Chapter-50 |•|

My apologies for the late update, caught up with festival things and few personal things.

I have rewritten this part for nearly 3 times and still am not satisfied. I will be making it more effective while editing. Not wanting to delay it anymore, I am publishing this part in haste and I promise this will edited with slight changes which don't loose the grip on the story.

Sensitive content ahead, self harming is highly unacceptable. It feels good to read in story but in real life, it sucks and pains like a bitch. So, kindly, do not take any such steps making the following content your inspiration.

Am warning again, do not take foolish steps reading the following content.

Unedited! Ignore the mistakes.

Longesssttt chapteeerrr ahead.

Enjoy reading!

Am I not looking beautiful to you?

Author's POV

Sitaara and Riaan stood in front of the gates. Seeing Sitaara watchman came running to her and opened the gates. It is a beautiful garden with Viraj's grave in mid of it. The place was bought by her and her friends to make his memory forever there. They both were walking to the grave gulping the lump that formed in their throat. Tears started flowing down her eyes.

At the end of the grave, she collapsed on the ground all of a sudden while Riaan stood there rooted.

"Raj" she screamed at top of her lungs crying. Riaan walked further and touched the grave and a lone tear escaped from his eye. He could hear his best friend painful cries. His heart is paining to see his Viru bhaiyya who used to make her smile, became reason for fading away happiness in her life, who never used to let her shed even a single tear, become the reason for the never-ending cries of her heart, who used to promise her every minute that he will make her life beautiful with his love, now, made her life a nightmare with his disappearance.

Riaan fell on his knees gulping the lump that formed in his throat. His eyes watered seeing the man who saved many lives, is dead now, was brutally murdered.

Riaan traced the photo and his name that was carved on the grave with his trembling fingers.

Viraj Sehgal

"He left me, Rio. He shattered our dreams, broke the promises he made. He lied to me that he will walk with me till eternity. He destroyed the hopes he built in me of our bright future. I loved him with all my heart. I was ready to sacrifice luxurious life only to drown myself in his love, I made myself ready to face the world which I never stepped into. I was ready to see his world, make his world mine but...but he left just like that" Cried Sitaara loudly.

"I don't know if I have to smile relishing the memories he gave or to cry for him being only part of them. I don't know if I have to shed tears because he is gone or because he never asked me to stay strong to survive in his absence. I don't know if I have to cry because I lost him or because I lost myself with him. I want him to look into my eyes, touch me, give that forehead assuring kiss, hear his voice calling me 'pumpkin'" cried Sitaara holding Riaan's hand.

They both cried for some time and sat in the car. Riaan was driving the car while Situ's mind drifted to her past.

Flashback

National sports day,

XXXX international school,

Sitaara was in 3rd grade and Viraj was in 6th grade

Sitaara was walking in mid of the ground with a water bottle dangling around her neck and she was munching chips. Her other four friends were walking behind her two on either side of her.

Viraj was a participant in a running competition. He held both his sister and brother's hands and was walking fast as they were running late for the competition. He made his sister and brother go to their classmates who assembled in audience seats. He was running to their PET sir where all other participants took their positions and he found a cute chubby girl with piggy tails moving to and fro, fair complexion, pink lips, big doelike eyes in her school uniform that reaching just below above her knees who happened to be Sitaara, on his way. Riaan and Vikram saw him running coming towards them at high speed and Sitaara was walking not caring anything eating her chips.

Viraj couldn't control his speed and Sitaara wasn't able to distract herself from eating. To not hurt her, Viraj diverted his way looking at Sitaara and he stepped onto a rock and fell right in front of Sitaara's legs.

Sitaara immediately bent to his level and lifted his face holding his hair. She saw blood from Viraj's nose and gasped. Opening the water bottle she poured it on Viraj's face and dabbed her kerchief on his nose. As her whole kerchief is filled with his blood, she emptied the chips packet on the ground and dabbed it on his nose.

"Is it paining?" She asked blowing air on hid wounds at elbows. Viraj shook his head.

"Isn't it paining?" She asked. He shook his head in no again. She grinned and slapped on his nose making Viraj yelp in pain.

"You told me it's not paining," said Sitaara dabbing over on his wounds again.

Meanwhile, Riaan and Vikram ran to PET sir to inform him About Viraj. He along with some other teachers came running to him and saw Sitaara dabbing his nose with a chips packet. They moved Sitaara away making her glare at them and they took Viraj with them.

"Situ, he fell because of you," said Riaan in low voice. She punched on his nose.

"How come am responsible for his falling you dumbo?" she shouted at Riaan and hit him on his head with a water bottle.

"Situ, you were busy eating chips and crossed his path, he diverted the way so that you don't fall, eventually he got hurt," said Riaan.

"Yes, Situ Rio is true," said Vikram. Sitaara looked down pouting.

"Okay then, I'll apologise to him," said Sitaara feeling guilty and they joined other students in audience seats. The sports day went well, Sitaara was cheering for Viraj in every game and he won many prizes despite his wounds.

