Next morning..

Abir sat up on his bed ... disheveled..both in look and in mind...

Sleep was eluding him... instead she tortured him..her smile,talk, touch.. everything was etched in his mind...

His alarm rang and he shut it off as he slid off from the bed...

The icy pricks of shower did nothing to improve his state of mind..

Abir checked the time...half n hour still for aarti...

He would skip today... and breakfast too.. a glass of juice will do and he will be out of here just like the days before... 

Before he could see her and lose himself again.

Abir double downed the stairs and went to Mandir..

"Partner...mujhe sambhaalna....".

Abir wished earnestly with closed eyes and folded hands....

He inhaled the sweet fragrance and his brows twitched...

Honey..!!??

Mishti came out of Rajshri's room carrying  aarti thaali with lit diya..

Seeing Abir at Mandir she paused...

Then.. slowly stood by him...

Abir opened his eyes to see Mishti looking at him extending the thaali..

He automatically raised his hands to venerate  but with his eyes homing into her face...

Suddenly Mishti held his hand..

" ...Abiir....dhyaan kidhar ho.tumhaara.haath jal jaate .....

Abir... withdrew his hand fast..

"Sorry..woh mein..."

" Yeh lo Prasad..."

Abir took the Prasad silently ...nodded and walked to the dining table...

Meenakshii stood by the door of her room silently looking at their interplay  skeptically.

She let out a sigh and went to Mishty...

"Mishti beta tum Rajshri ke liye aarti le gayi.. ..itni jaldi..."

"Haan..woh Chotimaa..woh Maine aapse Kal kaha that na..." 

Mishti eyed Abir as he disturbed the cutlery on the dining table..

"woh...Kuhu aur Meri college admissions ke liye... documents saare Maine pehle hi submit Kiya hai..aaj ka appointment Mila hai.. Don't know how much time the whole thing will take..so I thought... better start early...

" Haan tumne bataya tha  ki aaj tumhe jaana hai..toh Maine Yeh MetroCard ka intezaam Kiya ...tum is se Subway mein travel Kar sakthi ho...Tumhari aane jaane keliye yeh theek rahega..."

" Thanks Choti maa." 

Mishti said in thrilled voice..

"This is too good...Maine Socha that ki aap mujhe kisi driver ke saath bhej doongi...aur kitna boring hoga..aap ne toh Meri Mann ki sunn li....ab Maza aayega.."

"Tumhe achi lagegi isliye aisa Kiya...aur tumhare phone pe Metrotransport ka app bhi download karna...theek hai..."

" Haan Chotimaa...karloongi...mein jaldi tayyar hoke aati Hoon."

Mishti hurried to her room.

Abir sipped his Orange juice in confusion..

Maa is letting Mishti go by herself ....That too by public transport.. subway..??...she doesn't even know where to go...what if..

How could Maa be so casual about her safety...

" Are..Abiir....itni jaldi office jaa rage ho...aarti bhi nahi huyi.."

Parul asked as she spotted Abir in deep thoughts..

" Tum itna pareshaan kyun lag rahe ho...woh Kal.."

Meenakshi's eyes signalled Parul not to ask anything about yesterday.

"Woh...Kyu aaj koi important meeting hai Kya ? Maine abhi tak mails check nahi Kiya..Uma Patel ne kuch intimation Diya hai Kya?"

"Nahi Massi ..waise aaj toh routine hi hai... Project ka daily evaluation karna hi hai.."

"Acha toh mein breakfast lagva deti hoo.. Mishti ko bhi baahar jaana hai.."

"Massi ...Nanko...utha nahi Kya...?" Abir asked Parul.

" Kunal....woh to abhi abji hi jogging ke liye nikla tha"..

Abir went to finish his toast and as he saw Mishti coming down he stood up and shouted to Parul...

" Massi ..I am.leaving..."

Meenakshiii was sitting in the living room as Abir passed her with a curt nod..

" Mishti beta Breakfast Kar lo" Parul called her from the dining table.

"Ji massi...aati Hoon.. Chotimaa..aap bhi..."

" Nahi beta ..aarti ke baad...aaj mein Rajshri ke saath breakfast karoongi.."

Mishti hastily had her Breakfast ..She was excited to venture out...

New York..!!! 

Her mind yelled at her..even though she had important work to complete she knew she would enjoy the day...

Kunal was vexed to hear about her appointment...he too wanted to come with her ..but they had made all arrangements for Abir's birthday party and there was still the decoration part...last night they had told Kuhu about their plans and she jumped at the responsibility of decorating the venue..

Now she needs to be back fast to lend a helping hand at the last-minute preps....

" Massi.. Chotimaa see u later.."

" Be safe beta...woh app download Kiya na?"

Meenakshiii enquired again with slight apprehension...Parul too seemed concerned..

" Haan Chotimaa...I will be safe...aap log tension mat lijiye.."

Mishti tugged her denim hood and walked briskly to the crossroads.

Suddenly a car slided beside her...

Mishti panicked...

