Abir retraced his heavy legs to his room in daze...

Did he hear her correctly...?

"use beech mein nahin padna chahiye tha.....it was between me and Avi...Aur agar Avi nn Gusse mein kuch Kar Diya toh....usko.. Abir ko chot lag saktha tha"

Abir didn't know how he reached his room...his mind was in a haze...

He had been so from the moment he saw her...
in the afternoon...

He had always kept himself busy ...college, football matches, library, music , painting and then when he turned 18 he had took the decision to help out in the office..And in years this was the first time he was relaxing ...

in a different sort of way ...

He felt as if he was basking in warm sun in a chill morning...

Massi ma's presence had indeed brought some changes in him....and then Mishti...

Mishti...

She cared for him...

An unknown elation in his mind brought a smile on his face....

He sank into the recliner by the bed...his hands tied to the back of his head....

He didn't understand her....was she pretending?!

His mind raced back in time....

How well he remembered the small girl with wide innocent eyes and thick long braided hair who stood gaping at his home....holding Massima's hand...

He had known about their arrival and about the misfortune that had befallen on the Maheshwari Family...

Vishambhar uncle.... Massima's husband was implicated in a fraud in their company...

RM Enterprise ..

His ..papa had promised him that he would bring back uncle...but he never came back... neither did Vishambhar uncle.

Massima was alone... Maheshwari's were reeling with misfortunes... Shourya uncle's affair had shocked everyone and on the top of it charges for fraud..

Maa just brought massima and Mishty home one day....and he remembered how he had felt an instant urge of protectiveness towards the girl when he saw her bewildered eyes looking at his house....

She was a nice girl....then...

Kunal had instantly bonded with her .

He...being the eldest of the group almost never took part with them in their games....he had hit books ....spent most time in studies and library.....but then there were times when Kunal did his 'tailing his bro' thing and she would be accompanying him too....

They had their good times then....

She was in grief and one day he had seen her sitting alone in the farm shelter crying her heart out ...she missed her Bade papa....and he had identified himself with the pain of losing his papa ...they had formed a bond that day..

Everything had gone smoothly until his fight with Karan and his rogue friends....

They were giving Kunal and Mishti real trouble as they went by the riverside....he was a bit late to reach there...but when he got there the fight had already started....

He had not understood why Karan taunted Mishti about her dad being a killer..

Her face flushed and eyes flamed and she had slapped him...pushed him down and was on him hitting him....

Karan was a 15 year old boy and no way was a match for a skinny girl like Mishty ...and what infuriated him that Karan was enjoying her frustration immensely....

Now how was he supposed to stand still when a girl...his Massima's daughter ...was getting thrashed by that scumbag Karan..and how could he tolerate when someone punched Kunal down....

He had sustained a broken arm, skin peeled from knees and arms .after the fight...but he was happy that he could protect her from those scoundrels...

He didn't understand why Karan grunted.
"...tum iski help Kar rahe ho...jiska baap khooni hai aur bade papa dhokebaaz hai.."

He still remembered how stony her face looked after that incident..something had changed between them...maybe she thought he believed Karan....but then she was by his side to help him with what he needed...books...writing ...anything....but distant..

Kunal would be spending time with ketki..helping her to play jigsaw puzzles or with toys....while he read ...and...she...

He had caught her staring intently at him...repeatedly...as if she wanted to tell something......but when he asked her...

Her reply was icy...she had a determination in her face...... she had told him plainly that she don't expect him to fight each and every one who called her father a traitor...

She had surprised him... he had told her he was just helping her out of that ugly situation...he would have done the same if he had his sister in her place...he was doing just that....she was massima's daughter....he would have given his life to save her if she was in any trouble....and he felt nothing wrong in that.....

But she had not taken his perspective....wonder how the kid got all worked up with sense of independence.....she had said coolly that her problems are hers and she don't want anyone to interfere in it....did she really thought then.. that she could take the boys singlehandedly.?

He was pissed off...you get a broken arm and bruises all over in a fight and instead of a thanks you are getting a cold shoulder....he was irked and could not prevent himself from becoming rude to her....

