Ritwik couldn't believe it had happened. After returning home with Kriti after their weekend with the Goyals, they discovered her answering machine brimming with messages, all from Rishabh urgently requesting that Ritwik call him. Kriti anticipated finding a similar inundation on her phone, which had been left behind with a dead battery the night before their departure. Despite charging it overnight before leaving, she decided to leave it at home, prioritizing a phone-free and relaxing getaway weekend.

Even before he dialed the familiar numbers he already knew it had to do something with his father, otherwise Vijaypath would be the one calling. And when Rishabh finally answered Ritwik felt his knees giving up. His father had had a stroke and had been admitted to the hospital for four days already.

He secured a first-class ticket on the next flight to Mumbai, departing in just a couple of hours, forcing him to make a swift dash to the airport. As he finalized the booking over the phone with the airline, Kriti made her way to his bedroom, retrieved his suitcase, and promptly filled it with the clothes from the small duffel bag she had lent him for their planned three-day getaway. Some of the clothes had seen previous use, while others were freshly laundered, a detail that didn't concern her. Without bothering to fold them, she grabbed everything in sight from the closet, tossing as much as she could fit into the suitcase. Their paths crossed in the middle of the hallway.

"The little notebook is here," she said, handing him both the large suitcase and the small object that had also been in the duffel bag.

"Thanks for packing; I need to be at the airport in thirty minutes," he explained, though she was already aware, having overheard his mention of the impending time constraints during the booking process."I'll drive you; Sunday nights usually have light traffic. Let's go," she offered, and they quickly made their way outside.

"Thank you," Ritwik managed to say, fighting back tears. Kriti nodded in response, biting her lip to restrain her own emotions. "Give uncle a hug for me before I get the chance to do it myself," she added, watching Ritwik pull his suitcase with one hand, while tightly clutching his wallet, passport, and Mishti's journal in the other.

It was a little past eight when Ritwik entered the Noon mansion. He had called Rishabh on his way from the airport, and his brother was just about to leave for the hospital. Despite the long journey from the airport to their house and then to the hospital, the brothers had decided to make the trip together.

"Rishu," Ritwik offered as he embraced Rishabh.

"Ricky bhai!" Rishabh replied, already breaking down as they hugged.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through it alone," Ritwik, tears streaming down his face, held his brother even tighter.

"It was a dreadful scene. Towards the end of the day during a meeting, Papa was speaking one moment, and the next, he was on the floor," Rishabh explained, causing Ritwik's guilt to intensify. He shouldn't have entrusted the business to Vijaypath.

Concern etched on his face, Ritwik inquired, "What have the doctors said?" even though Rishabh had already provided the details the day before.

"He needs to rest. Until yesterday, he was on a ventilator, but now he can breathe on his own," Rishabh shared as they finally separated.

"Is there any lasting damage?"

"By Waheguru ji's grace, he isn't paralyzed, but his right side isn't moving well," the younger Noon explained, wiping away some tears, though more continued to flow.

"Is he able to communicate?"

"Yes, he was pleased to learn that you were coming. When you called yesterday, I was still there, even though I was about to leave because he insisted I don't always stay with him. On Friday and Saturday, I spent most of the day there and even stayed overnight, but yesterday he insisted Arohi and I enjoy the rest of our weekend and not worry about him, as he was already stable. You know how stubborn he can be," Rishabh added, offering a faint smile at the remark. However, Ritwik couldn't reciprocate it. The blame for Vijaypath's situation fell squarely on his shoulders. Without overthinking it, he found himself laying fault on Mishti. If she hadn't deceived him, he wouldn't have abandoned his father, and the anger he hadn't felt toward her in a long time surged back forcefully.

"Chal chalte hai papa ke paas, I just need to wash my face and grab a bite," he explained.

"Malti tai ne breakfast banaya hai, aap abhi kha lo. Visitation hours start at 9," Rishabh explained, though it would take about an hour for them to get from their house to the hospital in the morning rush hour.

The two brothers didn't talk much as they headed to see their father. Ritwik asked a few questions about the company, trying to understand if there was a crisis or something that could have contributed to Vijaypath's stroke. However, the doctor seemed to believe stress wasn't the primary factor. Vijaypath had a condition he had hidden from them for almost a year. The day he returned from the hospital and met Arohi and Mishti at his house was the day the doctor advised him to avoid most of the things he loved to eat and consumed daily. He wasn't willing to live his life as if he were already dead, fully aware of the potential consequences. While he could have had a heart attack, he never expected to suffer a stroke.