" Mishty...come on in..I want to talk to you..."

"Abiiirr.... what's this...tum office Gaye the na..phir"

" Come inside and I will tell you.." Abir said patiently.

"Lekin...."

"Mishti tum baithogi ya mein baahar aake tumhe ander bithaaoon.."

Noting the warning tone Mishti relented.

"Abiir...iski koi zaroorath nahi hai...I will manage on my own...tumhara office "

" Tum akeli kahi nahi jaane waali ho... understood? Pata nahi maa Kya Sochkar tumhe akeli jaane Diya...tum Kunal ko saath mein aane ko kyun nahi kaha?"

" Kunal..."
Mishti stuttered...

" He has class today..use college jaana tha na..isliye..But Abir I can totally do moving from point A to B...mein Choti bachi thodi hoo..."

" Exactly...aur tumhe is city ki baare mein Kya knowledge hai... public transport safe Hain..lekin kuch problem hua toh...pata nahi Kya karogi Tum..kisko bulaaogi...kaun help keliye aayega...."

Abir asked heatedly..

" Toh mein tumhein call karloongi na.."

Mishty replied with equal fervor...then realizing what she just said ... bit her lips..

Abir was taken aback by her answer and his eyes twinkled as a smile crept into his lips...

"Woh ..mein...."

Mishty tried to back out of her statement but when she looked at him she couldn't resist the smile which transformed his face..

" Toh tum agree Karthi ho na mere tumhare saath aana hi behthar choice Hain??!"

Mishti nodded.. slowly...

.

She secretly pinched herself to ensure that she was not daydreaming...

Abiir...with her... lekin...

"Abir...Your work? Office ? You were in a hurry."

Mishti asked concerned..

"Haan ..hum pehle office jaayenge...I need to delegate some work then we will go to.. kahaan kahaan apply Kiya hai?"

"NYU and fordham University.."

"Hmm..Good choice..Office aagayi...tum reception mein baitho...I will be back soon.."

Mishti was in awe at the splendor of Rajvansh group of companies Head Office..

Multistoryed.....just the reception area befitted the hospitality tradition of India....

Abiiirr.. her thoughts came back to him...

He was going to office...

But is now cancelling today's whatever work he has just to take her for University visit..!!!

She suddenly smiled how out of character he would look in his blazers and suit in a campus.

Well...he is the one who is insisting on coming....let him be..

She was still lost in thoughts looking at the artwork on display when someone tapped her shoulder..

" Liked it?.."

" Uh.. "

Mishti turned to face a young man looking at her in askance..

" Yeah..it's surreal..." She  said civilly.

" I know.. I know and I wish I were the artist who did that and he had the what... passion to show this to the world.."

Mishti checked out the initials ..AMR...

"Are you here for a job interview?"

He asked his eyes on her now.

" N.No...just visiting a..a... friend.." Mishti turned her gaze away discouragingly..

"Okay...but who knows ...what is in store for us in future....if you want one contact me..Hi I am Neil.."

Mishti could not very well ignore the extended hand .

" Mishti Agarwal.."

"Sweeeet..."

Neil smiled as Mishti withdrew her hand.

"Hope we meet again.."

Neil waved as he walked away.

Mishti rolled her eyes but then they went back to the initials...

AMR....AMR...the way R curved down ignited something in her memory...the notebooks in which young Abir used to doodle flashed before her eyes...

Abir Meenakshiii Rajvansh.!!?!

OMG...Abir made this?!

Mishti was so immersed in her discovery that as someone tapped her shoulder she didn't even turn..

Again the tapping on the shoulder...

" Now what??...you want to know about my Friend??"

"Uhh.!! Mishti..kaunsa friend?"

Abir's voice  startled her...

" Woh woh mein tumse nahin...."

It was then she noticed the changes.

"Abir...yeh..."

He has changed into denims..and casual t-shirt with a black jacket.

He was toying with a cap and ...a backpack too..!!?

" Tum ne Kya Socha?? Mein yeh subway. mein woh suit pehenke jaanewala tha...and stick out like a sour thump in NYU campus..No way...theen saal ke baad ek outing pe jaa Raha hoon..I told Mark to improvise.!"

"Lekin ...I thought hum tumhare car se jaa rahe Hain..."

Mishti said in disbelief...

" Nahi...Maa ne itne Pyaar se tumhe MetroCard Diya hai..aur tumhara bhi Mann tha na ki aise jaane ka...Roz Roz mein thodi tumhe chodne aaoonga...So this first time I will come with you..mujhe bhi pata chalega Tumhari route and transport ke baare mein..okay?

Mishti nodded her agreement in awe...

"Ab Chalo.." Abir turned to walk but was stopped by fingers curling delicately on his wrist....

"Yeh painting tumne banaya Haina...?"

Abir looked at her strangely....

" Tumhe kaise.?..kisine bataya kya..? But....I never....I just told everyone that I brought it from street artist.! tumhe Pata kaisa Chala..?."

"I just...just knew...and it's very beautiful..!"

