A few days later......

It was 7 o'clock of the evening...Waking up from a short nap ,Saanjh came out of her room and walked into the kitchen to get a water bottle from the fridge but applied brake on mid way when she noticed a particular person,wearing kitchen apron and holding a frying pan in his hand ,in front of the kitchen counter.

"What's going on here?"She screeched narrowing her eyes at the person who was none other than Vihaan.

"Hey, Saanjh ."Vihaan smiled a dazzling smile,waving his right hand at her.

"What are you doing here?"She asked.

"Cooking."He grinned .

"I can see that.But why are you cooking here?"She demanded.

"There's a saying that the easiest way to win someone's heart is through the stomach. So, I thought to bowl you over with my cooking skill."He said with another grin.

Saanjh glared at him and he couldn't help laughing .

"Hey,relax.I am just kidding."He said in between his laugh .

"Before you interrogate me more, let me tell you that your entire family has gone to the temple.Since you weren't feeling well and taking rest,they didn't disturb you and left without you.And as for me ...Well,your parents has asked me to come and look after you until they return."He said in one breath.

She could guess as to why her parents left them alone.She was smart enough to understand that they wanted her to spend some alone time with him.

"I amn't a kid.I can take care of myself.You don't need to babysitting me.You can go home."She told him sternly.

"I know you can take care of yourself and you don't need me.But I've promised your parents that I'll be with you until they come back.And I can't break that promise,you know."He said,earning a glare in return.

He ignored her death glare and continued "I am making chicken lasagna for you,by the way.But if you want to eat anything else,you can tell me.I'll cook for you."

"Why?Did I ask you to do that for me?"Her tone was harsh, intentionally.

"No,You didn't.But Aunty told me that you didn't eat properly in lunch.So,I thought of cooking something for you as I know you will get hungry after waking up . "He said and he was right.She was feeling hungry .

Her face softened by his caring side .But then she remembered Malini's taunting words and as a result her face hardened again.

At the starting,she was very angry with Malini for what she said to her and her parents the other day .But later on,when she thought about it ,she found her action justified.

No mother would like if her son ruin his life running after a sick girl.

She reminded herself that she couldn't let this continue anymore .She couldn't let him stuck with her problematic life.

She closed her eyes for a moment, just a brief glimpse of time. When her eyes flew back open ,she looked determined.

"Vihaan, please stop this."She mumbled in her calm voice.

He mistook her words.He thought she was talking about his cooking.

"If you're worried about the taste,then let me tell you I'm a good cook.You won't regret having it."He said while putting  'lasagna' in the oven to bake.

"I'm not talking about this dish,Vihaan"she said and he looked at her with furrowed  brows.

"Then what did you ask me to stop?Stop what?"He was confused.

"Stop caring about me and my family.Stop trying to be a part of my life. I want you to stop wasting your time on me."She said in all seriousness in her voice.

Vihaan fell silent and stood still on his spot.He wasn't expecting her to bring that topic up again.He'd thought he already passed that phrase.He thought she was accepting him gradually.But now he felt like he was back to square one.

"You're saying all this because of what my mother said the other day,right?"He asked after a minute of long silence.He couldn't find any other better reason  .

Before she could answer,he spoke up again.

"Listen,please don't take her words into your heart.She didn't mean...."

"No,Vihaan.I'm not saying all this things because of your mother."She said,cutting him off in mid sentence.

She continued"Vihaan,I know that for the last one year ,you took care of me.You even took care of my mom,dad and brother....Like a family.And I am really thankful and grateful for that.But I can't have you look after me like this going forward.I'll only owe you more."

"I don't do all this to make you owe me .I do it because I feel like doing it for you."He said, hurt touching his eyes.

"But what's the point of doing all this when you will get nothing in return."She questioned.

"Try to understand.I don't remember anything about us.There's no guarantee that I will ever recollect thoses memories."She reasoned.

"I'm ready to wait."he said and she lose her calm here.

"But I don't want you to wait."She snapped "I don't want you to put your life on hold because of me.Why don't you understand,Vihaan? I can't give you what you want.I can't love you back."

"I don't care if you don't love me.As long as I can stay with you, I'll contented."He stated, looking directly into her eyes with intensity and passion.

"But I ..."She paused as he stepped closer and placed a gentle hand on each of her shoulders .

"No matter what you say or do,I won't give up on us,Saanjh.I'll keep trying until you recollect your past memories or you'll fall in love with me....Again.Hence you need to give me one chance at least."He said in his deep husky voice.

She opened her mouth to speak, but said nothing,being hypnotized by his deep intense gaze.

They kept staring into eachother eyes until a familiar icy cold wind hit on her face and he groaned the very next moment,covering his eyes with both hands.

