Continuing...

Karan: Kuch nahi aapki mamma na thodi si thak gayi hai isiliye rest kar rahi hai.

Pihu: Mein bhi mamma ke saath soungi.

Karan: Ok..chalo hum bhi so jaate hai..

He picks Pihu and makes her lay beside Preeta and then lays beside her.

So Pihu is sleeping between both of them. He starts caressing Pihu's hair to make her fall asleep.

After sometime she falls asleep. Karan sees this.

He stops caressing her hair.

He kisses her forehead and then Preeta's forehead.

He starts admiring her.

Karan: Bohot galtiyaan ki hai meine aur ab un sabko sudhaarunga bhi mein hi.

After sometime he also slept.

Next day

Preeta woke up feeling sunrays on her face. She looks beside her to see Karan and Pihu sleeping cutely hugging each other.

Pihu was sleeping with her head on Karan's arm. And Karan was sleeping on his favourite pink pillow looking cute as always.

She admired the cute father-daughter duo for aa while and then went to washroom.

After sometime she comes back to see Karan and Pihu had woke up. Pihu was requesting Karan for not going to school. While he was making her understand.

Preeta: Kya chal raha hai yaha pe?

Pihu: Kuch nhi...papa mujhse keh rahe the ki mein school na jaun unhe meri yaad aati hai.

She said making an innocent face.

While Karan was looking at her with open mouth.

Karan: Maine Aisa kab kaha??

Pihu: Kya papa aapki memory kitni weak hai?? Haa to mumma meine papa ko kaha ki nahi nahi good girls Roz school jaati hai. Hai na??

Preeta: Acha tumne Aisa kaha?

She goes bear the bed and starts tickling her. While Karan also joins her and they both start tickling her but not too hard.

Preeta: Acha chalo ab aap naha ne jao mumma aapka tiffin pack karti hai..haa?

Pihu nods and goes to the bathroom.

Preeta started drying her wet hairs with the towel ignoring Karan.

Karan: Preeta mere kap...

She removes his watch and wallet and keeps it with his clothes which she had already took out on the couch.

All this while she completely ignores him.

He feels bad but didn't say anything as he knew that he deserved it.

He went in the guest room for changing as he had to go to the office too.

He came in the hall after getting ready for the breakfast.

He went and sat beside Pihu.

Preeta came and served him silently not even glancing at him.

While he was just looking at her.

After having breakfast he goes for his office after dropping Pihu to school.

In evening.

He comes back to the home all tired. He came and sat on the sofa with a thud removing his tie.

A glass of water appears in front of him. He looks up to see.......

Girish.

He thanks him and goes to his room.

He keeps his bag on the couch and goes to get fresh taking the clothes which were already kept on the bed. And he knew that Preeta was the one who kept them.

He after getting fresh went downstairs for dinner. He sat on a chair. Preeta serves everyone and then was about to sit beside Kritika when.

Rakhi: Arre puttar vaha kyu baith rahi hai? Yaha Karan ke paas baith Jaa.

She said pointing towards the empty chair besides Karan's.

Preeta smiles and nods. She sits on the chair.

Her smile was a fake one. But no one noticed that because may be she was too perfect with it.

Everyone finished their and went to their respective rooms.

Preeran also went to their room with Pihu.

They reached the room.

Pihu: Mumma kal aap aur paapa dono saath chalna mujhe school drop karne. Okay??

Preeta: Kyu??

Preeta asks while making Pihu lay on the bed.

Pihu: Aise hi...mujhe aap dono ke saath jaana hai.

Preeta: Okay.. done. Ab aap so jao kal school jaana hai na??

Pihu nods and closes her eyes. While Preeta lays beside her. Karan also lays beside Pihu.

Karan: Preeta vo i am so...

Preeta switches the light off and lays facing her back to him.

Preeta: Good night.

He felt bad..too bad..but what to do with that. He knew he deserved it. He had been so cruel to her. This is nothing in front of that.

He sleeps while reminiscing their old moments.

After one month.

In this one month everything was same. Was it really the same??

For everyone else in the house, yes it was. But for the two Lovable now broken souls, no it was not.

Karan used to get up early in the morning but not before Preeta. He used to go for his practice early. Why?? Let's see.

He used to have breakfast with the whole family. He used to act normal. But was he really normal? No he wasn't. He used to go to practice. When he returned Girish used to give him water which he knew Preeta has asked Girish to. He used to get fresh. Have dinner and then sleep without talking to her. Yes, she was avoiding him. She used to take care of his everything but never used to talk to him. In front of family and Pihu they both used to act normal. But when they were alone there was always a dangerous silence between them. Even if they talked it was just a nod or a single word answer. Karan used to try to talk to her. But she didn't. He used to bring different gifts for her. He used to apologise but she didn't care. But he did not stop trying. He always kept her gift in her side of the cupboard and also used to write a sweet note with it.

