A very talented friend of mine has started writing a new story. MEERA. Its about a little orphan girl from Bolpur, Shantiniketan and after she gets adopted in a rich family of criminal lawers from LA, who has five sons.

Give it a try lovelies ... by _sarcasticpanda 💗

•••

The bungalow was engulfed in a drape of thick silence at the outbreak of morning. Usually, on other days, the constant chatter and bickerings of Yuti and Abhay would wake Khusi up from her slumber. But that wasn't the case that day.

It was so silent that Khusi felt like the entire bungalow was empty. But she knew it wasn't. Yuti might still be asleep and Abhay ...

A deep sigh escaped past her lips. Khusi didn't know what Abhay might be doing. She felt terrible for her impetuous act last night. The man who had involuntarily won her heart confessed his love, and she vehemently cut him off.

She knew the way she acted was very rude and petulant, but she didn't know what to do either. Once upon a time, Khusi was never hesitant with openly admitting her love for one particular person, but he never said it out loud. Ever.

Khusi was over the moon too, after she had come to her senses and Abhay's words had finally sinked into her brain. And how could she not fall for him too? He was everything Khusi could ever ask for, in a life partner. Her perfect match. But it was too late by then and she was too confused on how to act.

The past fears had enveloped her so badly last night, that she realised she needed to think with a clear mind. She needed to become sure herself before she delivered any news to Abhay.

After grabbing a quick breakfast Khusi decided to visit Ms. Archana's house once, to think with a clear head where her life had brought her. She needed some alone time, away from everything which connected her with Abhay. Starting from the bungalow and Yuti.

As she stepped out of the threshold of the bunglow, a figure caught her eyes. His tall physique, broad chest and shoulders were bouncing up and down and he jogged inside the bungalow premises through the wrought-iron gate, only a white half sleeves t-shirt covering his sweaty body. Their eyes collided and both of their steps came to a halt.

Khusi's breaths deepened and her heart skipped a bit when she analysed Abhay. He was sweating profusely, his slightly tanned skin glistening in the morning sunlight even though the temperature was below 7°C.

The sight was alluring but she quickly realised where that could lead her to. She would again get lost in the undeniable attraction they had for each other, which would ultimately weaken Khusi's resolve to think with a clear head.

Breaking the eye contact, Khusi looked down and sauntered towards the gate, her fingers clenched in fists in her jacket's pockets. Abhay's face, for the first time, was a mask of indifference and apathy, which was clearly setting Khusi off. She had never seen Abhay being so impassive towards her.

"Where are you going?" Abhay clipped, his eyes hard turned away from Khusi.

Khusi tried to amble past him but his question halted her steps. Taking a deep breath to cool her nerves, she replied, "To Ms. Archana's house."

Abhay's jaw clenched, a nerve ticking on his forehead and he sharply drew a breath in. Khusi stood beside him with a calm face, but her nerves were wrecking havoc. When she received no words from Abhay, she tried to walk away again.

"You know what, Khusi? You're very selfish. You don't care about anyone other than yourself!" Abhay hurled, his fingers clenched in a fist and his nose flared. His rage, which Abhay had always kept in check around Khusi, finally snapped.

Khusi's eyes rounded at his harsh words and venomous tone, which Abhay had used on her for the first time. His wrath was very dangerous which she had witnessed multiple times on different occasions. But it was never subjected to her.

On one hand, as soon as Abhay had uttered those words, he knew he did a blunder. He had never let his anger take charge of him in Khusi's presence. But he was too upset at Khusi's ignorance, regarding his efforts. He wanted her to come to terms with the fact that Abhay would never intentionally hurt or betray her.

But on the other hand, as his words sank in Khusi's brain, she was more hurt than offended. She realised he was speaking the truth. What was she, if not a selfish woman? She had seeked his protection when the most dangerous man of the town was up her feet, didnt hesitate to have sex with him when her physical needs arose, gain popularity and fame for a case which he had investigated.

He always tried to understand her, support her, and cared for her. But she had rejected him several times, too scared for the past to repeat. After their first kiss, she gave him the cold shoulder for multiple days, but he didn't complain. After the first night of passion, she had treated him like a nobody but he didn't ever raise a question. He didn't even think twice before risking his life and started investigating against the notorious MLA at one request from Khusi. And last night might have been the final straw, after he finally confessed his love for her, she left abruptly.

Tears welled up in Khusi's eyes but she bit her lips and stepped away from Abhay when she realised she couldn't appear weak. It would be for the best if she left as soon as possible.

Sniffing softly, Khusi uttered, "You're right Mr. Mathur. I am a very selfish woman. But I have realized my mistakes and I know how to take responsibility for that as well."

Abhay swiftly turned towards Khusi when he caught the twinge in her tone. He realised he had hurt her. He wanted to walk up to her, take her in his arms and apologise but he was hurt and tired too.

"I think ... ," Khusi drawled which caught Abhay's attention and he fixed his gaze on her.

