(Diwali)

Abir:

Everyone were running from here to there, busy in diwali decoration. From last one hour I am sitting at one place because of my sensitive sister. Sam is sitting on my lap, wrapping her both the hands around my neck. She's crying , I tried to console her but all went in vein..

"Sammyyy! It's been two days to that incident. See I am totally fine, why are you still crying, " I made her look at me.. Her dark red puppy eyes were totally tired of crying .. She avoided my gaze and kept her eyes on her lap.. I sighed..

"I promise, this won't happen again! " I kissed her cheek. Rubbing her back, I took her in my embrace. "I can't live without you," she said this for the nth time.. I shook my head.. "Samy, don't ruin this festival by crying, I said na it won't repeat again, " I wiped her tears..

She kept her head on my shoulder and stopped crying. "Whose baby sister is crying? " Sameer started recording us. She looked away, Sameer went to my back to record her and she hid her face again.. I chuckled.. Bhai came and started tickling her making her giggle.. She started jumping on my lap, but bhai did not stop tickling her..

"Guys! This is my leg, have mercy on me," but nobody listened to me.. The room got filled with her giggles and their laughs and my screams.. "Stop! " Chachi yelled at them, they both stood silently like an obedient student.

"And you miss dramatic, go and take bath, and let your brother take his breakfast, " chachi said to her but she shook her head and tightened her hold around me.. I smiled at her.. Mom came towards us taking baby steps. Bhai helped her to sit on the sofa..

"Will Mishti come today? " she questioned me. How would I know?

"Mom! She went to her home , it's diwali so of course she will celebrate with her family. " Bhai said, mom made a pout .

"How are you feeling now? " I asked her , she blinked her eyes in assurance.. I looked at Sam as I heard her snores.. Sameer chuckled.. "Don't laugh! She haven't slept properly from last two days, " Bhai warned him..

I picked her up in my arms and took her to Mom's bedroom.. Placing ger gently on her bed  I covered her with the blanket and came out of the room..

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(Evening)

Today we won't burn crackers as Mom is still recovering.. Doctor had clearly said to stay her away from all these stuffs..We have just decorated our home with lights, candles and diya..

Mom has choosed today's outfit for me.. It's an off white kurta and pajama.. I wore a waistcoat over it..

Inserting my phone inside my pocket I came out of my room.. Sahil came and stood in front of me giving me his mischievous smile. I raised my eyebrows at him.. "Look there, " he pointed towards downstair.

My eyes went wide..

Mishti was standing there with Sameer and Sam.. She was wearing an off-white saree.. With her kohl-black hair falling softly around her shoulder, full mouth curved in a smile , dark eyes sparkling, she's looking so gorgeous, who can stir a man's blood.. I couldn't tear my gaze away..

Her collarbone,sharp jawline, exposed cleavage, curvilinear waist were giving me tough time. Don't know about diwali bomb, but she was definitely looking bomb today.. "I know she's looking very much hot today, but you shouldn't check her out openly like this, " Sahil teased , I glared at him..

A man came and stood beside her.. She broke into a smile when he whispered something near her ears. My blood boiled looking at him so close to her..

"Do you know who is he? " Sahil questioned me, I shook my head..

"Then you should know! He is Rohan, Rohan Kapoor. He is Mishti di's co-worker in the same college. " he explained .. I shrugged off..

"But twist is he has a huge crush on Miss prety lady from last three year and she too know this, " he reported gaining my all attention..

"How did you know? " I asked him, but he gave me a flirtatious smile.. "My sister! " he replied..

I narrowed my eyes at him, he shrugged..
I started walking on stairs and made my way to downstairs and that's when she noticed me. Her smile dropped and she started looking here and there. Everytime I go near her she becomes conscious, God know why!

I stood beside Aadarsh bhai, "You were saying she won't come today! What is she doing here then? " I asked him making sure nobody will listen to me..

"How would I know?  " he replied making me frown..

I sat on a couch and took one laddu from a plate which Mom had placed there.. "Hatt! These are for the guests, " Mom yelled at me and took the plate with her.. She gave one laddu to that Rohan and one to Mishti but Mishti denied to eat. Huh.

"It's diwali Mishti! You should take one, " Rohan tried to make her eat but she's denying constantly. But he was too abundant, if looks could kill, I might have killed him.. There drama was not stopping anyway ..

"If she don't want to eat, then why are you forcing her, " I shouted at him.. Shit! Everyone's eyes were on me, Sahil was giving me teasing look. Mishti was staring at me like she saw some alien.. I shrugged and went outside..

Saanvi came to me laughing her heart out.. "What was that Abir? " she's laughing like anything, I rolled my eyes.. "Jealous han? " she gave me teased look, avoiding her I sat on a swing..