About Preeta, she badly wanted to talk to him, to see him, to hug him. But no, not this time. Everytime she forgives him but that does not mean he would everytime repeat the same mistake. She used to admire him at night or in the morning when he was sleeping. Bcoz that was the time he was home. He used to practice whole day so that his mind gets diverted and he does not has to bear her ignorance.

Same happened today. He came back late. Girish gave him water. He got fresh and kept her gift with a note in the cupboard. And went downstairs to have dinner.

After having it. He went back to room with Preeta and Pihu.

They slept with Pihu telling both of them her day.

In Luthra House.
At 11:55 pm.

Girl 1: To aap sab taiyaar hai??

Saying this she forwards her hand. While everyone else keeps their hand on the girls hand.

Everyone (together): Haa.

Girl: Shh...aaram se..unhe pata nahi lagna chahiye.

Everyone nods and keeps their finger on their lips.

Girl(whispers): Chaliye

Everyone starts following her.

They reach outside Preeran's room.

Girl(whispers): To ab countdown shuru karte hai..

Girl: 10.

Boy 1: 9.

Another girl: 8.

.....

Girl: 2

Boy: 1.

Everyone (shout together): Aakraman.

They barge inside their room as the door was closed but not locked.

Preeran and Pihu get up with a jerk listening door's sound.

Preeran and Pihu(together): Aap sab...?

Everyone(shout together): Happy Birthday Karan/Bhai/Beta/Jiju.

So yes they were revealed to be Shrishti and Luthras.

Preeta widens her eyes at the realisation. She forgot that today was his birthday.

Pihu: Woww.. aaj papa ka birthday hai?

Rakhi: Haa beta aaj tumhare papa ka birthday hai.

Pihu jumps on Karan and hugs him.

Pihu: Happy Birthday Papa.

Karan chuckles and hugs her back.

Karan: Thank you so much Pihu.

He kisses her hair.

Shrishti: Acha chalo ab hum cake kaant te hai.

Sameer brings his hand ahead and there was a pastry.

Preeta: Ye cake hai??

Shrishti: Vo actually aaj prepare karne ka time hi nahi Mila. Saari shops band ho gyi jab tak humein yaad aaya. To humne yahi bana dia aur waise bhi wo bada wala cake to hum kal kaatenge na party mein..

Preeta nods.

Karan cuts the cake with Preehu(Preeta+Pihu) and feeds it to everyone but not before Preeta and Pihu.

After wishing him once again everyone leaves.

Karan closes the door. And leaves a sigh turning back..

He sees Pihu who fell asleep when everyone was talking and wishing him.

Preeta: Happy Birthday.

Preeta says and lays down on the bed hugging Pihu.

Karan: Thank you.

Saying this he too lays beside Pihu hugging her.

After sometime Karan falls asleep.

Preeta opens her eyes.

Preeta (in mind): Tumhe aise wish nahi karna chahti thi par kya karu tumne bhi toh mere saath galat kiya hai. Mujhe pata hai tumhe kitna bura lag raha hoga par mein tumhe hurt nahi karna chahti thi. Lekin ab mein bardaasht bhi nahi karungi. Tumne kal bohot galat ilzaam lagaye mujhpe. Mujhe Tod dia.

She caresses his cheek.

Preeta (in mind): Happy Birthday my Bajarbattu.

She also falls asleep after a good time of admiring him.

Next day.

Like every normal day Karan woke up and went downstairs for breakfast after getting ready.

When he was coming down correcting the edge of his sleeves(😍😍💓).

Kritika: Happy Birthday Bhai.

She runs to him and hugs him when he was on the last stair.

He hugs her back.

Karan: Thank you moti😜.

Kritika breaks the hug.

Kritika: Aapne mujhe moti kaha??

Karan (casually): Haa.

Kritika: Aap..(she angrily huffs) aaj aapka birthday hai na isiliye meine aapko maaf kiya.

Karan: Arre tu kya mujhe maaf..

Before he could speak further he felt two tiny hands hugging his torso from back. He turned around and looked at Pihu.

He immediately picked her up in his arms.

She kissed his cheeks.

Pihu: Happy Birthday Papa.

Karan too kisses her cheeks.

Karan: Thank you mera bacha.

Like this everyone comes and wishes him one by one except her.

They sat for having breakfast.

