Aarav sighed and walked to her. She looked at him wiped her tears looking away.

He sat beside her and she turned her face away making him smile at her cuteness.

"Kiara! I am sorry."

She did not reply and he sat in front of her making her face him but she closed her eyes denying to look at him.

"I am sorry. When you called me jiju mujhe Radhika ki yaad aa gyi and I got angry."

She opened her eyes and looked at him. Eyelashes wet with tears, nose red with crying and eyes glassy. She looked so innocent.

"You like her?"

She asked and he smiled sadly.

"I won't lie Kiara. I do like her. Shaadi hui thi meri usse. Kuch ghanto ke liye hi sahi aur joothi hi sahi but mere liye toh wo sab sach tha na. My feelings in that fake relationship were true."

(I was married to her. Maybe for a few hours and maybe the marriage was a faux but for me it was true.)

Kiara felt tears pool in her eyes again. What had her dida done? Hurt this man who was so pure at heart.

"But now that's all in the past. Thoda time lagega but I know I will get over it. Kyunki sach toh ye hai na ki maine uske saath apna future dream kia tha."

(It will take some time but I will get over it. Because the truth is that I had dreamt of a life with her.)

A tear fell her eyed which he wiped and said.

"But I promise aaj ke baad no talking about her, no thinking about her. Tum bas mujhe jiju mat bolna please."

(Just don't call me jiju please.)

He said making a face and she smiled nodding.

"Now come on let's have this."

Her smile fell again seeing the halwa and she said.

"Aapne phek dia tha. Maine itni mehnat se banaya tha."

(You threw it. I made it with so much love.)

He smiled and held his ears and she smiled in satisfaction.

"Taste kariye and tell me how is it?"

(Taste it.)

He took a bite and moaned in delight.

"Ye tumne first time banaya hai? Its amazing."

(You made it first time?)

She beamed with happiness and he gave her a bite too. She had it excitedly and gave him a wide smile. Non of them realised how they have shared the same spoon.

Two days later Aarav saw Kiara sitting in the backyard. He plopped down beside her and she gave him a smile.

He smiled back and asked.

"Tumhare college ki chhutiyan chal rhi hai kya?"

(Is there a holiday in your college?)

She looked at him and shook her head.

"Toh jaa kyu nhi rhi?"

(Then why are you not going?)

"Mai jaa skti hu?"

(I can go?)

She asked making him frown.

"Ofcourse. Tumhe aage padhai nhi krni?"

(Don't you want to study further?)

She nodded too quickly.

"Krni hai."

(I want to.)

"Toh phir?"

(Then?)

She looked away and mumbled.

"Kuch nhi."

(Nothing.)

He understood that she was hiding something.

"Kya baat hai?"

(What is it?)

He asked sternly and she looked down.

"Mujhe laga aap logo ko pasand nhi aayega mera college jaana."

(I thought you won't like me going to college.)

He pulled her in a side hug wrapping his arm around her shoulder and said.

"Chal pagal. Aisa kyu laga tumhe? Kiara! Mai kabhi bhi tumhare aur tumhare dreams ke beech deewar nhi banunga. I'll be the one standing beside you in each step. Supporting you throughout."

(Crazy. Why did you think so? I will never be a wall between you and your dreams.)

She looked at him with a newfound adoration and respect and beamed at him making him chuckle.

"Kal se office jaate waqt mai drop kr dunga. Ok?"

(From tomorrow I'll drop you while going to office.)

She nodded happily and he kissed her forehead.

It had been over two months to all the drama and everyone's lives were back on track.

Kiara and Aarav gave grown closer to each other. Not as husband wife but as best friends. He confided everything in her and vice versa.

Right now both of them along with his mother were visiting her parents. She sat on the couch cross legged and all of them were laughing at something her father told them about Kiara and she was pouting at everyone for laughing at her.

The doorbell rang and her mother got up saying she would see. Her smile vanished seeing the person standing there.

"Mumma!"

Radhika uttered emotionally seeing her mother after so long.

"Ab kya krne aai hai yaha? Pehle jitna brizzat hume kr chuki hai wo bhut nhi tha ki baaki bachi kasar puri krne aa gyi?"

(Why are you here now? You have already insulted us so much was that not even that you are here to fulfil the rest?)

"Nhi mumma please aise mat kaho. Meri baat toh sun lo ek baar."

(No mumma please don't say such. Listen to me once.)

"Kaun hai Shalu?"

(Who is it Shalu?)

She heard her husband's voice from behind and Radhika croaked emotionally.

"Papa!"

Everyone stood up seeing Radhika there.

"Kaun hai ye Shalu? Isse kaho yaha se chali jaaye. Hum nhi jaante isse."

(Who is she Shalu? Ask her to leave. We don't know her.)

Radhika felt her heart break listening to her father's cold, emotionless voice.

"Papa please aisa mat kahiye. I am sorry papa."

(Please don't say this.)

"Papa mat kaho mujhe. Agar apna baap maanti toh kabhi aisa nhi krti tu. Kya kami reh gyi thi meri parvarish mai jo tune ye sab kia."

(Don't call me papa. If you considered me your father you wouldn't have done this. What was the fault in my upbringing that you did this.)

Her father asked her angrily.

"Mai darr gyi thi papa. Amar dusri caste se hai aur mujhe laga aap agree nhi karoge."

(I was scared papa. Amar is from other caste and I thought you will not agree.)

It was when she said this they realised that she wasn't alone. She was there with her husband who was standing behind her all the while giving her the emotional support she needed.

"Ek baar mujhse kaha toh hota. Kya maine tumhe wo sab nhi dia jo tumne mujhse maanga hai. Phir ek baar kaha hota."

(You could have said once. Have I not given you everything you asked for. You could have said just once.)

Radhika bowed her head in shame and that's when her husband spoke up.

"I am really sorry uncle. Mai nhi chahta chhup kr shaadi krna lekin Radhika khudko aur hamare rishte ko lekar bhut insecure ho gyi thi. Wo aapko kabhi hurt nhi krna chahti thi. Humne jo kia uski koi explanation nhi denge."

(I didn't want to marry like that but Radhika got very insecure about us and our relationship. She never wanted to hurt you. We won't give any explanation of what we have done.)

Her father looked away and Radhika turned to look at Aarav.

"I am sorry Aarav ji. Inn sab mai maine aapko bhi bhut hurt kia hai. Please ho ske toh mujhe maaf kr dena."

(I have hurt you also. Please forgive me if you can.)

"Galat toh aapne kia hai Radhika. Ek baat mujhse keh dia hota. Mai shaadi kr liye mana kr deta. Aap aaram se uss insaan se shaadi kr skti thi kisse aap chahti thi."

(You have done wrong. You could have said once. I would have denied. You could have married the one you wanted easily.)

She looked down in shame. She had hurt everyone here. She then looked at Aarav's mother.

"I am sorry aunty. Maine aapko bhi bhut takleef di hai. Please mujhe maaf kr dijiye."

(I have troubled you a lot. Please forgive me.)
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