He was going to his siblings someone pulled his shirt from the back. It's Sitaara. He turned towards her with an amused smile.

"Am sorry. Because of me, you got hurt. Please forgive me. I know you will forgive me for being beautiful. Don't be mad at me, I also know no one can be mad at me for a longer time for being beautiful. I can compensate for my mistake by giving you my favourite chocolate. You don't need to thank me, I have so many at home. Here take his chocolates and bandage for your wounds" she said giving a box. Viraj laughed at her.

"Why are you laughing?" she asked.

"Because you told, you are beautiful," he said. She puffed her cheeks angrily placing her hands on her waist.

"Why? Am I not looking beautiful to you? I know, am even pretty and cute. Okay, then I'll take pretty and cute as a compliment" said Sitaara smiling.

"No, you look like a pumpkin with chubby cheeks. Fatso!!" said Viraj and laughed at her. Sitaara turned to Riaan and punched him in the stomach.

"Ask this caveman to stop laughing or else I'll beat you," said Sitaara to Riaan.

"Brother, please stop laughing or else this girl will beat me till I bleed" pleaded Riaan to Viraj, making him stop his laugh.

"What's your name?" asked Viraj.

"The beautiful shining star Sitaara Dev Shetty," said Sitaara flipping her piggy tails. Viraj looked at her with an innocent smile. He was feeling happy to talk to her.

"I already told you, and you aren't beautiful-"

"Yes, I know am pretty and cute," said Sitaara cutting off him and grinned.

"You are a pumpkin Sitaara," he said flicking her nose with his finger.

"You are a caveman Viraj, "she said flicking back his nose jumping a little to reach his height and giggled

'You know my name?" asked Viraj.

"Yes, you earned many prizes and everyone in school know your name," she said smiling.

"Anyways I don't have time to talk with you, I need to go and beat someone. Accept these. Bye, Raj" she said putting chocolates and bandages in his hands & ran away with her friends.

"Bye Taara" he mumbled and laughed looking at her who is running by dragging Riaan with her forcefully. He instantly started crushing her while Sitaara enjoyed bickering with him.

Days passed, though they both never talked after that incident and Viraj used to admire her from far.

Viraj was 7th standard and Sitaara was 4th standard.

Viraj was playing football while Sitaara and her friends were playing on the ground after having lunch during their lunch break. Sitaara and Vikram went to get a few snacks from the canteen while Arjun went to fill water bottles and Aarya and Riaan were waiting for them on the ground.

One of Viraj's friends accidentally kicked the ball towards Aarya & Riaan. It directly hit Aarya's stomach making her groan in pain falling back. Riaan was about to punch the guy but the boy pushed him. Sitaara who witnessed this ran to the ball and punctured it with a sharp stone.

"Hey! You mad girl! What did you do?" shouted the boy. She threw the ball at his stomach laughing.

"It's punishment for hurting my friend with the ball," she said smirking and walked to him. Pulled him down to her level by his tie.

"And this punch is for pushing my other friend," said Sitaara and punched his nose. She clapped her hands like dusting them.

"Tit for tat'' she said and moved to her friends and Later they went away leaving everyone shocked except Viraj as he saw her fierce attitude and saw her beating her classmates.

One day, Viraj and his family went to the temple at the Dussehra festival. Since Sitaara's family is the trustee of the temple they too visited it. He saw sitaara wearing traditional attire, he realised that she is from a rich family looking at their dresses, cars and their aura around them which is screaming richness. Both the families went near goddess Durga ma idol and Situ saw Viraj and grinned.

"Hey!, caveman" she shouted leaving everyone surprised.

"Am not a caveman, you pumpkin" Viraj shouted back. She smirked crossing her hands over her chest.

"Yeah, I realised it you are not a caveman but an ape," she said.

"Then, you are... you are- "

'Beautiful, pretty and cute" she said cutting of him.

"Yes, you are those from the bottom list," said Viraj.

"I know you are jealous of my beauty but believe me, no one is gonna judge you if admit it, Caveman," said Sitaara and stuck out her tongue.

They both didn't observe the tension between both the families having in the air between them.Vidhya was avoiding Shetty's gaze with tears. Harshad, Viraj's father just smiled at them. But listening to the kids bickering Viraj's mom burst out laughing followed by everyone.

"You know that boy, Sitamma?" asked Dev.

"Yes, he also studies in some school of mine. I told right that a caveman got hurt because of me? He is the one" said Sitaara.

"You shouldn't call your elders like that," said her mother sternly. Sitaara nodded her head pouting.

"It's okay, Dev anna and Mridula Vadhina(sil)" said Vindhya.

"They are kids and it happens.Viru told about your daughter, Sir" said Harshad, Viraj's father. Shetty's smiled at them.

