"Samajh sakte ho? Kabhi pyaar kiya hai kisi se? Sachha pyaar?"
The answer was standing in front of him and his heart even knew that. But maybe the mind didn't or what....
He wanted to tell her that yes. And it's her. Her only. The only one he has always loved, and will always be in love with. Her. But something inside him wasn't letting him.
He had the answer, but didn't know how to put them into words. So he chose to be quiet instead, followed by another scoff by her.
She turned around, facing him.
"Kya huaa? Jawab nahi hai na. Maine kuch aur expect kiya bhi nahi thaa, so it's fine."
"Kuch sawaalon ke jawab bohot simple hote hain, bohot aasaan hote hain, phir bhi diye nahi jaate."
Tears brimmed around the corners of her eyes as she heard this, recalling one of those unforgettable moments they had.
"Tumne hi kaha thaa na Preeta? Tumhare sawaalon ke jawab aasaan aur simple toh nahi hain shayad, magar, dena bohot mushkil hai. Diye nahi jasakte mujhse."
"Nahi chaahiye."
She picked up her phone and went away from there, breaking his already broken soul even more.
------------
"Preeta.."
Preeta stopped in her way hearing Kritika's call. Kritika came in front of her and Preeta looked up at her.
"Woh, mai kehrahi thi ke.. please, bhai ko.. bhai ko itna mat hurt kariye. Bohot takleef mein hain woh. Mai yeh baat bata bhi kisko rahi hoon. Preeta ko, Preeta Karan Luthra ko. Aapse zyada behter kon jaanta aur samajhta hai Karan bhai ko, bhabhi. Please.. ek baar toh sochiye.. mat jaiyye bhai ko chod kar, mar jayenge woh aapke bina.."
"Koi nahi marta hai Kritika, sab zinda rehte hain, aur jeete hain. Aur Karan ke paas toh uske jeene ki wajah bhi hai na, aur jeene ka saath bhi."
"Aap aisa kyun bolrahe ho.. aap nahi jaante ho kya bhai ko?"
"Jaanti hoon, tabhi bolrahi hoon."
Preeta forwarded a step but Kritika held her arms stopping her.
"Please bhabhi, please.... aisa mat kijiye.. ek aap hi toh hain, jo Karan bhai keliye dil se sochti hai, jo unki asal mein fikr karti hai, baaki sab toh dikhaawa hi karte hain. Agar aap hi iss tarhan bhai se muh mod lengi, toh Karan bhai toh bilkul akele hojayenge."
"Akela hojayega? Oh achha. Toh Mahiraa se shaadi karwadena uski. Shaadi se yaad aaya, shayad kuch kaam adhoora chod diya maine.."
Preeta was trying to think about something when Kritika brought her to reality by holding her hands.
"Ek baar bhai ke dil par haath rakh kar toh dekhiye, aap hi keliye dhadakta hai unka dil. Mujhe pata hai mai kuch zyada hi bolrahi hoon, lekin yeh sab sach hai bhabhi. Kya apko nahi mehsoos hota hai? Aapke bina itna bechain se hojate hain woh, na khudka hosh rehta hai aur na kisi aur ka. Bohot pyaar karte hain woh aapse, bohot zyada pyaar."
A bitter smile carved on Preeta's lips.
"Pyaar.... pyaar karta hai woh mujhse? Kaise maanloon ke woh mujhse pyaar karta hai? Koi bhi aisi baat, aisi wajah hai jo yeh sabit karsake ke woh mujhse.... pyaar karta hai?"
Preeta was trying her hard not to burst out into sobs. Her heart was aching like anything, but she didn't want to think about the heart now.
"Unki aankhein, unki aankhein hi kaafi hain iss baat ko saabit karne keliye ke woh aapse kitna pyaar karte hain. Dekhne ki koshish toh kijiye."
