LIFE I CHOOSE

WITHOUT YOU ( I'M NOT OKAY )

Karan ran where his mum was standing. He fell on his knees and wrapped his arms around her waist , crying.
He fought the panic in his chest and held onto her for his dear life.
"I love her mum; Preeta. She's my soulmate, I can't lose her and my baby; mum please help me. He wept, his entire body shaking.
Preeta's smiling face flashed through his mind and he cried even harder. And it's when he knew that it's never been Preeta's fault. It was no one's fault, he'd fucked up. He knew he'd fucked up. He should have listened to her, he was weak.
"I can't lose them", he kept on mummering, "mum please you have to help me, I need to go find her".. Rakhi starred at him sadlyand pulled him into a hug, clapping on his back. "Am sorry son, let it all out", she said not holding back any tears. Everyone was sad, angry seeing their brother in this much pain. Surely there is much to worry and regret about.
Even Karina was upset and regretting her choices. She wondered if Akasy was the right man for Kritika. What if he's just like Sheilyn and Mahira. Today she found out that not every person from middle-class family is like Kritika's father. She learnt that there are bad seeds in all families doesn't matter if your rich or poor. And now her dear nephew is paying for her deeds. She should've never conspired against Preeta. When you look at it, she never did anything to her; and now there is a child on the way, their own blood. How is she going to look Mahesh in the eyes now. She regrets her choices but vowed to make things right no matter what happens. She excused herself and left.

Rakhi pulled away from Karan slowly. He stood up in disbelief and watched as his mum walked away wearing a sad face and leaving him completely alone as most of them had already retired to their rooms.
"No this isn't how it's gonna end, Shrishti is lying" he told himself. He rushed down the hall way to go at Aroras and find Preeta but Sammy stopped him. Karan it's late and besides Preeta is not there. "Please Sammy I must get back, you know I love her right?" He said this crying and Sammy even hugged him so tightly. He could feel the pain he was going through. He knew this was gonna happen and he's sure going to be for his brother. He didn't like how Shrishti talked to him but he also understands his girlfriend. Karan was partly to blame for Preeta's disappearance. He cursed Mahira and Sheilyn and wished them nothing but curses. He promised to find Sheilyn and Prithvi wherever they are hiding to bring them to justice just like Mahira.
Karan thought back to the last few months. He'd been acting like a dick and didn't even consider hearing her side of the story. He'd blamed her for everything. Shrishti is right to hate him, he was also mean and selfish. He only cared about his pain and ignored hers.

He left Sammy's embrace and absently walked into his room, fell on the floor, feeling defeated. He reached the damn cricket ball that Preeta had gifted him and clutched it to his chest, letting the panic attack he'd been fighting take hold. She had every reason to hate him and walk out.
A loud wail left him as he began to sob, the realization that he had lost the only person he'd ever loved as well as his unborn child, hit him full force.
And he had no one to blame but himself.
He'd always blamed her for his family's misfortunes, but now that knows the truth. He's being punished for his sins and she is paying the price for loving him.
His dad's accident wasn't Sheilyn and Prithvi's fault only but his as well. Her decision to leave was also his fault. He'd done this. And he'd been so stupid to blame her all this time. "Preeta love, where are you, come back to me now" he told himself, he spent the whole night sobbing but late in the night he fell asleep due to extortion, he wasn't okay and no one knew when he will be okay .

Next day, he woke up early and didn't even wait for his family to get ready to go to the Aroras and seek forgiveness. He came alone, parked his car to the other side and then stood outside the Arora's house, knowing she is not there and won't see her but since realizing that he loves her, there is that urge in him that wants to be near her and even though she ain't here, being close to her house kinda feels like that. He just realised how important Preeta is/was and its too late, just like the saying goes; you don't know what you have until it's gone and right now, he feels remorseful, anger and disappointment with himself. He wondered why he didn't see the truth sooner no wonder Prithvi must have been laughing at him all this time. He should have known the kind of person she is since they spent so much time together but he led himself be manipulated by those witches, he hated them so much.
He understood how it might have been hard for her dealing with the accusations, curses, charges against her which were fake for all this time and he hated himself more for the way he'd treated her these past few months. He thought about the baby, "my baby"; he still can't believe they made a baby on that day, a day he can't forget ever. It surprises him but he feels happy that's he's gonna be a daddy even though his hopes of meeting him/her are slim, he hopes to do so.
"I'm sorry baby, I failed your mum but I promise am gonna find her and fix everything. I will look for her even though it takes me forever, that I promise you" he told himself.

