyn? Koi bhoot woot toh nahi dekh liya? Nahi nahi zaroor subha subha aaina dekhliya hoga!" hahahahah he laughter at his own joke.

"Karan! Yeh kaise baat kar rahe ho tum Sherlyn se? Bhabhi hai woh tumhari zara tameez se bat karo!" Kareena rebuked as Sherlyn just stared at Karan not knowing what to say.

"Whatever..." Karan started but Rishabh who saw this heading towards an argument placed his hand on Karan's arm stopping him from saying anything more.

"Bua yeh baate baad mein karenge, pahele yeh bataiye ke aap chillaaye kyun? Kya huwa hai?" he subtly diverted the conversation back to the situation at hand.

This effectively shut Kareena up. Rishabh looked at Sherlyn in frustration when he got no answer from Kareena but she too remained silent. As he stared at Sherlyn and Kareena he noticed that Ramona and Mahira stood behind then. Normally he wouldn't have found this strange as these days he had become accustomed to seeing them together all the time. However, what was strange was that the mother-daughter duo were staring at something in front of them. They didn't even bother to turn around at the commotion that only increased as the rest of the family joined the group. Their reaction or lack of it caused Rishabh to step forward so he could have a better look at what they were staring at so intently.

"Koi batayega kya huwa hai?" Bani Luthra finally spoke

As Rishabh slowly made his way around Kareena and Sherlyn he noticed that the television was on, again there was nothing strange about it other than the fact that Ramona and Mahira seemed to be watching the television on mute. He was about to question their strange behaviour when a familiar figure appeared in front of the camera. He read the caption that was running across the bottom of the screen and gasped in shock drawing the attention of the rest of the family.

Karan was the first to reach his side followed by the rest of the group, they all stared at the screen in shock. Rishabh however only observed his brothers reaction to what was being broadcasted on the news.