Rakhi: Ham aaj ki party ki theme na black rakhenge. Kyu Karan tujhe black colour pasand hai na??

Karan: Actually aaj ye party nahi ho sakti.

Everyone looks at him shocked by his words. Bcoz he was the one who always used to be excited about his birthday party.

Rakhi: Kyu??

Karan: Umm..wo..aa..haa aaj practice ke baad ek important presentation pe kaam karna hai mein shayad Ghar bhi na aau..

Sameer: Par bhai mujhe to kisi important presentation ke baare mein nahi pata.

Karan (glares him): Tujhe nahi pata kyuki mujhe abhi abhi call aaya tha..aur tera koi kaam nahi hai iss presentation mein.

Preeta (in mind): Ye Karan party karne ke liye mana kyu kar Raha hai?? Aur mujhe aisa kyu lag rha hai ki ye jhuth bol raha hai?🧐..

Kritika: Iska matlab aapki birthday party nahi hogi??

Karan: No.

Everyone looked sad.

Karan: Arre aap sad kyu ho gaye?? Hum sab saath hai na fir ye party ho ya na ho kya farak padta hai?? Aap logo ne mujhe wish Kiya na mera birthday waise hi happy ho gya...

Rakhi: Tu kitni samjhdaari wali baate karne laga hai.

Karan: Kyuki mein samajhdaar hu😌.

Kritika: Nice joke.

Karan: Ye joke nahi hai sachai hai.

He gets up and leaves for his academy.

Pihu(sadly): Matlab aaj paapa ka birthday celebration nahi hoga?? Aur papa humare saath time bhi spend nahi karenge?

Preeta: Aise sad nahi hote Pihu, paapa Roz humare sath hi to time spent karte hai aaj kuch urgent kaam aa gya to kya hua? Hum kal paapa ke saath time spent kar lenge...hmm?

Pihu: Lekin paapa ka birthday Aaj hai kal nahi..

With this she moves towards her room.

Preeta sighs.

Preeta: Mein abhi aati hu.

She leaves to their room.

(Pihu's room is separate)

Preeta: Tum kyu ye kar rahe ho?? Mujhe pata hai tum jhooth bol rahe ho lekin kyu??

On the other side,

Karan was sitting in the locker room resting after continuous practice of 2 hours.

Karan: Haa mein jhooth bol raha hu kyuki agar meri birthday party hogi bhi to tum mujhe ignore hi karogi. Aur wo mujhse bardaasht nhi hoga. Mere birthday pe hum kitne ache se celebrate karte the par iss baar. Aur mera last birthday to sabse special tha.

He chuckles in tears.

Flashback

Preeta: HAPPY BIRTHDAY BAJARBATTU.

She shouts in his ear who was sleeping. He gets up with a jerk.

She laughs seeing his face.

She hugs him tightly.

Preeta: Happy Birthday mere pyaare se Bajarbattu.

She kisses his cheek.

He hugs her back resting his chin on her head.

Karan: Aise koi wish karta hai??

Preeta: Haa..mein karti hu na.

She broke the hug, stood up and took out a cake from the bag.

Karan: Ye tumne banaya hai??

Preeta nods.

Karan (pouts): Aur kisiko mera birthday yaad nhi hai??

Preeta: Arre koi Ghar pe hai hi nahi.

Karan: Kha gye sab??

Preeta: Vo Rakhi maa, daadi aur Kareena bua Sameer aur Mahesh paapa ke saath kisi jagraate mein gaye hai. Aur Rishab ji aur Sherlyn bhi out of town hai.

Karan: Aur mujhe kisi ne nhi bataya. Huhh.

Preeta hits his head slowly.

Preeta: Arre buddhu tum to aate hi so gye thake hue Jo the. To unhone mujhse keh dia.

Karan: Mein buddhu nahi hu.

Preeta (🙄): Haa haa pata hai. Ab chalo cake kaato.

They both cut the cake. And feed each other.

Preeta: Acha chalo ab hum dono jaaye hai.

She was about to lay. When Karan holds her hand and pulls her in his lap.

Karan: Mera birthday gift?

Preeta: Vo to kal dungi na.

Karan: Par mujhe aaj chahiye.

Preeta: Par aaj kaise..

She stops when she realises his gaze on her lips.

He looks into her eyes for permission.

She smiles and closes her eyes leaning forward.

He smiles and immediately places his lips on hers.

He starts sucking her lower lip smoothly and slowly. While she does the same with his upper lip. They both were kissing each other slowly and smoothly.

After a few minutes they break the kiss and join their forehead looking into reach other's eyes.

