"Aakash..." A dangerous voice tapped his shoulder, he startled for a second.

He turned being little scared, and there was standing sameer. As soon he turned, his angry face turned into a fake smile.

Aakash too changed his expressions.

Sameer : are Mr. aakash, kuch kaam tha ?? (Sweetly)

Aakash fist his hand.

Aakash : nahi, nahi to.

Sameer : acchaa, nahi aap bade pareshaan lag rahe the.

Aakash : (surpressing his anger) nahi.... Nahi to.

Sameer : accha fir thik, wo Kya hai na (wraps his hand around aakash's shoulder) ki karan ne bataya ki aap special guest ho aapka dhyaan rakhna fir to hamara farz hai na.

Aakash gave him glare, but he didn't glare.

Sameer : (continued seeing preeran who was busy in taking blessings) aur maine na aapko pareshaan dekha, to socha puchlu, warna (sarcastically) karan mujhpe kitna gussa hota na.

Aakash didn't bother his talks, while sameer remained around him only not wanting to leave him alone.

Preeta and karan went towards mahesh to touch his feet.

Mahesh : (blessing them) khush raho, khush raho beta hamesha. Bhagwaan tumhe saari khushiyaan de.

Other side, aakash's mens was roaming in while hall in chance of doing something with karan.

From behind a pillar, one men got a chance to shoot him. But someone tap his shoulder. He turned.

"Kya hua, kya chal raha hai yaha par ? Aise kyu khade hokar dekh rahe ho ?" He asked.

Man : nahi... Nahi to, kuch bhi nahi. Bas aise hi, nikal rahe hai abhi, to....to dost ka intezaar kar raha hu.

He lied.

Another man : thik hai, ho gaya ho to jaldi jaao.

He nodded. He looked here and there and realized they are under security and surrounded by secret police mans. He went to aakash.

Man : (in his ears) boss, yaha par bohot police ke log hai, sabne chaaro taraf se ham par nazar rakhe hue hai.

Aakash : (shocked) Kya ??

Man : haa boss..

Aakash : (angrily) ye sab....

Raged with anger, he stormed outside, and his mens too leaved behind him.

Karan noticed him going.

Karan : (in mind, chuckles) sirf badi badi bolta hai, kar nahi paata kuch.

Preeta noticed him smiling. She tapped him, karan saw him.

Preeta : kya hua ? Aise has kyu rahe ho ?

Karan : (smiling) kuch bhi to nahi.

Asmina : (acts to clear throat) lorraine, zara karan ko dekho to, hasi nahi hat rahi chehre se.

Preeta wide her eyes, while everyone giggle.

Lorraine : (teasing) haa, aur preeta ko dekho, blush karte nahi thak rahi.

Preeta closed her eyes and look down, while she look down. But her cheeks changed colour immediately. Everyone giggled again.

Rakhi : (giggling) are baccho... Bas karo abhi. Dekho kitna sharma rahi hai wo....(giggles)

Lorraine : (laughing) aunty, ab hamne to kuch nahi kaha, lekin wo sharma hi itna rahi hai.

Preeta glared her. But between all this, karan remain unaffected with a smirk and his eyes fix in preeta, which made her more unstable.

Rakhi : accha abhi sachme bohot ho gaya, chalo abhi bidaai ka wakt ho chuka hai.

Sarla : haa, chaliye.

They all went outside near car.

On reaching, preeta's eyes was nor filled with tears. Karan assured her by keeping his hand in her shoulder. Sarla went towards preeta, she immediately hugged her. And after, raghuveer.

She shared an emotional hug with both, and they blessed her. Preeta moved towards lorraine. She looked down not wanting to cry, but lorraine embraced her tightly, and at last preeta broke into tears and lorraine to....

Preeta broke the hug.

Preeta : (with tears) pagal, to kyu rahi hai. Mai kahi door thodi jaa rahi hu, (sniffed) aur.... Abhi to tu asaani se U.S.A. jaa sakti hai na, apna sapna pura kar sakti hai.

Lorraine : (with equal tears) haa, lekin fir bhi tera picha nahi chodungi mai.

Preeta chuckled in tears.

Lorraine : (wiping preeta's tears) are pagal, ro kyu rahi hai. Khush re hamesha, mai hamesha tere liye dua karungi, bas tu khush reh, mere liye aur kuch zaroori nahi.

They hugged again, while a tear fell from preeta's eyes.

Couple of minutes later, they all settled in car ready to go.

Preeran were alone in their car with driver, car started, and preeta's gaze was fixed behind until the sight disappeared. She turned her head.

