Chapter 47 : Helpless 

Aadarsh woke up to a soft rumble. He stirred and opened his eyes and looked around. For a few moments he was disoriented, completely disconnected with his surroundings. He turned to his side to find Ruhaani nestled against his left arm completely covered in the blanket till her neck.

Her hand held on to his arm, like she was hugging it. He slowly turned his head to her side and gazed at her. All the happenings of the previous night rushed back to his mind with full force. The walk, the rain, the café and the kiss.

His gaze softened as the memory of the gentle kiss brought about an odd stirring in his heart. His gaze cascaded down to her hands that held his arm. She slept so peacefully.

His other hand lazily reached out to touch her cheek, when another rumble echoed in the room. He snapped his head in the direction of the door, realizing it was a knock. Hurriedly, he slipped his arm out of her hold, by gently lifting her hand off it. She stirred, still in sleep. In a desperate hurry he got off the bed and strode to the door. The last thing he wanted was any more awkwardness.

"Good morning!" his sister said brightly standing next to Abhi. Both of their smiles faded as they stared at him.

"What?" He exclaimed tartly.

"You just woke up?" Abhi asked surprised, noticing his brother's disheveled hair.

"Bhabhs is still asleep?" Ashvi asked a similar shock appearing on her face, as she tried to look beyond her brother's shoulder, raising herself on her toes.

"Yes, she is!" He sighed.

"I am awake." Ruhaani mumbled sitting up having picked up their conversation, although still not fully awake.

"Do you guys know what the time is?" Abhi asked.

"No," Aadarsh walked back, tilting his neck on both sides to flex his stiff muscles.

"Bhaiya, Bhabhs, it's nine. We are all ready." Ashvi informed them.

"Nine?" Ruhaani exclaimed, her gaze moving around the room. "Where's my phone?.... Oh, it's in the suite."

"Bhaiya!" Ashvi turned to her brother who sat on the chair listlessly, letting out a yawn. "Get ready quickly."

"I need a tea first." He spoke, his words sprawled over as he stretched his arms.

"You can have it at breakfast. The driver is going to be here in an hour. The weather has cleared up, it's a bright sunny day in the mountains, which means paragliding is on!" Abhi said excitedly.

Aadarsh gave him a glare, still pissed at him for last night.

"Good idea, I will get ready ASAP!" Ruhaani chirped, now fully awake, tying up her hair.

Aadarsh's gaze drifted to her. He watched her while she tied her hair up asking Abhi if the kids were up and ready. His gaze descended down to her full sleeve pastel blue t-shirt. She had nothing on underneath. The movement of her arms to tie up her hair, easily gave away the absence of a bra. If he could make that much out so could others in the room.

"Abhi, I need your room key. I will get ready there." Aadarsh spoke up, directing Abhi's attention towards him and away from Ruhaani. Letting go that grudge he decided to harbour. "You can get ready here," he spoke looking at Ruhaani. She nodded, as their eyes met for a very brief few seconds.

"Cool, by the way I spoke to the hotel manager and he said he'll have our stuff moved to the suite post-breakfast. Make sure you guys also have your stuff packed."

Aadarsh nodded.

Within two minutes the brothers were out of the room, while Ashvi stayed back in the room to held her sister-in-law choose the outfit for the day.

***

Immediately after a lavish breakfast, when Abhi had led her to see the suite she hadn't expected it to be decorated especially for her. The lounge space of the new suite they had had given had a sofa on one wall and a wall mounted wide television on the other. It was decorated with flowers, balloons and streamers.

Ruhaani turned around and gaped at Abhi while the others marched in with smiles on their faces with loud birthday greetings.

"Happy Birthday Bhabhs!" Ashvi smiled.

"Time for the cake cutting Bhabhs!" Abhi announced, putting an arm around her shoulders leading her to the table. Ruhaani looked at the beautifully set table with white and pink flowers, elegantly wrapped gifts, tray of fresh cherries and bouquet of exotic chocolates. In middle of it was a delicious looking chocolate cake glazed with a dark brown cream. Happy Birthday Ruhaani! Was inscribed across it in a sophisticated handwriting.

