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*Click*
The first picture was successfully captured in a camera as soon as Aryan tickled Jaydev and he ended up laughing. The photographer grabbed the opportunity and immediately clicked the picture.
" Listen you bastard-
Jaydev pointed his finger at Aryan angrily but again burst into laughter when he felt tickled from behind. He turned around and caught his next culprit.
Shruti.
Pakhi couldn't hold her laughter while Aryan chuckled then gestured Photographer that they were ready and he could click pictures.
Jaydev fit the mischief of Aryan and Shruti in his mind and decided to deal with them later. For his sister's peace, he decided to get some pictures clicked.
Pakhi and Shruti clicked some pictures together. Shruti clicked with Aryan and Jaydev then Pakhi did the same. Siblings clicked a few pictures together and in the end, Aryan and Jaydev clicked pictures only two or three and that too forcefully.
" Perfect," the photographer said.
" When will the photos be ready?"
Shruti asked.
" You can take them tomorrow morning from my studio. This is my card. Address is in it," he forwarded his business card at them.
" Okay," Shruti said and put the card in her purse then they walked away from there.
" Listen, if you again tried to behave like that to me, I will bang your head on any hard object," Jaydev confronted Aryan.
" And I will let you harm me?"
Aryan uttered sarcastically. Pakhi shook her head as they again got busy in useless arguments. Shruti did not pay attention to them and watched the things here.
Pakhi stopped on her track when her eyes caught the glimpse of an old lady searching for something in the ground. Her glasses. She was patting her head on the ground mindlessly to search her glasses. By doing this she could hurt herself. Her glasses were near the wheel of the vegetable vendor.
" Uh," she glanced at her family and found them still walking. Due to the rush they were quite slower than usual. Thinking about catching them after helping the lady, she went to the old lady.
She picked up the glasses, " aunty?"
The lady squeezed her eyes to clear her vision and Pakhi smiled before going closer to her.
" Here are your glasses," she handed her glasses.
" Oh, thankyou daughter. I was searching for it only."
Pakhi smiled while the lady cleaned her glasses and wore them. As her vision got clear, she could see Pakhi without any effort.
" Thank you again, daughter."
" No worries, aunty. Uhm I should go now."
" Okay," the lady said and both changed their ways. Pakhi walked the way her family went. But just after ten or something steps, she lost their sight.
She knitted her eyebrows but the very next second she caught them on the other end of the road. She sighed and started crossing the road. Due to the huge distance between them, she couldn't call them and surprisingly, they were too busy arguing that they did not notice her absence.
She sighed and took out her mobile from pants pocket and thought to call them but as she tapped on contacts, she bumped into someone. The push was so hard that she stumbled on her steps and the mobile slipped from her hand.
" Are you okay-"
The guy with whom she bumped widened his eyes when his foot landed on her mobile. Pakhi gasped and crouched down.
" Oh God! I am so sorry mam. I didn't see this. I am so sorry."
Pakhi sighed seeing her mobile fully broken. She stood up and shook her head,
" It's okay."
" No, I am seriously sorry mam."
" It's alright," Pakhi said.
And another 5 minutes flew away with this guy. Pakhi managed to escape. She felt like crying suddenly. First she is not them. Second, her mobile is broken. Third, she feels scared now.
She tucked the strands of her hair behind the ear and looked around. She failed to get their glimpse.
" Bhai," she whispered and walked forward. Finally she reached the place where she had seen them, but they were not there. There were three paths visible from here. Right, left and straight.
She licked her lower lip and chose the right direction.
However,
" Pakhi-"
Shruti turned her head behind and frowned, not finding Pakhi.
" Pakhi? Where is Pakhi?"
Aryan and Jaydev instantly looked behind. Colour drained from their faces.
" Oh shit!"
Jaydev uttered and without thinking much, three of them ran back to the previous direction to find her. Shruti took out her mobile and started calling her number.
" It's not reachable," she informed them in a voice full of fear and worry.
" I am going this way. You two search here there," Aryan said to them and ran to the right direction.
...
It's been almost 30 minutes and Pakhi still has not found them. Due to her social anxiety in such circumstances she couldn't even take anyone's help and call them.