Although it eased Ritwik's conscience, he realized that working so hard again wasn't conducive to Vijaypath's health. His thoughts turned back to Mishti with even more resentment than before.

"Main chalunga aapke saath par jyada der nahi rukunga. Ab aap aa gaye ho na toh main apna pending kaam complete kar lunga," Rishabh offered, wanting to prepare his father to see Ritwik again. He wasn't supposed to deal with great emotions and he knew his father would be emotional by seeing Ritwik after so many months.

"Main wapis company main apni position sambhalunga jitni jaldi ho sake, tu apni padai par dhayan de," Ritwik explained.

"Ricky bhai mera college khatam ho chuka hai, last year mera senior year tha, main aaj kal papa ke saath company main kaam kar raha hoon," Rishabh explained and Ritwik felt like he had been stabbed. He didn't realize he had missed his only brother's college graduation because he was somewhere else feeling sorry for himself.

"I'm sorry I missed it, Rishu," he said with deep sorrow but Rishabh offered one of his broad and sincere smiles, "You needed a break, Ritwik bhai. I'm happy you're finally here and I hope you feel better now than when you left," he offered and Ritwik only nodded. That was a subject he would avoid at least for now. Talking about his pain and the time he spent away was the last thing on his mind now. It was all that consumed his days but his father could be dying soon and everything else faded into the background of his mind.

Rishabh had been inside for twenty minutes at most when he called Ritwik to join him. The three Noon had a brief moment of silent tears before Ritwik reached for his father in the inclined stretcher and hugged him carefully so as not to squeeze him too tight.

"I'll come back by lunchtime," Rishabh announced before leaving the room.

"I'm sorry Papa, I wasn't here for you," Ritwik said avoiding looking at his father while he sat in the nearby chair.

"There was nothing you could have done, Ricky," Vijaypath's voice was uncharacteristically weak and soft and the younger man had a hard time dealing with it. Vijaypath was a strong man, the strongest man Ritwik had known, and seeing him look so vulnerable and small was heartbreaking.

"You could have died thinking I hated you," he finally looked at his father who held a paternal expression on his face while he moved his tired hand to Ritwik's.

"I knew you didn't hate me, Ricky, but if you didn't forgive me for what happened, it's understandable. I would never judge you," he offered but Ritwik shook his head.

"But I wouldn't be able to live with the guilt," the usual light of his eyes gave place to a deep and dark brown that reflected the sorrow and sadness he felt.

"Then it's a good thing that I didn't die and don't plan on doing so any time soon," Vijaypath tried to cheer his son up. It was painful to see Ritwik like that. He knew those eyes too well. He knew the last time he looked like that. And the time before. Ritwik never learned how to deal with loss and that was one more reason for him to be worried about his oldest son.

"I shouldn't have left. I should have stayed and faced it like a man, as you did. When we lost Mumma, you didn't retreat; you confronted the pain, and stayed strong for Rishabh and me, even though you were hurting and barely holding yourself together," Ritwik expressed, his voice tinged with anger. He berated himself for his perceived weakness and selfishness.

"You didn't leave because of Pragati; you left because of Mishti, and that's a valid reason. You needed to organize your thoughts and emotions before confronting us," Vijaypath suggested.

When Ritwik remained silent, his father sensed that things hadn't progressed as expected after so many months. "Did you, Ricky? Do you feel any better about everything?"

"It's behind me, Papa, but I don't want to see her or even talk about her," he responded promptly.

"Seeing her wouldn't be a possibility anyway," Vijaypath stated, getting to the point. The truth was, he wasn't as confident as his doctors about his condition. He didn't know if he would be around much longer. He believed their assurance that he would be released in a few days, but when he asked Dr. Pramod about the chances of it happening again, he knew it wouldn't be long until he was reunited with Mamta in heaven.

"What?" Ritwik couldn't hide his shock. Did something happen to Mishti too? Since his conversation with Kriti, he had contemplated the idea of meeting Mishti again. Although he had thought about the possibility before, it never crossed his mind that he might not be able to see Mishti if he wanted to. The revelation from his father caused his heart to skip a few beats.

