"Yeh pagal larka mujhe bhi pagal kardega... pata nahi yeh itna confused kyun hai humisha? Isse khud pata nahi hai ke isse kya chaahiye aur mujhe confused kardeta hai!" Preeta ranted to herself as she made her way into her bedroom to collect some pain killers. "Lekin mein kyun confuse ho rahi hoon? Uss bewakof ko shadhi karni hai uss chudali se to kare lekin mujese dur rahe! Double duffer donkey kahin ka!"

"Aab yeh Shrishti ne medicine box kahan rakh diya hai?" she finally spotted the medicine box sticking out from on top of the cupboard "Yeh lo... aab medicine box kon cupboard ke upar rakhta hai? Yeh Shrishti bhi na bulkul iss Karan ki tarah pagal hai! Ho bhi kaise na usski number one fan jo hai..." she pulled a stool to the cupboard knowing she wouldn't be able to reach the box and slowly climbed on it. As she stretched on her tiptoes the stool wobbled and before she could save herself Preeta was falling backwards. She screamed and closed her eyes bracing herself for the impact knowing that she was probably going to end up with more than just a few bruises.

Not feeling the impact after a few minutes Preeta opened one eye and looked around only to find herself hovering in the air. "Thank God mein baach gaiyi"

"Thank God nahi Mrs Luthra thank me" a warm husky voice whispered in her ear.

She turned her head to face him, to tell him to stop calling her Mrs Luthra, but the movement caused her lips to brush against his sending shock waves through her. She got lost in his chocolatey brown eyes as he slowly bent his head to look at her. A pink hugh covering her cheeks.

"Tum? Tum yahan kab aiye? Ek minute tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" Preeta fired after a few minutes as she came back to her senses.

"Tut tut tut... itne sawal babydoll? Koi nahi... tumne poocha hai toh jawaab de hi deta hoon. Toh pehla sawal - ha mein... kyun kissi aur ko expect kar rahi thi?" she was about to argue but he continued without giving her a chance to interrupt "Aur mein taab aiya jab tum meri aur meri number one fan ki tareef kar rahi thi aur akhri sawal mein aapni babydoll ki help kar raha hoon woh kya hai na woh bohot hi clumsy hai... humisha girti parti rahti hai toh mujhe usske ass pass rahena parta hai usse baachane ke liye".

Preeta who realised that she was still in his arms started to struggle " Choro mujhe! I don't need your help! Choro!

"Nah choru toh?"

Preeta glared at him in frustration and he grinned back at her.

"Dekho tum abhi ke abhi mujhe neeche utaro warna mein..."

"Yaar babydoll mana ki tum jab mujhe yun ghusse mein dhamki deti ho toh bohot hot lagi ti ho... lekin tum yeh kyun blood jati ho ke I'm 'the Karan Luthra' aur jaab mujhe tum kuch karne ko kaheti ho toh mein usska ulta hi karta hoon!"

She sighed in frustration "Kya chahiye tumhe Karan?"

"Yeh huwi nah baat" he smirked "Aab jaldi se ek aachi se meethi si kiss de do" Preeta's eyes widened in shock at his demand.

"Chee ghatiya insaan! Mein aur tumhe kiss karu? Kabhi nahi!"

"Lagta hai tumhari short-term memory mein kuch problem hai Mrs Luthra... Kiss toh tumne already mujhe kiya hai toh aab kyun nakhre kar rahi ho?"

"Meine? Meine kab tumhe kiss kiya?" she said looking anywhere but at him.

"Abhi jaab tum giri thi"

"Le...lekin woh toh galti se..." she stuttered

"Theek hai, woh galti thi lekin hall mein? Jab hum tum ek kamre mein bandh the, taab kya howa tha babydoll? Agar tum bhool gayi ho toh mein yaad diladu?"

"Nahi! Mein..."

"Come on babydoll pati hoon tumhra... mujhe kiss karne mei kya problem? Oh samja... tumhe meri bahoon mein rehna aacha lagta hai... pehle bol deti... I don't have a problem! Lekin agar koi agaya toh sawal tumse hi kare ga...shooch lo..."

"Theek hai karti hoon... phele aapni aankhe bhand karo"

"What? Mein koi aakhe bhand nahi kar raha!"

"Karan... Please na..." she moaned lowering her eyes feeling shy.

He smiled at her innocence and closed his eyes. She to smiled looking at him but very quickly her smile turned into a smirk and she raised her hand to his arm and pinched him as hard as she could. He shouted in pain instantly his hold on her loosening causing her to drop to the floor but she was expecting it and so managed to land on her feet.

He looked at her shocked as she flipped he hair over her shoulder and turned back towards the cupboard.

"Yeh... Yeh cheating hai!" Karan whined like a little kid.

"Whatever Mr Luthra... Whatever" she said without looking at him. She began to once again climb on the stool only for Karan to grab her arm,

"Tumhara dimak toh kharab nahi hai?" he snapped "Actually mein kis se pooch raha hoon? Dr Dumbo... agar dimak hota toh aise pagalo ki tarah harkate nahi karti!"