Whenever she forwarded her steps to ask someone for a call she recalled her past and that horrified her.
" Madam?"
Pakhi gasped and turned around. She stepped back fearfully seeing a man.
" What happened? Is there any problem."
" N.. no," Pakhi quickly shook her head and hurriedly went from there. The man stared at her confusedly and shrugged his shoulders.
Pakhi stopped at a particular point and ran her fingers into her hair. Seeing so many people around here re-built her fear and she found it so hard to move forward.
What if someone comes again? What if they catch me?
So many unusual thoughts clouded her brain and she felt like crying. She licked her lower lip and lifted her foot to walk but just then a hand landed on her shoulder from behind.
Pakhi widened her eyes but before she could react, a recognizable voice entered her ear.
" Pakhi?"
She hurriedly turned around and tears which she was stopping, gathered in her eyes seeing Aryan in front of her.
" Where-"
He was cut off in the middle when she threw herself in his embrace and wrapped her hands around his torso. She hid her face against his chest and burst into sobs.
" I.. I was so scared.. I was.."
Aryan wrapped his hands around her back in a secure grip.
" Shh. You are safe now. I am here."
She clutched his jacket tightly in a fist.
" Mujhe akela na chorna kabhi.."
( Don't ever leave me alone.)
She uttered in between her sobs due to fear.
" I won't," he whispered and added, " ever."
Aryan's eyes found its way to Jaydev and Shruti as they too reached here. He was on call with Shruti when he spotted Pakhi from behind and they were not so far that is why they came quickly.
" Pakhi?"
Jaydev called her and she broke the hug then faced her brother. He cupped her cheeks.
" Kahan chali gayi thi tum? Dar gaye the hum bahut."
( Where did you go? We got so scared.)
He wiped her tears.
" Sorry Bhai.. but I.. I was helping a lady and lost your view. See my phone has also broken," she showed her mobile to them.
" It's okay. I will get another for you," Jaydev said and hugged her. Although the hug did not last for much time, he was able to show his worry and fear through the single hug.
Shruti held her hand, " don't leave my hands now."
Pakhi felt apologetic.
" I am sorry for causing you all trouble," she said.
" It's okay. But you really took our breath for some moments," Shruti smiled at her.
Pakhi glanced at Aryan for a few mere seconds before walking with Shruti.
Aryan blamed himself for not taking extra care of her when he knew she was anxious of crowded places and Jaydev too blamed himself on a similar topic. Shruti wasn't aware of her Pakhi's past that is why she did not know about her anxiety.
They had dinner before going back to the hotel. Pakhi was given a new mobile which Aryan bought. Jaydev let him buy it and he did not know the reason. Was he letting go of his sister and handing her forever to him?
No way.
This small incident can not define this.
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Shruti showed him the shirt they bought for him.
" You like it?"
Jaydev heaved a sigh, " no. You can take it."
He covered his eyes with his arm. Shruti stared at the shirt and uttered,
" This is so big. I definitely would have grabbed this if the size was smaller."
She put the shirt aside then stood up from the couch and walked toward the bed he was laying on. She silently climbed up on the bed and sat down beside him.
Just when she was about to disturb him, he said, " Shruti please don't disturb me right now. I am not in the mood."
He removed his arm from his eyes.
" Aapko Aisa kyu lagata ki mai aapko hamesha tang karti hu?"
( Why do you think I always disturb you?)
" Because you do," he supported his statement.
" Very funny. But right now I want to loosen up your mind. You seem troubled."
She said,
" I don't want to," he turned his back to her.
She dramatically let out deep exhale from mouth then grabbed his upper arm and said,
" Listen, SP Sahab. How about we let go of our enmity for a night only?"
" Why are you suddenly so worried about me? Didn't you want to make my life hell?"
He laid on his back and gave her a suspicious look. She chuckled, " I still do but tonight is an exception."
" Kyun? Aaj raat irade badal gaye tumhare?"
( Why? Your intentions changed tonight?)
" Chi! No."
She stared at him in a disgusting way.
" What? It's your mind that converts my normal sentence into a dirty one," he rolled his eyes.
She palmed her forehead and shook her head while saying, " kya karu mai is aadmi ka?"
( What should I do with this man?)
