The evening had turned darker, literally and figuratively.

The hair on his neck were raised, there were shivers all over his spine. He blinked, remembering all the moments in the car where he had made her believe that her brother would accept us once Kabir was out. And he did.

The blood was still leaking from his nose and had slowly dried up on his lip, and Shrey had finally accomplished the warmth in Raghav's eyes for him. Even if it had to be after a full blown fist at his nose.

Then, what was left?

Shrey stared at Sakshi in utter blankness. He couldn't understand what was wrong with her. What was remaining for he still couldn't see the greed to marry him in her eyes.

Raghav had turned around and was now walking ahead towards them. Aarush and Nakul were staring at them with blankness, waiting for the suspense to end. Pihu left the first-aid box that she had brought out for Shrey and was now standing beside her in-laws.

Sakshi took a long breathe, looking at Shrey with enormous pain in her eyes.

"I can't marry him."

The hammer of those words hit right at his anxious heart, Shrey was stunned.

Raghav's eyebrows furrowed as he looked at Shrey in confusion and back at his sister. "What's wrong, kiddo?" He asked Sakshi, while coming closer towards her.

Aarush glanced at Shrey, watching the whole confidence draining from his face.

Sakshi was staring at Shrey painfully as she repeated, "I can't marry him and make him lose his family. If we both get married to each other, Rishabh will break all his relations with Shrey. I don't want that."

Recognition hit Shrey's face as he looked at Raghav and explained, "But I already ended up all the relations with him. I don't care about what he thinks about Sakshi and I getting together."

"I don't want that," Sakshi said softly with tears in her eyes. "If you marry me, Shrey, we will never be happy. I will never be happy knowing half of your family hates me and my family."

Shrey shook his head quickly. "No, Sakshi. My parents know about you. I had told them everything before coming here. Believe me, they are happy with you. They are waiting for you to say Yes."

Raghav's lips parted as he stared at a helpless Shrey.

Sakshi shook her head, determined to put her decision firmly. "You don't understand. I had never thought of going into a family as a bride only to break that family. I want a home, a big family."

She looked at Raghav. "Because of me, his brother hates him. I can't let Shrey lose Rishabh when he has been a very responsible brother all this time. Rishabh has been the one who protected Shrey from the case, looked after him in the court, with the lawyers, in the hospital, and everything. Can you believe it, Bhai? Rishabh forgave Shrey for losing a big amount like one crore to those frauds when their firm was not even doing well."

Raghav listened to her carefully and so did Nakul. Sakshi looked back at Shrey whose eyes were filled with tears as he shook his head at her pleadingly.

"Don't do this," he pleaded her in a choking tone.

Sakshi gulped while saying in her hoarse voice, "Rishabh postponed his wedding for the sake of his family. Because his father is not well and Shrey was not well, he threw away all other thoughts and cared for them."

Shrey couldn't believe his ears. He couldn't understand if Sakshi was praising his brother from her heart. It looked like she was sarcastic but at the same time, not.

"If you have something against him," Shrey told her, shakily. "I have too. My parents love me more than they love him. My uncle loves me more than he loves his own son. They are all mine and so should be you. Don't break this because of him. He doesn't exist for me."

Pihu stared at Shrey in shock as she thought about his words.

Sakshi looked at Raghav and explained, "Rishabh had proved to be cruel to our family. For you and Bhabhi. But. . ." She looked back at Shrey and confessed, "He is a good family man. Rishabh will be heartbroken if he gets to know, Shrey married me despite his disliking for me."

Pihu came forward to speak softly, "Rishabh must not be hating you, Sakshi. He hates me and your brother. That shouldn't affect on what beautiful relation you and Shrey have."

Aarush nodded along with Nakul.

Shrey smiled sadly at Pihu. "I ended up everything with my brother. I don't care what he did to protect me. If I had been in his place, I would have done the same religiously. But I do care for what he made me do, years ago. He made me hurt Sakshi. And I hate him for that."

He lowered his eyes and blinked the tears. "He insulted Sakshi when she came to my home to meet me. He said the words I can't even say to you. He is a brother I am not proud of. I won't give a thought to a man who won't respect the woman I love. I will sacrifice anyone for Sakshi."

Raghav blinked in thought when Sakshi let out a faint sob.

"I don't want to break a family that has been each other's support for years. Rishabh has more right on you than I have," she spoke sobbingly. "Please go back, Shrey. I don't want anything to happen."

