It's been a week...

Abir's restlessness at the delay of the flight at Pearson's Terminal was matching with his whole demeanor in that week..

Oh God..! Why didn't he go back home with....he sighed..her.!

Piya..and Nirmala aunty..!!

His plan was to transfer her the responsibilities of the hotel complex and return home..

To her..

But Nirmala aunty had planned to stay there a few days..!

And that just derailed his dreams..he had to send Mark ahead to New York for handling the office he was assumed to rejoin..

Piya had pleaded with him ...she had said her mom was suspecting that she was fooling her and was on a mission to catch her duplicity..

He had warned Piya that this had gone far and he had helped her beyond their professional and personal relationship..

Piya had looked contrite and pleaded for some more time to come clean with her mom..and he was detained there instead of making things clear with Mishti...

Oh...how she withered him with a look...

The fire in her eyes,..

Some times glowing..

Some times.. bright..

Some times.warm..

Sometimes..fiery,.and ...

That time.... scroching...

It burned a hole in him to leave her that way...but both had to take into consideration the effort being put by others to make the event a memorable one...

Hell of a memorable day ..

seconds...even..!

He kissed her!!!

He had tried to talk to her after the event..corner her during the buffet.....but ..she was kind of glued to his mother..

Knowingly or unknowingly seeking her protection...?

Oh ..God...was she scared of him now?

When one would think in her shoes she had all the right to be scared and stay away from him..

He had to go full cave man on her ...

Have you heard of subtlety !.You moron..!

Like. ...taking things slow??...the very advice You were giving Mishti before you lost control..??

The voice in his head  incessantly berated him all the days...

Abir had given himself a tight slap..

He had relived every moment of their passion countless times and his only regret was surprisingly the rough way he kissed her...

She was still the girl who looked up at him...and instead of feeling protected..he scared her.

But ..Oh boy..!...but didn't his Mishti match him in her reciprocation...!!

He had felt her fingers fisting his hair..her arms encircling his neck in a tight embrace, and her  lips moving in sync with his ...

And that was the last ray of hope he had...

Numerous times he had the urge to call her ..but.. stopped himself.. what if she rejected his calls...?

What he wanted to tell her should be said to her face...and he can't wait anymore...

He looked at his watch impatiently...at this rate he is going to miss dinner at home..

This snow fall had to happen today...!!
Just then the announcement for boarding lifted his spirits..

******

It's been a week...

After they came back from Toronto...

After the day her soul was scarred by a single name..

A week of torment every second...

Everything around her screaming Abir..

Everyone around her going on and on about him...

Mishti tried herself to smile at family gatherings... pulling Kunal's legs , purposely pitting Kuhu and Kunal...spar with Nanu...

And as a distraction there was a romance blooming...

Mishti had danced with joy when Kethu said she likes Nihaal...in one of their girls night after Toronto..

Well... obviously she was in no state to notice anything...she was pining and hurting even in the company of girls..

Kuhu was the one who spotted Kethu's dreamy eyes...and upon repeated asking and a pillow fight and a tickling session Kethu blurted out her secret...

Mishti smiled approvingly ..

Kethu couldn't have chosen better...

She always had a good vibe about Nihaal ..and moreover Massi had once said that Nihaal was just like Ghar ka beta.. during his school time with Abir..

She bit her lips again..

Ten days back it had been difficult for her ...to face him... knowing very well that her dreams will be dreams only..

But now the pain was unbearable...

Serrating through her whole being all the time...

Knowing that her dreams could be reality...but couldn't be..

To be shown heights of  heaven in a moment and dark depths of hell the next was something one would ever revive oneself from...

Badimaa was again admitted to the hospital for her next chemo..and the staff had assured her that she will be taken care completely...her personal care taker too was retained in the hospital...

Badimaa....she wouldn't stop gushing about Abir ...Kuhu had given an embellished portrayal of the Toronto visit and to see the pride in her badimaas eyes was torture..

She couldn't even share her agonies with anyone...and what would she say...

That he kissed her...!

Hell...the shivering and goosebumps with her insides fluttering whenever she relived that few seconds...

It was better for both of them that he decided to stay in Toronto...and no one even argued with him.... seeing what he accomplished...and why wouldn't he..?

Piya was there ...!

It's good that She got time to recoup...

He never told her he loved her ...

And that kiss...?

Her psyche mocked her...

It was a mistake ...

A fault in the judgement

A moment of passion..

Hammer in that into your head Mishti..

His look through the mirror had revealed all that to her that fateful night..

Before he could attempt to apologise again she had stopped him...

Mustering every ounce of dignity left...

" I don't want to mess up in my duty...my commitment to Neil... please leave..."