After the pooja, Situ ran to get prasad. She was about to eat but stopped as if she remembered something. She ran to the person who is offering prasad and snatched the can of prasad from him biting his hand when he didn't give her initially and ran outside the temple. There she saw beggars, she served them the prasad leaving a little behind in can. After that, she ran to her father and took out his wallet from his pocket. Fishing out a few currency notes, she ran back and donated money to beggars with a smile. They all blessed her. Shetty's chest swelled in pride looking at 10 years girl doing such things. Sehgal's who saw her little stunt, smile amusingly at her nature. Viraj, who is 13 years now, fell for her completely looking at her thoughtfulness.

Day rolled on, Viraj many times tried to propose to her but backed off when he saw Sitaara beating guys who proposed to her, not only that he even saw how her brothers made blood doze out of the guys face who just stared at situ and Sid even warned him with a punch not to follow Situ. But he was unaware of the fact that she used to reject every guy for him, because his pumpkin fell for her caveman.

Situ entered 7th standard and Viraj stepped into 10 grade. Though both of them didn't express that their love, they started dreaming about their life together. As they grew up, maturity in them kicked in.

Viraj was on the terrace at a corner sobbing loudly burying his face in his knees. Vindhya was searching for Viraj and found him at the terrace crying miserably.

"Viru" she called sitting beside him and placed her hand on his head.

"Maa.." sobbed Viraj loudly.

"What happened, Viru? Why are you crying?" Asked Vindhya.

"Sitaara... Sitaara..." he trailed off crying.

"Sitaara ko kya hua bacha?" Asked Vindhya cupping his cheeks.

"Nothing happened with her, Ma. She proposed to me. She said 'I love you' "cried Viraj. Vindhya chuckled.

"You are crying for that?" Asked Vindhya.

"No..." cried Viraj.

"Then, what happened Viraj?" Asked Vindhya.

"I love her. A lot. Like papa loves you" sobbed Viraj. Vindhya looked at him to continue.

"But, I don't want her ma. She is rich and we are below the middle class. Her family will turn like your family. They will hurt Ishaan and Samaira like your brother hurt Chachaji and buaji. They will kill you and papa like your family killed dadiji and dadaji. They will pull us on roads like your family made papa's whole family stand on roads penniless and homeless" cried Viraj not caring how much his words hurt Vindhya.

Vindhya is from one of the richest families in the country. She met Harshad, Viraj's father in Delhi when she went there for studies. They both fell in love, but both the families were against their love and marriage. Sehgal's were scared as they knew Vindhya's family's richness and what they can do to them if Harshad marry Vindhya while Vindhya's family was super-rich didn't want a middle-class SIL as they are very much money minded. They both eloped and got married and stayed in Mumbai starting their family. Vindhya's brother who was very much angry at his sister and mostly at Harshad, killed Harshad's parents, making whole Sehgal's come on to roads making their status come to poor from the middle class. Harshad's brothers and sisters cut their ties with Harshad and blamed Vindhya for their miseries. Vindhya's brother snatched away home and Harshad was a police officer but couldn't fight against Vindhya's brother and lost his post. Harshad shifted to Hyderabad when Viraj was born so that seeing his nephew her brother cools down but he asked Vindhya to come back along with Viraj leaving Harshad back but Vindhya denied flatly making him agitated. Without anyone's acknowledgement, her brother got a scholarship for Viraj, Ishaan and Samaira as they were good at studies thus they were placed in an international school. But Vindhya knew it's her brother who did this.

Now Viraj is under the same fear as Sitaara's family is rich and Sid's warning is making him scare more.

"Viru, mama is not bad beta. He is very good. You know, he came to the hospital when you were born and cried holding you. He is just angry at me" said Vindhya defending her brother.

"If he is good, he wouldn't kill my dadu and dadi. He wouldn't make chachu and bua cut their ties with papa. He wouldn't make whole Sehgal's lives miserable. He is bad, very bad. Vandith(Viraj's cousin) told me about your brother when we went to Punjab recently to meet them. Your brother is a monster and so is Sitaara's brother, Siddhanth. He will also do the same with me if I love Sitaara. He will take away Ishaan and Samaira from me, will kill papa and you. Rich people are bad. Your father. Your brother. Sitaara's father and her brothers" cried Viraj.

"Rich people are not bad. Greedy people are bad. People who differentiate others calculating based on some stupid factors are bad. Don't say anything to my father and brother, Viru. Please" cried Vindhya. Viraj turned away crying.

"I will Ma. I hate them" cried Viraj.

"Let's go back to Mumbai. I don't want to lose you people to get Sitaara. I was so wrong to develop these feelings at this age but you know ma, I can bury them in me. She will also forget this and will understand that she is too early to get into these feelings" said Viraj.

"Your story is the same as mine, Viru. Your father too ran away just like you want now. But then he was 23 and you are 15. We will be going back to Mumbai however, just make Sitaara understand she is young. Okay?" Asked Vindhya. Viraj nodded.

*

Viraj was on a basketball court waiting for Sitaara. She came after making him wait for her for almost 15 minutes. She smiled at him brightly waving her hand.

"Hi Raj," she said sitting beside him with a shy smile.

"Hello Taara," said Viraj, emotionless.

"So, will you be my boyfriend?" She asked.