"Meine konsi pagalo wali harkat ki hai?" she snapped back

"Tum yeh kya kar rahi ho? Abhi abhi girte girte bachi ho aur ab phirse tumhe stool pe chad nah hai? Aisa toh koi pagal hi kare ga na?!"

"Mein koi pagal wagal nahi hoon okay! Aur muje koi shok nahi hai stool pe chadne ka! Mujhe bas woh medicine box chahiye aur usse utarne ke liye chadi thi samje Looser Luthra!" She turned to the stool again but this time Karan moved her out of the way and moved to the cupboard himself and easily bought the box down and handed it to her.

Preeta took the box and put it on the table beside her bed so that she could find the correct medicine.

"Agar thank you bol degi toh muh me kante ugne lagenge na" Preeta heard him whisper to himself but chose to remain quiet. Karan huffed and turned back to the cupboard to close it only for his mouth to open in shock. Where were his photos? He opened the other door to check but again his photos were nowhere to be seen.

"Are meri photos kisne hatiyi yahan se?" he asked seeing that where his pictures used to be there were now pictures of Shiv, his teammate. He turned to Preeta in irritation "Yeh zaroor tumhara kaam hai bajaarbati! Tumne hi meri photo hata ke iss languor ki photo lagaiyi hai, hai nah! Are zalim aurat kum se kum meri number one fan ka toh khayal kiya hota – usse kitna burra laga hoga!"

"Ha toh mujhe woh photos achi nahi lagi toh meine phar ke phenk di! Aur kya kaha tumne tumhari fan ko bura laga hoga? Konsi fan? Shrishti? Shrishti aab tumhari fan nahi hai! Nafrat karti hai woh tumse! She hates you!" Preeta snapped annoyed at his ranting.

Her words hurt causing the light to dim from his face. It was true! Shrishti hated him for what he had done, hell he was starting to hate himself he thought!

"Kya howa? Aisse achanak chup kyun hogaye?" she looked at him feeling a slight pinch in her heart for being the cause of the pain she could see in his eyes. No matter how much he hurt her she could never see him in pain. "Aab wahan budh ban ke kyun khare ho idhar aao aur meri madat karo!" she ordered and turned back to the medicine box.

Karan smiled, he knew his babydoll could never see him hurt and no matter how much she denied it she loved him even if she didn't realise it!

"Aab tum itne haq se bologi toh help toh karni hi paregi" he whispered in her ear. She hadn't realised that he had moved and she definitely hadn't realised that he was so close to her. she turned in haste bumping into Karan who lost his balance and fell forwards landing on top of Preeta.

They were once again lost in one another.

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Rakhee who had waited for Karan and Preeta to come back was sure that her son would keep 'his wife' away from the puja, when they didn't return for some time. She grinned and then decided to make her way to the hall to attend the puja before anyone came looking for her. As she entered the hall she noticed that everyone sat with their eyes closed as the puja continued. What surprised her was that two couples were performing the puja – it couldn't be she thought, worried that Preeta had comeback and was sitting in the puja with Rajveer. She slowly started to make her way to the front of the hall to get a better look.

The Panditji who noticed her first began to sweat – he was going to get caught and probably handed to the police he thought – he looked at Roo for help who slightly turned her head to see what was causing the Pandit to panic. She noticed her mother as she reached the front and her eyes widened in shock. She almost stood up expecting her mother to go mad but instead Rakhee gestured her to remain seated.

Sameer who had by now also noticed Rakhee began to panic but she just smiled encouraging him to continue what he was doing. Roo nodded at the Panditji who continued. As the puja was coming to an end he signed Roo so she was prepared,

"Aab var vadhu khare ho jaiye" the couples stood "Aab aane haath jor ke bhagwan ka aashiwad lijiye" he came forward and did a tilak on each of the two couple's foreheads and as he moved back Roo stepped back and began to move. Sameer to moved back but in the opposite direction so that he ended up near Rakhee whose eyes were drenched in happy tears. Roo gestured Sameer and Rakhee to follow her out of the hall and the latter put her hands together and thanked God before leaving after her children.

"Aab aap sab aapni aapni aankhe khole sakte hai... puja sampan huwi" the panditji said as the trio disappeared through the door. Everyone opened their eyes and the Arora's and Shergill's hugged their children in happiness.

"Aab hum thori der mein aarti ki tayari karenge... Sarlaji aap aarti ki thali le aaiye" the Panditji instructed. Sarla smiled and moved towards the kitchen.

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"Yeh tum... yeh... hatto..." Preeta stuttered as the sound of a car beeping outside broke her out of her revive.

"Tum mujse kyun bhagti rehti ho?" Karan asked ignoring her request

"Mein... Mein nahi bhagti.. tum hatto mujhe jana hai"

"Kahan jana hai tumhe?" he ask while gently blowing a loose strand of her fringe that was blocking his view.

"Mein..."

"Mein?"