"I was about to go to Ms. Archana's house to speculate with a clear head about your words last night. But now I think, there won't be a need for it anymore," Khusi murmured with a heavy tone, swallowing the lump in her throat.

Abhay's eyebrows shot up at the mechanical tone Khusi was using, his heartbeats picking pace. He was about to ask what she was talking about when her next words froze his blood in his veins.

"My demotion period is over now and I have got an offer to return back to Shimla within a week. I was indecisive about this whole thing, but now I know what would be better for all of us."

Abhay felt tongue tied, his eyes wild and his vision hazy with palpitation. Khusi turned to give him a final look and strode away, but not before jabbing, "I am taking the offer, because I don't have anyone here to stay behind."

Abhay knees wobbled as he stumbled back and sank down on his knees, his teary eyes fixed on the back of the only woman he had ever loved.

• • •

It was 11 in the morning when Yuti climbed down Abhay's bed, her tiny fingers rubbing the sleep away. Yawning loudly, she was about to brush her teeth when a clank of broken glass caught her attention. She quickly rushed out of the room and down the staircase, scared her father might hurt himself with broken glass.

Her steps came to a screeching halt when she saw the condition of their drawing room. The glass center table was tossed on the other side of the room, antique show pieces thrown across the room. Several ceramic vases shattered into multiple pieces were scattered around the floor and the couches were upside down.

In the middle of the room, her father was sitting, hunched over, leaning on the armrest of a tossed-over couch. A tumbler of brownish liquid in his grasp and glass fragments from the shattered alcohol bottles splattered around him.

"Papa," she mumbled and skidded over to him, not bothering at all about the glass pieces and ceramic shrapnel. Abhay grief stricken face qucikly morphed into a wry smile and he swiftly wiped his tears away.

"Hey," he whispered with a tight throat but quickly cleared it. He didn't want Yuti to suspect anything. But he was also worried about her. It was obvious Yuti would miss the mother figure terribly after Khusi's departure.

"What happened?" she asked, her eyes scanning everything around her.

"Nothing sweetheart. Let's go, we need to prepare the breakfast." Abhay tried to distract her and was about to push himself on his feet when Yuti grabbed his shoulders.

"Papa. What happened?" she asked with a no nonsense tone, her eyes stern. Abhay swallowed a painful lumb down his throat and pressed his lips in a thin smile, shaking his head when Yuti narrowed her eyes.

A shallow breath escaped past Abhay's lips and he plopped down back on the floor, his eyes welling up again. He bit his lips to keep the tears at bay.

"Is it about Khusi miss? Where is she?" Yuti asked, looking around her. She was still oblivious about Khusi's promotion.

"Uh, she has to go." Abhay didn't want Yuti to ever blame Khusi for his miseries. If she was leaving, he wanted her daughter to have the best impression about her.

"Where?" Yuti asked, dread audible in her tone.

"Back to her city."

Yuti's mouth snapped shut and she stared back at Abhay for several seconds. Abhay knew she would be in shock too, but he didn't want to hide the news from her daughter. They have coped up with several grief-stricken incidents together. They would manage this time as well. At least he would try. He might not succeed but he would try. Losing the love of his life could take a toll on him but he would try to survive for Yuti's sake.

"And you're letting her go? That easily?" Yuti asked, in an incredulous manner as if she can't imagine the audacity of her father.

"What?" Abhay was not expecting that question from her.

"Don't you love her? Don't you say we should always fight for the right cause?" Yuti's questions caught Abhay off guard.

"How ... how do know that?"

"C'mon papa! And you're letting her walk away. Shame on you!" Yuti hollered, flanking her arms to smack Abhay's shoulders.

"What .. ?" Abhay was too gobsmacked at Yuti's behaviour but also at the realization of what he was doing. He was wasting time, wallowing in self pity rather than trying to convince Khusi to stay.

He realised why his resolve had weakened because he had felt guilty for uttering those harsh words at Khusi.

With a new found determination, Abhay shook his head and pushed himself on his feet, adrenaline rushing in his veins. Why was he giving up so early and easily? He still have a chance to fix it. Khusi was still in Chamba and he could still talk her out of it.

"You're right. Why am I giving up on her ? My love for her is not that weak that a few moments of rage would crumble it." Abhay nodded to himself and strode upto a sink to wash his face.

As he wiped his face with the towel, he knew what he had to do. And he wouldn't give up on her, ever.

"Exactly. Go and bring her back papa." Yuti cheered and took a cookie out of the jar to munch on it, as Abhay sauntered out of the bungalow.

• • •

Tears were profusely running down Khusi's cheeks as she tried to pack her leftover things into a cardboard box. After the apartment was trashed, there were only a handful of things from her old life which was still intact. She would literally need 30 mins to pack everything in.