Karan received a call from Rishabh, asking where he was and if he's fine. The whole family had suggested they visit Aroras and fix their relationship even though Preeta is not there, they owe it to them. So Rishsbh was surprised when Karan told him that he's already at the Aroras but hasn't gone in yet. He promised to wait for them.
It didn't take long for them to reach Sarla's house, they were feeling all sorts of emotions, Rahki remembered the last time she was here and it was during Preeta's wedding; those memories flashed back and she felt sad. She wondered if they will be welcomed well because they've hurt this family. She really wants their relationship to go back to how it used to be. She misses the bonding and friendship these families had. She hopes everything turns out well. For Karan, he was feeling scared to face Sarla Ma but also embrassed for how he treated Preeta and then he got her pregnant and did nothing however in his defence, he didn't know about the pregnancy but now that he knows, he ready to take all the responsibilities. He doesn't know how he's gonna face the family especially with how Shrishti treated him yesterday however there's no turning back now.

It was Rishabh who knocked on Sarla's door and they prepared themselves for what was to come. It was Aunt Jhanki who opened and was very surprised to see Luthra's at their door this early. "Who's that at the door?"they heard Sarla say but Jhanki was speechless; so Sarla came to see what'staking her so long and why she's not answering her. She was shocked at what she saw, the whole Luthra family was at her door minus Mahesh. They greeted her and she let them in, luckily for them Shrishti had told her about what transpired at the wedding and her knowing Prithvi was involved with Sheilyn made her take part of the blame, and somehow sympathized with Luthras a little bit. She ordered aunt Jhanki to serve them some tea and snacks and after they told her why they had come at her house this early. But she kept herveyes on Karan now that she knows he is the father of her grandchild. She always saw how their friendship grew from the time they first met and it never occured to her that they would become parents even though the signs were always there; and poor guy wasn't himself because he was feeling shy, he couldn't even look at her.
They talked about Sheilyn and Prithvi and how they destroyed their families, "I apologize on my family behalf, am somehow responsible, I forced Preeta to marry Prithvi and this caused problems and even broke our children's friendship. I didnt know he was only using us for his schemes. The Luthra's were surprised by Sarla's behaviour however it was because she felt responsible for Preeta's suitation. "But he didn't marry her which is good" they heard Sammy say and she nodded her head looking in Karan's direction.

This was the time Karan needed to apologise to Aunt Sarla, so he approached her and knelt next to her and everyone was surprised. Karan has never knelt down before anyone, this behaviour surprised them but at the same time they were proud of him for taking this step. "I'm sorry Sarla Ma, he said this with tears in his eyes. I'm sorry for the hurt, I have caused you. I regret the things I have done to this family. I realized what I did to Preeta is unforgivable and your right not to forgive me. I know this apology is not enough and won't change anything because am such a screw up. But for whatever it is worth, I want to say that I love and miss Preeta, she crosses my mind every single time. I realized that too little to late but am asking for a second chance to become a better man that's worth your daughter and my unborn child. I promise that am gonna look for her and return her back to you because it's my fault she left in the first place. Please Aunt Sarla" Karan cried out to her. Hearing these words come out Karan's mouth made Sarla cry and she hugged him so tightly,"it's okay son, it's okay" she answered back. Everyone had tears watching that exchange.
Karina too apologised, it wasn't easy for Arora family to take her words at heart, but also there wasn't so much talking between her and Preeta's family, for now there is still a distance between to trust her but it's not bad either, it's a start.

Note
SARLA FEELING SORRY FOR KARAN, DOESN'T MEAN ALL IS FORGIVEN.

Next we will know more about Preeta's life .
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Happy reading! !😍