Arjun looked at Arohi. She had finally fallen asleep. Actually cried herself to sleep would be more accurate. After the initial shock had worn off, Arohi called Ishaan back. He had told her that Aria was in stable condition and she would be kept in the hospital for a few days. She'll be okay Ishaan had told Arohi. When she asked why Aria would have done something like this. Ishaan had no answer for her. Arohi hung up telling him she was coming home and will call him back with flight details.

The drive home had been quiet. Silent tears rolled down Arohi's face as she stared mindlessly out the window. Arjun hated that she was going through this. It broke his heart to see her in so much pain. Pulling into the driveway Arjun went to the passenger side to open her door. Arohi didn't move. "Arohi, we're home," he said softly. Arohi looked at him with vacant eyes. "Huh, oh okay" she said getting out of the car. Arjun slipped his arm around her and walked inside with her. "Arjun, can you book the next available flight for me to Vancouver." she asked. He nodded. "I'll call Rashi, she can help you get ready for bed". "No, No I'll be fine." she said in a distracted voice. Arohi stood at the bottom of the steps looking lost when suddenly she remembered Kabir. "I have to call Kabir." "He must be out of his mind with worry, and he'll know why she would have done something crazy like this." Arohi dialed his number but it was off. He must be at the hospital she thought. She slowly climbed the stairs to her room leaving a worried Arjun behind.

Arjun booked a flight for Arohi for the following morning. When he went to tell her he found her sitting on her bedroom floor still wearing her lengha. Her wedding magazines in her lap. She was sobbing as she ripped each one apart. Arjun rushed to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Why would she do this Arjun?" she continued to sob. "She was so happy, why would she try to take her own life." Arohi pushed away from him and stood up, her eyes full of guilt. "We speak multiple times a day and I didn't even notice something was wrong." "How did I not catch it?" "I've been too busy worrying about what's happening in my own life that I didn't even see that my best friend was hurting so much, that she thought the only way to make things better was to end her own life."

"Arohi, stop that" Arjun said grabbing Arohi's am. "You've been an amazing friend to Aria." "She knows you're always there for her. Right now is not the time to second guess yourself." "Please Aroh,i no more tears. If you're a mess then how will you be able to take care of Aria when you get there." "She needs you to be strong for her right now." Arohi looked at Arjun with tears in her eyes and put her arms around him pressing her face into his chest. Arjun held her tightly. When she finally pulled away he wiped her tears from her face and kissed her forehead. "She's alive Arohi, concentrate on that." he said softly. Arohi nodded. "I just thank god she's got Kabir. He's her rock. Him and I and her family will help her get through this." Arjun nodded and grabbed Arohi's pajamas for her, holding them out for her. She took them and walked into the bathroom.

Arjun went and changed himself and when he got back to Arohi's room he saw that she was on the phone. " Kabir, it's Arohi." "I know you must be going through hell right now but can you please call me back." "If you're with Aria, can you please tell her I love her. Arohi said as her voice cracked and I'll be there very very soon." Arohi hung up and looked at Arjun. "Kabir's phone is still off so I left him a message." "Okay, your flight is early tomorrow morning, so you tell me what to pack and I'll do it." Arohi told him what she needed and Arjun organized it along with her passport and other travel documents.

Then Arjun led her to her bed and climbed in with her putting his arm around her holding her tight. "I love you Arohi," he said kissing her forehead and don't worry everything will be fine. Arohi nodded, looking at him and said "I love you too Arjun."

Sleep eluded them both for a long time. For Arohi, memories of her and Aria growing up together seemed to haunt her and bring instant tears. But Arjun was there to comfort her and wipe away her tears.

"I'll miss you," Arjun said as he pulled Arohi into a tight embrace and gave her a soft kiss. "Call me when you get there so I know you've arrived safely." "If you need anything you know I'm here." Be my strong Arohi, and please take care of yourself and...Arjun stopped seeing the tears in Arohi's eyes. "I love you," she said holding him tighter. "I love you too baby." Arjun replied squeezing her tight. Arohi pulled away and mouthed bye before walking away to the security check. She turned back one last time and waved before she disappeared from his sight.