Ruhaani beamed looking at the setup and then back at her family members. "Thank you so much!" She smiled as the kids were around the cake while Ashvi asked them to back off so that she could make some videos and take some pictures for her Instagram posts.

Aadarsh quietly stood behind her, slightly on the right side while she looked at the others comment on the cake.

Unaware of his presence close behind her, Ruhaani's gaze took in the huge 'Happy Birthday' banner on the wall behind amongst the glittery background streamers. It all felt so foreign. She had grown up having simpler birthday celebrations while Arti always got to have a party. Her aunt always had one excuse or another to avoid a party for her. Sometimes her birthday would fall during exams giving her aunt an easy excuse to avoid a celebration. When it was during vacation, her aunt would put it off by saying no one would come because they'd all be off to their vacation destination or Nanihaal.

"Bhabhs, come here, let's take a group picture before the cake cutting," Ashvi called her. She obliged with a gentle nod and a smile.

Aadarsh's gaze followed her. She was dressed in a blue and white striped, wool woven top that delicately fit around her body. She had paired with black jeans pants. Her hair was still moist from the rough drying after shampoo. She wore a pair of simple drop-shaped earrings.

"Sarla, you can go click the picture. Come on Aadarsh." Shelly Bua said, knocking the smile of DJ's face.

"No. I will take the picture." Aadarsh spoke, taking the phone from her sister's hand. She had the smartphone with the best resolution and paid storage space, so they always clicked pictures in her phone.

"No, let me click the picture." Dai Jaan graciously offered with a smile.

"No, Dai Jaan. I said I am clicking. Now you better go back to your place." Aadarsh replied, unaware of the appreciative gaze his wife watched him with.

"Let me call the Hotel staff member." Abhi offered.

"Let me click one picture, stand where you are." Aadarsh ordered. He held the camera up. "Nirvan look up." He instructed. The boy who had been looking around the table, immediately looked up and wore his classic photograph smile, the one that looked forced for a passport size photograph.

Aadarsh's gaze lifted off the phone's screen and looked at Ruhaani who stood in the middle. She was struggling to smile. Their gazes met like two lightning sparks in the sky. "Smile," He said to no one in particular, but she knew he said it to her.

Ruhaani forced her lips to curve up and he promptly clicked a few pictures. Immediately after the photograph, Abhi ran out to call a staff member to click their family photo while Ashvi offered to take a selfie using her selfie stick. Abhi quickly returned along with a member of the housekeeping staff.

"Chipmunk, phone!" Abhi said.

Ashvi glared at him for using that hideous nickname in front of an outsider.

"Dear sister, phone please. Chotu will click our picture." He rephtased, smiling at the man who had followed him in.

Soon, they all stood again. Aadarsh stood beside his Bua on the extreme end while his siblings and daughter surrounded Ruhaani.

Once the photo session was done, the cake was cut. Ruhaani fed the cake to everyone, taking turns and eventually ended up looking at him with a piece in her hand. He strode towards her, closing the distance between them. He broke a smaller piece from the piece she held and directed it to her mouth with utmost gentleness.

Hesitantly, she took the small piece into her mouth, his fingertips grazing her lips. However, momentarily they made an impact. A spark. She fed him the cake in her hand. Their gazes meeting swiftly. Her eyes lowered to his lips that were now smudged with the chocolate cream.

She had made a resolution to keep away from him. She didn't want to put him in a spot where he was obliged to reciprocate her gestures like had done for the kiss. When deep down he still had someone else in his heart.

Nevertheless, here she was, already ready to head back to same crossroad. A part of her wanted to take everything that was rightfully hers. Her rights as a wife, even demand for it if necessary. But the other part of her knew it wouldn't be fair. She couldn't force him to return and reciprocate her feelings and her gestures of affection.

The sadder part was, she knew he would do everything to make her happy even if he had to do things he wouldn't ever do voluntarily. He would do it as an obligation. She didn't want that.

