AN: So here's LP ka next. It's finale time doston. Sorry kaafi wait karwaya aap sab ko. But anyways I'm here to finish off my fics. Hope you all like the end.

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Laal Paraanda

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Small recap- IshYant dance in Jassi Di's sangeet. Ishu is jealous over Dolly, Dushyant's best friend from his college. And meanwhile whole of Dushyant's family is behind Ishu. They want her to be his bride! A shy Ishu runs out. Dushu follows her but something compels them and they're caught in a sweet moment. Ab aagey!

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Chapter 36

Falling for You!

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Dushyant slowly lowers his head towards her face. Ishu stands rooted in her spot, frozen, eyes falling shut as his breath tickles her nose.

What now? Is he going to….. ?

Her mind is going through a swirl of haphazard thoughts. It would be just apt to say, she wasn't thinking at all.

Dushyant on the other hand is experiencing the same. It's like all his sense flew out of his head to somewhere deep in the universe.

Ishu- "Bh-Bhalu?"

Dushyant- "shh-"

He shushes her when she attempts to talk and their noses bump. A shiver runs through her back but a soft smile forms on her face.

Ishu- "Kya karre ho?"

She wanted to ask him. But the words wouldn't just come- all she could do was stand there, in a trance, as his hands caress her cheeks.

Dushyant smiles a little and almost does the most rationable thing one would do in such situation, well, almost.

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"Jijaaa Jiiiiiiii!"

A high pitched dramatic wail broke him out f his trance. He jumps away from Ishu. One look at her and he realizes sense had returned to her as well.

Dushyant- "P.. Preet?"

He manages to choke out now looking at his 'saali'. Did he just think saali? Like not the Gaali wali saali, the sister-in-law wali saali? And what was he about to do to Ishu when Preet showed up. He looks sideways at her. Ishu's face is beet red and she's looking at anywhere but him. Damn! He was really going to kiss her and was now caught by his natkhat saali.

Preet- "ohho jija ji! Ye kya karre the aap mere didi k saat chupchup ke huh?"

Preet approaches hi with one hand resting on her hip. She goes on dramatically-

Preet- "Haye rabba! Main nahi aati toh Dii ko kon bachata-"

Dushu looks mortified and claps a hand to his mouth nervously. Ishu looks life she wants to protest but her speech was dead. RIP her sense and speech.

Dushyant- "P… Preet wo main…. Main toh bas… Billi ka haal puch raha tha..."

Preet- "Accha ji..."

Preet smiles teasingly at him. She loops an arm in Ishu's. Just then the Shergil Pariwar is seen walking towards them. Dushu's cousins and Kavin too-

Preet- "toh jija ji, main andar sab se bol deti hu yaha maine kya dekha hai… unki raai jaanleti hu, wo hi mujhe batayenge aap sach bolre ho… ya jhoot-"

Dushyant- "Nahi!"

Dushyant jumps back in alarm…

Ishu- "choti… shh..."

Ishu finally finds her voice as she admonishes her naughty sister Preet.

Dushu's Dadi-"Oh puttar kii horaha hai?"

Dadi is the first to reach.

Dushyant- "uh… kuch ni Dadi..."

Dadi- "Ishu puttar, tu thik hai na?"

Ishu- "huh… uhh… haan Dadi.. main thik hu… wo hum.. hum bas baatei kar rahe the..."

Dadi- "baatei… toh kon that wo jo zor se chilla raha tha huh?"

Ishu- "koi nahi daadi… I mean, hum toh nahi."

Finally, Ishu takes a deep breath, despite the pounding of her heart, her brain now seemed to work just fine.

Dadi- "accha chodo. Dushu puttar, tu na kudiyon ko unke ghar de naal chod ke aa, haan? Thik hai?"

KV- "rehne dijiye na daadi, billi aur uski behen ko main unke ghar chod deta hu. Bechara bhaalu subah se shaadi ka kaam karte-karte aur sham ko naachte-naachte thak gaya hoga, kyu bhalu?'

Kavin's tone is almost like teasing and Dushyant sighs.

Dushyant- "KV tu bhi na…."

his voice was weak, almost a whisper.