They both were so happy. They just had their first kiss.

Preeta hugs him not able to control her blush. He chuckles and hugs her back.

Flashback over.

Karan: Humne mere birthday ka poora din ek dusre ke saath bitaya tha. Aur aaj.

He chuckles with tears.

Karan: Aur aaj dekho tum waha mein yaha. But i deserve it.

With this he gets back to his practice.

Whole day passed.

Preeta wanted to call him, talk to him but couldn't. Or should I say she controlled her desire to call him.

Preeta: Aaj ghar aa jaate to kya ho jaata? Mujhe pata hai tumne jhuth kaha kyuki tumhe party nhi karni thi. Aur kyu nhi karni thi ye bhi ache se jaanti hu. Lekin iss baar mein kamzor nhi padungi.

It was 10: 30. He used to be back by now. But today he isn't. Maybe he was really not going to come home.

In a bar.

Karan was shown drinking.

Karan (to bartender): Ek aur do.

Bartender: But sir aapne already bohot pee li hai.

Karan stands up stumbling, goes to the bartender and holds his collar.

Karan: Tujhe jitna kaha hai na utna kar..

Bartender fearly nods.

He gives him another drink. He keeps on drinking.

He got a call from Rishabh.

He knew that it was Preeta who asked Rishabh to call him.

He cuts the call and messages him.

Mein abhi busy hu kal subah tak ghar aa jaunga.

Rishabh tells this to Preeta.

She nods still being tensed as she had already called and asked his manager who told that there is no such presentation.

In the bar.

Karan was fully drunk by now.

He got up but as soon as he stood he was about to fall when the bartender held him.

Bartender: Sir aap yahi baithiye.

Karan: Nahi mujhe babydoll ke paas jaana hai.

Bartender was trying to convince him. But he was not ready.

On the other side.

Preeta (in mind): Ye Karan office mein bhi nhi hai, academy mein bhi nhi hai. Fir kha jaa sakta hai??

Preeta: Ab mein aur nhi ruk sakti..abhi mein isse call karti hu.

She dials his number.

He picked up.

Preeta: Hello..kaha ho tum?? Sabki jhuth bol rhe ho? Pata bhi hai ki mein kitni pareshaan hu?.

Person: Hello ma'am.

Preeta: Kon bol rha hai??

Person: Maam mein Arjun bol rha hu, mein ek bartender hu xyz bar mein,  yaha pe Karan Sir ne bohot drink Karli hai aur wo kabse keh rahe hai ki mujhe babydoll ke paas jaana hai.

Preeta: Aap ek kaam kijiye aap Karan ko wahi rakhiye mein abhi aati hu.

Arjun: Thik hai ma'am par jaldi aaiye.

Preeta hangs the call and immediately runs out of the house and asks the driver to drive to the bar.

Pihu and everyone were already asleep.

Preeta: Pata nahi iske dimaag mein kya chal rha hai??

After a few minutes she reaches there, she immediately goes inside.

The bar's surrounding was not at all good. Everyone there was drunk. Some couples were dancing too closely, some were making out. It was really uncomfortable.

She immediately spotted Karan with the bartender.

She runs towards him.

Preeta: Karan! Oh god ye kya ho gya hai tumhe??(to bartender) thank you so much.

Bartender: No problem ma'am.

She makes Karan stand and starts moving out.

Karan's dialogues will be in drunken state.

Karan: Babydoll tum aa gyi, tum abhi bhi naaraz ho na...mujhe pata hai maine bohot galat kiya. Mein na bohot bura hu, ek no. Ka stupid hoon. Uss..Prithvi se bhi jyada bura hu.

He says making a cute sad and angry face.

Preeta: Chup raho...uss Prithvi ka aur apna comparison mat karo.

She makes him sit and she also sits beside him.

She asks the driver to drive fast.

Karan: Meine bohot galat kiya hai na...mein tumhe deserve nhi karta but mein tumhe apne aap se dur bhi nhi jaane de sakta..tumhare bina na kuch bhi acha nhi lagta..

She was just listening him while looking out of the car with little tears.

Karan: Ab bhi ignore kar rahi ho...i know meri galti hai...par tumne toh mujhe birthday bhi wish nhi Kiya.

Preeta: Meine kal hi tumhe wish Kiya tha.

She says looking down in her lap.

Karan: Usse birthday wish nhi formality kehte hai. Dil se boli jaaye na toh wo wish hoti hai.

Preeta: Tum so jaao abhi thoda time lagega.

Karan: Par mujhe nhi Sona...tumse baat karni hai mujhe.

