Note-: All the information written about last rituals are taken from Google and no bashing is allowed for that.

It was time for puja now, everyone was sitting around holy fire and were praying for the peace of their beloved ram and ishita. Each one of them were having their thoughts, slowly and steadily they were coming into acceptance that they have actually lost them. That they won't be able to see them, love them, feel them again.

As soon as puja got over, men of the house and elder brother of ishita put ram and ishita on their shoulders to carry them to their final destination.

House has filled with cries and agony again. Loud cries were heard in the mansion and now everyone was shedding tears. Mrudula was going to run behind them but Nandini, aradhya and myrah stopped her... they were crying seeing her condition. Mrudula was going all crazy and was trying to get out of their holds.

Mrudula-(shouting+ crying bitterly) maaaaa, papaaa!!!!

Myrah-(crying) diii please calm down... please diii

Karan's pov- This is not done mom-dad! This is not done. You broke your promise. You have hurt us a lot. Still, I assure you... I'm gonna stay with mrudula forever, she will always find me behind her, supporting her, loving her. Always.

Nandini's POV-  Ishita, sleep peacefully beautiful, I promise you, mrudula is our responsibility now. We will always protect her. We can never take your place in her life but we will try to be a parental figure for her like you guys were for Karan.

Manik's POV- This is wrong sanki. You did very wrong. How can you leave our kids just like that? I promise you, buddy, I'll always protect our kiddo. I'll always guide her and pamper her like you would have done. Sleep well buddy, your responsibilities are mine now.

With these promises, they finally came out of the house and as soon as ram and ishita were taken out of Malhotra mansion, mrudula fall with a thud sound.

Nandini-(worriedly) mrudula!!!

********************************

It's been two weeks since that dreadful incident. All the guests have left but Mrudula's condition is still the same.
She didn't even let Karan came near her. Everyone tried talking to her but she didn't respond and now everyone was getting worried for her.

It was lunchtime when nandini again walked inside Mrudula's room to make her eat. In these two weeks, she has allowed only manan near her. They used to forcefully make her eat food or else she would have left eating as well.

Nandini walked towards mrudula who was looking out of the window sitting on the floor lost in her thoughts.

Nandini-(keeping her hands on her shoulder) bachaa...

Mrudula looked at her and then at food. She didn't want to eat anything but knew Nandini won't let her rest empty stomach so didn't argue.

Nandini-(making her eat) till when you are going to be like this meri jaan? Atleast talk to us, cry if you want to, shout but atleast say something. I can understand what you are going through baby but you need to let your emotions out.

Mrudula-(slowly) I'm fine.

Nandini sighed but continued making her eat. In these weeks she has become really dull. She has forgotten eating, smiling, sleeping. Unknown to her the most affected soul is manik and karan who are breaking bit by bit seeing her condition. Manik still gets his peace when he hugs mrudula or makes her sleep at night but with Karan, she has become all distant making him feel really scared and insecure.

After a long silent eating session, mrudula looked up at Nandini and said- maa I have decided something

Nandini- what baby?

Mrudula- can I tell you all of you about this together?

Nandini- ( caressing her hair) sure Jaan, wait I'll call everyone. They are sitting in the hall only.

Mrudula-(holding her hands) no wait, let's go down.

For a moment nandini becomes really happy. In these two weeks, it's going to be the first time when mrudula is walking out of her bedroom and she even wants to talk to everyone.

She helped mrudula stand up and came down carefully holding her. Seeing them coming down everyone stood up and when Mrudula looked at karan, his heart skipped a beat. He has seen her looking at him after full fourteen days. She didn't allow him to come near her, so he used to sneak into her bedroom at night and used to cry silently looking at her pale face.

Manik walked near them and holds Mrudula from another side.  Aarav shifted to another side and they made space for her to sit but she kept on standing.

Manik-(lovingly) what happened kiddo? Come na, sit.

Nandini- she wants to talk to us about something.

Cabir-(lovingly) yeah sure say na beta, what happened?

Mrudula-(looking down)  I have decided something.

Aarav-what?

Mrudula- I want to go back to San Francisco. I have accepted the job offer which I got earlier.

Everyone was happy that finally, she is moving on. Even though it means they have to move back, they were ready for this. At this point to make her feel good they were ready to do anything.

They started congratulating her but karan could feel something more is there. Something which she is finding hard to say.

Manik-(happily) this is awesome bache..we are so proud of you. You definitely should go for it.

Mrudula- ummm... actually..

Aradhya-(confusingly) what happened mrudu? Why are you upset about this?

Mrudula looked up and looked at Karan's eyes straight- I want to go there alone.

Everyone's smiles faded away while karan closed his eyes tightly looking down, he was expecting something like this. The way she didn't let him come near her, the way she was telling about this decision today, he knew something big is coming up for him.

Nandini-(shockingly) mrudula? But why baby?

Manik-( cupping her cheeks) did we do something wrong jaano? Are you mad at us? We are sorry kiddoo but please don't leave us na.

Mrudula-( tearly) don't say like this appa. I'm not mad at anyone, I just need some alone time. I can't stay here cause everything is making me remember maa papa. I'm feeling suffocated here. Please understand my pov too na appa... please

Aarav- but mrudula why do you want to go alone? We can understand you need alone time but at least let us come with you. How can we leave you alone in this condition?

Myrah came towards mrudula and cryingly said- please don't leave us na dii.