"She left without a trace," Vijaypath clarified, and color slowly returned to Ritwik's face.

"What do you mean she left without a trace?" Ritwik asked, feeling half relieved that nothing had happened, yet also concerned that something might have occurred, leaving them in the dark. Then, a pang of unexpected pain struck his heart. Maybe he would never see her again, and the realization caused him profound and unexpected distress.

"About a couple of months after Pragati's death she informed both her parents that she was leaving and that she would come back someday but that for a while she was the one needing some time of her own, alone. Kunal and Nandini were both devastated and they had no idea why she decided to do it all of a sudden. Nandini was distraught because she feared for Mishti being alone somewhere else. The first time Mishti ever left Kolkata was when she came here. She didn't know if Mishti could survive living all by herself elsewhere. She considered Mishti too fragile and inexperienced as she was before all of this happened and she was sure the situation Kunal created didn't help with anything. She grew more worried when Mishti informed them that maybe she would need years rather than months. Kunal was also worried and decided to give her some funds she was supposed to receive only when she was twenty-four. Mishti reluctantly accepted it and since then they haven't heard from her again," his father informed him and Ritwik took a little while to process everything he had just learned.

"But it's been months since Pragati died... doesn't anyone have news on her?"

"To be honest, she called me a couple of times from phone booths and that's all we know from her," Vijaypath watched his son closely. Ritwik didn't even try to hide his concern about Mishti and it somehow comforted the elder.

"From where?" Ritwik instantly asked.

"She doesn't want to be found, Ritwik, I never investigated the phone number," his father admitted and it was the truth. Mishti trusted him with a lot of things. The fact that she called him and not her parents showed him that he was the only person she was counting on. If she didn't want to be found he wasn't going to disrespect her wish.

"But I'm sure Kunal uncle would want to know and check by himself if she's okay," Ritwik argued back slightly irritated by his father's position about this.

"Why do you care?"

"I don't. I don't care at all about her. But what she did to me haunts me every day. It should haunt her too. She left me a journal to let me know the truth. She never faced me. She deserves to know she broke me and it would comfort me to know she's just as much miserable," Ritwik spoke with bitterness and his father barely recognized his son. Ritwik didn't know why he was saying those things. He wasn't ready to see Mishti, although the thought of never seeing her again caused him pain. He didn't want to have hope. He didn't want to give her a second chance. Except that that was exactly what he wanted and he fought that desire the best he could.

"You're not the son I raised and you sound quite stupid now too. That girl loved you more than Pragati would ever be able to, Ritwik, whether you like it or not, she was the only one who truly cared about you and she was a victim of her father's pain. It's about time you shut the fuck up and listen to me. You didn't let me talk when you left and never looked back but now you'll listen to me," Vijaypath nearly raised his voice slightly. Still, to his weak body it was as if he was yelling his lungs off but before he could continue a nurse entered the room to give him his medicine and check his vitals and she didn't like what she saw.

"Mr. Noon, your heartbeat rate is increasing and it's not recommendable for you to go through... emotions right now," she stopped mid-sentence and decided to use a milder word as she sent a glare to Ritwik. She was about to enter the room when another nurse briefly talked to her and they could listen to Ritwik's loud voice and then Vijaypath's exasperated one she knew they were probably arguing but she preferred not to say it clearly. "Emotions and stress are dangerous for you now, so maybe this gentleman could come back later," she suggested but Vijaypath who was then feeling a little weaker shook his head.

"I have to talk to my son while I can still do it. If that costs my life, then let it be," he breathed out and one of the machines went off.

"I'm out of here," Ritwik announced but his father called him back. There was no way he was going to see his father risking his wellness because of Mishti. She was the reason he was there in the first place, he wouldn't allow her to be the reason for his father never coming back home.

"Don't you dare to leave, you son of a bitch, I said you're going to listen to me and that's what you're going to do. I may be a dying man but I'm still your father and you owe me respect," Vijaypath said before leaning against the stretcher. Having the ventilator on him for two days was the worst feeling he ever had but not knowing if he could keep breathing on his own was even worse.

"That woman took advantage of her sister's death; will she now cause my own father's?"