KV- "Kya… kya bola tune? Zor se bol na… kya hogaya hai tujhe?"

Alarm bells go off in his head. Dushyant puts on a fake smile as he looks up at KV. Yeh KV ka baccha bohot hoshiyar hai, isse pehle ye mera haal aur behaal kare main…

KV- "Dushyant? Mere dost-"

Dushyant- "KV mere yar, mere sher, tune thik kaha."

Dushyant cuts him off and shoots a quick glance towards the girls-

Dushyant- "tum hi lejao billi ko uske ghar. Wo… main… sach mei.. thoda thak gaya hu. Main ab sona chahta hu. I mean, aur didi se bhi toh baatei karni hai… kal hi toh shadi hai uski..."

Dushyant tries to explain but KV keeps glancing at him suspiciously-

KV- "kya..? sach mei? Tu? I mean, ye tu hi bol raha hai na..?"

Dushyant- "of course. Main hi. Bas ye tera pehla aur aakhri chance hai. Bas aaj k din mera kaam karle yar.. dimag mat kha, ab jaa der hogai, kal bureau mei milte hai"

KV, Ishu, Preet exchange goodbyes with the Shergill pariwar and depart from the house. Dushyant is there while KV drives the girls in his car, but he could hardly see them in the eye.

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KV drops off the girls at their home. Preet waves to him cheerfully, while Ishu is still in a daze.

Preet- "bye! KV sir! thank you so much hume ghar chodne k liye!"

Preet then turns to Ishu who's still lost in thoughts-

Preet- "Di…"

When Ishu doesn't respond, Preet reaches out to shake her by her shoulders-

Preet- "Dii! kaha khogayi? dekho ghar aagaye! Andar chalo na..."

Ishu- "huh?"

Ishu looks lost for a moment but then shakes her head.

Preet- "Kyaa dii… ab bhi jiju k bare mei soch rahi ho?"

Ishu narrows her eyes at this.

Ishu- "Nahi!"

Preet- "ab naa kehne se kya faaida di? It's obvious that you love him. Maine dekha, kaise aap uss Dolly se jal rahi thi..."

Ishu- "Main… main jalti nahi hu.."

Ishu says pensively. Preet gives her a look and She then sighs-

Ishu- "Shayad thoda sa… pata nahi kyu..."

Preet- "ohho di! That's because you love him! Aur jab unsab ne pucha ki kya aap Dushyant jiju se shaadi karogi toh you got all shy! And aapke chehre pe wo dreamy look, maine aapko waisa kabhi nahi dekha… aap sharma rahi thi, par bohot khush bhi thi!"

Preet grins teasingly. Ishu slaps her arm playfully.

Ishu- "accha! Tujhe kaise pata haan? Uss waqt main bas chauk gayi thi aur isliye bahar chali gayi..."

Preet- "haan haan aur jhoot. Di, main aapki behen hu. Aapko acche se jaanti hu. Mujhe bohot pehle pata tha ki aap k dil me jiju k liye laddu phoot rahe the- oww!"

Ishu smacks her head, Preet groans but then goes on with a smile.

Preet- "lekin aaj shaam ki surprise toh jija ji hai! I mean, Jiju was so entranced. I'm sure jab aap waise sharmaa rahi thi, toh unke dil mei bhi kuch kuch hone laga tha… and hayeela! aur wo aapko garden mei kiss karne wale the!"

Ishu blushes at this and looks down at her feet. Preet goes on now louder-

Preet- "haye rabba! Agar main waha nahi pahunchti toh…. Kya hota?!"

Ishu finds herself wondering….

Ishu- "kya hota….?"

Does he really see her as more than a friend? How does she feel about him. The signs are evident though.

May be she does really love him. She really got jealous over Dolly and she'd definitely hate to see him with other girls. She just wants her bhaalu just to herself…. Wait does this mean? A smile forms on her lips as the shock from realization wavers.

Ishu- "mujhe ussey pyar hogaya hai…."

Preet squeals in delight, jumps and hugs her sister.

Preet- "way to go dii! finally aap ko realize hua!"

Ishu blushes realizing she had blurted out her feelings. But she smiles and hugs Preet back-

Ishu- "toh ab?"

