As they reached the venue they stepped through the gates, he reached out and gently took her hand. It was warm, grounding. She looked up at him, surprised—but he was already looking ahead, his grip steady.

Inside, the house buzzed with relatives, old friends, and distant cousins. The music dipped as they entered, and a few curious eyes turned their way.

Surendra didn’t falter.

Pulling her slightly closer, he led her toward the center of the room where his parents stood, laughing with a group of guests. When his mother spotted them, she raised an eyebrow in subtle surprise.

Surendra cleared his throat.

“Everyone,” he said, his voice firm but full of affection, “She is Kanak.”

There was a brief pause—a silence filled with a dozen unspoken questions. Then he added, still holding her hand:

“She’s very special to me.”

His father’s stern expression softened, and his mother’s eyes flickered with understanding. The mood shifted—curiosity gave way to smiles, warmth, and a murmur of greetings.

"Kanak, it's really very nice to see you here beta", Mukesh smiled , happy to see her and Surendra's relation developing.

Just then his grandmother and grandfather joined the group, "so you are kanak?".

"Huh?", kanak feeling being awkward with the sudden question of his grandmother.

" I mean, I have Heard from everyone about you, they all—surendra, naitik, Mukesh, they all just talk about you", her grandmother exclaim how she is an important topic among his family.

"Acha, mujhe nhi pata tha Surendra mere baare me itni baat krta hai", kanak said being surprised by the sudden revelation.

"What's going on?", just then a voice interrupt them which was of Sanjay Chouhan, yash's father.

As Surendra's family has a very deep and old relationship with Chouhan family.

"Look , who is here?", with a laughter Mukesh hugged Sanjay. As both the families gather after a very long time their cheerfulness and laughter was filled in the air.

Kanak looked at Sanjay who was already looking at her, she got a bit nervous and tried to avoid him, but he stopped her with a sudden question.

"Are you gopal's daughter?", his sudden question shocked kanak.

"Kya?", her voice very low.

Sanjay senses a sudden awkwardness, "Oh, sorry I just felt that you are his daughter, because you really look like him, like father and daughter".

"Ohh , it's okay", kanak said and tried to move away from the discussion.

Surendra held kanak's hand and took her to others and introduce her to many businesses and friends.

He didn't held go of her hand even for once, in the whole party he attended every guest while holding her hands .

" Surendra, just leave my hand and you should go and meet guest", kanak insisted but he was not ready to leave her.

As the party continued inside, Kanak and Surendra stepped out onto the terrace, the cool night air enveloping them like a quiet cocoon amidst the vibrant chaos inside. The soft hum of conversations, the clinking of glasses, and distant laughter from the guests were muffled by the thick, serene darkness surrounding them. A soft breeze rustled the nearby trees, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the garden below. The terrace overlooked a sprawling view of the city, and in the distance, Kanak could already see the first hints of the impending fireworks show, their lights reflecting in her eyes like fleeting sparks of hope.

Garv, Naman and yash video call thier respective women to celebrate happy new year.

As the countdown began, thier voice grew more louder on call,"guyss it's finally new year", kanak said excitedly to her girls on call.

Three… two… one…” At the strike of midnight, the fireworks exploded overhead in a brilliant array of colors, showering the sky with reds, greens, and blues, each burst louder than the last. The first explosion rang through her, sharp and unexpected. The crackling sound filled the air, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze.

Surendra, oblivious to her inner turmoil, clapped her on the back, his voice full of warmth. “Happy New Year, Kanak! Let’s make this one even better than the last!”

"Happy new year, Surendra!", kanak said with a smile.

Both were looking at each other, lost in gaze —a moment of love, friendship, home, which kanak always try to find in people.

"Happy New year", tej shouted from the other side wishing all of them.

They all wished each other, and with the new year beginning Surendra took kanak to her apartment at it was very late at night.

At the door of the apartment, "kanak, if you want a can accompany you, as you will be alone in the house", Surendra said with a smirk.

"There is no need, I'm use to being alone at house, so I can go and sleep", kanak said unlock the lock.

" Okay, I'm here in my apartment, so if you feel anything just tell me, and lock the door properly", Surendra said.

Kanak moved inside the house and locked it properly and changed herself, she took her diary in which a lot of feelings and very secret of her is written.

