"Thud, thud, thud!!"

Mishi could hear her heart drum off beats with threatening boom in her brain....

They were in the Greenville Airport...

Rajshri was sitting on the wheelchair as her accompanying medical personal administered a mild sedation to her...

Mishti tore her eyes from the airfield beyond the glass partition in the lounge to where Kuhu, Kunal and Abir stood.

Their friends had come to see them off and Mishti was grateful to Kuhu for letting her stand by Rajshri. She would not be able to give a logical reply to what they were saying to her in her incoherent condition.

They were about to board the chartered flight to New York...!

The realisation was hitting her hard ....a flight journey.....!!

After 12 years...!!

The memory of her first flight to US 12 years back was clearly etched in her mind....how she embarrassed  all by her shrieks and tantrums....she was damn sure that she was going to die then....
She never wanted to leave...but..!

And over these years she had thought she had gained control over the insecure feeling....but now as she eyed the aircraft which was supposed to hold her hostage for the next three hours....the old fear  resurfaced with much more magnitude......and this time ...she didn't even have the warm comfort of her Badimaa.....

Mishti dug her nails into her hand as she followed Rajshri with hesitant steps waving a reluctant bye to her friends who waved at her....

By the time they reached the stairs Mishti saw Kunal jog to her...

"Hey Mishti ...its okay to be sad...it's sad to leave your friends and the place you grew up...but .it will go away  ...mein hoo na...."

Mishti submitted to his sideways hug in a relief.

 And from a distance Abir too let out a sigh....

He was on nails seeing the terror in her eyes....
The way she was acting weirdly after they reached the airport had made him check on her every moment he could lay her eyes on her....

The way she looked at his Citation Cessna,...

The way she kept close to Massima holding her hand to get some assurance ..., 

The way she took hesitant steps as if she was betting her entire life by getting into the flight......

It was then he realised her fear.....she was claustrophobic..!!

Whenever she used to feel stressed she opted for the open field even as a child...

He wanted to be at her side and reassure her when he saw her vain attempt to derive assurance from holding Rajshri's slumping hand...but then controlled his rising emotions...

He can't do anything...

He doesn't have the right...

Abir turned to Kunal and directed him to take care of Mishti .Kunal also seemed to notice her precarious emotional state and went to her immediately.

 The way she leaned on to him squeezed his heart...but now and forever he must bear this pain.....his brother was a loyal friend and a man of integrity...and he would never give false encouragement to a girl who is his best friend....and so the natural outcome will be their union .

If he has to stand and watch it, its better he trained his mind now....

" Abir bro...?"

Kuhu waved on his face...."you got lost somewhere?!"

"Uh! Sorry Kuhu...you were saying something...."

"Nothing of importance....but ab humein chalna chaahiye...see off Karne keliye thode hi ayye hai....don't you think so?"

Kuhu  giggled as Abir gave her a smile.

They entered the aircraft and Abir saw that Rajshri was placed in her seat pushed back to a lying position... Mishti was looking around with anxious wide eyes....

Kunal  who arranged their on board duffel bags, straightened up with an appreciative grin to Abir....

"Wow Abir bhai....your Cessna is beautiful....!"

Kuhu gave a mild shriek ..

"Abir broooo...this is your personal aircraft...?"

Kuhu looked at Abir with  expectation. Kunal grinned  ...

"Of course Kuhu ...why would I lie??"

Abir shrugged ...

" Not personal..Kuhu.....its my Official Aircraft....and last time I couldn't file the flight details in time as everything was decided suddenly...but for Massima this is the best .So..I made all arrangements personally...."

Abir moved to his seat ....noticing Mishti's bag on the seat across the aisle.

"Wow!! I can't believe..."Kuhu  went on as she was about to sit with a thud into the cosy seat.....

"Kuhu.! slowly....your stitches....!"

Kunal was by her side in a moment and he lowered her on to the seat carefully not causing her to bump her injured shoulder to the seat.....

Even in her panicky state Mishti smiled seeing Kunal's care for Kuhu...

All of them were seated when Abir went to the cockpit..as he returned the pilot's announcement to fasten the seat belt was heard...

He moved to his seat ...but with a lot of concern seeing the ashened face of Mishti..

Massima was sleeping and the medical personal assisting her too were seated comfortably...Kunal and Kuhu were chatting about the DVD to be played during the flight .....

But all the happenings around him faded as he saw her shut her eyes tightly and cup her mouth with her two hands.....

"Nanko .."

Abir called out...but his voice got drowned in the sound of the engine.....