She picked up a tissue from the table and handed it to him. "There's cream on your mouth," she said softly and turned around walking away from him towards the kids.

Aadarsh blinked uneasily. He dabbed the tissue on his lips, gazing at her as she smiled and spoke to the kids. Her sudden withdrawal had put him at unease.

***

Two hours later, they were standing in the open meadows of the Solang Valley. The most popular tourist attraction in the vicinity of Manali. The place was buzzing with tourists. Although that didn't make the place any less attractive. Meadows of green grass were spread out like by endless carpet with the backdrop of snowcapped mountains. It was a sight for the sore eyes.

The grass was wonderfully green and a bit soggy following last night's rain. The lush greenery, the majestic snow capped mountains had immediately elevated everyone's moods.

"Bhabhs, you can't even imagine what it would be like to fly in the sky and watch these beautiful valleys from a bird eye view. Please try it," Abhi said to Ruhaani who stood beside him, as they watched a person land with a trained pilot behind them on the colorful paraglider. Abhi and Ashvi were more than excited to experience paragliding. However Ruhaani was freaking out after actually seeing people in the sky.

"YOLO, you only live once, Bhabhs. You're thirty now. You might never get this opportunity again." Abhi added to convince her.

"YODO, you only die once, too Abhi!" Aadarsh who had been standing on Abhi's left side mused aloud.

Ruhaani stifled a laughter.

"Bhaiya, please don't spoil it for us!" Ashvi who stood on the other side of Ruhaani, fixing her phone on her selfie stick complained.

"Fine, I will come." Ruhaani declared.

"So, three of you, final?" Aadarsh asked turning to them.

"You won't try it?" Abhi asked surprised turning to his brother.

"Nope. I'd like to stay grounded." Saying that he walked off to arrange for their paragliding.

"I can't believe him!" Abhi remarked.

"Why?" Ruhaani asked curiously. She wasn't surprised at all, at Aadarsh's lack of interest. He was generally a safe player, especially when he was surrounded by his family. Always living up to his name.

"Because Bhaiya not doing something like this is unbelievable." Abhi muttered sitting on the grass. Ruhaani sat beside him while Ashvi walked around making videos of the place. The kids were running up and down the slopes elated, while DJ was asking them not to run too fast. Shelly Bua had gone to find something to drink along with Nirvan to the nearby cafeteria.

"Bhaiya was an adrenaline junkie. God knows what's gone wrong with him. You know as teenagers, we used to have cycle races, climb trees, boldly play cricket on roads we were forbidden from and what not. He used to be out until dinner playing games. Something he got scolded for so often. You know, he bagged almost half the medals there were on sports day. Used to take part in everything. Anything new and he would be up to try it. That mad urge for adventure in him is gone."

Ruhaani smiled, just listening about Aadarsh brought a tickling joy in her heart. She could listen to people talk about him all day and not get bored.

"And now, he's this brooding stoic whose forgotten how to live for himself. He's forgotten everything that brought him joy."

Ruhaani's smile morphed into a solemn line. She knew the reason behind that unpleasant transformation. Responsibilities did that to him. They made him the man he was now.

Every time something from his boyhood days came up, she found it hard to believe it was really him. If one looked at Aadarsh they would never be able to tell that the same man was once a boy who had a smile that could win hearts, who was reckless, naughty, and lovely, who lived for himself.

"Okay so, I have made the payment. You need to climb up those steps, take the cable car and then hike up to the point from where the paragliders take off. The landing will happen here." Aadarsh announced. He had made a special request and some extra payments to make sure they got the best paragliding equipment and pilots available.

"Wohoo!" Abhi squealed, getting up on his feet.

Aadarsh stepped forward to offer a hand to Ruhaani but she was already up on her feet on her own. She looked away like she hadn'tseen him approach.

Quietly, digesting her sudden apparent withdrawal, he turned away to call Ashvi.

"Why are you coming along? Changed your mind?" Abhi asked.