"Stop saying bullshit, Ritwik, if someone is nearly giving me a heart attack that would be you! Don't be stubborn. Sit down and listen to me," Vijaypath turned to the nurse and nodded while she managed the medicine in his IV bag.

"I'm going to call the doctor," the nurse announced when she finished taking notes on Vijaypath's file.

"You're doing no such thing, you'll let Dr. Pramod know that I'm a little bit stressed and ask him to prescribe me something so I don't die in the next ten minutes... and you" he turned to Ritwik "will sit down and listen to what your father has to say," his tone was much softer then and he was pleading with his eyes for Ritwik to stay.

Neither he nor the nurse objected and while the last thing Ritwik wanted was to hear about Mishti he knew he couldn't afford to say no to his father and stress him out even more.

"Do you trust my judgment son?" Vijaypath asked a few moments later when he felt like he was breathing better.

"I don't know if I should when you're willing to die because of a heart attack to talk to me about something that happened almost one year ago," Ritwik cupped his head in his hands, looking exhausted.

"That doesn't answer my question, Ritwik. But let me change it a little bit for you, do you trust me?"

"Yes."

"You know I'd never do anything to hurt you and there's nothing I want more in my life than for you and Rishabh to be happy," the honesty in his father's words would have reassured him but he already knew that. Vijaypath had always been a loving father, even when Ritwik thought Rishabh was his favorite. He knew his father wanted the best for him and hearing those words made him even more emotional.

"I know, Papa," he offered a sincere but small smile back to his old man.

"That girl could make you happy like your mother made me the happiest man on Earth. I witnessed her pain, Ritwik. Both Kunal and I offered her an out from the position she was in. I know she only agreed to this because of Kunal. He asked her to come to Mumbai and pretend to be Pragati not because he wanted you to marry Mishti thinking it was Pragati but because he was so desperate that he wanted to believe that the daughter he had always had by his side was still there. The shock soon wore down enough for him to realize what a big mistake he had made and the first thing he did was to come to me and tell me the whole truth. We had a very honest conversation and I knew where he was coming from. I know how lost I would feel if I was ever about to lose you or Rishabh. You have no idea what losing a child does to a father. It's a pain that can't be comparable to any other... except maybe losing the woman who gave you them in the first place," Vijaypath stopped for a while and tried to get himself together. Ever since he was conscious again he couldn't stop thinking about Mamta, about finally meeting her again, yet he knew his sons, especially the older one still needed him but still he couldn't avoid thinking about meeting her.

"Papa," his voice was filled with deep concern when he realized Vijaypath was emotional not because of Mishti but because of his mother. He raised his hand and took another moment before speaking again.

"After I talked to Kunal I talked to Mishti and I didn't know what to expect. But it didn't take five minutes for me to find out how extraordinary and selfless that girl was. She was willing to do anything for her father and he should be the only person she should keep in mind because he was her only family... and even though he was family it never really felt like it because she lived twenty-three years without even hearing his voice. Maybe another time I can tell about how Pragati and Mishti are twins and the story behind their birth but that's not important now. Any other girl could have said no to the man who was never a father to her but only to her sister. But she didn't. And most girls would care strictly about Kunal but that's not Mishti for you. Even before she developed any feelings for you she was concerned about you. She was concerned about her parents too but I was touched by how worried she was about you and how the prospect of having you hurt brought her pain. Think straightly Ricky. That girl owed you nothing. She did what her father asked her to do and she could drop her role and never let you know a word about it. But she said she couldn't live with that lie, that she couldn't look in the mirror and see the liar she became. She needed to clear her conscience from deceiving you even if that meant earning your hate. I suspect that it was more than just her morals but also a way for her to punish herself for the lies she told you. She didn't need you to think everything you're thinking about her now and I even warned her that I knew you too well to know you'd never forgive her but she didn't change her mind. I had my desperate father moment when I suggested she break up with you and wait a few weeks before letting you know that Pragati was in a deep coma but she didn't accept it. She thought you'd hurt twice and that nothing would make you love Pragati less in a few weeks, maybe not even months, and that she would never agree to hurt you more than you would already be by the loss of your fiancée. I was trying to look out for you because I knew losing Pragati would be the last straw to the disaster that was waiting to happen since we lost Mamta. I was doing my job as your father even if my decision was as poor as Kunal's and Mishti didn't have to look out for you and think about what was best for you but still, she did and made it clear to me that I wouldn't be able to change her mind. Of course, I realized then that my idea was indeed horrible but even if I didn't, she wouldn't have it. She cried Ritwik, she cried days and nights because she was going to hurt you, because you were going to hurt because of Pragati's death. I know she also cried because she was losing the man she fell in love with but that wasn't what made it worse. When you truly love someone and you purposefully hurt them it hurts more on you than on them and I witnessed her pain. Arohi did her best to try to make her forgive herself and to move on but she wouldn't. Her first concern was her parents and you. She did the best she could to comfort them but she told me it ate her from the inside to know that there was nothing she could do to help you with yours and how she hated herself for knowing that she only made it worse. She gave you what she had never given to anyone Ritwik and that was more than her heart and body. You have no idea what she gave to you the night before they turned those machines off and Pragati died."