She wrote something in the diary and kept it safely in the drawer. Kanak went to her bed and slept.

Later at around 3.30am, Surendra woke up and came outside the house to check the kanak.

He put his ears in her door to check if there is something wrong but everything was already untill he heard her screaming.

In the silence even the slightest noise was audible. He heard some voice from inside, he grew panicky and started calling her.

"Kanak, what happened, just open the door?", Surendra Started knocking loudly on the door. But there was no response from inside.

As the silence grew Surendra become more panicky, he ran towards his apartment and took the key of kanak's apartment, it was an extra key given by sapna to garv, in case of any emergency.

Surendra opened the door and ran towards Kanak's room, his each step racing his heartbeat. His mind thinking in every negative way possible.

As he enter her room He was shocked to see kanak. He saw her—her body twisted in the bed, her arms flailing as she mumbled incoherently.And then—her scream. It was sharp, a cry from deep within her soul. Surendra’s heart raced. He had heard that scream before.

Kanak’s body jerked as if trapped in a nightmare, her back arched, and her voice broke through the tension-filled air. "No! Please… stop! Don't—"

Surendra bolted up from the bed, his breath caught in his throat. He rushed to her side, his hands trembling as he tried to shake her awake. “Kanak! It’s okay, it’s just a dream, wake up!”

But she did not wake up, she was continuously murmuring, "Yeh mand..mandap, n..nhi m..mujh..e nhi...krn..a please—".

Surendra listened to her each word, which shatters his heart, his mind was not able to conclude anything from her saying.

" S..shadi n..nhi k..arn..—", she was continuously muttering all these words.

"Kanak, got up what happened, jaana, please wake up", he tapped her cheeks .

"Ahhhhhhhh", she got up with a scream.

Surendra hugged her consoling her,"it's okay breath, I'm here".

Kanak hugged him tightly and tried to catch her breathing, she was sweating, her face and body was shivering.

He takes her hand in his, gently. She holds it tightly, like a lifeline.

After hugging her for while, she came back to her senses, "Are you really fine?".

"Hm, I'm fine now", she said fixing her hairs and dress.

"Okay, you sleep here, I'm sitting just beside you, so if you need anything just tell me"Surendra said making her sleep.

He sat beside her, his eyes not ready to move from her face.

"What's the truth kanak?", Surendra thought to himself.

Around 8 am Kanak stirred in her sleep, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Her breaths quickened, chest rising and falling rapidly. Her dream twisted into a nightmare — flashes of the accident, the screeching tires, the blinding lights, and the helplessness that followed.

Suddenly, she jerked awake, gasping, her eyes wide with terror. Her body trembled as she struggled to make sense of where she was. Panic gripped her — her breath caught in her throat as her mind flooded with trauma.

But then — a gentle pressure on her hand.

Her eyes darted to the side. Surendra, sitting in the hospital chair beside her, was still holding her hand. His head rested against the wall, clearly exhausted, but refusing to let go even in sleep. His face, though tired, was peaceful — as if standing guard in silence.

Kanak’s breathing began to slow. She looked at him — really looked — and the panic in her eyes softened. Her fingers tightened slightly around his.

Surendra stirred, sensing the movement. His eyes fluttered open, instantly alert.

"Kanak?" he said softly, voice heavy with concern. "I'm here."

She nodded, unable to speak yet. But her eyes said everything.

"You freshen up, I will prepare a breakfast for you", Surendra told her.

"No, I will prepare it—", kanak do not want to bother him more.

" No way, I'm making it, you just rest", Surendra said and left for the kitchen.

After having a good breakfast together, someone knocked on the door.

Surendra opened it and a shout

"Happy new year", the voice of all the boys— garv, Naman, yash, dev, Jonathan, David, Vedansh, Vatsal.

"What a suprise!", kanak got up from her place and was very happy to see all of them here.

"Kanak, go and change your outfit we all are looking out today", yash said.

Kanak looked at them ,"right now?"

"Yes, right now, now go and change", Surendra said holding her from shoulder and directing her towards her room.

"Okay fine", kanak said and went to change.

After few minutes she came back and they all left from there, enjoying quality time.

They all roamed from streets to streets laughing, playing, fighting, and scaring others.

