~Mrs. Heer Vedh Singh Oberoi~

The mall was buzzing with crowd, the faint murmurs and footsteps against the well marbled floor echoed through the luxurious walls of the large mall

Heer walked a step away from Aman, a decent distance but her heart was still pounding mercilessly, she was not able to forget the day she had went out for shopping with Vedh and his family

That was the first time Vedh had talked to her, like really talked to her without any barrier and here was Heer getting married to someone else and still remembering her ex husband

There was a faint stillness settled in Heer's heart as she walked along side Aman who was probably talking about something related to the wedding but her attention was to the thoughts of Vedh

Just then Heer felt the air shift, it was heavier now. Heer now felt an intense pair of eyes fixed at her, it was as if the owner of those eyes didn't want to lift them off her

Goosebumps erupted all over her body as the gaze remained fixed. Though the way of looking was intense, she felt a strange ease

For a moment Heer felt that everyone present in the mall was looking at her only with fixed gazes and the whole room had narrowed to her only

Then suddenly there was a hand on Heer's shoulder, she stiffened and turned immediately only to see Aman looking at her with a soft smile with his palm on her shoulder

Heer shifted slightly, first the unease of someone's intense gaze and now a stranger touching her like that made her a little uncomfortable

Aman retreated his hand from Heer seeing her discomfort by the feeling of being watched didn't leave her so her eyes darted from one corner to the other in an attempt to see who was the person looking at her but she saw no one

Aman saw her distress and softly asked her,

"What happened Heer?"

Heer's eyes snapped up to Aman and she shook her head in denial trying to control the feeling seeping through her skin

"Look at that Lehenga. I think it's perfect for the wedding"

Aman said pointing at a pastel pink lehenga trying to ease the tension lingering between them. Heer looked up following his line of gaze and saw the mannequin wearing the lehenga

It was beautiful and Heer would have appreciated the work on it if this was her first wedding but right now the situation was entirely different

Heer was already discomforted by the lingering intense gaze of some hidden person on her and now Aman was asking something

Heer smiled, not entirely just a small curve on lips which didn't even reach her eyes, not even a bit it seemed as if she was forcing the smile on her face

Heer nodded at Aman for the lehenga whose smile widened in response while on Heer, the feeling of being watched grew more intense

Aman gestured Heer to walk forward and they both entered the store walking towards the lehenga

Without any hesitation Aman bought the lehenga and they both walked out with a huge bag which Aman gave to his driver to keep in the car

Heer stood at a decent distance from Aman but if someone saw from right side then it would look like they were standing close

Aman then turned to Heer and again with a soft smile asked

"Let's go have something to eat"

Heer nodded slightly though she didn't want to but the responsibility of her brother's company clawed at her whereas the feeling of being watched didn't leave her back

As they walked towards the food court, anxiety started creeping up in Heer's veins. She walked quietly beside a man whom she barely knew

Aman kept talking about things here and there to make Heer comfortable but Heer wasn't listening, her sole focus was on the creepy unknown gaze that followed her everywhere

In a few minutes, Aman and Heer were sitting on a table, facing each other, they had just ordered food and now again Aman was trying to talk to Heer

"...and then my mother asked my father that how could he be so shamelessly romantic in front of their children"

Aman finished his sentence and chuckled, he was telling how his father loves his mother so much and he has the same genes but then Aman noticed Heer's restlessness

He saw Heer wasn't truly paying attention to him but she was glancing here and there as if scared of something

Aman frowned looking the way Heer was reacting, he leaned back for a moment. He realised that Heer was still nervous with him

Aman slowly kept raised his hand and kept it on Heer's, which was on the table in order to give her some comfort

Heer's gaze snapped to his palm resting on hers, her eyes wide as she blinked at the sudden discomforting gesture moreover the feeling of being watched grew more intense

Heer was already uncomfortable, restless and over that here was Aman doing such things adding to her discomfort

Heer, very slowly and softly retreated her palm back keeping it on her lap, clearly marking her respectful boundaries to Aman

Aman retreated his palm too as the realisation dawned over him, he had done something Heer would never appreciate

Aman sighed before he forwarded the tray of food towards Heer who looked up at him and again gave a hollow smile like fulfilling a formality while Aman smiled in return too

After that they had their lunch quietly while Heer couldn't eat much because of the feeling of being watched kept creeping up to her

Later Aman dropped Heer to her house with her lehenga and left meanwhile Heer was still struck at the things she felt in the mall

She was at ease now.

