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The sun has risen and RahIya too have woken up. Rahul came out of the washroom after getting ready only to find Athiya standing near dressing mirror but was lost in her own thoughts. Rahul sighed.

Rahul: Good morning Tia..

His voice broke Athiya's trance and she looked at him with almost blank expression.

Rahul: Tia.. Relax..

Athiya shook her head in no

Rahul: Tia.. sirf normal follow up check up ke liye Jana hai aaj

Athiya: Lekin unhone mujhe cricket khelne se mana kar diya to?

Rahul: You are able to walk right?

Athiya nodded in yes

Rahul: You are able to do your things with your own hands and legs??

Athiya again nodded in yes

Rahul: Your vision is fine right?

Athiya: Haan baba.. aap kehna kya chahte ho?

Rahul: You just need to be physically and mentally fit Tia to play again. The meds and doctor can make you physically fit but agar tum aise hi tension logi to mentally exhaust ho jaogi aur fit kaise rahogi?

Athiya just hummed in response

Rahul: Have faith Tia. Everything will be fine okay

Athiya nodded in yes while giving him a small smile.

Rahul: Great ab na woh cheez use mat karna jo tumhare paas hai hi nahi

Athiya got confused hearing this.

Athiya: Matlab? Kya use na karu?

Rahul: Your brain Tia.. It's obvious.

Athiya looked at him with opened mouth and then she threw a pillow at him while Rahul kept chuckling at her angry bird face.

Rahul: Achchha chalo ab hospital Jake aate hai.

Saying so he started leaving making Athiya frowned.

Athiya: Suniye..

Rahul: Haan

Athiya: Aaj apne sindoor nahi lagaya

Rahul gave her a small smile

Rahul: Tia.. I know you are not comfortable upto that extent aise me kaise..

Athiya: I am sorry.. I didn't want to hurt you

Rahul: I know Tia. Situation hi kuchh aisi hai. It's not okay but it's okay

Athiya: Lekin shaadi to hui hai na?

Rahul: Of course..

Athiya: Haq hai aapka yeh Rah. Aap laga do

Rahul: Are you sure?

Athiya nodded in yes. Rahul'a eyes twinkled and he happily filled her hairline. Athiya smiled seeing him. He was indeed happily doing all this for her and that realisation was making her overwhelmed.

......................................................................

RahIya were at the hospital waiting for Athiya's turn. She was hell nervous and was tapping her foot and fidgeting her fingers. Rahul was noticing it since long and he tried to calm her but she was not able to. Finally Rahul hold her hand making her stop tapping her foot and fidgeting her fingers at the same time as she was surprised with it

Rahul: Calm down Tia. I understand you are nervous and it's natural. But aise nervous hone se kuchh nahi hoga na. Try to divert your mind Tia. Calm down. Aise to apna normal BP badha lena hai phir BP ki meds bhi Leni padegi

Athiya blinked her eyes at him with quite shocked and scared expression

Athiya: Nahi nahi.. mujhe ab ek nayi goli nahi khani. Itni sari di hai woh kya kam hai

Rahul was controlling his laugh

Athiya: Gadha doctor

A doctor who was passing by looked at them. Athiya gulped down whereas Rahul gave him a sorry look to which the doctor shook his head and went from there.

Rahul: Tia.. please don't use the thing which you don't have

Athiya smacked him lightly and sat with a huge pout on her face.

Rahul chuckled. He cupped her face.

Rahul: Tum kitni pyaari lagti ho aise muh fulate hue.

Athiya looked at him. Rahul realised what he said and how he has kept his hand and he quickly took it back looking here and there. Rahul cleared his throat.

Rahul: Sorry

Athiya felt bad for him. He was way too much closer to her and she could feel that in his actions. May be he too loves her but she was not sure. She didn't even remember her falling for him.

Athiya was about to say something but her turn came and they were asked to come inside the doctor's cabin. They went inside.

Rahul: May we come in doc?

Doctor: Yes Mr and Mrs Rahul. Please come and have a seat.

They settled. The doctor checked Athiya's file.

Doctor: So Mrs Rahul.. How are you feeling now? Any pain in hands, legs?

Athiya: No doctor. I feel better than earlier.

Doctor: And what about your head injury? Any uneasiness?

