There he was, not breathing on his own, IVs connected to give him what his body required. His eyes closed, coated with utter brownness because of the horror he had gone through in life. Those eyes must have wept all those times.

The person she saw here was different from the one, she had seen that night outside the club. He was the opposite of whom she had met in a Volvo bus five years ago which she had taken in emergency to reach Chandigarh from Delhi when she had missed her flight.

Where was the boy who had defended her, saved her from those local goons that day. Getting himself so many injuries, internal pain for the sake of helping her even when things were not good between them.

These were four-five years yet it felt like eternity staying away from him, not seeing him and not even knowing how he was. What if he wasn't happy from last four years? Did she know?

She couldn't. But life couldn't be so cruel. When she thought that her life was ruined by his wicked entrance and undefined exit, her journey had turned full of horns. It was difficult to step ahead with those memories in mind and that heart in the chest which would beat for him non-stop.

It was difficult but not impossible to move ahead.

Of course, her family was there to help her. Her brother who had felt so ashamed of creating circumstances that let her getting caught by those local goons. He was alerted and he changed his ways by increasing his possessiveness and love towards her. Even Pihu would accompany him in extreme care and would talk to her with the purpose of counseling her, taking care if she wasn't depressed again.

Even then, there was a hole in her chest but she was fighting.

But, when you fight you so much, God finally gets convinced to lift some strictness. So, stars changed and the little Riaan came in her life.

Till then, she was the baby of the family. She was pampered and were in sight of everyone with the view of as the most vulnerable member of the family.

But with Riaan, came the changing view and her happiness. That heart started reviving with his innocence and the happiness he would bring to her family. She could never thank Pihu enough for bringing him in their little world.

All this time, Sakshi got the inspiration to work ahead and become independent with all the resources she was gifted in her life. She had money, name and looks. She had gained enough confidence as the achievements kept increasing in her pocket.

She used to think how she had came ahead so far that even if she would turn around for once, she won't be able to see those depressing phases of life.

But today, she did.

No matter how long she had grown her spine, how boosted her ego had become, how finally she had started carrying her true confidence with her. But here, she was staring at him with tears in her eyes.

No matter how grown he looked, how manly his face had turned with that innocent stubble, with those jawlines turning sharp, with that physique turning muscular than ever. She still loved him like yesterday.

It was crazy and it scared her.

She had no flaws in her but this one. How would she cope up with this now? She felt terrified.

The sudden voice of Aakriti broke her intense moment of remembering her past. She took the steps towards the end of the corridor, walking slowly and breathing hard to not burst into tears. She was stronger than this.

Besides she should be done with them as she had already cried so many times. Why spending tears for someone who won't ever even like to care about her?

Maybe, she was a great human being. She had a big heart that even knowing how this man laying on the hospital bed was a criminal, she came here to see him breathing so she could breathe herself.

"We can go back now, Sakshi. Make the most of it," whispered Aakriti while getting up from the sofa they had settled for their little break as they were supposed to be in Sakshi's non-existent relative's room.

Holding her breaths, Sakshi roamed her hand through the glass window that helped her seeing him once again. That night at the club, his hair were perfectly gelled and styled. Today, they were falling on the pillow, keeping his forehead clear. All she wanted was to put his head on her lap and stare at him while caressing his hair until he would wake up to recognize her.

But there the dream ended when she noted the key word-recognize.

He won't ever see her with the same intensity she wished for. She was nothing but a spoilt brat for him. A valueless sister of a rich brother and who knew nothing but making friends, chirping and be the princess as she was supposed to be.

A sob broke out from her and she covered her mouth making Aakriti's eyes wide. "Wear your mask. Someone's coming."

Wiping her tears, she did as the nurse said. Just then, came his cousin. The cousin she hated so much. The villain of many lives.

". . . it doesn't matter how good our treatment is. It's his own will. You don't know, how deep the signs of depression are there on his body. He was really pushed to do this. . ." The doctor passed through her and the receptionist, and entered the room she was dying to go in. Rishabh followed him while sniffling slowly.

