~Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend.
Somewhere along, in the bitterness.
And I would have stayed up, with you all night,
Had I known how to save a life! ~

Shravan stood at the bar, slightly leaning into the counter as he sipped the Scotch he was holding in his hand. His eyes were fixed on the certain beauty standing on stage, reciting her thank you speech, but for some reason he felt she wasn't present mentally. It felt like her eyes were at him, studying him and it made him restless. He didn't like being the centre of anyone's attention anymore, ironically his heart had craved the same for years though.

His eyes met his father's, who was turning back to search him in the crowd and Shravan raised his glass to acknowledge him, and watched his face relax on locating his son. He also noticed a similar search in his mother's eyes and even though he didn't meet hers he knew she had seen him too. Shravan sighed, and gulped the entire liquid at once before putting the glass firmly on the counter.

He gulped a huge chunk from his third drink for the evening, watching Suman coming down the stage. He saw his father putting his hand on her head, wishing her, and a bitter taste rose in his mouth, and despite his maximum efforts, for that one second, the curtain of pretense he had been draping over for two years fell off. For that one minute, he could not help but wonder why could not his father be so fond of Suman two years ago?

People kept moving around him, the world continued to revolve. Before he knew, they were back at Suman's restaurant for dinner. There was a buffet arrangement for special guests and the family. Shravan stood in a corner, watching Vandy and Preeti dish out their plates, and Manju and Kamini gossiping like long lost friends. The men were seated on a round table, and were busy in a deep conversation, something Shravan presumed might be about politics.

He watched from the corner of his eyes, Nirmala walking to the buffet. The first thought that crossed his mind, even after two years, even after living the changed life, that she was probably setting it for Aditya, so he couldn't contain his surprise when she walked upto him, with her motherly smile, the same one he loved as a child.

Nirmala sighed reading the glint of surprise in his eyes. He was still uncertain, unsure about her, and she knew that the same went for his father. She knew Shravan hadn't forgiven either of them, because if he would, his eyes won't be this guarded anymore, like he was protecting whatever was left inside him.

Clasping his wrist in her hold, she dragged him to a table and sat down. Making a small morsel, she forwarded it to him and Shravan ate, watching the love shining in his mother's eyes for him. No matter what, his parents loved him, his mind knew that. In their own way, in their flawed way, they loved him and he was so grateful of them for that.

Nirmala fed him the entire plate before wiping his mouth with the free end of her Saree, and Shravan gave her an amused smile. Sometimes she really did forget he wasn't a child anymore. Before she could get up, Shravan stopped her, shaking his head. He himself got up and brought a plate of food for her.

"You need to eat too Maa", in the moments like these, Nirmala felt the worst. Despite how badly her actions had scarred him, he still loved her, he had still found the courage to call him Maa.

Ramnath sighed, watching the entire exchange when he felt Tiwari ji's hand over his.

" He has changed Tiwari ji. When will you consider forgiving him?", Ramnath pleaded, he knew how much it affected Shravan to be at the receiving end of his beloved Nanu's anger.

"I have forgiven Shravan Ramnath, but that lad sitting there isn't Shravan. He isn't my Shravan, he isn't my Suman's best friend", the depth of the words hung heavy in the air as Aditya gaped at the duo unblinking. It was true, wasn't it? Both Suman and Shravan weren't the same anymore, and that wasn't the problem, changes are inevitable.

But in his heart he knew, these weren't just changes. This was the after effect of them loosing themselves to the aftermath of that night. A night that spiralled down after his beastly attempt of trying to assault his would be bride.

As the clock ticked, the party wrapped up and everyone was back in the soothing confinement of their rooms, in the lap of their beds. But four people were still wide awake, troubled at that.

Shravan was sitting on the couch, fiddling with his phone. His hands were itching to call her, to wish her before her special night was over but he couldn't decide if he should do it.

Suman sat on her bed, her back resting on the headboard as she checked her ringer every two minutes. She made sure her Internet was on in case the WhatsApp Pinged. But the delay in every second only made her more restless. Before she knew, she was typing a message herself.

His whatsapp Pinged, and he blinked.

"Wish bhi nhi karoge?"

Shravan sighed and recorded an audio message, the best way out. His voice will convey his emotions and there won't be the burden of an answer, or the silence lingering in a call.

"Many many Congratulations Sumo. I am so proud of the women you have become. I am sure Priya Aunty is dancing mad in heaven today. Keep shining, love".

Suman teared up at the voice, but her smile grew wider. Despite the thousand wishes today, this was the one she had been waiting for, with baited breaths. Now, she could finally call it a night.

Preeti patted Mishri softly and sighed, catching Pushkar's attention. He ran a hand through her hair, and smiled at her, trying to ease the tension in her nerves.

"Everything that was wrong with them is now right Pushkar, yet nothing seems right", Preeti spoke, her eyes filling up at the thought.

Pushkar stayed mum, but he knew she was speaking the truth. The last two years had seen a three sixty degree transformation in Tiwari and Malhotra household.

Manju had finally seen what her taunts and her selfishness was doing to Suman. And as of today, she loved Suman more than she loved Anuj, which to say was a lot.

The loan Suman had been so worked up about, had been paid off, even though Manju had denied to take it multiple times.

The Tiwaris showered Suman with so much love that Suman had been blooming like a fresh flower these days.

Ramnath had held Suman's hands and cried bitterly to be forgiven. He had accepted her as his own and Suman now treated him like her own father.

Aditya had apologised, again and again until he was forgiven. He still maintained his distance from both Shravan and Suman but was anyway on better terms.

Shravan had sat down and listened to Nirmala's version, understood a better part of it and had given in to her consistet efforts of being his mother again.

Ram and Nirmala weren't together, they could never be but they worked out their issues for their son. They were okay.

Shravan hadn't forgiven his father either, but had been on talking terms, and respecting him too. He accepted his reasons and had been showered with all the love and attention he wanted from both Ram and Nirmala all these years.

Tiwaris and Malhotras had become one closw knit family.

Everything that had been wrong in both their lives was turned right.

Or was it?