Veer brought Bani to closest safe haven he knew of, his cabin just by the woods. His dad had made this for him at the spot where he took his first flight and later trained. This place was just a few miles away from the family's farmhouse but Veer preferred the privacy of his cottage. He entered through the balcony and slowly lowered Bani on the bed.

He tried to part away but noticed her hands have unconsciously clenched on his clothes. He lowered himself again and tried to pry her hands off him. Unlike with all other females, this time he didn't want to remove the delicate fingers. He felt a deep connection that he couldn't place his finger on. He noticed the wound on her neck. It hurt him that he was a cause of it. He quickly went into the washroom and got a wet towel to clean the wound.

Veer slowly cleaned her wounds, she winced in her unconscious state. This made him sad. He was also confused about why he felt such. Post cleaning her wound, he applied an ointment and lowered his face to study Bani's face.

Veer slowly studied every inch of her face, trying to recall if he has ever seen her before, if they met somewhere much before the recent events. As he was studying her face, he got really close to her face. He could count her lashes if he wanted to. He studied her angelic face. He took a whiff and he sweet scent invaded his nose.

Veer's heart felt at peace. He had had only a very few interactions with her and none of it was soulful conversation. Yet, he felt as if his very soul had entwined with hers, like she was his, his soul mate.

V: mujhe nahi pata ye kya ho raha hai...kyu ho raha hai?..pr jo bhi hai, accha hai...tum khass ho mere liye, bohot khass...kyun ka jawab to shayad mere pass bhi nahi hai...

He caressed her head and whispered sweetheart. Bani's eyes fluttered a little and Veer looked up to her. She shivered slightly and he noticed the Goosebumps on her skin. He went and closed the balcony and went to the cupboard to get her a blanket.

............................

J: kya?!....ladkiyan bhaagi kaise?

M: pata nahi yarr!...shop pr bhi chapa maar diya hai kissi ne...truck blast krwaya tha pr wahan bhi kaffi ladkiyan bach gayi...shyd pehle hi utar gayi thi..

J: ye ho kya raha hai...vo ladki jisse mai laya tha, vo bhi bhaag gayi..

M: WHAT? Kaise?

J: chill amt...vo mai thodi der ke liye bahar gaya tha, wapis aaya toh dekha gayab hai..

M: ab?

J: ab kya? Underground ho jaa...dekh business tera tha...tu phasega..

M: aur tu?

J: mai to sirf client hoon..mera chod apna dekh..

M: Jai beta?

Jai cut the call and looks at Mandakini.

J: Masi?

M: haan..aja, khaana kha le..

J: haan..ata hoon..aap kahan se aa rahi ho..

M: Sheetal ke ghar gayi thi, usse pota hua hai na...

J: oh..okay..kon Sheetal?

M: apne neighbours Jai! Tujhe kuch pata hai apne ass pados ka?

J: chodo na masi..khana laga do..

Mandakini rolled her eyes and went.

J: (thinks) pr ye ladki gayi kahan)

Mandakini went towards the kitchen and recalled how she had sent the girl at her friend's house, Sheetal. She will nurse the girl and send her to safe place once she tells them who she is.

M: (thinks) aur kya kyar krte ho tum Jai? Kahin ye sb meri wajah se toh nahi ho raha?

...........................

Bani woke up and rubbed her forehead. She also felt that her neck was rather stiff. Groaning, she got up and rubbed her neck only to find a gooey thing on her hand. She sniffed and realized she was in an unknown place. She gulped in fear.

Veer entered the room with a blanket. Bani got up from the bed immediately.

B: TUM? KON HO? MUJHE YAHAN KYU LAYE HO?

V: hey hey...calm down sweetheart...tumhe chot lagi thi..

B: TUM SHAMIL HO NA UN SB ME...VO-VO LADKIYAN KAHAN HAI?...AUR MAI YAHAN KAISE..TUM MERE SAT-?

V: SHUT UP!..(calms down) shut up sweetheart, relax! Breathe!

B: tum kon ho?...wahi hona jo do din se mujhse takra rahe they..mujhe laga itefaq tha

V: itegaq nahi..shazish hai..humari kismat hume millana chahti hai..

B: what-

V: nonsense? Nonsense nahi hai..please pehle shant hokr baitho, let me talk..

Bani frowned but somehow she felt she could trust him. She sat down.

B: wahin se baat karo...pass mt aana..

Veer understood her turmoil and calmed down. He sat on the couch.

V: I was nearby when I heard the blast. I saw you falling off the cliff and pulled you up. You were injured so I got you here.

