***Veer's POV.***

As soon as I come out of the room, I take a deep breath. That was difficult. Seeing her hurt was the first hit, but then seeing her cry like that... was a thorn to my heart. And the reason she got so upset was me. Well, that reminder made me feel more remorse than ever.

"How is she?" Kanika asks and I look up at her and frown but then realize it isn't her fault.

She is just helping me.

"Sleeping for now." I say.

"Did you sing a lullaby?" She asks with a smile.

"No." I say, "She just had a good cry."

"Hmmm... Let's take a walk, shall we?" She asks.

I think for a minute then nod. We were just leaving when Subu and Rihaan came to the corridor as they were looking at the camera. I stop them both and ask them to look after Piya as she earlier got injured. They both get distressed and try to rush in but I warn them that she is resting right now after I treated her.

"But just in case, order some snacks. What if she wakes up in the middle of the night and gets hungry? So..." I say.

"Okay." Subu says.

"And don't order something too spicy. She doesn't like it. Also add in some sweet snacks. Actually, you know what? I will buy it for her as I am going on a walk." I say and they both nod at me mechanically.

"Good thinking." Rihaan says with a grin.

"Also tomorrow, if Piya is feeling better to travel she will ride in the car otherwise she would stay in the hotel and one of us has to stay in too with her." I say.

"Don't worry. If she is not feeling well, I will keep her company." Subu says.

"And if she is then we will take the bike and she and Dev can ride in the car." Rihaan says.

"But Dev wants to ride the bike again. You know he doesn't like to be cooped in." Kanika says and gives me a signal.

"Would you be fine riding with Dev?" I ask.

"Yeah, sure. I won't mind. As I actually don't want to listen to Isha's rantings anymore in the car." She says with a roll of eyes.

"I heard that." Isha says and we look at her and Om.

"Thank goodness you did, dear. I hope I can sleep well tonight." Kanika says.

"No, I will not let you." She says and enters the room.

"I will handle her later." Kanika says.

"So it is decided. I will be with Piya in the car." I say and everyone nods.

"Why? What happened?" Om asks.

"I will fill you in." Rihaan says as he swings an arm around him and they walk away.

"Take care of her." I told Subu.

"You don't need to tell me that. I love her more." She says and enters the room, "But thanks for looking after her. But no thanks too for making her sad."

"How-"I go to ask but she stops me.

"I click pictures, Veer. So I know from looking at a face what emotions one is going through." She says and closes the door on my face.

"She is a sly one. Had to be cautious around her now." Kanika says as we reach the stairs and I frown, "Okay, now I feel offended that you will think I am insulting people around us. It is just an honest observation, dear."

"Fine and don't think I despise you. You are a friend who I want in my life for a really long time if possible." I say.

"Oh really?" She asks in astonishment.

"Now I feel offended that you would doubt my friendship. Yes, I do get upset with you every once in a while but you care for us all in your own way. Also you are not as bold as you show us. Actually you are quite a shy person." I say with a smile.

"Okay. We are done talking about me. Shall we plan our next move now?" She asks and I smile.

"We shall." I say and she smiles back.

"So now it is time for a little flirting for you." Kanika says with and rubs her hand together.

"This soon?" I ask.

"It is already 25 years late and you still say this soon. Hear this well, Veer as I will say it only once." She says and puts hands on my arms, "It is time to show with actions not words how charming you can be. Charming, not a gentleman. Got it?" She asks.

"A little." I say.

"Don't worry. I will train you well." She says.

"You make me sound like a dog." I say.

"Well, men are dogs." She says.

"So what are women then?" I ask, "Actually don't tell me."

"No, you have to hear the answer to your question." She says with a smile.

"Do I?" I ask and she nods.

"Women are cats. We will want affection but we won't ask for it, we will make you give it of your own will by manipulation and then act like we don't need it. Or maybe sometimes we will show appreciation too for your affections if the mood strikes us. But the bottom line is, we get what we want if we just show you our cute face." She says, cupping her face in her hands and chuckles a few seconds later.

I shake my head with a smile, "Whatever. Now about flirting..."

"Well today your mission was successful. So here is another mission for tomorrow. You will kiss Piya on the cheek." She says and I stop walking.

"What?" I ask and she gives me a smile.

"Come on, Veer. It is not that you never kissed her before." Kanika says with a wink.

"We were kids." I say as I follow her.

Next day, I wait for Piya in the corridor as Rihaan told me that she is fine other than feeling a little sensitive. Thank goodness her swelling had gone down after she had applied cold compress on her ankle in the night. I also checked on her when I delivered snacks for her but she was sleeping then.

The door opens and out she comes dressed in another black outfit but with a gray skirt for change. The turtle neck sweater makes her look cozy and a weird thought enters my mind that she must feel warm right now if I hug her, more than last night. I shake my head and approach her with a smile.

"Good morning." I say and present her with a single white kashmiri rose.

"Good morning." She says with a natural blush entering the makeup one, making her look like a kashmiri apple, "Thanks."

"Just a small piece offering along with a gift for a friend from a friend." I say and put it behind her ear.

This was my idea and even though Kanika laughed, she still didn't say anything. Piya looks a little more than pleased and smiles widely. This made my day already. I just hope that everything works out just as I planned.

"Ahem!" Subu coughs and gives us a look.

"Good morning." I say and she nods while Rihaan calls her.

"Are you sure you will be fine?" She asks Piya.

"Yeah. I would be fine. Veer is with me so no need to worry." Piya says and some of my guilt goes away.

"We will see." Subu says and I can still hear Rihaan calling her.

"What will you see?" Piya asks in confusion.

"Nothing, dear. You take care." Subu says.

"Subala!" Rihaan calls out and Subu's head swings in that direction with a furious look.

"You are dead, Rihaan." Subu says and goes towards him while Rihaan literally makes a run for it.

"Kids." Piya and I say together and looked at each other.

We chuckle at their silly antiques. Then I give her my arm to lean on me to walk and she takes it. The flower almost falls off her hair, and she catches it before it happens.

"Let me carry it." I say.

"Nope. It is my gift. Wait a second." She says and takes a clip out from her tote bag and fixes the rose with it in her hair behind the ears, "How do I look?"

"Honestly?" I ask.

"Yes." She says.

"Like a black and white movie." I say with a grin.

"Veer!" She says and lightly slaps my arm.

"Okay, fine. Like a heroine." I say and she looks down, "From black and white movies."

"Seriously!" Piya says.

"Hey, that's a compliment." I say and she chuckles.

But I put my arm around her shoulder and started walking towards the lift. I almost want to just pick her up but that would be too much. I need to be charming, not creepy. Last time was different but right now it is different and also we have an audience.

Today we are going to Pangong Tso Lake and the places in between. It is 6 in the morning and the sunrise could be admired much more from a spot not far from here. Om and I will take turns driving the car while the girls will enjoy the six hour long trip.

The playlist is in Isha's hand and today her mood is romantic which is helpful to me too. We stop on the way many times and also pack some snacks to eat when we reach the lake to have a little picnic. I stayed by Piya's side the whole day and tried to initiate some conversation about her childhood.

But whatever I did, I didn't have the courage to kiss her cheek. Instead I got a kiss from her on my cheek.

Well, it was half my fault. So what happened is that...