After that, Shivam makes his way to the party.
The party was in full swing, filled with loud music and the chatter of the elite, but pranavi could barely breathe. She stood near the center of the room, her hands trembling as she tried to act normal.
Sanaya notices pranavi's distressed state and rushes over to her. 'What happened? Where did you disappear to? And Shivam hasn't shown up yet either... it looks like he isn't coming at all today.
We should probably leave the party early. Suddenly, the crowd seemed to part.
Shivam walked straight toward her, his gaze locked onto hers with an intensity that silenced the room. He didn't say a word at first. He simply reached into his pocket, pulled out her silver car keys, and held them up between them.
Shivam: (His voice calm but heavy with emotion) 'I believe you dropped these in the dark. You were in such a hurry to run away...
Both girls stood frozen, their breath catching in their throats. They couldn't believe their eyes-the man standing before them was indeed Shivam.
Sanaya couldn't help herself-she began checking Shivam out from head to toe. She was completely stunned by his transformation. He looked sophisticated, powerful, and undeniably handsome. As her eyes scanned his entire look.
she whispered to pranavi , 'Is that really him? He looks like a completely different person... couldn't take her eyes off Shivam.
As pranavi also noticed every detail of how much he had grown and changed, a wave of silent joy washed over her. Deep down, hidden from everyone else, her heart was racing with happiness. She had found him. The childhood love she thought was lost forever was standing right there, more handsome and imposing than she had ever imagined.
Sanaya - "My god, where were you all these years? We searched everywhere for you, but there wasn't a single trace of you."
Sanaya's voice was full of excitement and questions, but Shivam didn't even look her way. His gaze remained fixed on pranavi, intense and unwavering. A small, enigmatic smile played on his lips.
Shivam: 'I didn't go anywhere. I was always around... I was just waiting for the right moment to return. And it looks like the timing is finally perfect'.
Before pranavi could ask Shivam anything, the music started. Host, inviting everyone to come to the dance floor.
The music swelled, filling the hall with a romantic rhythm. In front of the entire crowd, Shivam turned toward pranavi. With a slow, graceful movement, he asked for her hand
He extended his palm, his eyes locked onto hers with a depth that made her world tilt.
As pranavi slowly placed her trembling hand in Shivam's, a spark seemed to ignite between them. The moment their skin touched, a vivid memory flashed in her mind-their loud arguments. She remembered how they used to fight over the smallest things, how she would get angry, and how Shivam's temper was even worse than hers.
She looked up at his calm, handsome face now and remembered the boy who would never back down from a challenge. A small smile touched her lips as she recalled how he used to tease her until she was fuming, only for him to make her laugh a minute later.
pranavi : (Softly) 'You're much quieter now. I remember a version of you that wouldn't stop shouting when things didn't go your way.'
Shivam: (A mischievous glint in his eyes) 'The fire is still there, pranavi. I've just learned how to hide it better.
Finally, the party's noise began to fade as some old friends slowly started heading home. A small group of old friends-including pranavi, Sanaya,Ashu and a few others-remained near the exit. They surrounded Shivam, their faces lit with curiosity and nostalgia.
One of Friend: 'Seriously, Shivam, you disappeared without a trace. Where have you been all these years? We looked for you everywhere, but it was like you vanished from the face of the earth!'
He tells them he was studying and working for so long... To become a successful doctor.
Just as the group was about to disperse, one of the friends smirked and asked the question everyone had been dying to know.
Friend: 'So, Shivam... enough about the business and the travel. Tell us the real stuff. Are you married? Or is there a lucky girlfriend somewhere across the world waiting for you?'
Shivam: 'Married? No, I haven't gone that far yet. But... yes, I do have a girlfriend. We've been together for a while now.'
The silence that followed was deafening. Pranavi felt as if someone had pulled the ground from beneath her feet. The silent joy she had felt earlier turned into a sharp, stinging pain in her chest. Sanaya's eyes widened in surprise.
The word 'girlfriend' hit pranavi like a physical blow. The 'silent joy' she had felt just moments ago shattered into a million pieces. She felt foolish for thinking that the childhood spark meant the same thing to him as it did to her.
Trying to keep her voice from trembling, she forced a fake, tight smile. 'That's... that's great, Shivam. I'm happy for you,' she lied, her throat tightening. Without waiting for his response or looking at Sanaya's smug face, she turned away.
pranavi: 'It's getting late. I should go. Goodnight, everyone.'
She walked toward her car with brisk, hurried steps. As soon as she got inside and closed the door, the first tear finally escaped, rolling down her cheeks.
Pranavi began to question why he took so much time to recognize his own feelings.
If only she had opened up to Shivam about her feelings then,today...scenario will be... As soon as she says this, she breaks down and starts crying.
With that, Pranavi starts her car and drives away toward home, while shivam stands there, silently watching her disappear into the distance.
After that, Ashu goes up to Shivam and asks him, 'Why did you hurt your friend like that, especially when you knew what pranavi felt about you?. Shivam to Ashu:
"It was necessary to do this... because Pranavi wasn't moving forward in her life because of me. But i have my own life.