"You know she will go to his house after 10.00 PM today for a diwali party, " she blabbered.. I didn't react much.. Everyone expect Mishti and Rohan came to us .. I clearly know there intention.. The will tease the hell out of me if I would stay there..

So I left from there and went inside.. Rohan was scrolling through his phone, Mishti was nowhere to be seen..

Mom forwarded me one glass of juice, I narrowed my eyes at her, "Don't you want to give juice to your guest? " I frowned.. She chuckled and  patted my arm and left. Hello? I was serious..

Holding the orange juice in my hand, I started searching for her, but could not find.. I went to kitchen, she was not there too.. I turned around and bumped with someone.. Shit! It was Mishti and the juice fell on her saree..

She looked at her saree and then glared at me, "Can't you walk properly? " she yelled, "How would I know there's someone in my back? " I too yelled at her.. She flared her small nose in anger ..

Cute!

"Oops! How would you go with me to the party now? Your saree is completely ruined, " Rohan said in a concern tone. I rolled my eyes, I gave him a pity look though I was smiling from inside..

"What happened beta? " Mom came to us, after her everyone too came there.. "Nothing ! He just spilled his juice on my saree, " Mishti replied gritting her teeth..

"Don't worry! Come I will give you another saree with this matching blouse, " saying Mom dragged her with herself. Rohan too left..

"You did it intentionally na? " Sam questioned me.. "Of course! I don't have any job, " I rolling my eyes..

"Getting jealousy? " she blabbered hitting my shoulder, "Why will I be jealous of someone who just have a crush on her? " I shrugged..

"Crush? He had proposed her too.. "

"Got rejected too, "

"But they are still friends na! "

Whatever!!

"And bhai, she's even going to his house today, that too at this hour? " Sahil tried to provoke me.. I closed my eyes in frustation..

"Accha chalta hoon
Duaaon mein yaad rakhna
Mere zikr ka zubaan pe swaad rakhna"

He started singing, everyone burst into laughter ,my anger reached peak level. I threw the left juice on his shirt making everyone stopped laughing.. Sam hid beside bhai.. I left from there..

They never leave a chance to annoy me.

Mishti :

Because of him, my favorite saree got ruined. I wore an another saree which Meera Aunty gave me..

(Ignore the blouse, she's in the same blouse as before)

I came out of the room . I went to outside as no one was there inside the house.. Everyone were present in lawn.. I sat beside Sam, Rohan was sitting with Sahil..

I had zero interest in going to his home. His mom invited me through my Mom and she agreed to her without even asking me. I am dammn sure it's his idea to tell his mom to invite me.

"Abir come here! " Saanvi di shouted, I turned around, Abir was talking with a guard.. Giving him some keys he made his way towards us..

He was wearing a white sherwani, it was for the first I saw him in Indian outfits.. Folding his sleeves, he moved his hands to push his hairs. He was looking stunning..

He didn't even look at me and took his position ..

"Bhai! One song please, " Sam requested him, but he shook his head in a No.. "Yarr Abir please! You promised me that you will sing on diwali, " Saanvi di too forced him.. I didn't know he sings too..

Sahil went inside and brought a guitar and gave it to him.. He adjusted the guitar properly and stood up.. He was looking dapper with guitar..

Tenu itna main pyar karaan
Ik pal vich sau baar karaan
Tu jaave je mainu chhad ke
Maut da intezaar karaan

He started singing keeping his eyes closed.

Ke tere liye duniya chod di hai
T

ujhpe hi sans aake rukhe
Main tujhko kitna chahta hoon
Ye tu kabhi soch na sake

He got up from his seat and holding Saanvi di's hand , he brought her to the middle.

Kuch bhi nahi hai ye jahan
Tu hai toh hai isme zindagi
Ab mujhko jaana hai kahan
Ke tu hi safar hai aakhiri

He twirled her around him, everyone started clapping for them..

Ke tere bina jeena mumkin nahi
Na dena kabhi mujhko tu faasle
Main tujhko kitna chahati hoon
Ye tu kabhi soch na sake

His intense gaze fell on me..

My heart stopped,my body went cold, throat dried.. I couldn't match his stare so lowered my gaze. Everytime he stare at me with his intense eyes, electric current pass through my every nerves.. I hate the effects he have on me.. I so hate it..

Everyone started clapping for him as he finished the song. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.. I don't like him controling me without even doing anything..

Then Geeta aunty shared some diwali memories with us.. My diwali was never this much boring.. I sighed..

We all went inside to have our dinner.. I sat between Sam and Rohan.. Abir has gone to keep his guitar.. Rohan got a call so he went to a corner as the environment was chaotic..