HEER'S POV:

Entering the place that doesn't feels like my home anymore, I felt a bit relaxed. I was tired of course but the fact that was eating me alive was the sight of Singh Saab's pleading eyes

I left those ocean eyes pleading and now I was getting married again, moving on in front of the world's eyes but the reality was something entirely different from what it seemed

Was I getting married? Yes. But was I moving on? No.

The answers were clear from inside, every gesture every moment every ritual reminded me of my marriage with Singh Saab

He is not leaving my thoughts even for a moment, even when I was with my fiance, my ex husband was all I could think and then there was the lingering intense gaze which increased my discomfort

Though the way of looking wasn't wrong, I could feel it but I couldn't find the pair of eyes watching me, but the gaze was there every time

And strangely the gaze was somehow familiar, as if I had felt it before that too very patiently and yet I wasn't able to recognize

I sighed as I threw myself on the bed, I was hell tired right now not only because of the visit to mall but also because of the energy I lost over my running thoughts

I was lost in my thoughts staring at the ceiling like a lost soul looking for something to escape, I then moved my eyes and there it was, my laptop, my escape from the world

I hadn't written anything in the past months and now I really needed my own created world to hide me in it

I slowly got up and walked to my desk, sitting slowly on my chair I unlocked my laptop and inserted my earphones

The moment I logged in my account on the website, the list of my published works opened and then everything faded, every pain, every grief, the recent day's events- Everything

This had been my escape since school days, I love reading and writing too much, whenever I am too overwhelmed to face the true world, I escape in here and the best part?

The best part is that this world accepts me, comforts me, heals me without asking who broke me, that's why I love books too much

Months ago I got an email from a big publishing house that they want my manuscript till the end of this year and then if it is selected, it will be published

I was very happy back then but then suddenly I got married and I had hoped to fulfilling my dreams, nothing like that happened

But still there is much more time left to complete manuscript, I hope.

I am still working on the manuscript and now I am determined to complete it no matter what unless........its again the same situation as six months ago

One hour later

I was lost in a world that I myself created and it also gave shelter to more people like me and then the door of my room creaked open

I looked behind me and saw Reva standing with a small smile, she had cried a lot because of me and now seeing her smile again because of my one decision, makes me feel at peace

I smiled back before closing my laptop, I kept my earphones aside and standing up I hugged Reva tightly

I love her so much and one thing I know for sure is that I am never letting of this friend of mine, I can't lose her ever

We pulled apart and walked to the bed before sitting together, I told her everything about what happened in the whole day then suddenly I remembered feeling watched intensely

"Reva...."

I whispered, almost hesitant to speak

Reva frowned looking at me before she held my hand, a silent gesture to ask me to keep going, a quiet reassurance that she was listening without judging

"When we were walking around the mall, I felt someone looking at me....intensely"

I finally told her the thing bothering me the most since morning while her frown deepened whereas I continued

"Even when we went for lunch, it felt as if someone was keeping an eye on me"

Reva's frown eased slowly and she cupped my cheek with a small smile before she said

"You might have had a misunderstanding because you were already nervous about Aman and this marriage thing"

Though her point was right but I know it wasn't a misunderstanding, the feeling was true but I decided to not press it any further

I smiled back and then the chatter went on, just like old days. Reva was talking while I was just listening and responding

Pov ends.

