Pratap was in a state of shock as nandu being a murthy earlier and now a malhotra was much more than shock...he was unaware of manik's surname...else he would have left the wedding or more precisely never attended but he is glad he came as nandu being daughter of Murthy's is a big thing for him....he now noticed her laugh which was contagious just like her mother and her face which reflected peace...the same peace which he have been searching from past few years yet couldn't find anywhere....ofcourse how could he coz that peace entirely belongs to only one person.....pratap left for Thakkar mansion without informing anyone and reached his room...he made sure that his door is locked and opened his bag where a diary is placed and opened it....he shivered a little as it's been almost years he opened it yet carried with him everyday....first page has a photo which he took without her knowledge for himself....

This smile captivated him and that was the first time he saw her....swara sharma....he couldn't stop himself from clicking her picture and this was the first time he took a human picture as he was never interested in clicking people but nature and animals....the peace which he used to feel whenever he was with nature the same peace was on her face and that was it as he lost peace with nature....he turned the page and there was another pic of her....

He couldn't stop his tears yet smiled while admiring her smile and her face....he slowly started to read his own diary which he wrote 25 years back and closed 22 years back....

Diary

6 June 1993

Hello diary !! Main pratap bol raha hoon...remember me right ?? Ok !! Ok !! I know it's my fault as I forgot you while I was on my trip but kya karoon yaar you know na the peace which I get when I am lost in nature and animals I can't find it in any other thing....pata nahin main kyun apne dad jaisa nahin hoon....I know that he is involved in illegal business but mom and priya are unaware about it...he wants me to join his business and I am unable to ignore him as he is my father and I am somewhere afraid of him...he knows that I am not strong as him and I can't be so cunning....I just want to finish my graduation and take care of my dad's actual business....I am tired yaar...I need to join college from tomorrow and my luggage is still packed....bye !! Bye !!

7 June 1993

Guess aaj kya hua ?? I found love of my life yaar...yes !! Love at first sight and pata hain....I even took her picture....her laugh was soo pretty...see...I pasted her photograph in first page...thankgod this time I didn't chose best pictures of my this year trip as her picture is the best.... But I will not click more as it is not a good thing to click a girl's picture without her permission....pata nahin maine kaise click kiya...till today there was not even a single girl who took my attention....I couldn't even properly click a baby photo....I never made any friends as I was afraid of my dark background and knew that someday I have to join my dad then they being my weakness will lead to them into danger....but now I want to make her my friend....they say right the first step towards love is friendship...I will follow the same process and guess situations are also in my control as she is in my class for 2 subjects....good night !!

13 June 1993

I know you are upset with me as I left you just like that without even informing about her....actually...it was first week of college and as usual I was lost in studies....I was not ready to talk to her but destiny was with me and she sat beside me....she was the first one to talk to me and even made me her friend...don't you wanna know her name ?? Swara !! Haina beautiful bilkul uski tarah....her voice is soo pretty....she was telling that she made another friend in her other class....he is also from India like us....I was lost in her and her thoughts along with study so couldn't find time for you....I know you will understand me....goodnight !!

Days passed by and he used to write his daily routine where they both used to spend half of their day together while other half they have separate classes.....

20 Aug 1993

Guess what yaar !!! This time swara is accompanying me to my tour....as I have decided to see the places around shared the idea with her and she asked me if she could accompany me....she asked her father next instant and he agreed....I never thought that will happen.... Swara was saying that her father trusts me as by the way Swara describes me and my behaviour around her he got to know my character....she also said that her father never fails in judging people and he was willing to allow her....this tour is gonna be the best one in my life....I will meet you after my tour and share everything ok ??