Abir was about to sit beside me, when I stopped him. "It's Rohan's place, " I muttered.. But he didn't give a damm to my words and sat there. "My house, I can sit wherever I want, " he murmured.

Jerk!

Rohan made a pout seeing Abir there. I said him to sit beside Abir. Having no other option he did as I said..

We all started eating. Abir forwarded his hand to pick one paratha from the plate, but Rohan held that same paratha too..  No one was ready to leave it !

Dammnn! What are these two doing? Fighting over a paratha?

"Abiiirrr! There are so many paratha on the plate, pick one of them, " Meera aunty yelled at him gritting her teeth.. But only if he listen to anyone.. Everyone's eyes were at both of them. I rubbed my forehead in frustation..

I placed my palm on Abir's fist which was on his knees.. He stared at me, I pleaded through my eyes to not creat a scene.

He left the paratha, I sighed.. But then he jerked my hand and kept his hand on the table..

Everyone started eating silently, including him.. After that he didn't take paratha, he just took curry and other things..

He must be going through some major mood swings, that's why behaving like this..

After finishing dinner, everyone gathered in hall.. I went to kitchen to drink water..

I was drinking water, when Abir entered inside the kitchen.. Crossing his both hands he kept it on his chest..

"Is it necessary to go to someone's house at this hour? Ain't it unsafe? " he questioned out of the blue.. I choked on water, rather than going to my foodpipe water entered in my windpipe.. I started coughing badly.. He rubbed my back..

After some time I felt good but still feeling uneasy as the water came out of my nostril.. This is the worst thing ever happen to someone..

"Why will I feel unsafe? I trust him, and we both are friends from more than three years! " I stated. He gave me a cold stare.. "Mishti! Let's go, " Rohan said coming inside.. I nodded.

I bid bye everyone and we both went outside.. Rohan opened the passenger seat for me.. Abir's words were ringing on my mind.. Rohan started driving..

"Umm Rohan! I am not feeling good, can you please drop me at my house, I will go to your house some other day, " I uttered. He arched his eyebrows, I gave him a faint smile.. "But why not today? " he made a pout..

Can't he listen? I already said I am not feeling good..

"I am not in a good mood for party, so please don't force me, " I stated..

"Fine! " he made a poker face, but who cares..
After dropping me at my home he left and I relieved.

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It's been three days to Diwali. Semester exam has ended.. Today I came to a college for a science project with my two students.. Those two left to their house in evening as their work ended..

But I had to stay here for a meeting and now I'm regretting. I should have denied for it.. It's 9.30PM already and everyone left.. Some lectures stayed in college..

My phone is dead too. And this college is so far from my rent house.. I can't even book a car due to my stupid phone which went off ..

Fear engulfed me as I started walking on the empty road , there was only two three streetlight . Holding my purse tightly I made my way towards main road.. Hope I will get a cab there, NH is just 2KM away from this college..

My eyes got closed instantly as a source of light flashed on my face. I could hear the engine sound of bullet which was appearing towards me. I palmed my both the ears due to the loud noise..

"God, don't put me in trouble please, "

I sighed as the bullet passed by me, I concentrated on the road.. But again I heard that same sound from my back. But I kept walking..

The bike started following me keeping his bike speed steady .. What the heck!!

I closed my eyes in frustation and stopped walking.. "Why are you following me? " I snapped turning around..

I became dumbfounded when my gaze fell on the rider. "Abir" I whispered.. I could see his pretty face clearly due to street light..

"Stop staring at me and sit! Sam had sent me to pick you up, " he ordered. I couldn't believe he came to pick me..

Nodding my head I sat on his bike. As I was wearing a saree, so I sat hanging my both legs at one side..

"I have never seen a stubborn girl like you, seriously! Can't you even call anyone of us? " he shouted at me..

"My phone was dead! " I muttered..

"Like you would have called me, if your phone was on, " he mocked rudely..

I stayed quite. I don't like people shouting at me like this and I hate when he shouts at me.. Making a poker face I sat silently.

I wrapped myself by my saree pallu as I started feeling cold. Through my pallu could not resist the cold, but still it gave me little warmth..

We were on the way, when it started raining .. He increased his bike speed and stopped in a petrol pump as it started raining heavily..

We both stood there quietly waiting for the rain to stop.. I started brushing my palm as cold breeze started blowing due to rain..

Abir held my palm stopping my heart beat. I arched my eyebrows. He removed his black leather jacket and made me wear it..

"How can someone forget to bring jacket in winter? " he again mocked me rudely.. Anger building inside me.. I removed his jacket and placed it on his hand. "I am fine. Neither I need your jacket nor your lectures, and yes you can go from here, I will manage, " I retorted.. He gave me an angry glare, I looked at another side..