~Mr. & Mrs. Aashrit Thakur~

"Aashrit....."

Reva whispered, her eyes cold and distant stared in Aashrit's whose eyes held confusion

"What is it Reva?"

Aashrit asked softly moving forward to hold Reva but she backed off slowly, without any emotion and then again looking straight at Aashrit she said

"Aashrit you know na, why I married you?"

Aashrit's frown eased as he got an idea of what Reva was about to say. He feared every passing moment because somewhere he knew this was about to happen

Aashrit, slowly almost hesitantly nodded before Reva let out a sigh and continued

"It was for Heer...."

Reva declared something Aashrit already knew but still he blinked asking Reva to continue forward

"And now, after all this, after Heer's divorce.......I can't live with you anymore"

Reva took a pause before her words knocked out every ounce of breath from Aashrit. He dragged in long breaths trying to process what was happening

Aashrit felt the pain in his bones as Reva's words finally made their way to his numb brain but he didn't move, he couldn't move, he was frozen

"I want divorce Aashrit"

Reva said, her gaze still unwavering as she said those words in a cold way she never talked to anyone, yes she had been angry but never cold

"No....."

Aashrit whispered as his eyes filled with tears upon hearing his love talking about their divorce. Somewhere Aashrit had known that this day would come but he didn't expect it to be this early

Reva gulped and without a single emotion she took out a brown envelop out her purse and kept it on Aashrit's palm

"I am sorry Aashrit"

Reva said before she turned on her heels and walked away, before Aashrit could process her disappearance, she was gone and when Aashrit finally snapped out of the haze of trauma, he screamed on the top of his lungs

"REVA!!!!!"

Aashrit woke up immediately, shouting out of the scary dream, a dream that almost sucked the life out of him in the sleep itself

Aashrit was in his home office, it was almost evening and because Reva wasn't home he came to work and cause of the work stress and other things, tiredness took over him and he ended up sleeping on his desk

As Aashrit woke up, he realised that he was in his office and ended up sleeping and it was just a nightmare

His breaths were heavy and he was sweating profusely because of the nightmare, Aashrit was trying to calm himself when suddenly the door of his office opened only to reveal Reva's panicked face

She came in quickly and seeing Aashrit sweating like that she panicked even more

"What happened Aashrit? Is everything alright?"

Aashrit gulped looking at Reva who wore a yellow suit with her nuptial chain and vermilion, the sight brought him peace

Reva cradled Aashrit's face in her palms trying to calm him while he could only look at her without words

"I just came home and heard you scream my name, what happened?"

Reva asked immediately forwarding a glass of water towards him. Aashrit gulped down the water through his dried throat before he sighed and keeping the glass down he finally replied

"Nothing, I just slept during the work and...and it was just a nightmare"

Aashrit replied slowly, his voice calm but stormed from inside because he thought that the nightmare will one day come true

Aashrit avoided meeting Reva's gaze and stood up to leave but before he could take more than a two steps, Reva's grip on his wrist halted him

Aashrit slowly turned around towards Reva, his gaze filled with confusion but then Reva walked in front of him and crossing her hands over her chest, she asked, seriously

"What is it, Aashrit?"

Her tone was neutral but firm enough to compel Aashrit to reply. He frowned softly before whispered

"Wha-"

Reva cut him off immediately saying

"The thing which is bothering you. You are behaving weird from a few days"

Aashrit blinked back the emotions from his eyes and kept looking at Reva before he finally let his insecurities take over, he spoke

"Reva...."