And from then ...till date....they never had a meaningful conversation...she irritated him in more than many ways....and then he avoided her ...he had his studies....his books ... his painting... why bother about trouble...?

Maa was making arrangements for Massima's relocation to US.....and it was a week before they were to leave that it happened....he had lost his control. She was irking him and somehow it seemed right to... taunt her about ...her dad.....

He had nothing more in his mind than snubbing her ... Somehow snubbing turned into an argument...emotions clouded his judgement....he dragged badepapa's fraud into it...and he called him a cheat....!!

She was stunned by this accusation coming from him...he too couldn't believe what he said ...but before he could say anything further her slap numbed him .....it was not his cheek that got hurt...it was his ego....rage took over him...the boiling anger against her for shattering his peace of mind in his own home...the jealousy which he held seeing her being treated like princess by Mrs. Meenakshi Rajvansh...and the hurt...he never heard a thing from her mouth against Kunal..

Abir sighed as his heart filled with remorse....he was brutal towards her ...he didn't even step out of his room when they were leaving....and even after moving to US he didn't try to contact Massima....

Guilt gnawed his mind.....if he had set aside his pride ...things could have been different....and to come to know now that she did actually care for him....

Abir sat up straight ....better late than never..

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

Mishti's eyes widened in shock as well as delight....

The moonlight flooded the balcony falling at an angle upon him silhouetting his profile and accentuating his muscular built....

She could not believe that she was having goose bumps!! There was something eerie in the silence of the night that gave her a sense of De ja vu....

She had this feeling earlier...! Her numb mind frantically searched an answer.... OMG! The Man..!

But she would not have dreamt of Abir right?
Her question to herself was not answered...her eyes were drinking in his tall form leaning idly on the door frame...

She was dreaming...why would Abir come to her....?

A twinkle in his eye glittered in the moonlight and in that moment something pressed the panic button inside her.

This is not a dream...!!

What was he doing here ..?

And....how long....how long he had been watching her...?

Did he see her.crying?.... OMG!

*******

Abir had been there for roughly ten minutes....he had made up his mind to say sorry for all the inconvenience caused by him...but..

When he saw her in the balcony he found suddenly that he was nervous...

Abir Rajvansh....nervous...!!

She looked cute in her peach silky top and pyjama..almost same as the cute girl whom he remembered ...

And why won't he remember her like that ....
She was doing the exact movement with her sleeves when she cried.....

She was crying...? He felt an urge to comfort her ....as he did earlier ....but he could not bring himself to move....

Then she turned.... Abir was taken aback...did he imagine that....?

But...? He did see a smile on her face upon seeing him...!

She stood before him, her back leaning on to the railing...

The silence between them was in some way unnatural...he saw her sag...and then to his amazement her shoulder's squared ....the vulnerable girl changed to the adamant one...!

She was pretending....!!..

If she hated him ...she would not have displayed this bouquet of emotions...

His brows puckered slightly in confusion...last time he was pissed off by her attitude....but now it seems he had become lucky to note the flaws in her pretence...and he will tread carefully...

"Tum....tum yahaan.. ...?"

Came the question in the well expected frozen voice...

Abir walked to her in careful slow strides...now in total loss about what he was planning to say...

He saw her fidgeting and turn herself away from him....

"umm...mein theek hoon..!"

He didn't know why he said that?!

"Kya kaha?!"

Mishty turned to him frowning ..not understanding what he implied...

"Uh..mein pooch Raha that ki tum theek ho...?" Abir corrected himself hastily as Mishty measured him with a glance...

"Haan...mein...mein theek Hoon... I am perfect...but...why are you here..?"

Mishty was having hard time ...if only he went back to India ...she had erased him.....her mind reminded her...stupid childhood fantasy...

But she heard her heart chuckle...!

"I know tum mujhse nafrat karte ho...aur mujhe bardaash karni pad Rahi hai tumko...lekin agar hum ek doosre se aise behave karthe rahoge toh...hamari families ko tension hogi...Kya tum unke khathir yeh ..hamaari ..beech ki problems..ko.bhula sakthi ho?...."

