Abir walked back to CCU with two cups of black coffee to the isolated corridor...

It was the second night of Rajshri being admitted in the hospital.

Yesterday the doctors had said that her tumour had started metastasising....slowly but steadily invading her organ systems...

It was hard for him just listen to those words....and Mishti....she was crumbling before his eyes....

It had taken him all his will not to take her in arms and soothe away her agonies if they could alleviate them in any way....
And the thought had shocked him so much that he could not bear to stand beside her....and had left her in Kunal's hands....

As he walked further his eyes fell on the tired frame of Mishty...she was sitting on the steel chair meant for bystanders, and his legs felt as if it weighed tonnes...

Mishti sat with her elbows on knees...her palm supporting her forehead.

She had much more in hands than Badimaa......

The only relief of the day was Badimaa's tired smile...Abir and she were allowed to visit her in CCU just for a couple of minutes....but it was like a lifeline for Mishti to see her badimaa fighting off the treacherous enemy within her...

Kuhu..she had a gash on her shoulder when a branch struck her hard in the storm last day and several bruises as a result of falling down a bit through the steep trail...

Abir had taken her to ER to do the stitches and made her take the tet shot...

Then her friends ,their families...all had dropped in the hospital to check on them and to comfort them.... Badimaa was so well known in their locality for her kind and pleasant nature and Mishti could see the shock upon their faces to know that she had brain tumour...!

Her mind wandered to the conversation she had with Avi's mom....

Avi's mom was a nice woman and she had known her for some years...after comforting her about her Badimaa she had discreetly apologised for her son's actions.... then she saw Abir come with Kuhu.....

Mishti had moved to help Kuhu who looked very weak...and it was then Avi's mom asked her who he was...

"Actually aunty ...this is ...umm...Abir.. a family friend..."

She had explained shortly, trying to hide her quiver in voice...Avi's mom nodded with a polite smile to him, taking in the explanation...

But Abir had swiftly corrected her...

"No aunty, I am family..Haina Mishti?.".

The depth of his voice was synonymous to the depth of emotion in his eyes...and she was left without any words....

He was right ...he was family....wasn't he?
She had chewed down the bitter feeling that welled up in her for a moment.

Mishti sighed and took out her phone...last night she had sent Kuhu and Kunal home...Kuhu wanted to stay with her...but she was in no condition to do that...she was sure that Kunal would take care of her .

But this morning Kunal had informed her that Kuhu was having fever...he had brought change of clothes for her and Abir and some toast for breakfast...and left almost immediately...

From then on she had been calling up him in every two hours to know about Kuhu''s condition...

"Ha...Mishti...bukhaar utar Raha hai.....now I don't feel the need to put wet towel on her forehead..."

Kunal said in a reassuring tone...he had picked up the phone in the first ring itself and fed her with the much needed information.

"Woh kuch khaya Kya...Kunal...Aur tum bhi...?"

"Zyada toh nahi..but I made her eat some toast...poor girl.. she is finding it hard to cope with all this...aur chup bhi nahi ho rahi....she feels bad about letting you stay in the hospital alone..."

"Use Kaho ki Meri tension mat le...mein theek hoon..ummm...Abir bhi hai na .."

"Ya..Abir bhayya is the only reason why she is not running to you at the moment...btw ...you had any food..?.waise Bhai toh tumhe bhookhi nahi rakhegi..phir bhi pooch Raha hoon"

Mishty noticed Abir walking to her with coffee cups...

"Haan mein kha loongi na..."

"Koi bahana nahi....you know your responsibility right..you need to be strong...Aur haan khane kr barre mein Bhai see jhagda bhi nahi karogi....Jo woh kahega tum maanogi... promise me!."

Mishti was hearing Kunal talk like that for the first time...the no- nonsense tone ....and it brought a smile on her face even in the grim situation....he is even taking good care of Kuhu.!

Well both the Rajvansh bros were too similar in that aspect... Mishti thought wryily as she put away her phone and took the cup from Abir''s hand muttering a thank you...

She found him place himself besides her...silently sipping the coffee...

He had noticed her thin smile on her lips as she toyed with her phone...

"Kunal?"

"Hmm..."

"Kuhu ...how's she feeling now?"

"Better, he says..."

And then the silence stretched , making Mishty wonder how could they be sitting by each other and sip the coffee solemnly....according to Kunal there must be firecrackers....!

Mishti stifled a sigh...how true...! firecrackers were there...! inside her...!

"umm..Parul massi has made arrangements for massima's treatment...have you given a thought about moving to New York....?"

Abir asked casually..

Mishti blinked ...itni jaldi.....!!

"But..."