"You are still 12, Sitaara. Stop speaking rubbish. You should concentrate on your studies" said Viraj harshly.

"Come to point directly, Raj," she said in a clipped tone. He nodded and narrated his parent's story.

"That's why I don't love you-"

"Say that you don't dare to stand strong for your love. When you were following me like a creep didn't you remember your parent's story? You know what, I don't want to force you. May be am still 12 years old but I do know what self-respect is! I don't let it down for a guy who has no guts and I won't be running behind you begging for love. I will keep my feelings within myself. One last time, Raj. I love you" saying this she ran away crying.

Viraj looked at her back crying. Sid came from behind and kicked Viraj.

"Have done what is good for you kiddo! You know what, you have guessed the right thing what happens if you are behind my sister. Yes! The same happens as it happened with your parents, maybe much more worst" said Sid punching Viraj. Viraj smirked.

"Am not going away leave her. I am maybe poor but am rich in having the courage to fight anything and will rip off this narrow-minded thought from your shitty brain. I will come back again. For sure. Promise" said Viraj smirking and went away.

That one year passed away with difficulty avoiding each other and Viraj's family shifted to Mumbai forever. Sitaara was no longer that bubbly girl but a girl who didn't fail to cheer up her surroundings. The five friends studied hard without any distractions and like a miracle, they aced JEE-advanced and was placed in IIT Bombay although different branches. Then they started staying in hostel.

Sitaara and Aarya were out shopping and collided with Vindhya and Harshad. She greeted them politely reminding the incident that happened when she was a kid. Just then, Viraj came to them. Seeing each other after 6 whole years they broke down into tears and expressed their love in front of his parents. He came back to Hyderabad and searched for her but Sid made sure he don't get any information. Viraj studied hard and got a seat in Mumbai government medical college. He used to train many neet aspirant students as a tutor where he met Kabir who also happened to be Viraj's senior in MBBS. He used to do many part-time jobs. Helping his father and mother financially at a very younger age. He used to cry every night for Sitaara. He studied hard for her. Made a good position financially even after his uncle's many trials of his downfall so that he, Samaira, Ishaan and Vindhya go back to his uncle leaving Harshad.

Once they expressed their love, Riaan's childhood friend Dheer Rawat, who is Riaan's father's friend's son, helped them find a penthouse. Five families talked to college management and made their kids live in the penthouse. Viraj moved in with Sitaara but he also used to stay with his parents. Thus they started leading a happy life.

(A/N:- Guys, as I have given enough moments between Viraj and Sitaara, am skipping time and giving the last day before Viraj's death)

7 years later ( 3 years ago from the present)

The day before Sitaara and Viraj gonna marry,

Viraj was standing in front of a mirror checking himself, Sitaara peeked inside the room and ambled towards him before hugging him from behind.

Viraj arranged a camera in his buttons and looked at the mirror. Sitaara hugged him from behind.

"Are you going somewhere, love?" She asked. Viraj smiled with tears and pulled her in front.

"I have to do surgery. I was recommended to attend it in Kabir Bhaiyya's hospital. Due to shortage of doctors in Kabir Bhaiyya's newly built hospital, he asked me to join in it though am recently graduated MS" said Viraj wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Am getting scared. You will come back safely right?" She whispered looking into his eyes.

"You will be strong no matter what. I will be with you in your every step in one or another way. Upcoming days are not good, you need to be emotionless and heartless to lead your life. I love you to the moon and back. Don't forget that. More than your love, I want your happiness, your smile. With whomever you are with" he said cupping her cheek.

"Why are you speaking this shit? Are you leaving me?" She asked as a tear escaped her eyes. He shook his head in no and joined their foreheads.

"I will never leave you as I promised. I just want to say this, taara, my pumpkin. I just want your happiness nothing more. Nothing. Your happiness with whoever you are" he said as his voice came cracking.

"Raj, I don't feel your words are just words. There is hidden meaning in them. Please clear" she mumbled holding his collar trying to find answers in his eyes but unlike every time she wasn't able to read him. Her raj.

"I love you and I don't need to consider you as my wife only if we get married according to traditions. The day we started dreaming of a life together, we became each other. You are my wife no matter what" he said and filled her partition with vermillion. She smiled with tears placing her fingers in her hairline and looked at it. He smiled as a tear escaped his eye which he wiped off immediately.

"We are husband and wife now. Mrs Viraj Sehgal eh?" He smirked. She giggled and caressed his cheek.

"I love you too. Very much" said Sitaara. Viraj kissed her forehead and looked at her lips which she wet them as his raged breath mingled with hers. They both closed their eyes, he leaned to her lips and she lifted her body on her toes snaking her arms around his neck. They were about to brush, he pulled back. She shot her eyes open with disappointment. He smirked.

"One day, pumpkin. Just one day, let's wait till then and I will make you mine by every means both lawfully, biologically and ritually" he said. She blushed to smile.

"Look at that box," he said. She turned to a box placed behind his large books and nodded.