Later at next morning sapna, prachi and tej came back from their house.

The apartment again glow up with the laughter of them. "Kanak, these are the gifts given by my mom especially for you and these for prachi and sapna", tej said.

"Now everyone tell me how your new year went ", kanak said excitedly, as they all gather to share their stories.

Next day, in evening sapna was sitting in a cafe completing her work as she has submit her file to the manager. Just then a familiar voice came," Hey sapna!"

It was Kanishka,Kanak’s office friend, Surprised but happy, Sapna waved her over. The two exchanged pleasantries and soon were seated together, catching up.

After a few minutes of light conversation, Kanishka casually mentioned,

“Oh, by the way, our office gave everyone leave for New Year. It’s a 5 days off. Much needed!”

Sapna raised her eyebrows. “Really? Everyone?”

Kanishka nodded. “Yes, the entire company. Even Kanak’s off—she left early on Friday, talking about taking a break from all the workload.”

A pause fell between them.

Sapna smiled politely, but inside, her thoughts were racing.

Kanak hadn’t mentioned anything about a holiday. In fact, just yesterday she told her that she has very important presentation and file which needs to be submitted.

Before Kanishka could notice the shift in her expression, Sapna quickly changed the subject. But a quiet doubt had been planted in her mind.

As the café filled with laughter and cheer, Sapna sat still, stirring her coffee, wondering what Kanak was really doing with this New Year holiday—and why she hadn’t told her the truth.

At night sapna came to house and stood in front of kanak angry and with a lot of questions.

"Why did you lied to me, and to everyone?", sapna questioned her.

Prachi and tejeshvi had just enter the room with Surendra, Naman, yash and garv as they all were going to have dinner together.

"Lie, what lie?", kanak said being confused with the sudden question.

"You said that you did not got any holiday from company due to upcoming project and presentation, but every other one has got leave from company due to new year", her voice hold the anger of lie and the hidden truth.

"Yes others got holiday but as I told you its was my presentation, I'm alone in it and if everyone will be on Holiday, then who will handle that project, which is very important", kanak explained herself but sapna was not ready to believe it.

"No, it's not the truth, even I have Heard from others that everyone from Patel empire had got the holiday , but still I didn't questioned you , but today I have to?", prachi asked her curiously.

"Kanak what are you hiding just tell us?", garv asked her.

As the situation was getting worse, they all started pressurizing kanak to answer.

"Kanak tell us why you didn't went to your family?", tej asked her voice high.

"You all want answer from me, right, why I didn't went to house, and why I hide this from you all?", kanak said.

Every eyes in the room filled with questions waiting for the answer which only kanak knew, after a brief silence, Surendra again question her.

"What's the reason kanak?", Surendra asked her politely.

" It's Because I don’t have a home to go to!" she snaps. "I don’t live with my family. I haven’t for years."

Shocked faces all around.

"You keep assuming I have this perfect home waiting for me. But I left. I had to. And I don’t talk about it because... it hurts. New Year’s isn’t happy for everyone."

"I have left my house years ago, I don't talk to them, that's the reason why I didn't went home, because I don't have one ", kanak said her voice filled with the pain she had hidden till years.

"But why didn't you share this with any one, not even with us?", tej said being sad with the revelation of the truth.

"Because I don't want to, and what I should have told you , 'that I don't live with my family ', and you all would have shower me with 100 questions, that I don't know how to reply", kanak's voice shattering but not a single tear came from her eyes.

"But why did you left your home?", Naman question her.

"Yes, kanak what is the reason and exactly when did you left your house?", everyone question her the same.

The voices in her head was getting louder and louder.

"I don't want to answer anything right now,I know you would question me about a lot of things that's the reason I didn't shared it with anyone".

"Okay, no one is going to ask you anything "Surendra said, understanding her situation.

"But kanak remember one thing you are not alone in this, we all are here", garv said.

Kanak left a sense of relief from their words as she was not alone in this situation, her friends were here for her.

Without any further discussion they decided to give some space for kanak.

Next day, kanak was all happy like nothing happened yesterday night, but no one question her about anything and let her be herself.

At evening, kanak came to house and gather tej, prachi and sapna.

