What Could Have Been

Title: What Could Have Been

Summary: Rahul is getting married to Naina, but they are yet to be engaged.

Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, though I wish I did 😆

What shot through his body, what vibrated through him was like lightening. It was fire, furious and dangerous, heating his blood till it burned in his veins – his heart raced near the base of his throat. He didn't think, couldn't think, and he didn't stop in hesitation. His narrowed, smouldering gaze met Kakun's shocked eyes for a split-second, before they turned to Aman's frowning face, and then he just moved. Aman had no chance to evade, because Rahul moved with surprising rapidity, grabbed his brother by the collar and smacked his back against the nearest convenient wall. The expression on Rahul's face revealed more than the fury burning through him, it also revealed murder. Kakun had been staring at him, completely transfixed, but now she moved toward the two brothers, her heart thumping hard in her chest, so hard, that it might have burst through her ribcage, and her throat felt dry as a desert.

"You," Rahul said through gritted teeth, while Aman's shallow breath came hissing out. His face was inches from his brother's, steadily meeting his darkened eyes. "It's you, it's always been you." Aman merely curved his lips in cold response.

"Rahul," Kakun shouted, gripping his sleeve. "Let go. Rahul, please, let go, you're going to kill him-"

"Yes," Rahul shouted, tightening his grip all while Aman's face reddened. "Yes, I'll kill him. I'll him for this." Kakun swallowed hard, glancing toward the doorway and then back at Rahul.

"Rahul, leave him. Now," she pulled at his arm, and then put her own hand on top of Rahul's. "Please, let him go. You're not a killer, Rahul. Look at me." His hand was trembling beneath hers. His eyes slid away from Aman's and met her pleading gaze. "You're not him," she said urgently. "Just let go." He jerked back from them both as if he had burnt himself, breathing fast.

Aman straightened his shirt, his smirk still intact as he looked up, meeting Rahul's eyes again. "I assume that you overheard our conversation." Kakun couldn't focus her mind around Aman at the moment, all she could think about was how Rahul had stood in the doorway, how his expression had turned from pain to blind anger, and how he had almost-

Rahul's eyes shifted to Aman. "You-"

"Ah, ah, ah," Aman interrupted, calmly. "We share the same mother, remember?" A muscle ticked in Rahul's jaw, and he took a deliberate step forward, but this time Kakun quickly moved in between them. Oh God, please help me, she thought while various scenarios in blood flashed before her eyes.

"Rahul, what you heard-" she tried.

"I know what I heard." Rahul interrupted, he pointed at Aman, his voice strained as he tried to restrain himself from socking his brother. "He killed Naina. He framed me. He stole my-" he stopped dead, glancing at Aman with pure hatred showing on his face. "You'll pay for this, Aman. I swear to God that you'll pay for it all."

"And who will make me pay, huh?" Aman asked, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his pants. "You?" he looked at Kakun. "How about it, Kakun?"

Kakun was staring down. "Aman, please," she turned toward him, meeting his eyes, and then put her hands together in a plea. "I'll explain it to him. He'll understand."

Aman measured the killer-gleam in his brother's eyes. "I doubt it," he retorted.

"Kakun," Rahul grabbed her arm and whirled her around. But panic was starting to move in her. If she didn't assure Aman that Rahul would keep his mouth shut about this, then he would submit the tape in the court. And then they'd both be doomed. She couldn't let that happen. She had a plan. She'd finally worked out a plan against Aman and she couldn't let it fail already, not when she was this close to putting him behind bars for life. Think, she thought desperately, you're Aman's weakness. Use it.

Kakun turned back to Aman. "I promise you that he won't say anything-"

"Like Hell I won't." Rahul interrupted fiercely.

Kakun shut her eyes for a brief second, and then looked at Aman. "Aman, I swear to you that he won't say anything to anyone. Let me explain it to him. Please. Give me a chance." She took a deliberate step closer. "We can work this out. Quietly." Her gaze didn't waver from his and for one moment, he merely gazed back at her. Rahul tightened his grip around Kakun's arm.

"Aman," Bebe called from downstairs. "Aman, come here."

Aman's smile had faded. "Explain it to him," he finally said, and then glared from Rahul's hand curled around Kakun's arm and to his face. "I don't like people touch-ing my things, Kakun. Explain that to him, too." He turned around and walked out. Rahul made a move to follow, but Kakun stopped him.

"Rahul-"

"How long?" Rahul interrupted, his frown had deepened, and he was gazing down at her. She could see the bemusement, the confusion and pain in his eyes. He didn't know what to feel, think or do.

"I found out on the day that you were released from prison-"

"Shit, Kakun," he exclaimed, running his hand roughly through his dark hair.

