Khusi's heart dropped to her stomach at Abhay's statement. Was he mocking or was he genuinely asking the obvious once more, she wasn't sure by the blank look on Abhay's face. But the damage, if there was any, was already done. Khusi had already disclosed what society thought her flaws were, to Abhay.

"Yes, and as I have already mentioned, I never wanted to get pregnant and make any baby."

She was more than sure that Abhay wouldn't be interested in her anymore and she was okay with that. She knew it would happen, so she had decided not to indulge herself in something that might not work.

Also, she wasn't ready to mingle with another man so soon. Her last relationship had taught her to be careful even with the most perfect person. Abhay wasn't perfect though, unlike Bhaskar. Rather he was the complete opposite.

Abhay was a fatal combination of short tempered and impulsive, sometimes even impractical. Bhaskar, was the complete opposite. The balanced combination of cool minded, logical and practical.

And look where that perfection led her to.

Khusi quickly shook her head to disperse the bizarre thoughts. She herself didn't know why she was comparing the both. Loving Bhaskar was the biggest and worst mistake of her life, and she had moved past it. It was pretty hard, but she did manage. Though it had taken more than 6 months to disperse Bhaskar from her head, she was happy with the progress. That man didn't hold any power to make her cry anymore.

"And why do you think it should concern me?" At Abhay's words, Khusi's eyes, which were fixed at the wall clock behind Abhay's head, settled back on him.

"What?" She was dumbfounded for a minute, assuming she heard the question wrong.

"Why do you think that piece of information would change what I feel for you?" One of Abhay's eyebrows shot up.

"What do you feel for me?" Khusi asked, licking her lips, her pulse rate accelerating.

Abhay was caught off guard as he blinked at Khusi. "I ... '' He gulped audibly, taking a deep breath and looked away. A wry smile broke on Khusi's lips.

Of-course, men and their lack of ability to express their emotions.

"It's okay. It might be hard for you to disclose ... "

"No. It isn't hard for me to express my feelings for you. That's not why I am silent. I fear it might get overwhelming for you, or you ... might feel like I am taking advantage of your situation and wooing you, or I might make you feel pressured, which isn't. You don't have to ... '' Abhay's lips felt shut when Khusi's palm came to rest on his cheek gently. Khusi didn't know any other way to stop his ramblings. His worried eyes settled on her face, and he gulped audibly at how close they were and how beautiful she was.

"Abhay," she whispered, their nose almost touching, making Abhay intake a sharp breath. Khusi's natural scent wafted past his nose, and his arms itched to pull her closer.

"Tell me, what do you feel for me?"

"I like, no, like is a very small word. I adore you, I admire the strength in you and want to cherish your heart for the rest of our lives." Khusi's heart fluttered in her chest by the sincerity behind Abhay's words, and by the pure devotion shining in his eyes.

But then it changed. His eyes, from cloudy grey to charcoal grey and Abhay enclosed his palms around Khusi's waist bringing her close.

"But, it's not just that I am doting on you. I am also inexplicably attracted to you. Each and everything you do turns me on. From the way your breathing changes from time to time, to the way you fumble with your dress, the way you bite your lips when you're nervous or your simple eye roll when you're annoyed at me. It makes me wanna take you right then and there, and make you whither in pleasu ... fuck!" His grip on Khusi's waist loosened and Abhay quickly sprinted up from the bed, taking deep breaths, turning away from Khusi.

Even Khusi was gasping for oxygen at how velvety and throaty Abhay's voice had become. His words had turned her on to such a great extent that she felt something spurting past her groin.

"Um, I should go and check on Yuti once. Good night madam ji."

Abhay did rush out of the door, but before Khusi could release the breath, she didn't realize she was holding, his voice rang from behind the wall, "You're perfect madam ji. Your ex-husband was a douche and the biggest loser for the way he treated you. I would be honored if you give me one chance to treat you the way you deserve."

Khusi couldn't believe her ears.

● ● ●

Trying to act nonchalant regarding her surroundings Khusi sank her teeth into a cake, her eyes fixed on Mina and Zeeniya gossiping, but her ears were turned slightly towards the two little children, who were chatting a few distance from her.