Both took a moment to look at the beautiful landscape of sunflower garden, mountains and a girl bending to pick a flower....her lustrous hair partially hiding her face..

"I did this three years back....it was like a fever then....took more than one month to finish...but it was like an obsession or dream....at that time..."

Abir said as if living those moments now..

Mishti let go of her hold suddenly...a memory of what happened to her 3 yrs back prickled her senses...

"Ummm...Ab chale...we are going to be late..."

Abir asked and Mishti nodded .... shaking away the feeling of deja vu that came over her.

Abir asked one of the  Office drivers to drop them at Subway station and Mishti saw their amusement at his request..

As they walked to the  car they were being watched by two sets of eyes..

One with amusement and another with burning fury..

On their way Abir pointed out significant places related to Indian community..his work..

They reached the subway station and before wading into the morning rush he took hold of her hand...just like that.. .. ...as they skimmed through the hoard of people to their designated platform...

Mishti didn't register anything....

The way his hand moulded over hers.......the subconscious possessiveness reciprocating unconsciously..

She was gliding along him...as a part of his being..

As they reached the platform the metro eased before them...

Both were stepping into when someone pushed Mishti ...making her miss a step..

She was deftly pulled close to the warm wall of care as Abir shouted after the guy..

Mishti put a hand on his chest...

" Abiir...rehnedo...galti Meri bhi hai...main dhyan nahi de Rahi thi..."

Mishti's action affected Abir more than her words..her closeness to him registered at that moment..and he relaxed his hold allowing both of them to move away but held her hand more securely...

" Toh tumhe  aise confined spaces and underground stations mein woh..attacks aate hai Kya...?"

Abir asked once they settled for the half-hour journey ...

"I don't know..we don't have these in Greenville..and it's my first time in New York...but...I am okay.. actually..fine...I don't think this is affecting me..."

Nothing is going to affect me other than the person sitting beside me...so casually...while I am..basking in his radiance...

Mentally slapping her head Mishti turned her gaze to his backpack..

" Ismein Kya hai..work?"

"No... ismein Hain ...Passion..." Abir took out his DSLR out carefully and looked for something to capture.

"Wow.painting...now. photography...nice.." Mishti smiled in approval..

Abir turned to her as she tried to manage the bangs falling into her specs....her bracelet dangling by ....and clicked...

"Abiir yeh Kya.?..aise kaise..?"

Mishty protested ..

"Are...mein aur kisika pic lete toh problem Jo jaayega na...it's not right to click pics of ppl without asking their permission...tum to Meri saath ho na..aur mein candid photos acha Leta Hoon"

Abir said with a twinkle and innocence in his eyes that Mishty had to smile...

"May I...abhi permission doge..."

Mishti nodded...and Abir let out a happy sigh.

"Great...toh today I am the photographer and you are my muse ... Cataloguing Mishty''s Day Out  in New York.. okay with you?"

Mishti felt her heart swell seeing the carefree... excited and happy version of Abir...the man who owned an airplane is sitting beside her in a subway train and happy to click pics randomly....

"Mishti..... Mishti.Kahan khoye ho..? Chalo ..humara stop next hai..wahaan see hum tram se jaayenge till inside the campus..Chalo"

Abir was feeling on the top of the world..

He  thought of the panic he felt when he came to know that Mishty is going out into the unknown city by herself..that too by public transport..

Obviously he was worried about her safety 

He feared her claustrophobia would act up again..

But it was his mom's decision and that too a careless decision..Maa aise kaise ....

Agar Mishti ko kuch ho gaya tho....the mere thought of it had send shivers into his spine...

He had called Mark and delegated his work of the day and as casual as possible requested him to provide him with a set of clothes comfortable yet chic..and some snacks...

As he went into his cabin Mark was waiting impatiently for him..his eyes followed Abir as he went into the adjoining suit to change.

Mark blurted out as he came out.."Are you bunking the office sir?"

" Are you questioning me Mark ??" Abir quipped.. dodging the question.

"No Sir... everything is ready ...here.....umm..hmm..what should I tell Neil sir and Piya ma'am when they ask about your whereabouts?"

He asked handing over the back pack to Abir..

" Tell them I am unavailable today..just that.!"

"Meenakshi ma'am know about this? what if she calls.."

Abir shrugged...

"I will explain to her later...Now are you finished?"

"Sorry...Just that I not used to this situation.. Never in these years...umm.....Have a good day sir! And I am happy that you are taking a day off..."

Mark's eyes twinkled away as a soft blush crept to Abir's ears...

Now as he sheilded her with his body as they got out the metro rail..he felt free...free from the cage he had put himself years ago...world looked colourful, brighter and filled with ...... warmth..

Mishti tried to keep her racing heart under check and tried not to inhale him..

The way he surrounded her ... keeping her captive in his magical bubble..was literally melting her....

The tram journey was as tough for Mishty as the metro rail..even more since he was sitting so close and clicking away pics looking like a jubilant kid enjoying the moment to the fullest....her eyes drank the sight of him...