She was still holding her brother's dead body when around shot was fired and she heard her father's cry.
"Prarthna!"
She looked beside her and saw her mother lay there with a bullet wound in her chest. Before she could even react another shot was fired and her father fell beside her mother.
In a span of 10 minutes she lost her family. Only because of a slap.
Yashwant held her arms and pulled her up.
"This was for that slap. Tumhe bhi chhodunga nhi mai. No one is spared after touching Yashwant Rai. Lekin tumse pyaar kia hai na maine. Toh tumhe ek chance de rha hu. You have half an hour. Jaha bachke bhaag skti ho bhaago. Kyunki uske baad tumhe shayad chalne layak bhi na chhodu. So run baby. Run!"
He said and pushed her. Tears fell down her eyes helplessly.
"I wish tumhe nark se bhi bhattar maut mile. I hate you Yashwant Rai. I hate you!"
She gave one last look at her parents'and her brother's body and ran.
She ran for her life. After running for 8 hours she finally found the mail train which took her to Delhi.
"And iske baad I met you. Aage ka you know."
She said and bowed her head crying silently.
"My one mistake cost me everything. Sab kuch kho dia maine ek hi pal mai. I lost my family. I lost my everything."
She sobbed hiding her face in her knees. Anush pulled her in his arms and rubbed her back and caressed her hair.
"Shh! Pari! Its not your fault. Nothing is your fault. He is the one responsible for everything."
"He killed my family Anush!"
She cried and kept her head on his chest. He cupped her face and made her look at him.
"You believe in God right?"
He asked and she nodded looking at him teary eyed.
"And you know wo kuch bhi galat nhi hone dete."
She nodded again and he smiled slightly removing her hair from her face.
"Toh bas phir. Trust him. And I am sure that your family is at a much better place. Haan! They must be looking at you right now. Tum unhe apne aise rota hua chehra dikhaogi? Would they be happy?"
She shook her head and wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
"Hmm. So now you won't cry over that bastard again. Usko uske kiye ki saza milegi and I promise you that."
She nodded and then whispered brokenly.
"But I lost my family Anush."
"Achha? Then who is Vineeta to you? Is she not your family? Who are mumma papa to you? Are they not your family? Since the day you came here tumhe kabhi bhi ye laga ki they are not your family. And what about me? Am I not your family Pari?"
The way he said the last two lines made her heart beat loudly. She didn't know how to reply. He smiled and leaned in softly kissing her head.
Since that day the two have gotten closer a lot. Emotionally and mentally. Pari felt comfortable around him and he loved her company.
After dinner the two would sneak to the terrace and spend time stargazing, talking or listening to music.
Even right now the two were laid on the mat with music playing on her phone and looking at the stars.
She picked up her phone to change the song and kept it back. She found him looking at her with a soft gaze and an unknown emotion.
She raised her eyebrows at him and he smiled tucking her hair behind her ear. She smiled blushing and said.
"Stars are up there Anush."
He smiled and said.
"I know. But I want to look at my wife today."
She looked at him surprised. Not expecting the statement at all. Her cheeks redened and she looked at the sky with a shy smile.
He held her hand and intertwined their fingers. He kissed her hand kept their joined hands on his stomach.
She bit her lip to control the wide smile which was slowly making place on her lips.
Vineeta who had come to talk to Pari but frowned not seeing her in her room walked to the terrace after looking everywhere.
She saw her brother and her best friend and grinned mischeviously seeing them so cozy. Ummhmm! Something is cooking! Mazza aayega! Hehe!
She thought and slowly went back down. She was so going to tease them.
The next morning everyone was sitting at the breakfast table while Vineeta was eyeing the two of them mischievously.
"Bhai kal raat ko kaha the aap? Mujhe baat krni thi aapse kuch but aap room mai nhi the?"
She asked making Pari choke on her food. Vineeta smirked and patted her back.
"Arre aaram se Pari. Waise tu bhi nhi dikhi mujhe room mai kal. Kaha the dono?"
Pari looked at Anush wide eyed who too reciprocated the look. He cleared his throat and said.
"Mujhe neend nhi aa rhi thi aur kaam bhi tha isliye terrace pr tha mai."
She nodded mischievously and turned to Pari.
"Aur tu kaha thi?"
"Mai?"
She looked around to see his parents stop looking at her curiously.
"Mai- umm-mai-"
"Pari bhi terrace pr thi."
"Oooohh! Terrace pr the dono!"
She grinned and Pari's eyes widened. Did she see them together? Anush narrowed his eyes at her and Vineeta smiled innocently while their parents looked on confused.
"Pari!"
Anush caught hold of her when she saw going back to her room.
"Take this. Apne liye naye kapde le aana. How long will you keep wearing Vineeta's."
He said forwarding his card to her.
"Nhi Anush! I can't take this."
"Why not?"
She shook her head and said.
"How can I take your money?"
"I am not giving it to be my sister's best friend. I am giving it to my wife. Pura haq hai tumhara."
He said making her swoon again.
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