Abir said in carefully measured tone...fearing her reaction...she was unpredictable...and in any other circumstance he would'nt have given a damn about her reaction...

But now it was not as simple as that...

"Maine kabhi nahi kaha ki mein tumse nafrat karti hoon.!"

Her voice was low but loud enough for him to hear....

"Kya!..tumne kaha tha...uss raat jab mein tumhe kheth se uthaake laaya tha...tum thaki hui thi ....thand pad Gayi thi......neend mein thi....phir bhi batadiya ki tum mere baare mein Kya soch rahi hai...aur aaj Tak mein tumhari soch ko badalne ki koshish bhi nahi Kiya...but now.."

Abir looked at her face filled with horror....and took time to take a deep breath...

"Now ...I am here to give a try...! Can we be friends again?"

She needed to say something.... Mishti was still reeling from the shock delivered to her by Abir..It's true that she held some thing for him....but she was damn sure that it was not hate....if she hated him...then it was only because...... she....

And that was a damn improvement....he took a new course...! He wants them to be friends again...it was too good to be true....!

"Umm...wo......!"

Her voice seemed alien to her ...what was the thing with her throat...?!

Abir shifted his legs as he sat on the railing...and regarded her with a sweeping glance....

"I am really sorry for ruining your day.....I never meant to......I mean I never knew ...that ...he...was a friend..trying to...seal his friendship ..Of course....!"

Was he mocking her in disguise of an apology?

Mishty was not sure....

"Its okay..."she replied dully...."Friend or no friend...it doesn't really matter ...we...we girls get that a lot as part of the parcel...and we do know how to handle it right.."

Abir was relieved when she finished a sentence without any sarcasm or barb...

"Uh! Thank God Ketki abhi bachi hai..I am dreading the day she will meet a boy.....it is pretty hard to play dumb and mute and physically challenged when someone does things like that to people you care in front of your eyes...but then I have you and now Kuhu too....!"

A grim expression set on his face...

"And even if I try I can't pretend that you are strangers for me..."

He saw a shadow pass on her face....

Mishty was gloating when Abir said the bit about renewing their relation in a new way...

But the mention of being his sister...had her hopes plummet down!

No way Mishty....! it's impossible with this dumbo.....he can't even recognise emotions even if she painted them on her face....but why should he....? he had the strong sense of responsibility and duty towards his Massima's daughter way back in years and why would that change now...

Her mind was right ...she was over him....but...

"So agle baar jab milenge ... can we have a nice handshake?"

"Uh...mmm...sure...!"

Mishty heard herself blurt....

Abir got up and looked straight into her eyes...amused by the defiance in them....

Now! What did he do now?

But instead of pressing her he took a polite step away...

"Okay...Nice.. tum thaki hogi......Good night!"

Mishti gathered her wits ...it was never his fault alone....

"Umm..Abir...Kya jaana zaroori hai?"

Abir was about to turn and walk away when the question hit him....

Astonished, he reverted his gaze to her...she was not meeting his eyes...

Abir stood there silently till she lifted her face looked at him with her wide eyes...and her lips moved ...

"I am sorry too...I was way too rude....you were helping me aur Maine saara gussa tumpe nikaal diya..."

"Tum Sach mein chahthi ho ki mein ruk jaaoo?" Abir's voice cut her apology...

Mishti nodded...

A grin on his face blinded her senses...

"To iska Matlab hai ki tumne mujhe thodi maafi di hai......I mean...i will play dump, deaf and PH....if you want me to...stay..."

A smile came up to her lips thinking of the hollowness of his promise...

And then Abir did the unexpected...he had suppressed his guilt for Mishty's transformation and it popped up unknowingly when he saw the wind blow on to her .... pasting her silky top to mould her figure and blow her hair....

His hand went up to her hair...how he missed her long hair...and Mishty held her breath when she saw the emotion flicker in his eyes...

His fingers rubbed the strands feeling its smooth texture....and then with a sigh he withdrew..his eyes asking forgiveness for what he did to hurt her....and her's accepting his apology...

"Bohot der hogayi hai...so jaao.."

Before Mishty could answer a movement by the door distracted them...