Boston, USA

"Seems like prince charming is on the way to take our princess away."

Miley's words and the coincidental flower bouquet landing on her hands made everything freeze around her. Her gaze shifted to and fro in between Miley and Liam. Both were having the same type of smile. Immediately shoving the bouquet in Miley's hands Radhica stuttered with a low tone.

"No... No....see it's in your hand only. I..I... No ... Prince charming..."

Looking at her trembling voice Miley hugged her and spoke in a soothing tone.

"Relax no one would force you in getting married until you are ready."

While patting her back she gestured for Liam to hug her also. Now being sandwiched between two love birds Radhica finally spoke with fake anger.

"Hey, don't suffocate me."

"Dear, we just love you." Both replied together.

"Yeah, I can see that. By making me feel like a sandwich."

Three of them laughed together and walked towards the exit. Jena's parents invited them to the Gala organized in the late evening. Assuring them about their arrival Radhica walked away. This was the first time she took initiative to attend the invitation and Miley couldn't help but appreciate her growth.

"My Indian queen is learning fast to move forward."

"Yes, as long as I am given strength by you too. But not too fast to think of marriage"

"Don't worry Liam said until you are ready, anybody coming with a marriage proposal will be beaten up by him only."

Radhica giggled hearing such a hilarious statement and they moved together to their apartment. As soon as she reached there she saw a small sticky note pasted on her doorframe.

"Miss you."

Looking at the broken handwriting she understood the owner of such note. As a small smile erupted on her lips Miley's words reached her ears.

"Here comes again. The love of Radhica's life. Girl, why don't you just shift in his house? Ian can't even stay a day away from you."

"I know. But don't have the courage to start a new marriage."

"It's ok. Live the way you want."

Miley left for her apartment which was just above Radhica's floor. Radhica entered her room to freshen up a bit before going to Austin's house.

It was Ian's habit of leaving notes for her on her doorframe. If Radhica stayed away from him for a long time he would come here with Austin to leave a note. Though according to Ian, staying away for long implies not showing up for four hours. That's why most of the time she rushed back to Austin's house after coming back from university. Sometimes she continued her study while keeping Ian's sleeping figure on her lap. Austin told Ian a lot of time to let her study peacefully but he would always come up with something. One day he said he would be sleeping in Radhica's lap only because he had seen beautiful dreams last time. Sometimes Radhica just needed to place him beside her and continue her work. Not a single time he was ready to leave her.

Radhica rushed back to Austin's house and as soon as the door opened a running little deer jumped on her. She used to call Ian little deer because of his unexpected running speed at that early age.

"How was the wedding?" Austin asked her while she was busy taking Ian in her lap.

"Pretty good. I will be joining the Gala in the evening too."

"Wow. Nice improvement. So......."

"Still I am not thinking of marrying again...." Saying that Radhica gave a big smile and entered the dining room. Austin laughed and said,

"Great choice. Men will die to have a woman like you in their life, who would be taking all the responsibility without being married."

If he wasn't a senior professor Radhica might have thrown a jug at him. But she just gave a small punch on his biceps and spoke.

"Hey Bhagwan Inka main kya karu"

(Oh God, What would I do with him?)

As her mother tongue took over Austin rolled his eyes and asked,

"Did you just use a big slang?"

"Yes. Go and ask your Alexa about it."

Radhica's mocking tone resonated in the entire room when Ian pulled her cheeks while resting on her lap.

"I want to learn your language."

"Of course dear. Then we both would irritate your father together."

Hearing that Ian started clapping while giggling. Austin was looking at them with affection filled in his eyes.

Radhica started listening to Ian's long day's story. He got this habit of speaking everything he did on a particular day. As things were going at their pace Austin looked at the watch and cleared his throat.

"You would be late if you don't leave for the Gala. I will take Ian now."

Ian was still swirling in her lap and was playing with her hair. Radhica managed to convince him that she would be coming back soon and came out of the house. Austin asked her if she needed to be picked up from the Gala. She assured him by saying that Miley and Liam would be there to drop her. Giving a flying kiss to Ian she came back to her apartment to get ready. Austin's house was just across the road. Sometimes she feels what if she marries again. With Ian and Austin, things look so perfect. But again something stopped her on her track. Why can't she just take a step forward? Is that because of her fear or the love she is still harvesting for Abhimanyu? No way, she can never think of loving him again.

"I hate you Abhimanyu Awasthi."

She shouted looking at her reflection in the mirror. Splashing some water on her face she brought out a blue long gown to wear. She knew within no time Miley would be barging in to make her party-ready. As Radhica was never a girl with some good experience of make-up or dressing sense, Miley used to be there to help. But the twist was somewhere else. Miley looks less feminine and she is a basketball player too. Miley always used to bring her one make queen friend Ashley for such a job. Sometimes Liam pokes her by saying that if Ashley wouldn't be there to help her to put on minimal event-ready dresses and make-up, he would have died seeing her in sports shorts only.