"Rahul, please, you have to understand that-"

"What?" he asked, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her close. It didn't hurt, she noticed. It was like a caress this time, possessive, protective. It filled her eyes with tears, because she'd been so scared and then this warmth-

"You've been hiding this for me, all this time," he muttered. The pain in his eyes, in his voice, made her cringe inside. "You didn't tell me. That night, he touched you and danced with you, I- I made you dance with him, I made you-" his voice cracked there and then, and his hands came up to rub over his face. "God, what did I do? How stupid could I be? I should have seen this, I should have known-" when his hands came down again, she saw the same fury on his face as before. "I have to do something." He walked toward the door, but she moved past him and blocked it.

"Rahul, listen to me. You can't tell anyone about this."

Rahul let out a short, sarcastic laugh. "No, Kakun. Whatever reason, no." He took a deliberate step closer to her. "Move."

"Rahul, you have to understand-"

Again, he interrupted her, and this time his voice was low and controlled. "Listen to me, Kakun. He's going to prison. To Hell with everything, I'm going to put that piece of junk in prison for life."

"You won't do anything, Rahul," Kakun said firmly. "He has evidence that can put you in prison for life. I won't be able to bear that, Rahul. Please, you have to stay quiet about this. You have to pretend-"

"What the Hell are you saying, Kakun? You want the man who ruined Naina's life, who ruined your life, who ruined my life, walk free?"

"I didn't say that I would let him walk free," Kakun replied simply. Rahul furrowed his brow, gazing at her.

"What are you talking about?" he asked slowly.

"I-" she moistened her lips again. "I know what I'm doing, Rahul." Her eyes didn't waver from his. "And I need you to trust me. Can you do that?"

Mind blowing as usual-can so see it, so in character with everything, brilliant!

Ekta THIS is waht we want this is what kdmh is about!

It would have been wonderful then , instead of making me want to pull my hair out !

I am glad that you all enjoyed it. I was kinda nervous about posting it. Heh.

"Rahul, where are you going?" his mother came toward him. Rahul stopped dead in the doorway. Where had he been going? He had no idea. All he knew was that he'd needed to get out; he'd needed to create some physical distance between himself and Aman, because his entire being wanted to track Aman down and bloody his smiling face. He needed air; he needed to think clearly, so that he could figure out what to do now. He knew that he had promised Kakun to keep low profile for some time, to give her some time, but, he couldn't do that. He couldn't stand it, couldn't stand it that she was married to a murderer, couldn't stand that the murderer was his brother and couldn't stand that he touched her. What more, he couldn't trust Aman with his family. No, he couldn't stay passive. "Rahul, are you listening?"

Rahul blinked. His mother was standing in front of him; her light-brown eyes were searching his face in worry. "Maa, sorry, you were saying something?"

"Where is your head at today?" Gayatri asked with a frown.

"Business, Maa. It's not important. What were you saying?"

"You're supposed to go with us to the jeweller in an hour," his mother answered.

"Jeweller?"

"To buy Naina's engagement ring, Rahul," now there was annoyance in her voice. "You do remember that your engagement is tomorrow night, right?" this paralyzed his mind for a brief moment, while Gayatri continued about the sangeet, which was going to take place tonight. "Tanu and her in-laws are coming tonight. It'll be nice for her to meet Naina. It was very hard for Tanu to lose-" she paused, sighed and then shook her head. "There's no use thinking about that again. If you're going out, Rahul, then remember to be back again before we head to the jeweller, alright?" He nodded in response and watched her walk back down the hall.

His engagement to Naina; something stirred in him. He had wanted to marry her; it had been his decision – for Kakun, for himself. But could he really do that now? He couldn't even think about it all of a sudden. He couldn't focus on it. Every time he tried to turn his mind back to Naina Oberoi, he saw Aman and Kakun, and he saw the raw truth before his eyes. The truth, which made his blood boil – and a part of him started to hope...

"How's the heart?" Aman asked, strolling toward his brother. Rahul turned around, and his hands fisted, which Aman noticed. "Just making sure that you don't die on me. All that withheld anger, it could turn on you, give you a heart-attack."

"Yeah, that's right, Aman, keep talking. It'll be nice to pump some of my anger into your face. Might even make you look better."

"Now why would I want to look better, when I've already got the girl?" Aman asked with a dramatic frown. "Tell me, because I'm curious, how does it feel to be in love with a woman who shares bed with your own brother?"

Rahul moved toward Aman. "Rahul and Aman," DB called from the doorway, his face lightening up. Rahul froze, his eyes not wavering from Aman's, who smirked as if he had just won the World Wars. "Good that you're both here. Come, I want you to take a look at a deal with Mr. Tsinghai."

Sangeet Night

"Kakun, take these sweets inside," Bebe handed Kakun the plate with the sweets for the guests who had all arrived now. When would she get a chance to leave the house without anyone noticing it? She didn't have much time. Aman was keeping an eye on both her and Rahul now. Rahul would be present at the sangeet, so maybe Aman wouldn't find it suspicious that she was gone.