Ishaan was waiting for her at Vancouver Arrivals. Seeing her big brother after so long under such circumstances brought a flood of tears. Her brother wrapped his arms around her in a protective embrace and said softly "it's going to be alright." "She's going to be fine." Arohi prayed he was right. They went straight to the hospital and as Arohi approached Aria's room she became more and more anxious. What could have made Aria take a step like this.

Arohi opened the door and saw Aria, she was staring off into space. Silent tears falling down her face. She hadn't noticed Arohi yet. Seeing her lively and beautiful best friend look pale and sick, a shadow of who she was, broke Arohi's heart. "Aria," Arohi called softly as she approached the bed. Aria looked over at her, with vacant eyes almost as if she didn't recognize her. Then Aria's face crumpled and she threw her arms around Arohi. Arohi held her tight. Both girls sobbing in eachother's arms. They stayed that way for a long time. After the tears had finally stopped flowing Arohi had laid in the bed next to Aria, not saying anything just holding her. And then Aria finally started talking and her words shook Arohi to the core.

"Kabir is having an affair." she said. Arohi couldn't speak, but the shock on her face spoke volumes. "Yeah," Aria said with a humorless laugh. "Guess who with?" "His assistant!." "How clichd is that?" she asked choking on her words. "Ofcourse I was never to find out because as he told me I'm the one he really loves." "I'm the one he's going to marry." "Arohi, how could he have done this to me." Aria said breaking into sobs again. "I've given him 7 years of my life." "Loved him so much, supported him through everything and this is what he thought of that love." "That's how much respect he had for my love...our love." Arohi wrapped her arms around Aria and tried to comfort her.

"I might never have known if I hadn't stopped by his house to drop off his dry cleaning." "He was supposed to be at some business dinner so I used my key to get in." "I found them together in our freakin bed!" Aria gave a mirthless laugh. "I bought that bed for us to sleep in after we were married, and he had that s**t in it." "Listening to his sorry excuses, and the wedding being 2 weeks away I didn't know what to do." "The pain was just so unbearable I just wanted to be numb, not feel any more pain/." "So without thinking of the consequences I took a couple of pills, and then a few more until i had taken the whole bottle." Arohi's face was wet with tears, all she could do was hold Aria and let her get everything out. "Arohi, how do I erase all the memories." "How do I forget all the dreams I dreamed, all the plans we made." "How can I ever start over?" "Laying in this bed I almost wish that they hadn't saved me because now I need to figure out how I'm going to live, how I'm going to go on without him." "I don't know if I have the strength." Aria said tonelessly.

"Aria, I know right now it seems like you will never move on from this." "But you will, when you find yourself feeling weak, I'll be there because I'll be your strength." "We will get through this together. I know it's going to be a long road but please, please, promise me." Arohi said choking up. "Please promise me you will never do something like this again." "You are loved by so many people and if anything happens to you it will destroy them." "That bas***d isn't worth your tears and one day you will be at a place where you will realize that." "Just please Aria, please trust me on that." Aria nodded tearfully and Arohi stayed with her until she fell asleep. She tucked her in and stared down at her "big sister" going through the most painful time in her life because of a man. A man that was supposed to love her more then anyone in the world. Aria couldn't believe how that dirty bas***d had deceived everyone. He would pay for what he'd done, she would make sure of it.

Closing the door gently behind her, she was surprised to find her brother still there. "How is she?" he asked. "She's as good as can be expected. She's asleep now." "I was thinking of going home and changing and then coming back in a bit." "I don't see aunty and uncle," she said looking around. "They haven't left the hospital in days so I convinced them to go home and get alittle bit of rest, and that I would stay with Aria until they got back. " "Take my car. "he said handing her the keys. Arohi agreed and said she's be back soon.