"What happened, Vihaan?"She was completely baffled.

"My eyes....It's burning."He cried out in pain.

In the meantime Avinash,Suman and Tarun returned home and hearing the noise,they dashed into the kitchen.

"What's wrong?What happened to him?"Avinash asked,shocked by his condition.So even Suman and Tarun.

"I don't know,Dad.We were talking and suddenly he started screaming in pain."Saanjh said ,her voice containing a hint of the panic she was feeling right then.

"I think chilli powder got into his eyes.Look,the lid of chilli powder container is open. "Tarun said, pointed his finger towards the countertop.

The rest of them noticed it and gasped in horror.

"Oh,God!Help him quickly to wash off his eyes."Suman suggested.

Saanjh and Avinash quickly took him near the washbasin and helped him to rinse off his eyes with cold water .Later on ,they rinsed his eyes with milk that helped to neutralise the sting of chilli .

"Vihaan,Are you okay? Should we call the doctor?"Avinash asked with concern.

"I'm alright,Uncle.There's no need to call the doctor."Vihaan replied while gently pressing his eyes with a wet towel.

"You don't seem fine.Look at your eyes.It's looks so red and puffy."Saanjh said worriedly, sitting beside him.

"Relax,Saanjh.I said I'm fine.The pain is almost gone."Vihaan reassured her with a forced smile, despite being in pain.

Saanjh listened to him and stopped pestering , although she wasn't convince by his statement.

"It's all my fault.If it weren't for me,you wouldn't have gone to the kitchen to cook and got hurt."Saanjh murmured, drowning in guilt .

"Why are you blaming yourself?How come it's your fault?"Vihaan objected .

"It was just an accident that happened because of the wind.It could happen with anyone."He stated the fact.

"But isn't it weird?I mean,She was also standing there with you.How come the chilli powder got only in your eyes and not her?"Tarun voiced out his thought.

"There's nothing weird,Tarun.It's just a coincidence or can say my bad luck.Nothing more. "Vihaan said in a matter of fact tone.

Tarun nodded in agreement and dismissed his thought.

But Saanjh couldn't agree with him.She couldn't convince herself that whatever happened to him was just a mere coincidence.

"Oh,Shit!"Vihaan muttered suddenly , slapping his forhead with his left hand."I forgot to turn off oven."

He got up and was about to ran towards the kitchen .But before he could take a step ahead ,Saanjh grabbed his hand and pulled him down onto the sofa .

"You're not going anywhere .Just stay seated and continue applying ice pack over your eyes."She said in a authoritative tone.

"But Saanjh ,My dish will get burn.I put in a lot of effort.I can't let it waste."He grumbled.

"Don't worry.I'd already took it out."Suman informed him.

"Thank god."He breathed in relief."But I still have to go.I'm not done yet."He added.

"You don't need to worry about that,son.I'll handle the rest.You take rest."Suman said.

"But Aunty I ....."

"What's your problem,huh?Why are you so stubborn? Everyone is telling you to take rest.Why don't you listen?"Saanjh snapped at him angrily,making him swallowed his remaining words .

"Okay, I'll do as you say.Please don't get angry."He said,timidly.

Saanjh calmed down and smiled at him in pleasure.

"Saanjh,I'm going to the kitchen.You take care of Vihaan, okay?"Suman told her and headed to the kitchen.

After Suman left,Avinash felt himself like a third wheel between them . So,he quickly thought of an excuse to make an exit from there .

"I'd sent Tarun to buy an eye cream.But he isn't back yet.This boy is just useless,can't do anything properly.I should just go and check where he is."Avinash said and made a quick exit from there.

There followed an awkward silence between them for around two minutes.

Saanjh took initiative to break the silence first.

"Let me do it."Saanjh took the towel from Vihaan's hand.

She soak it in cold water and was about to press it on his eyes but halted ,seeing him staring at her face .

She rolled her eyes."What?"

He shook his head, smilingly sheepishly.

"Close your eyes then!"She ordered.

He nodded and instantly closed his eyes,leaning his back on sofa.

She shook her head and laughed quietly at his childish grin and then started giving gentle press on his eyes.

"Thank you."He said ,after a minute of silence.

She narrowed at him"For what?"

He opened his eyes and looked at her.Swelling in his eye area has reduced a lot by then .

"For your concern."He whispered with a smile of pleasure and went on.

"You know,Since you woke up from coma,this is the first time I saw care and concern in your eyes for me."His  words made her amused and left her short of words.

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So readers,how is the story going?Is it interesting or seem boring to you?Let me know in comment section and don't forget of vote,okay?

Your Author,
Habiba Sathi