Our Defeat!

Karishma is still Determined!

Later that night, the house was filled with a quiet anticipation as Aly returned home. He walked in, a small bouquet of fresh, vibrant flowers in hand, his face softened with a smile that held the promise of a romantic evening.

He had been thinking all day about Karishma, about the steps they were taking to rebuild their relationship. Tonight, he wanted to push away the shadows that lingered between them, to remind her of the love they still had.

As he entered the living room, Karishma looked up from where she sat, her hands gently resting on her growing belly.

She smiled at him, the sight of the flowers making her heart flutter with a brief hope that maybe, just maybe, things could be like they used to be.
"Aly," she greeted softly, her eyes reflecting the warmth she felt.

Aly walked over to her, kneeling down beside her chair as he presented the flowers with a tender smile.

"Tumhare liye," he said, his voice low and affectionate. "Kaisa tha tumhara aaj ka din." Karishma took the flowers, her fingers brushing against his as she accepted them.

For a moment, she allowed herself to bask in the sweetness of his gesture, but then the weight of the day’s events pressed down on her. She couldn’t keep it from him—he needed to know.

"Aly," she began, her voice hesitant but firm. "Darsal aaj humse milne Rehaan aaya tha thane mein."

The change in Aly was immediate. The softness in his eyes hardened, and the warmth that had been building between them vanished as quickly as it had come.
He straightened, his expression growing serious, almost cold, as he processed her words.

“Rehaan aaya tha?” His tone was low, edged with tension.

Karishma nodded, her heart sinking as she saw the shift in him. “Haan, Aly. Woh Anaaya ke baare mein baat karne aaya tha… lekin humse usse keh diya ke ab se humari saari baatein tumhare saamne hi hongi.”

Aly’s jaw tightened, the flowers now feeling like a distant memory as his mind raced. The thought of Rehaan being anywhere near Karishma, especially after everything they had been through, brought a surge of anger and frustration that he struggled to control.

“Mujhe Tumne mujhe pehle kyun nahi bataya?” he asked, his voice clipped.

Karishma lowered her gaze, feeling the weight of his disappointment. “Hum tumhe kaam pe pareshan nahi karna chahte the… aur tum itna pyaare phool lekar aaye, isliye thoda ruk gaye.”

Aly sighed, running a hand through his hair as he stood up, putting some distance between them.
His thoughts were a storm, the romantic evening he had planned now overshadowed by the reality of Rehaan’s presence.

“Karishma, tum jaanti ho na, yeh sab kitna mushkil hai mere liye? Main tumpe trust karna chahta hoon, lekin Rehaan ka baar baar tumhare aas-paas rehna…” His voice trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

Karishma’s heart ached as she watched the disappointment and frustration in Aly’s eyes. She had hoped that they could start fresh tonight, but now, the fragile connection they were trying to rebuild felt even more distant.

“Aly, hum samajh sakte hain tumhara gussa ek dum jayas hai. Par hum bas yeh chahte hain ke hum ek dusre ko samajhe sakein, aur is rishte ko phir se mazboot bana sakein.”

Aly turned to face her, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions—anger, hurt, and a deep sense of longing. “Karishma, main bhi yahi chahta hoon. Lekin jab bhi Rehaan beech mein aata hai, sab kuch phir se bigadne lagta hai. It’s like… I can’t escape him, no matter how hard I try.”