"I don't want to jump off the clip, doesn't mean I don't want to take the cable car ride." He muttered. He needed to make sure the setup was safe.

"What about the kids and Bua and Dai Jaan?" Ruhaani asked. He glanced at her. He was confused. Was she ignoring him or not? In one moment it felt like she was giving him a cold shoulder in the very next she was being normal. It was perplexing and vexing.

"Yeah, stay here and take care of them. We can do this on our own big brother!" Abhi remarked, offering an arm to his sister and the other to his sister-in-law. "Ladies shall we?"

Aadarsh reluctantly resigned. He wanted to go with them to make sure things went right. However, he also wanted to stay around the kids. As it is they were giving Dai Jaan a hard time.

"Yep, we'll be fine!" Ruhaani muttered, not bothering to look at him.

"Fine." Aadarsh exclaimed tartly, glancing at her with a growing annoyance.

About forty-five minutes later, Aadarsh spotted Ashvi getting closer to the ground, flying along with the bright yellow paraglider. The kids he had engaged in a game, all looked up marveled at the sight.

"I want to fly too!" Mukti remarked with sheer delight.

"I also want." Pari repeated after her.

"You need to be a teenager to do it." Aadarsh said, looking up at his sister with a smile. She seemed to be enjoying it.

"Aadi boy, do you think I can do it?" Shelly Bua asked, as she bit into the slice of apple.

"Can senior citizens also do it?" Dai Jaan asked a playful smile shining through her eyes.

Aadarsh glanced at her catching her drift, while Shelly Bua just glared at Dai Jaan who put up an innocent smile. Aadarsh shook his head with a smile and walked over as Ashvi closed a landing.

"How was it?" He asked grinning at her, taking the selfie stick from her hand.

"Awesome. A bit scary, but awesome. I have captured the view from the above. It's so worth the hype, Bhaiya. It's just breathtaking beautiful." She said while getting rid of the helmet and then harness. The pilot stepped forward to help her unfasten the buckles around her abdomen and thighs.

"She'll do it on her own, "Aadarsh spoke a bit stiffly, blocking the way of the man.

"No, I need help. This is too tight." Ashvi said.

Aadarsh sighed and stepped forward to help her. "Where's Ruhaani and Abhi?" He asked as he helped her get rid of the harness and handed it to the pilot who was waiting.

"Bhabhs, had a last minute dilemma. Abhi was convincing her to go for it."

"Convincing or forcing her? "Aadarsh asked a bit indignantly. He should have gone with them up the hill. If Abhi forced her into something she didn't want, he wasn't leaving the man off the hook.

"Oh, I think that's Bhabhs," Ashvi spoke pointing to the orange paragliding wing. Aadarsh squinted his eyes trying to make out. In a few minutes, he was convinced that was Ruhaani as she grew closer. He moved across the open space estimating her landing spot.

Within the next three minutes, Ruhaani had reached closer to the slope and landed on the grass with a bright smile on her face. A chuckle escaping her lips as she finally came to a halt.

"You okay?" He asked as she remained seated catching her breath.

"Never been better. It was phenomenal!" She gasped.

He took a breath of relief. They both turned to the right, as someone shouted and landed a little distance away. It was none other than Abhi. That man had to do everything with a flourish.

"Madam, please stand up." The pilot instructed.

Ruhaani nodded and stood. She swayed a bit, feeling a bit unsure with her footing. Aadarsh stepped forward and wound an arm around her. "Ruhaani, are you really okay?" He asked concerned.

Ruhaani chuckled. "Yes, I am. Just a bit dizzy. It's like when you spin around too fast, you feel like that the land is spinning. Just that. Give me a minute I will be okay." She said looking down at the ground.

Aadarsh nodded, backing off a bit, realizing he had totally invaded her personal space. His hand however did not move from her back. The pilot waited impatiently to take the equipment back.