The way he looked at her and hung his head had drained every drop of blood from her face...

What a fool she was to build a castle of dreams based on a drunk man's inebriated ramblings...was he even talking about her..??

Mishti had fallen into her new routine..the main goal was to engage herself to the point of exhaustion that nothing lingered in her mind ...

Her day now started with Arti and then straight to college.. spending time in library till her classes and as she had opted for minimum courses for the program she could be free by afternoon...then to Rajvansh travels.. spending her time till late evening in work and then to the hospital..

Kunal and Kuhu will be there with Badimaa sometimes..as both colleges were close Kuhu and Kethu spent more time with Kunal...she had noticed a new warmth in their interactions..and the awkward way Kuhu behaved for sometime around her..but nothing mattered to her now and she had let it pass..

She would go back home with them... freshening up..dinner and then discussion with Chotimaa and Massi..and Finally to her dreaded place..

Her room..!

Her solitude..!

Her memories..!

Her pain..and her pleasure..!.

***

It was snowing and as the mansion had centralized AC.. everyone had gone to sleep early..

Mishti walked to the dimlit kitchen to  take her ' company' up to her room...

She would read ...or listen to some blues till sleep would come to rescue her... even then her dreams tormented her...

Today she had asked permission from Chotimaa to go to Greenville and expedite the process of selling off  the apartment..

Meenakshi had looked at Parul..and to her surprise both had agreed..now she has to tell Badimaa..and take a break of at least a week to get things in order...

The carrybag she held radiated the coolness to her bare legs..

Since Kethu came their dressing had gone super comfortable...and with four youngsters under a roof...and Kethu experimenting new looks..

She wore the comfy peach one shoulder cropped top Kethu had gifted her coupled with her black zouave pants..small comforts.. ...

Mishty sighed as she crossed the dimlit hall and mounted the stairs...

She absolutely dreaded being alone...hated wallowing in her sorrows..

" Chalo Spanish delight hi sahi,.mein aur Meri tanhai aksar yeh icecream khate Hein."

She muttered as she walked to her room..

Wind blew across and the door near her creaked..

Abir's room?

Who left it open...?..she remembered that it was snowing outside..and if wind is blowing balcony door must be open too...

Mishti hesitated a bit and walked towards the door... slowly entered the room...filled with him....even though he was not there for the past 6 months...

She kept the parcel on his table..struggled with the curtains flying to fasten the balcony door in the dimlight ...

And turned to leave...

A hand shot out and hauled her to warm  tough planes of muscle....clad in thin fabric... arms enfolding her in a back hug , an arm curving around her waist and his palm cupping her mouth lightly but firmly..

Her every cell became alive in the second he touched her and pure Bliss flowed through her... when his voice took her name...

" Mishtiii.."

Her taut body sagged into him at the realisation of his presence as his arm around her bare waist held her tight..

Her breath was shallow as myriad of sensations coursed through her...

His breath teasing her earlobe..

His hard muscles heating up her body..

His arm moving soothingly over her navel..

After all the vows and self preaching for a week.... She would have stayed docile in his warm sensual capture for ages....!!!!

His palm cupping her mouth moved... fingers lightly rubbing her tingling lips..

" Mishty no need to panic...it's me...I won't hurt you.."

His voice..gruff..yet.soothing...

She stood still... trying to still her drumbeating heart..

Her mind now embroiled in how..when..did he come back..?

Why no one told her?

Sensing her calming down..Abir loosened his hold but didn't relenquish her ...

' I ..umm.. wanted to see you...umm was planning to come to your room..but..you were here.."

He finished lamely as she turned ..

Slightly pushing away his arms ...to face him..

" Why ?"..

Her tone didn't have the harshness she intented and chided herself for being weak in front of him...

She needed her armor... but even that was in tatters...

"Why.would you want to see me....you wanted to apologise...for..for..?!"

She quipped...her voice trembling...

Abir placed his hands on her shoulders... calming her down...

"You don't have to fear me Mishty ...I won't hurt you...I should not have left you like that...and for that I am sorry.."

Abir's voice was gentle...as he absently stroked her shoulder...

She trembled violently... with the rush of emotions..

"let me go..."

She let out her plea with difficulty...but instead of setting her free...she was pulled onto his chest...

"I don't want to apologise... I am not apologising for kissing you... I wanted to see you because I need to know something...I have seen first hand what you will do if a man umm..try to take liberties with you..and uhh..I kind of did exactly that...but you..."

Abir tilted  her chin a bit and looked into her eyes...

"You were with me Mishti..does that mean...you don't see me as a brother...Because hell...I can't ever think of you like that...not even as cousins several times removed..."

His lame attempt to joke put her at a little ease and Mishti could feel colour rushing on to her face at his admission.

