Pooja sat at the bar, her head was pounding from the events of the night, and she just wanted to let go. A man slid into the seat next to her "What's a preety lady like you doing here alone"

She laughed, "Planning my death" she replied sarcastically

"Well, I think I can help with that, my name's Arron and I am a pathologist, I carry out post mortems" his eyes alight with humour

Pooja looked up, a smile now on her lips "Maybe you can" then she looked away, her eyes teary "My, my husband he" then she stood up "No, no I shouldnt" she purposefully left her purse on the stool as she ran out

Every man liked to be a woman's saviour, there was no way he wouldnt follow her out, she counted down slowly "5,4, 3, 2,"

"Hey, wait" Arron called, placing his hand on her arm
"Are you in danger, because I can help you"

She sniffed "My husband, he, he abuses me, I fell in love with a man, when my husband went away, and I just want to be free, it sounds stupid but maybe this is God's blessing, maybe this is how I can be helped" she grabbed his collar, tears flowing down her face

"Miss, I would lose my job, I cant lose my job, I could take you to the police, get you some help"

Pooja shook her head "His whole family is full of lawyer's, i'd have no chance, please, I just want to live"

Arron pulled away "Im sorry, I can't" he shook his head sadly

Pooja nodded, she had to make one last ditch effort "Its fine, I understand, you're a good man, I just dont know how I can protect my baby" she looked away

"Baby" he crowed

She nodded "Yes, im pregnant" she lied

Arron nodded "I can help you, with reports and stuff, but I cant help you fake your death, you'll have to do that alone, understand"

"Really, i couldnt take you up on that, you're to kind"

"No, please, let me help, people who abuse are the scum of the earth"

Pooja rubbed her stomach "I guess I must think of the baby"

XXX

Aditya pushed Zoya behind him, then grabbed Harsh by his arms, "The last time you did this, I let you go, I wont make the same mistake again" his fist hit Harsh's nose and he fell back with the force, blood pouring down his face

"You went after what is mine, I wont let you terrorise this family anymore, it's over" he shouted, kicking him as he led on the floor covering his face

Anjana ran in, hugging Zoya "The police are on the way, we'll make sure he gets sent away", she rubbed Zoya's back "Come on, lets get you cleaned up"

Aditya huffed, pulling Harsh up "You are a monster, a monster is what you are, you sicken me"

Mahi looked up as Zoya passed her in the hallway "Zoya, what" she stopped as the police barged past her, her eyes widened as Harsh was dragged away "This isnt over" he shouted loudly

XXX

Yash stood next to Mahi, his eyes teary "I messed up Mahi, really badly"

Mahi gulped "So did I, but we can make this right, Zoya loves you, she always has"

Yash shook his head, "Not anymore she doesnt, her heart belongs to someone else and all I can ask is that he takes better care of it than I did, maybe this was God's plan, that Adi and Zo end up together, I just want her to be happy, we've hurt her enough"

Mahi smiled sadly as Aditya walked over, Yash outstretched his hand "Thank you for being there for her"

Aditya glared down at his hand "Dont thank me, I wasnt doing you any favours, she deserved better than you, you let her down, doesn't it make you sick when you look at how much you have torn her down"

Yash nodded "I hate myself, more than anything, but I cant take it back"

Anjana stepped forward "She's asking for you"

Yash blinked "Me"

Anjana nodded and pointed to the door

XXX

"Zo" Yash muttered sadly as he looked over at her

Her eyes were teary as she pulled the blanket up slightly
"mere dukh ki koi dava na karo
mujh ko mujh se abhi juda na karo
nakhuda ko khuda kaha hai to phir
Duub jaao khuda khuda na karo
ye sikhaya hai dosti ne hamen
dost ban kar kabhi vafa na karo
ishq hai ishq ye mazaq nahin
chand lamhon men faisla na karo
ashiqi ho ki bandagi fakir
be-dili se to ibtida na karo"

Yash shook his head "Please, this doesnt have to be a goodbye"

"You broke my heart Yash, I loved you, with all my heart and you cheated me, now you want my forgiveness, Allah hasn't made me that strong Yash, there is only so much I can take"

"But"

Zoya shook her head "Hand yourself into the police, if you're really sorry, you'll do the right thing and you'll leave me alone, you've already done so much, if youre the only one that can provide evidence against Harsh and Pooja then please, do the right thing" she put her hands together shakily

He leant forward, pressing a kiss to Zoya's forehead "Take care Zoya, I will always love you"

"If this is your love, I hope no one else ever has to suffer through it" she closed her eyes, then as if he was never there, he was gone
She picked up his blazer, holding it to her chest as she sobbed, for the man she used to love.

XXX

Aditya stood at the door as he watched over a trembling Zoya, he pulled the blanket over her, pushing her hair out of her face
"Im so sorry Zoya, I really am" he took a deep breath and sat back onto the chair

He grabbed a glass, holding it tightly, it smashed in his hand making Zoya wake up, Zoya sat up then got out of bed, grabbing his hand she dragged him to the bathroom, washing his hand
"First aid kit" she asked

He grabbed it from the cupboard, holding it out her, his eyes remained on her the whole time as she cleaned up his hand and bandaged it.
She looked up at him "Why are you staring at me like that for"

He smiled "Youre so strong, you know that right, most people wouldnt have survived all you have"

Zoya raised her hand, cupping his cheek "Im so tired, so done with all of this pain, I just wish it could be over, I look at my life and im just not happy, this isnt normal, you never expect to wake up one day and find out someone you love never loved you, you think you know them and you just don't, it seems no matter how hard I try, I just keep getting hurt, and I think to myself sometimes if maybe we will have a happy ending, in the sunset, just you and me, living our dreams, I want it so bad but I just cant reach it"

Aditya was taken aback by her words "I want it to, I do, but you know that Pooja, Harsh and Yash must be put away first"

Zoya frowned "But, Pooja is in prison right"

Aditya shook his head "Yash spoke to me before he left, Harsh bailed her out, your ammi, it wasn't suicide, it was"

Zoya's knees shook, then she crashed to the floor, Aditya's arms still around her "Hey, hey Zoya, its okay, its okay"

"No, no it isnt, my ammi is dead, murdered by that psycho, my sister is living in a house with the man shes falling for because staying at home isnt safe, my father is in another city because he isnt safe, your father tried to rape me again, my husband is alive and you know what, you would think id be happy about that, but im not, because through all of this its you that's my saving grace, it isnt him i want its you, but I dont want to want you, I dont want to love you, but I do, and I can't make it stop"

Aditya tipped her chin up "You love me" he breathed out

She nodded tearfully, "But I shouldnt"

"Why, what's so bad about loving me"

"BECAUSE EVERYTHING I LOVE ENDS UP DEAD OR HURT OR BROKEN AND I DON'T WANT TO WAKE UP ONE DAY AND FIND OUT YOU'RE GONE" she shouted, her throat burning

He cupped her cheeks "God damn it Zoya, I love you to, dont run from me now, not when we need eachother the most"

She gripped onto his shirt as she sobbed in his arms, but it didnt seem tight enough, she knew she couldn't hold on with enough strength to keep him safe and alive, all she could do was try and sometimes trying was never enough.