"Condoms" he whispered in her ears making her gasp.

"Raj, idiot!!!" She yelled hitting him on his chest. He laughed holding her wrist and pulled her to him. Nuzzling his face in her neck, he inhaled her sweet vanilla scent.

"Love you pumpkin" he mumbled in her neck and lifted his head.

"Your mehndi turned red" he whispered looking at her hands which are filled with mehndi till her elbows. She smiled.

"Because you are my husband" she mumbled shyly.

"You trust me that much?" He asked.

"If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have agreed to marry you in such a short period after you asked me. I trust you very much, caveman and I love you with my everything" she said looking into his eyes.

Placing a lingering kiss on her forehead, he moved to his bed where he kept his bag. He swung it over his shoulder and turned to Sitaara. She hugged him tightly. He kissed her crown.

"I'll try to come soon, bye," he said moving away. Her heart felt heavy and it is screaming for him to stop him but she chose to ignore it trusting the fate which betrayed the two hearts. She smiled at him waving peeping down from the balcony as he sat on his bike. He smiled at her and left from there, and a tear escaped her eyes.

"Bhaiyya will come back, bhabhi. Just chill and stop crying now. Tomorrow you are gonna marry'' Samiara tried to cheer her up but Sitaara was still gloomy.

"Don't worry, Situ. I and Samaira bought lingeries for tomorrow's night" Aarya teased her making Sitaara turn back with a flushed face.

"Shut up, Aarya" Sitaara mumbled as her cheeks and ears turned red. Before they could tease her further, she ran away.

At night,

''Vinu ma, am not getting good vibes. Raj isn't home yet" Sitaara said pacing to and fro from balcony to hall to entrance for 3 hours. Her heart feeling heavy with disturbing feelings and tears aren't stopping due to unfamiliar pain in her heart.

"Situ, stop pacing to and fro like a pendulum. Viru might be busy. Come and have dinner. It's nearing midnight. Tomorrow you are gonna marry, take a rest for some time now" Vindhya warned for nth time now.

"Vinu ma, stop scolding me. Your son isn't home and here, you keep on pestering me to eat. I want Raj. Now. Until he stands in front of me, am gonna touch food" Sitaara shouted at top of her lungs as the heaviness in her heart messed up with her feelings. Giving a glance at everyone, she walked inside Viraj's room closing the door behind with a bang.

"Where are you, Raj? Why aren't you lifting the calls?" Sitaara mumbled wiping her tears as her call went unanswered once again. Walking to Viraj's cupboard, she slipped herself into one of his t-shirts and shorts. Leaning on the headrest, she placed Viraj's photo album in her lap. Going through every photo of Viraj, she nodded off.

Next day,

Sitaara opened her eyes as Samaira and Aarya kept banging her door. She found herself in a sleeping position with Viraj's photo album hugged to her chest. Getting down from the bed, she opened the door.

"Is Raj home?" She asked rubbing her eyes to get a clear view.

"No. He messaged us to directly come to Aaryasamaj as he is stuck up somewhere. He is gonna join us there'' Samaira said.

"Instead of me, your bhiayya should have married one of the stethoscopes. Even today, he is at work. Such an ass. As a punishment, am not gonna let him make love to me today" Sitaara said angrily.

"So eager to make love? Huh?" Aarya teased her. Sitaara narrowed her eyes and shut the door on her face.

Gutting showered, Sitaara came out in a bathrobe. Aarya and Samaira made her wear a red lehenga with red Chuda. Sitaara giggled as she bangles jingled. Samaira and Vindhya shook their heads.

"Bhaiyya is gonna marry a kid" Samaira mumbled making Sitaara pout.

"You look dead drop gorgeous, Situ," Vindhya said and placed kohl behind her ear.

"I wish my family is here to witness my wedding" Sitaara mumbled with a sad smile and teary eyes feeling guilty to get married behind their back. If she told her parents, her grandfather is never gonna agree but she and Viraj already prepared themselves to face them instead of marrying behind their back and, now, she couldn't help but wonder why Viraj was adamant to marry in just two days, without informing anyone.

"Viru must have a reason for it, Situ. I know this is wrong and tried to oppose it, Situ, but Viraj was serious about it and fought with me. It's okay. I trust my son" Vindhya said cupping Sitaara's cheek. Siraara gave a weak smile.

"Sitaara shall we-" Arjun and Vikram stood rooted seeing how beautiful Sitaara looked. She walked to them and hugged them tightly.

"I don't feel right to marry without my family who made me who I am today, Arjun. Am feeling low" she whispered as tears escaped her eyes. Arjun held her close and kissed her crown.

"Am there with you. Don't worry, Sitaara. Just trust Viru Bhaiyya. If going against your family was Viru bhaiyya's intention, he would have taken an advanced step in the relation which he didn't. Heck, didn't even kiss the back of your palm just because he respected your parents, your family. He didn't want to even touch you intimately unless your father keep your hand in his. Now, tell me, do you still feel he is trying to go against your family? He might be hiding something, maybe he wants to tell it only after marrying you. So, don't feel guilty. I have faith in Viru Bhaiyya that he will win your family and make you his bride once again with your family's blessings" Arjun said and Sitaara felt little peace realising Viraj's nature.

