Kumkum Bhagya: Rishton Ki Ankahi Kahani - Chapter 108 updt on pg 22 - Page 6

Originally posted by: Aleyamma47

Episode 33

Mehra and Kohili's House Warm Party - I

As you can see in the title of this episode, the episode is purely based on the Housewarming Party held in Mehra and Kohili’s house. I know the original had already shown a lot of parties; I hope the fictional party which I’m creating in the ff is amusing my readers as much as the original series.

The episode starts with Ranbir, Aryan and Mishti coming to the renovated house. Ranbir says, “Well I should say that the workers have done a good job after the fire accident, our houses look so beautiful, that even one small imprint of the incident is not left behind.” Mishti exclaims, “And bhai, this time my room is painted in pink, my favourite colour, it looks so beautiful.” Aryan continues, even the place where we usually play has wallpaper with sporty designs, it’s really cool.” Vikram comes there and tells, “Well all this is my work, I was the one who directed the mason workers and painters to design all the places according to the taste of the people who use them the most.” Mishti hugs him and says, “Thanks dad!!!!” Abhi too comes there, “Ranbir, this time your good for nothing dad has really done a wonder to renovate our houses!!!!” Mishti asks Abhi, “Mehra uncle, “Did you inform Prachi and her mom about Rhea’s plan!!!” Ranbir’s face brightens up on hearing Prachi’s name. Vikram interrupts and says, “Obviously why not, after all your Abhi uncle is a big fan of Prachi’s mom!!!” Abhi stares at him. Vikram nervously says, “I should say Anuradha ji is very lucky to have a Rockstar like Abhi as her fan” then he maliciously looks at Ranbir and continues, “Maybe Prachi will also soon have a Rockstar fan with her!!!” Ranbir coughs in embarrassement. Aryan too gets shocked. They both say that they will look at the other preparations for the party. They go inside. Abhi says Vikram, “If your nonsense is over, shall we go to the office!”. They leave.

Inside as Aryan and Ranbir look upon the preparations of the party, Aryan asks, “Ranbir yaar, I think your dad knows that there is something cooking between you and Prachi!!!” Ranbir tells, “No not really, but he is trying his best to find it out!!!” Aryan thinks and tells him, “I guess you need to confess to your Dad, everything between you and Prachi, it’s better he gets to know everything from you, rather from someone else.” Ranbir looks worried. Aryan asks him what the matter is. Ranbir tells, “First I want to clear everything with Rhea, then I want everyone to know about mine and Prachi’s relationship, I am not worried about revealing things to my family because in my family everyone really loves Prachi, but….” Aryan asks, “You are worried about Rhea??? Your anxiety is also reasonable, looking into the past on whatever Rhea plotted again Prachi, I don’t think, she is gonna stay calm, once she knows that YOU LOVE PRACHI, you need to be extra careful this time Ranbir!!!!” Ranbir looks on.

Sunny comes to a shambled lodge and shows the receptionist a photograph, the receptionist gives him the details of the room, Sunny goes there and meets Sanju, the latter is unpleasantly surprised to see Sunny as he thinks him to be a policeman who came in search of him after whatever he did with Prachi during the Diwali Party. He falls on Sunny’s feet, who is left astonished. Before Sunny could say anything, Sanju starts wailing while saying, “Sir!!! Sir!!! Please don’t put me in jail, I did not do anything on purpose with Prachi, all that was a plan of Rhea and Priyanka.” Sunny is baffled with the sudden revelation of Sanju. He could not figure out about what he is saying, but he gets curious to know about the matter. He scolds Sanju saying that he is not a cop and he was sent there by PRIYANKA to fetch him. Sanju becomes relieved. He wipes his tears and hugs Sunny tightly. Sunny is disgusted, Sanju tells him, “You should have told me before no, bhai!!! I will get ready in a moment and come.” Sunny demands him to wait and inquisitively questions about the revelation what Sanju had just made. Sanju is doubtful, when Sunny assures him saying, “We both are working for Priyanka Madam, so you need not keep anything related to her a secret with me, go on tell, who is this Rhea and Prachi, and what happened in the DIWALI PARTY!!!!” Sanju solacely says, “Do you know Mr. Abhishek Prem Mehra???” Sunny surprisingly affirms. Sanju continues, “Well Rhea is his daughter MISS. RHEA ABHISHEK MEHRA.” Sunny eyes widen in shock and asks, “And Prachi???” Sanju smiles maliciously and says, “Prachi is my sweetheart, my lovebird….” He goes on and on about his fantasies of Prachi. Sunny gets annoyed and asks him the relations between Prachi and Mr. Abhishek Prem Mehra’s family, Sanju tells, “There is no connection between Prachi and the Mehras, she is from my hometown, Hoshiarpur, her mother is a college lecturer, what was her name??? Yeah Miss. Pragya Arora!!!” Sunny is left astounded and thinks, “That means, Rhea and Prachi are Chachu’s younger twin daughters, and what is this PRIYANKA trying to do to them!!!!” Sunny further enquires him about the Diwali party, Sanju tells everything that happened and how the whole plan was made, which was the actual cause of the fire disaster in Mehra’s HOUSE. Sunny is bewildered on learning the whole truth. He clenches his fist hard to punch Sanju, but before that Sanju asks him, “So if you investigation is over, shall I pack my stuff?” he rushes inside, Sunny still frustrated, lets upon his whole anger on the wall nearby by punching hard it with his fists, the wall cracks, and the people there are alarmed. Sunny tells, “What are you doing Sunny??? You are aiding someone who is causing trouble to your Chachu’s family??? No, I will have to stay more cautious about Priyanka such that she does not wrong RHEA-PRACHI, I will have to be extra careful.”

In the evening, Abhi’s house

All are dressed brightly for the housewarming party. Dasi asks, so shall we install DEVI MAA’S IDOL, Abhi!!!”, Purab says, “But Pragya di!!” he stops, Aliyah looks furiously at him, Vikram’s family members and Aryan look confused. Priyanka fumes on hearing Pragya’s name. Purab corrects himself and says, “I meant Prachi and her mom, who has to do the aarti have not arrived yet!!!”, when Prachi cries out, “We are here Sir!!!” Abhi is mesmerized to see Pragya, Ranbir-Aryan are super excited to see Prachi-Shahana, while Aliyah is closely watching her son. Ranbir looks at Prachi and shows superb looking at her, she winks back smilingly. Rishi and Sarita behen join them, Priyanka becomes furious seeing Rishi and Shahana together. Dasi says, “Now since Ram and Siya are here shall we start the Devi Maa installation and aarthi!!!” All smile except for Vikram’s family and Aryan who are confused. (Ram ram jai raja ram plays……)

——-

To be continued

I like these 4 together

Arhana

And pranbir

Chapter 41

Ranbir and Aryan’s Preparations

As the evening set in, Aryan and Ranbir got ready to leave for Prachi’s house—it was the last chance they had to help her prepare for the upcoming Extravaganza 2019 fashion event. Ranbir, phone pressed against his ear, spoke to Prachi while Aryan busied himself in front of the mirror, fussing over his appearance.

"Yeah, yeah, Prachi, I’m leaving! Aryan and I will be there in a few minutes. And don’t stress, you are going to win this time," Ranbir assured her confidently.

Turning around, he raised an eyebrow at Aryan, who was meticulously adjusting his outfit, trying different styles, and spritzing himself with perfume.

"Hello? Ranbir, are you even listening?" Prachi’s voice pulled him back to reality.

"Yes, yes, I’m here," he replied quickly. "Look, haven’t you practiced the walking techniques I showed you the other day?"

Prachi affirmed that she had, but her voice carried a hint of worry.

"And we’ve got everything ready—your costume, the accessories. Aryan and Shahana have worked on every detail with me. Then why are you so tense, Prachi?"