Ruhaani slowly removed the helmet and handed it to the man. She worked on the belt around her abdomen. Aadarsh looked from Ruhaani to the man. Before the man stepped forward to help her he told the man that he would help her and blocked his view standing before Ruhaani

"It's fine, I can manage." Ruhaani said. She successfully undid the buckles around her stomach and moved the ones around her thighs. Aadarsh watched on patiently. She struggled with the one on her right thigh, eventually looking up at him for help.

He bent forward and tried to press the side buttons to unlock it but it didn't budge. He got down on one knee and adjusted the strap and tried again. On the third try it came off. He looked up at her only to find her gazing at him, her cheeks glowing with a light pink.

He got up, his gaze catching glimpse of her skin at her belly as her top had rode up. His fingers gently reached the end of her top and tugged at it from all sides.

Ruhaani had been lost in the moment. Off late he'd treat her with the same gentleness he treated his sisters and Pari with. It flattered her. Made her heart flutter like a bird who had just learned to fly. Gauging his action, she suddenly realized what he was doing and her jaw dropped out of embarrassment. She looked aside tugging at her top to correct it, as another wave of heat rushed to her cheeks further adding to the crimson on her skin.

"It's fine," he whispered and then helped her step out of the loops, holding her hand securely. His grip on her hand did not slacken as she stepped aside so that the man could take his equipment.

"Thank you," he said to the man and turned to her.

"You should try it." She spoke, returning from the minor visit to her la-la-land. "It's the most beautiful experience ever."

"Bhabhs, is damn right. The weather is perfect and the view is magnificent. You may never get to do it again." Abhi spoke walking up to them, running a hand through his hair to set them right.

"Mumma," Pari dashed towards Ruhaani.

Aadarsh gently let go her hand which he had forgotten was still in his grip.

"I want to do it too. Take me with you." Pari said adamantly. As if Pari wasn't enough, Mukti followed her suite.

"Girls, it's not for kids. When you both grow up, we'll come here and then you both can do it while we watch. Okay?" Ruhaani tried to placate them.

Pari turned to her father. "Papa, I want to go." She held his hand. "Take me,"

"Shona, it's not for kids. But there's something that's for kids. You wanted to go inside that big bubble, no?" He asked referring to the orb used for zorbing.

Her eyes immediately lit up and she nodded vigorously.

"Yes, let's go zorbing!" Abhi shouted gleefully.

Aadarsh regarded him with a tight observant look.

"What?" Abhi muttered.

"Really, grow up man!" Aadarsh exclaimed, walking off with the two girls to the place where all the sealed orbs were stationed.

"No thanks, I don't want to be you." Abhi shouted after him. Aadarsh simply raised a middle finger at him, not bothering to even turn around.

"Did you see that Bhabhs?" Abhi exclaimed horrified. "He showed me that finger."

"You started it!" Ruhaani remarked, as they began following Aadarsh.

"Gosh, since when did you become on his side?" Abhi asked. "Remember, I am your partner in crime."

"Since she realized you're a man-child who loves to be on the wrong side of things!" Ashvi answered.

Ruhaani chuckled as the brother-sister duo began bickering.

***

After a long day full of thrilling activities and beautiful road trip they were back at the hotel. Everyone had decided to take a short nap to wear off their exhaustion so that they were energized for the campfire at night.

The day had been an exceptionally beautiful birthday for Ruhaani. While her girls were fast asleep beside her, Nirvan had her head on her lap and was asking her about her paragliding experience.

"You know, I could see the river too. And those tall trees, they looked like tiny bushes."

Aadarsh who had come to his room to get a nap was mesmerized by the scene before his eyes. All four of them were under one big thick blanket. Ruhaani was seated against the head board running her fingers through Nirvan's hair talking to him in a hushed voice.

Their conversations were always so different. They were factual, they were reflective, they were far from common.

Two's company and three's crowd. It was a fact. Initially, a small part of Aadarsh had feared that Pari would always feel left out because Mukti and Nirvan were a package deal. Howbeit, Mukti's bond with Pari had left him stunned. The girls were becoming closer with every single day. Perhaps the same thing had happened with him and Abhi, Ashvi had sort of drifted away.

