Next day,

Preeta: Maa main jaa rhi hu..

Sarla(smiling) : Dhyan se jaio..

Preeta: Ha..

Preeta left for the cricket academy. She was walking in the corridor. Everybody moved back seeing her. She was confused and was looking here and there when she bumped into Karan. He held her through waist.

Karan(smilingly) : Aankhen kholo.. Giri nhi ho..

Preeta opened her eyes and looked at him. He smiled at her. Both shared an eyelock.

Karan: Hmesha thaam luga tumhe babydoll..

Preeta came back to senses. He made her stand.

Preeta(in pain) : Giraane wale smbhalne ki baat krte ache nhi lagte.. Haath thaamna chahiye tha.. Jab bharosa kiya tha.. Ab toh tumhari baaton pr bharosa krne se bhi darr lagta h..

She left, a tear rolling down his cheek. He quickly wiped it off and plastered a fake smile.

Rahul: Hii bhabhi..

Preeta stopped and looked at Rahul.

Preeta: Bhabhi?

Rahul: Karan ki wife.. Hmari bhabhi hui na aap.. Khair jab aap ne join kiya tha.. Pata nhi tha.. Karan ne aaj hi sabko bataya h.. Welcome bhabhi.. See u around..

He smiled and left. Preeta was surprised by the fact that he told everyone and was concerned about her job's terms. She went to the recruiter's office to discuss.

Mr. Sinha: Oh hii Mrs. Luthra.. Come in..

Preeta: Actually sir.. I know meri job ki terms..

Mr. Sinha: Yes Mrs. Luthra.. I know.. Jab Karan ne mujhe bataya kii aap uski biwi h.. I was surprised.. But..

Karan: She is my wife sir.. Aur agar aap iss wajah se use job se nikaalna chahte h... Toh main hi team chodta hu.. She can still be the physio of the team..

Mr. Sinha: No.. No Karan.. She can be the physio of the team.. And u re not going to leave... We have no issues.. I know u both know how to keep your professional and personal lives apart..

Karan nodded.

Mr. Sinha: I know terms were different par aap dono ki shaadi pehle hui h.. And just because u two are married.. We can't let him or you leave.. So, u can continue your job Mrs. Luthra.. We're glad to have u here..

She smiled a bit and went out. A genuine smile adored her face listening about him.

She was doing her work when Shiv came to talk to her.

Shiv: Hello Preeta..

Preeta: Hii.. Aap yaha..

Shiv: Actually.. Main kehna chahta tha kii..

He took a step towards him. She looked at him uncomfortable. Karan came in between them.

Karan:Ha shiv..

Shiv: Karan.. Tu.. Main unse baat krna chahta..

Preeta looked at Karan.

Karan: Biwi h meri.. Mrs. Preeta Karan Luthra.. Tune nhi suna tha.. Ab sunle.. Mantain distance.. She shouldn't be uncomfortable..

Shiv looked at Preeta. She was just looking at Karan.

Shiv: Teri wife?

Karan nodded. Preeta's lips curved up, unshed tears in her eyes. Shiv stepped back.

Karan: She is team's physio... But a girl first.. You should know how to behave..

Shiv: Par tum dono ne toh..

Karan: Thats between us.. You shouldn't interfere between a married couple..

Shiv nodded and went out leaving the two alone. Karan turned towards Preeta.

Karan: Babydoll..

Preeta(smiling in tears) : Chalo yaad toh h kii patni hu tumhari.. I am your wife... Dusro ko batane se pehle.. Khud iss baat ke mayine smjho..

Karan: Saara gussa sar aankhon pr.. Mrs. Preeta Karan Luthra..

Preeta looked at him. He was guilty and was trying to correct everything but was it that easy? She wiped her tears and was going.

Karan held her hand.

Karan: I am sorry for everything.. Maine kaha tha na sab thik krduga.. Main jaanta hu hum bahut dur h.. Aur main tumhari taraf kadam badha rha hu.. Bas tum piche mt hattna babydoll.. Please..

Preeta(in tears) : Tumne kabhi socha h jab tum shaadi ke baad piche hatt gye the.. Mujhe kaisa laga hoga..

Karan: Main ateet nhi badal skta..ek galti ki itni badi saza mt do mujhe.. Tumhe jo saza deni h do.. Jo khna h kaho... Bas.. Bharosa rkho.. Main sb thik krduga..

Preeta looked at him. He gave her an assuring look with tears in his eyes.

Preeta: Bharosa tumhi ne toda tha..

Karan: Ek mauka..

She didn't say anything, removed his hand from hers and moved towards the gate.

Karan was in tears. Preeta turned and looked at him. His eyes shined seeing her stop. She had pain, hurt in her eyes but there was hope, love that everything will be fine one day, may be not today.

Dabi dabi saanson mein suna tha maine..
Bole bina mera naam aaya..

Karan(smiling in tears) : I love you..