Her heart kept getting heavy and drowning. The weight was too much to bear as she was led back to the reception area by the kind stranger. Breathing hard, Sakshi gulped down the water from the bottle Aakriti had given to her.

"We were in the same batch but we never talked. Though one day in the metro, I had a minor injury on my foot and my whole foot was bandaged. I tried to make it to the reserved seats for the needy people but there was so much rush. But then, it was you who got up and gave me the seat despite knowing you had your laptop open and you had to close it, discontinue your work."

Sakshi wiped her tears and held her hand, making Aakriti smile. " Thank you so much."

"What goes around, comes around," the receptionist said while pursing her lips.

It touched her heart so much that she was unable to speak. Sakshi didn't know that living alone would give her such experiences. Since last four years, she had learned so much that she didn't regret her decision of living here in Delhi even once.

"Thank you so much," another whisper came out from her while Aakriti smiled. Sakshi bit her lip while wiping her eyes and nose properly. She took long breaths. "Can you do me another favour, Aakriti?"

"Depends on what it is, Sakshi. I hope, it is anything of my reach."

"I want you to keep this a secret. Please, don't tell a single soul that I was here to see him." She requested.

Aakriti was confused, "If someone had to find out, I wouldn't have taken such precautions while letting you see him. Don't worry, you have done nothing deep to get caught." She smiled sadly.

Sakshi bit her lip and looked at the desk, "But I am going to do now."

Aakriti watched as the beautiful, qualified girl stood in front of her with bloodshot eyes and red nose. She couldn't understand how the girl she had once thought, would be having boys lined up for her, was actually so drowned in sorrow because of having a rapist as an ex-boyfriend.

It was cruel how she hadn't gotten over him even yet.

"What do you-"

"Can you give me a paper and a pen?"

Aakriti smiled sadly, feeling her heart touched by her little request and the reason behind that. Clearly, the world was round.

People you left behind, might come in front of you in the most unexpected time and situations.

"Sure," she couldn't dare deny at seeing the love for him in her eyes.

______

"C'mon. I am losing my shit. Don't make me cry for your forgiveness."

Sakshi ignored the boy who wasn't stopping his efforts from past hour at coming after her. She walked slowly through the campus ground, with her mind still full of memories from yesterday.

"You can't get upset with your only guy friend. There is so much possibility if we can never talk after this or some tragedy occurs and I might die or some war-"

She glared at Aarush who was walking opposite to her but in her line. "Dying is so easy to talk about for you?"

Watching the anger flickering across her eyes, Aarush's heart dropped. His whole humor was melted in a second and he was about to speak when an arm came around his shoulder. A big, muscular, heavy arm.

"Hi Sakshi. Is this lunatic upsetting you?"

Aarush's jaw dropped when he saw blush rising on her cheeks. Sakshi clearly wasn't comfortable at even seeing his face, he understood. He turned to his left, glaring at the boy who was the uncrowned King of their senior batch.

"I have whole right to upset my dear best friend. You got a problem with that, Roasted Ronnie Shekhawat," mocked Aarush while removing his arm and standing straight.

"I didn't ask you. Did I?" Ronnie turned his head to Sakshi. "So, Sakshi. I heard how the new professor has gotten you all disappeared from OB's class. You don't have to worry about him. Alright? I am going to-"

Aarush narrowed his eyes. "-beat his ass? Well, clearly you need to do the same with your own, first. Because right now, you are invading my best friend's personal space and I won't let that-" he grunted when the collar of his shirt was pulled by Ronnie as his face shook in anger.

"Don't you know who you are messing with, boy? The one-"

"-who dared to touch my best friend that night like a creep. You need to stop fantasizing about you being the irresistible King here, Shekhawat. Because you stink," Aarush mutter while scrunching his nose, making Ronnie clench his jaws.

Sakshi looked at both of them. "Ronnie, leave him. Please guys. Stop it. Students are watching. . ." She trailed off when Ronnie turned his head at her and smiled flirtatiously.

Aarush clenched his jaws. "Why the hell you are talking to this shit? Don't you remember how with that one thing, his inner animal starts lusting for girls? That's why, he is never able to control himself-"

A punch landed on Aarush's face and Sakshi screamed. She reached them and tried to pull their hands off each other's clothes.