"And the movie was so good. We should watch it once together. What do you say, Khusi?" Minakshi asked, breaking Khusi's trance, as she smiled and nodded, totally oblivious to what they were talking about. Zeeniya, who had noticed her odd behaviour from a couple of weeks ago, released a deep breath.

Both Zeeniya and Mina were upset that Khusi wasn't someone who took comfort in them, but no one could force friendship. Khusi was glad though, that Mina hadn't stopped talking to her even after she faced a lot of problems because of Khusi.

"Let's go!" The bell rang indicating the end of recess break, as students ran back into their designated classroom. Zeeniya and Mina strolled away, but Khusi's eyes wandered back once more to the place she had seen Yuti and David speaking. He had been coming to school since Tuesday, and looked better than before. But Khusi had decided to keep a close eye on David.

That little boy, and his miserable conditions had invoked sympathy in Khusi's heart and she wanted to help him in any way she could. Yuti and David were still chatting so she decided to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"So we can't play today?"

"No Yuti. Daddy said we have to attend an event tonight. So I need to leave early today. But tomorrow we will play, promise."

"Okay!" Yuti hopped and clapped, and then the two ambled away, hand in hand.

Khusi's slowly nodded, and took out her phone to inform Abhay about the newly discovered information and how they could use it to their advantage, when she collided with someone, her phone falling down on soft grass.

"Miss. Mukherjee?" The familiar voice immobile Khusi and she looked up, her fingers trembling in nervousness. It was Mr. Agartala. Khusi cursed her bad luck.

"Sir, good afternoon." Khusi shot him a thin lipped smile.

"I see you are into weird quirks. Eavesdropping on your students' dopey gossips? Are you a teacher or some teenager?" The mockery in the Principal's words spiked Khusi's agitation.

"You're mistaken. I was trying to catch a signal there, not doing foolish things." Khusi quickly dashed down and picked up the phone, trying to walk away, when his words halted her movements.

"Heard about the attack in your house. Didn't I tell you not to meddle with Joshi's affairs?" This time though, his tone wasn't taunting. Rather genuinely concerned.

Khusi turned back and eyed him. "Well, someone needs to. I can't sit back and watch a child dying mentally. So I would try my best to release him off the shackles," Khusi hissed, her eyebrows furrowed in irritation

Mr. Agartala's features remained blank but his eyes held respect. "I hope you come out of this alive." And he walked away.

• • •

Abhay's nose flared as he ran his fingers repeatedly through his hair, the cold mid November evening air nipping his nape. Khusi stood beside him, leaning on the bonnet, her hood up as she blew warm breath into her palms.

"Where is she, Kaden!?" Abhay gritted, at the constable who was standing in sabdhan position since the arrival of Khusi.

"I am sorry sir, but Soniya hadn't called yet. Bhuvan and the force are stuck downhill, and they will not be able to come before 10 pm."

"Fuck it. We can't wait anymore. It's already 9:20," Abhay yelled, getting rid of his quilted jacket.

Khusi's eyes widened as she saw Abhay hiding his holster with a leather jacket. He took a step towards the Joshi villa but Khusi instantly grabbed his arm.

"Are you seriously out of your mind!? You wanna walk in there alone? Without any back up!?" Khusi's words spiked Abhay's temper.

"So what do you want me to do!? We have been waiting here for the last 1.5 hour. Soniya hasn't arrived and this is our only chance to fix cameras in Joshi's office room and David's bedroom. They will be returning by 10 and I can't let this opportunity slip Khusi. Not because of some newbie who isn't serious about their jobs." Abhay's eyes were wild with rage and determination.

Khusi shrunk back, not in fear, but because she knew he was speaking the truth. They couldn't let this opportunity slip.

"Okay, go. But be careful. And here, take this." Khusi attached an earpod in his ear, pecking his right temple in the process slightly, the darkness concealing her sneaky action from Kaden. Khusi's emotions were all over the place. Abhay nodded, his heart growing warm at Khusi's gesture.

Abhay sneaked inside, dodging the guards like an expert. She waited and waited impatiently behind the bushes in front of Joshi villa, Abhay continuously passing her information through the airpode.

"Okay, all done except David's room."

"It's in the East wing."

