Author's POV

As the sun shined bright on Hemadri's face, she opened her eyes. There was a smooth smile on her face, she was thrilled to be with the love of her life. She lifted her head up and realized she had slept on his chest. She looked at his face, he looked so innocent and cute while sleeping.

She just wanted to keep staring at him all her life. She touched his face lightly and with this, he slightly opened his eyes. He looked at her and she peeked at his lips. He smiled at her and she noticed some sadness behind that smile. He sat up straight and rubbed his face for a few seconds. She hugged him from behind and said "jante ho kitna miss kiya hai maine ye sab.."

"maine bhi" he replied. 

He parted her way and she looked at him "kya hua?" she asked

Aarav eyed her and smiled "bhagogi mere saath?" 

Hemadri looked at him state of shock "What?" 

"nahi dekh sakta tumhe kisi aurka hote hue... tumhare saath rehna chahta hun ab" he said

She gets tears in her eyes, this is what she wanted to hear from him for a long time. "tumhe nahi lagta der ho gayi hai ye sab kehne ki?" she asked

"hmm.. isliye puch raha hun bhagogi?" he said looking straight into her eyes. 

Hemadri was elated hearing him but then realized her family. She can't hurt them again, her father won't be able to tolerate another insult and disrespect because of her. "nahi.." she denied

He expected that answer from her "kyun?" he asked

She glared at him "What do you mean by kyun?? I love you... main Saahil ke saath kabhi khush nahi rah paungi samjhe tum aur kal jo hamare beech hua uske baad toh main soch bhi nahi sakti uske saath puri zindagi guzarne ke baare mein lekin... main mumma papa ko bhi dukh nahi de sakti" she said with teary eyes. 

He held her hand and looked down. He wanted to be with her. He wanted to marry her but it was too late now. "janta hun bahut der ho gayi hai hema... galti meri hi hai tumne jab kaha tha tab hi tumhari baat maan leni chahiye thi mujhe.. I am sorry maine koshish nahi ki hamare pyaar ke ladne ki tum jao.. karlo shaadi I don't deserve you" he apologized

She lifted his face up and smiled a bit.  She placed his hand on top of hers hand and asked "kasam khake kaho.. Tum sach mein chahte ho meri shaadi Saahil se ho jaaye? Tumhe iss baat ka koi ghum nahi hai?"

He remained silent, he jerked his hand off and she got her answer. She cupped his face and said "mere jism pe.. Rooh pe sirf tumhara haq hai.. Main kisiko ye haq nahi de paungi Aarav.. kyun mujhe iss tarah jaane diya tumne haan? ek baar bhi roka nahi London se jab main jaa rahi thi"

"wajah tumhe pata hai.." he said. Aarav looked into her eyes which showed how much she loves him. He too loves her immensely but he can't let her betray her parents again. They will never accept their relationship after knowing that he is an escort. He smiles lightly "tumhari family mujhe kabhi accept nahi karegi aur main janta hun maa baap se door rishte tootne ka dard.. nahi chahta tha usse tum bhi guzron" he said

Hemadri thought for a moment "thik hai toh abhi mumma papa ke paas jaate hai unhe kehte hai sab sach" She said

"haan jaake bolo tum mujhse pyaar karti ho, jo ladka ek escort hai.. phir tumhare maa baap khushi khushi uss shaadi ko tod denge hai na?" he asked

"Toh tum chahte ho main zindagi bhar dard mein rahun?? Tumne kaha tha na mujhse jabtak tum ho mujhe koi takleef nahi hogi... par tumhara dil todna, mujhe Myra ke saath pictures bhejna ye sab bahut takleef deta raha..." She expressed.

He nodded in yes.. "Hema.. main tumhare sar ki kasam khake kehta hun maine kabhi rocco banke bhi Myra ko chua nahi hai! Meri dost Chetna mujhe sambhalti thi jab bhi tumne mujhe apni aur Saahil ke photos bheje.. Main tab bhi nahi behka.. Mere liye pyaar sirf tum ho aur koi nahi... aur meri majburi hai ki main chahke bhi tumhare paas nahi rah sakta...  tumhare papa ko abhi abhi heart attack aate aate bacha hai.. Wo nahi sehen kar payenge ye" he said with tears in her yes.

She closed her eyes for a moment, she never felt so helpless before. "toh bhaag jaye?" she asked. 

"nahi.. main toh bas aise hi kah raha tha.." he refused. 

She looked at him and said "Shrestha ko meri jagah baitha dete hai aur hum bhaag jaate hai? hmm?" she asked as she wanted to be with him. He too wanted the same but it could worsen the situation. 

She glanced at him and he was still sitting at his place. She lifted the blanket and threw it away "utho Aarav! Hum yahan se abhi bhaag rahe hai..."

"Main nahi jaunga" he denied

She jumped on him and shot a deadly glare "Aarav.. abhi toh tumne kaha tumhe bhagna hai ab main maan gayi toh mana kar rahe ho?" she asked

"haan kyuki jaise tum nahi chahti tumhare maa baap ko hurt ho waise main bhi nahi chahta.." he replied. 

"toh uss narak mein lautna chahte ho? jahan tumhe koi khushi hai hi nahi? mere saath hote ho toh kitne alag hote ho tum.." she cupped his face, both were concerned about each other and wanted to stay together.