Mishti felt her whole body shake in fear and a nauseous sensation invaded her.....she had promised herself not to scream, and had her hands cupped over her mouth...but when the rumbling of the engine started she was like a deer caught in a head light .....

She felt blood rush into her brain and fill her eyes and the urge to run was the only thing she registered.....she tugged her seat belt to free herself in her disjointed state....

Next second she found someone beside her , helping her ease out of her seat belt and the next moment he seated himself on her seat pulling her onto his lap and soothing her.....

"shhh... Mishti... Mishti ...chup...ho jaao....it will be over soon.....!"

His voice and the warmth in his hold....

Mishti could not hold out her tears longer as she hugged him back clutching onto her dear life ....

Her tears smeared his pale blue striped white t shirt...

It felt like eternity.....

The feel of  soft heat beneath her flannel shirt and soft jeans  was maddening ...she was clinging on to him as her last refuge, her head resting on the crook of his neck, her tears ..wetting his skin...

Abir was struggling with his urge to kiss her teary eyes.....

He even would have done that... only thing that prevented him from doing that was Kuhu's worried enquiry.....

"Mishti??? Kya hua achanak??tum..theek ho..??"

Abir was about to disengage her from him that he felt Mishty hold him tight.. ...sobbing softly.......the aircraft was now comfortably airborne and Kuhu and Kunal were straining in their seat belts with concerned look....

Abir looked at both with a twinge of regret....

"She is claustrophobic Nanko....! Let her be stable ...."

"Oh!! Okay..!yes..Abir bhai...its okay....."

Kunal looked at Kuhu with reproach.

"Mishti ko batana chahiye tha...... ..Kuhu...you could have told me...I would have bought some herbals with us...."

Kunal was frustrated by the fact that Mishti was actually afraid of the flight while he thought she was sad about leaving Greenville...

"Sorry Kunal .but ...I thought .... ..She had overcome the fear....and maybe she didn't want to be made fun for this...."

Kuhu reached out and   held Kunal's arm and he seemed to cool off....

Slowly, very slowly Mishti opened her eyes.....when her senses began to quite down to normal she recognised the scent of cologne that was soothing her.....she could not make out her position when her eyes opened to the adam's apple of a man....which was familiar....!

Instinctively she recognised him and loosened her hold around him....

She sat up placing her hands on his chest for support and colour rushed to her face as she found herself on his lap.....!

Abir was leaning on the push back seat when he felt her stir....of course she would be embarrassed ....now....will she be mad at him?!

He was anticipating something like that from her ...but was taken aback by the blush that crept onto her cheeks....highlighting the beauty of her distinct angular face.....

"Uh!! You were tearing apart my Cessna ....so I just held on to you....."

Abir made a light aired effort to explain....

"Thank you ...!"

Mishti said in earnest as she got up...holding on to the seat still with a fear....

Abir saw gratitude in her eyes and sighed in relief.....she was not mad at him...

"Ab theek ho?"

He asked handing over her some tissues..

Mishti nodded.

"Mishti..tu ne toh  dara hi diya.....tumhe bataana chahiye that na...."
Kuhu came beside her  while Kunal pulled Mishty to him and lifted her chin...

"Tumhe mujhe batana chahiye tha..waise toh Tere  baare mein Sab kuch mujhe pata hai...lekin yeh toh new information hai...  ...see how I  lost the chance to save you from your  ...what was that..ha...claustrophobia...Abir Bhai is always a step ahead of me...."

Mishti smiled weakly at both...

"Badimaa...?"

"She is fine and still in sedation...." informed the medical assistant.

Abir was about to rise from the seat and Mishti stopped him....

"Tum..yahi..baitho...I'll move there ."

She could not sit there with all the fibre in her body tingling with happiness....Abir eyed at her with an "are –you –sure "look.

"I'll do some reading ....then I'll calm down "

Mishti said ..to reassure him as she leaned on to the side of the seat where she tucked her duffel bag.....

Suddenly the aircraft wobbled along with pilot's intimation about the plane entering an air pocket.

Before Kunal could hold Mishti...she was already in Abir''s arms ...her whole body shivering desperately....

"See I missed again!"

Kunal grinned at Abir who was trying hard to mask the surprise and happiness that he was experiencing...

Kuhu giggled at his joke as she pulled Kunal  to the seat and told him to put the seat belt...

The turbulence was finally over and Mishti was mortified completely by her actions....as she tried to put a distance between her and Abir, he held her hand....

"Yahaan mere paas hi baitho... ....you'll feel safe..."

