~ARJUN~

Same old. Same old. I go to the gym, train, and then back home. I attend functions, parties and then head back home. The time table is the same but I am not. To say life has not been the same from past months would be an understatement. I was holding onto one last hope that seems to diminish and fade away.

Every day I woke up with that one flicker of hope that she would call, Maybe comeback. I am not fuming with anger. Anger takes you nowhere. Kiara wanted to have her path of future which I respect but she left me behind. If I was her then maybe I would have done the same but both the hearts were meant to be broken. We were living the dream. Everything was just perfect. Even if it lasted for some time.

I wonder what will I do if I ever see her again. All the scenarios end with me crying and holding her down so that she doesn't go. Kiara carried a lot of baggage of her past which I saw her letting go in the time with me but what happened to her father still shakes my core. I can't even imagine what her mother went through, what Kiara must have felt. She made the right decision. Her love for me was pure and limitless and that is what matters to me in the end. I have her whole heart and she has mine. I am at peace just with that. I do not need her physical presence to love her. I am committed to heart, mind, and my whole body. There would be no other woman. There is only one Kiara Singh.

____________________________________

I and Karn are having a staring contest. 5 minutes have passed and we both have blinked several times so, the question is arises that what is he playing at?

" I am out. " I put my hands up in the air as a sign of surrender.

" It was not a competition. " He goes back to look at me and may I add quite weirdly as if seeing me in a new light.

" I don't have time for your child like games. " I go back to my phone.

" Of course. By the way, Kiara is in Bhopal, right? " I lift my narrowed eyes as his mischievous and taunting face comes into vision.

" If I am not wrong then your last girlfriend which was I don't even know how many years ago was in love with your money? " I give him a faux innocent smile.

" That means yes. Did she call you in these months? " What is up with him today.

" No. " I reply looking back at my phone.

Kiara did not call me nor did I. I thought that for one last time maybe I should call her but I know better. I would not be able to stop. I know that's why she didn't call. Simple. This is our new normal. Kiara settles herself in Bhopal as I go on with my playing.

Only if it felt that easy.

" Hmm. "

" Hmm. " I reply.

" What's your next step? " I look up again.

" Step? What step? " I ask setting my phone down. Karn has something on his mind and to pull it out there needs to be a long conversation.

" I mean for the future. You can't be single your whole life. " He gives me a knowing look.

" You are single and you plan to stay like that but I can't. " I point a finger at my chest.

" Yes. The difference between us is that I never thought of settling down buying a new home, kids, and so on but you did. " A feel pain in my heart as I imagine my future without all this. I always thrived for it but its looks like a dream that is too good to be true.

" I did but not anymore. " I lift my shoulder with a sad smile.

" You don't want that anymore. " Karn looks slightly panicked. Keep digging Arjun.

" I want all of that, many more. I would never stop wanting them but it feels like a wish for them is deeply embedded in my heart. I wanted everything with Kiara, it was both of us. Now it makes no sense " I throw him a sad smile as his panic starts to fade.

" That makes sense. " He gives me a very wide smile. He looks genuinely pleased. My brows knit automatically in confusion.

" Am I missing something? Why are smiling like a daft? You goon. " His smile somehow turns brighter and not to mention a tad creepy. He stands to walk up to me and hugs me tightly. I throw my arms around him, stretching my back to embrace him properly but I look of confusion that does not escape my face.

" Nice shot. " He speaks excitedly and then rushes off the room.

" Nice? ... karn wpas aa ( Karn come back ) . " I turn around to his retreating back.

____________________________________

KARN POV

( FLASHBACK- NOON )

I walk to the main gate security telecom which has been ringing for the past 2 minutes I would dot on Arjun to do such a menial task but he is probably sulking. From the past months, he is just not here mentally. The sudden disappearance of Kiara has hit both of us. I used to confide in her as my sister. I could tell from one look in their eyes the love they had for each other. All my efforts to indulge him again have gone into total vain and my tricks just don't work anymore. I am not losing my touch it is just that my spirits are dot running high.