Here, Nirvan seemed to be the left out person. It worried Aadarsh. Nirvan wasn't much expressive and meddlesome in other's life. The exception to that was Mukti. The boy expressed his affection relentlessly for his twin sister. He would do her homework when she failed to do so, help her out of trouble, be with her if she was sad, give her whatever she asked for, even if it was a notebook or stationery that he was particularly fond of. Perhaps twins did have seen sort of special bond that was over and beyond in strength when compared to the regular sibling bond.

His concerns pertaining to Nirvan were almost always driven to dust when he saw what that boy had with Ruhaani. Their bond was something beyond ordinary. At times, he was convinced Ruhaani loved that boy more than Pari. He knew it wasn't right to compare but he couldn't resist.

Surprisingly, Nirvan was a different version of himself with Ruhaani. He would talk and talk a lot than usual when he was in her company. He would let her touch his hair or give him a hug or kiss, which he absolutely found to be a nuisance coming from someone else.

Nirvan had grown to be closer to Ruhaani than be was to him. It was a bittersweet realization.

Aadarsh quietly retraced his steps to the common area of the suite. In the other room of the premium suite, Abhi was fast asleep. Ashvi was in the suite across the corridor transferring photos to her laptop.

He stepped into the room where Abhi slept. He took the blanket and covered him, before making his way to sleep beside him.

He placed his head on the pillow. His mind replaying the scene when Ruhaani had urged him a second time to go paragliding

*

"You should really go,"

Aadarsh turned to Ruhaani hearing her voice, after he was sure the zorb the kids were in had carefully reached down the slope where Abhi and Ashvi were already stationed.

"Paragliding. It's a phenomenal experience. You really feel alive. It's like every breath matters up there. It's the most beautiful sight ever. I wouldn't even what to describe in it words for you. Please go for it."

He stared at her. He had already experienced the feeling she described so passionately, when he had kissed her last night. It was exactly what she had elucidated.

"Aadarsh?"

He took a breath and tapped back into his sanity. "Some other time."

"Nothing is going to happen, Aadarsh. The weather is clear, they are experienced people. It's safe."

"Something being safe, is an illusion. Time doesn't wait to flip you over and prove you wrong." He looked away. His mother was supposed to be safe.

"So, you're scared of dying?"

"Are you not?" He asked, turning his head in her direction, training his gaze on her.

"No. Not anymore." She said softly. "You don't have to be scared either."

I wish. The words never left Aadarsh's mouth. He decided to lighten the conversation. "Aren't you being pushy?"

"If I was, I would drag you up to that spot and push you from there myself." Her smart mouth replied, drawing his lips into a smile. Alarmingly her witty comebacks were growing on him.

"Why do I feel that, in that imagination I do not have a paragliding wing or even a parachute on me?" He teased, glancing at her.

"Ouch, do you have a special power to see through my imagination!" She replied playfully not correcting his stupid assumption.

"I wish I had," he whispered, his gaze meeting hers with a sudden blaze. Ruhaani looked away, taking two steps to the front.

"We should head towards them,"

"Ruhaani,"

She turned to look at him when he didn't say anything more.

He stepped forward and handed her the duffle bag with extra clothes and water bottle. "Take this too. I think I should go check what the whole hype is about."

A dazzling smile made it to her face. It felt like a victory. "Good for you," she said taking the bag on her shoulder.

"Hmm, it's your birthday. Would be so rude to deny your request." He winked and turned around making his way towards the building that had the rope way.

Ruhaani continued to look at him as he retreated a stupid smile on her face. She began walking towards the others cherishing that little conversation. Abruptly, her smile faltered.

It's your birthday. Would be so rude to deny your request.

*

Aadarsh smiled, reliving that beautiful experience. He didn't know the last time he had done something that gave him an adrenaline rush so strong. He had always wanted to try out paragliding.

However, doing anything that would remotely put him at risk brought on an ugly fear. He didn't care much for his life for his own sake. But he knew his siblings couldn't lose him. Not after everything that had already lost. To even think of how their life would be without him, was a task so tedious and daunting that it made him tremble. They were too nice, too innocent for this nasty world.