"Shall we go?, Vikram asked. She nodded. Vikram was about to hold Sitaara's arm, Ishaan butted in.

"Wait! Let me take my bhabhi to the altar" Ishaan said and suddenly swept Sitaara off the floor, into his arms. She squealed and held Ishaan's Kurti tight making everyone chuckle. Ishaan took Sitaara to the car in his arms and made her sit inside. Everyone too made themselves comfortable in their seats and soon drove away from there.

After reaching the wedding venue, they all waited for Viraj for more than an hour trying to connect him while Sitaara was looking at the married couples with dreamy eyes.

"Am gonna become Mrs Sitaara Viraj Sehgal in a few minutes" she mumbled to herself with a blush, patting her cheeks as they became warm just at the thought of Viraj's wife from Viraj's girlfriend.

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the entrance. Sitaara's heart started beating frantically. Arjun, Aarya, Vikram, Ishaan, Samiara and Vindhya started moving to the entrance to check out the commotion while Sitaara is behind them, following with trembled steps.

"Viral" Vindhya screamed in horror as soon as they saw a naked body on a stretcher. Sitaara's heart stopped and she ran to the entrance.

Gasping, she cupped her mouth when she saw Viraj naked with cuts, drilled nails into his thighs, multiple cuts all over his body, his manly part chopped, calfskin peeled, cheeks peeled, his hair shaved and head injured brutally with brain showing up. Samaira fainted right there, Vindhya ran away to vomit, Ishaan fell on his knees while others stood rooted.

Sitaara walked as her limbs were shivering. Reaching him, she palmed his face.

"Baby, is that you? Open your eyes. Look at me" she whispered emotionless.

"Raj, my love, see, I wore the lehenga you bought for me. We even got your sherwani. Come on, baby, look at me. Please" she whispered resting her forehead on his. Everyone was terrified to even glance at him and now, they are shocked to see her talking to him. They are sure, she is under shock.

"Raj, do you hear jingles of my bangles, Viraj?" She asked giggling as her eyes pooled.

"Open your eyes. Tell me, who did this to you?" She asked and a tear escaped from her eyes.

"Open your eyes, Caveman" she screamed crying.

"Arjun, ask him to look at me. Vikram, see, he isn't waking up. Raj, please, open your eyes. I cannot live without you. Please, at least take me with you. Please, am begging you. Take me away" she cried hugging him.

"Who? Who did this to you, Raj? Please, tell me. Open your eyes. Look at me. We need to get married. You promised to live with me. You promised to take me to world tour. Please, look at me. I cannot live without you. Please' she cried covering him with her dupatta.

Just then, Kabir came running to them. She looked at him and tried to speak but words didn't come out of her mouth.

"Viraj? Bhai, aankein kolo. Sitaara is crying, dekho na bhai" Kabir whispered and removed his jacket to cover Viraj.

"I cannot live without, Raj. I cannot live without him. I promised. I promised to walk with him even in death" Sitaara mumbled like an insane throwing her bangles, her earrings, her jewellery. Even before anyone can anticipate her moves, she ran to the terrace and jumped from there.

"Sitaara" everyone screamed as she fell on a car bonnet which arrived just then. Blood spilt everywhere as Sitaara went limp with blood surrounding her.

The person got down the car and his heart sank.

"Situ" Siddhanth screamed moving to the car bonnet. Sid took Sitaara in his arms trying to wake her up.

"Sitaara, Princess, Situ, what you have done?" Sid cried. Sitaara opened her eyes a little and smiled with tears.

"I lo..ve Vir.aj, An.na. He is go..n.e and I st.oo.d on my pro.m.ise to wal.k..k wit.h him even in de.at.h. Take.e ca.r.e of ev.er.y.on..e. Apologise to d..add.y and our f.amily on my be.half.f" she said in between painful cries as blood dripping from her head.

"Princess, I will save you-"

"No, plea.se. Let m.e die. I d.on't w.an.t. to live w.ith..out Raj" she cried pointing at Viraj.

Ignoring her pleas to let her die, Arjun and Vikram took Sitaara to the hospital while Sid and Kabir took Viraj.

On the same evening, Sitaara gained her consciousness forcefully. She started behaving wildly and ran out of the hospital not caring about her injured head, fractured hands.

As she was adamant to take her to Viraj where he was getting buried, they took her and she cried like a baby.

After a month of treatment, Sid sent Sitaara back to the US without letting Shetty's know about the fiasco. But she was no longer chirpy Sitaara.