On the drive home she couldn't stop thinking about what Aria had told her. Rage consumed her, she wanted to physically hurt Kabir. She wanted him to hurt like Aria did, like Aria's family and friends did. How could she have been so wrong? He always said he loved Aria and would take care of her. But look where that love had landed Aria. You can't trust anyone with something as important as your heart Arohi thought to herself.

Arohi's dad wrapped her in a big bear hug and held her tight. "She'll be okay Arohi. Have faith in god, he will make everything right." her dad said kissing her forehead. Arohi wiped her tears and hugged him back and then turned towards her mother who tearfully hugged her close. She hadn't realized just how much she'd missed her parents until right now. The love of a parent is the only real unconditional love she thought to herself.

"Beta, Arjun called earlier maybe you should give him a ring." her dad said "I'll call him later." "I need a shower and then I need to get a few things together before I go back to Aria." "Okay but dinner is ready, I want you to eat something first" her mom said., Arohi nodded as she left for her room.

Her room was exactly as she left it a year ago. Everything was the same, except her. She took a quick shower and headed back to the hospital sending Arjun a quick text that she'd call him later.

The next few days flew. Arohi spent most of her time at the hospital coming home only to shower and change and sometimes grab a bite to eat. Aria was slowly healing physically, emotionally Arohi didn't know if she'd ever be better. Arjun had called numerous times but she hadn't returned his calls. She had texted him twice more telling him that Aria was doing better and that's she'd call him soon. By now, everyone knew what had happened with Kabir and ofcourse there was going to be no wedding. Aria was going home in the morning and Kabir had not shown his face once. That was some love he felt for her Arohi thought to herself.

Arohi had just dropped Aria off at her home and was going out to pick up some necessities when she saw her phone vibrating. A picture of Arjun flashing on the display. She stared at it a moment and then finally picked it up. Taking a deep breath she said "hello." " Where the hell have you been?" Arjun said angrily into the phone. "I've been busy." she snapped and besides that I sent you a few texts. "Oh yes, your 2 lined texts. They were just great." he said sarcastically "I've been worried sick about you." "Why, I'm not a baby I can take care of myself." Arohi snapped again. "What's wrong with you Arohi?" Arjun asked softly. "You're not yourself." "Well my best friend did try to kill herself, but sorry I'm not behaving the way you would like for me too." "That's not what I mean, Arohi." Arjun said in a deceptively calm voice. "Listen, I don't want to fight." "How's Aria." "She's better. She's home now." she answered. "So Kabir was the cause of all this, the reason she tried to commit suicide? he asked. "Yup the lieing, cheating bas***d." Arohi said tonelessly. "But Aria has her family and friends with her, she'll get over that loser in no time." "Okay," Arjun said hesitantly. "How's work?" she asked. "Busy as usual, it's not the same in the office without you." "Hmm," was all he heard from Arohi. "Okay I better get going." Arohi quickly said. "Okay, I love you." he said but she had already hung up.

Arjun stared at the phone in his hand. Something was very wrong. Arohi was a lot of things, passionate, loud, a free spirit. Cold she was not. But in this conversation she had been ice cold. What was going on in her head he thought.

"Dad, I wanted to talk to you about something." Arohi said approaching her dad one evening. " I was going through some of our paper work and I noticed that the contract we have with Kabir's company, B&B contracting is ending this month." "Yes I know. Aria was the reason I had signed with him. "Well, now Aria can be the reason that we don't sign with him again." Arohi said without emotion. "I don't want our business to have anything to do with him. " "We have access to a lot of contracting companies, so it won't be a loss to us." "But to him, he doesn't have access to companies like Ahluwalia construction." "Arohi, don't worry we won't re sign with him." "But, you do know that this will be a huge loss to his business." "Yes dad," Arohi said giving him her first genuine smile in weeks. "I know."

