"ABHIMAAN'S POV"

Vrinda. The name itself was enough for me to do lots of those things which I've avoided, mostly.

Mom and Aadi would be here soon. Aadi needs to give his MBA final year exams this year hence they'll be back.

That's the surprise for Vrinda. I've realised how much she missed mom especially. Vrinda likes to be with family. She like to see someone sitting,waiting at home as she steps inside in evening. She likes to talk, give details of her day, complain about me specially to mom.

And I was in no denial that I liked that.

I Like Her. A Lot.

May be more intensified something. And that's why I was getting afraid, restless and impatient day by day as the six months were going to get over.

I may be can't let her go. All these months, I've become habituated of her whining, mocking, yelling and of course staring.

The way she whispers Maan, though it's rare but yet, the way she yells my name, the way she calls me, every small thing was doing something to me. Something so strange yet so familiar.

This wasn't what I wanted. My emotions were always on the back seat of my car right! Then why now, they were trying to jump into the front. Why I wasn't able to control this. As much as this irritated the hell out of me, I wasn't denying anything at all. Vrinda was making me Feel.

Feel.

Something I buried a long time ago.

Is ek chiz ki to izazat hi nahi di thi khudko. Fir kyu aaj aisa ho raha hai.

(Didn't allow myself to feel this one this one feeling. Then why is it happening today).

She was making me feel something filled with warmth , a feeling of longing, feeling to keep her close to me, away from every evil of this world.

But what about the evil inside me?

Who would protect her from that!!

The way she speaks, reacts, keeps a pen between her teeth while thinking, frowns while looking at things, smiles while looking at things, grin and giggle at something, I absorb that all. The way her lips pucker, the way she tortures her lower lips with her upper teeth. The way her nose scrunches at moments, the way her eyes shine when she's happy, the way she keeps her hairs in a messy bun while working, let them flow while the winds hit her making them fly like a kite in sky.

Only I know that how in all these months, I've kept my sanity and didn't frighten her by grabbing her by waist and kiss her. Hell kiss, every thought that wasn't holy came into my mind when she did this all.

She was with me just because of a kiss right, she had no idea how badly now I wanted to feel those lips.

I had a lot inside me. A lot of good, a lot of bad. For the first time in my life, I was feeling afraid.

Afraid To Loose Her.

And I knew, I was going to loose her.

She'll leave me.

At this point I was in such a dilemma that even if I chose to win, I'll loose in some or the other way.

And I can't choose between one.

Sighing, I looked at my wrist watch and the time. It was five already . The calls were still in mail box and now I was getting worried.

"Sir, I think you need to see this" Eleanor's voice came and I looked at her.

"What happened" I asked

She didn't say anything and just turned on the screen. And at the same time I got a call from Lizzie.

Mrs. Vrinda Kapoor, lawyer of AK firms and wife of renowned Lawyer Mr. Abhimaan Kapoor captured while avoiding cameras and wiping the tears. Looks like she lost her first case.

"Lizze" I muttered

"Where are you Abhimaan" She asked

"I need to leave" I said and ran outside the cabin.

"But what about the public att... " She was saying before which I spoke.

"I don't give a fuck to it Lizzie. I need to go to my wife" I snapped over the call cutting it and ran downstairs.

"Lucas, call Elliot. I need to know where's Vrinda in a minute. " I ordered and he nodded while I called Aditya.

"Abhi bhai, bhabhi.. " he spoke as soon as he picked call.

"Have you both reached home" I asked

"Yes. Just now. Is she with you" He questioned

"I'll get her. Don't tell mom" I warned

"She saw the news." He mumbled to which I sighed.

"Tell her, I'll be back soon with her. Not to worry okay" I said

"Take care " He whispered cutting the call.

"Sir, she's in Newburg." Lucas informed and I nodded sitting in the car and he drove.

What has happened! I've never been this restless.

I shouldn't have let her handle this case.

Something has happened. I was not able to brea... Shit.

I dialled Elliot.

Breath. Asthma.

"Why the fuck didn't you inform" I screamed over call.

"Ma'am ordered" He mumbled in a low voice.

"Where's her inhaler. Did she... " I couldn't even complete.

"Madam just told me to bring her to Hudson Bay sir. I was bounded by orders. She's just sitting by the banks. We've the area covered. I've checked, she didn't need inhaler" He told and I sighed.