Safe....she was feeling safe...in his arms....all her insecurities faded in his arms....but he was extending a brotherly gesture ....she was very much affected by his touch...the feel of his body close to him.....but he seemed normal,...cool....unaffected ,....

Mishti sat beside him, holding her bag....

"You can relax now ....why don't you put on your ear plugs...listen to some music and you'll be okay..."

Abir tried to sound impersonal...battling with his own will....

He just wanted her to snuggle close to him and let him protect her.....

******

"Your refreshment ladies...."

A voice made Mishti to open her eyes....she was sleeping on Abir's shoulder.... again..

"Ah! Mark....thank you so much...."

Kunal  rolled on his sleeves to attack the food tray placed before him...but stopped his action in midway when he spotted Mark eyeing  Abir and Mishti with a hidden delight ....

Mark was Abir's Personal assistant and they were closer than the supposed employer employee relationship....and with one look on Mark's face Abir guessed his train of thought with horror....he looked at Kunal and saw him too looking intently at Mark's face...

Oh! No....!!! He knew that look of his baby brother and it terrified him.

Mishti had sat up and innocently adjusted her sweater as she smiled at Mark....

Before Mark could comment ...Abir jumped to introduce them....

"Kuhu.., Mishty...this is Mark  ...my Personal assistant ...."

"Hi Mark ... I am Mishti"

Mishti extended her hand intending a shake hand ...but to her surprise Mark took it to his lips...

"Nice to meet you young lady...."

His eyes slipping to Abir's glaring ones in mischief....

Kuhu too got the same treatment but Kunal noticed the eye to eye communication between Abir and Mark....

"Whoa  ...Mark hold on.....don't jump into conclusions man...!"

Kunal  laughed as Mark looked a bit confused ...and Abir suppressed a groan.

"Abir bhai...haha... Mark thinks that you both...haha."

He looked at Mishti and Abir amidst his laughing session...and continued...

"He thinks you two are a couple..!!OMG...!! Mark....its not like that .... Mishti is like his kid sister....and you were thinking them as lovers...hahaha....."

Mark turned to Abir and Mishti...his eyes in askance...

Abir  knew his friend would pick up a trouble for him...but Kunal''s declaration was somewhat unexpected ....he felt his heart sink in even deeper despair.....and the moment he looked at her face.....he regretted looking at her ....

Mishti's face was ashened....!

When Mark's enquiring glance met his eyes ....Abir knew he had to do some damage control....after all Mishti despised even the thought of them being..hmm...a couple...her reaction the best proof for what she felt.....he thought grimly and nodded....

"Ya Mark ....Kunal is right..."

Mark apologised sweetly and with a slight bow of the head took his leave....

"Mark....can you help me to be seated please...."

Mishti was on her feet next second and was clutching her bag gingerly as she eyed the empty seat across the narrow aisle.

"Sure ma'm....hold on to my hand..."

Mark extended his hand and helped Mishty to be seated and secured her seatbelt.

Mishti was fuming inside with anger, despair and helplessness....

She had hoped and hoped and hoped but......

Kid sister...!! My foot...! I don't want to be his kid sis ...but ...if he feels like that what can she do....she can't even open her mind to him.....she had thought of confessing her love for him in a million ways....but if she did that .....He will despise her!

The rest of the journey, two hearts which were beating for the other tormented itself to agonising extends....making its owners miserable...

                                ************************************

Mishti walked beside her badimaa....her mind still in tumult...

They didn't speak to each other after the small talk with Mark....Abir even didn't try to help her with her fear which she felt when she glanced out of the window to notice the bright city lights....but it didn't matter any way...Mark was a true help by her side talking to her about the city and his flight experience that she didn't even knew that they have safely landed .... 

There was no pilots announcement regarding the landing which struck odd to her ....

Rajshri was awake and was holding on to Mishti's hand....

"Beta...tum theek ho na...kuch hua toh nahi?? ......."

Kuhu giggled....

"Of course Dadi..yeh toh hum Sab ko Dara hi Diya tha.......she managed because she was sitting on Abir bro's ....uhh..."

"Shut up Kuhu." Mishti slapped her a bit tightly that she almost yelled.

" Ouch... Mishty..maar kyun rahe ho.." she pouted in pain.

"Okay...sorry....but no more pulling my leg on that...."
She said to both of them as Rajshri smiled resignedly.

Mishti felt as if her breath got caught up in her throat when she found Abir jogging up to them and with much right took the handle of wheelchair from her hands....

Her skin prickled and she took a deep breath.....I am not going to crumble....she said firmly in her mind....