"Why is everyone taking his side?"

Sarla Arora looked at her with pleading eyes while Preeta shook her head, totally determined.

"He has been doing too much. He has registered you in the University. He has been bringing those books, medicines, and things to eat. He is being too much polite, Preeta. Don't push him so much."

Preeta breathed and lowered her eyes. "I can't. He is rich. Those things were not a big deal for him."

". . . and living in his friend's home? His own family is hating him for you. They aren't allowing him to enter home. He is suffering as much as you. He is getting the punishment, Preeta. He is scared of losing you. Don't test him like such," her mother said softly while putting hand on her shoulder.

Preeta looked at her mother. "You know what he did, mummy. You know how he behaved. I can't forget it. I can't forgive him. I won't back up this time."

"You know, he is sorry. Is this how, we maintain our relations? Is he not putting full efforts? In this whole week, has he left a day to not see you here? Hasn't he requested you every time? Ask for your forgiveness? You know, he is regretting. This is not the end, Preeta. There can be so many troubles ahead in life. You both need to face them together. You both have to be together."

Preeta's eyes turned glossy as she gulped. "He would hurt me again. I can't."

"He has learnt the lesson, Preeta. Be on his place and try to feel. You too would have been angry. I know, he was harsh but apologies need to be accepted if they are genuine," explained her mother.

"Don't break him, Preeta. Wrong or right, whatever he does. He does it all in your love."

A sob erupted from her throat as she covered her mouth but suddenly the bell rang and both the ladies got alert. Without giving her mother a glance, Preeta ran upstairs to her room.

Her heart started beating faster knowing it would be him. Everyday, at six, he was directly coming from office to check on her, beg her forgiveness. He would try to request her, talk to her parents.

But she took her stand. She knew that she wasn't wrong and suffered for no reason.

He needed to suffer just like her. He needed to know how it felt when someone you love, don't trust you enough.

She didn't trust him as he could do this again. He could get angry on her again for no reason.

She won't forgive him for this. She won't. Even if a week had passed. Even if her parents were pitying him. Even if she loved him.

A sudden knock startled her but Preeta didn't reply. She quietly stared at the door and gulped when it was knocked again.

"Preeta, open the door. He is gone. He just came to give these books. He was telling about going to Mumbai for a week," her mother said through the door.

She frowned.

"I don't know what he said properly. He was talking about some deals. Take these books and some medicines are there too."

Preeta felt her heart drowning in pain. She clenched her jaws and felt her eyes burning with hatred. She opened the door and saw her mother looking at her apologetically.

"He didn't say anything?"

Her mother smiled sadly. "He requested me to take care of you."

Preeta's lower lip trembled in betrayal. "That's it? Take care of me. Just that for me. His wife is newly pregnant and he just said, take care. This is the son-in-law, you adore so much. This is how he cares for me. Here, I am conflicted if I should forgive him or not. I miss Kritika and Mom. I want to meet them. I want him to ask for my forgiveness again and again. But guess what? Mumbai is more important. His deals are more important than his pregnant wife," she spat harshly.

"Maybe, I have expected too much from him. He doesn't trust me. He doesn't care if our relationship is at stake. He just needs to complete his bloody deals," she sobbed.

Her mother gasped and shook her head. "It's just a week. You had already been living without him. Another week won't matter. It will pass soon."

Preeta sniffled and looked blankly at her mother. "Still defending him. Aren't you? It's just a week. You have seen how I have passed this week. Awake all night and crying all day. This is how I am without his efforts. But all he is doing, is going to office tours. Not caring if I was here affected by his careless actions."

"Preeta," her mother tried to reason but Preeta shook her head.

"Just leave me alone. He didn't even bother to come up and meet me. I was angry. I was taking my stand. But all over, I was his wife. I still am. How much angry I am, he shouldn't have care and had tried to convince me. Just leave me alone. Don't even call me for dinner," she sobbed while closing her door.

Before she could close the door, a hand pushed the door from getting closed. Preeta looked at her mother pleadingly.

"Please, mummy. I don't have much energy left. I . . ." She stopped when her eyes fell on the hand.

Sarla Arora smiled at her apologetically and turned around to walk downstairs. Preeta looked at her open-mouthed and gasped when she saw her husband finally coming in front.

Her jaws clenched in anger and it irked her more seeing a faint smile on his face. She tried to close the door again, but just like before he pushed it back.

"You are using your power over a pregnant woman," she spat while trying her best to close the door.

"I don't care as long as she is my wife. I need to be inside with her," he retorted back while getting himself inside through the half-opened door.

Preeta stopped moving and sighed when she saw him squeezing himself through the space. Her lip trembled while she stepped away from him and started looking away.

"I was your husband. I still am. However angry you are, I will convince you again and again to come back home with me."

Preeta swallowed at hearing his words and felt her eyes burning. She closed them and sighed.

The room turned silent until she heard his footsteps. His hand reached her waist as he slowly turned her around.

"You have punished me for a whole week. I too have tried my best to make it up for you. We don't have to bring it too far. Come back home with me, Preeta."

She shook her head and sobbed. Karan sighed and hugged her but Preeta tried to push him.