As she was pulling the dress up the doorbell rang. Opening the door she invited Ashley and Miley. As they both were helping her to get ready Ashley spoke something,

"My god girl, I envy your hair. It's so long and wavy. So good."

Radhica just smiled hearing that. Her mind went back in flashbacks of four years ago. It was almost one year after their marriage. One day Radhica was busy in her room while studying. Abhimanyu called her a few times but she was late in giving a response. The next moment he barged into her room and looked fiercely at her. Flinching at her place she stammered to speak but eventually, he gestured her to be silent. Taking some predatory steps towards her he hissed in his raging voice.

"Don't you even know how to answer?"

"I... I am sorry." That's all she could say at that time. Unfortunately, she was so engrossed with her study that she didn't hear him calling for her. The very next moment with a harsh pull he grabbed her hair and gave a tug making it loosen up to spread all over her back. Her hair was almost reaching her waist. Immediately she took a few steps back but the length of hair in his hand didn't allow her to move further. Holding the long hair in his grip, he took the scissors from the study table and held them near her neck with an approach of cutting them down. Radhica's eyes widened and her lips parted seeing his action.

"It would take hardly a few seconds to destroy what you have. I won't mind cutting the entire length you have." His smirk and his words both seemed dangerous to her.

"No please." Radhica's sob was loud yet trembling. Abhimanyu knew she liked long hair and that was the reason she had kept that so long. Her wavy long thick hair looks nice on her.

"I hope you understand now." He smirked as he finished spatting his words.

"Yes." Her sobs turned into hiccups.

Throwing the scissors away Abhimanyu gave a final pull and released her hair from his grip. Her long curls scattered all over her back and front. Leaving the crying mess behind Abhimanyu left the room.

Even today whenever Radhica thought of that incident she shivered a lot. Abhimanyu might not have physically tortured her a lot but his behavior and his threats were always more painful. He always hated her and humiliated her to some extent. He didn't cut down her hair that day but it could have been done easily. His words were almost on the verge of transforming into action.

"Hey what are you thinking?" Miley elbowed her seeing her lost in thoughts.

"Nothing as such." She lied and smiled.

After twenty more minutes, they got ready and came out of the apartment. Liam arrived in his car and they sat inside. As their gossip was running on and Liam was getting bored while seated with girls. So he decided to barge in.

"Hey, any plan for the upcoming semester break?"

"No, not at all," Radhica replied to Liam's question.

"We are thinking if you could take us to India to show us the Tajmahal. Heard it comes under seven wonders of the world."

Hearing the word India only Radhica's face became pale. She never had a plan to go there, where her past lives. Though she has not received the citizenship of the USA, she thought of pursuing further studies here only. What's the point of going to a place where no one is present for her? She left every relation, every contact point there. Before she could say more Miley hit the back of Liam's head with her palm by saying,

"D**khead always finds a way to spoil the mood."

"I am sorry Radhica. Let's plan for Canada. We would visit that place." Liam understood the scenario and immediately regretted his suggestion or throw off his words.

"It's ok. Someday we would visit together. Don't worry. Of course, I just cannot ignore my motherland in that way."

Hearing that note from Radhica Miley smiled widely. At least she was recovering and enjoying her life. At least she was not blaming her for her past incidents.

Reaching the Gala they congratulated the newly wedded couple again and started having normal chit-chats. Lots of students and a few professors had arrived too. As Miley was poking Radhica to have some drinks she was continuously ignoring the fact. Even in her three years of college days, she had never drunk. But after joining UMass Lowell and after being with Miley a few times she had tried. But on the first day after being drunk she lost her common senses. Thanks to Miley that she was able to handle her. Being tipsy at the beginning she started sobbing by reciprocating her pain with Miley. But with time Radhica finally lost her self-control and started crying over her broken marriage. It was barely three or four months after her divorce so the wound was fresh. Heating about her nuisance on the next day she jumped on Miley's feet by saying sorry. Miley couldn't help but laughing remembering those funny moments also. Since then Radhica ignored alcohol but sometimes within a limit, she did have. As currently, Miley was pushing too much Radhica took a glass of wine. Liam joined them too and three of them were talking to other people also. After some time they moved for dinner. Liam and Miley were talking to someone when Radhica was putting some food items on her plate. During that short period, a familiar accent came to her notice. Someone was talking to one of the caterer people over something near her. As the voice seemed familiar and old to her ears she snapped her head only to find a long silhouette standing in front. His back was facing her so she couldn't recognize the man. But his voice seemed quite similar to her ears. She felt like she had heard that voice somewhere. With some small steps, she walked towards the man. Before she could clear her throat to grab the attention of the man, abruptly he turned and faced Radhica. Both of them got shocked seeing each other at that time, at that place. Both of their tongues produced the same word at the same time.

"You?"