"I don't want anyone near her. Anyone " I warned

"Done sir" He replied as I cut the call.

"Fast Lucas. Come on. No wait. Take me to helipad" I ordered

"Right away sir" he said connecting the call to the helipad area but then looked at me after cutting the call.

"Sorry sir. The weather check says heavy rains. Take off isn't possible" He told

"Damn it" I muttered hitting the door.

"Drive fast" I commanded as I got Neil's call.

"What has happened" He asked

"I don't know. Worst case scenario, be ready for anything I say. And before that go home. Take Anjali too with you and go home to mom and Aadi" I said and cut the call.

The ride of an hour from Midtown South to Newburg felt like thousand hours.

And as I reached, I saw it was already drizzling.

The car stopped at the outside area of banks of river Hudson and I came out.

"Sir" Lucas spoke opening the umbrella while I denied and ran towards the banks of Hudson.

The drizzle was now raining cats and dogs.

I saw Elliot and as he saw me he pointed Vrinda.

"She denied for going under the shed or even umbrella" he sighed

I know my wife is stubborn. But I can't even let her stubbornness happen anything.

I didn't say a word and went near her.

She was sitting on the edge hugging her knees, keeping her head on her arms which were folded on her knees.

I looked at Lucas and gestured her to check the area again completely.

She didn't care of the rain and something inside me tore apart seeing her like that.

Seeing her so vulnerable. My woman is the strongest one I've seen. And I won't let anyone be the reason of her being so vulnerable.

And what about you Abhimaan. What about the reasons you're going to give her.

"Vrinda" I whispered and she looked at me.

Drenched in rain, yet I could see her eyes.

She wasn't crying but she had gathered all the tears in them. The way that just one tug and she'll cry.

"Go away" She whispered looking at other side.

Never!! Not even a chance.

I sat near her and pulled her closer to me. Then without a word or a wait of second, I hugged her.

I could feel her shivering. Shivering due to the cold that she can't handle, shivering due to the tears which she was holding, shivering due to don't know what fucking reason that made me so furious such that, I wanted to destroy the reason. I'm going to burn that reason into ashes. Into pieces.

She didn't utter a word, neither hugged me back.

The woman who speaks without asking, who hugs without reasons was doing nome of them.

It was a torture for me.

"Just the name Vrinda. Just the fucking name" I whispered.

There was no reply. No reaction. No Vrinda things.

But I didn't leave. I still hugged her.

I Won't Give Up On Her.

And that's when after a while I heard a sob.

"I've spent.. So.. So much time hi..hiding my heart and em.. Emotions that so..someone when hug me, I.. Cry" She sobbed

"Vrinda.. " I whispered making her look at me.

"The opponent lawyer was Rehaan" She said her eyes filled with tears.

I didn't say anything but I knew, I'm digging the grave even if it cause me anything.

Last time I took it slightly light with warnings, this time I'm going to Kill.

"He.. He has.. My...his and mine pict..ures. Us kis.. Kissing..in..intimate..on da..dates. He..he'll use the..them" She cried and I looked at her.

My palms clenching into fists and my anger rising every passing second.

"And what did you do" I asked as calmly as I could.

She looked at me for a second.

"I.. I fought the case. The hearing is ag..
Again after te..." She was saying her voice a mere whisper when I spoke.

"You dumb ,dumb woman. Do you think I give a damn about this fucking hearing or the case. What did you do when he threatened you with this. Vrinda Kapoor, You had two hands and a mouth right" I angrily spoke and she looked at me shocked.

"One hard slap and one good abuse. I swear, That's all you had to do. Rest I would've dug his grave myself. But you cared for that bloody case " I gritted my teeth I'm anger while she kept looking at me.

"I'm frightened Abhimaan. He'll.... " She cried harder this time and I pulled her again to me hugging her tightly.

I patted her back and signed Elliot to bring her inhaler and umbrella.

"I...the ch..chapter isn't ge..ov..over" She breathed heavily and I made her look at me.

"Take this" I mumbled removing the wet hairs from her face and helped her with inhaler.

As she inhaled from it, I was just calculating the ways to destroy the whole existence of Rehaan Sehgal.

Now even this matter is getting personal.

Picking her up in my arms, I went towards the car where as Lucas opened the back door.

Making her sit inside, I helped her remove her blazer.

The white shirt, hugged her body as it was drenched in rain and I looked away pulling my blazer from passanger seat.