B: aur vo ladkiyan?

V: Police aayi thi wahan...sb wahin hai..

B: tum mujhe wahan se kyu le aaye..

V: maine to tumhari vo dost, kya naam tha..Arya..usse bhi bhej diya..

B: tum uska naam kaise jaante ho...sach sach bolo..

V: uff!...suno pehle.

Flashback

Veer was nursing Bani when her phone rang. He pulled her phone out of her kurti pocket and picked it up. He thought it must be her family and would be worried. Arya panicked on hearing a male voice but Veer calmed her down and made her understand. He asked Arya to make him talk to a policeman who reached the store.

Flashback ends

V: vo saari ladkiyan ya toh nursing home me hai aur jo injured nahi hai vo ek NGO ke pass hai..tumhe mai yahan le aya aur tumhari dost se bhi ghar jaane kaha kyunki ye trafficking ka mamla hai...isme bade log jude hote hai...expose krne wale se badla lene ke liye kuch bhi kr skte hai

Bani nodded in understanding. She thanked Veer for helping her. Veer smiled at her. Her own smile broke involuntarily, their hearts fluttered.

Dil ibadat kr raha hai

Dhadkane meri sun

The music pierced their heart and they were lost in each others' eyes

Tujhko mai kr loon hasil

Lagi hai yahi dhun

A flash of Nageshwari hugging Akesh post he saved her flashed before their eyes. They both frowned.

Jo bhi jeetne pal jiyun

Unhe tere sang jiyun

Jo bhi sa-

Bani frowned.

V: aise kya dekh rahi ho? Tumhara phone baj raha tha...abhi call cut gaya..

Bani's eyes widened and she hurriedly took her phone to see a miss call from her Mayank.

B: excuse me-

V: hmm... (he also blushed slightly)

B: bol Bandar..

M: kahan hai?

B: tujhse mtlb?

M: Bani mai serious hoon..

B: oh shit!..konse hospital me..

M: yaarrr!!...badi maa aap hi baat kro apni beti se..

B: band-

Bh: Bani...kahan hai? Aur kyun Mayank se aise baat krti hai..

B: Maa vo..vo mai..Arya ke saath hoon..

Bh: Arya?

B: haan...meri friend hai...aap nahi mile ho..

Bh: accha jldi aa..kl subah Singhanias ke bhi jaana hai..tu zyada late tk bahar mt rehna...

Bani said okay and ended the call. She told Veer and he offered her a ride. She thanked him.

.......................

B: bike?

V: haan...actually mere cottage pr yahi hai...

B: oh..

V: so?..

B: haan..okay...

She climbed up the bike and sat stiffly. Her legs on one side as she was in a suit.

V: kas ke pakad lo sweetheart, wrna ud jaogi..

B: tum aram se chalana na..

V: chalana? Sorry sweetheart...Veeranshu ki bike hai..chalti nahi, udti hai..

B: whatever!

Veer started the bike and it roared. Bani jerked due to the sudden force and fell on Veer.

V: ab to pakad lo...

B: thik hai..pr tum bhi dhang se chalao..mauke ka fayda mt uthao..

V: balai ka zamana hi nahi hai..itna kiya aur madam ko fayda lgta hai...

Veer joked and dropped her home.

B: Veeranshu, thank you..for everything.

V: No worries sweetheart.

B: Tum mujhe sweetheart kyu bulla rahe ho..kbse ignore kr rahi hoon..

V: haha...because you look like a sweetheart...and mujhe tumhara naam bhi nahi pata na..

B: (offers her hand for a shake) Bani..

V: (shook it back) Veeranshu..

Bani smiled. Their hands touched and the feeling of familiarity increased again.

B: I need to go..

V: hmm... bye..

B: mera hath..

V: oops..

Bani smiled and went in. She was at the door. Veer called.

V: Bani?

B: haan?

V: I love your name but I'd rather still call you sweetheart...

He winked. Bani shook her head and faked an angry expression, her heart giddy.

B: Goodnight Veeranshu

V: Goodnight sweetheart.

Bani went it and Veer waited till she entered. He turned his bike and left.

V: someday sweetheart, I wouldn't drop you anywhere, someday you wouldn't ask me to leave your hand..someday we'll say goodnight and sleep in each other's arms..I know people will think it is too soon but mujhe nahi pata why but I can see my future with you....someday sweetheart, someday!

.....................................

A vani-ful update for all vani fans. And Happy Holi people! Wish you and all your loved ones health and happiness this year. Stay safe and celebrate cautiously.

Loads of love

xoxo