Seeing Arjun so disheartened makes my mood gloomy so it is like who is supposed to handle whom. I manage out just fine with some amount of alcohol.

I had accepted the new dimension in our family of two with more incoming given the speed at which they were going. I was going to turn into a typical Asian aunt who demands a kid right after the wedding or worse right at the wedding reception. I would do that without shame. I need more people and there is nothing better than having your team of nieces and nephews. I planned to make them as cool as me, not their boring parents. I would keep them tucked in my arms all the time. It is safe to say they had me wrapped around their finder even before existing. Now well there is no now If it is taking me so much time to come to terms with the absence of Kiara then I can't even imagine what Arjun is going through and what would he go through. He is not moving on. Not a fat chance.

Arjun is not angry at Kiara because being the world's most understanding, supporting person he is happy with the decision she made. I am happy to know that she reconciled with her mother. What happened to her father would shake many and Kiara has the most fragile heart. She wanted to go back to her reality, an ancestral place which is what I would also do but I am still agitated, angry, tempered because she broke my hope. I hoped for a big happy family but with her, it diminished. I hate her for breaking my brother's heart for breaking mine There is immense respect, love, caring but there is a small part of me that hates her. She broke our hearts and hopes.

" Hello. " I speak into the intercom, planting my head on the wall.

" Sir, ek madam aayi hai. Kaafi aaya karti thi ye waha mein ander bhej du. ( There is a woman who used to frequent the place, shall I send her inside? ) " Huh! Kiara? My whole body alerts.

" Kiara madam hai kya ( Is it Kiara ?) " I ask hopefully.

" Haan wahi hai ( Yes ). " He replies but I hear her voice in the background.

" Sir, aap baat kar lijiye ( You talk with her ). " I hear some rustling and I finally hear a ' hello '

" Kiara, wow... I mean I..mmm ... I am angry. " I try to make my voice slightly angry but I am not even convincing myself.

" I want to talk to you, please. Arjun should not know about it. If you want to lash out at me then do it as your heart desires but it's really important. " Her voice her pleading and shaky.

" Come through the back door. " I hang up and run to look for Arjun.

" Arjun. " I shout openly.

" Haan... " I hear him from the first floor.

" kuch nahi. " I shout back and jog to the back door. I take hurried steps back and forth waiting for her to come inside so I hide her Her car enters and she parks it in the corner. I turn my back towards her looking at Arjun's balcony.

" I am keeping an eye on his balcony you go to the guest room on the first floor. " I say but keep my eyes upwards.

" Karn... " Her voice is a mere whisper but there is something in it which makes me want to turn and I stagger back with just one look at Kiara.

Kiara is standing there in all her glory. Her face has this new glow, she doesn't look as skinny as she did and then there is that. Right at the center. A belly. A belly is swollen with a child. Kiara is pregnant.

" OH MY...OH. " My hand goes into my hair as I look at nothing in particular.

A few moments pass before my blood pressure comes down to a normal level. I look at Kiara who is standing with a hand on her stomach sporting a hopeful and daunting expression. Where are my manners? I rush to her and hold her freely hanging hand smoothly and guide her inside. There is a real emotional uproar going on right now inside me. I was so ready for this shock but nothing can match my happiness right now. When we are inside safely, I turn around to look at her with wet eyes. My hands hover over her stomach and I finally place them on it. This is surreal. The dreams are coming true.

" Will you help me ?" Kiara asks teary-eyed. I just shake my head several times and embrace her cautiously.

" Thank you. " I whisper into her hair.

____________________________________

~ARJUN~

This has to be some kind of joke. Karn has not left his room for the past 3 hours. Exhausted in all aspects I walk to my room with a dejected sigh. One more day comes to an end. I turn open the knob as my moonlight lit room comes into my vision. I walk straight to my bathroom until I feel a presence in the room. I look right at the balcony where she stands with her back to me.