Aashrit whispered, his voice breaking from a strong man to a helpless individual and he cupped Reva's face between both his palms while Reva could only look at him with wide eyes trying to process Aashrit's gestures

"Reva I...I know that you married me for Heer's sake and now....now when Heer is divorced, I wonder if you will leave me"

Aashrit finally spoke out the words that had been bothering him since always now, his voice was just like a child

Hearing those words Reva felt a pang in her heart, a pang of being unaware all this time, a pang of quiet pain that Aashrit might have endured alone

She had never thought that Aashrit would be worrying about her leaving him just because Heer left Vedh though his insecurity was not entirely wrong

Reva had also thought that Aashrit would leave her after everything but then she shifted her focus on Heer suppressing her pain

Reva didn't say anything, she couldn't say anything and her expressions turned into painful ones while Aashrit's palms dropped from her cheeks

"Aashrit...."

Suddenly Reva cupped Aashrit's cheeks, her small palms covered his cheeks making him look at her tearful eyes which he despised more than she knew

"Aashrit, I won't ever leave you"

Reva whispered and a tear slipped past her eye before she wiped it smoothly. Her words held finality which anchored Aashrit in every way

Aashrit relaxed a bit, his eyes still fixed firmly onto Reva's amber orbs before he confessed, finally after the months of practice

"I love you Reva"

That's it.

No loud confessions, no noise or unnecessary show off proposals, just a normal confession with just those three words and the simplicity of the way he said them

Reva's eyes widen, her grip loosened as Aashrit's words made their way to her eardrums and she processed them

She didn't reply, she couldn't reply, how could she, she didn't even know that if she loved Aashrit the way he loves her

Yes, she liked him but love?

Did she love him?

Reva stepped back wiping her wet cheeks as a few tears fell when she lowered her eyes but Aashrit didn't stop, he kept going with his confession

"I don't know why but your presence anchors me in every way now, when you are around I don't feel any absence, I don't even care if the world goes to hell or burns the whole, I just need you beside me and even the thought of you leaving me breaks something that I didn't even know exists within me. Please Reva please don't leave me"

A single tear fell from Aashrit's eye as he spoke those words, he never felt this way with Bella maybe because she was just a mere attraction, an attraction he paid more attention then he should have but now Reva was his everything

Reva took one more step back hearing Aashrit confess his feelings for him, it wasn't like Reva didn't have any feelings for him but she didn't really know what those feelings were actually were

Without a single glance at Aashrit, Reva burst out of the room with tears in her eyes, tears of guilt because she couldn't reply

Aashrit, seeing Reva's retreating figure released a heavy sigh, his shoulders dropped in disappointment thinking Reva doesn't feel anything for him more than friendship and in that moment he regretted confessing his love

Aashrit didn't follow Reva, instead he decided to sleep in the study tonight though sleep was the last thing about to come to him

HEER'S POV:

The days passed in a blink of an eye, the house was decorated again and the rituals were done in a hurry and relatives were here once again

I was getting married- once again

The decision was made, the arrangements were done, the rituals were done and I knew there was no going back but my heart still wasn't ready to accept Aman, it felt that my heart was beating Singh Saab's name even when I was going to marry someone else

I sighed getting up from my bed, it was morning and today was my wedding with Aman Alhawat, the wedding just for my brother's company and his hard work

I sat on my bed and drank a whole glass of water kept beside the bed as I just woke up from 12 hours of restless sleep

I don't know why but since I had made the decision to marry Aman, there are weird voices I hear in my dreams, the voices I have never even heard but they still feel familiar

I took a deep breath and went to freshen up. I took my clothes and went inside the washroom quietly slipping in the cold tiled walls

I brushed my teeth and stripping off, I stood under the shower letting the cold water glide through my skin

The memories of my unsuccessful marriage and my father's hopes came rushing to me and once again like all the days, tears started streaming down my cheeks

I sobbed quietly under the soft pressure of water running from shower. It took me almost one and a half hour as it was a hair wash day

I put on a t-shirt and loose trousers while my hair were tied in a towel to soak water dripping from them

I softly rubbed the towel on the length and scalp, drying them before I catch a cold, I mean it's better to dry hair than sneeze in front of all the people at the altar

No, no even the thought of it feels embarrassing to me.