1 sep 1993

How are you dear dairy ?? (tear drops)  I am sorry !! We promised to never cry but I couldn't stop as my heart broke today....you know right we were supposed to return yesterday morning and after return I just took my rest....today morning when I woke up I found missed calls of swara...I got afraid as she gave atleast 25 missed calls....I was about to call back when my mobile started ringing....I got anxious and picked instantly....she sighed in relief and asked me to meet her at a park near her hostel....I reached there quickly and asked her What's the matter but she just hugged me and squealed in joy....I never saw her that happy and felt it as the perfect opportunity to confess my feelings but she beated me as she informed me the reason of her happiness....do you remember I told you about her other friend...he proposed her as soon as we returned back from out trip as he realised that he missed her while she is away and he couldn't bear her absence....he didn't even went to India as he was not ready to be in a place where she is not present...all in all he realised that he fell head over heels for her and that moment she confessed how she realised her feelings long back and waited for him to realise....she wanted to celebrate her happiness and the only one close to her heart after him was me as I was her best friend....she called me....I felt as if my soul was snatched away from me and my breath got lost somewhere...she told me that he is also in the same park as she called him there and asked me to hide under a tree....I then realized that she was indeed beautiful as she took a little more effort to get ready even though she is the prettiest girl I ever found....with her permission I took her picture as I always carry my camera...

Her Indian look always amazes me as she compliments every type of dress perfectly....I hid behind a tree and noticed her meeting him....she jumped on him from behind...(chuckling) childish girl !! He just carried her like that and without any warning turned her to front and twirled her around....

They looked so in love and somewhere my heart was happy as I found that my happiness lies in her happiness and that though I loved her I never loved her enough to make her stay with me without her consent but loved enough to let her go...I know that I will not be happy but I will not be weak like earlier coz she is my lucky charm and her presence in my life is what that matters me the most...maybe atleast as my bestfriend she will be by my side....I came out of the tree and laughed at them while he looked embarrassed to act like that along with her.....I introduced myself with a shake but he hugged me warmly stating that he knew me long back....he told his name and guess this time I will not forget as earlier whenever swara used to say his name I used to forget as all I cared was swara voice and her face but not now....his name was Vishnu Murthy !! we spent a little time talking and had lunch as it was afternoon time....I came back just few minutes back and guess all my hell broke loose now that I am alone....I needed someone to share my pain and whom can I trust better than you !!! (and it is filled with dried tear marks...pratap just traced them and remembered those moments but this time his lips adorned a smile as he knew that he loved her but was never in love with her and he was not in a state to decipher that as he was in search of peace and finally when he found it he got carried away)

From that day onwards whatever he wrote in diary contained about them three....yes !! The guy who was afraid to even think about making friends is now friends with two people and he is really happy about them as he can see the love they shared and also the way he changed by being with him....he found a brother in vishnu and was glad that he found them both....pratap almost forgot his father's dangerous world until one day his father caught his photographs with swara which his father's bodyguards clicked when they both were in a trip as usual during their end semester as his father noticed the change in his character....he not even cared to contact pratap and enquired about her family...he got to know about them and went with his wife to ask her hand for his son in marraige but before that he met Mr. Sharma personally and warned him to accept the proposal else his entire family will be dead....finding no other option he agreed unaware of the fact that groom is his daughter's best friend whom he considered as his that son which he always wished adarsh to be but never cared about his surname nor pratap informed as he was scared that he might know his father's illegal business....

5 Apr 1995

It's been an year vishnu left college and is doing a job to save money and gain experience before he can actually start his own company....yes !! He wished to start his company which was his father's wish and his talks made me confident enough to go against my father as I know that if I will reject to take care of my father's illegal business he will scold me and beat me but I forgot that he will not do much more than that as what may happen I am his only son....swara accompanied me in all tours whereas vishnu was busy with his internships but not for once he doubted us....he trusted us so much....swara was too understanding as I feared that she will start crying and fighting with him once he starts his job and I can afford anything but her tears....but to my utter surprise or rather shock she never complained and waited patiently till he was free...infact she used to say that I have whole life with him but what about us.....we need to make memories before our partners decide to take us to their own worlds...this was my swara !! And I absolutely love her !! But today I felt that she is not okay...I know she will share everything with me but....I was about to ask her when peon informed that my father came to meet me...I went much more confidently than earlier and he was kinda amused....he said that he knew who is the reason behind my this changed behaviour and he liked me like this only....infact he wanted me to stay like this forever and hence fixed my marriage with swara....I was dumbstruck at that news as slowly everything was falling in place....I guess swara knew this and somewhere knew my surname too as my father informed that he didn't shared any of my details with her father...he just hugged me and said he had a meeting....I returned back to classroom and found none....I knew she is at our favourite spot and quickly reached the cafe where we spend hours and hours....she was seated at our usual place....I was afraid about her reaction....I settled infront of her and she looked at me....her eyes telling the pain of her heart....I was about to speak when she cut me off....