Preet- "ab kya di! I'm sure jiju ko bhi realize hua hoga! You can expect a proposal! Fir shaadi! Hayee! Wo toh sach mei mere jiju hogaye..."

Preet pouts a little towards the end.

Preet- "too bad! Main kyu nahi pehle paida hui…."

Ishu holds her ear…

Ishu- "meri choti si shaitaan! Tujhe toh main-"

Preet- "arey arey di! Mazak tha! Mujhe aapki sautan nahi banna. Waise bhi bhaalu sirf aapke hai… ow! mazak tha! Chod doh di, main aapki choti si pari hu na, I was only teasing! ow-"

Finally Ishu lets go of her ear and grins,

Ishu- "dekha! Didi hu main teri. Tujhe kya lagta hai.. sirf tu ched sakti hai…?"

Preet- "ow di…. Kitna zor se pakda..."

Ishu frowns and says

Ishu- "sorry baba… aaja tera dard kam kardeti hu..."

Ishu hugs her. Preet laughs saying

Preet- "dard toh gayab hogaya"

and the girls walk inside.

They move past the main gate into the lawn and then into the house. Unknown to them, their mother was listening to their conversation from the balcony.

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The next day, 8:55 AM

Ishu is in parking lot of the bureau, talking to herself. She keeps pacing the area, trying to calm herself.

Ishu- "just be calm Ishu. Chill! Chill! Wo kon hai? Bhalu hi toh hai… tu just waise hi baat kar jaise humesha karti hai… lekin…."

She thinks about the previous night and the coversation with Preet pops up in her head-

"Dii! He loves you… ab toh wo sach mei mere jiju bangaye. I'm sure wo aapko propose karega dekhna!"

She smiles while fighting back the blush creeping up her cheeks. She takes a deep breath and tries to come into duty mode again.

Ishu- "main kyu sochu ki aagey kya honewala hai… hoga wohi jo likha hai.. agar bhalu ko propose karna hai toh, wo karega… aur agar ye sab.. mera vehem hai toh..."

She trails off sadness flashing across her eyes. Darn. She was so much in love with him already. And rejection would hurt. She takes another deep breath.

Ishu- "I'm ok. I'll be OK. Ab duty mode on!"

She marches towards the elevator, steps inside and presses the button to the top floor. She smiles relieved that finally her thoughts are under her control.

Nevertheless, she knew that if she saw him again, all logic would leave her brain. But she would fight it.

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Determined, Ishu steps into the bureau. 9 AM. Right on time, she muses, looking around.

Freddy- "Hey Ishita…."

Freddy greets her with a smile.

Freddy- "kisko dhoondh rahi ho? Apne dost Bhaalu ko?"

Ishu- "Hello freddy sir… uh.. wo..."

Freddy- "arey tumhare dost toh aaj leave pe hai.."

Ishu blinks.

Ishu- "Leave pe?"

Freddy- "haan aur Kavin bhi… Jassi ki shadi hai na, koi case bhi nahi tha… toh ACP sir ne kal raat ko hi unhe permission dedi ki wo off le sakte hai, taaki wo shaadi k kaam kar sake aur saath hi mazaa bhi…."

Ishu processes the information while blankly gazing at Freddy-

Freddy- "Kya hua Ishita? Tum.. tum thik ho na? Tumhe ye sab Dushyant ne bataya nahi..."

Ishu finally finds words to speak

Ishu- "nahi.. wo.. usne phone ni kia… aur kal raat… toh aisi koi baat nahi hui..."

Freddy frowns a little but tries to cheer her seeing the sullen look on her face-

Freddy- "Bhool gaya hoga! Galti hojati hai kabhi kabhi… aur uski Di ki Shaadi hai… toh wo bureau kaise aasakta hai… aur koi baat nahi… wo nahi toh kya hua? Hum hai na!"

Ishu smiles a little at his words…

Ishu- "thanks Freddy sir..."