Prachi let out a weary sigh. "It’s not about winning, Ranbir… it’s about—"

He instantly understood. "It’s about competing against Rhea, isn’t it?"

Prachi was taken aback. "How did you know?"

Ranbir smiled softly. "Come on, Prachi. I love you. And when you love someone, you can feel every emotion they go through."

At that moment, Aryan’s head snapped towards him.

"Listen, don’t overthink this. I’m coming right now with Aryan, okay? Just wait for me." He hung up and sighed, his expression unreadable.

Aryan, having overheard the conversation, stepped forward. "Ranbir, I think it’s time you tell Rhea the truth. She won’t take it well, but it’s better to face things than keep running from them."

Ranbir stared at Aryan for a moment, deep in thought. Before he could respond, Mishti walked in.

"Bhai, are you both heading out?" she asked.

Ranbir turned to her, already impatient. "Mishti, do you need something? I’m already late, thanks to this idiot!"

Aryan frowned. "What did I do now?"

Ranbir scoffed. "What did you not do? You’ve been standing in front of the mirror for the past half an hour, trying on every single thing from my wardrobe. What is wrong with you?"

Then, turning back to Mishti, he smirked. "And guess what, Mishti? Our dear Aryan has even put on your favorite perfume—the one most girls in our college love. But you know what’s funny? He’s always been allergic to it!"

Mishti looked at Aryan with curiosity, a knowing smile forming on her lips.

Aryan tugged at Ranbir’s jacket, whispering, "Dude, why are you embarrassing me in front of your sister?"

Ranbir shook him off. "Oh, I’m embarrassing you? Have you seen yourself?" He turned back to Mishti. "I’m sure he’s trying to impress someone."

Mishti chuckled, while Aryan hurriedly cut in, "I think we’re getting late. Let’s go!"

Just as they were about to leave, Mishti stopped them.

"Bhai, wait! I needed your help with something for the fashion event tomorrow."

Ranbir immediately felt guilty. Pulling her into a hug, he said, "Aww, why didn’t you tell me earlier? Now I’ve already made other plans."

After a moment of thought, he added, "Okay, let’s do one thing—Aryan, you stay here and help Mishti. Then join me later."

Aryan’s face fell. He wanted to protest but couldn’t find the words. Mishti, on the other hand, was overjoyed. Hugging Ranbir tightly, she beamed, "Thank you, Bhai! You’re the best brother in the world!"

Ranbir smiled, feeling content that he had made her happy, while Aryan stood there, clearly displeased with how things had turned out.

Sanju’s Dilemma

Sunny drove Sanju back to his lodge, and as they reached, Sanju grinned at him.

"Bhai, you’ve filled the empty space in my heart that Bitto left. You’re like a real brother to me! Can I hug you now?"

Sunny rolled his eyes in irritation. "Just get down. I have places to be."

Sanju sighed dramatically. "Okay, fine, if you don’t want my hug, whatever. But at least listen to me, nah? I really think this Lakshmi Ji’s sister, Priyanka, has serious issues!"

Sunny shot him a sharp look.

Sanju gulped and continued nervously, "Why are you looking at me like that? I’m just saying the truth! Think about it—Priyanka used to team up with Lakshmi Ji for all her dirty plans, but now she’s plotting against her? And on top of that, she’s forcing me to target Shahana when I have zero interest in her. It doesn’t make sense! So, Sunil Bhai, how about you do it instead of me?"

That was the last straw.

Without a word, Sunny revved the engine and sped off, sending a cloud of dust flying into Sanju’s face.

Coughing, Sanju muttered, "Guess that’s a no. Now I’ll have to find someone else."

Sunny’s Confession

Sunny stormed into his house, heading straight to his room, his mind in turmoil. Disha, noticing his distress, grew worried. She followed him inside and sat beside him on the bed.

Brushing her hand through his hair, she asked gently, "Sunny, what’s wrong?"

He turned away, wiping the tears that threatened to spill. "Nothing, Ma."

Disha didn’t buy it. "Don’t try to hide things from me. I’m your mother. I can tell when something is wrong. Talk to me."

After a long pause, Sunny exhaled deeply and rested his head on her lap.

"Ma, I didn’t want to tell you this… but I can’t keep it from you anymore."

His voice wavered, his emotions overwhelming him.

Taking another deep breath, he finally confessed, *"Ma, I’m the chief costume designer of *Mr. Purab Khanna’s company, Fusion Beats."

Disha’s eyes widened in shock.

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To be continued.

Chapter 42

Sunny’s Confession and Disha’s Anguish

Disha stands frozen in shock, her face hardening as Sunny’s words sink in. A surge of anger courses through her, and she raises her voice, "What did you just say, Sunny?"

Unable to meet her gaze, Sunny looks down and mutters, "That I am the Chief Costume Designer of Fusion Beats."

A sharp slap lands on his cheek. He doesn’t flinch. Disha grabs his collar, her voice trembling with emotion. "Why, Sunny? Why? You’re one of the best in your field! You could have had any top position in any of the leading fashion enterprises in India! And yet, you chose Fusion Beats—knowing very well that..." She stops abruptly, catching herself before saying too much.

Sunny’s eyes glisten with unshed tears. His lips curl into a sad smile as he completes her sentence, "Knowing that Fusion Beats belongs to Mr. Purab Khanna. Isn’t that right, Ma?"

Disha shuts her eyes tightly, her fists clenching as she fights back her emotions.

"You’re scared, aren’t you?" Sunny continues bitterly. "You think I will choose him over you one day. That I will leave you for that man—just because Purab Khanna is my father, right?"

Tears spill from Disha’s eyes at his words. She tries to say something, but Sunny cuts her off.

"That man lost the right to be called my father the day he chose Aliya Mehra over you, Ma. Today, he has another son—one who bears his name, his status, his family. He has long forgotten that he has another son too. So tell me, Ma, how could you even think that I would ever choose him over you?"

Disha’s shoulders shake as silent sobs escape her lips.

Sunny exhales deeply, struggling to keep his emotions in check. He almost blurts out the real reason he joined Fusion Beats, but stops himself just in time. He won’t reveal his revenge—not yet. Instead, he continues, "I took the job because it was my first offer. And didn’t you teach me to never mix personal and professional life? So why should I reject it just because he owns the company?"

Disha tries to protest, "But, Sunny—"

Sunny clasps her hands in his, his voice almost pleading. "Please, Ma, don’t stop me. I know what I’m doing. And..." He hesitates before folding his hands in front of her. "Please don’t tell anyone my real identity. To everyone at Fusion Beats, I am Sunil Sharma."

Disha stares at him, her heart torn. After a moment of silence, she sighs in defeat. "Alright," she finally says. "If it’s your wish to work in your father’s—"

"Ma!" Sunny snaps, his voice sharp. "He is not my father! He lost me twenty-one years ago, the day we walked out of Mehra Mansion! To me, he will only ever be my boss—nothing more!"

Tears streak down Disha’s cheeks as she pulls Sunny into a tight embrace. Sunny hugs her back just as fiercely, his mind racing with a single thought—"I’m sorry, Ma, but I couldn’t tell you everything. Mark my words, though—that man and his precious son will pay for what they did to us!"

Aryan and Mishti’s Shopping Trip

Aryan walks into a footwear store with Mishti, glancing around impatiently. "Is this where you want to try out the sandals for the fashion event?"

Mishti nods enthusiastically.

Aryan checks his watch and sighs in frustration. "Do I really have to be here? I know nothing about women’s footwear."

Mishti grabs his hand, pulling him along. "Oh, come on, Aryan! Help me pick out something that matches my outfit."