She locked herself in a dark room crying day and night with Viraj's pictures surrounding her. After a lot of compulsion, she used to come out of the darkroom. Sometimes, walks on the roads aimlessly and many times met accidents. This continued for six months and just like the other night, she tried to commit suicide. She ran into the truck which was at high speed. Aarya, Arjun and Vikram who didn't find Sitaara, started searching for her. When they didn't find her anywhere, they filed a complaint. In an hour, they got the news of a girl around 22 years met an accident and currently, is under critical condition. Without waiting for another minute, they ran to the hospital and found Sitaara on ventilation while doctors treating her.

Aarya cried falling on her knees, while Arjun and Vikram informed about Sitaara's condition to Shegal's and Siddhanth.

The next day, they flee to the US. Siddhanth took care of Sitaara's treatment and she was under critical condition for more than 20 days.

On the 25th day, Sitaara opened her eyes and she saw Vindhya, Ishaan and Samaira crying. They no longer look like they used to be. They became lean, with carry bags under eyes and dark circles around eyes, tired and paled faces.

"Am sorry" were Sitaara's first words. They looked at her and cried.

"Situ, ..Situ..you woke up? Sitaara, my child. I thought I lost my daughter" Vindhya cried.

"Kill me please. Viraj must be waiting for me. Please, I beg you. Kill me" she cried.

"No, please. We don't want to lose you, Situ Bhabhi. Please, you are the most treasured memory my brother I have on this planet. Please, don't leave us" Ishaan cried.

"Viraj. I love your brother. I cannot live without him. Please, kill me, Ishaan. Your brother needs me. My caveman needs his pumpkin. Please, kill me" she whispered crying and detaching the oxygen pipe.

"Bhabhi, please. Don't speak like that. We need you. Please. We have only you other than ma and Ishaan Bhaiyya" Samaira cried.

"Your brother has only one me. Stay strong. Love you, guys'' she mumbled in-between her ragged breaths.

"Bhabhi, what's happening to you? Doctor! Bhaiyya, call doctor" Samaira shouted horrified seeing Sitaara closing her eyes taking pain and chocked breathes.

"Doctor...doctor" Ishaan ran out screaming. Doctors rushed inside and sent Samaira and Vindhya out who was crying.

After a few hours,

"Have you gone mad, Sitaara Dev Shetty?" Siddhanth screamed and was about to slap Sitaara but stopped himself when his eyes fell on her weak and petite figure.

"What are you doing, Situ? Why are you punishing us? We love you and are not ready to lose you, Princess" Siddhanth cried palming her face.

"Anna, I love Viraj. Please, let me go to him" she cried.

"What about us?" She darted her eyes to Sehgal's.

"We don't have anyone. We lost our father. We lost our brother. Our families won't even take care of us. We are left alone" Samiara cried.

"Who will take care of us? We don't have anyone, bhabhi. Please, be with us" Ishaan and Samaira cried holding her feet.

"My family have you, Pumpkin" Viraj's words echoed in her mind making a sob escape her mouth.

"Raj trusted me to take care of his family. They don't have anyone other than me. They need someone to hold their hand. They need me. I have to get Samaira married. I have to help Ishaan in opening his law firm as he dreamt. I have to take care of Vindhya ma. I need to take Raj's position. I need to take the responsibility for Sehgal's. I need to bring justice to my Raj's death. I love you, Raj. In all these, I will also make sure, I stand on my promise. Once I fulfil my responsibilities, I will come to you. This time it's for sure'' Sitaara thought.

Sitaara started living again for Sehgal's, making an aim to see them happy just like Viraj wanted his family to be. She worked in many places irrespective of her status. She used to sleep only four hours a day, with many nightmares haunting her.

When she reached her target, she was about to complete her responsibilities in the next six months and finally, go to her Caveman, Abhimanyu, the sunshine of her life, happened.

Flashback ends.

A sob escaped from Sitaara's lips as Viraj's body is still clear to her. Riaan stopped the car and pulled her in a hug.

"Raj, Rio. He is dead. He is killed. Don't know why and how but I got saved every time I tried to go to Raj to stand on my promise but I failed. I failed-"

"It's because Viru Bhaiyya didn't want it. It's because Abhimanyu is your destiny. It's because you are faced tl Abhimanyu Chowdary" Riaan said pulling back and cupped her cheeks.

"Listen Sitaara, carefully, Viru bhaiyya is your past. He will never feel cheated if you got married to some other man, fall in love with your husband. If you feel you are cheating on him, then come out of the illusion. You are just finding your happiness again and that could be Abhi Anna's love. Love can happen twice. One taught you to be strong and the other is teaching you to live again, love again and spread happiness again. Viru bhaiyya's presence in your life physically ended but not in your heart and it will neither end. He can't give you love anymore but he gave his memories which will always make you feel loved. His prayers for the happiness of you both stopped, Sitaara but not his prayers for you to be happy didn't end. He wants you to move on. He wants you to love someone again. He wants you to live your life again and make his soul live again. Please move on. This request is not from me. From Viru bhaiyya. He told me. (Sitaara looked at him shocked) Yes, he told me. We were in touch even after I went away. He pleaded me to make sure you don't brood of the pain of losing him.