Shrey widened his eyes when Sakshi started turning around and hugged her brother. Raghav looked at him with firmness in his eyes yet still being confused as to what just happened.

Pihu pitied Shrey so much. She felt bad for him, knowing he made so many efforts yet Sakshi was right in her own way. But there was only one person who could make everything right.

Pihu came forward and put her hand on Sakshi's back who was hugging her brother sideways while sobbing. "Please tell him to leave," Sakshu cried in her brother's chest.

Pihu gulped and looked in her husband's eyes who was confused. "Raghav will talk to Rishabh about it for you," she said, biting her tongue inside, when Raghav gave her a surprised look.

Nakul's lips curved into a mischievous smile while Aarush gave Shrey an encouraging nod.

Shrey stared at Raghav with dead hope in his eyes. His shoulders were hung at Sakshi's betrayal.

"Tell him to go. I don't want my brother to stress over it, any minute. His brother doesn't like me. I don't want a life filled with hatred and longing for his family's love. I will never be happy seeing them apart because of me. I won't ever be happy, Bhai."

Shrey couldn't understand why it all mattered so much to her. But then he remembered how she had once told him. After losing his parents and him for once, she would not compromise anymore. She would want her family perfectly fine.

She didn't want Raghav to bow in front of that cruel brother of his. At the same time, she didn't want Shrey to hate his brother too. She wanted happiness created by goodness. She wanted peace.

Pihu gave Raghav a disappointed look when he didn't speak anything and kept staring at her in burden. She was about to let out a big sigh when Raghav clenched his jaws and breathed out.

"I'll talk to Shrey's brother if that would make things right." He said while looking down at his sister's tearstained face. He smiled when he saw a light of hope in Sakshi's eyes. But she still ended up choking those words out.

"You don't have to do that. After all, he tried to break you and Bhabhi-"

Before Raghav could remember the bastard's acts and change his mind, he put finger on his lips while giving her a stern look.

"I will do it. I can do that for my only sister. Most importantly, before that dickhead, there are Shrey's parents and his uncle. When there are elders, he can't dare play rude with you. I will make sure of that," said Raghav assuringly.

Pihu smiled while Aarush clapped his hands excitedly. "The problem is solved. Now, cut the crap, Sakshi. You know, you want that bloodied, broken-nose face." Aarush said while looking at Shrey, making Nakul laugh.

But Sakshi was still not sure as she smiled for everyone but looked nervously at Shrey who was still standing at the porch like a true outsider.

"Now, please. Everyone go rest. I will prepare dinner for everyone. While Shrey, come inside. I have to mend that bruise," said Pihu with a soft smile as she walked towards him.

Shrey looked reluctantly at her and back at Raghav who was nodding genuinely at him.

But why was his heart still not feeling satisfied enough to have this love from her family. What had his family done for Sakshi yet?

Called her a slut, warned her to not come near him.

Shrey cringed inside as he felt, he didn't deserve this care so soon. He smiled sadly at Pihu and Raghav.

"I am sorry for turning up such hospitality. But I should come back with my parent's first. I must go," he said while giving Sakshi a last look.

Aarush's face fell at seeing the lack of confidence and utter anxiety on Shrey's face. He looked sweaty and paled.

"I am coming with you," he said, immediately, looking back at Sakshi sternly for spoiling the mood.

Nakul remembered that Shrey had arrived with Sakshi in her car and Aarush had came with them in his car. He immediately offered, "I am dropping you both. Come with me."

Aarush was already declining when Raghav said humorously, "Good. Make sure he doesn't end up jumping into the lake."

Shrey waited for the car while standing ahead of the gates, staring at the nothing. Aarush gave Sakshi a look that said, if she broke his heart, he was boycotting her immediately.

Pihu didn't like how everyone was going, but she waved at them sitting in the car anyway. 

Sakshi watched how Shrey didn't even gave her a look afterwards. Her heart broke at realizing that she had hurt him more than anyone by doing this. She made him sad when he did everything to make her happy. She was cruel.

"What you just did is admirable," said her Tau ji.

Sakshi moved away from Raghav who patted her cheek. "I'll call his Uncle tomorrow asking for his health and the proposal. Don't worry about him. Nakul will make sure he is fine," said Raghav with belief in his eyes.