"I'll be ruined " She whispered her breath still hoarse.

"Turn on the heater" I commanded Lucas and he did the same where as I took out the nebulizer from the back and made her wear that.

Sitting near her, I made her rest her head on my shoulder, wiping the continuous tears falling from her dark brown eyes.

"Do you think I'll let you get ruined ? " I asked when she looked at me and then moved her head in denial.

"Then trust me baby" I whispered kissing ber forehead and she nodded closing her eyes.

I waited, for her to sleep and as she slept, I came out of the car, closing the windows and doors.

The first thing I found was my phone and without waiting a second, I screamed throwing the phone directly on another car's window.

And I screamed on the top of my lungs.

"I will fucking kill that bastard" I screamed when I found someone holding me from behind

"Calm down" It was Neil and I glared him.

"You want me to calm down. Do you fucking know what happened" I screamed pushing him.

"We can discuss it at home. Not here. It's a public place. Think from here right now" He said and I glared him but kicked the bench near me in anger.

"I'm not going to sit. I'm saying you, kill me if you want, I will kill that Rehaan Sehgal for even thinking that he can threaten Vrinda" I growled and he sighed.

"Sit for now Abhimaan. Vrinda needs you more then this all" He said and as my eyes went to the sleeping figure inside the car, I found myself walking towards the door.

I sat inside and looked at the tear stained face of the woman whose each breath is important to me.

She Is Important To Me.

"I'm so sorry Vrinda. I'm so sorry that I wasn't there" I whispered kissing her forehead.

The ride home was silent like a dark lifeless evening. But something kept me alive. It was nothing else then this woman breathing near me. Her head on my shoulder.

As the car entered mansion, it took me minutes to compose myself in all the ways and I was about to pick her up when she opened her eyes waking up.

"We reached" She asked her voice hoarse and I nodded.

Picking her up, I went to the door and as Neil rang the bell.

The staff opened the door and I looked at mom coming towards us with haste steps while Aadi looked at us.

"Get me towels. And make one espresso and a ginger tea" I heard Aadi ordering the staff.

"Maa" She whispered as I put her down not leaving her hand yet and she hugged mom tightly.

"Vri. You scared us" Anjali mumbled hugging her tightly too.

It was to be a damn surprise making her smile widely. Not this way.

This wasn't done!! Today wasn't done!!

But I was still glad that mom, Aadi and everyone was here today. The people she love were here today.

I made Vrinda sit on the couch and Aadi handed mom a towel.

"You both are drenched completely" Mom whispered wiping my hairs where as Aadi wiped Vrinda's hairs.

"Bhabhi, you'll get ill" He mumbled

"Aadi, I'm fine" She said but I gestured him to keep doing what he was.

"Anjali can you ask the staff to hurry up for a ginger tea" I told and she nodded standing up going to kitchen.

In a while the tea and coffee came where as mom impatiently asked about everything.

I told them the half truth, of course not telling the pictures thing. But obviously no one was totally convinced.

"I'll take Vrinda to our room. It's 7 pm already. She'll rest for an hour. Then we'll have dinner" I told and mom nodded.

Not before I looked at Neil and he blinked his eyes .

Taking the lift, we reached our room. I didn't let Vrinda take away her stuff from this room though she had some of it in the room she used but I had her all stuff arranged in our room again this afternoon.

Making her sit on the bed, I looked at her.

I didn't speak a word and turned on the geyser first and came back.

"Take a warm bath Vrinda. You'll feel good. I'm waiting for you here" I told and she nodded.

"I'll pick out your clothes" I said

"No. I will do it" She instantly spoke

"It's okay Vrinda. Trust me" I told

She didn't deny this time and went to the bathroom where was I took out a loose T shirt and trouser with essentials and kept them on the walk in couch.

Going out, I too took a bath in another bathroom, changed and sat on the couch typing something on my Mac book.

Vrinda came out of the walk in and I looked at her and the whole time since I got the news till now repeated in my mind.

These three hours, I had my breath stuck in my throat.

I will not be saving her, I will be saving myself from death keeping her near me, just for me.

Because without her, I Will Be As Good As Dead.

____________________________________

Hey readers.

So how was the chapter.

Abhi being there for Vrinda no matter what. And Vrinda confining in him no matter what.

These two ❤ This Family ❤

Let's see what happens.

Do vote, like, share and reviews are always welcomed.

Until next...

Hugs 🫂