" Why you have gathered everyone here, kanak?", prachi questioned her.

" Because, I have decided something ", kanak said her voice showing the seriousness of the situation.

" About what?", sapna asked.

With a deep breath, kanak finally said," I'm getting married".

Evryone present in the room Started laughing.

"Try a better joke next time", tej said.

" I'm not joking, I'm getting married and that too tomorrow evening ", kanak said

"Kanak it's not the age to get married and apart from that you were always against this marriage and all stuff ", tej added.

" I know but now I have decided and that's final", kanak declared.

"With whom are you getting married?", prachi asked.

"Bhavesh ", kanak told the.

"Whattt?", there voices echoes in the room with the shock.

" Bhavesh, vo nalli ka keeda , nhi tu mazak kar rhi hai, vo bhavesh jiski shakal dekhna bhi tujhe pasand nhi hai , tu usse shadi kregi, him tujhe yeh nhi karne denge", sapna said trying to process what she just said.

" Yes, it's the same bhavesh you all knew, and now I have decided to get married", kanak said forcing a smile on her face.

" Kanak, lekin Surendra ke baare me to soch, hum sabko lagta hai tum dono ek dusre ko pasand karte ho or agar tu —", tej trying to make her understand.

" Mene kabhi nhi kaha ki me Surendra ko pasand karti hu , ha apan sab dost hai lekin iska matlab yeh nhi ki mein usse shadi krungi", kanak said leaving no air of further discussion.

" But kanak, bhavesh is not a good guy and we all knows it, and okay if you want to get married, marry Surendra, he is a gentleman", prachi insisted her.

"Bhavesh is more better than Surendra, infact he is working on himself and had become better than what he was before just for me", kanak replied them.

" No way kanak we all will not let this happen, you will not marry him, that's final", tej said her voice laced with a final decision.

"I will marry bhavesh", kanak said with the same tone .

" Then we will not come for the marriage ", prachi said.

" That's fine, but I will marry bhavesh and that too tomorrow evening ", kanak said and left from there.

"What's going on guys, Kal hume pata chalta hai kanak apni family ke saath nhi rehti or Aaj vo keh rhi hai ki vo shadi kar rahi hai, vo bhi uss bhavesh se", sapna said, not able to understand anything that's going on.

" Let's call garv Naman and yash and tell them", tej added.

As kanak left they all call them and within few minutes they all were sitting on the sofa shocked.

" I'm still not able to digest that kanak, like literally kanak is getting married", garv said.

" But how we will inform Surendra about this", yash Said thinking about Surendra and what would happen next.

Just then, Surendra enter the room," konsi baat hai vo Surendra ko batana hai".

They all stood up from there places being surprised and shocked.

" Tell me guys what happened?".

" Surendra it's nothing", Naman said.

" There is something you all are hiding, just tell me", Surendra demanded.

" Surendra, the matter is that kanak is getting married", sapna said.

Without a single a word Surendra left from there and coincidentally kanak came in front of him. He grabbed her wrist and jerked her to his apartment. He pushes her towards the door , her back touched the door and he hovered her.

" What are you doing Surendra?", kanak questioned him.

" You tell me what are you doing", Surendra said his voice low , husky and his eyes dark with anger which sents chill to her spine.

" Thank God you got to know all that, otherwise I have to go to everyone and invite them", kanak said sarcastically.

" You are not going to do anything foolish, got it jaana", Surendra said kissing her earlobe.

Her breath quickens which the intimacy and the closeness between them, but needs to have control over her.

" I'm going to do it and you are no one to stop me, just get this straight in your head", kanak said with all the strength.

" Shhhh, jaana aesi baate nhi karte", Surendra moved more closer to her leaving no space for even air to pass between them.

Kanak tried to push him but her grabbed his both hands and placed them above her.

"Surendra just leave me—", kanak tried to push him giving her best efforts but in front of him her efforts were all waste, but again she tried and gathered her all strength and pushed him.

" Surendra just stop itt", kanak shouted.

" Don't behave like a pervert ", kanak added.

" You are not going anywhere ", Surendra shouted.

" I'm going to do what I have decided, you don't have any right to stop me"kanak said provoking him .

" Mein shadi kar rhi hu"

"I'm getting married that too tomorrow evening"....

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