Athiya: No doctor. Bas kuchh yaad nahi hai wahi. Kabhi kabhi kuchh flashes aate hai but I am not even able to recall anything properly

Doctor: That's fine. Please don't push pressure in quickly remembering anything. The things will be recalled when they need to be.

Athiya nodded in yes

Doctor: Now let's have a scan so that we can see the internal healing of the head injury. Please come

Athiya looked at Rahul who blinked in assurance.

Rahul: Main bahar hi hoon ward ke okay.

Athiya nodded in yes. The doctor and Athiya went to a ward and Rahul was waiting outside.

Doctor: Mrs Rahul.. is there anything you want to ask but couldn't?

Athiya: Yes doctor.. why is this process this much slow? Why am I not able to recall anything? Rah is facing all alone. I am not even able to behave normally with him

Doctor: Relax Mrs Rahul. You have to give time to yourself and him. Yes he is facing everything alone but who stopped you? Yes you don't remember anything but who stopped you from making new memories?

The doctor's words hit Athiya harder. Yes she knew she can trust Rahul but was she ready for the same? Everyone says she has accepted Rahul with her whole heart but can she do that once again.. The answer is A BIG NO.. And it's not Rahul's fault anywhere but it's her walls and her present state of mind which are not allowing her to be more comfortable and open to him. She knew the more she tried to protect herself, the more he was getting hurt and it was breaking her heart.

Doctor: Athiya.. go and change. Then I'll start with your examination okay

Athiya nodded in yes and doctor went from there. She changed and nurse called Doctor and Rahul both. Doctor was checking Athiya while she was getting more and more nervous. She looked at Rahul who blinked in assurance.

Doctor: Okay BP is a bit high but I understand the reason. Be ready Mrs Rahul we will go for the brain scan now okay.

Rahul: Tia calm down okay. Sab theek hoga. Main hoon tumhare sath

The doctor gave mild sedation to Athiya and took her for the scans. Rahul was mentally praying for her recovery. Once the scans were done, the doctor called Rahul to his cabin.

Rahul: Is everything fine doctor?

Doctor: Yes Rahul. Athiya is doing good. Relax..

Rahul sighed in relief. Doctor smiled at him.

Doctor: Rahul.. did she look into mirror?

Rahul shook his head in no

Rahul: Dar rahi hai. Haala ki hum logo ne usse iss baare me koi baat nahi ki but..

Doctor: It's okay. Let her be. Is there anything you want to discuss? I can see that on your face that there is something you are worried about.

Rahul: Doctor.. I.. I don't know whether she is doing good or not. The Tia.. I know and This Tia.. these two are two different people. I can see a very strong personality in this Tia but maine jisko jana tha woh to bilkul opposite thi iske. She used to be so fragile.. yet she used to be my strength. She used to be so understanding and motivating. She was my comfort place.. my home.. She was having that girliness in her. But jab.. jab main iss Tia ko dekhta hoon.. aisa lagta hai koi aur hi insaan hai. This person is having a strong aura.. she takes her decision and have courage for standing up for them. She can alone fight with anyone and everyone. She.. she is more like a Tom boy who doesn't have that girliness which was there. I.. I don't know how to handle her.. Mujhe samaj nahi aata ki Tia theek hai ya nahi. Dar laga rehta hai ki kahi meri koi bhi baat usko buri lag gayi to kya hoga.. I.. I can't loose her doc.

Doctor: Relax Rahul. Calm down. I understand what you are saying. But think like this way.. May be Mrs Rahul.. Athiya.. was always like this only but she felt like to be your wife first because of the sacrifice you made may be.. she was holding onto you and just wanted you to be happy with you.

Rahul: I have seen her broken doc. Lekin agar yeh sach hai ki she.. she did that just to make me happy makes me feel betrayed.

Doctor: No Rahul.. one thing which I can assure you is that she never betrayed you. Rahul.. see.. hamare andar kuchh emotions hote hai.. kuchh hamari hidden side hoti hai jo sirf unhi logo ke samne aati hai jo hamare dil ke bahut kareeb ho jo hamare dil me ho. Now think what if this Tom boyish attitude is her defence mechanism..

Rahul: To protect herself from her relatives??

Doctor: Possible. And when she knew she belongs to your family now, she could easily put that boyish attitude aside and can freely live like a girl she actually was. And abhi Jo attitude hai uska woh shayad iss liye hai kyuki tum bhi abhi unn relatives ki line me ho

Rahul was now getting things.