" Eat 5 stars and do nothing," Jaydev said out of nowhere.
" Hm?"
Shruti blinked and he blinked looking into her eyes. She burst into laughter and he cleared his throat to come out of the awkward moment. Even he doesn't know why he uttered the above sentence. Maybe around her, he fails to think straight.
" Seriously?"
She continued laughing and he couldn't hold his smile as well for longer.
" Okay, enough now," he said to her.
" Yeah yeah," she laughed lightly and put the pillow on her lap.
" So? Are we okay now?"
He raised his eyebrows, " when did I say?"
She frowned slightly while he stared at the ceiling for ten seconds before saying, " okay."
She grinned happily, " do you accept that you can't ignore my charm?"
" If you'll praise yourself then I-"
" Okay okay, I got it. I got it."
He hummed and folded his arm under his head.
" Tell me, is there any bad past of Pakhi? Because you and Bhai looked so worried."
He chuckled lightly, " so you want to dig in my life? Interesting."
She almost rolled her eyes at his remark while he continued,
" She gets anxious in crowded places. When she was 13 or something, she was kidnapped in a crowded place. Then things happened with her which caused a fear in her mind. Due to that incident, she feels terribly scared to make new friends especially guys. That is why we were worried when we lost her. Her trauma came back today also but fortunately we were on time."
" Does bhai know?"
He hummed, " we were close that time and your parents helped us find her. He was also there. He knows every single part of her past as much as I know."
She nodded, " what really happened to her?"
Jaydev got silent. His mind received flashbacks of a horrible incident when he almost lost his sister-- the only reason for his breathing till date.
" She was a victim of Trafficking for the purpose of sex, forced selling of organs and much more. She was kidnapped for around 3 days and saw much more than she should have. That caused her trauma which haunts her till now."
It was a shocking revelation. So this was the reason why Pakhi remains scared and both Aryan and Jaidev are so protective of her. That is why she was so scared after marrying Aryan and could not say anything in front of his anger. Her fragile behaviour is justified.
" Is there any gang involved in this?"
He hummed, " a very big and powerful gang. Even that time, police couldn't catch them. Victims were saved but the culprits ran away. Their files open and close. This has been going on for a long time. Officers come and go but never catch them. Can't blame them. Some sacrifice their integrity and loyalty for money. Some are so honest that they are either killed or transferred."
She frowned as a question arose in her mind, " are you thinking of catching them?"
He hummed, " I am and I will."
Worry with a mixture of pride sparkled in her eyes. She is worried about messing with any gang as it is dangerous, but is proud of his honesty, patriotism and his commitment to the uniform.
" I am sure you will," she said with a smile.
He looked at her, " what if I die while catching them?"
She knitted her eyebrows, " why will you?"
" Who knows? Going against a gang comes with a risk. I might have to sacrifice myself."
In no second anger appeared on her expression and she scoffed before saying, " then sacrifice yourself? You don't have family behind you, right? Your sister will be with bhai and the rest of them can live happily without you, no?"
She lay down and faced her back at him, " stupid officer. Can't even utter good words," she mumbled.
He smiled a little and turned to her side with his arm folded under his head.
" Saaf saaf bolo tumhe bhi chinta hai meri."
( Say clearly that you too are worried for me.)
" Ji nahi! Mujhe koi farak nahi padne vala," she said.
( No at all. I don't care.)
He chuckled, " thank goodness. I am relieved now."
She gritted her teeth and decided not to talk to him anymore. He slowly closed his eyes and soon sleep consumed him but did not welcome her.
She carefully turned to his side. Her expression softened seeing his face. She let out a gentle sigh.
" I do feel worried for you. If not as a wife, then as a friend. I have known you since childhood and you do matter to me, idiot."
She said in a low and whispering voice. She raised her hand to touch his cheek but withdrew her hands. The hindrance of contract, hatred and past perhaps was not visible for now but it was still there. She can't cross the boundary when he is not ready to take a step.
She smiled while staring at his face and closed her eyes.
On the other hand,
Aryan grabbed Pakhi's hand to stop her from walking.
" What happened?"
She asked and he pulled to himself then made her sit beside him on the couch.
" What happened?"
