Continued.

Suddenly, she gets pulled into an empty classroom by someone. He glares at her. She is about to shout but he keeps his hand on her mouth. She struggles to free herself from his grip. She wriggles and manages to push him away. Her blood boils in rage. She slaps him hard.

Boy (angry): How dare you!!

Preeta (angry): How dare you, Mr. Rishabh Luthra!!!

He was revealed to be Rishabh.

Preeta: How dare you touch me!!

Rishabh: How dare you touch my brother!! Tumhari himmat kaise huyi usse itna hurt karne ki!!

Preeta: Waise hi, jaise tumhari himmat huyi mujhe hurt karne ki!!

Rishabh: Meine tumhe hurt kiya hai na...toh tum bhi mujhe hurt karo!! Mere bhai ko nahi!!

Preeta: Tum mujhe hurt kar paaye kyun ki mein tumse pyaar karte thi!! Mein tumhe hurt kar paa rahi hu kyun ki tum Karan se pyaar karte ho!! Tumhe kabhi mujhse koi farak padta hi nahi tha!! Lekin ab mujhe pata hai ki tumhe kisse farak padta hai!!

She smirks, while Rishabh gets angry. She moves closer to him, while he takes a step back.

Preeta: Dard ho raha hai na...apne bhai ko aise dekh kar...khoon khaul raha hai na...man kar raha hai ki meri jaan lelo...lekin tum kuch nahi kar paoge...jaante ho kyun!! Kyun ki tum ek bohot hi bade darpok ho!! You are a damn coward!! The worst thing you can be is a coward, to the self, to others. For the coward will sacrifice anything to save the physical self, even at the price of emotional death; they are willing to become a monster, to let the dark-self live where their true-self once did. Just like you!!!! Tum kabhi kisi se pyaar kar hi nahi sakte!! Tum sirf ek selfish insaan ho!! (crying) meine tumhe pyaar karne ke liye force nahi kiya tha...agar nahi karte the toh bol dete...baat ko shaadi tak leke jaane ki zaroorat nahi thi!! Lekin nahi!! Rishabh Luthra ko kisi ka dil tode bina chain kaha!!

Rishabh: Sunno Preeta...

Preeta: Nahi!! Bohot sunna liya tumne aur bohot sunn liya meine!! Ab tum meri baat kaan khol kar suno!! Jab tak tum mujhse maafi nahi mangoge tab tak mein tumhare bhai ko nahi chodungi!!

Rishabh: Mein tumse maafi kabhi nahi mangunga!!!

Preeta (smirks): Bohot achchi baat hai!! Phir apne bhai ko tadapta dekho!! Mein usse shaadi karke uski life barbaad kar dungi...

Rishabh: Tum aisa kuch nahi karogi...

Preeta: Mein aisa hi karungi...aur tab tak karungi jab tak tum mere pairo me gir kar mujhse maafi ki bhik nahi mangte!!!

Rishabh: Preeta!!

She leaves, angrily. Rishabh punches the wall in anger.

Rishabh (in mind): Nahi!! Mujhe kuch bhi karke isse Karan se dur rakhna hoga!! Aakhir iss hi wajah se toh meine pyaar ka natak kiya tha...nahi...mujhe kuch karna hoga!!

Later.

Preeta is walking in the corridor, thinking about her decision. What did she just say to Rishabh!! She just agreed to marry Karan. Was she really ready to marry him??

Preeta (in mind, lost): Haan...mujhe yeh karna hi hoga...mujhe Karan se shaadi karni hogi!! Tab mein usse aur torture kar paungi...Rishabh ko aur tadpa paungi...Yes!! Mein Karan se shaadi karke rahungi!!

The mere thought of torture and revenge had taken over her sanity. She was losing it. Not just her mind, but her heart too, and that too to Karan. She was walking down the stairs when she twisted her leg and was about to fall but two strong arms held her protectively. Not letting anything hurt her. She closes her eyes in fear, while he gets lost in her innocent face. It is still the same face. The same fear of falling down. The same innocence. He smiles. She opens her eyes to see the most handsome pair of chocolate brown orbs lost in her. She too feels attracted towards them. She doesn't know what is happening to her. All she knows is that now, it is not in her control. She smiles lightly. He gets shocked seeing her smile and comes back to his senses. He places her softly on her spot and turns to leave. She holds his hand gently. She calls out his name almost like a whisper, which sends chills down his spine.

