Beyond the Past

One fine day

Luthra's Mansion (Shimla)

Karan's room

Karan sat on the floor of his balcony reminiscing Sameer's words. 

"I had clearly warned everyone to not trouble Preeta Di!"

"You wanted a chance to explain? When you had the chance, you lost it due to your ego and anger! Don't use my marriage as your ladder, because you are only going to fall!"

"It will be better if you maintain a safe distance from her, else I will not hesitate to have my wedding without you."

"Karan," Rishab called out. Karan turned around and saw Rishab already in his night kurta looking at him with folded arms.

"Hmm."

"What are you doing over here? What are you going to achieve sitting like this?"

Karan shook his head, while Rishab sat beside him. " I don't know yaar Rishab. I don't know what to do. I know that Preeta and Sameer's anger is valid. However, neither of them is willing to listen to my explanation. Am I that bad?" 

Rishab sighed, and looked towards the garden below, "To Sameer? No. But to Preeta Ji? Yes. Karan, in Sameer's case max to max you are going to not be here for his wedding. However, Karan, I don't need to remind you what you had to Preeta Ji."

Karan's eyes started to tear up, "I know whatever I did doesn't deserve forgiveness, but I can try right?" Rishab looked at Karan solemnly, not willing to answer him. "Rishab I just want my babydoll back in my life. I know I have done several horrible things to her but I can't...I can't stop myself but to wan..." 

Rishab looked at his younger brother with some pity, because looking at Preeta today he knew she wanted nothing to do with the Luthra family. "Karan," Rishab called out softly, "I don't know whether you can bring Preeta Ji back in your life, but I do know that you can't force it. If she doesn't want to do anything with you, then you stay away."

"Rishab tu bhi..."

"She has suffered enough Karan, I don't think any of us want to see her suffer more. If you were living in guilt for the past four years then she was living with the pain for more than six. She must have had to hear taunts, her faith must have been shaken. I don't want our family to be the reason for her pain again..."

Rishab patted his shoulder and asked him to attend dinner, but Karan was lost in his own thoughts. "I don't know babydoll should I thank the day I came to know your truth or hate it."

Four years ago 

 Holi 

"Karan!" Mahira tried to wake him up, "Get up na please. Today it's Holi, you have to put colour on me first. Wake up, baby."  However, Karan didn't budge. Disheartened, Mahira - like always- went to Rakhi to ask her to wake him. 

"Rakhi aunty, please can you wake Karan up," Mahira asked. 

Rakhi nodded and went for Karan's room. 'No matter which way I look at it, I can't feel like Karan is married. Mahira can't even do the most basic things. If Preeta was... What is the point of digging up the past,' Rakhi thought. 

"Karan puttar," Rakhi said softly, "uth ja na."

"Kya yaar Maa, why did you wake me up? It's early..."

"Get up quickly, don't you wanna play Holi?" Rakhi asked. Karan got up and smiled at her. Rakhi patted his cheeks and left. 

'What do I do by waking up Maa? What Holi? Na Ghar mein khushi hai, na hi mere man mein. I thought after breaking Preeta completely, I will be satisfied. However, I can't seem to find my inner peace anymore. I should be happy. What I wanted was done, but still my heart tugs every time I remember Preeta walking out of the house on my wedding day...Chal Karan beta, leave all these thoughts and get ready.'