The city lights are a blur as pranavi pushes the accelerator. The engine screams, matching the chaos in her head. Her phone buzzes incessantly on the passenger seat. Finally, she picks up.
sanaya (on the phone, voice panicked): "pranavi, please! Slow down. I know your heart is breaking right now, I know it hurts... but please, don't do this. Just get home safely."
After that, Pranvi goes to her parents' house. Instead of going inside immediately, she stands outside the gate and calls her brother, Nikhil
The Call:
Pranvi: (Her voice cold and steady) "I'm standing outside Mom and Dad's house. I'm finally here, just like you wanted.
Now open the door. I just want to apologize to dad. I've finally become the person I wanted to be, but now... I just want to come back home.
Nikhil :"Have you lost your mind? Do you know how late it is? Everyone in the house is already asleep. I will make you talk to papa tomorrow, but first, I will bring you to meet Mummy."
But Dad has banned you from coming home.
If you want to come back into this house, I have a big plan. You should marry the guy Dad has chosen for you— once he wanted you to marry. That might be the only way he ever forgives you.
Now hang up the phone. Let me get some sleep, too. Hearing this, Pranvi's heart sinks even further. She was already shattered from her heartbreak, and now, she isn't even asks his father for forgiveness.
Overwhelmed by all these thoughts, Pranavi goes to a pub.
The neon sign hummed above the door as Pranvi stepped inside. The air was thick with the scent of roasted hops and loud music that seemed to vibrate in her chest. For her, the noise wasn't a distraction—it was a shield. If the music was loud enough, she couldn't hear her own thoughts.
She sat at the corner of the polished wooden bar, tucked away from the dancing crowd. The bartender didn't ask many questions; he just saw the exhaustion in her eyes and slid a glass toward her.
As she watched the amber liquid swirl, she remembered why she was there. Every laugh from a nearby table felt like a sharp contrast to the silence waiting for her at home. She wasn't looking for a party; she was looking for a way to turn off the memories for just a few hours.
Pranavi started drinking excessively. One glass turned into three, and the blurry edges of the room began to spin. She wasn't just "forgetting" her sorrows anymore; she was trying to bury them under the weight of the alcohol.
After sometimes, pranavi noticed a guy wearing black dress and covers her face with mask looking constantly towards her... Pranavi ignores as usual and continue her drinking..
Pranavi's hand shook as she reached for her fourth glass, but before she could touch it, a firm hand gripped her wrist.
"Pranavi! Stop it!" Said that black dress guy.
Shivam? she slurred, her voice cracking. "What... what are you doing here?".you know what you were always right. I'm... Mm a egoistic person. Now look I lost love... And you.(said pranavi in drunk condition).
Pranavi tried to laugh, but it turned into a sob. "I just want the 'ghum' to stop, Shivam. It's too heavy.''
Shivam didn't argue. He didn't lecture her. He simply stepped closer, putting a firm arm around her shoulder to keep her from slipping off the stool. "I know it's heavy. But you don't have to carry it alone, and you definitely don't have to drown in it. Come on. We're going home.''
The taxi pulled up to the entrance of the Grand Vista Hotel, where Pranavi had been staying. Shivam thanked the driver and carefully helped her out. He noticed how cold her hands were, a sharp contrast to the humid night air.
The lobby was quiet, the marble floors echoing with the sound of Shivam's boots and Pranvi's dragging feet. The receptionist looked up with a judgmental glance, but one sharp, protective look from Shivam was enough to make the man look away.
Inside the elevator, Pranavi leaned heavily against the mirrored wall. She looked at her reflection—mascara smudged, hair messy—and let out a shaky breath.
"I'm a mess, aren't I, Shivam?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the elevator.
"You're just hurting, Pranavi," Shivam replied quietly, his hand resting on the elevator railing next to her. "Being a mess is allowed. But being alone in it... that's what we're stopping tonight."
The doors chimed as they reached her floor. Shivam found her key card in her bag and opened the door to her suite.
The room was dark, the only light coming from the city skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows. He guided her to the sofa, making sure she sat down before he went to the kitchenette to grab a bottle of water.
Shivam handed her the glass of water, his silhouette framed by the glowing city lights outside the window. Pranvi took a shaky sip, the coolness helping to clear the fog in her mind, if only for a second. The silence in the hotel room was heavy, broken only by the distant hum of traffic below.
After emotional breakdown, Pranvi finally drifted into a heavy, restless sleep on the sofa.
Then, Shivam stood over her for a long minute, his expression a mix of relief and lingering worry. He found a soft throw blanket in the corner of the hotel room and tucked it around her shoulders, making sure she was comfortable. He set a fresh glass of water and her phone on the side table, then quietly turned off the bright overhead lights.
As Shivam stepped onto the quiet pavement outside the hotel, the cool night air didn't soothe him. Instead, it made the knot in his stomach tighten. He felt a wave of guilt washing over him.He leaned against a lamp post and closed his eyes.
I did this..and it's my fault," he muttered to the empty street.''(because of pranavi's condition).
But I have to do this...