Mukti took a deep breath and everything came spilling out. Prem was in a state of shock and anger. Shock at how well she had put up after everything that had happened and anger at the man for daring to try to hurt Mukti. An unknown emotion was rising deep within him and he quelled that for the moment trying to comfort Mukti, whilke his heart was breaking to see her in tears. Prem took her home and put her to bed, tucking her in like a mother tucks her child in. He then retreated to his room where he kept replaying everything in his mind.
Flashback
Mukti: main nay aaj tak yea baat kisi ko nahi bataye aur tum who pehlay insaan ho jissay main yea batanay ja rahi hoon. USA main mera eek dost tha Rahul, he wasn't a close friend rather another member of the group. Who mujhey pasand karta tha but I never saw him as anything more than a friend. She paused when tears threatened to start pouring again. She glanced up at Prem who gave her an encouraging nod.
Mukti: well one day he came around to my place when everyone was out. Dad was away on a business trip[ and I gave the servants the day off. He came to my place and he was clearly drunk. I let him in and he started blabbing about how he loved and that I never loved him back, before I knew it, he grabbed me and tried to kiss me. I pushed him away and ran to my room. He followed me there and he would have raped me if my friend's hadn't reached my place at the right time.
Hearing all this made Prem's blood boil. To think that she had been through all this, and still behaved the way she did. He knew that she had guts but he did not know that this was the extent of her bravery. He turned her around to face him and asked.
Prem; but didn't your friends suspect anything/
Mukti: they thought that we were having an affair and the very next day he moved away. I never heard from him again but I knew that I should learn to defend myself so I took karate classes and learned a few form of self defense.
Prem tossed and turned in his sleep. Somehow he couldn't move past what Mukti had told him. He had started to feel for her and her pain was his pain. He knew that she must be up, reliving the pain again and he wanted to comfort her, show her that he was there for her.he slowly got up and went down to make hot chocolate. He came up to Mukti's room and knocked softly. She opened the door and he came in, and offered her the hot chocolate. She accepted it with a smile.
Mukti: thanks. Mujhey neendh nahi arahi thee.
Prem: mujahy bhi nahi. Acha tum mujhey yea batao ke kya tum welcome party main kis ke saath ja rahi ho??
Mukti; ab tak tou kisi ke saath nahi! Why are you offering?
Prem: do you want me to ask you?
Mukti: tum nahi karo gay tou koi aur zaroor kar de ga tou its totally okay per tum college ke sab se hot larki ke saath jana miss kar do gay tou if you want me to go with you, you better ask me now before its too late.
Prem: uff Basanti tum bahaut bolti ho. Pata nahi tumhara kya ho ga? Acha tou kyat um meray saath welcome party pe chalo ge??]
Mukti: hmm sochna pare ga….but one look in Prem's direction and she says Of course ab tum itna insist kar rahay ho tou na nahi kar sakti.
They both smile and Prem heads for his room after biding her goodnight.
The next day in college the hottest gossip going round that Sharad dumped Tanisha to ask Sneha out to the ball was only quelled by the other big news that Prem was taking Mukti to the dance. Many people came upto them nad complimented them on their couple. However this news was met by the greatest enthusiasm by sneha and Kasak. They couldn't be happier that their best friend was going out with their brother.
Prem: hold your horses. Who said that we are going out together? We are simply going to the dance together.
Mukti: haan waisay bhi main iss languor ke saath kabhi nahi jati per who itna insist kar raha tha tou main nay haan kar diya she taunted and ran off, with Prem runnig behind her. Everyone looked at them in amusement. They really were the cutest couple ever and everyone knew that they would get together in the end.
Prem chased Mukti all the way to the college parking lot where Mukti slipped and would have fallen had it not been for Prem with a quick inborn reflex, Prem reached out and caught her in his arms. Both of them drowned in each others eyes and were bought back to earth when Sneha cleared her throat.
Sneha: emm… agar aap ka ghoorna khatam ho gaya ho tou can we head towards class…
Prem and Mukti part abruptly and go their way both of them confused about their feelings for each other. After college mukti, Kasak and sneha head towards the mall to shop for the welcome party that evening. Mukti got a pink knee length strapless dress with matching shoes, Kasak got a black spaghetti strap dress, Kasak bought a blue halter dress, sleeveless with blue ruffles
All 3 guys were assembled in the Bajaj lounge and were tired of waiting for the girls. Kasak was going with Prems friend shravan. They kept looking at the watch.
Pre: yea larkiyan bhi na!! hum wahan dance over honay ke baad pohaunchein gay. He looked up and was stunned into silence. The 3 angels descended looking gorgeous but Prem only had eyes for Mukti.
Mukti: maun tou bandh kar lo.
They all leave for the venue.
Kumkum Bhagya
Anupamaa