Ritwik didn't show any reaction to his father's speech except for looking a little embarrassed when he realized his father knew he had sex with Mishti.

"She was guarding it for the man she would spend the rest of her life with, she was guarding herself for her wedding night. She had a fiancé that she gave up on when her father called, Ritwik. She's a beautiful, smart, and lovely woman, I have to believe she had many chances to sleep with her fiancé or any other man before him but she resisted. She confessed to me she never planned to have sex with you but still she allowed it to happen. She could have stopped you but she didn't, Ritwik, because she loved you and she wanted to have that with you, even if it was against one of her deepest beliefs," He knew it wasn't something Ritwik would feel comfortable talking about. He never really understood how Mishti had been able to have that conversation with him but he wondered if it was perhaps easier to talk to him instead of Kunal or Nandini.

"We never had the sex talk, I'd appreciate it if we don't start now, especially about her, not after all the damage she caused," Ritwik answered tiredly. His father wasn't helping his already tormented soul. The anger was subsiding and he was starting to admit it wasn't rational to blame his father's condition on Mishti. She did nothing to cause that. He decided to flee and leave the business to his father and brother to manage.

"I hope you'll leave your love for Pragati behind you at some point and I hope you'll fall in love with another girl and that she'll fall in love with you but if I could choose, if I could make a prayer now and have the certainty that Waheguru ji would grant me what I ask, all I could ask was this woman to love you as Mishti loved you. I would never ask for this girl to be her because I don't have a right to make such prayer, but I'd leave in peace knowing that both of my sons found honorable and respectable women who loved them how they deserved," Vijaypath was emotional once again and the machine promptly let Ritwik know that but what could he do? It wasn't as if he could make his father stop feeling what he was feeling even if they changed subjects and he wasn't sure changing subjects wouldn't be stressful to Vijaypath. He didn't know if his father was done or not and he wouldn't ask because he was barely keeping his emotions in check at that point.

"Is that what you think? Why do you think she loved me so much?" Ritwik asked. He didn't think Mishti shared with his father what she shared with him through her journal. He moved his hand to his jacket and felt the hardcover of the small notebook in his inner pocket. No, his father wouldn't have any idea of those words and still, he was convinced that Mishti loved him like no one else could.

"Because I knew the real Mishti, Ritwik, you never did although the woman with you had always been her, even if all you could see was Pragati," the old man offered a longing smile and Ritwik knew he was thinking about Mamta.

They were silent for several minutes. Ritwik wanted to correct his father. He knew the real Mishti. Her words made him see things he didn't know but it wasn't them that showed him who she was. They just proved that his impressions about her while they were together weren't wrong. Spending those weeks with her showed him the real Mishti, the woman he fell in love with. He only wished that was something he could tell his father. Telling Kriti was easier because Kriti wasn't there, she didn't meet Mishti, and she wasn't part of that horrible plan. Admitting his feelings to his father would make it much more real. Was he ready for it? Wasn't it what he was still avoiding? Why make it even harder? He was almost convinced it would be impossible to keep ignoring what he and Mishti felt for each other and more than ever Kriti's words resounded in his head. He needed to face Mishti but he needed to be ready for it. But how could he be ready for her if he wasn't ready for his father? Hearing those words from the man he trusted the most in the world already set his heart and mind in a crazy rhythm. He was so conflicted and it hurt and unsettled him so much. He didn't know how to react.