I was soaking my hair when the door of my room clicked opened, Reva slipped in lost in her own thoughts, she had been like this from yesterday

She was so deeply lost that she didn't even see me looking at her and bumped directly into me, that's when she came back to reality

"What is happening Reva, Where are you lost?"

I asked hissing, holding my forehead while Reva gulped, she seemed anxious, confused and nervous. Honestly I haven't seen her like this more than two times in our lives till now from childhood

"No..nothing Heer, I was just thinking something, I..I am sorry"

I frowned. This was not typical Reva.

I slowly held Reva's hands and made her sit on the bed while I sat along with her trying to understand why she was behaving like this

"What happened Reva?"

I asked, my words were firm, adamant on taking answer and Reva knew what was I asking, she knew exactly why I was asking but she still chose to remain silent

"Reva, you know you can tell me everything right? Has anything happened between you and Aashrit bhaiya?"

I reassured, though I don't think she needed reassurance because she already knew that I am always here for her just like she is here for me

When she had came back that day suddenly and seen me moping the floor, I knew she came back for my birthday because no matter how busy we are or how many days we had not talked for, we don't miss each other's birthdays

Reva looked up at me, finally, her eyes had confusion and anxiety which is not usual of her, she doesn't take anxiety, she gives it

She gulped and for the first time till today I saw her hesitating while telling me something, I don't know why but in that moment I knew that it was something related to Aashrit bhaiya

I kept my palm on Reva's and pressed it lightly before asking

"Did Aashrit bhaiya say something?"

Reva blinked and her eyes filled with tears creating panic in me, my Reva doesn't cry like this, unlike me she is stronger

"He said he loves me"

Her voice broke as she told me, for a moment I blinked trying to process for what exactly she was crying if her husband loves her

"So what's the problem?"

I asked genuinely confused and anxious because Reva was crying till now, this is something out of my syllabus of experiencing and above that it is not the first time someone has fallen for her

"I couldn't reply, I...I don't even know if I love him"

Her words made me want to chuckle but if I chuckled now, she will tear my head apart so its better to stay quiet

Reva cried for ten minutes before I finally decided to make her calm

"Reva, Reva baby it's okay if you are not sure about your feelings, just tell me how do you feel about Aashrit bhaiya?"

Reva frowned while I wiped her tears softly

"I...I like him, I mean he does so much for me, I made me complete my studies and now he is even helping me find a job just so I could be independent, more than that he takes care of me when I am down, on my periods or ill"

I smiled at the way she said those things so innocently, she is always like this, my Reva, my best friend

"Okay..., so how do you feel when you think of leaving Aashrit bhaiya?"

I once more asked, expecting a normal reply but Reva again burst out crying, her tears seemed unstoppable

It took me five more minutes to bring back Reva to her senses and she replied, being extremely emotional, more than I have ever seen her

"The thought feels wrong in every way, unholy"

I once again smiled because this time my best friend has found her love and for me it was more than enough that my Reva was getting the love of her life

"Reva you are in love, this is what love is"

I whispered very slightly like telling her a secret while cupping her cheek who became completely silent hearing my words

"Think about it Reva"

I said, deciding to give her space to think about all this just then Saanchi entered telling us about the arrival of makeup artist which gave me the reality check of my life

I was getting married in a few hours- again

Saanchi left as I nodded.

~Mrs. Heer Vedh Singh Oberoi~

In a few minutes, the house buzzed with chatter as the relatives got ready for the wedding, everyone wasn't called only the close relatives were present, the ones who actually understood the emotions and didn't judge

Meena ji was doing a few works with half spirit, she didn't want this marriage. Meena ji didn't blame Heer for no reasons, she only wanted her child's protection but....her way was wrong

Raj and Saanchi had been busy all these days, they only wanted Heer's happiness maybe more than Meena ji herself

Heer was in her room with Reva and the makeup artist while Aashrit hadn't arrived till yet, he would arrive directly at the venue