Arohi had been home for 2 weeks now and hadn't spoken to Arjun since the first phone call. She had texted a few times though. "How's Arjun?" Aria asked one day. "Fine." "He must be missing you." "You should go back now." Aria said. "I'm fine now." Looking at Aria you would think she was back to her old self. But Arohi knew better. Aria's eyes were no longer bright with love and happiness. They were lifeless and vacant. No matter what Aria said, Arohi knew better. "I'm in no rush to get back." "Well I'm in a rush for you to go back." Ari said smiling. "You have your project there and more importantly Arjun is there." "He's fine Ari." "No, you should go back now, you can't stay here forever trying to protect me." Arohi paused, staring at Aria. "Well, why don't you come with me" she said excitedly. "We'll have so much fun." "No, I'm fine here and don't worry I have plenty of people to take care of me here." "Ishaan calls or comes by every day to see how I'm doing. I have my parents and all of other crazy friends." "I'll be fine." Arohi hesitantly agreed and later on that day booked a flight back for the following evening.

Arjun sat on his office looking out the window at the city below. Not really seeing anything because he was lost in his own thoughts/ Arohi had been gone for 2 weeks and other then 1 phone conversation and a handful of text messages he had heard nothing from her. Something was wrong but the problem was he had no idea what. She had distanced herself from him and worse he didn't even know when she was coming home. He missed her like crazy. Her chatter, her smiles, her laugh, her gussa, her kisses, her expressive eyes that were usually full of mischief or passion. He missed spending time with her, talking to her, even fighting with her. His house was just a house without her. She made it a home. "Arohi come home" he thought as he tried to shift his attention back to his work.

The flight back to Mumbai was long. She'd be seeing Arjun after 2 weeks and she didn't know how she felt about that. She didn't know how she felt about anything anymore. She wasn't the same Arohi that left Mumbai 2 weeks ago. She almost felt like she's lost her innocence. The rose colored glasses she walked around wearing, were gone. She would never make the mistake of trusting someone so easily again.

She didn't let him know she was back, instead she took a cab to the house. Rashi was thankfully the only one home. After speaking to her for a few minutes Arohi excused herself saying she was tired. She took a long hot shower and went to bed, refusing dinner. Sleep mercifully came easily. Arjun hadn't arrived back from work yet.

It was late. He'd been putting in a lot of late nights lately. Trying to keep himself busy, his mind occupied. He passed Arohi's room and saw that the door was closed. He walked past it and into his own room.

The next morning, Arjun was late for breakfast. Rashi was almost done when she saw her brother approaching the table. "Another late night at work?" she asked. Arjun nodded. "You 2 love birds were probably up half the night catching up." "Now you can smile again, instead of moping around here like you've been since Arohi left." Arjun gave her a confused look. "What are you talking about?" he asked. "You and Arohi." "Arohi?" he asked slowly. "Arohi's home?" "Yes, you didn't know?" Arjun was already half way up the stairs when he heard Rashi said. "She's gone. She left a note saying she was going to the office early. "

Arjun could not believe she was back. He drove like a mad man and as he took the elevator up to his floor, he thought finally, things would be back to normal. He didn't allow himself to think about the fact that she came home yesterday and never let him know.

Arohi sat at her desk with a file open infront of her. She'd read the same page 4 times. She felt restless as she got up and moved to look outside her office window. It was still quiet in the office. Staff probably wouldn't arrive for another 45 minutes. This was the time to get stuff done. But she couldn't concentrate.

She heard her office door open behind her, and knew who is was without looking. Arjun she thought closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. She felt his hands on her shoulders turning her around to face him. She looked up and met his eyes. He looked down into her eyes and gave her a slow smile, and then he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight, lifting her off the ground. "I missed you so much." he said in his deep sexy voice.. Arohi had tried not to think about that voice and for a minute she let herself melt into his embrace. That familiar embrace that she used to feel loved and protected in. Finally she willed herself to pull away and take a step back. "How have you been Arjun?" she asked.