Aryan follows reluctantly, his mind elsewhere. It’s already late... Will I still be able to join Ranbir, Prachi, and... He exhales sharply, his thoughts drifting to Shahana.

Ranbir at Prachi’s House

Ranbir arrives at Prachi’s house, where both Prachi and Shahana greet him. Shahana glances behind him, searching for someone.

"Where’s Aryan?" Prachi asks.

Ranbir shrugs. "Since Mishti is also participating in the fashion event tomorrow, she needed some help. Aryan stayed back with her—he’ll join us later."

Shahana stiffens, her heart sinking. Aliya’s words about Aryan and Mishti’s supposed relationship echo in her mind. Her fingers tremble as she fidgets with her dupatta.

Prachi notices her distress. "Shahana? What’s wrong?"

Shahana quickly shakes her head, forcing a smile.

Ranbir, oblivious, sniffs the air and grins. "Wow, what’s that amazing smell?" He takes Prachi’s hands, smirking. "Cooking something special for your boyfriend, huh?"

Prachi pulls her hands away, giving him a firm look. "It’s not me! It’s Shahana, the lazy bum who refuses to step into the kitchen—she actually went in and made Rajma Chawal."

Ranbir’s eyes widen in surprise. "Rajma Chawal? Well, Aryan should have been here! He hates all Indian food—his mom always made him eat Western stuff—but when it comes to Rajma Chawal, he just can’t resist!"

He chuckles, sharing a laugh with Prachi. Meanwhile, Shahana drifts into a memory—

Flashback to college days:

A group of friends, including Ranbir, Prachi, Shahana, and Aryan, sit together. Ranbir playfully tries to feed Aryan a bite of paratha.

"Come on, Aryan! Just one bite!" Ranbir urges.

Aryan scowls. "Being my chaddy buddy, don’t you know how much I hate oily and spicy Indian food?"

"But Beeji made these!" Ranbir insists. "They’re amazing!"

"No!" Aryan protests.

Ranbir sighs, then opens another tiffin box. "What about this, then?"

Aryan peers inside and his face lights up. "Rajma Chawal!"

Without another word, he snatches the box and starts eating.

Flashback ends.

Ranbir waves a hand in front of Shahana’s face. "Hellooo? You made such a delicious dish for your jiju—aren’t you going to serve him?"

Shahana nods, forcing a small smile.

Trouble at the Store

Aryan grows increasingly impatient as Mishti continues browsing. He keeps checking his watch, frustrated.

At the same time, Sanju enters the store and spots Aryan and Mishti. His mind flashes back to the Diwali incident. He quickly hides. What’s Aryan doing here? Did he find out I’m here? Is he coming to finish what he started that night?!

Mishti finally makes her choice. "I’ll go pay for these—you wait here!"

Aryan nods absently.

As Mishti reaches the counter, a man approaches her, eyeing her feet with an unsettling smile. "Your feet are really beautiful," he comments. "Need some help picking the perfect footwear for them?"

Mishti glares at him. "No, thanks."

Sanju watches from a distance and mutters under his breath, "Idiot! Does he want to get his teeth knocked out? If Aryan sees this, he’s done for!"

The man doesn’t back off and steps closer. Just then, Aryan notices and steps between them, glaring at the stranger.

Mishti smiles, touched. He’s so protective of me...

The man, instead of retreating, suddenly pushes Aryan aside, grabs Mishti’s purse, and bolts.

Aryan winces as pain shoots through his shoulder but quickly tries to get up. He’s about to chase the thief when Mishti holds him back. "Leave it, Aryan! You’re already hurt—don’t make it worse!"

Aryan clenches his fists, furious.

Meanwhile, Sanju slyly follows the thief.

At a secluded bridge, the thief rummages through Mishti’s purse, grinning at the cash he finds. Sanju approaches, smirking.

"I can give you more money," he offers, "if you do the same thing you did today... but with another girl of my choosing."

The thief’s grin widens. He nods eagerly.

Sanju smirks in satisfaction. Time for the next part of my plan...

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To be continued.

Chapter 43

Ranbir, Prachi, and Shahana’s Practice Session

Ranbir and Prachi were rehearsing their walk for the upcoming fashion event while Shahana played the music from Ranbir’s phone. The practice was going smoothly until, all of a sudden, the music stopped. Shahana tried to restart it, but the track refused to play.

Ranbir walked over to check the phone and suddenly recalled, "Oh, damn! The latest edited version of the track, the one I wanted to be played during Prachi’s turn at the event, is on Aryan’s phone. I completely forgot to get it from him before asking him to accompany Mishti. Let me call him now!"

He dialed Aryan’s number, only to find that his phone was switched off. Puzzled, he quickly called Mishti instead. She answered, and when Ranbir inquired about Aryan’s whereabouts, she recounted the incident at the store—how Aryan had stepped in to protect her from a harasser and ended up getting hurt in the process.

Ranbir’s expression shifted to concern as he listened, his fingers instinctively clenching into fists. Prachi and Shahana noticed his change in demeanor.

Mishti, sensing his distress, quickly reassured him, "Don’t worry, Bhai! I’m completely fine—all thanks to Aryan. But... he did get hurt on his shoulder."

Ranbir’s worry deepened. "Is Aryan with you now?" he asked urgently.

Mishti shook her head. "No, he’s gone to get a taxi."

Ranbir exhaled sharply, trying to control his frustration. "Just stay safe, okay?" he said before ending the call.

Prachi, noticing his tension, gently asked, "Ranbir, what happened? You looked really worried while talking to Mishti."

Ranbir’s eyes darkened with anger. "Some disgusting flirt tried to mess with MY SISTER! Prachi, I swear, if I had been there, that guy wouldn’t have made it home in one piece!" His voice was laced with fury.

Prachi placed a calming hand on his shoulder. "Relax, Ranbir. By God’s grace, nothing happened to Mishti. She’s safe."

Ranbir took a deep breath, still visibly upset. "Thank God Aryan was with her! But now he’s hurt, and he won’t be able to come here..."

Shahana, who had been quietly listening, felt a pang of sadness. But then, an idea struck her. "I’ll go get the songs from Aryan!" she announced suddenly.

Ranbir and Prachi turned to her in surprise. Ranbir, skeptical of her decision, frowned. "Shahana, you don’t even have a vehicle. Why go through all that trouble just for the songs?"

Shahana quickly countered, "Come on, Ranbir, it’s not that hard to find an auto in Delhi! And besides, Prachi’s fashion event is the most important thing right now!"

Ranbir hesitated but eventually gave in. Shahana exhaled in relief, thinking, And this way, I’ll get to see Aryan too. He really did something amazing for Mishti… I just hope he’s not too badly hurt.

Before she could leave, Prachi handed her a tiffin. "Take this Rajma Chawal with you. Aryan loves it—it’ll make him feel better."

Shahana smiled brightly and nodded.

At the Kohli House

As Mishti and Aryan stepped into the living room, Pallavi and Beeji, who had been chatting happily, turned to greet them. However, Pallavi’s smile vanished when she noticed the bloodstain on Aryan’s shoulder.

Alarmed, she rushed to him. "Aryan! What happened to you?"

Before Aryan could respond, Mishti quickly stepped in. "Ma, Aryan and I were doing some last-minute shopping for my fashion event tomorrow. While I was paying the bill, a creep started making inappropriate comments and tried to get too close. I ignored him, but when he didn’t back off, Aryan stepped in to protect me. That’s when the guy pushed him down, grabbed my purse, and ran away!"

Beeji and Pallavi’s eyes widened in shock.

Pallavi turned to Mishti, her voice filled with concern. "Did that scoundrel do anything to you?"

Mishti shook her head and held her mother’s hands. "No, Ma. Before he could even try anything..." She looked at Aryan and smiled. "...Aryan stopped him!"