"Mishti.. doctor ne bataya na. Massimaa keliye Kitni jaldi aggressive treatment start karegi utni unke ache hone ke chances hai.."

Abir's's voice was low with sadness...and Mishty nodded, tears itching to spill from her eyes...

"Tum socho aur mujhe batao ki kab tak hum.Massima ko New York le jaa sakthe ho."

They had their sandwitches in silence .

Abir...stretched out his limbs and plugged his airpods onto his ears....

Mishti was unaware of the whole world lost in her own thoughts...

Moving to New York....!!,

It will be temporary....she knew it somehow...tomorrow she has to clear all the bills...and . Kuhu''s college....packing....

She never knew when her eyes drooped and she slipped into an exhausted slumber.....

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

Mishti opened her eyes groggily...something rough rubbed against her forehead.....she was feeling unusually warm...and cozy....!

She wore her pale blue cardigan ...but could it give such a good feel...?

She stirred and was startled when she felt a strong arm tighten around her instinctively.....

Her eyes darted to the arm holding her waist through the small of her back...then to the other side to the owner of that hand.....

Abir was sleeping with abandon..his breathing in a peaceful rhythm......

Mishti felt her heart stop right then....!!

OMG!!! She was sleeping on his chest....!! And the rough feeling.....her eyes scanned his face and a shy smile bloomed on her lips when she saw the five 'o' clock shadow of his chin.....

She turned her face slightly to allow herself a good view of his face....and her eyes lit up in a tender affection seeing him sleep peacefully...his hair fell onto his eyes, meeting with his dense lashes.....

His nose...which curved just a pinch...gave him the arrogance even in sleep...she had to suppress the urge to slide her fingers along his slightly parted lips...

Mishti felt a bit embarrassed at ogling at Abir when he was so vulnerable....but the feeling of having him so close to her ....was immensely enticing that she wanted every moment of it....

Last night both of them had not blinked an eyelid in their tensed state, and Mishti felt a rush of tears in her eyes when she thought how his presence gave her the courage to face the situation...

He had comforted her ....motivated her....

Now as she scanned his tired face she felt as if he too needed to be comforted ....but...

Suddenly their position seemed awkward to her ....if he awakens now? .what will he think of their closeness....?

Mishti put a hand on to his chest and tried to get up...Abir stirred and his brows formed a frown.....and his arm clutched her more tightly...not ready to let go...

Mishti looked at him helplessly...she knew he needed the sleep very much...but how could she move away from his hold...it will definitely wake him up...also her heart was not at all willing to part with him.

For years she had told herself over and over that she will not see him again in her life and all her feelings for him were her childish fantasy.....she had shut him out from her thoughts and threw tantrums at Badimaa whenever she tried to mention Abir..and gradually Badimaa and even Kuhu stopped referring to the Rajvansh''s in front of her...

But now at this moment she felt as if his arms were her heaven....she felt a surge of excitement of stealing something that she yearned for , knowing that she won't ever get it otherwise...!she was becoming greedy....greedy for the love which was not hers....

Mishti felt her eyes prick with tears of contentment and sadness....she couldn't understand which emotion overwhelmed in her tight chest when she slowly snuggled close to him, placing her palm on his chest and resting her face ........his heart beats soothing her...Abir may hate her for doing this....but she was ready to take the risk......of all things she may have ... these moments with Abir were precious....

A single tear slipped along her cheek...forming a blotch on his white shirt which he wore beneath the half open black jacket......and then she slipped into a content sleep...

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

Kuhu struggled to get up and reach the bedside lamp...

Her lips were parched and her stomach grumbled... she had seen Kunal bring a jug of water and place it beside the bedside table...but as she stretched herself pain shot along her shoulder...

Somehow she pulled herself up in a sitting position and leaned towards the lamp...a dim light filled the room and as she propped herself to lean over to get the jug..... she stopped as her eyes spotted something...

Kunal!!

Kunal was sleeping with his head on the side of her bed, his long legs all stretched on the cold carpeted floor...!

OMG! Kuhu forgot her pain when she moved to him along the bed....

She shook him forcefully..."Kunal.Kunal! Tum kyaa Kar rahe ho.?"

Kunal scrambled onto his knees ...sleep evaporating from him the second he heard Kuhu's frantic voice...

"Kuhu??..tum theek ho?...Kya baat hai ? Kuch chaahiye?"

Kunal rubbed his eyes and looked at her face with panic....

Kuhu returned his look with an glance...

"I am hungry...!"

"Oh! sure !I'll make something for you...bukhaar utar Gaya na?"

Kuhu turned her gaze from him..."i think I still have temperature..."

