Vikram's pain was felt by everybody present there.

Sneha was stroking his hand as it calmed him. But right now, nothing seemed to work.

He was heartbroken.

After a few gruesome minutes, Vikram looked at everybody present inside the room. When did they come in, was unknown to him.

His eyes focused on his dad.

" Why did you do this?"

" She deserved it." He replied calmly.

" I asked all of you, didn't I? You were supposed to bury it all. But you reported her. Dad, why?" His voice held agony. It was unbearable.

" She committed too many crimes, Vikram. We couldn't possibly protect her. She killed her own brother and his wife. Along with them, she killed Rahul's parents. She devastated two families." He said, trying to make things clear to his child.

" No, dad. She was heartbroken herself. You didn't introduce me properly to her. You made her think, I'm hers. I am adopted, why not tell her that? She made you all pay for that one mistake." He declared, siding with his mom.

" Then what was Rahul's parents fault,huh? Ashok's? Mishra's? Tell me please. I accepted my punishment but what about them?" He asked his son furiously.

Vikram gulped, " Rahul's parents were innocently caught up, it was never her intention to kill them. Mishra's, were they not the ones who suggested you keep the truth hidden, because they had seen the projected profits when she would break. Were they not the ones who secretly told her my identity?"

Every mouth in the room dropped open except Mr. Raheja, he knew that. " You were aware, then why did you want to marry Juhi?"

" Because she was an innocent. Her parents snatched my mother away from me. But I was not that cruel. He would have eventually paid for his karma but you took that opportunity from her. Why act innocent, dad? You always manipulated my mother. She was always innocent."

" Because in her fit of anger, she killed my best friend. She distanced herself from you. Why do you love her so selflessly, is beyond me. She never loved you..." before he could complete the sentence Mr. Raheja's breath fastened, his chest ached.

The doctors were called immediately and he was taken to the ICU.

Vikram stared in agony at his dad's wheelchair.

He turned to look at Juhi, who stood at the side of door absorbing the new found truth.

" Juhi, I'm sorry you were caught in all this. I never wanted you to suffer with me in all this. I'm a broken man. My parents..." breathing heavily, " Look, you should search for a better man. I'm not the one for you."

He tapped at Sneha's hand and asked her to take him to the ICU.

Juhi moved to stand near his empty bed. Her parents were responsible for Vikram's mom's insane need for revenge. She was shattered. Her father could drop down to these levels.

" I did that in the past and I have always been sorry for my deeds. I never wanted the things to turn out like this. I just wanted money to rebuild our company."

Juhi joined the dots, " You were jealous of them. You destroyed his childhood. You might have improved your ways but you don't deserve forgiveness." She announced.

" Perhaps, this is why a major deal of yours was stuck. Why won't it be? Your weakness is that goddamn company and they triggered it." She guffawed and marched out of that room leaving behind Mr. Mishra and his regrets.

Vikram sat in front of ICU with Sneha, Ashok, Rahul and Pravin.

He thanked Ashok for believing in him.

The doors opened again, " I told you, Mr. Raheja, no emotional pressure on him. He had a heart attack. You were lucky, it was minor. Rest and medicines should be fine for now." The doctor announced. Vikram thanked him.

Vikram saw Mr. Mishra praying to the lord. He stood hidden to him but the doctors movement caught his attention and led him to a hidden Mr. Mishra in the corner.

Vikram said loudly, " I forgive you. Don't make our lives more difficult anymore. You may go."

The three of them looked confusedly at him but then they found Mr. Mishra peeking at Vikram. They understood his implication.

Vikram made his way inside the ICU with Ashok's help.

Mr. Mishra couldn't face his daughter for his deeds but he had to. He found her standing in front of him, in front of the hidden spot.

" He forgave you. I don't have the right to be angry with you. It was your past. Let's move on."

He hugged his daughter and led her out.

' Vikram, I'm going out of your life for good. You don't deserve people like us in your life. You should have a peaceful life.'

There in the ICU, Vikram hugged his dad who had just attained conscious, "Promise to never scare me again."

" I won't."

" Let's have a peaceful life, dad. Forget the past. You and me and mom's memories. What's say?"

" Agreed!"

*** The end***

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