She evaded his tender look...

God ...was all this happening to her? ...Does Abir really  love her?.. is the emotion in his eyes which sends such a tingling warmth into her heart... Love?

"Mishti... I am asking you some thing...and I think I will wait till the end of the world for your answer..if needed"

His hands cupped her face urging her to look into his eyes....

Abir's 's voice was so determined but gentle and the earnestness in his eyes  suddenly unnerved her and she blurted out...her eyes locked with his...

"I... I...think I made it clear that night..."

The moment those words were out of her mouth she bit her lips.....

Abir watched with fascination as Mishti lowered her eyes...

Her eyelids fluttering in embarrassment ,
Her face in his hands flushed and her eyes darting every where except him...
A shower of joy erupted in his heart...

Mishti...

His...fiery Mishti.....being shy of him...!!

The silence that followed was loaded with tension and Mishti could not stand the close proximity to Abir....

She took a step back .. from him..and he let her ...

"Aah! That night ..." Abir's's voice was reminiscent...as if reliving those moments...

Mishti looked up at his face ....tongue tied...

She only had herself to blame for being in this situation..but a bubble of secret thrill in her stomach told her that she was relieved that he did not sound regretful...

And the way his eyes were twinkling  with mischief... Mishti felt as if she was dreaming...never ever she had hoped to see that mischevious twinkle brimming with love directed to her...and now every thing was happening so suddenly...

" Umm...waise...care to clear that once again..same way....'

He took a step towards her his voice full of infinite happiness and she turned abruptly from him... balancing her hands on his table... shaking her head demurely..

His hands slid along the sides of her waist ...his face resting on her shoulder... caring not to mark her...

"I am sorry...for all the mean things I said and done...Kya tum mujhe maaf Kar sakthi ho..?!"

Mishti was overwhelmed by this unexpected encounter with Abir...his admission... followed by hers...and the sweet pain and torture of his physical closeness... obscuring the many questions she wanted to ask...

He loves her...!

And he knows she love him...!

Her barely discernible nod rubbed her face on his...

The sizzling bolt of thunder of emotions coursing through the duo reverberated from above as a thunderclap...!

Mishti turned frantically and hid her face in his chest...her both hands now fisted on his T-shirt.

Abir smilingly enfolded her in his embrace sending a silent thankyou to his partner .

He was relieved that she turned to him... instinctively...

Trusting him...to protect her...

And vowed that he wouldn't do anything to scare her away...

They will take it slow...she was just 20.. they have ample time with each other..

She has her dreams and a life ...

He will be there at her side to fulfill her every single dream...and to know her as a partner should be his first priority..

His eyes fell on the parcel on his table..

Abir pressed a kiss on her head and asked.

" Yeh Kya Hein...? Mereliye welcome back home gift??"

Mishti.. looked up at him... registering his question...

And pushed him away lightly..

" It's mine...was on therapy to ward away.. certain umm.6 foot long.. thoughts.."

She took the tub out of the bag..

" See..aur tumhara welcome kyun karega...? Kisiko bhi pata nahi tha ki yum aanewale ho....by the way I am sure tum front door se nahi aaye ho....batao..Ander kaise ..?"

Her interrogation mode was interrupted by Abir scooping her up..in his arms..

"Abiiirrrr.."

Her whispered squeal was answered by his "shh.."as he walked with her in his arms...

" Kahaan le jaa rahe ho..mujhe neeche utaaro.. please."

" Haan...woh kaunsa pakau shayari ..tha..kisine kisi bhoj ke baare mein Kiya tha..lo Maine yeh bhoj utha liya Hein.."

He took the steps to his loft..

"Abiiirr Tum gir jaaoge..aur saath mein mujhe bhi.."

Mishti could sense the heat radiating from his arms to her bare skin....

And she could only entwine her arms around his neck...

On reaching the loft..Abir placed her on the diwan as she caught hold of the tub..

" Chalo ..ab iss 6 ft se toh bachne se Raha...hum share karthe Hein...baahar snow and here icecream..."

His eyes went out the glass bay window where  mild snow flakes were floating around..

Mishti was still in a state of denial...

As Abir looked back at her she was kinda opening and shutting her eyes repeatedly... after some trys she pinched herself..

"Aww."

" Ho Gaya yakeen...? Ki tum sapna nahi dekh Rahi Ho...?"

Mishti looked at him ... standing with folded hands ... looking at her with the joy of a kid who got his favorite flavor of ice cream..

Her look contained a sadness. ...that struck Abir...

He sat beside her pulling her to him softly..

" Tumhein ab bhi yeh dream lagtha hei...mujhe bhi...lekin humara dream..."

Mishti lowered her eyes...