"What did she want to say when she called you? Why didn't she call her parents?" Ritwik changed the subject. He was also curious to know about her now that he knew she wasn't around either.

"Because she felt like she owed me explanations when she couldn't give them to you, she wanted to explain her actions and she asked me to talk about it with you when the right time came. She also asked me a favor and advice," Vijaypath clarified and it made Ritwik even more uncomfortable. He was so tired of lies and mysteries. He just wanted to know the whole truth, to have her be straight about everything but if she still kept secrets and maybe hidden agendas he wasn't sure he would ever be able to pass over what happened between them.

"Advice on what?"

"On something that she preferred to trust me rather than her parents and I won't break her trust in me," his father avoided looking at him when he answered and Ritwik noticed it. Could his father be plotting with her again? He knew Vijaypath would only try to make him happy but the plans they had before hurt him beyond repair and he wanted to let his father know it but he knew the moment wasn't opportune.

"Can I ask you a question and would you honestly think about it before you answer me, even if you can't answer me now?" Ritwik offered a few minutes later.

"Of course, Ricky puttar."

"Are you sure about her? Are you sure she didn't deceive you like she deceived me?" Ritwik voiced one of the biggest fears in his heart. Most of the time he was able to silence the insistent voice that kept saying Mishti was a liar because she had accepted what her father suggested. Every time he thought about ever having a chance to be with her, this fear consumed his heart and he was insecure and afraid of being miserable again.

"I don't need time to think, Ritwik. She gave me enough proof about it in ways you can't imagine and I wish I could tell you about it but I can't," Vijaypath once again avoided Ritwik and before the young man had time to think straight, he was asking the question he wanted to avoid. He didn't want to unsettle his father. "Is she lying again?"

"No, she's not lying, Ritwik," and Ritwik wished his father had been more convicted in his statement.

"Is she planning something? Why you can't tell me everything?"

"Because that's a conversation the two of you should have, not you and me," and this time he faced his son and Ritwik knew it was the truth.

He stayed silent thinking over what his father said when a crazy idea popped into his mind.

"She didn't get pregnant, did she? Is she hiding a pregnancy from me?" Ritwik asked exasperatedly.

"No, Ritwik, of course not. That's what I'm trying to say, aren't you listening? Mishti is not that girl. She isn't the girl who deceives you, who pretends to be her sister for her benefit, or who hides babies from their father," Vijaypath answered indignantly

"She hurt me a lot, Papa. I can't find it inside of me to forgive her," Ritwik confessed somewhat reassured by his father's latest words.

"I can't convince you to forgive her, Ritwik. I just want you to know the truth... Mishti loves you as your mother loved me and lying to you hurt her as much as losing Pragati although they never met each other, the tears she shed for her sister were painful, and from the bottom of her heart as much as the many she shed for you and because of you."

"It could have been her... the woman I was desperately looking for, the woman I dreamed of. Maybe that was fate's twisted way to let me know about her but that's too twisted even for me to accept," Ritwik let a frustrated and cynical laugh out of his lips.

"I know puttar and that's just... sad and unfair, to both of you, now can I ask you a question?"

Ritwik only nodded and Vijaypath never saw his son so helpless, like the little boy he was while they lived in more difficult conditions. The boy who wanted fancy and expensive gifts but who also knew he couldn't have them. And when it was too hard for him not to, he would finally ask for his parents, and with their hearts broken in their chests, Vijaypath and Mamta would say they couldn't. Ritwik would only smile and thank but the sadness and the lack of hope in his eyes was so heartbroken for a three-year-old and even more to his parents. As an adult, Ritwik was fierce, strong, and determined but the man sitting by his dying father's hospital bed looked so vulnerable and that was the only reason why Vijaypath was going to ask that question. He already knew the answer to the question itself but whether or not Ritwik would admit it would answer the real question to which Vijaypath had no idea of the answer.

"Did you fall for her too? Do you love or did you love Mishti, the real woman, not the Pragati of your dreams?"

Ritwik took his time to answer. He moved his hand to the internal side of his jacket and took the small notebook. He stroked it with his finger and thought about the many words he read there, in all sections. He remembered many of those things and occasions. Everything was still very vivid in his head even ten months later. And the answer couldn't be more clear.

"With every inch of me."