"Stop."

"No, I won't. You have been playing with me for so long. Just go, Karan."

Karan glared at her and hugged her tightly. "Don't ever say that again. My love is not a game, Preeta. It's real. So real. We will be having a child. We need to sort us out."

Preeta looked at him with teary eyes. "It's sorted. I am not ready to play this all over again. You should go back home, Karan."

Karan breathed while staring at her. "Not without you. Too much time has been wasted, Preeta. Our child needs our attention. Stop tormenting me. Please, forgive me."

Preeta gulped while watching his eyes turning glossy. She knew how much efforts he had put. She knew how many times he had apologised. But was his actions forgivable?

Even if it wasn't, then his efforts had made it forgivable for her.

But she was still afraid.

She lowered her eyes and sighed. "I am scared to go through this again."

Karan cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead. "It won't happen, I promise. I can't afford to make such a mistake again."

Preeta sobbed at his words and shook her head. "It's too much. I don't know how to start. Going home back. Facing mom and Kritika. What of dad? I can't meet their eyes."

Karan pulled her hand and made her sat on the bed. Kneeling in front of her, he looked at her. "Do you know that they never believed those photos? They have threw me out too because they won't allow me without you. They love you more than me, Preeta. Everyone misses you. I am dying. Just forgive me."

Preeta stared at him blankly. "What if something like this happens again? Would you again throw a pile of papers on my face?"

Karan lowered his eyes and put his head on her knees. "I am sorry. I won't do it again, I promise. I had dreamt of me and you. Happy. With our kids. With our family. Not like this, Preeta."

He looked up at her and Preeta's​ mouth opened as she saw a tear sliding down his cheek. "Don't break me, Preeta. Don't break me. I love you."

Preeta sniffled. "Promise, you won't feel insecure. Promise me, you will trust me."

Karan chuckled and shook her head. "You will the death of me, Preeta Karan Luthra. My everything is yours. My heart, my trust, my faith. I did a mistake. A big one and I am paying for it every single day since I did it. I am sorry."

"I need you to be happy that we would be becoming parents. I need you to be happy so when our child comes in this world and we would together love him. I need you to be happy because my happiness lies in yours," he said while looking at her.

Preeta stared at him.

"My happiness lies if my husband kisses me to make me forget all those bad things. Can you make me happy, Karan?" she whispered while blinking.

Karan smiled and let out a chuckle. Wiping his eyes, he got up and wrapped his arms tightly around her.

"You are mine. Only mine. I won't let you go. Never," he muttered while snuggling his nose in her neck and breathing hard.

"I love you," he whispered while sniffling.

Preeta closed her eyes and smiled while feeling his tears wetting her bare shoulder and neck. She pulled away from the hug and stared at him.

Karan, without wasting any moment, caught her lips and moved them violently. Preeta moaned in delight and felt herself laying on the bed as he pushed his weight on her.

She ran fingers through his hair while Karan moved his lips passionately, nipping on her lower lip. He caressed her waist while groaning himself when she too kissed back actively.

The environment turned hot and Karan panted while still stealing kisses from her.

Preeta laughed and wiped her tears. "You are so mean. You made my mother fool me."

Karan smiled cheekily. "I had to hear it from you. I knew you missed me too."

Her smiled faded as she swallowed. "I couldn't​ sleep. Without you."

Karan kissed her lips and smiled back at her. "Nor could I. Moreover, Kabir would curse me all day and night just like my family. I was getting tortured every time. You have such a fan following. Don't you?"

Preeta bit her lip and blushed. "The right one gets more supporters."

Karan hummed while caressing her waist. "Why do you have to be so right?"

She smiled and squirmed shyly. "To make you realise, whenever you are wrong."

Karan blinked and looked at her seriously. "Can I live without you? I don't think I can."

Preeta flushed. She giggled while saying,"Maybe, I can."

"Oh yeah?"

"Oh yeah."

She giggled when Karan started tickling her and that's how, the difficult phase was finally crossed.

Their understanding had reached another level just like their relationship.

Karan didn't know what good things he had done to get someone like her in his life. He just knew that she was his.

What made it more satisfying was that he was equally hers.

"Have you had thought that arrogant, sexy biker would be the father of your child?"

"Have you had thought sweet and hot school girl, would be the mother of your child?"

She giggled when he tickled her again. "You are getting quite blunt. Aren't you?"

Preeta looked at him amusingly and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I have learnt from the best."

Karan smirked thoughtfully. "Your breasts have gotten quite bigger. Soft and big. You know. . ."

Preeta blushed. "I didn't tell you to prove your bluntness."

Karan smirked naughtily. "Still. It's been quite time since we did some fun. Isn't it?"

"Not at my parent's home."

"Then, come home."

Preeta chuckled while shaking her head. "How did I fell for a shameless man like you?"

Karan kissed her neck while breathing hard. "Let me remind you, baby."

Preeta stopped him again while Karan breathed heavily.

"I am taking you home, Mrs. Luthra. Like, right now."

Preeta chuckled and kissed his cheek.

"Then, take me back home, Mr. Luthra. Like really, right now."

__________