"Tumhe uss narak se bachana chahta hun! sorry maine kaha mujhe bhagna hai tumhare saath par main aisa nahi kar sakta.. I know main phirse tumhe hurt kar raha hun.. par" he sighed. 

"Aarav.." She sighed deeply

He looked at her and she cries "main kaise karun ye shaadi.. nahi kar sakti nahi.."

Aarav held her face in between his hand and wiped tears from her face with his lips. She shuts her eyes. 

"mujhse pyaar karti ho na??"

She shook her head positively with tears brimming down her eyes. "Toh mere liye ye shaadi karlo.. Saahil ki samaaj mein ijzat hai.. Wo tumhe khush rakhega mere saath rahogi toh sirf badnaami milegi... please" he pleaded to her despite his heart shattering into pieces by letting her go.

She pushed him back and began to hit him "rah paoge mere bina??" she asked

"Koshish karunga.." he replied and she hugged him tightly. Aarav caressed her head for the last time before parting away from her.

"toh kyun ho yahan haan? wapas jao" I said

"jo sapne tumne sajaye they wo pure nahi kar sakta lekin tumhe dulhan banna dekhta chahta hun meri nahi toh kisi aur hi sahi.." he said with his voice turning soak.

She closed her eyes for a moment, they recalled each and every moment they spent with each other. 

"nahi bhaagna hai na?" he asked with a smile and she shook her head no as she can't hurt her parents again. 

Someone knocked on the door, Hemadri parted the hug and Aarav panicked. She turned to him and said "Shrestha hogi.. Ghabrao mat use sab pata hai hamare baare mein"

"Hmm janta hun isliye toh wo mujhe yahan se jaane nahi de rahi thi." Aarav said

Hemadri opened the door and Shrestha looked at her. She eyed behind at Aarav and smiled "Looks like.. Yahan toh shaadi se pehle hi dulhan ne apne ex-bf ke saath suhagraat mana li hai.." she teased her

Hemadri glared at her "Shut up!"

"Chal.. sab uth gaye hai aur shaadi ki tayari bhi shuru ho gayi hai.. Chachi puch rahi hai tere baare mein" Shreshta replied. Hemadri nodded, she turned to Aarav and looked at him for one last time. He smiled with pain in his eyes. 

Hemadri walks out of the room closing the door with a bang. Aarav closed his eyes and let fresh tears escape his eyes. 

He got off the bed, wore his clothes, and moved downstairs to his room. He freshened up and heard a knock on his door from the bathroom. He turned off the shower, picked up the towel wiped his body, and wrapped it around his waist.

He stepped out and opened the door. He saw Myra standing there, he got angry seeing her and was about to shut the door. Myra stopped it with her hands "Aarav.. What??"

"I don't want to talk to you Myra! Tumne hema ko jhooth bola uss raat hamare beech kuch hua tha?? How could you?" he shouted at her.

Myra was shocked hearing that, she realized last night Shreshta lied to her and indeed he and Hemadri were together.

"Aarav.. Mai wo.." she paused

"Please mujhe nahi janna hai aisa tumne kyun kiya! You owe an explanation to hemadri! Tumne uska trust toda hai.. Just leave" he said and closed the door on her face.

Myra sighed deeply "damm.. No no.." she walk to the corridor. "Aise kaise?? Nahi.. abhi shaadi mein kuch ghante hai aur ab hema ko sach pata chal gaya hai toh wo zaroor shaadi nahi karegi... I know her wo Aarav se bahut pyaar karti hai! Mujhe kuch toh karna padega jisse ye shaadi ho hi jaaye" she thought.

Aarav thought about Hemadri's words and those messages she was talking about. He checked his phone but couldn't find any such messages or pictures on his phone "mere aur Myra ke aise pictures toh hai nahi.."

He received a text from Chetna "Come soon! I am missing you" he replied back and then looked at the media received from her. He was shocked to find the picture when he was trying to help Myra.

"Iska matlab Chetna ne mere phone se Hemadri ko message bheje!" he concluded. He remembered all the incidents when he was lost in her memories, how Chetna was trying to gain his attention. She also desired to kiss him in that weak moment.

"Kyun chetna?? Mera vishwas toda tumne.. Main paagal unhe hi bharosa karta raha jinhone meri hema ko takleef di..." he finally understood everything. Myra had been playing not with his but Hemadri's mind too. She tried her best to manipulate both of us again each other.

Hemadri was inside the room, chuda chadai ritual was performed and Rano blessed her.

"Chal beta.. Ab jaldi se ready ho jaa.." Rano said

Hemadri nodded and got up from her place. 

She held Rano's hand and took her to the side "mumma mujhe kuch baat karni hai aapse bahut zaroori" 

"haan bol" Rano said with a smile

"Maa.. Saahil I mean main.." 

"kya?" Rano questioned. 

"Ranoji.." the voice called her. 

'baatein baad mein jaake ready ho jaa.." Rano said and rushed to attend to her husband. She sighed deeply and stared at the wedding lehenga, again she was standing at the cross path like earlier. One side is her love, Aarav who cares for her, protects her and always brings a smile to her face while another side is her family and Saahil whom she doesn't love but his choice of her parents. He is well-settled and rich but Aarav has love and respect to give her.