*Passes water bottle in advance because trust me you're going to need it.*

Neil's POV

"Mr Khanna you know it feels so surreal, a few days back you hated me and today here we are, sitting beside each other in silence.", her voice was like a soft breeze rustling through the nerves of my brain. Unknowingly she was arising such sensations in me to which I was unfamiliar all my life.

"Hate is a strong emotion, Miss Mehta, I don't think I ever hated you. Did you hate me?", I asked though I knew her answer. 

"The day you snatched my orphanage from me, you took a part of my heart and one of the two reasons for my existence.", a tear escaped her eye." Why did you do this to me?", her eyes were fixed to the sky, the moonlight was striking her face giving her an unnatural glow.

"You remember what you said to me?", I asked turning to her fully.

"So you are the so-called Mr Khanna. Who do you think you are? Do you consider everyone your slave? And this road is not your father's property that we need your permission to use it."

 "You think I was born with all these assets and power. I was born with a silver spoon. I was born with pearls and silk but what you see is always not true Miss Mehta. When you said those words to me, a blinding fury took over my senses and all I wanted was to hurt you to decrease my pain".Her coal-black eyes, glistening with tears bored into mine," but it didn't happen."

"What didn't happen?"

"It didn't go. The pain didn't go, my suffering didn't go.", my eyes were cold, those moments didn't matter to me at all now. With her, I didn't feel alone, though she annoys the hell out of me, her company makes me feel lively.

The tension was visible in the air but talking to her made me feel relieved at the same time. Miss Mehta opened her mouth to say something but closed it.

Silence took over us again, I looked at her, she was watching the stars with a distinct intensity in her eyes.

"What are you staring at so deeply?"

"You know Mr Khanna.", she hesitated for a moment but continued for which I'm content." I never had a best friend, these stars were only what I had in the name of a best friend. And you know the most beautiful thing about them is that they even react to my talks."

"You are rambling.", I said shaking my head in disbelief.

"No, I'll prove you.", she said and scooted near me," See that star.", she pointed a bright star with her finger. The light in her eyes, while she talked about the stars, was something I'd never seen.

 She said something and the same star twinkled, her beautiful face broke into a smile, a genuine carefree smile.

"You saw that?", she asked with a curious look.

"I did.", I said looking at her face. For some reason, I couldn't stop looking into her eyes. They were beautiful, filled with secrets and for some reason, I wanted to know more about her.

If she was a mystery, I wanted to solve her.

"Mr Khanna?", she waved in front of me and that's when I noticed how close we were sitting. 

"What?"

"You zoned out.", she complained." I asked why did you come at this hour?"

"Sean called me saying you were sitting on your balcony instead of sleeping. I thought to give you company."

"Wow!", she exclaimed." I never expected you to be here."

"Neither did I.", I said truthfully. I never expected myself sitting beside you talking about stars.

She shrugged the blanket off her left shoulder and coiled it around me.

"What are you doing?", I asked her fazed.

"The blanket is big enough for two people. You may be a Block of ice but still, your body is that of a human being, it needs warmth. But if you don't want to share it with me, I'll get another one for you.", she mumbled, a red hue rising her cheeks.

She got up for I'm supposing to get another blanket but I held her wrist and pulled her back." It's okay.", I said letting go of her hand.

"Miss Mehta?"

I looked at my side, only to witness her dozing off. Her head was angled in a very uncomfortable way. I hesitantly placed her head on my shoulder and wrapped an arm around her to ensure she doesn't fall. Sliding another arm beneath her knees, I picked her and carried her to the bed.

The glow on her face didn't subside even when we entered inside her room, all it did was grow.

I laid her on the bed and pulled the covers to her frame. She looked peaceful, just like the calm water in a lake, serene and pure and I won't let that maniac even see her.

The day when she handed me her phone, Vidyut's message came but I didn't let her see it.

'I'm so sorry love, after seeing this news article that Khanna will go angry and he'll fire you. But you don't need to worry about that. Once you're out of that Khanna's hellhole I'll take you with me. We'll marry and once I ensure you will always be with me, I'll take care of mother in law also. Just don't do anything to anger me. Alright, love. I'll see you soon.'

My fists clenched reading that message. That man needs mental treatment and in no way I'd let him even touch her.

She tilted her head bringing me back from my thoughts. I tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear and pressed a feather-light kiss on her forehead.

"I won't let him take you, I promise Miss Mehta."

I turned to leave when I felt a tug at my shirt. Her eyes were hazy, filled with sleep.

"Mr Khanna."

"Hmm?"

"I don't hate you.. Not anymore.", she said and passed out.

My heart fluttered listening to her words. I know this is going to be disastrous but I know I was starting to feel.

The more I tried to lie to myself, the more this feeling gets stronger.

It was as if she was a magnet to which I always found myself getting attracted.

What the f*ck are you doing to me Miss Mehta?

__________________________________

Avni's POV

Last night was like a beautiful Miraj to me. I never expected Mr Khanna and me to have a civil conversation where I didn't throw any sarcastic remark at him and he didn't glare at me icily. It felt unnaturally surreal.

I was wrong. I judged him and assumed him of being a spoilt rich brat. The way he talked to me yesterday made me rethink my words. 

I was always involved in my pains and tensions. I failed to see that behind that icy façade, Mr Khanna was also a sensitive human being and something in me wanted to know more.

He was also hurt and I don't know maybe because he helped me and my maa, I wanted to become his medicine, I wanted to help him.

"Miss Mehta?", a familiar cold voice broke my chain of thoughts

"Come in.", I said while unwrapping myself from the blanket but it seemed to coil around me more.

"What pray tell are you doing Miss Mehta?"

"Oh, nothing just playing hide and seek early morning. Wanna join?", I asked, annoyed by his question.

"A simple help me could have done the job, Miss Mehta.", he said and came closer. Once he was near to me, he grasped my hands keeping them in place with one hand, then he started removing the blanket from around me.

"You are very tactless Miss Mehta."

'Agreed.'

'You shut up'

"I'm not tactless. You were the one who tucked me in bed last night so technically it's your mistake.", I grumbled but mentally cursed myself the next moment.

"So you were awake when I carried you to your bed?", he asked raising his eyebrow.

"Uh-no it was just a mere guess.", I asked stepping out of the blanket.

"I'm sure it was.", he said folding it in a classic manner.

To escape the embarrassment I changed the topic.

"Mr Khanna, you didn't go home last night?"

"No.", came his short answer.

"Why?"

"I couldn't leave you here alone."

"Technically I wasn't alone, your men were outside my house guarding it."

"I know but as I told you, I don't trust anyone but myself.", I can never understand how the simple words of such a cold man manage to fill my heart with warmth.

"What's the plan for today?"

"There's no plan. I'm going to talk to my private detective and you are coming with me to home."

"Home?"

"You and I are going to marry soon. The place where I live will be your home too.", he said looking into his watch

A weird feeling settled in my stomach. It wasn't a bad feeling, it was exciting, close to giddy but lovely at the same time.

"Let's go."

"Mr Khanna let me get ready real quick and we can go."

"Alright. You have 10 minutes. Be Quick.", he said and marched off.

________________________________

*Jumps from behind the curtains.* 

Mr Khanna realized his love. O em Gee *laughs*

Thank you so much for the amt of love you gave in the last chapter. For this chapter let's keep a remotely big target -80 votes,

The chapter is short but you liked it, didn't you?

Love love

See you in the next update.

Aapki seva mein sadev tatpar