He could have said in a good way, without even knowing anything he kept blabbering..

He put his jacket on my back again, holding that jacket I turned around to say something. But he pulled me and covered my mouth with his palm..

I could feel his heart beat against mine. It was like a music to my ears.. Our gaze met and my anger started melting looking at his soft feathery eyes.

"Last time I'm saying wear this damm jacket, " he snapped and freed me from his hold.. "I won't, " I growled..

"Fine! " he uttered and took the jacket from me and wore it !! The rain stopped and I started walking but he held my hand. "Why are you going now?" he asked gritting his teeth..

"Going to die! Wanna join me? " I said in a sarcastic way.. He glared me.. "Listen! Don't test my patience and come with me, " he uttered but I shook my head..

"Mishti! Come with me, " he said again but I denied.. He took a deep breath..

"FINE! DO WHATEVER YOU WANT, " he shouted. He started his bike and left. I felt like crying. What does he think of himself? I hope it won't start raining again..

The road was empty, I started walking hopelessly.. I started regretting for denying him, but I don't like him shouting at me like that..

I heard some noise from behind but did not dare to look at them.. Some men started passing dirty comments on me.. I clutched my purse in fear..

'Mishti! Don't be scared, " I took a deep breath.. Those men were on a zeep. Stopping the zeep they started walking behind me.. I started sweating.. Someone pulled my pallu and I stopped. I pulled out my pallu from his hand, and slapped him..

"Don't you dare to touch me! " I screamed loudly..

"What will you do? " another man said coming closure to me.. I beat him by my purse and he fell on the ground..

"I am saying stay away from me, otherwise it won't be good for you, " I tried to act confident but my heart was about explode anytime..

I felt a sharp pain on my cheek as a man slapped me.. I kicked him on his lower abdomen. How dare he!

Two of them held my hand tightly, I tried my best to free myself but they were so strong.. Another man touched my cheek with his disgusted hand.. I held back my tears.. "LEAVE ME! " I screamed..

He held me from back of my neck, I hit his feet through my heel. He screamed in pain.. Then he held my throat tightly in anger, I started coughing.. A horrible pressure bagan to build in my chest, I gasped..

That's when I heard Abir's bullet sound again, I got a hope.. He stopped his bike near us. "LEAVE HER! " I startled at my place hearing his roar.. He clenched his jaw, tightening his fist and beat that man on his face.. The men who were holding me, left my hand.. They were about to run but he didn't give them a chance..

He was beating him ruthlessly.. I don't care if they stay alive or dead. They deserve this..

I stood there silently.. My heart was beating very fast..

All of them fell on the road, screaming in pain.. I looked at Abir, he's breathing heavily in anger..

He came towards me and held my hand.. I jerked up his hand and clutched my purse..

I looked at the ground as tears started forming in my eyes.. He again tried to hold my hand but I took two steps back.. Tears started dropping from my eyes which I was trying to hold from last fifteen minutes..

He came closure and wiped my tears, but I threw his hand and looked away.. "I am sorry, " he muttered.. I stayed there silently.. He held my hand, I tried to pull my hand out of his hold, but he tightened his grip.

He pulled me and took in his embrace wrapping his both hands around me.. "I said na sorry, it won't happen again! " he held me tightly.. I pressed my face on his chest and clutched his shirt tightly letting my fear go..

I broke our hug and wiped my tears.. "We should go, " I mumbled..

"Need my jacket? " he asked again but I being stubborn denied.. He sighed and started his bike. I sat behind him.. We both were silent throughout the journey..

I could not understand anything when he stopped his bike in front of Rajvansh villa. "Mom has made dinner for you, " he uttered.. The guard opened the gate for us..

He kept his bike in lawn.

I made my way towards his house but he held my hand.. I turned around, he was leaning on his bike.. I raised my eyebrows at him..

He pulled me gently and made me stand in front of him ..His one hand moved to my back, I felt his fingers on my hair bun.. He removed the clip making my hair fell on my back..

Few strands of my hair fell on my face. His fingers trailed down on my cheek adjusting those strands. His action made my breath stopped. I gulped as he started adjusting my hairs which was falling on my shoulder.

His gaze fell on my cheek and he became furious all of a sudden.. "Did anyone of them slap you? " he asked in a dangerous tone .. I nodded.. He clenched his jaw, I stared at him not knowing what to do..

Then he calmed himself down, and left my hand.. "Is it hurting? " he asked rubbing my cheek on his finger.. Shiver ran down my spine.. I felt something strange due to his intense touch..

"No, " I somehow managed to utter.

"You can go now! Mom must be waiting for you, " he said.. I took a deep breath and left..

He is weird! Sometimes behave rude, sometimes good. Definitely a bi polar man.. Arghhhh

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