I know why didn't you die after that day, you stopped yourself forsake of his siblings but just abduct those plans. He wants to live Sitaara, in your heart. Want to see this world, with your eyes. Wants to be happy, with becoming a smile on your lips. Wants to see the man who killed him brutally brooding in pain, Wants to get your love again, with you living on this planet still loving him. For that, you shouldn't end your life. He was snatched away from your life but his memories are with you which cannot be snatched away. Live happily accepting Abhi anna. Am not forcing you, Situ, I just want you to realise before it's too late. After losing the person who you considered as the world, you got another person who made you his world. You know how painful it is when our world is shattered. I don't want to see another Sitaara. Trust your Viraj who left this world confidently and put your heart in Abhi Anna's hands, am sure you won't regret it" said Riaan.

Suddenly a cool breeze hit their faces.

"I will bring justice to Viru bhaiyya. I promise, Situ. Let Abhi anna heal you. Let him in your heart. Let him fill the void that viru bhaiyya made with his absence" said Riaan.

"What if Raj was here and I was forced to marry, would you guys suggest me same? Move on from Raj, love your husband? Huh?" Asked Sitaara.

"Yes!!" Said Riaan. She looked at him with tears.

"If Viraj Sehgal was your destiny there would be no Abhimanyu Chowdary at all. There is a huge difference between destiny and the dream we dreamt or the life we wanted to happen. If you understand that you will be able to give a chance to yourself and Abhi anna and fill colours in both your lives" said Riaan.

"But Rio, if I accept Mani then it would be a lie that I love Raj," said Sitaara.

"But you already started accepting him. Aren't you? But did you forget Viru bhaiyya? Is your love decreased for Viru bhaiyya? And if you say it's too early to fall in love, then listen, love is not a scheduled thing. It can happen anytime. Hearts are needed to connect not the time that connects them. Sitaara, not everyone gets a chance in their life. You got. A beautiful chance that is always filling the void in your heart in the form of Abhi Anna" said Riaan.

Sitaara had tears in her eyes.

"Sitaara, if you are thinking that it will be cheating on Viru bhaiyya then it means somewhere you want to accept Abhi anna that's why that thought struck in your mind. You once lost love. The person who loved you is like a queen but don't make yourself go through the same Sitaara. Do push away people who love you and is accepting the broken you. Because accepting the broken person itself explain who much he loves you" said Riaan. Sitaara smiled.

"I want to start my life with Abhi. I like him very much. I l..o..ve him" she whispered with tears giggling. Riaan smiled.

"I will tell him about Viraj and will start my life, Rio," said Sitaara.

"Jaa, Simran, jaa. Jee le apni Zindagi" said Riaan. Sitaara chuckled and hugged him.

"All the best, Sitaara" whispered Riaan pulling back and kissed her forehead. Sitaara nodded wiping her tears and got down.

"Riaan, get groceries. Go shoo..shoo" she said giggling and ran to the elevator. She got into it and got down at their floor.

She was about to reach the door, her phone pinged. She opened it and saw a few company files that Abhi currently working on. In the next second her phone rang from an unknown number. She lifted the call.

"Seems like you decided to move on from your dead boyfriend! Huh? Listen, if you tell your past to your husband and about how your boyfriend was dead, then you will again lose your other lover who happened to be your husband, not only him but his whole family. I will snatch away happiness from Chowdary's too like I snatched away Sehgal's happiness. Dare to tell your husband and express your love for him, he will be dead. A brutal dead. A brutal one than Viraj's. Try to act over-smart and say this to your bastard husband, in the next second the files will be sold, the mansion in which your in-laws are present will be burnt"/said the person from the other side and hung the call even before she speak anything.

Tears started flowing down her eyes not knowing about things happening around her.

"Not again please" she whispered looking at the sky.

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

Finally, the Past is out. Still, we need to know where did Viraj go, who is responsible for his death, why was he given brutal death, what happens before he was dead, where did the camera he arranged in his shirt has gone? Or is it crushed.

Many mysteries are gonna be revaeled.

Poor Sitaara. She suffered a lot.

Do not take her stupid stunt as an inspiration, guys. Had she died when she tried to kill herself, today she wouldn't find her soulmate, she wouldn't have taken care of Shegals, she would have missed the beautiful life.

Getting such thoughts when we find every door closed, is common but it's not the only option. You feel low? Imagine the happy times you spent with your loved ones. You feel terrible, inferior, your life is unworthy? Imagine the life you can have if you will be alive, if you make impossible things possible, if you make yourselves and your loved ones happy.

When you feel every door for your happiness is closed, and if you don't give up, there lies your courage.

Sitaara felt her life unworthy without Viraj, but when she realised her responsibilities, the happiness she can give to her loved ones, she found hers too. Learn a person from every phase, accept every phase, pass through every phase and make yourself a warrior.

Sitaara finally, realised her feelings.

Who is this mysterious person on call?

Should she tell this to Abhi or try to save her family hiding it?

What would happen next?

Stay tuned and leave your thoughts and your love through votes and comments.

Precap:- The huge fight.

Surya.