Ishu thinks- "bhalu ne mujhe bataya bhi nahi… usne mujhe phone b nahi kia. Aur kal raat, jo maine socha… shayad.. uska koi matlab nahi… shayad, main hi paagalo ki tara soch rahi thi…. Kal bhalu k bartav k peeche shayad, koi aur waja hai… shayad wo mujhe kiss karnewala bhi nahi tha… oh rabba, ab main kya karu… wo toh mujhe sirf dost maanta hai, may be even worse! Jis tara wo mera khayal rakhta hai… he still sees me as the little kid..."

Freddy frantically waves his hands in front of her eyes and Ishu is finally pulled back out of her thoughts-

Freddy- "Hello! Uff shukar hai dharti pe aagayi… kaha khoyi hui ho…"

Ishu- "sorry… aap kya keh rahe the sir.."

Ishu apologizes putting a smile on, shoving all those thoughts about her bhaalu aside.

Freddy- "main kehraha tha, koi nahi aaya toh chalo.. coffee peene chalte hai.."

Ishu- "haan kyu ni.. chaliye na..."

Ishu follows Freddy to the cafeteria and sighs. A long day has just only begun.

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Around same time, Shergill Mansion-

Last minute wedding preparations are on full swing. Dushyant is seen standing in the large hall, helping with some of the decorations, often monitoring them-

After instructing the guys about their work, he goes to take a seat on a sofa. He gulps down some water from a nearby bottle and lets out a huge sigh. Images from previous night flash in his head. He could hardly sleep at all the whole night and since this morning all he could see when ever he's idle is her face! He tried throwing himself into work but that's not helping- he frowns and smacks his head as he pictures her smiling at him, hugging him and laughing at something he said… and lastly the image from last night…. Dang! He was really about to kiss her!

Ki… (ugh no!)

He slaps himself on the forehead.

Dushyant- "oh ye tumne kya kardiya yar!"

He sighs putting his head in his hands. Something shakes the sofa. KV has graced the plush cushions with a thud-

KV- "W'sup?"

KV asks when Dushu gives him a look.

Dushyant- "Whats up? Kuch nahi.. subah se kaam karraha hu… but I'm missing my real work, I guess..."

Dushyant says a random lie and KV laughs.

KV- "really? Kaam ko miss karrahe the, ya jiske saat kaam karte ho usey?"

Dushyant- "KV yar-"

KV- "Hey, now.. ek aur jhoot mat bol. Sacchi sachhi bol. Koi syappa hai na? Huh? Isliye toh yaha moo latkaake baitha hai… subah se dekhra hu, chida hua hai, ek k baad ek sab kaam karta jaraha hai-"

Dushyant- "KV-!"

KV- "I'm not wrong, am I? This has got to do with her right? Kal garden mei tere aur Ishu k beech kuch hua tha na? Tabhi toh tumne mujhe usko ghar lejane k liye bola? Kya hua? Haan? kahi tune usey hurt toh nahi kiii na..."

Dushyant- "KV ab tu chup hoja… aur tum! tumhe mujhe dekhne k alawa koi kaam nahi hai kya? Main thik hu. Chod de mujhe akela-"

KV- "fir se jhoot. Waise mere dost, main bhi CID mei hu and I'm very observant. Ab fatafat bol kya kia tune Ishu k saat? I swear if you hurt her, I'll leave no stone unturned… I'll steal her away from you. Obviously she deserves some handsome cool dude banda like me, what say-"

Dushyant- "ugh! KV bas! bas yar! Mere dimaag mat kha-"

KV- "Kya kia tune huh? Anyways… and I was only kidding. I mean dost ki girlfriend main kaise churaa sakta hu yar. Waise, muft mei ek advice: Tum usey jake sorry boldo na. I'm sure Ishu maan jayegi. Fir tum dono fir se dost. Maamla khatm..."

Dushu sighs…

Dushyant- "shayad main usey face bhi nahi karpaunga yar… main.. main usey kaise face karunga… pata nahi wo kya sochrahi hogi mere bare mei.. ugh! I'm an idiot. I ruined everything KV! Ab… ab sab khatm! Aaj toh main yaha hu… lekin.. kal bureau gaya toh usey kya kahunga…."

KV- "Kya hua? Maamla itna serious hai?" * frowns * "bataa na, kya kia tune.."