She repeated her question. He shook his head side by side and palmed her cheek.
" I am so sorry for leaving you alone today."
She smiled, " it's okay. Nothing happened to me."
He hummed and brought her head closer and placed it on his chest. She furrowed her eyebrows and felt him wrapping his arms around her back in a possessive grip.
" Jaan hi le li Aaj tumne meri," he whispered and put his chin on the crown of her head. Respecting his feelings she let him hug her until he desired. Five minutes passed and he still did not let her go.
( You took my breath today.)
" Uhm, bas?"
( Done?)
He opened his eyes, " no."
He tightened the hold. She made a face and pushed him, " bas ab."
( Enough now.)
He smiled witnessing her all cheerful and like before again. Since they came back, she had not said a word.
She stood up and walked toward bed.
" Don't you get tired?"
She climbed up on the bed.
" Pyar ka mamla hai. Tum nahi samjhogi," he said.
( It's the matter of love. You won't understand.)
She shook her head, " I do understand love."
" Acha? Have you ever fallen in love?"
He asked immediately in a little possessive voice. She smiled and hummed, " I love my parents, my Bhai, my mama-mami and Nani. Now di, maa and Papa are also included in my list."
He raised his eyebrows, " am I not included?"
" No," she gave her answer.
" Aren't you too straightforward?"
He said in a displeasing voice. She chuckled, " are you feeling bad?"
" Horrible," he said and stood up.
" But it is true."
" Sometimes lie for this poor man," he said while coming towards bed.
" Why should I cheer you up with false words? You already act so crazy and if I lie then you will drive the whole world crazy."
He chuckled, " you know me so well."
He slipped into the duvet and both lay down in their place. He faced her and asked,
" Acha batao tumhe fasane ke liye kya karna hoga mujhe?"
( Tell me what do I have to do to make you fall for me?)
She frowned, " jaane do mujhe-"
( Let me go-)
" Iske alawa," he cut her off in the middle.
( Except this.)
She rolled her eyes, " do nothing. I am not going to be trapped anyway. You will have to leave me in the end."
He smirked, " challenge?"
" What challenge?"
" If I fail to make you fall in love with me till the coming valentines then I will let you go?"
She raised her eyebrows, " around..1.5 months? Isn't it too less?"
He shook his head, " absolutely no. It's too much for me."
She shrugged her shoulders, " challenge accepted. Don't you dare to flip on your words now."
" I won't. I won't," he said.
She smiled victoriously, " you are going to lose you know?"
" This much confidence?" He smiled amusingly.
She hummed," Most of the boys want to trap girls by praising them. So how long will you be able to praise me?"
" Jab tak saansein hain," he replied.
( As long as I am alive.)
She knitted her eyebrows, " You will praise me as long as I am in your heart. How long will I be in your heart? One day or the other you will get tired."
" Mere dil mein tum tab tak jab ye suraj aasaman mein rahega," he answered.
( You will be in my heart until the sun is in the sky.)
She was left tongue tied hearing his two replies which surely fluttered her heart. He grabbed her hand and put it around his torso then placed his palm on her cheek and uttered in low voice while stroking her cheek with the pad of his thumb,
" Ek din pyase dil ko dariya jarror milega. Hamari bhi zindagi ko khoobsurat sa tohfa milega. Aapko bhi aapka pyar milega aur hume pyar ka izhaar."
( One day the thirsty heart will definitely get a river. My life will also get a beautiful gift. You will also get your love and I will get the confession of my love.)
Her eyes enlarged and heart skipped hearing poetry from his mouth. She was both amused and mesmerized.
" Kavita bol lete hain aap?"
( You can do poetry?)
He blinked his eyes as yes and said, " thodi thodi. Tumhe pasand aaya to Roz ek bol du tumhare liye?"
( A little. If you liked it I can say it everyday.)
" That was so good! You should have become a poet."
She ignored everything else and praised his talent. He sighed heavily,
" Mere pyar ki sabse badi dushman to tum ho."
( You are the biggest enemy of my love.)
She frowned, " kaise?"
( How?)
He exhaled heavily, " sleep for now. I will let you know some other day."
She again ignored his words and recalled his poetry and just like this they both drifted into their dreamland.
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