But she didn't want to. She couldn't bring herself to pack her stuff. Cause that meant she would seal her fate of leaving the town. No matter how much she tried to deny it, she knew she was inevitably in love with the OC of the town. Her heart was breaking at the realization that she might be losing the only person who had ever truly loved her for her selfish behaviour and her past traumas.

Sobs wracked her body as old memories of their time spent together flooded in her head. How would she survive without his presence beside her, his touch, his kisses?

But it was for the best. She felt guilty of using Abhay as a rebound. 'He deserved better,' she thought only to sob the next second at the mere thought of another woman in his life. She would die of heartbreak if any other woman ever appeared in Abhay's life.

"Hai durga ma. Kichu akta koro. Ami jete chai na oke chere. Akta ontoto isara koro," she mumbled below her breath, her throat tightening with emotions. A steady pouncing was wreaking havoc inside Khusi's foreheads for crying for the last few hours.

(Oh Goddess Durga. Please do something. I don't want to leave him. Please show me atleast one sign.)

"KHUSI!"

As if on cue, a loud voice boomed outside the house and Khusi's eyes snapped open. A wide smile broke on her face and she looked up at the ceiling, with welled up eyes.

"Jai maa Dugga!" she exclaimed and jumped down her bed, her feet scampering across the house to open the main door.

Abhay was standing on the porch of her house, his face a mask of anxiousness and budding determination. As soon as she hurled the door open, their gaze collided.

Brown and grey, drinking up each other's countenance. Khusi's face was scrunched up with sorrow and hopelessness, his cruel words long forgotten. She just needed him to tell her one more time 'to stay' for his sake. And she would.

Both of them stared at each other, not sure what to say, when Abhay decided to take the first step.

Clasping her small hands in his big callous ones, he gently kissed them and sank down on his knees in front of her, his emotions flooding. Khusi's eyes rounded at Abhay's actions, but before she could interrupt, he professed, "I am begging you Khusi, please don't go. Please don't leave me."

He sniffed and Khusi's heart broke a little at the intensity of Abhay's voice. She stared back at him, with teary eyes and lips parted in shock

"If you feel like this is too much pressure, you don't have to stay at our home anymore. You don't have to stay in contact with me if you think that I am unworthy of you. But please don't depart from this town. I would watch you from afar silently and that would be enough for me for the rest of my life. I wouldn't ever pressurize you and ask for anything else. But please don't leave," he cried, tears running down his cheeks, his forehead touching their interlinked palms as he spoke his heart out.

Khusi was stunned at Abhay's confession. How could one human being be that selfless? Both of them were aware of how much sexually attracted they were to each other, how much they loved each other. And he was still ready to sacrifice all of that for her comforts?

She asked Durga Maa for a single sign and here she was giving her more than a dozen reasons why she should stay. Not everyone gets their true love in their life. But Khusi knew she already was beside her soul mate.

A sob left Khusi's throat and her legs wobbled as she dropped down on her knees as well. Abhay's head shot up, panic evident on his face when Khusi cupped his cheeks and replied, "Ami kothau jabo na. Tomar songei thakchi baki jibon ta."

"What?" he asked, panic and confusion visible on his face. She didn't realise that she had said those words in her mother tongue, out of emotional outburst.

She chuckled and sniffled at the same time, a wide grin plastered on her face as she leaned her forehead against his. "I'm not going anywhere. I want to stay with you for the rest of my life."

Abhay was flabbergasted for a second at her words. He stared back at her with a gaze full of hope and astonishment.

"Really?" he asked, his tone barely audible.

"Yes." Khusi whispered against his lips and snaked her fingers into his hair. With a gentle tug she pecked him, making Abhay laugh out nervously.

"Oh my god. She's not leaving me. She's not going," he whispered to himself and pulled Khusi into his embrace. Nestling his face into her hair he closed his eyes for a minute to catch his breath and breathed into her smell.

Khusi felt like the biggest douche to reject a man like him, who loved her with every fiber in his body. Tightening her arms around his waist, she snuggled into his broad neck as well, dreading to even imagine existing without him.

After basking into each other's presence for several minutes, Abhay pulled away from her and cupped her jaw with his rough hands. Before Khusi could blink, his lip was on her as the two passionately kissed each other on the porch of the house. Tingles went down their spines and Khusi wanted to tear his clothes apart, but they couldn't.

Khusi pulled away from him and Abhay grinned at her. A weight seemed to have lifted off Khusi's chest as they stood up and stared at each other adoringly.

"C'mon. Help me pack my last belongings," Khusi instructed and signalled with her head, stepping back inside the house. Abhay's smile vanished at her words, his heart dropping to his stomach. But her next words made his heart flutter and the soles of his feet tingle.

"I am permanently shifting in our home with you, love."

~ • • • • • ~

A emotional roller coaster. That is what exactly this chapter was for me. 🤧

A very sweet reader of mine, Devilish_grinner , made these lovely covers for Not Her. Aren't they beautiful? 😍💗🥰🤭

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if you're liking my story. 😇🥰

See'Ya 💫❤