" Pata nahi ..Abir..mujhe dar lagraha hei ki yeh ek dream hi hoga...Mera toh.."

she swallowed a lump choking her as she recalled all her misfortunes..

Abir held her tight...

She was right..

Even he didn't imagine being forgiven for his words and actions like this...and his Mishty sitting beside her ... looking at him with adoration..

His mind swelled with happiness and pride..and he pressed a kiss on her temple..

" You know what... I've tormented myself for months...I didn't understand why you affected me ...so badly...and I came to the realization when I saw you and Nanko together"

Mishty looked at him silently.

" You two were so comfortable with each other that I felt left out...then I decided to bury my feelings for you...but my mind imagined things between you both and I needed to get away...but .."

Mishty put her finger on his lips..

" I know...you told me... everything...!"

Abir looked at her not comprehending what she just said..

Mishti...with her mischievous smile narrated his drunken antics and how he talked about her incessantly.and about Mark knowing all about them..

Abir was in a mild shock...

" What...Mark knew all along..??.but that morning...!"

Mishti''s suppressed laughter Spilled out and Abir turned to her understanding that he was played by both of them..

" You guys played me...! Oh God..!..you knew It all.....and still you called me bro..!!..and you were taking Neil's name continuously..oh my God...you were laughing at me.."

Mishti cupped his mouth to silence him...
" I had to...you would never have admitted to yourself that you can't let go of me.."

Abir looked at her unblinkingly..

Mishti removed her hand but he caught it..

" I should have known...Neil would have told me first if he had any inclination towards you...! Scheming .heartless.. dangerous.woman......itna tadpaya ki mein khud apne aapko rok nahi paya.."

Mishti laughed and pulled his nose..

But a shadow fell on her face ...Abir who was adoring her sensed it..

" You know you can tell or ask me anything right..?"

He prodded softly..

" Wohh...I too need to know something .."

Mishti fidgeted with his fingers entwined with hers..

"It's umm about Piya..I know Nirmala aunty talked about your and Piya's umm.. alliance..and you never contradict Kunal , Kuhu or any one when they allude to your relationship with her.,"

Mishty''s eyes looked up to him...

" I had lost my parents...my Bade Papa... when I met you....and when I found that I can be dependent on you..I panicked... what if you were lost to me like them?..I didn't want to go through that pain then...and pushed you away...."

Abir's eyes widened at her soulful admission.

" When we met again.. even if I didn't know it was you...I called out your name when you did that usual thing...."

She imitated his action by tousling his hair...

Abir's mouth parted in awe...

"I don't want to lose you this time..not to fate and not certainly to Piya..."

Abir looked at her with admiration and love..

She waited for his response..

" You ..you.... that long...and all these years..oh ..my.."

Abir hugged her close pressing tiny fluttery kisses on her forehead and hair.

Then looked at her...

" Piya is just a collegue and a friend...and this alliance thing ..we both know where we stand..it's just something to gain her some time to establish her career..a smoke screen for Nirmala aunty.."

Mishti''s eyes widened at his talk..

" So both of you are basically fooling two families...not a bad schemer yourself..!"

Abir leaned his head on to hers..

" Thanks for asking me this..and for giving me this happiness..I know we will face some problems... especially Maa..I know she loves you...but I fear her reaction if she gets to know about us...this.... let's take it like one step a day...
umm..haan we bypassed some protocols and all...but I want to give you all the happiness you deserve...so can I have the permission to date you properly ma'am...??"

Mishti smiled at his antics as he took her hand a pressed a light kiss on it..

" Chokra thoda akdu Hein...phir bhi...! chalega..!!"

She said mocking him...

His smile was radient...

"Ab iss Khushi mein hi sahi icecream khilao na.."

She opened the tub and looked at it...and let out a sigh..

" Ab Kya.."

" Mein spoon lana bhool gayi.."

Mishti said vexedly...

" Mein leke aati Hoon.."

She tried to get up...

Abir was not in a mood to be away from her...

He held her around her waist and pulled her onto his lap...

"Abiir.."

" Shh.."

He took the open tub and kept it on her lap...

She looked at him as he scooped a finger ful of the icecream and brought it to her lips..

Mishti''s eyes flew to him in a mixture of awe , love and shyness..

Her lips parting delightfully as he fed her the cool..morsel...

The way he looked at her melted her just like the icecream melted at her lips...

And then he took his share...

Right from her lips.!.. nibbling and licking..

Mishti''s fingers sank into his soft wet hair moving in a caressing way as she got lost in his sweetness..

Abir lifted his head smilingly..
rubbing his nose onto hers..

"Let's finish this.."

The muffled laughter as she buried her face in the crook of his shoulders reverberated along with his own contented laugh...