Swara:you don't know that uncle have done that till few minutes back right ?? (I just nodded in yes)Jab papa ne kal raat ko kahan koyi vedant hai toh maine naam poocha...it was not that much difficult to find out that you are his son as I had your resume copy....I never expected this to happen like this but guess your father mistook our friendship...it's ok !! Any parent will do so....your father loves you alot....papa ne jyada kuch nahin kahan bas itna kahan ki he couldn't do anything as your father threatened him....I don't know what to do....I was about to tell you but your father came to meet you....kya karein ab ???

I don't know how those words escaped my mouth but I didn't regretted them...."Let's get you both married today"yes !! Papa informed that our marriage is scheduled next week as we have our convocation tomorrow and then back to India....she was shocked and said she have to talk to her father regarding this....I asked her to not reveal me being groom and she did so....she was shocked when her father agreed though I was expecting it....he informed that he can't come as they are keeping an eye on them but they can't do anything to us as I am with her so they are not watching us... Swara informed vishnu about new happenings as she already told him about her marriage with me...he asked her to pack her bags and be ready as he will take care of everything and they will marry the next day...not for once vishnu acted shocked as guess he already thought about it but was kinda waiting for it to come from me...that was our bond with each other....tomorrow is swara wedding...hope everything goes well without papa involvement....

6 Apr 1995

Swara and I are waiting near her hostel with all her luggage and a limo stopped infront of us...I feared it was papa as vishnu is not that much rich but when the door opened vishnu got down from the car...I was little surprised with the happenings while swara looked all cool....I passed a guilty look to vishnu to which he just hugged me and I understood that he can never take me wrong....we settled down and vishnu explained about his friendship with malhotra's which was not at all a joke as they were the most powerful people whom even my father fears....his friend was Raj Malhotra and his elder brother was the supreme Power who was the replica of his father who when alive created terror in mafia world...no one dares to cross their path as they never get involved in illegal activities but never spares the one who are involved in them....though he stays in Newyork ne keeps a track on every activity happening over there....we soon reached Malhotra Mansion and I kinda felt swara will be happy just by the people as it is not money but their humbleness and love showed it all...swara visited them lot of times and is also close to Mrs. Nyonika Raj Malhotra who is 7 months pregnant and is in her parents house....infact raj and vishnu are soon gonna start their business in India....I was skeptical about it but vishnu assured that they will make sure to not make public appearances with swara till it is not safe and that Malhotra's are there with them....I met vishnu mother and she was just like my mom....soon wedding happened and I kinda felt happy and relieved by looking at glow on Swara's face....I am returning to India tomorrow....

12 Apr 1995

I was acting all cool as if I don't know anything and waiting for uncle to call and as expected he informed papa that Swara ran away with someone she loved and papa never knew that there was other guy as he felt she loved me too....he was so angry and was all ready to destroy them but I informed him that I already know her love affair and that let's end this matter over here....I even confronted that I myself got them married....he was shocked initially but let the matter go....(or so I thought) I stopped contacting swara as I know papa will trace her out through me else there is no stone left unturned to protect them....I later got to know that space college was owned by malhotra's and papa couldn't get information as they have trust worthy staff and they keep student data confidential.....I hope wherever swara is she lives happily.....wish to meet her one day when papa stops all his acts....

I can't talk with you anymore diary....I will miss you but I am sorry....Hope to meet you some day....

I love you my Mr. Diary !! We had a lot of beautiful memories.....

He closed his diary and hugged it to his chest....he laid down on bed and don't know when he fell asleep in the same party attire....