Pihu smiled sadly while breathing hard. It felt as if all her energy was draining. Before that could happen, she had to prepare dinner. She did a mistake by sending the maid away as she thought that the scene with Kabir and his family was quite personal.

She slowly left the drawing room for the kitchen while Raghav went for his bed room to check on Rian. His parents took Sakshi to her room.

But before she could even start making the dinner, a stomach-churning nauseating cramp felt in her abdomen. She stopped moving and gasped, feeling something leaking in between her legs.

Not wasting anymore time, she rushed towards the nearest washroom that was beneath the stairs.

________

Nakul stopped right outside the house, observing it keenly.

"Is that where you stayed even last time?" He asked Shrey who was getting out of the car.

"Yeah. Thanks," muttered Shrey while opening the gate and going inside.

Aarush awkwardly watched him and got out of the car. "Thank you, Sir."

Nakul waved it off, bending backwards so that he could reach towards the back of the shotgun. He brought out a bottle of branded Whiskey and showed it to Aarush who was waiting to say Bye.

Aarush's eyebrows furrowed as he smiled nervously. "Sir?"

Nakul smiled cheekily and handed the bottle to him. "Raghav and I always use Whisky to pull out angers. Not everyday. Luckily from past three years, since our kids came in our life, we are rarely getting that kind of angry. This was gifted a week ago by my client. Take it and have some, you both."

Aarush laughed excitedly, seeing the brand and chirped, "Sakshi will kill me if she gets to know I made her boyfriend drink." His smile faded as he remembered, "Actually, he is not allowed really. He takes pills for anxiety, you know."

Nakul frowned but then he gave Aarush a goofy smile.

"Two glass won't harm his crumbling soul. Make sure, he calls his mother tonight. His family needs to know what's going on here in our city."

Aarush smiled widely and nodded. "You could join us?"

Nakul closed his eyes and shook his head. "My dear wife must be waiting. If she finds out, I had whiskey without her. She will be upset as hell. Also, Pihu keeps making us all feel guilty about it later one. Her and my wife are best of friends."

"Anyway, tell Shrey to be there at Rathore's at eleven sharp, tomorrow. Because of his kid's poor health, Raghav will be going office late. Shrey must discuss everything clearly with him for once," suggested Nakul while giving Aarush a straight look. "And Raghav likes blunt responses."

Saying this, Nakul nodded at Aarush who waved bye at him as he drove away.

Taking the bottle with him, Aarush entered the house that was for a family but Shrey's friend had been living there alone because of his job. His family had shifted to a new home in a new place.

Just as he entered Shrey's room, he saw their host friend sitting beside him, asking him questions.

"Man! What's wrong with him? Would you tell me? Because he ain't saying anything. Wait! You brought us Whiskey! That's awesome! Man I was tired of baby drinking that beer ever since."

Aarush rolled his eyes. "Let's have some dinner, first. I am starving. We will talk after that. Then we will have this beauty," he chirped while looking at Aditya.

Aditya nodded while taking the bottle and leaving the room. Aarush sighed heavily and looked at Shrey who was staring at the floor. He hadn't even changed his clothes yet and he didn't even want to mention the wounds that still looked bad.

"Bro, Sakshi loves you immensely. Don't make yourself doubtful even for a second. She might be a playing this trick to have her brother talk to Rishabh and make amends." Aarush said, while removing his shirt.

Aditya entered the room with a first-aid box in his hand. He sat beside Shrey and muttered, "Man! This already feels gay! How do compounders do it?" He started wiping the blood with a wet cotton ball from Shrey's cheek and lips.

"She is kind to play that trick. But Raghav doesn't deserve to bow in front of my sick brother. That bastard never plays soft. He will insult Raghav and piss him off. It will get worst," said Shrey, uneasily.

Aarush blinked in thought, remembering Nakul words circling in his mind.

Make sure he calls his mother tonight. His family needs to know what's going on in our city.

Something clicked in Aarush's mind as he smirked to himself while going towards the bathroom not before telling Shrey.

"Rishabh sounds like a total dick to me, no offense. Don't you think, he needs some good praise from you after you have almost lost even after winning over that professor?"

"Easy," said Aditya while wiping off the blood and putting antiseptic on his cheek.

Shrey winced but cooperated as he felt his cheek and nose were aching. But more than that, he could feel the painful frustration in his chest.

And he needed to release it all out.

"Bring that Whiskey!"

______

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