Dushu gives him a look of an innocent kid and slowly tells him what happened-

Dushyant- "wo… kal.. main uske peeche gaya tha… sab puchrahe the kya wo mujhse shadi karegi, toh wo bhaag gayi.. mujhe laga wo dar gayi thi.. I went to reassure her… then.. she was suddenly acting all shy.. fir usne mujhe gale lagaya.. and I lost all my sense.. I…. I just… ki-"

Dushu can't continue as KV springs to his feet…clapping his hand..

KV- "tumne usey kiss kia?!"

Dushyant- "shh! KV! Kyu chilla rahe ho!"

KV- "yar! Mujhe laga tu purane zamane ki mail hai, par ab tu sabse tez express nikla..."

Dushyant- "hey! Just stop! Maine.. maine usey kiss nahi kia… OK-"

KV- "accha? Then why are you embarrassed?"

Dushyant- "I mean I dint… because Preet waha aayi thi…."

KV heaves a disappointed sigh.

KV- "wo ladki toh sach mei kebab mei haddi nikli…. But you don't worry dost, ek gaya toh aur bhi mauke aayenge..."

Dushu again buries his head in his hands-

Dushyant- "mauke ki kise padi hai! I'm worried about Billi… she must think I'm some kinda pervert! I don't know maine waisa kyu kia. Agar main ye usey batau, toh kya wo maanegi? Kya hum dost bane rahenge-"

KV- "hey! apni ghisi-piti thoughts apne saat rakho! Tumhe ni pata tumne aisa kyu kia? Honestly! Ab bhi tujhe madad chahiye? Thik hai, main tumhari madad karta hu… it's because you love her. And pervert? Tu aur pervert kabhi ek jaga fit nhi hosakte… arey tu mera sher hai! Aur agar tu Raanjha hai toh wo teri Heer! To ye dumb thoughts bhagaado aur usey propose karo… samjhe!"

Dushyant- "I…. I… "

Dushu is in thoughts thinking about Ishu, all his moments with her and how he wanted her to be by his side, how he looked at her when everyone asked her to marry him, all the teasing they got, how she kissed him on his cheek when she was super happy, how often she'd hug him and he'd hold her.. everything gives him a warm feeling and…

Dushyant- "kya.. sach mei… main.. billi se.. pyar..."

he chokes out the syllables and KV does a mini happy dance.

KV- "uff finally mere dumbo sher ko ehsaas hogaya! Uff!"

Dushyant chuckles in disbelief and gets to his feet. His heart racing he turns to KV-

Dushyant- "KV…? Do I.. love her? I mean I.. I sure love her… as a friend… par…. Oh god… may be, I was in love with her all along… mujhe pata bhi nahi chala.."

KV- "Kyu ki tu dumbo hai..." * pulls Dushu into a hug * "I'm happy for you bhai! Finally!"

Dushu laughs as he thinks about Ishu and hugs KV back.

KV- "ab tu usko propose karle… waise wo haan hi kahegi… I was so sure, ki wo kal raat teri mom ko bhi haan kehne wali thi..."

Dushu breaks the hug and looks at KV in disbelief-

Dushyant- "kya? Sach mei? I mean..."

KV- "tu hi sochhh re..."

Dushu thinks back to her expressions and her shy face and smiles widely… he turns to KV-

Dushyant- "Shayad..."

KV- "arey main toh kehta hu, pakka! Baat toh pakki hai mere dost!"

Dushu laughs and this time he's the one to hug KV out of happiness, the duo jump around in happiness while hugging each other. There aren't many people around to hear their shouts but surely their cries of joy worked as alarm bells for most of their friends, cousins and family members who are still asleep.

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That afternoon, the team is busy as there is a new case. Twin murders in town, in both cases the victim was just blown away using some crude bomb.

Ishu is checking the database trying to match some fingerprints the team gathered from the spots and that's when she hears two new voices in the bureau… voices she hasn't heard since last night-

Voice- "Sir, aapne bulaya?"

ACP sir- "Dushyant! Kavin! Accha hua tum aagaye! Maine hi off dedi.. aur ab main hi wapis bulaaraha hu… maaf karna.."

Dushyant- "Sir please! Sorry mat boliye. Meri di ki shadi k kaam toh waise bhi sab ho chuke hai..."