Beeji and Pallavi turned to Aryan, their expressions softening with gratitude. However, Pallavi’s concern shifted to his injury. "But your shoulder... it’s bleeding!"

Aryan waved it off. "Oh, this? It’s just a small scratch. Nothing to worry about! I get worse injuries than this playing basketball. I’ll just take a shower, put some ointment on it, and I’ll be fine."

Beeji, not convinced, insisted, "Why should you do it yourself, beta? I’ll dress the wound for you."

But Aryan smiled and shook his head. "It’s really nothing, Beeji. I’ll handle it. Just ask Bahadur Chachu to bring the first-aid kit to my room?"

Beeji nodded hesitantly as Aryan walked off toward his room. Watching him go, she sighed and remarked, "I don’t understand what’s happening to girls in our country these days… The Nirbhaya case in Delhi, the Unnao and Hyderabad incidents… It’s terrifying for parents to send their daughters anywhere alone. But today, Aryan proved that there are still good men in this world. He’s just like his father! Purab would go to any extent for Abhi because Abhi is like a brother to him. In the same way, Aryan would do anything for Ranbir. That boy owes a great friendship to my grandson!"

Pallavi nodded in agreement. "You’re right, Beeji. Aryan has his father’s heart. We’re lucky that he considers our Ranbir his brother. And just imagine… if he’s this protective over a friend’s sister, just think how much he’d do for the girl he truly loves!"

Hearing that, Mishti blushed and smiled to herself. I know for sure—the girl Aryan loves is me, Ma!

At St. Thomas Convent, R.K. Puram

Rakhi carefully carried a bundle of fresh flowers toward the altar when Mother Superior called out to her.

"Rakhi, I have wonderful news," she said with a smile. "Reverend Father Dominic from Italy will be participating in the International Concert, which is being held at one of Delhi’s top colleges. And do you know who is organizing it? None other than the famous rockstar, Mr. Abhishek Prem Mehra!"

At the mention of Abhi’s name, Rakhi felt an odd shiver run down her spine.

Mother Superior continued, "Father Dominic has received Mr. Mehra’s permission for our church choir to perform at the concert as well. And I want you to be the lead singer!"

Rakhi’s smile faltered. Her mother’s harsh words echoed in her mind—"Never sing in front of the world!"

Mother Superior immediately noticed her hesitation and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "My child, I know your mother forbade you from singing in public. But remember—your voice is a gift from God. Not everyone is blessed with such a talent. If He chose you, there is a reason. Don’t suppress it. Share this precious gift with the world."

Rakhi swallowed her emotions and nodded. "I’ll do it, Mother."

As she turned to leave, she suddenly collided with a nearby table and stumbled. Mother Superior rushed to her side. "Be careful, Rakhi! You must remember—you are pregnant. You need to be extra cautious!"

Rakhi frowned. "I don’t know why, Mother, but sometimes I can’t see things properly. My vision feels so blurred..."

Mother Superior’s expression turned serious. "I may not be practicing anymore, but I was an ophthalmologist by profession. Let me check your eyes right now."

She brought out her equipment and performed a quick vision test. Moments later, she looked at Rakhi in shock. "My goodness, Rakhi! You have extremely high power! This kind of condition is usually hereditary. Do either of your parents have weak eyesight?"

Rakhi thought for a moment and shook her head. "No… neither my mother nor my father ever wore glasses."

Mother Superior frowned. "That’s odd… But in any case, I’ll send your prescription to the optician right away. You’ll receive your glasses by this evening. You must wear them regularly from now on!"

Rakhi nodded in understanding.

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To be continued.

Chapter 44

Sanju's Revelation to Sunny

Sanju informs Sunny that he has found the perfect person to execute Priyanka's plan during the fashion event. Skeptical, Sunny questions, "Are you sure this man will stick to the plan without crossing any limits?"

Sanju reassures him, "I've met him today, Bhai. He’s a total womanizer! But I made it clear—he is only supposed to scare the girl, nothing more. Priyanka madam wanted me to handle it myself, but you know me, Bhai—I could never imagine doing something like this to anyone except my sweetheart, Prachi!"

Sunny’s patience snaps at Sanju's delusional remarks. "You're no different from Priyanka! Why force yourself into someone's life when they’ve made it clear they don’t have feelings for you?"

Sanju looks down, his tone turning wistful. "That’s what love is, Bhai."

Sunny glares at him. "Don’t call that love. It’s a mental sickness!"

At that moment, Disha walks in, overhearing their conversation. Confused, she asks, "What is not love? And what are you calling mental sickness?"

Sunny freezes, trying to think of a distraction, but before he can respond, Sanju jumps in. "Aunty ji, your son is saying that if someone tries to force their way into another person’s life without their feelings being reciprocated, it's not love—it’s mental illness!"

Disha is visibly shaken by those words. Memories of Aaliya forcing herself between her and Purab flood her mind. Tears well up in her eyes. Sunny notices her distress and moves toward her, offering support.

Sanju, oblivious to the emotional weight of his words, awkwardly attempts to change the subject. "By the way, where’s your dad, Bhai?"

Sunny’s expression darkens as he shoots Sanju a death glare. Realizing his mistake, Sanju nervously grabs the cup of tea from Disha’s hand and mumbles, "Uh… thanks for the tea, Aunty ji!" before hastily making his exit.

As soon as he leaves, Disha breaks down, hugging Sunny tightly. She sobs into his chest, reliving her painful past. Sunny holds her close, his own eyes brimming with unshed tears.

His grip tightens as a determined thought takes over his mind. This is why, Ma. This is why I can never forgive that man. Not even you can stop me now. I will destroy him... and his son.

At Mehra Mansion

Shahana walks into the living room, scanning the area for someone. Meera notices her and approaches with a warm smile. "Hello, Shahana! What brings you here?"

Shahana hesitates, not wanting to reveal that she’s actually there to meet Aryan and retrieve the songs for Ranbir, who is with Prachi. Thinking quickly, she fabricates an excuse. "Actually, Aunty, Maasi heard about what happened to Mishti today, and she felt really proud of Aryan. So, she sent some rajma chawal as a token of appreciation for him!" She forces an awkward smile.

Meera, unaware of the lie, nods approvingly. "Oh, that’s so thoughtful of Prachi’s mom. Hand it over—I’ll give it to Aryan."

Shahana panics. "No, no, Aunty! Maasi specifically asked me to give it to him myself."

Meera shrugs, indifferent. "Alright, then. His room is upstairs—you can give it to him directly."

Relieved, Shahana quickly heads to Aryan’s room. Meera watches her leave with a puzzled expression.

In Aryan’s Room

Shahana knocks on the door. "Aryan, it's me—Shahana! Open up!"

No response.

She tries again. "Aryan, Ranbir asked me to get the songs you picked for the fashion event. Please open the door!"

Still nothing.

Frowning, she turns the knob and finds the door unlocked. Hesitantly, she steps inside, looking around. Meera Aunty said he was here, but he’s nowhere to be seen. Where is he?

Just then, Aryan emerges from the bathroom, clad only in a towel, completely unaware of Shahana’s presence. He’s about to remove the towel when—

"Aryan, STOP!" Shahana shrieks, covering her eyes.

Startled, Aryan clutches his towel tightly. "WHAT THE HELL, SHAHANA?! What are you doing in my room?"

Shahana, equally exasperated, fires back, "Excuse me?! I knocked—twice! You didn’t answer! And it’s your fault for leaving the door open if you wanted to prance around naked!"

Aryan rolls his eyes. "For your information, Miss Loudmouth, I always keep my door locked while showering! I left it open today because I asked Bahadur Chachu to bring the first aid kit inside. Not for you!"

