In 1999, Harry and Aayat again meet in Edinburgh. Aayat has been staying there for the past seven years, after losing her relative in the 1993 Bombay bombings, and Harry has been sent there by the Indian Air Force on a special assignment. In London, they again grow closer, prompting Aayat's family to fix her marriage with Harry. Aayat later invites Harry over to her place. On the day of the visit, however, the Kargil War breaks out, and Harry is immediately recalled to India. On arrival, Harry is posted with a Mirage 2000 Squadron in Jodhpur. Meanwhile, Aayat's father passes away, forcing her entire family to relocate from London back to Mallukot. Aayat and Harry both try to contact each other but fail. Harry is later deployed to the Adampur Air Base (Gwalior Air Base in reality), where he is attached with No. 7 Squadron "Battleaxes". Aayat goes to Ahmedabad and from there returns to London. In order to dislodge the enemy from Tiger Hill, Indian Air Force resorts to heavy aerial bombardment. Harry is selected to lead a special bombing mission over Tiger Hill. The mission is successful but Harry's aircraft malfunctions, causing him to crash-land. Harry's left arm becomes semi-paralyzed, requiring two months to recover. Aayat, meanwhile, has left London. She stays with Akram, a family friend's son, in New York, while her aunt has returned to Ahmedabad. Two months later, while Harry is in Switzerland for the birth of his nephew, he is convinced by Pammo not to let go of Aayat. He goes in search of her and realizes that she is in New York. However while travelling in a train in Switzerland, Harry spots Aayat with Akram and his son. Mistakenly believing that Aayat is married, he begins to feel that all hope is lost, and decides to completely forget her. Terrorists bomb New York WTC Towers on 11 September 2001. As a result of these attacks there is a sudden surge in hate Crimes against Muslims in USA and Europe, prompting Akram and Aayat to return to Ahmedabad. Coincidentally, Harry is also in Ahmedabad for his friend's wedding. Aayat decides to forget Harry and marry Akram. However, in 2002 when the wedding is about to take place, Ahmedabad is engulfed in Riots. Aayat runs for her safety and is saved by Harry, who is also hiding.