More tears escaped from Mrudula's eyes. It's not easy for her as well neither she is doing it deliberately but she seriously needs to go away from this mess. Everything and everyone is making her remember about the loss she has to suffer. She is not punishing anyone but she knows if she won't go away now, she will definitely end up doing something with herself. Just so that she can be with them for the long run, she is going away for now. She knows karan needs her, if she has lost her maa-papa, he too has lost her mom-dad. At this point, he doesn't need anyone but her. She knows every damn thing still she can't help but choose this option at this moment.

Nandini is very well aware of her suffering, she has gone through the same years ago and she knows what it's like to live without parents but she also knows mrudula is doing a big mistake. The only support Nandini had and the only person which helped her in staying sane was Manik during her times and she knows only karan and Mrudula can be each other's support but still she is not going to force her for anything. Her heart is breaking seeing her both children like this but they all are helpless.

Diya- please mrudula, don't go please...or at least let us come with you. Please yaar.

Varun- yeah mrudu, don't push us away like this. You are our angel, how can you go away like this? Haan?

Everyone started forcing her but manan and Karan stayed quiet. They know what mrudula is going through. They know she has her reasons. Her going away was hurting them the most but still, they were standing quietly.

Having enough Karan took a deep breath and said in a loud tone- enough!

Everyone became silent and Mrudula closed her eyes thinking even Karan will ask her to stop but what he said next shocked her.

Karan-(slowly) let her go.

Aarav-(shockingly) what? Are you mad Karan? You are letting her go? Seriously?

Karan-(sternly) yes, I'm letting her go cause she needs this. If she wants to go away from me, from us then let her.

He looked at Manik who was already looking at him and said- can you ask the workers to clean the apartment we had there? She can stay there. It's safe too and close to her workplace and university.

Manik just nodded his head and then karan left towards his room leaving everyone shocked except manan.

Mrudula-( slowly) maa can you help me in packing, please? I have to leave in a week.

Nandini- sure baby, you go upstairs... I'll ask kaka to bring bags.

Mrudula nodded and went upstairs. That's when aarav spoke angrily.

Aarav-(furiously) what the fuck is wrong with Karan? When mrudula was not talking to him from 2 weeks, he was so distress and now he is letting her go? Just like this? When she herself doesn't know when she is going to return.

Nobody said anything for few mins and that's when navya asked slowly which was scaring everyone in the house already.

Navya- (low tone) what if mrudula left Karan forever?

Everyone's heart skipped a beat listening to this. They know if this happened, everything will be finished.

********************************

It was nighttime, manan were laying in each other's arms silently. A lot has been happening these days and now they were really tired. To get some peace they decided to be in each other arms for some time. Nandini was going to help mrudula in packing but saw her sleeping on couch placed there, so decided not to disturb her and helped her tomorrow.

After a long silence, Nandini looked up to see manik looking at the wall ahead of them.

Nandini- what are you thinking manii?

Manik- can we do something nandini? For our children?

Nandini- mrudu needs time Manik...we can't force her.

Manik- but...when appa-amma left, you wanted to be with me right? You choose to stay with us...then why kiddo wants to leave? Are we lacking somewhere?

Nandini-(sighing) no Manik... it's not because we are not loving her enough or we are lacking somewhere. If I wanted to be with you guys in my tough time that doesn't mean everyone would want the same Manik. Everyone will choose the same way to cope up with their sufferings. At some point or the other we all need "our time" and right now mrudula needs one. I just hope karan understand this, we have to be really strong Manik. We have to take care of both of them maniii and we can't let anyone get hurt because of us.

Manik-hmm, don't worry...I know if you are here we can get through anything.

He pulled her closer and kisses all over her neck- my sweetestttttttttt babyy. I lovee you jaanu.

Nandini-(snuggling in his bare chest) I love you more monster.

Manik grinned and pulled her more closer if possible and closed his eyes. He can't get any luckier. This tiny little woman wrapped up in his arms is everything to him. The way she has brighten up his world, no bloody person in this entire world can do. He was already living earlier but she made him feel alive.

******************************

Karan was sitting in the balcony with his guitar completely lost in his thoughts when someone came into his room in complete silence.

They were going to shout in his ear when they heard his voice.

Karan-(nonchalantly) don't even try aarav, kiddoo...I know you guys are here.

Aarav-(making a bad face) we weren't trying anything.

Myrah-(pouting) how you always get to know?

They both sat down beside him and aarav wrapped one hand on his shoulder.

Aarav- kya soch rha Hai? ( What are you thinking?)

Karan- nothing

Myrah- (in a low tone) Bhai...why aren't you stopping di?

Karan- cause she wants to go myrah. She is already suffering and I don't want to make her feel more uncomfortable by making her stay here. We all do need our alone time and at this moment she needs one too. We do love each other but at the same time, I don't want to invade her privacy. If she would have wanted me by her side trust me right now I would have been in her room holding her hands, humming a song for her to make her sleep.
She knows I need her, she knows I want to be in her arms but she also knows that she won't be able to make ME feel better if she herself will be breaking from inside and even I don't want that. I want her to heal first and if she thinks she can heal after going away from us for some time then let her do this.
Don't stop her guys, I know you guys love her alot but if you will behave in this way, she won't be able to go.

Myrah-( in trance) you love her alot na bhaiyu?

Karan-( giving her a small smile) I do.

Aarav-(chucking) he is smitten by her.

Karan- (rolling his eyes) as if you are not by aradhya.

Aarav showed him his tongue like a kid and they both started pressing each other neck playfully but myrah was lost in her thoughts. She was thinking about something deeply. In all this no one noticed a shadow standing on the door listening everything.

How was it people?
Mrudula's decision?
Manan?
Karan's thoughts?
What myrah is thinking about?
Siblings being there for each other?