Preeta: Dekho hum pohoch gye..chalo utro..

She moves out and also makes him stand.

She takes him towards their room without making any noise.

Luckily, Pihu was sleeping in her room today with Rakhi.

They reach their room.

Preeta makes him lay on bed after removing his shoes..

She was about to go to washroom when..

Karan held her hand..

Karan (normally): Nafrat karti ho na mujhse..

She turned towards him shocked as he was so drunk and now he was sounding so normal.

Karan: Meine nahi pee hai... Matlab itni nahi pee jitna tumhe laga..sab samjh aa rha hai mujhe..nafrat karti ho na.. offcourse meine kaam hi aisa kiya hai..par ek chance de do mujhe ..mujhe ek aakhri mauka de do sudharne ka..

He says with tears rolling down his cheeks.

Preeta: Bohot mauke diye the tumhe lekin tumne har baar vahi galti ki aur iss baar mujhe khooni keh dia vo bhi meri apni beti ka??

Karan: I know bohot galtiyaan ki hai meine..gaalti nhi gunaah kiye hai aur unki sazaa bhi tum mujhe de chuki ho..ye ek mahina  meine kaise guzaara hai sirf mein jaanta hu..poori raat jaaga hoon..tumhe gale lagaake sone ki aadat thi na..mushkil se subah ko 2 ghante neend aati thi..poora din tumhari ignorance sehne ki himmat nhi thi to poora din academy mein bitaya..tumhari photos se baat karta tha..kyuki tum nahi karti thi na.. haa bohot galtiyaan ki hai meine lekin usse jyada tumse pyaar kiya hai.

She looks at him surprised.

Karan: Aise mat dekho tum aur mein hum dono jaante hai ki mein tumse aur tum mujhse kitna pyaar karti ho...haa kabhi kaha nhi par pyaar to hai... Maafi ek bohot chhoti cheez hai ..  aur wo maangne laayak bhi nhi hu mein lekin ek chance de do..sirf ek.. please..ab aur nhi saha jaata hai..Tut gya hu mein..marr raha hu mein andar se. Aur agar tum nhi karna chahti maaf fir bhi koi baat nhi..mein intezaar karunga..apni aakhiri saas tak ..apne Marne ta..

She keeps her hand on his mouth..

Preeta (with tears): Marne ki baat mat karo aaj tumhara birthday hai na to Marne ki baatein kyu kar rhe ho??

Karan removes her hand kissing it.

Karan(whispers crying): I am sorry. Maaf kardo..mujhe itni badi sazaa mat do..

She was about to move towards washroom but he holds her hand..

Karan: I love you..

She gets shocked..

Karan: Bohot pyaar karta hu..tumhe aur time chahiye to le lo mujhe mat karo maaf par bas mujhe aise ignore mat karo.. please..

She turns towards hima nd immediately hugs him.

He gets surprised but hugs her back tightly.

Preeta lifts her face from his chest still hugging him.

Preeta: I love you too.

He gets shocked.

Preeta: Ye ek mahina mere liye bhi aasan nhi tha.. har roz Mann karta tha ki tumse baat karu.. tumhe dekhu..tumse ladun par phir dimaag kehta tha ki nhi.. iss baar nhi..

Karan: I am sorry.

Preeta: Pehel meri baat suno..

He keeps his finger on his lips.

She chuckles.

Preeta: Aaj socha tha ki tumhari party mein tumhe maaf kar dungi lekin tumne party hi cancel kardi... Fir socha ki raat mei aaoge tab kar dungi..lekin tum nhi aaye.. fir uss bartender ka phone AA gya. Mein bhi bohot pyaar karti hu tumse..sabse zyada...mere Bajarbattu se.

Karan pouts.

She chuckles and pulls his cheek.

He rubs there cutely.

Karan: Tumhe isse kiss karna chahiye aur tum khich rahi ho..Huhh

She immediately kisses his both cheeks.

He kisses her forehead.

Karan: I promise ab kabhi bhi tumpar Shak nahi karunga..humesha tumhare sath rahunga..tumhara saath dunga.

Preeta looks at him with tears.

Karan wipes them.

Karan: Ab no more tears..

She again hugs him.

Karan: Waise Mera birthday gift..

Before he could complete she places her lips on his.

He gets shocked but kisses her back.

End...

3.6k+ words.

So i finally completed my first TS. This is a very long chapter guys..it took a lot of time to write it..so please vote and comment.

This is my first book with so much votes and also I completed 60 followers so thank you so much for your love and support.

Next OS will be on second marriage track.

Byee..

Yours writer
~Shrusti( ◜‿◝ )♡