Rahul: I am far better than her relatives

Doctor chuckled

Doctor: And she knew it.

Rahul looked at him surprisingly.

Doctor: Yes Rahul. She is not blind. She can see your efforts and your pain too.

Rahul looked at other side trying to compose his overpowering emotions. He cleared his throat.

Doctor: She will come around Rahul. Have patience

Rahul nodded in yes

Doctor: Now... She has to learn to fight her own battles specially this fear of facing her scars. Yeh jo marks hai uske face pe, hath pe, pero pe sab chale jayenge waqt ke sath lekin it will take time. It's human nature Rahul har kisi ko kafi inferiority feel hoti hai agar unke face pe kuchh ho. It can make you underconfident. Aise me apno ka pyaar aur sath hi insaan ki sab se badi takat hota hai. You have to be strong to see her worst breakdown if it happens. If she was able to handle this, it will be great but you have to support her throughout.

Rahul nodded in yes.

Doctor: Don't worry Rahul. As far as you are with her, she can face anything.

Rahul: Thank you doctor

Doctor: Please take care of yourself too.

Rahul gave him a small smile and nodded in yes.

Rahul: Main.. jau Tia ke paas? Woh ghabra jayegi koi nahi hoga to. Usko na aise akele rehne me kabhi kabhi dar lagta hai bahut.

Doctor sighed but nodded in yes. Rahul quickly went to Athiya's ward. He sat beside her and caressed her hair. On the other side, Athiya has woken up and was still feeling a bit under the influence of sedation so was just laying down. As soon as she felt someone was caressing her hair, she clutched her duvet. Her heartbeats rose but she remained unfazed. Something inside her was stopping her from opening her eyes and it was not the meds she knew.

Rahul: Please theek ho jao Tia..

Athiya calmed down as soon as she heard Rahul's voice.

Rahul: I can't see you like this Tia. It.. it hurts a lot. It's.. it's ok agar tumhe kuchh bhi yaad nahi aata.. it's okay agar tumhe mujse problem ho rahi ho ya mere sath room share nahi karna kuchh bhi.. I am fine Tia.. tum jo bologi woh kar dunga but please theek ho jao. It is breaking me seeing you like this. Agar.. agar abhi Jo hain woh asli Tia hai na to main iske hisab se khud ko badal dunga Tia but please theek ho jao. Mujse.. mujse handle nahi ho raha ab.

A sob escaped from his mouth but he quickly turned to other side and started wiping his tears. Athiya opened her eyes and her heart broke seeing him broken.

Athiya gently held Rahul's hand making him look at her with quite a jolt. Rahul instantly blinked back his upcoming tears

Athiya: Rah..

Rahul: Tia.. how are you feeling now?

Athiya: Main theek hoon

Rahul: Ghar chale?

Athiya nodded in yes. Rahul called the doctor and he once again examined her and after his green signal RahIya went from there.

The ride to home was a silent one where Athiya was busy in thinking what she should do and Rahul was on the path of shutting everything and everyone down..  Suppressing his emotions to the extent where even he might stop feeling anything.

They reached home and updated everyone with information that Athiya is doing good. Everyone sighed in relief but Virat and Harry have noticed Rahul's eyes which were becoming emotionless. Athiya has gone to her room. Harry couldn't control and spoke.

Harry: Rah.. Everything will be fine okay.

Rahul: I know Harry.

Virat: Rah.. Just don't loose hope okay

Rahul: Hope??

The Team Members were shocked with him questioning.

Virat: Rah.. kiddo.. have faith.

Rahul: Faith??

Virat: Rah.. come have some rest. Chalo..

Virat took him to his room and made him sleep though it took some time but eventually Rahul fell asleep.

The team came inside and all were worried for him.

Virat: He.. he is at the verge of breakdown.

Mahi kept his hand on Virat's shoulder to give him his support.

Rohit: Hum haar nahi manenge Vi. Hum sab sath me manage karenge sab

Harry: I am scared.. for both.

Jassi: Kuchh nahi hoga Harry. We will protect them and their relationship

On the other side, doctor's words were continuously replaying in her mind. She was getting worried for Rahul after seeing him broken in hospital. Was she unknowingly hurting him beyond repair? Her heart skipped a beat on that thought.

Athiya couldn't control and she almost ran downstairs shocking all the ladies who were sitting in the hall.