The mention of the first aid kit shifts Shahana’s focus. Her eyes fall on Aryan’s injured shoulder, and her anger dissipates, replaced by concern.

Downstairs

Aaliya and Purab enter the house, looking for Aryan after hearing about the incident. They call out for him, but before they can head upstairs, Meera approaches them.

"Aryan is in his room," she informs them. "Shahana just went up to meet him. She brought rajma chawal from Prachi’s mom as a gesture of appreciation."

Aaliya’s eyes widen in disbelief. "What?! You sent that cheap, middle-class girl to his room?!"

"Aaliya!" Purab snaps. Then, lowering his voice, he hisses, "Remember, she is Pragya di’s niece! Don’t talk about her like that!"

Aaliya barely registers his words, too restless to listen. Ignoring Purab, she storms upstairs, Purab following behind.

Meera watches them go, shaking her head in confusion.

In Aryan’s Room

Aryan, now dressed, notices the tiffin box in Shahana’s hands. "What’s that?"

She holds it up. "Rajma chawal. Made with my own hands—" She pauses, noticing Aryan’s eager expression, and teasingly adds, "—for Ranbir."

Aryan’s face falls for a second before he chuckles.

Shahana smirks. "Ranbir told me you love it, so Prachi asked me to bring it for you."

Aryan takes the tiffin from her, smiling. "Thanks."

She then notices he hasn’t treated his wound yet. "Are you avoiding dressing your wound because you’re scared it’ll sting?"

Aryan scoffs, turning his back to check on his clothes. "Oh, come on. I’m a man. I don’t fear anything!"

Shahana grins mischievously. "Yeah? Except for rats."

Aryan spins around in protest, but before he can respond, she quickly presses a cotton ball soaked in antiseptic onto his wound.

"AAH! That burns!" he yelps.

Shahana giggles. "That makes two—rats and antiseptic!"

"Blow on it! Blow on it!" Aryan whines.

Shahana leans in to blow on his wound, but in the process, she trips over his legs. They both fall—Aryan lands on the bed while Shahana falls onto his lap.

They freeze. Their eyes lock. Aryan’s hands instinctively settle around her waist, while Shahana stares at him, momentarily forgetting to pull away.

Just then, Aaliya’s furious voice cuts through the moment.

"ARYAN!"

----------

To be continued.

Chapter 45

Aryan and Shahana’s Encounter with Aliyah

Aryan and Shahana quickly pull away from their awkward position the moment they hear Aliyah’s sharp voice at the door. Aliyah's expression hardens as she sees Shahana with Aryan in such proximity. Her voice drips with disdain as she demands, "What are you doing in my son's bedroom?"

Shahana, caught off guard, stammers nervously, "Actually, Auntie… woh… Rajma—" Before she can complete her sentence, Aliyah snatches the tiffin box from Aryan’s hands, ready to hurl it to the ground. Just then, Purab steps in, grabbing her wrist mid-air.

"Aliyah," he says firmly, his eyes locked onto hers, "Shahana’s Maasi sent this with love for our son. Let him decide whether to have it or not. You don’t need to make that decision for him." His words strike a nerve, and he calmly returns the tiffin to Aryan, who accepts it with visible relief. Shahana, too, exhales in respite.

Aliyah’s sharp gaze shifts to the cotton ball and medicine in Shahana’s hands. "And what exactly are you doing with that?" she sneers. "I know what girls like you try to do with rich boys like him."

Shahana flinches at the insult, while both Aryan and Purab look visibly disappointed. Before Aliyah can continue, Aryan interjects, "Ma! I asked Shahana for help! I was… scared of the burning sensation from the medicine."

Aliyah’s eyes widen in disbelief. "But sweetheart, you could have called anyone in the house for help. Why her?"

Purab sighs, exasperated. "Aliyah, have you started your own investigation agency now? What difference does it make whether Shahana applies the medicine or someone else?" He turns to Aryan and adds, "It’s getting late. Once you’re done with the dressing, drop her home."

Aryan nods, while Aliyah scowls at the instruction. Purab leaves, asking her to follow. Aliyah glares at Shahana and Aryan before trailing after him.

As she walks away, her mind races. I was right. This girl is getting too close to Aryan. First, Bulbul and Disha took Purab away from me. Then Pragya stole Bhai. And now, after manipulating Rhea, Pragya is trying to snatch my son through her daughter! I won’t let it happen. I will never let Shahana come near Aryan!

In the Car

Shahana settles into the passenger seat as Aryan starts the car. "You know," she begins, "I actually came to get the songs Ranbir selected for Prachi for the fashion show. You have them, right?"

Aryan nods.

She leans back and adds, "But your mother is really weird."

Aryan’s grip on the steering wheel tightens. "Now, don’t start about my Mom. I know you don’t like her, but she’s my Mom, alright?"

Shahana shrugs. "Fine, I won’t badmouth her. But seriously, what is her problem with middle-class people? Every time she talks, it’s always middle-class is like this, middle-class is like that…"

Aryan groans, rubbing his forehead. "Can we not talk about my Mom? Aren’t you more worried about the fashion event tomorrow?"

Shahana sighs. "It’s going to be a tough competition between Prachi and Rhea, and I really want Prachi to win. That would teach a good lesson to that arrogant Rhea!"

Aryan scowls. "Why do you always have to drag my sister into this?"

"Because both your mother and your sister are full of unnecessary attitude!" Shahana retorts.

Aryan shakes his head. "I think I should stop talking to you. No matter what, you always find a way to pick a fight with me!"

Shahana raises a brow, smirking. "Why? You don’t like fighting with me?"

Aryan blurts out in frustration, "I don’t like fighting with you because I feel—" He stops himself abruptly, his expression shifting. His voice drops as he hurriedly adds, "…because I don’t fight with girls!"

Avoiding her gaze, he quickly looks out of the window. Shahana, however, watches him with a knowing smile.

Next Day – Fashion Event: Part I

Sunny and Sanju arrive at the college with costumes and craft materials for the event. Sanju, unable to contain his excitement, turns to Sunny. "Bhai, this time, everything will work perfectly, and I'll finally be united with my jaane man, Prachi!"

Sunny clenches his jaw at Sanju’s words, already annoyed. "Enough with that nonsense. Just help me with these things."

Sanju nods but, in his usual carelessness, accidentally spills paint all over Sunny’s clothes.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Sunny snaps, glaring at him.

Sanju panics. "Sorry, Bhai! Let me clean it—"

"Don’t touch me!" Sunny barks. "If I wipe it like this, it’ll smear everywhere. I need water." He rushes towards the nearby water filter to wash the stain off his shirt.

At the same moment, Rakhi arrives with Mother Superior and a few others. Mother Superior clears her throat and asks Rakhi to fetch a bottle of water. Rakhi heads toward the water filter, where Sunny is already trying to clean himself.

After waiting a few seconds, she grows impatient. "Do you do everything this slowly?" she remarks.

Without turning around, Sunny retorts, "Oh, come on! I’m not slow. I’m just perfect."

Rakhi rolls her eyes at his arrogance. Annoyed, she pushes him aside without even looking at his face. "Mr. Perfect, achieve perfection after me!"

Sunny, irritated by her boldness, scoffs. "Hey! What are you doing? Do you even know who I am?"

Rakhi, catching water in her bottle, giggles without turning. "Oh? You don’t know who you are?"

Sunny blinks, surprised by her sass. He smirks and moves forward, playfully nudging the tap, causing water to splash on her.

Rakhi gasps, caught off guard. Through the cascading droplets, their eyes meet.

---------

To be continued.

Author’s Note

The first meeting of Kiarsu mirrors their childhood encounter for a reason—you’ll soon find out why!

Chapter 46

Sunny and Rakhi’s First Encounter

Sunny and Rakhi stood frozen, gazing at each other through the curtain of water droplets. Sunny narrowed his eyes and, after a brief pause, smirked.