Preeta (softly): Karan...

He stops. He looks back at her hand. She immediately takes it back. His eyes then travel towards her face.

Karan (just as softly as her): Hmmm...

She sees his hand covered with his sleeve, which was usually not his style. She knew why he had done that. She took him to the library and closed the door.

Karan: Preeta yeh...

One glare of hers was enough for him to shut his mouth. He keeps his finger on his lips, making a cute pout. She chuckles seeing his face. She makes him sit on the table and gently rolls up his sleeve. She gets horrified to see what she done to him. Tears formed in her eyes. She immediately closed her eyes to stop her tears but the ghastly vision of his bruised hand came in front of her eyes. It was burnt. Blood wouldn't stop flowing from the cuts she had given him. It was horrible.

Flashback.

A party was going on. Everybody was seen enjoying. Well, not everybody. One person was standing in the corner, with red eyes. He was seeing how happy his love was with somebody else. He couldn't take it. But, he didn't even want to snatch the happiness off of his brother and his love's face. No, he couldn't be selfish. He is broken out of his trance by a palm on his shoulder. He turns to see Sameer and Shrishti there.

Shrishti: Karan sir aap...

Karan: Shrishti, mein yaha thik hu...tum log jao...roka enjoy karo...bhai aur...bha...

He was unable to say it. He could just not call her anybody else's. He didn't have the guts.

Sameer: Aap unse pyaar karte hai na...

Karan looks at him, shocked.

Shrishti: Kya, ab aise shocked reaction mat dijiye...hum sab jaante hai...

Karan: Woh meri kabhi nahi ho sakti Shrishti...woh kisi aur se pyaar karti hai...

Sameer (seeing Preeta): Par bhai mujhe toh aisa nahi lagta...

Karan (confused): Kyun??

Shrishti turns Karan's face towards Preeta. Though she was with Rishabh, she was searching for someone. No, not someone. She was searching for him. Her roka was going on but her eyes were only searching for that one person she had always wanted by her side.

Shrishti: Woh aap hi ko dhund rahi hai...

Later.

Preeta was still searching for Karan in the party, while he was keeping an eye on her, still hiding. She had a glass of juice in her hand. She was walking when she bumped into a pillar and the glass broke in her hand. She screamed in pain. Karan, not able to take it, runs up to her, while Rishabh remains unaffected.

Karan (panicking): Babydoll are you okay!!

She was crying. Not just because of the pain, but because she was getting to see him after such a long time. She smiled. He takes her upstairs to his room and makes her sit on the bed.

Karan: Kitna khoon nikal raha hai!! Tum apna dhyaan nahi rakh sakti kya, bajarbatti!! Humesha mujhe pareshan karna achcha lagta hai kya!!

All this while she was just smiling, tearfully. He sighs and takes the first aid box. He gently cleans her wound.

Karan: Apna dhyaan rakha karo, babydoll...chot tumhe lagti hai...aur...

Preeta: Aur...

Karan: Aur dard...

Preeta: Dard...

Karan (avoiding eye contact): Tumhari family ko hota hai...Shrishti, Sarla aunty, uncle, Rishabh, mom, dad...

Preeta (looking at him): Aur tumhe??

He looks in her eyes. She gets shocked seeing the tears. She gets her answer. He doesn't get hurt. He gets destroyed. She cups his face from her other hand.

Preeta: Mein bilkul thik hu Karan, choti si chot hai...jaldi thik ho jayegi...

He just nods. She wipes his tears.

Preeta: Itna farak padta hai meri chot se...

Karan (tearfully): Bilkul bhi nahi...

She chuckles. He bandages her hand and kisses it softly. She feels a sensation. Both smile and leave downstairs.

Flashback ends.

They say history repeats itself. Yes, it does. But, they don't say if the roles of the characters are the same. Last time he was the one who had to endure her pain. But this time, it was her. She found herself at exactly the same place he was, that day.

_______________________________________

Precap:-
Stuck in the library.