"Kammo," Kakun walked toward the servant and handed her the plate with sweets. "Take this. Has Naina and the Bhasins arrived?" Kammo shook her head.

"No, miss, but Mr. Punj said that they are on their way," she answered. Kakun cast a glance over Kammo's shoulder and into the hall, where all the guests were present, standing and talking. Music streamed from the stereo. The sangeet would begin just when Naina and the Bhasins arrived. She would be able to sneak away now.

"If anyone asks about me, tell them that I'll be right downstairs," Kakun said, and then she lifted her dark-blue lehnga slightly and hurried up the stairs. She glanced back a few times, making sure that she wasn't followed. Aman was in the hall with her father-in-law, so he would busy for a while. She had to be quick.

When she passed one of the guestrooms, a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her into the room. She opened her mouth to scream, startled, but the hand closed over her mouth. She was pressed against a closet, and it was completely dark. For a moment, she panicked, thinking it was Aman and that he had somehow found out about what she was going to do.

"Kakun." Her heart calmed slowly at the sound of Rahul's voice, but then suddenly a new fear overpowered her. She reached up and yanked his hand away.

"Rahul, what are you doing?" she asked, her whispering slightly hysterical.

"I need to talk to you," Rahul answered. "About the engagement."

"What is it?" Kakun asked, her heart picked up speed again.

"I- I can't marry Naina." There was silence following his reply. Kakun was staring at the spot where she believed his face was in the dark. He waited a beat, but when she didn't answer, he continued. "Kakun, I can't complete the engagement. I'm not going to."

"Are you out of your mind?" she whispered, he would swear that he even heard her hiss at him. "Rahul, you can't break the engagement."

"There's nothing to break as I'm not engaged yet."

"But you will be. Tomorrow."

"No."

"Yes."

"I said no."

"And I said yes." Even in the darkness, she could feel his gaze on her face. It made a shiver trickle down her spine. She ignored it, and her hand searched for the switch. "Wait. Can we just talk about this? Let me turn on some-" his hand closed over hers and she tried to struggle it free.

"Kakun, I can't marry her. If you turn on the light, you'll know why." At his words her hand froze beneath his. How close was he standing? She couldn't tell, except she could feel his breath on her skin.

"Rahul," she didn't have time to make him understand. "Rahul, if you refuse to get engaged to Naina, then Aman will know that something's going on."

"I don't care. He'll be going to prison anyway."

This time Kakun's hand slipped out from under his, and she switched on the light. It hurt her eyes at first, but then she could see his face clearly, and her heart drummed rapidly in her chest. He hadn't shaved, he hadn't changed. He looked in pain, and it broke her heart. "What do you mean? We had a deal."

"To Hell with it," Rahul replied, his eyes were dark and cryptic. "I can't stand him being around you. I can't stand him being around my family. I saw him with Tanu, when he embraced her, and for a split-second another image flashed before my eyes. He wasn't embracing her, he was killing her." Rahul swallowed hard. "Tanu..."

Kakun frowned, and her hand reached up to touch his cheek, but stopped midair. It just stayed there, and then fisted. "Rahul-"

"I have to do something." He interrupted. "Whenever he touches you, I want to-"

"Rahul, trust me. I know what I'm doing."

"I trust you. But I don't trust him. Don't ask me to do this, Kakun. Because even if you do, I won't do it." He turned to leave. "So don't ask."

"Rahul, wait. We have to talk about this-" she hurried toward him, stopping him, while desperation and panic made her lose her breath. "Okay, alright. You need to do something, I understand that. But then do something useful. Tell Naina."

"What?" he blinked bemused.

"Yes," Kakun nodded, urgently. "You heard me right. Tell Naina. She's a lawyer, and she can help us. But Rahul, do it quietly. Aman can't know. It's important that he doesn't find out." Otherwise I won't be able to follow up on my plan.

Rahul gazed at her for a long, quiet moment and then sighed. "You're right. Telling Naina would be best."

"But not tonight," Kakun quickly added.

"Kakun-" he sighed, but she interrupted him this time.

"Please, you can't tell her tonight. Promise me." There was something in her eyes, which unsettled him.

"You're thinking about doing something, aren't you?" he asked suddenly. She didn't answer him. "Kakun, what're you going to do? Tell me."

"I can't tell you. You'll just have to trust me on this." Kakun replied. Rahul looked into her eyes as if searching for something.

"I'll look after you." He said lowly. "You believe that, right?"

I want to, she thought.

Babes that had me so gripped! You have give us a daily dose i can live without kdmh but ot withour your writing youve made me so happy that im😭.

Dont stop maybe its best that kdmh has become so lousey otherwise we wouldnt be getting these absolutely amazing fanfictions that are so much better then it is-well at this moment!

A question what do you think happened to tapu and her husband? And what made him change so quickly after marraige?