I don't need light or a second thought to recognize who she is. KIARA. She is here. In my room. This has to be a dream. I always saw her right around ne but it was just a ghost. My ghost.

" You must be thinking what am I doing here. " Her melodious voice enters my ears making all my senses alive. The ghost never spoke. It is real. My throat clogs as no words come out. My eyes must be bloodshot by now.

" I was running away. That's what I said to you didn't I? The reality was that I was running away with the history of me but it was chasing me. All the time. I fell in love, I was ready to die but not lose you. I went away for you and died. All of me died. " She continues with a shaky voice. I stay rooted in my place, just looking at the scene in front of me. Her hair flew with the soft breeze and her presence alone lightened everything. My Kiara was here. This is it.

" I was holding my past right on my sleeve. I left you behind to live in my web of thoughts. I did all this for you. I thought something would happen to you if I stayed in your life. I believed that my presence gave just pain to my loved ones. This is why I left but I was miserable Arjun. I was scared ...." My whole body screams to hold her and let our misery end.

" I was choosing my past but not anymore. I don't know what the next second of life would bring but I know there is a chance for me to spend that last second in the arms of my love, I am not scared. I choose to be miserable, I let you down, all your efforts, patience. I renounce everything. I choose you Arjun. We chose you. "

" Do you remember I had a coupon? I could ask you anything I want. I want to redeem it now. " My brain works as to what she could be asking.

She turns around and my breath gets hitched. My dreams, all my imagination is right there in front of me. All that I have ever wished for walking towards me. A silent cry escapes my mouth as my shoulders shake. I look at her, my Kiara, my baby, all my fantasies molded into one. Just one human being. She walks up to me and gets down on one knee. My body jerks to pick her up and hide her from the world, hide my child in my embrace forever but she moves back slightly.

" Arjun Malhotra not the cricketer but son of Anushka and Virat Sharma, brother of Karn Sharma, will you marry me? " Kiara shuffles her fingers to produce a shiny gold band looking at me with teary eyes. I take a step towards her and kneel right in front of her. Holding her face in my hands I take a deep breath. The wait is over.

" I don't want to leave again and I certainly won't let you do so. " Her eyes are filled with tears, the pain in them unbearable for me to look at. Her chest heaves with tears, and it's obvious she's been crying a long time.

" Kiara, you are everything I want, need, and dream to have. You are fulfilling all my dreams. You are giving me the best gift of my life. You just completed me. This is what a man in love looks like. "

For the first time, tonight Kiara cries loudly and it hits right at my chest. She leaps out to hug me as she snuggles into my chest. I settle her comfortably in my lap. I look at her stomach as pride fille me. Our baby. Our child. We made him. I would give this child everything I have. I smoothly place my hand on her stomach as warmth fills me. My hold tightens on Kiara.

" Thank you .. Thankyou... " I murmur again and again in a trance.

" You did not answer my question? " Kiara lifts her head from my chest with glazed eyes. She extends her hand which is holding the ring. I smile holding my left hand out to her.

" Yes. For life. " She slides the ring into my finger and it fits perfectly. I am an engaged man now. My life falling into place again.

" You are depriving me of my right. Don't think for a second that I would let you escape the proposal. " I smile at her mischievously.

" If you think you could ever think of not giving me a proposal then you are mistaken. " This woman. I lost to her at the first glance but I happily chose to lose to her every day. Kiara would be mine, she would be with me all my life. We are having a kid. My family is complete.

____________________________________

~KIARA~

2 MONTHS LATER

" Watch the step. " Karn is right at my back holding my shoulders and guiding me to our seats.

" I can see the step. " I hiss looking at him dagger eyes. I am not a bitter person it is just that pregnancy is making me agitated.

" You have been saying that you can't see what's below your stomach from the past week. " Karn shouts over the crazy crowd.