In her room, Heer was getting her makeup done, the artist worked with practiced ease on Heer's face and Heer's already smooth skin made it easy for her

After two hours Heer was all ready, the golden embroidery on her pink lehenga shined under the soft glow of her room

The artist packed up her things and looked at Heer with a soft smile before she got aside from between Heer and mirror

"Open your eyes mam and look how beautiful you look"

The artist said sweetly, admiring Heer's eternal beauty. Heer slowly opened her eyes only to see a new person sitting in front of her

Maybe she looked beautiful, much beautiful, very beautiful but Heer could only remember her look in her first marriage, She was the bride for the first time and so was the glow on her face back then

"Your husband will be mesmerized"

Heer didn't reply, she couldn't reply because her thoughts had already gone to the Vedh kept looking at her when she took her entry at Bangla Sahib

The smiled brightly and quietly slipped out of the room with her things, as soon as the makeup artist left Reva entered

For a moment as Reva saw Heer, she stopped in her tracks, no wonder Heer was looking gorgeous

Her golden jewelry suited her complexion perfectly and the soft mehendi patterns looked ethereal with her kaleere

Her tresses were tied in a sleek bun, in over all she looked divine but the only thing missing from her face was her smile which lost somewhere in all the past events

Her tresses were tied in a sleek bun, in over all she looked divine but the only thing missing from her face was her smile which lost somewhere in all the past events

Reva's eyes filled with tears as she saw Heer once again ready as a bride. She herself looked stunning in her golden saree and the subtle makeup improvised her already beautiful facial features

Reva stood in front of the mirror behind Heer and rolling her fingers on Heer's head she twitched them behind her ear, a caring gesture to ward off evil eyes

"May you get everything you deserve"

Reva whispered lovingly while Heer gave a subtle nod with a small twitch of her lips, a hollow smile

Reva sighed and just then the door of Heer's room opened again as Raj entered, his eyes first landed on Reva and he stopped

His eyes couldn't move from Reva for a moment taking in her beauty before her bright red vermilion and nuptial chain with black beads marked their presence

Raj snapped back to reality blinking his eyes away from Reva and this time his eyes got struck at his sister, who was ready to be a bride

Raj was not present in Heer and Vedh's wedding to bid farewell to his sister but as now he saw his little sister dressed up to become a wife, his eyes filled with tears

He kept his palm on Heer's head to bless her and ran back out of the room, he couldn't afford to stand there for more time and sob in front of Heer

Heer and Reva sighed as Raj left the room. Heer looked at Reva who looked still at distress again thinking about Aashrit's confession

Heer let out a breath before she said

"Reva think about all that when you are alone, it will give you time and the right decision"

Reva looked at Heer and nodded quietly before Saanchi entered telling them that it was time to leave

After a few minutes all of them left for the wedding

As the car rolled more towards the venue, Heer's restlessness increased with each moment making her more nervous increase, she felt as if she was doing a sin

If felt as if something wrong was about to happen.

Minutes later, Heer sat at the altar with Aman by her side but her restlessness knew no bounds, it kept increasing and the only name she could remember was- Vedh's

She sat in the pavilion with another man though her heart refused to give up on him her eyes were blank devoid of any emotion, even as she sat there as someone else's bride- her eyes only searched for him

She wondered if he even knew that she was getting married today or if he even cared to pay any attention towards any news coming about her

Heer wore a pastel pink lehenga but the color suffocated her more than maroon suit she wore in her wedding with him

Her eyes were fixed on the heavily decorated entrance so stubbornly that she didn't even pay attention when the priest asked to stand up for garland exchange

She came back to reality when Saanchi shook her and asked to put garland around the groom's neck but even then Heer expected Vedh to come from somewhere

Her hands trembled as she raised her arms to put garland around the groom's neck but just as she was about to put the garland-

A heavy gunshot rang making Heer flinch at her place and then he entered the hall with a dangerously calm aura.