"How do you know so much about this place? Haven't you just visited once?"

"I don't. Yuti does."

"Hmm, I need to make sure Yuti doesn't visit this boy that often. Don't want her to get too attached to him." Abhay didn't like his daughter being so close with a boy so early in age, but he didn't want to control her.

"Shh, focus on the task Mr. Mathur and we can talk about this after you are out of that hell hole," Khusi warned, anxious at Abhay's indifference in the enemy territory.

"Geez, okay madam ji."

Khusi tapped her feet restlessly against the ground, when the faint sound of cars approaching echoed in the neighborhood. Her eyes widened and she swiftly looked back only to gasp in horror. The Joshis were back.

"Shit! Abhay!"

"I'm in." Both of them said together, making each other mum for a minute.

"Shit shit shit. Hurry up! They are back. You need to come out."

"Fucking hell," Abhay cursed and quickly set the cameras, making sure not to displace anything.

"Oh no. The devil is going inside. Hurry!"

"I am trying Khusi but I am not the fucking Flash. Oh bloody hell." As soon as Abhay was done, he quickly switched off the lights of the room and tried to step out but a guard was strolling down the hallway, so he had to step back inside

"What? What happened?" Khusi inquired, her throat drying up in fear.

"I am trapped."

"No no no. Fucking no. It's not happening." Khusi didn't think twice and dashed towards the villa. Do hell with the consequences. Abhay needed to be out of that place before Nitin Joshi suspected anything.

"Khusi, why are you huffing?" Abhay asked, sauntering inside the room.

"I am coming. Stay inside and do not get killed or I swear ... " Khusi's throat tightened.

"What!? No you're not. Stay right there Khusi. I will manage, but don't you dare walk inside this devil's land again," Abhay threatened, his stomach churning in fear for Khusi.

"Shut up." And she ignored every threat and warnings of Abhay's who was continuously ordering her not to come inside the villa.

It wasn't until he heard footsteps in front of the door, when he dashed inside the washroom and hid behind the shower curtain.

"Sleep tight for tonight as Daddy is tired. I will see you tomorrow, okay?" Nitin's malicious voice rang from inside the room and Abhay's fist curled up in rage at Nitin's sordid innuendos.

"Where are you?" Khusi whispered, most of the lights off.

"Khusi please ... "

"Where. Are. You?" She had taken the back route and wanted to leave the horrendous place, because it bought back scary memories, but not without Abhay.

"Washroom. David's room."

"Stay put and stay silent."

Abhay waited, practically making no movement and trying to breath inaudibly for several minutes, until he heard the click of a lock. He peaked one eye out from behind the curtain and saw Khusi stepping inside, walking on her tiptoes.

"David?" he whispered.

"He is in the closet. Changing. Hurry up." Khusi grabbed his arm and was about to pull him out when another click resonated in the room.

Khusi's and Abhay's movement stilled, their eyes widening for a second. They quickly dashed behind the shower curtains again, their heart beating furiously.

"David? Did you go to the toilet?" Nitin's voice made Khusi shudder and Abhay instantly wrapped his hands around her frame, the small place not enough for two adults to stand.

"No daddy. Going." David walked inside the washroom, making Khusi breathe in sharply and she plastered her body to Abhay's, her fingers trembling in fear.

Abhay, realizing Khusi was almost on the verge of another panic attack, gently cradled the back of her head and turned her eyes towards him. Khusi's breath, which might have turned heavy if Abhay hadn't acted fast, blew against Abhay's face and their eyes stilled on each other.

Their noses were just centimeters away from touching, when Khusi's fingers tightened on Abhay's neck and she leaned towards him, peering up at his beautiful steel grey eyes.

Khusi licked her lips as she suddenly felt as if they were getting dried. Abhay's eyes darted down, and his breaths turned heavy, his eyes turning darker with each passing second.

Abhay's musky smell, mixed with his sweat and cologne drifted into her nose and she couldn't help but feel warm at how tingly it made her feel. Her neck and ears turned warm as she saw Abhay's gaze darting between her lips and eyes.

Deciding not to torture herself anymore she pulled Abhay down, who didn't need any other sign, and their lips moulded perfectly, fitting into each other.

~ • • • • • ~

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