Palken jhuki aur uthne lagi toh..
Haule se uska salaam aaya..

She lowered her eyes and went out. He smiled knowing it was not over, it will never be. Because its love, and true love never fades.

Karan was practising in ground. Preeta looked at him and smiled a bit seeing him play.

Karan: I love you..

Her lips automatically curved up.

Jab bole vo bole.. Uski aankh mein rab bole..
Aas paas hi rhna tum.. Aankh aankh mein kehna tum..

Karan felt someone's gaze and looked around and saw her smiling. He smiled seeing her happy. May be, with time, their sour relationship will heal.

Dekha tumhe toh aaram aaya..

She saw him looking and looked away. He giggled at her reaction a bit.

Karan(shaking his head): Dr. Dumbo..

Preeta(murmuring) : Bajarbattu.. Game p dhyan de.. Mujh pr kyu..

Dabi dabi saanson mein suna tha maine..
Bole bina mera naam aaya..

She again looked at him. He again caught her. She looked away and went from there slapping her forehead.

Palken jhuki aur uthne lagi toh..
Haule se uska salaam aaya..

Karan continued practising smiling. Preeta went back home.

Evening,

She sat by the window thinking about today. She smiled remembering everyone calling her, his wife.

Preeta(smilingly) : Mrs. Preeta Karan Luthra..

She closed her eyes smiling feeling the cold breeze.

Karan(angry) : Kitne mein biki tum.. Arre tumhe paise hi chahiye toh.. Mujhe kh deti.. Main tumhe sherlyn se jyada..

She slapped him.

She opened her eyes. She was trying to forget everything but it was still there. His allegations, mistrust, misbehaviour was still there. A tear rolled down her cheek.

She stood up and took her dupatta moving out.

Shrishti: Dii... Kaha jaa rhe ho aap..

Preeta: Aise hi shrishti.. Paanch minute mein aati hu.. Acha nhi lag rha h..

Shrishti: Main chlu?

Preeta: Nhi.. Main aajaugi abhi.. Paas mein hi jaa rhi.. Thodi der akela rhna chahti hu..

Shrishti nodded. Preeta stepped out of her home. She took an auto and went near the lake.

She sat near the lake feeling the cold breeze. She closed his eyes. Everything was there, her every memory, whether good or bad and her heart and mind were battling against each other.

She opened her eyes and rubbed her arms feeling cold. Karan put jacket around her from back and sat besides her rubbing his hands.

Preeta: Tum yaha..

Karan: Dil nhi lag rha tha.. Toh tumhare ghar ke bahar baith gya.. Phir tum yahaan aagyi.. Main bhi aagya..

Preeta smiled at his statement and looked at him.

Karan: Kaash maine yeh smile tumse kabhi cheeni hi na hoti..

Preeta: Aur tum.. Tum bhi toh apna dard chupa rhe ho.. Apne guilt ka.. Apni regret ka.. Apne pyaar ka..

Karan: Mera nhi.. Hmara pyaar..kyunki pyaar toh tum bhi mujhse krti ho..

Preeta smiled bitterly.

Preeta: Sahi kh rhe ho..Krti hu.. Bahut pyaar krti hu tumse..

He smiled. She looked down. Both sat there gazing the stars.

Karan: Toh mere paas aajao na.. Mere saath chalo na.. Please..

Preeta: Kaash itna asaan hota.. Kaash main tumhare paas aajati.. Kyunki mujhe pata h.. Tumhare saath sab thik hoga.. Main thik hojaugi.. Sab thik hojayega..

Karan: Toh kyu..

Preeta: Ek aisi cheej batao.. Jiske tutne pr awaaz tk nhi aati..

Karan looked at her.

Karan: Yeh tum..

Preeta: Jawab do..

Karan(confused) : Dil..

Preeta: Nhi.. Dil tutne par insan rota h.. Cheekhta chillata h.. Uss tute dil ka shor apne smjh skte h..

She looked at him.

Preeta: Bharosa.. Jab bharosa tut ta h na Karan.. Na koi awaaz hoti h.. Na koi aahat.. Par sab khatam ho jata h.. Jab tumhe laga maine tumhare bharosa toda h.. Tumne kya kuch nhi kiya.. Khud ko.. Mujhe.. Sb ko chot pahunchayi.. Socho Karan.. Jab tumne mera bharosa toda.. Main.. Meri kya haalat thi..

Karan looked down, a tear rolling down his cheek.

Preeta(smiling bitterly) : Dulhan ke jode mein.. Tumhare naam ka mangalsutra pehenkar.. Tumhare naam ka sindur lagakar.. Tumse shaadi kr kar.. Apne ghar se vida hui thi main.. Aur tumne mujhe chod dia..Dil se jyada bharosa tuta tha uss din.. Dil phir bhi jaanta tha kii yeh tum nhi tumhari jhoothi nafrat kr rhi h.. Par bharosa tha mujhe tum par.. Kii tum iss hadd tk nhi jaa skte.. Kii tum meri puri zindagi barbaad krne ki nhi soch skte..Tod dia tumne sb.. Tut gya mera bharosa..