"Aditi," she screamed for the friend who was just arriving from the cafeteria with three cold coffee in her hands.

"What the he-" She put them on the nearby seat hurriedly and pulled Ronnie's elbow which was useless since he was stronger and too bulky for her to control.

"I'll show you my animal," Ronnie growled while giving another punch on Aarush's jaw which he returned immediately making the bad boy stagger back as he touched his lip and saw blood.

Ronnie smirked humorlessly while rolling his shoulder, "You are so gone, boy." As he was about to reach Aarush and punch him again, a hand came out to hold his wrist in place.

Aditi gasped when she saw the anger on Mihir's face whom she hadn't seen more than two times yet.

"World has so many big issues to fight over and d*cks like you make mess of a mere cause." He muttered while pushing hard on Ronnie's chest, glaring at him. "Back off."

"He is mine to deal with. Let me brighten my day by seeing his broken teeth-" Ronnie stared at Aarush passing him a deadly look.

"Wait until I bite you on the very hand with the same white-pearly teeth. Your own girlish scream will brighten so many people's day-" Aditi covered Aarush's mouth, dragging him backwards before he prove himself more stupid.

Sakshi looked around as a sudden gaze made her skin crawl. Her heart beats fastened knowing if Mihir was here to interrupt, there could be a possibility that the shy guy would be watching her from far like before.

"You bas-" Mihir held Ronnie's chin and tightened his hold, making him grunt.

"Raise your level, Ronnie. Being a senior doesn't mean you get your hands on every single girl you look at. What you did with Sakshi's at last bonfire has proven how sick you are. Now, before I beat the crap out of you while taking you away to the principal's room, get your ass out of here." Mihir threatened while tightening his hold at a level where Ronnie was struggling to free himself.

"Mihir, stop. Let him go, please." Sakshi looked around while rubbing her arms and lowered her gaze when Ronnie's eyes met hers. There was some genuineness that flickered in his eyes which made Sakshi roll her eyes mentally.

"What is she to you?" He asked angrily.

Mihir chuckled while Aarush too. Aditi was wiping the blood off his lip when Aarush shook his head. "She is a girl, she needs to be protected from the very sight of you. Eye-rap-" Aditi widened her eyes and covered his mouth again while Ronnie glared at him.

"I will make your-" He stopped when Mihir moved his face in between covering Aarush from his view.

"She is nothing special to me. But yes, she is taken." Sakshi's jaw dropped as she looked at Mihir in horror.

Ronnie's eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"

Mihir left his collar and wiped the creases that had formed, with a humorless smirk on his face. "She is taken. Stay away from her."

"But you have Mahi as your girl," wondered Ronnie while Mihir nodded.

"That doesn't mean, I can't know who is Sakshi's guy. So, back off and stay where your creepy acts are in control." Mihir said while gazing away in a direction and smirking slowly.

Ronnie curled his lip at Sakshi who was shaking her head in denial and gasped mildly when Aarush gripped her forearm to have her going with the flow. Ronnie went away along with his friends that were out of the circle when Mihir had entered as he was a batch holder.

Mihir, on the other hand, turned around to check on Aarush. "You alright?" Aditi smiled in awe while Sakshi glared at him.

"How dare you say that to him?"

"Sakshi, he just helped you." Aarush held her shoulder while smiling at Mihir. "Thanks, brother. Whoever your cousin is, shy or not. But tell him Sakshi loves his gestures and her best friend approves of him dating her."

Mihir scratched the back of his neck with a chuckle while digesting Sakshi's glare. "Well, he really told me to help you. I would have helped anyway, but I was far away from the grounds back in the auditorium. He informed me first and send me here, to save you."

Sakshi clenched her jaws, and looked around keenly. "So, he is someone from this University only. How convenient for him to keep up with his stalker ways."

"Sakshi, be good to your future brother-in-law." Aditi hit her elbow in Aarush's stomach as he left Sakshi's arm and stepped back to groan.

"You have such a sharp elbow. That's why you keep you zero figure maintai-" he continued while Mihir sighed at looking Sakshi's gaze all over the place.