Anu: Tia.. sambhalke

Ritz: Tia lag jayegi dheere

Sakshi: Tia you are not fit enough ki itni bhagdaud karo. Please ruko..

Athiya: Rah.. Where is Rah?

Anu: Mere room me. Sare gents wahi hai

Athiya ran to Virushka's room followed by all the ladies who were trying to stop her from running. The men were surprised seeing her there that too with quite scared expression.

Virat: Tia.. you okay?

Athiya: Mujhe Rah se baat karni hai

Mahi: Tia he needs rest.

Athiya: Bhaiya it's important and urgent

Everyone frowned. But before anyone could do anything, she ran to bed and started shaking Rahul who woke up groaning but stopped as soon as he saw Athiya.

Rahul: Tia.. kya hua?

Athiya: Mujhe aap se baat karni hai.. akele me

All looked at each other. Rahul looked at the team and then at Athiya.

Rahul: Okay. Room me chalte hai

Anu: No..

Sakshi: Yahi baat karo. Tia tum betho baad me pero me dard hone lagega. Bhagti hui niche aayi hai.

Rahul: What the..

He stopped as he found Athiya was looking at him with raised eyebrows.

But on the other side, Athiya heard some curse words in Rahul's voice.

Athiya: Kya apne mere samne bhi curse words bole hai?

Rahul: Haan but not to you. Yeh inn gadho ko. Mujhe thande pani se do baar nehla diya tha jab hum aaye the tab huh.. wait.. why did you ask?

Athiya: I.. I heard you saying them. Or my mind played games.. Uhh.. I don't know I am sorry.. I don't know..

Rahul: Tia.. Tia.. relax. Sit..

He made him sit on the bed.

Rahul: It's okay. Calm down.

There was a silence for a while. The team members signed each other and went from there leaving them alone to talk.

Rahul: You okay Tia?

Athiya nodded in yes

Rahul: Kya baat karni thi?

Athiya: I am sorry..

Rahul: Tia yeh sab to..

Athiya: Abhi jo hua Iske liye nahi..

Rahul: To?

Athiya: Aapse aapki special best friend ko chhinne ke liye..

Rahul was surprised hearing this.

Athiya: I know.. in fact we both know ki main abhi ready nahi hoon itni comfortable nahi hoon apse apki biwi ki tarah behave karne ke liye.. lekin aise me bhi mujhe koi haq nahi banta ki main apse aapka woh sounding board bhi chhin loon jo apki sabse badi strength tha woh bhi tab jab aap apni had me rehke ho sake utni help karte ho meri.

Rahul: Tia.. tum..

Athiya: No Rah.. Itne din ho gaye maine dekha hai apki aankho me woh sunapan.. woh dukh.. woh takleef jab aap meri aankhon me apne liye pyaar ke badle questions dekhte ho. I know I have made so many walls but I can't deny the fact that you have been my constant support since the time I got consciousness and it's the truth that now You are my family. How can someone run away from his or her only family?

Tears fell from Rahul's eyes

Athiya: Rah.. I know It took me long.. more than enough.. but I am sorry for snatching away your wife and even your friend. But now that I realised.. can we be friends? I.. I don't want to dwell into past. I want to focus on my future and..

Rahul: And??

Athiya took a deep breath.

Athiya: I want to see whether it's just my future or .. or.. our future.

Rahul: Are you sure Tia?

Athiya: Haan.. Jaise apne kaha tha ki main hamesha se apki friend thi hi waise hi aap bhi mere friend the hi.. In fact you have been my inspiration for playing cricket Rah. I don't doubt your intention and I can never doubt. Main bas abhi.. I am not in that state of mind to give you your wife but I can give you your friend. Aur yeh main kisi bhi dabav me aake nahi bol rahi. I realised how much important you are for me even if I don't remember our relationship.. jitna bhi apko abhi Jana hai.. you matter to me Rah. Aur dosti se better kya step hoga hum dono ka iss naye mahol me khud ko aur hamare rishte ko sambhalne ka. So.. Let's Be Friends??

Athiya forwarded her hand. Rahul looked at her hand and then at her who was looking at him with anticipation. Rahul's face broke into a wide smile and it was a genuine one.. it was reaching his eyes. He put his hand in Athiya's and shook hands gently

Rahul: Let's Be Friends..

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So.. that's it for this chapter. Hope you guys like it

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