And now he had a daughter and wife.

His responsibilities had increased but somehow it felt easier to carry that load with Ruhaani's support. He had been able to take that leap of faith and do something he genuinely wanted to do all his life because he had her support, because he trusted her.

He smiled closing his eyes. This vacation was turning out to be all he had needed since a long time.

***

Aadarsh watched Ruhaani as she sat on the makeshift benches made by stacking the huge bricks. A few logs had also been arranged around the campfire as seats. She was beaming at Abhi who was playing the guitar and singing a Bollywood song along with a few more tourists who stayed at the hotel.

The day had been close to perfect. They all had tea and biscuits in the evening while playing games. They had decided to spend time indoors, as the evening grew cold. They had all given Ruhaani gifts. Each of the kids had given her a handmade card too.

As per Abhi's suggestion, he and Abhi had bought her a car. She was shocked, needless to mention. She had gaped at them both for a whole minute when they had handed her the key in a pretty box.

Ashvi had, quite to his satisfaction, taken his secret advice and gifted her a few dresses. Shelly Bua had gifted her a collection of recipe books. It was a jibe stunt but Ruhaani had taken it well and thanked her with utmost regard. Also, promised to try every recipe on it and make her taste each one. The woman had paled at the prospect, making them all grin. Only Ruhaani could be sweet, daring, cunning and devilish; all at the same time.

He walked up to her and held out the shawl.

"Thanks Dai..."She pause abruptly as she looked up.

"Dai Jaan decided to stay in the room with the kids." He informed her. She took the shawl and wrapped it around herself quickly.

A person from the housekeeping staff walked up to him with a tray that had two huge coffee mugs.

"Thanks," Aadarsh said to him taking the mugs. He then settled beside Ruhaani offering her one cup.

"I don't want..." she paused and then looked into the cup. She turned to him surprised, "Is that..."

"Hot chocolate," he said proudly, his eyes glowing and the ghost of a smile loitering at his lips.

Her face lit up instantly. She hadn't been able to get the beverage anywhere. They had found it at one café but it was barely good enough to be swallowed forget relishing.

"How? I had asked at the restaurant and also checked with the room service. They had said they don't have it on the menu." She asked, taking the cup from his hold. Her fingers wrapped around the mug savoring it's warmth and the aroma of chocolate.

"Well, what can I say! I have a irresistible charm. I just asked the head chef nicely and at once, she set out to fulfill my request. Sweet, no?" He asked sipping the beverage. "Hmm, it's actually good."

Ruhaani rolled her eyes and hurried to have the first sip. It was actually made well. The head chef seemed to have put her best effort to impress him perhaps.

"Nice right?" He asked.

"Yeah, it's fine," she said lightened the appreciation.

"It's so much better than the one you..."

She turned and silently dared him to complete the sentence narrowing her eyes at him. "You know someone had once complimented the hot chocolate I made and I quote— it's the best one I have ever had."

Aadarsh couldn't resist the smile that spread itself out on his lips. She remembered his exact words. It was flattering. "Looks like you have a good memory."

"You don't even know how good," she whispered before going back to sipping the warm beverage. They sat wordlessly enjoying the warmth of the campfire, taste of the beverage and joy of the people who sang. There was a group of college going students. The two girls in that group had been eyeing him initially but soon Abhi had their undivided attention.

"You know I have to say, when it comes to charm... Abhi is much more charming than you are."

"You have any idea how wrong it sounds coming from you about my brother," he replied instantly, glancing at Abhi. His wife had no clue how much more charming he could be if he wanted to.

"Please! Abhi is like the brother I never had and you are..."

He slowly turned to her, completing the sentence for her, "your husband. Trust, me," he spoke further, leaning closer to her. "If I come down to charming, not just those two girls there every woman here will have eyes for me. Including you."

Ruhaani couldn't fight the blush and looked away. They went back to being silent. They both clapped, along with others as Abhi finished the song he had been playing.