KV- "haan sir aur hum apni duty hi nahi, aisi exciting action ko miss kaise karsakte hai.."

ACP sir- "acchi baat hai… Mayur, Freddy… Dushyant aur Kavin ko case k bare mei samjhaao… aur fir sab log mere cabin me aajao.."

ACP sir leaves for his cabin. Ishu is still dumbstruck staring at the two guys. Pankaj and Divya shake her by her shoulders..

Pankaj- "hey jaldi karo na…. Dekho match hota ki nahi..."

Reluctantly Ishu drags her gaze away from Dushu-

Ishu- "haan.. dekhti hu.."

Dushu turns around hearing that voice. He looks at Ishu who's now furiously typing on her keyboard. For a moment he's lost but he quickly shakes his head focusing on the documents of the case he was handed.

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The finger print scan leads them to a suspect. It's then revealed that he's only an ally to the criminal. The cops soon discover that the murders were connected and deduce it was a family feud.

ACP sir- "pata lagaao, Mr. Saxena k maut k baad, zaayezat kisko jaata hai… ye kaam zarur kisi rishtedaar ki hai. Taaki wo pura property apnaa naam karsake, ek ek karke , sare Saxena waris ko khatm karraha hai…. Interrogate karo sabhi ko… koi na koi saboot mil hi jayega…."

KV, Dushyant, Sachin, Rajat, Abhijeet, Daya and everyone nod. They spilt into teams and move away. Ishu and Mayur are again lift behind in the bureau, awaiting the report Dr. Salunkhe is making.

Salunkhe soon comes and talks to them.

Salunkhe- "wo car blast isliye hua kyuki uski engine aur fuel k saat tampering kia gaya hai.. aur humne kuch tests ki hai.. ek engineer ki bhi madad li.. usne bhi yahi bataya… ye lag toh raha hai ki accident hai. Par hai nahi. Ye raha report. Aur dusri.. jaha generator blast hogaya.. wo bhi kuch waisa hi hua hoga…."

Mayur and Ishu nod. Just then KV walks in with Nikhil and Pankaj. Salunkhe explains him the same to them.

KV- "toh humara mujrim engineer hai?"

Just then his phone beeps. He answers the call and speaks to his colleagues…

KV- "guys! Mujrim ka agla target kon hai pata chalgaya! Ye uska aakhri target hai. Dushyant hai waha! Chalo mujrim ko pakadne mei aur uss maasum insaan ko bachane me hum uski madad kare!"

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Everyone nod and they dash off in a car towards a site somewhere near the outskirts. Several stones were being bombed in the quarry. Somewhere a little far away, a man lies limp on the stone, his mouth gagged, hands and legs tied up and a bomb gracing his stomach.

Man- "teri maut main kareeb se dekhna chahta hu.. lekin yaha rehke marna nahi chahta.. 40 seconds bache hai… enjoy your last moments…."

Dushyant, Freddy and Purvi reach the spot. The man spots them and flees the spot.

Dushyant- "Freddy sir, puvri… pakdo usey!"

Purvi- "sir lekin.. ye bomb!?"

Dushyant- "you just go! Main isey neutralize karta hu, jaao!"

Freddy, Purvi chase the man across the quarry. Purvi shoots his leg and the man topples just at the entrance. Just then KV and others reach the spot.

KV captures the man and cuffs him. Rajat is concerned about D-

KV- "Dushyant kaha hai?"

Purvi- "Sir wo… sir.. bomb nuetralize karnewale the! I hope ki wo successful honge sir.. nahi I mean unhe hona hi hai!"

She checks her watch-

Purvi- "oh no! Ab 10 second hi bache hai.. I hope sir ne-"

Ishu frowns as she listens to Purvi- and then she breaks into a run… she runs as fast as she can wanting nothing but to make sure her bhaalu is fine. Just then a huge explosion rocks the place.

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Next -

Kya bhaalu bachega? Kya bhalu-billi ki love story ki happy ending hogi? Well you know the answer! Hehe!

Stay tuned!

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AN: so that was it dosto. Tell me how it is… next chap will be the last!

:D

thank you for loving me and LP sooo much :*

Love you guys :* :*