" Haww..that is ... arghhh" I shake my shoulders so his hands fall but he held on. Thank God the brothers are gifted with patience. I love them.

" There is our seat. " He channels me through rows until we are right in front of my seat. I bend down slowly and slowly, planting a hand on my stomach to ease the movement. This is hard. Karn holds my arm with a strong grip to guide me down better.

" Ohhhhh... " I say as soon as I settle comfortably.

" All good? " Karn asks with concern and worry as his palms face me in uncertainty.

" You are blocking my view. I can't see Arjun from here..." I fold my hands on my stomach.

" Good then. " He shows me a thumbs-up sign and settles right in the seat right next to me.

" This is exciting. " I say excitedly clapping. Oh and don't ask me about my moods.

" Your first match baby momma. " Karn smiles warmly at me and then bends down to kiss my stomach. He is smitten, obsessed, and completely in love with the child.

They both are already the best father and uncle. The debate over the room color, name, and sex. Arjun is adamant that it's a girl whereas Karn wants a wingman who is not as bored as Arjun. He seems to forget that he'd be 40 by then but I don't try to put a dent in his dreams. I have been constantly followed by one of them. Don't do this, no sugar, exercise, don't walk down the stairs so fast and things but, I have been pampered like a queen. I am happy. More than I have ever been in my whole life. I have made peace with the different phases of my life and now I look forward to my life with Arjun, our kid, and the uncle of the child ( He identifies himself by this now ).

Arjun and I have made our engagement public. When we are seen together for the first time after 5 months and that too with my grown stomach, people assumed that we went into hiding to keep the pregnancy a secret. There were a lot of rumors and unwelcome opinions that we decided to make out engagement and pregnancy public. The love and good wishes just poured onto us. Yes, Arjun proposed to me. It was magical. We were having a little outing in Rishikesh where he asked me proposed to me with the most beautiful words and ring. I told him in the past as a joke that I need a big diamond and he gave me just that ( When he was talking to Illyanaom on the phone ). I love what it represents, our union. He was mine as I was his.

" Here comes the baby daddy. " Karn jumps out of the seat while shouting. I, on the other hand, is immobile, I can't stand, jump just make some noise while sitting here and the fact that this is my first ever time watching Arjun live mixed with pregnancy hormones, I do the most plausible thing. I cry.

" Yeah... " I shout but tears fill my eyes.

" Right! Hey hey, Kiara what happened? " Karn first exclaims with affirmation but then seeing me his face falls as he sits down holding onto my stomach for any visible harm.

" This is my first time watching him play and I can't ever cheer to my heart's desire but I am so happy to be here. " I say sobbing.

" You scared me for a second here. Kiara this is not your last match. You can go to as many as matches you want. You are pregnant so that makes it more special. Right? " I am sure Karn is asking is for the confirmation that he just the right things.

" Yes. "

We cheer onto who is moving towards his century very fast. The target was 360 so there is a lot of pressure on Arjun to perform at number 3. The game progresses as the team reaches its target. Arjun is 3 runs short for his century as at this moment he risked taking 3 runs by running in between the wickets.

" Haaww...hawww...ahhhh... " I shout looking frantically between the approaching ball and Arjun. I have one hand on my stomach as the other goes to the handrest and I try to stand with a wide mouth. Karn supports my body upwards.

" Yeahhhh... " The whole stadium shouts in elation as Arjun dives in for the 3 runs as there was a fielding mistake. I clap until my hands turn red and happy tears fill my eyes. Karn hugs my upper body happily as I hold onto his arms which are around my shoulders.

The big screen is zoomed on Arjun's face as he turns in our direction to removes his helmet. He then holds his bat out in the front, kissing it as it faces me. He holds my eyes and blows the kiss through his bat. The whole stadium goes into a frenzy as I appear on the big screen suddenly. I blow him a kiss with a big smile as I mouth ' I love you ' which he mouths back with a heart-melting smile.

India won. Obviously.