Kunal frowned in concern and went to the kitchen returning in record time with a glass of warm milk and toast....

He placed the tray on the bed and Kuhu scrunched her nose...

"Milk....! Yuck...! I don't want that...!"

"No way Kuhu..Tum bohot weak ho and you need this...so no argument over the food!"

Kuhu took a long look at Kunal.He shrugged and motioned her to have the food with a slight movement of his eyes....

She cleared her plate and drank the milk with irritating expression...as Kunal watched her in amusement.

"I'll clean up " He took the tray and Kuhu's eyes followed him as he walked out of the room....her prickly expression instantly melting into that of gratitude and affection...

Kunal when came back he found Kuhu still in sitting position but by the far end of the bed....he took her temperature and put on a wet towel on her forehead.

"You sleep well....I'll be here" saying this with a smile Kunal lowered himself on to the carpeted floor...

" Yeh Kya Kar rahe ho Kunal..?"

Kunal tilted his head towards her to find her face set in grim expression.

She might have sensed his confusion....

"I mean you could go to your room and sleep well..." Kuhu said in the same dry tone...

"Kuhu..lekin..!"" Tumhari tabiyath theek nahi Hain...ek side pe itna pain hoga.." Kunal sighed ""haan mein room mein jaake so saktha Hoon ..lekin"

"Then sleep here ..."

Kuhu pointed the vacant space beside her...and then looked at the shocked face of Kunal .it was hard for her to prevent herself from laughing even in her weak state.

Kunal was shocked...! But he masked the expression by letting out a false laugh...!

"uh...uh..!Kuhu.....you are not pulling my leg...!okay..!"

Kunal broadened his chest a bit as he inhaled a gulp of air to hide his nervousness when he looked at the innocent challenging eyes glued to his.

"Besharam ladki ..khud injured hai aur Mera advantage Lena chahthe ho....."

"Kya.advantage....!! TMI ..!! Yeh sab mujhse kyun keh rahe ho...tauba tauba..ek bachi ke kaanon Mein aise gande baat kaise bol lete ho"

Kuhu.. covered up her ears in mock horror...

"Bas...ho gaya drama..." Kunal said in serious tone.

"Okay...!..then fine ...go to your room and get some shut eye...and don't bother about me..."

Kuhu said with a faint shrug preparing herself to lie down as Kubal looked on at her with confused eyes as well as brain...both taking up and registering facts which never were relevant to him...

Why suddenly the night dress she wore caught his attention? He had been close to her...cleaning and applying the ointment on her wound in the evening ....never noticing the way it cling to her slender figure .!! .why the slight blush of her cheeks become more prominent when he looked into her eyes....?

And hell!! Why he was feeling nervous around her? ..

Kuhu laid down herself on the bed carefully as Kunal''s eyes followed her every move ...he winced when she flinched as the wounded shoulder touched the sheet...

"So goodnight ..."

Kuhu smiled at him with a feel of triumph. He had agreed to sleep well and she was happy...

"Okay ...good night!"Kunal said reluctantly as he walked out of the room....

She heard him opening his door and smilingly closed her eyes ...oh! The look on his face was priceless...even though she felt frightfully alone she could not make him sleep on the floor...he was tired too even if not incapacitated as herself...and a peaceful assurance that he was taking rest gave her contentment.

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

Somewhere near by a door squeaked open ....

Abir felt oddly content as the bliss of sleeping so soundly began to lift off slowly.....but before he could open his eyes something moved on his body...and he was thrown out of his slumber.

At first he could not make out what he saw ....but a smile formed at his lips ...even unknown to him...seeing Mishti snuggled to his chest...

Her face held the innocence and purity which snapped open something sweet and aching within him.... then he saw her smile.....and he felt his heart beat erratically....

It took only moments for him to realise their position....his left arm was around her ...his palm on the bare skin on her waist ..beneath her cardigan! and she slept on his chest ....her palm resting on his chest, finger tips touching his skin through the gap between buttonholes....

Abir stiffened!!

No! This is not right..!!He took his hand off her as if it got singed by fire.

Mishti made a miffed sound...suddenly deprived of her protective shield of warmth.....she snuggled closer ...but her comfort had stiffened and her eyes popped open...

To a pair of golden brown eyes which bore irritation....

OMG!! Just as she feared....! Mishty frantically lifted herself off from him, her fingers trembling as she tried to mask it by smoothing her cardigan...

"I am sorry...."

She blurted out as that was the only thing that came to her mouth when she looked at the grim set face of Abir Rajvansh...

He looked away from her, got up and walked away....!

Mishti sat there all numb...! How could he?

And then she knew.....for sure....she could never ever even hope for something special between them...!