"This one is a duet," Abhi announced loudly as a middle aged woman joined him. She was here with her husband. "Mrs. Bose will be singing with me and this is dedicated to all the couples here. You better get dancing." He winked at his brother.

"I don't know how and why he turned out to be like this." Aadarsh muttered under his breath when Abhi pointed to them, dedicating the song to them.

"Whatever be the reason, thank God, for that. I couldn't imagine living with two like you." She commented, glancing at the hand he held out for her to take.

"Aren't you becoming impolite by the day?" He asked in reply to her comment.

"They say, people you stay around influence your behavior." She replied, as they stood up and moved a little closer to fire.

His gaze met hers just as his one arm curled around her, drawing her close. Their interlocked hands rising up. Ruhaani parted her lips at the sudden proximity.

The shawl slipped off her shoulder as they swayed gently. He gently held the shawl and gathered it on her shoulder, took it to her back and held it in place. Ruhaani smiled gratefully and looked away from him, at the other three couples who were also dancing.

She slowly turned back to him.

"Twirl?"

"No. Less space, and the shawl will slip off."

"Hmm," he hummed in agreement. He gently guided her hand that he had be holding to his shoulder. His hands then rested on either side of her waist. The distance between them halved.

Ruhaani felt like she was melting in his arms. A sudden force was binding them together. Like delicate threads, were wrapping around them. This one was stronger than the one that had enveloped them last night.

A surprising amount of heat warmed her cheeks. She couldn't keep looking at him anymore. It was becoming harder. She felt vulnerable. She moved closer, her face aligned against his shoulder. His hands slowly readjusted to her lower back. His face floating over her shoulder.

She could hear his breaths—long and deep. Her own hands moved up and locked around his neck.

A strange need arouse in the pit of her heart and dropped down to the core of her femininity. She licked her dry lips, glad that her face was hidden by his shoulder.

Aadarsh had decided to keep a respectful distance. But everything about her seemed to be drawing him to her. Her witty remarks, her challenging smile, the roll of her eyes, the gleam in her eyes which hardly concealed how she felt about him.

His body seemed to be on autopilot. It was as though their bodies knew exactly how to compliment each other and sway in sync. A feeling of content began to sprout. A feeling he had not felt in years. At first he tried to grasp every bit of that feeling. He wished for time to stand still. He wanted to capture the feeling entirely.

His face inched closer to hers. He wanted to be in that warm crook of her neck, nuzzle her soft hair. He never wanted her to go away. He wanted her to make his arms her home.

An brusque applause brought them out of the magical air that they had weaved around themselves.

Ruhaani blinked, her eyelids felt heavy. She slowly distanced herself from him. Her eyes downcast. She didn't have the courage to look athis beautiful dark eyes and again see a jarring reality reflect in them. She wanted to be in that dream like illusion a little longer. She turned away and silently walked away, towards the building.

Aadarsh stood rooted on the spot, tears blurring his vision. For a moment, he was glad that she didn't look at him. In the other, he wanted nothing but for her to meet his eyes and read for herself all that he felt for her in those few minutes of closeness.

He wanted her to know that he had started to feel all those things she felt for him. He wanted her to know. He wanted her to feel that surreal delight of knowing that someone felt just as intensely for you, as you felt for them. He wanted her to feel every special feeling that came with that realization.

He stood there helpless, stuck sorely in a abstruse dilemma.

He wanted nothing more than to follow her and let her know she wasn't alone, in experiencing all these messy feelings that made absolutely no sense but made one feel so strongly, madly and deeply at peace.

At the same time, he saw a possibility of history repeating. At the end, he'd be the one left with a shattered heart, a life that had been turned upside down and a loneliness that felt worse than death itself.

He solemnly walked the other way. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He consoled himself that this was better than what would come if he turned around and walked towards her. It was better this way.

• — • — •

🎶 Wrecking Ball / Moh Moh Ke Dhaage 🎶 

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Next : Tuesday 

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—Anami!♡