A tear escaped her eye.

Karan: Tumhe pata h.. Dard mujhe bhi hua tha.. Par shayad uss waqt meri nafrat hmare pyaar se jeet gyi.. Par ab aisa kabhi nhi hoga babydoll... Main tumse itna pyaar krta hu jo kisi galatfehmi, nafrat, dhokhe se nhi harrega... Main jaanta hu maaf krna mushkil h.. Par.. Meri zindagi ho tum.. Aur hmari aane wali zindagi iss ek galti ki wajah se bikhar jaye.. Yeh toh sahi nhi h na..

Preeta: Mushkil maaf krna nhi h.. Mushkil iss baat pr vishwas krna h.. Kii ab kaisa kabhi nhi hoga.. Kii tum mera bharosa nhi kr paoge.. Kyunki pehle bhi mujhe yahi laga tha... Aur umeede jyada dard deti h Karan..

Karan: Main tumhara bharosa phir jeet lunga.. Kyunki mujhe meri galti ka ehsaas bhi h.. Aur sudhaarne ki wajah bhi.. Hmara pyaar.. Hmari aane wali zindagi..

Preeta(smilingly) : Tumhe yakeen h tum kr paoge..

Karan: Pyaar krti ho mujhse.. (Preeta nodded).. Hmari buri yaaden mitana chahti ho.. (Preeta looked at him)

He smiled.

Karan: Bas phir.. Main kr pauga.. Shayad aaj hmare bich vo yaaden h.. Kal sirf bharosa hoga..

Preeta: Main nhi jaanti kii kabhi sab thik hoga ya nhi.. Manzil milegi ya nhi... Par ab safar se bhi khush hu.. I am happy.. I am finally relieved.. Maine tumhe maaf krdia h Karan..

Karan: I know.. But there's still a long way to go..

Preeta: Ghar pr sb kaise h..

Karan: Ache hi hoge.. Maine ghar chod dia..

Preeta: Meri wajah se..

Karan: Nhi.. Ghar mtlb sukoon.. Aur apne sukoon ke bina.. Uss ghar mein dam ghut rha tha mera.. Babydoll.. Socho hum husband wife nhi hote.. Yeh sab nhi hua hota..

Preeta: Toh tum bajarbattu.. Iss waqt bhi flirt kr rhe hote..

Karan: Ha toh apni bajarbatti se hi kr rha hota..meri kareli se..

Preeta: Tum karele.. Double duffer donkey..

Karan: Ha toh pyaar toh isi karele se hua na tumhe.. Ehsaas aur izhaar mein sb bigda h.. Maano na maano babydoll.. Pyaar toh hum ek dusre se bahut waqt se krte h..

Preeta: Pata nhi.. Kab hua.. Kaise hua..Bas ek din ehsaas hua kii ab hasi bhi tumse h.. Aur dard bhi.. Kuch nhi se sab kuch ban gye bas..

Karan held her hand and kissed her forehead. Preeta smiled and hugged him.

Preeta(smiling in tears) : I miss u double duffer donkey..

Karan(caressing her hair) : I miss u too bajarbatti..

Preeta: Tum smjh rhe ho na mujhe.. Mujhe chodke toh nhi chle jaoge.. Main nhi tumhari taraf kadam badha paa rhi Karan..

Karan: Smjhta hu main tumhe.. Aur kabhi nhi jaoga tumhe chodke..Tum bas apne kadam piche mt lena.. Mera intezaar karo.. Main sab thik krke.. Tumhare paas aauga.. Aur hmesha hmesha ke liye tumhe apne saath le jauga.. I love u..

Preeta: I love u too..

Both broke the hug and looked at each other smiling in tears.

Preeta(wiping her tears) : Mujhe jaana chahiye.. Bahut der hogyi h..

Karan: Main chod deta..

Preeta: Main chli jaugi..

She stood up and started walking away. Karan too stood up and looked at her going. For her, to trust him again was way too difficult but she loved him, she wanted to be with him. She turned and looked at him.

Preeta: Sab thik kr paoge..

Karan: Mujhe tumhare pyaar pr bharosa h.. Tumhe mere pyaar pr bharosa zaroor hoga.. Main sb thik krduga.. Shayad aaj nhi.. Par ek din.. Koi buri yaad tumhe mere saath chlne se nhi rok payegi..

Preeta: Main intezaar krugi..

Karan: Main bhi..

Both looked at each other longing to be with each other but there was an unsaid gap between them. Something has to be sorted before everything falls into place.

She smiled at him and left. He smiled.

Kuch kaho na suno.. Paas mere raho
Ishq ki kaisi h yeh gehrayian..

Saaya bhi jism se.. Hota h kya juda..
Jitni bhi zor kii ho aandhiyaan

Precap

Apology

********

Do leave reviews💙👻