... He engulfed her in a bone crushing hug... Never wanting to let go...
Holding her close he wondered if this is coming back home after a long... Painful decade feels like...
He felt as if he has regained something he thought he had lost forever...
They didn't realize for how long they had stayed like that in each others arms.... Feeling the silence which was interrupted only by the sound of both of their erratically beating hearts....

.. His grip around her loosened after a while.... Yet not willing to completely let go....
She rested her head slightly upon his chest... Closing her eyes just allowing herself to absorb the moment.....
Neither of them knew what was happening to them... They couldn't find words to speak....
He separated himself from her just to witness the look on her face....
He could see a mixture of relief,contentment,and multiple other things...
Her eyes swollen and dried tears on her face.... He wanted to kiss away her tears.....
He wanted to take all her pain away....
But ironically.. Wasn't he the very cause of the pain....
This thought of his jerked him in reality....
He could not let emotions overpower him...its better if she'd stay as far as possible from him...
He was afraid... Afraid that he might hurt her again...
He separated from her and walked towards the kitchen counter to fetch some water.... As a few moments more in her proximity... Would make him do something he might  end up regretting....

There were many things to be said... Many promises to be made. Many reassurances to be given.... He could not let his mind travel astray..

Yet he could barely find any words to speak.....
A moment of awkward silence... As he  made her sip water he had just poured....
"naina.... Mera yakeen karo... Abhimanyu se sach chupakar.. Hum naveen ki begunahi kabhi sabit nahi kar paenge..... I ve made this promise to myself... That i would do all what it takes... To find the truth... To prove him innocent....even if it involves losing a friend... I m ready to pay the price.... "

She knew... How  he must have felt..... All this time to have carried such a burden upon his shoulders... She realised that it has to be done...
. But now she wanted to assure him that he is not alone... That she would not let him carry the weight of truth upon his shoulders.. All by himself..

She had made a silent promise to herself to stand by his side.. Come what may....