"Now you understand, you…" He stopped himself, reconsidering his words before saying, "You chasmish!"

Rakhi’s eyes widened in shock. Before she could react, Sunny continued, "This is what happens when you challenge me!"

Turning on his heel, he was about to walk away when Rakhi’s voice rang out.

"Oh, hello! Wait, Mr. Perfect!"

As Sunny turned back, she swiftly flung water from her bottle, drenching his face. He stood there, stunned.

"What the heck? How dare you throw water on my specially designed clothes!"

Rakhi frowned. "Why? What will you do? Complain?"

Sunny shot back angrily, "Yes, I will complain to Chucks about you!"

Rakhi’s expression shifted to surprise. "Chucks?"

Sunny’s mind drifted for a moment. Over the years, after severing all ties in his heart, he had never once addressed Abhi Chachu as "Chucks." Then why today?

Rakhi’s impatient voice snapped him back. "What happened? Aren’t you going to call your Chucks or Ducks or whatever?"

Before Sunny could respond, Mother Superior’s voice called out for Rakhi. She turned to leave, but Sunny smirked.

"Yeah, it’s better you go. Because if you challenge me, you will lose for sure. So go running to your mother like a crybaby!"

The next moment, another splash of water hit his face. Sunny reeled back, utterly shocked. Rakhi giggled, flipping her hair.

"Now you understand, Mr. Perfect. Whoever strikes first wins the challenge. Just like me—I made you bathe in water twice, and the third time, you’re going to bathe in your own tears. Goodbye, Mr. Perfect!"

With that, she walked away, leaving Sunny seething. He glared after her. "Ugh, you better not cross my path again, chasmish! Otherwise, I will…" He raised his hands in frustration, as if imagining strangling her, but then noticed the water dripping all over his clothes.

Shaking his head to get rid of the excess water, he accidentally sprayed droplets onto Abhi and Purab, who happened to be passing by.

Abhi frowned, taking in Sunny’s drenched appearance. "Hey, Sunil, what happened? Did you decide to take a bath with your clothes on?"

Sunny quickly straightened up. "No, sir, it was just a silly prank by some stupid girl!"

Abhi raised an eyebrow. "A girl? Why are you even fighting with girls?"

Purab chuckled under his breath. "As if you never fought with girls?"

Abhi shot him a glare. "She was my wife!"

Before Purab could retort, Sunny interrupted, his voice laced with quiet intensity.

"If you have rights over someone, does that mean you can hurt them just because you hold those rights?"

Abhi and Purab stiffened. The weight of Sunny’s words hit them hard, stirring emotions they had long buried. As silence settled between them, Sunny walked away, a sad smile playing on his lips.

Rakhi’s Turmoil

Rakhi reached Mother Superior, still muttering curses under her breath. Mother Superior, noticing her drenched state, asked, "Rakhi, what happened? Why are you soaked? And who are you scolding?"

Rakhi huffed. "Oh, just some stupid man. Mr. Perfect, who thinks he’s better than everyone else!"

Mother Superior chuckled at her childish frustration. "Well, I’d like to thank that boy for bringing back the child in my Rakhi!"

Rakhi suddenly felt a strange unease. Memories—faint, distant—flashed through her mind. A similar argument. A similar face. A similar fight.

Her head spun. Mother Superior caught her as she swayed. "Are you alright, Rakhi?"

Shaking off the dizziness, Rakhi forced a smile. "I’m fine, Mother." But deep inside, she wondered, Why do I feel like I’ve met him before?

Sunny’s Reflection

Meanwhile, Sunny entered the dressing room assigned to Disha, who was overseeing media coverage for the event. Disha looked up, startled to see him completely drenched.

"What happened?" she asked.

Sunny scowled. "Oh, don’t ask, Ma. A stupid girl!"

To his shock, Disha burst into laughter.

Sunny frowned. "Ma, that girl humiliated me, and you’re laughing?"

Disha struggled to control her giggles. "I’m laughing because in twenty-eight years, I’ve never seen my son fight with a girl—except one." She smirked. "Was she cute?"

Sunny groaned. "Ma!"

Disha raised her hands in surrender. "Alright, alright! But remember, Sunny, the first time you met Kiara, you fought with her too. And then…" She trailed off teasingly.

Sunny gave her a sharp look. "Don’t even start."

Still grinning, Disha walked away. But Sunny remained rooted, his mind drifting to the past. He remembered how he had fought with Kiara in the same way.

A wistful smile crossed his lips. "After you left, Abhi Chachu and Pragya Maasi separated. Then Maa and Papa drifted apart too. If only you were here, Kiara… we would have been together. A happy family."

A lone tear slipped down his cheek.

---------

To be continued.

For those who don’t remember Kiarsu’s childhood meeting, here’s the link to that episode.

https://www.zee5.com/tvshows/details/kumkum-bhagya/0-6-127/kumkum-bhagya-episode-1056-march-8-2018-full-episode/0-1-kumkumbhagya-kumkumbhagyaseason1-episode_2015026794

Chapter 47

The Fashion Event: A Web of Deception

Sanju stood near the entrance of the grand fashion event, his eyes scanning the crowd. Suddenly, he spotted the man he had hired—a sleazy philanderer—walking in as if he belonged there. Panic surged through him. Without wasting a second, he grabbed the man by the arm and pulled him aside.

"Are you out of your mind?" Sanju hissed. "You walked in just like that? In the open?" He darted his eyes around nervously. "That girl, Mishti—the one you played with—and Aryan, the guy who nearly broke your jaw, are both here! If they see you, our whole plan will go up in smoke!"

The man simply rubbed his fingers together, wordlessly demanding his payment. Disgust flickered across Sanju’s face.

"Yeah, yeah, you’ll get what I promised," he muttered. "But only after you do what you're supposed to!"

The man gave a nod of agreement.

Sanju took a deep breath, lowering his voice. "Come with me. First, I’ll introduce you to the mastermind behind this whole game—Priyanka Madam. But you can’t go in like this!"

Pulling a stole from his jacket, he quickly draped it over the man’s face, concealing his identity. Then, making sure no one was watching, he stealthily led him inside.

Rhea’s Excitement

In her green room, Rhea admired herself in the mirror, dressed in an elegant traditional outfit. With a confident smile, she turned to her friends, Dimpy and Shaina.

"So, girls, how do I look?"

Dimpy beamed. "Rhea, this fashion event’s Diva title is already yours!"

Shaina smirked. "But Rhea, don’t you think you need to hear that compliment from someone else?"

At her suggestive tone, Rhea blushed.

"Okay, you two wait here. I need to meet someone," she said, a hint of excitement in her voice.

Dimpy coughed. "Who? Ranbir?"

Rhea shot her a sharp look, but Shaina giggled. "Okay, okay, we’ll wait. Go ahead!"

Smiling, Rhea stepped out, her heart pounding with anticipation. She scanned the venue, looking for Ranbir, but he was nowhere in sight. Confused, she stopped one of his friends and asked where he was.

"Ranbir? Oh, he’s in Prachi’s green room," the guy informed her casually.

Rhea stiffened. "Prachi’s green room?" she muttered. Then, as if the pieces of a puzzle clicked into place, a sly smile curved her lips.

Oh, how sweet of you, Ranbir. Doing all this just to win me. Let’s see how well you’re following my plan.

With slow, deliberate steps, she made her way toward Prachi’s green room.

From a distance, Priyanka noticed Rhea heading in that direction. Sensing something was off, she decided to follow her.

A Moment Interrupted

Reaching the door, Rhea cautiously pushed it open just enough to peer inside.

What she saw made her blood boil.

