Chapter : 22  

"Tu Nazm nazm sa mere,
Hoto pe theher ja.
Main khwaab khwaab sa teri,
Akhon mein jhakoo re..."

(Persist over my lips,
The way the verses of poetry do.
I'll peek a look into your eyes,
The way your dreams do.)

Ayushmann went on singing with a smile on his face while I waited with the spoon in my hand. He's really fussy when it comes to eating, I had discovered. His melodious voice filled up the silent hospital ward room.

"No wonder he refuses to eat," I mumbled looking at Apar who sat on an adjacent seat near the door of the ward.

Apar didn't bother to answer my remark as he continued to type on his laptop. He was busy sending emails to different directors who had planned on meeting AK within this week. It's been three days and Ayushmann hasn't been discharged yet for reasons considering the media which has been making crazy headlines on their websites and channels regarding AK's sudden disappearance.

I and Kajal came to pay him a visit today to check up on him. His bruises had healed to a great extent and that bluish-black spot on his forehead had turned lighter than before. His face, though a little pale, had brightened when I walked in. I guess he's just happy to see an outsider visit him apart from his brother in the past three days.

"You didn't like the song?" Ayushmann asked me, feigning some hurt on his face.

"I- I didn't say t-that..." I fumbled with my words as he looked into my eyes with his mesmerising brown orbs.

"Aw," Kajal's voice made us both turn and look at her. She sat beside Apar and had her hands clasped in front of her face and an admiring smile plastered on her lips. I glared at my bestie and she stopped making that face and went back to checking her social media profile.

"You didn't answer-" AK was saying when I pushed the spoon into his mouth without a warning.

He looked far beyond surprised with dilated pupils as he gulped the bland hospital breakfast with a grimace that made me wanna pity him. Apar laughed and clapped, appreciating my move all the while.

"Even Apar cooks better than this," Ayushmann complained as he stuck his tongue out to gesture how awful the taste was.

"Hey! I can win Masterchef India if I wanted, okay?" Apar countered.

I frowned at AK's words. Taking another spoonful, I tasted the food to see whether he was serious about the taste. They wouldn't serve awful breakfast to a star like AK, right? I was wrong.

"Ugh, I guess it needs a bit more salt." I remarked and raised my eyes to find Ayushmann looking at me with a still face and amusement glinting in his brown eyes. It looked like he had witnessed a miracle happen. I didn't quite get his expression.

I turned to look at Kajal and she too had a similar expression as she looked at me. Apar meanwhile was back to attending his laptop. Why are they acting like something happened?

"Y-You tasted the food with the same spoon." Kajal pointed, about to turn hysterical.

My eyes widened. Usually people tend to drink from the same straw or use the same spoon to eat when they are really close. I did it. Damn it Tanya! Turning away from AK, I blushed crimson. He poked my arm with his finger, demanding my attention. I felt my face heat up in embarrassment as I slowly turned to face his tall figure which was seated on the hospital bed. I somehow couldn't meet his eyes and kept looking down at the plate in my hands instead of his face with pressed lips.

AK continued poking my arm lightly until I looked up at him. He didn't have any mocking expression or words to tease me. Instead, he had a soft expression dawning over his face as he looked at me with a small smile. He silently gestured towards the plate. I wondered if I should bring a new spoon instead for I had already tasted the food with this one.

"I will lose my appetite; you'll lose a golden opportunity then." AK sang.

Taking a deep breath, I brought a spoonful to his mouth and he happily ate the remaining of the breakfast. All this while I wanted to pinch myself and reassure that all of this was happening for real. He didn't seem to mind the fact that we were sharing the same spoon at all.

***

"Wait a minute...You're humming my song!" Ayushmann exclaimed with a victorious grin as he looked at me with playful brown eyes .

"Nah, you must've mistaken." I waved off as I continued to pack my phone and other stuff into my shoulder bag.

A few minutes back the nurse had visited us and informed us that AK could be discharged now. Apar had gone to the reception to clear away the bills and other paperwork while Kajal had left to attend a call. It was just Ayushmann and I in the ward room now.

AK frowned at my reply as if annoyed at my denial. I suppressed a smile as I continued with the packing. He acted like a little kid when someone didn't agree to his statements.

"Hum it again, let's see." Ayushmann challenged with a childish vibe.

I couldn't help but laugh at his adamant little side. I hadn't expected to see Ayushmann Khurrana whining in front of me like this.

"Fine, don't sing." He shrugged and walked away to look out of the open windows of the room, trying to sulk.

"Did I upset you?" I asked in a baby voice which further annoyed him. He kept looking ahead with crossed arms.

Smiling, I approached him with little steps and stood beside him. He still didn't acknowledge me.

"Is Mr.Khurrana sulking?" I asked again in my baby voice.

He still didn't bother replying as he continued ignoring me. Frowning, I decided to make him acknowledge my presence. I hate it when people start ignoring me, even if it's temporary. I quietly stretched out a hand and poked the side of his belly. He jerked a step away as my touch tickled him but he adamantly ignored me. Keeping a straight face, I poked him once again.

AK pressed his lips, trying to suppress a good laugh.

Encouraged by his reactions, I tickled the side of his torso for the third time. Turns out, I crossed the line. AK ended up laughing hysterically as I continued tickling him with a grin.

"Woman stop!" AK breathed as he held both my hands to stop my assault.

I too laughed along him. Once our laughs subsided, he looked up at me with a raised eyebrow which made me turn stiff. He's gonna get back on me now...

"I-I think Kajal is waiting for me-" I started nervously while Ayushmann smirked at my attempts to escape.

"Remember Karma?" Ayushmann asked me with a sly grin.

He then gently pushed me back until I was pressed against the wall so that I couldn't escape. He held both my wrists in his larger hand and began tickling me with his free hand. All I could do was laugh hysterically as he continued poking the sides of my belly. I kept pleading and jumping as we both laughed. Within minutes the both of us were exhausted. Breathing heavily, AK bent forward with a smile which I mirrored without giving it a second thought.

He rested his forehead against mine. From up close, his eyes looked like infinite galaxies where I could remain lost for ages. His brown orbs had specks of golden spread about and were bordered with hues of dark brown. His warm breath fanned over my face, making butterflies erupt in my gut. His proximity began to make me feel dizzy.

Releasing my wrists from his grasp, he trailed his hands over to my waist and wrapped his arms around my back to cage me in his embrace. His touch made my heart beat frantically as he continued to look at me. Unable to remain composed, I closed my eyes as I let the sensations drown me.

"Tanya?" AK whispered my name.

I slowly looked up to find him looking at me with passionate brown eyes. The way he whispered my name made my breathing turn shallow. AK then slowly leaned into me, closing down the distance as his lips gently locked with mine. He and I moved in sync as he continued to hold me in his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he continued to kiss me. It was a gentle kiss as if I were something fragile in his embrace.

Breaking the kiss, he moved back to look at me.

HE FREAKING KISSED YOU TANYA!!!

If the kiss and his embrace had made my heart beat elevate up, the realization of the fact that we kissed made me experience a heart attack. AK smiled affectionately as he hugged my small frame with his arms, resting his head over my shoulder.

"I feel I'm falling in lov-" Ayushmann was saying when a knock on the door made us both turn and look at the closed door.

AK moved a step away and called the person to come in. Kajal poked her head inside and looked at us with a curious eye.

"I came up to see what was taking you guys solong. You didn't even answer my phone call Tanya," Kajal spoke.

Author's Note:-

Hola!!!

I hope the chapter wasn't too boring coz this has been the longest chapter of YSAH.

See you until the next update!

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