Realising what she was doing Preeta pushed at his chest trying to move him but Karan wasn't in the mood to move.

"Kahan jana hai aap ko Mrs Luthra?"

Preeta glared at him for calling her Mrs Luthra again and pushed him once more "Hatto tum! Rakhee aunty ko dawai deni hai aur phir mujhe puja mein bheth na hai, Janki Maa mujhe dhoond rahi hogi!"

Her words irritated him... why was she so adamant about sitting in this puja with Rajveer? And why the hell did she keep calling Rajveer's Mom Maa when she still called his Mom Aunty? She would only call his Mom, Mom if she was going to call anyone Mom except Sarla aunty... No not Sarla aunty... Sarla Maa... yeh if he expected Preeta to call his Mom, Mom then it was only fair that he too called her Maa, Maa.

"Oi tum meri baat sun rahe ho bhi ke nahi? Aur meine koi joke mara? Ya tumhari tareef ki ke tum aise muskurah rahe ho?" she snapped in irritation.

"Babydoll... Pati ko 'oi' nahi kahete. Ha agar tumhe mujhe naam se bulane mein sharam aati hai toh darling, baby ya jaanu kahe sakti ho... I wont mind"

"What? What rubbish! Tumhare jaise karve karele ko koi pagal hi janu, darling aur baby kahega!"

"Ha toh tum ho na iss duniya ki saabse Pagal bandi... toh bolo"

"Shut up! Aur chup chap hatto mere upar se!"

"Nahi babydoll tum yahi raho mere pass... bohot pass" he said running his finger across her cheek. Preeta blinked in confusion, Karan was loving the effect he had on her but decided that he should probable let her up. He pushed himself up and then forwarded his hand to help Preeta to stand, her cheeks turned pink as she took his hand and stood.

Preeta's phone rang breaking their moment.

"Ha Veer bolo... Nahi mein arahi hoon tum logo arti shuru karo... Maa se bolo woh parashaan nah ho... ha baba tumhare pass hi aarahi hoon" she smiled. Before she could say anything more the phone was snatched out of her hand. "Yeh..."

"Yeh kiska phone hai?" Karan asked as he snatched the phone out of her hand and disconnected the call.

"Mein baat kar rahi thi!" she replied

"Yeh mere sawal ka jawab nahi hai!" for a moment she debated on whether or not to ignore him but then decided it wasn't worth the backlash and replied while reaching for the phone

"Yeh mera phone hai"

"Nahi... tumhara phone to mere paas hai!" Karan held the phone up so she couldn't reach.

"Karan!" she grunted giving up trying to reach the phone "Yeh mera phone hai Veer ne dia hai kyun ke usse laga ke meine aapna phone kahi kho diya hai"

"What! Tumne liya kyun? Are agar tumhe naiya phone chaahiye tha toh mujhe bolti mein la deta"

"Excuse me? Tum la dete ka kya matlab? Agar mujhe naiya phone chaahiye toh mein aapne liye khud le sakti hoon, yeh toh bas Veer ne zabarzasti ki issliye..."

"Aaha ha 'Veer ne zabarzasti ki...' Jaab mein tumhe kuch deta tha toh jat se mana kardeti thi toh aab kya huwa?"

"Tumhari problem kya hai?"

"Tum! Tum ho meri problem! Jab dekho uss Veer ke ass paas dikhti ho!"

Annoyed with his attitude Preeta snapped back "Ha toh? Mein tumhe kitni baar kahoon ke mein Veer se..." but she was cut off by Karan who knew where she was going with this

"Kaha tha meine ke tum bolti bohot ho... lekin mujhe tumhe chup karane ka tareeka milgaya hai! Tumhe jana tha na, aab dekhta hoon tum kaise uss Rajveer ke saath aarti karti ho!"

"Kya..."

And just like before he grabbed her into a kiss only this time losing his balance and once again landing on her bed.

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"Yeh Preeta kahan hai?" Sarla panicked not seeing Preeta, "Rajveer aapne Preeta ko call toh kiya tha na? kya kaha ussne? Aur woh puja ke liye kyun nahi aaiyi?"

"Are Sarla Maa aap itna parashaan kyun ho rahi hai? Pari ajayegi woh meine usse ghar se kuch lane ke liye bheja tha aa rahi hai abhi. Tabtak hum aarti shuru karte hai" Rajveer smiled to reassure Sarla but his sharp mind having already figured out that Preeta must be with Karan. Never mind he thought... Karan could spend as much time with Preeta as he wanted but his plan for his Pari wouldn't change.

"Lekin Rajveer Preeta ko tere saath aarti karni hai..." Janki looked at Sarla and corrected herself "Mera matlab hai ke Shrishti aur Akaash ke baad hum saab ko aarti karni hai" Sarla nodded.

"Are Mom aab aap shuru maat ho, sare guests dekh rahe hai... Humme aarti shuru karni chaahiye Pari aati hi hongi"

The two ladies looked around at the guests who had started to get a bit fidgety and agreed that it was best to start the aarti.