Inside, Ranbir stood mesmerized by Prachi’s beauty, his gaze fixed on her as she carefully applied her foundation.

Prachi, noticing his unwavering stare, turned to him. "Ranbir, if you keep looking at me like that, I won’t be able to get dressed!" she chided.

Ranbir stepped closer, gently taking her hands in his.

"You already look beautiful," he murmured. "Why do you even need all this makeup?"

Outside, Rhea’s hands clenched into fists. Priyanka, watching from behind, raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

Inside, Prachi tried to pull away. "Ranbir, stop it. Let me go!"

Ranbir shook his head playfully. "Wait a second… I think you picked the wrong lipstick. Let me check."

Before Prachi could react, he pulled her closer, tilting his face toward hers. Her breath hitched, her pulse quickened. Slowly, her eyes fluttered shut.

Then—

"PRACHI!!!"

The furious voice shattered the moment.

Ranbir and Prachi turned to see Rhea standing at the doorway, her face twisted in rage. She stormed inside, her glare locked onto Prachi.

"How dare you?" she shouted. "How dare you get close to my Ranbir?"

Rhea lifted her hand to strike Prachi—

But before she could, Ranbir caught her wrist and yanked it back. His voice was firm, his eyes blazing.

"Not your Ranbir, Rhea," he said coldly. "I’m Prachi’s Ranbir. She has every right to be close to me."

Rhea’s world crumbled in an instant. She stared at him, unable to process his words. Behind her, Priyanka smirked.

With a shaky voice, Rhea asked, "Ranbir… what are you saying?"

Ranbir exhaled deeply, shutting his eyes for a moment before speaking. "Exactly what you heard, Rhea. I started this as a game for you. But now… I’ve truly fallen for Prachi." His voice softened. "In short… I love her."

Rhea stumbled backward, her vision blurring. As she lost her balance, Prachi instinctively reached out to steady her.

But Rhea jerked away, motioning for her not to come near. Without another word, she turned and fled from the room.

Priyanka’s smirk deepened. Well done, Ranbir and Prachi. You’ve made my work so much easier. Now, whatever happens next, Rhea will take the blame. Sorry, sis… but to get Rishi, I’ll do anything.

With that thought, she slipped out unnoticed.

A Promise of Protection

Prachi, still shaken, turned to Ranbir. "Ranbir, why did you say all that to her? You know how dangerous she is."

Ranbir’s jaw tightened. "And what was I supposed to do, Prachi? Just stand there while she raised her hand on you?"

Prachi opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Ranbir cupped her face gently.

"Don’t worry," he whispered. "I won’t let Rhea come between us. I won’t let her do anything to you."

His words held a fierce determination, one that made Prachi’s eyes well up with emotion.

As he pulled her into a tight embrace, she buried her face in his chest, tears slipping down her cheeks.

A Sinister Plan

Elsewhere, Sanju led the philanderer to Priyanka.

"Madam, I know you wanted me to handle the job of messing with Shahana," he began hesitantly. "But… if it was my jaane-man Prachi, I would have done it without a second thought. Anyone else—I don’t want trouble."

He sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Last time, I messed with Ranbir’s sister, Mishti, and I’m still paying for it. So, I found someone else to do the job. And don’t worry—he’s an expert at toying with women."

Priyanka studied the man for a moment before nodding approvingly. Then, turning to him, she said with an eerie calmness,

"Well, if you’re an expert, I don’t just want you to mess with that girl." Her lips curled into a dark smile.

"I want you to force yourself on her."

Sanju’s eyes widened in shock.

------

To be continued

Chapter 48

Sanju's Shock and Priyanka’s Sinister Plan

Sanju was stunned to his core upon hearing Priyanka’s demand. His voice shook as he asked, “But Madamji, you only wanted me to mess with Shahana. Now you’re asking him to force himself on her? Do you even understand what that would mean for her life?”

Priyanka let out a sinister laugh, her eyes gleaming with cruelty. “That’s exactly the point, Sanju. I want her life ruined so badly that not just Rishi, but no man will ever look at her again! That’s her punishment for daring to set her eyes on my Rishi.”

She pulled out a thick bundle of cash from her purse and handed it to the man. He took it with a greedy smirk. “Didn’t expect to be this lucky today,” he sneered. “Not only do I get my pockets filled, but I also get to enjoy a woman for the night.”

Priyanka gestured for him to follow her. “Come, let me show you the girl.” As they left, Sanju remained behind, his mind clouded with anxiety. This woman is completely insane! What is she even trying to do in her madness over Rishi? He clenched his fists. I have to inform Sunil Bhai. He strictly warned that the plan should not go too far, but Priyanka Madam has already crossed the line!

A Shocking Encounter in Disha’s Room

Meanwhile, in Disha’s room, Sunny was changing in the bathroom. Disha called out, “I’ve kept your clothes outside.”

Just then, a knock on the door made her turn around. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Purab standing there. Memories of Sunny’s revelation came rushing back—his plea to keep his truth hidden from the Mehra family.

Purab stepped closer. “Disha, I just wanted to—”

Before he could finish, Sunny’s voice rang out from the bathroom. “Ma, I forgot my towel! Can you pass it to me?”

Purab froze. His brows furrowed in recognition. “That voice… Isn’t that my employee, Sunil Sharma? How is he related to you? And why is he calling you ‘Ma’?”

Disha’s hands trembled. Before she could come up with an excuse, Hritik entered, stopping in his tracks when he saw Purab.

Panic gripped Disha. Without thinking, she blurted, “Sunil is mine and Hritik’s son!”

Both Purab and Hritik were left speechless.

Purab’s voice was barely a whisper. “But you aren’t married to—”

Disha cut him off. “Yes, I’m not married. But when we separated, I found comfort in Hritik’s arms. That led to our relationship… and Sunil is the result of that!”

Purab staggered back as if the words had physically hit him. His face contorted in pain. When Hritik reached out to steady him, he shoved him away. “I can handle myself!” he snapped before storming out.

After he left, Hritik turned to Disha, still in shock. “Disha, what did you just tell him?”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “I had to say it, Hritik! Purab ji was so close to finding out the truth about Sunny. I couldn’t let that happen—not just because of my promise to Sunny, but because I know how much hatred Sunny carries for his father. Purab ji would never be able to bear his son’s resentment… at least he can live with this lie.”

Hritik frowned. “But Disha, no matter what, Sunny is still Purab’s blood. Sooner or later, don’t you think Purab will recognize his son?”

Disha wiped away her tears. “That is for fate to decide, Hritik. If destiny wants them to meet, then it will happen.”

Just then, Sunny stepped out of the bathroom. He noticed Hritik and then Disha’s tear-streaked face. Concerned, he walked up to her. “What happened?”

Disha quickly composed herself. “Nothing.”

Before he could question further, his phone rang. Disha glanced at the screen and saw Sanju’s name flashing. “That useless friend of yours is calling,” she said. “Pick up while I check the media arrangements with Hritik.”

Sunny nodded. After they left, he answered the call. “What is it now?”

On the other end, Sanju’s breath was shaky, his voice barely forming words. Sensing something was wrong, Sunny grew impatient. “Speak up, Sanju!”

Sanju finally blurted out Priyanka’s entire plan.

Sunny felt his blood run cold. His grip on the phone tightened as he whispered, “No… I can’t let this happen. No, no…” His mind raced for a solution. But how do I stop it without letting Priyanka find out?

Then, he remembered something. Last time, I warned Aryan about Priyanka’s plan…

“Yes, Aryan!” he realized. “I have to do the same thing again—I need to warn Aryan!”

A Race Against Time

As he rushed out, an announcement echoed through the venue:

"The St. Thomas Church Choir will now perform a welcome song for the International Concert, marking the beginning of the event. Following the concert, the Fashion Event will commence."