"Don't be angry, Sakshi. He just needs time to show himself. He is ashamed to make you feel so bad about this. But he is interested, clearly. You will love him."

Sakshi pointed her finger at him. "Look, I thank you because you were here to protect my best friend. Your cousin is no one to me and get this to him that I don't even care if he exists and it's better if he doesn't show up because I am so going to make him disappear the moment I meet him."

Aarush rubbed his bruised jaw and looked confused at Mihir who shook his head in defeat. "Alright, just take care of yourself. But as a college mate, you can always call me for help."

Without hearing Sakshi's reply, he went off.

"You thanked him for saving your best friend. Sakshi, how much you care about me-" Another elbow hit his abdomen as he bent immediately.

"What is it with your sharp bones?"

Sakshi ignored and walked along Aditi while still thinking about this creepy act of Mihir's cousin. Earlier, she wasn't really interested in complaining about this to her Tai ji. But now, she was.

"Any how, I like this secret bodyguard. You should have seen Ronnie's face, he was so ripped at knowing what Mihir said," muttered Aditi.

"But it's not right. It's very immoral and creepy."

"It's perfectly right to impress you with different means," interrupted Aarush. "Although, I knew how to save myself, but I liked this guy's care towards you and your people."

Aditi coughed while Sakshi ignored him.

"Oh! C'mon. You are being rude, Sakshi. I brought chocolates and your favorite band's latest album. I even bought the ticket for IPL match this third week. C'mon," he whined.

"You know what, I baked a cake for her and went to the professor to say sorry to him as I was involved in this prank," exclaimed Aditi while smirking at him.

"Traitorous bones," he muttered while catching up with Sakshi who looked disturbed by the recent event with Mihir.

Aarush finally felt that he should stop taking this lightly and sighed. "Alright, I give up. Just stop and let me apologise. Sakshi," he groaned.

Sakshi halted and glared at him. "You didn't have to brought it up with Ronnie again."

"He was taking advantage of you being upset with me. I hate opportunists with cruel intentions," he looked around and finally at her.

"Because of you, I am not able to attend my classes. Because of you, Mihir declared me committed in front that Ronnie-"

"Sakshi, I didn't mean to hurt you. You know, it was just a prank. I didn't know that teacher has an unknown hatred towards you. It's clear, he doesn't like you."

"Well, thanks to you."

Aarush grinned while pressing his lips tight. "Alright, I am sorry. If you want, you can punch me. I even wrote notes for you, yesterday."

Sakshi's heart fluttered at his words and she bit her lip. At least, he was thoughtful at making it up for her.

"I didn't even study Miss Khanna's lessons. Now, you know that was hard for me to do."

Aditi gagged while Sakshi sat on the public seat that was nearest to them on the grounds. "Sit here, both of you."

They both followed while Sakshi faced Aarush. "Why did you take Mihir's side? These little words from you are encouraging that guy."

Aditi bit her lip while Aarush looked around again. "Well, I know. But I felt like at that time, it was the right thing to do. Ronnie just went away. He punched like a real hulk. My head was spinning."

Sakshi felt her heart squeezing and pulled out her handkerchief. She started wiping the dried blood on his lip. She pressed further to make him cry when he was smiling in triumph.

"Next time, both of you dare to set prank on me. I will have your lives ruined-"

"By your secret admirer?"

Sakshi shrugged and gave in to the conversation. "Something like that. Idiot!"

Aarush smirked while Aditi put her chin on Sakshi's shoulder as she watched her wiping Aarush's bruise.

"Maybe, this shyness is working out for that guy. Someone is getting wooed slowly." She murmured.

Aarush nodded while looking around. "I wish it comes out to be Neil, the President. I need to have passes for the unofficial party he is holding at his home. It would be awesome, if he turns out to be this admi-"

"He is nowhere related to Mihir."

Aarush opened his mouth at her words. "Wait."

Both the girls looked at him and waited.

"Why don't we find out who this guy is? We are connected to Mihir on social media. I am handling placements and seminars club. I can get information about his family easily. By means of interviews and you know, fake forms."