After sometimes, they reached Luthra Palace.

Karan and preeta were at doorstep, and rakhi was doing their aarti with a smiling face.

Rakhi : preeta beta, ab ye kalash girakar aa jaao ghar me.

Preeta took a step, karan made their hand entwined. And preeta entered the house.

Rakhi : (joining hands) shukar bhagwaan ka shaadi acche se ho gai, aur koi problem nahi hui.

Karan : (looking at preeta) ha mom, sachme.

Asmina giggled.

Mahesh : accha chalo baccho, ab sab aaram karne chale jaao, sab thak chuke hai.

Asmina : (teasing) ha ha mom, sabse zyaada aaram ki zaroorat to karan ko hi hai.

They giggled. But preeta's face still hold the blush.

Rakhi : (glaring) asmina chupkar, aur jaa preeta ko kamre me chodkar aa.

Asmina : ok mom. Chalo preeta.

Asmina drop preeta at door of karan's room.

Asmina : (winking her) all the best preeta.

Preeta felt more blushing, and asmina leave with a smile. Preeta entered in room.

This was not the first time she entered his room, but this time she felt different. Not nervous, but complete. Not shy, but proud. She in now his wife, "Mrs. Preeta Karan Luthra" a new relation added smile in her face. But still, that unknown emptiness, that unsaid isolation is something which never leaves.

Her smile replaced with her unrecognized loneliness. Removing her heavy jewelleries, she laid on bed on stomach.

Downstairs....

Sameer : (assuring him) zaroor hoga, bas tu uska khayal rakh, aur use hamesha khush rakh. Tu jaanta hai na karan uski life ke baare me, tu beshak use complete kar sakta hai, jo kabhi tum dono ko alag nahi karegi.

Karan : ha jiju, hope so. But jab tak ye aakash naam ki musibat hai sir par, tab tak dil ko sukoon nahi rahega. Aapne dekha na wo koi kasar nahi chodta hame alag karne ki, aur hamse badla lene ki.

Sameer : are wo insaan to aaj hai, aur kal nahi. Lekin tum dono hamesha ek dusre ke saath ho. To uski wajah se aapna time mat kharab karo.

Karan nodded.

Sameer : accha chal wo sab chod, abhi room me jaa, preeta tera intezaar kar rahi hogi. And (teasing) all the best.

Karan smiled and went from there.

Karan entered in room, and saw her laid in bed with back facing. He remove his garland, turband and watch, and kept on dressing table.

He went on bed, and slowly embraces preeta in her arms. Being in his arms, she digged her face in karan's shoulders. Karan caressed her hairs. He finally after some minutes, broke the hug.

Karan : (softly said wiping her tears) hey babydoll, maine kaha tha na abse koi aansu nahi aana chaahiye tumhaari aankhon me.

Preeta looked at him. Karan entwined their hands.

Karan : dekho preeta, I know pasts are so terrifying. But present is too more important. Aur ab se, aaj sez hamara past aur future bohot important hai. Haa mai tumhe ye assurance nahi de sakta ko life me koi problems nahi aayegi, but mai hamesha tumhe usse protect karunga, aur usme tumhaare saath khade rahunga ye assurance mai tumhe surely de sakta hu. Bas tum hope rakho, aur sad mat ho.

Preeta : (little week voice) I trust you karan.

Karan : (kissed her knuckle) that's more than enough babydoll.

Preeta smiled. Karan wiped her little left tears.

Karan : lekin you know na babydoll kal ki subah is a new beginning for us (preeta nods) to I want you too to be new for sad parts. New time, new relations, new surrounding, and without problem my new babydoll.

Preeta smiled.

Preeta : (smiling) I can karan, tumne mere liye itna kuch kiya hai, mai obviously the support kar sakti hu. Only new us. I gladly want it.

Karan : (smiles too) thank you, thank you so much..... You are on of best thing happened with me, and I'll always be best with my best. This may not be my first promise, but surely this is my last promise to you, 'only us, but happy us'

Karan kissed her forehead, preeta closed her eyes with his feeling.

Karan : good night babydoll.

Preeta : indeed a good one.

Preeta rested her head on karan's shoulder, and her hand on his chest. Karan squeeze her by putting his hands on her waist.

Undoubtedly a good night for both !

Precap : new day...

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

Many many happy returns of the day dear Priya Priyu644
A very happy birthday, hope you have a best and blessed year ahead. And all your righteous wishes to be fulfilled for you !
Be as bubbly and charming as you are.♥️
Once again happy birthday ♥️