Sunny’s heartbeat quickened. Oh no, the program has already started! That means Priyanka will be executing her plan any moment now. I have to find Aryan!

He was about to move when his feet suddenly stopped. A melodious voice filled the hall, striking a familiar chord in his heart. His eyes widened in recognition. This voice… I’ve heard it before…

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a handkerchief with a handwritten message—the same one that had comforted him on Diwali night. He looked toward the stage and was stunned to see Rakhi singing.

A slow smile spread across his face. “Chashmish has such a beautiful voice? But just a while ago, she was yelling at me like Lady Hitler.” He chuckled to himself, watching her with newfound admiration. (Romantic BGM plays.)

Then, suddenly, he spotted Aryan standing near the stage. Reality hit him like a brick. Oh, fish! I got so lost in the song that I almost forgot my actual mission!

He quickly grabbed a passing student. “Go tell Aryan Khanna that his dad is calling him backstage. Hurry!”

The student nodded and ran toward Aryan.

As soon as Aryan got the message, he made his way backstage. Sunny followed closely behind.

Aryan looked around, confused. “Dad? Where are you?”

Just as he was about to leave, Sunny stepped in front of him. Aryan recognized him instantly. “You… You’re the same guy who warned me about Shahana at the housewarming party. What the hell are you doing in our college?”

Sunny rolled his eyes, frustrated. “Look, Aryan, this is not the time for questions. Just listen to me—Shahana is in danger again!”

Aryan’s expression changed instantly. “What?” He grabbed Sunny’s collar. “Wait a minute! Last time, too, you showed up out of nowhere with a warning. Who are you?”

Sunny, exasperated, pushed Aryan’s hands away and ran a hand through his hair. He took a deep breath before finally revealing the truth.

“I am Mr. Purab Khanna’s eldest son… and your elder brother, Sunny Purab Khanna.”

Aryan felt the ground slip beneath his feet. His breath hitched. His eyes widened in shock.

The revelation hit him like a thunderbolt.

-------------

To be continued.

Chapter 49

Sanju’s Desperation and Sunny’s Shocking Revelation

Sanju frantically searched for Sunny, his mind racing. Where is this Sunil Bhai? he thought, frustration creeping in. He has to do something fast, or else everything will spiral out of control. I’m ready to use any dirty trick to win my Jaane-man, but this plan of Priyanka Madam… I have a bad feeling it’s going to backfire on me!

He darted his eyes around, scanning every corner. After what felt like an eternity, he finally reached the backstage area—just in time to hear Sunny revealing his true identity to Aryan.

Sanju’s breath hitched. His eyes widened in sheer disbelief. What? Sunil Bhai is Purab Khanna’s elder son?! So that means… he’s actually Aryan’s half-brother?! He shook his head in shock. This Rockstar Abhishek Prem Mehra’s family is beyond weird! I wonder if they have any other lost kids wandering around!

Meanwhile, inside, Aryan stood frozen, unable to process what he had just heard. His voice trembled as he questioned, “That’s… that’s not possible! I am the first and only child of Mr. Purab and Aaliyah Khanna! Then how can—”

Before he could finish, Sunny cut him off, his voice sharp and loud. “You’re right! You are the first and only offspring of Purab and Aaliyah Khanna. But what you don’t know is that before your mother, your father was married to another woman—a woman with whom he had a son! A son whom he abandoned… discarded completely from his life just so he could choose your mother!”

Aryan’s body tensed. The ground beneath him felt like it was slipping away. He had always looked up to his father, respected him, believed in his principles. But now… this? Could his father really have committed such a grave injustice?

His eyes slowly moved toward Sunny, his elder half-brother. His heart clenched.

Before Aryan could respond, Sunny grabbed him by the collar, his eyes burning with years of suppressed rage. “Let me make one thing very clear,” he growled. “I haven’t come here to ask for my rights or to beg for love from the man who threw me and my mother out of his life. No, Aryan—I came here to settle scores! Your father made my mother suffer, made me suffer for the last twenty-one years, and now, my dear little brother, I’m going to make you and your father suffer in the same way!”

Aryan and Sanju stood stunned, absorbing the vengeance laced in Sunny’s voice. His fury was all-consuming. His pain, unbearable. His thirst for justice, unshakable.

But in the next moment, as the weight of his own words settled on him, Sunny’s emotions spiraled further. His voice grew darker, his grip on Aryan tightening. “You see, Aryan, I will make you and Mr. Purab Khanna cry tears of blood for everything my mother and I endured.”

Sanju, who had been watching with growing unease, finally stepped forward. His heart pounded at seeing Sunny’s raw, violent rage. “Sunil Bhai!” he called out hesitantly. “Please… leave this Mahabharat of brothers for now. We have a bigger problem on our hands! If we don’t act fast, then—”

At that moment, reality hit Sunny like a slap. He blinked, his grip on Aryan loosening. His mind snapped back to the present crisis. Turning to Sanju, he asked urgently, “Did you hear everything we just discussed?”

Sanju quickly nodded and then, placing a hand on his heart, swore dramatically, “Mummy kasam, Bhai! I will never reveal your truth to anyone—not even to myself!”

Sunny narrowed his eyes, unimpressed. Sanju realized his own ridiculousness, let out a sheepish giggle, and then quickly changed the topic, pointing at Aryan. “Bhai, even I hate this guy! His namesake brother, Ranbir, stole my Jaane-man! And this Aryan? He beat me black and blue on Diwali night just because I mistook his girlfriend, Mishti, for my Jaane-man!”

Aryan rolled his eyes, clearly irritated. “Mishti is not my girlfriend.”

Sanju’s face fell in exasperation. “Then who is your girlfriend? Shahana?”

That’s when everything clicked. Sunny and Sanju both stiffened as they remembered Priyanka’s dangerous plan. Aryan, too, recalled Sunny’s warnings.

Sunny acted fast. “Listen, both of you—the Fashion Event is about to start. You two need to stay close to Shahana!”

Sanju immediately protested. “Bhai, I refuse to work with this Aryan—”

“Just do what I said!” Sunny commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Sanju grumbled under his breath but eventually walked out. Aryan, still staring at Sunny in a daze, slowly turned and followed.

Once they were gone, Sunny exhaled deeply. His fists clenched. I need to keep a close watch on Priyanka and see exactly how she plans to execute her plan.

Chaos Before the Fashion Event

The Fashion Event Extravaganza 2019 was moments away from beginning. The contestants lined up on either side of the stage, waiting for their turns.

The event organizer stepped forward, holding a clipboard. “Alright, contestants! In the first round, you will walk the ramp in pairs. In the second round, you will walk individually.”

He then began reading the assigned pairs. “The first pair—Mishti and Priya. The second pair—Shreya and Pari. The third pair—”

He paused dramatically before announcing, “Rhea and Prachi.”

A stunned silence followed.

Then, in perfect synchronization, Rhea and Prachi shouted, “I refuse to walk the ramp with her!”

The organizer groaned in frustration. “Listen, both of you! I am the boss here, and I will decide who pairs with whom! You both better shut up and follow the instructions, or you’re out of the event!”

Rhea and Prachi glared at each other, fuming.

Prachi shook her head and turned away, ready to walk off, but Rhea wasn’t done yet. Her voice was sharp, laced with arrogance. “Don’t think you’ve won, Prachi! You good-for-nothing, middle-class woman! Let this event happen first… and by the end, you will know your place!”

Prachi stiffened. Her breath hitched.

Rhea smirked, her eyes filled with dangerous determination. “Because you’ll see what Rhea Mehra can do—to win her love and the Fashion Event Diva title.”

Prachi’s heart pounded. A sense of unease washed over her.

What exactly was Rhea planning?

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To be continued.