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None of them spoke anything after the little conversation they had. Khwaab just took her camera out and they continued the journey. There was a comforting silence prevailing in the jeep as both of them had several thoughts going in their mind.

Khwaab was surely capturing the outstanding beauty of nature in her camera but her mind was travelling back again and again at the most beautiful smile that her eyes had ever captured in a long time.

Something was happening to her heart very slowly and she wasn't worried about it. One thing that she knew about life was to let things happen and flow with the happenings without thinking much.

Khwaab knew it was Aahnik doing everything, his presence was doing everything to her that she never ever experienced. 

Was it a crush? Yes of course but it was just not a crush that she felt before for many boys. It was more than that and was turning into something deep.

She smiled at her own thoughts and shook her head focusing back on the camera.

Aahnik was at peace since the time he found that Khwaab wasn't offended or was by hurt by his behaviour.

Her sudden confession about his smile definitely took him off guard but then he knew he was changing.

He wasn't a fool of course, even if he didn't want to grow any feelings for her or to let her enter his territory yet it was a fact that she was changing him slowly and every second that he was spending with her, he was going back to his real self that got buried somewhere years back.

Life gave him many reasons to be sad but he never expected to find a reason to be happy but guess like all days aren't the same so maybe life sent her as an indication or a ray of hope in his life.

An indication that he deserved happiness too. He deserved to live too and not the way he thought but the way his heart wanted.

You can surely close all the doors of heart and let your mind decide for everything but then there comes a time when your heart doesn't need a key to unlock it's a door and make you realise what you need.

Khwaab came as that key and all the doors were opening slowly making the emotions slowly crawl back into his heart.

But did he deserved his happiness? Did he deserve to smile, laugh and live like his presence did nothing to so many lives?

He destroyed someone's happiness, someone's home, someone's family by entering into their lives and he could no more do that.

Aahnik glanced softly at Khwaab who was smiling looking at the picture, his eyes were staring at her very softly.

The girl in front of his eyes was too pure to be destroyed by his fate, his destiny. He can't allow his destiny to destroy someone again.

Even if not him but it was HIM only responsible for everything that ever happened to those people.

How could he ever forgive himself? He can never when the only man that he loved so much hated him for that.

It was all fine for him until one night a storm knocked at his door destroying every piece of happiness and sanity that existed in his life at a very young age.

Sometimes life suffocated him, he felt like running far away from everything or going somewhere that has no place for memories, relations, feelings or anything that hurt him in this real world.

How he wishes he was as fortunate as other people at his age who were enjoying their lives with their families, friends or lovers.

He could do none. He surely had a family, a loving mother, a caring brother and a father whose sufferings started with his presence.

He never made friends because when there was the time to do that, he was already fighting with his life, his emotions and the unfaithful tragedies that took away so much from him.

After all of this, after knowing that his life was anything but simple how could he fall in love with anyone or allow anyone to enter his life holding back those emotions for him?

Yes, he did crave for someone who would hold him on his bad days, embrace him when those flashbacks will haunt him like a nightmare, wipe his tears when he would cry for everything that he never did but was still accused of, love him with all the past baggage that he carried with himself.

Is it possible to have someone like that? Even if it was possible yet he can't let anyone do it after knowing that there was a high possibility that he would end up destroying that someone's life too.

It took them only four hours to reach Sonmarg because the traffic was less and the road was pretty clear due to their early morning journey.

Entering the Sonmarg town, Aahnik knew the first thing he needed to do was to find a lodge or a hotel because they didn't do any bookings before coming here.

It wasn't hard for him to find one because this wasn't the first time that he was travelling to Leh base camp.

In fact, he forgot the number of times he went there so stopping at Sonmarg was common. Sometimes it was due to the weather issue or sometimes due to the person who accompanied him because he was surely not interested in taking rest.

He parked the jeep in the parking area of the Lodge and came out of the jeep. Khwaab came out as well and followed him inside to the lodge.

"Can I get two rooms please?" Aahnik asked the lady at the reception who looked at him a little confusion.

"Two rooms?" She asked back looking closely at Khwaab who understood her thoughts.

"Yes, two rooms. We are just friends." Aahnik looked surprisingly at Khwaab.

Friends? When did that happen? He never remembered her asking him about being her friend and there was no chance he did that.

But then why was he expecting her to ask him to be her friend? She was Khwaab Malik who did things according to her mood and this was something that he got well acquainted with just in a few days.

The receptionist smiled at her faintly and took out the keys of the only room that was available " I'm sorry there is only one room available at the moment." The receptionist told them with an apologetic face.

Khwaab's eyes got widen at this information and she quickly glanced at Aahnik who was as shocked as her.

Sharing a room with him? That won't be a good idea for her heart starts behaving weird in his presence.

"Please try and check. We really want two rooms." Aahnik pleaded with utmost urgency and Khwaab unknowingly nodded her head on his words.

"I'm really sorry sir but as you know the happenings in Srinagar and because of that people are either stuck there or here. All the hotels and lodges are full and I don’t this you will even find a single room." The receptionist explained them and Aahnik looked tensed. He knew she wasn't lying because they were in the best lodge of Sonmarg.

Perhaps he will have to share a room with her. He got no issues but it was her comfort which was bothering him.

Will she be comfortable in sharing a room with a male? He can't make her feel uncomfortable at any cost.

"It's fine we will manage." Aahnik took the keys and gave it to Khwaab whose eyes widened in shock.

He was going to share a room with her? Yesterday he couldn't take those small flirty comments and today he wanted to share a freaking room with her?

This boy was damn confusing. Anyways if he wants to do it then she got no issues.

She went ahead to their room and Aahnik went away to make few calls.

They were supposed to stay in Sonmarg for next two days as it has so many places to visit and she won't want to miss any of them.

Khwaab took a round of their big suite as she entered inside. The room was pretty big and had a lot of space for two people.

It had a separate living area at the entrance and then the bedroom after a big glass door.

It was a couple's suit she got it the moment she saw the king-size bed in the middle of the room.

The room had a huge attached balcony giving the perfect view of the mountains of Sonmarg.

The room had everything that one could ask for. It was a beautiful place in short.

She took a fresh pair of clothes and went inside the bathroom to take a short shower after ordering something for herself and Aahnik.

She had no idea about his taste so she ordered Rajma Chawal which is the safest option for anyone.

Aahnik entered the room and found it empty but then the half-open suitcase caught his eyes and he discovered that she was inside the bathroom.

He was feeling really odd. It was like he was invading her personal space but he had no choice left. He did call in a few hotels to ask for a room but all of them were full.

It was just about two days. They can manage because the whole day they would be outside and at night he'll sleep in the living area of the room. It had a big sofa and the door was fine enough to make it feel like two separate spaces.

Aahnik went ahead to put his phone in the charge near the bed when the bathroom door clicked open and Khwaab came out.

Aahnik turned on his heels but got frozen to look at the view in front of her eyes.

Water drops were falling slowly from her long raven black tresses as she was slowly rubbing them with the white towel in her hand.

Wearing a sea-green spaghetti top along with matching skirt, she was looking like a princess and the hot water vapour coming out from the bathroom made the scene heavenly. It was a picture-perfect shot. 

He would have surely clicked a picture if only he wasn't too lost in her.

Her milk-white face had hues of red and pink due to the hot water shower she took. Her long eyelashes looking down at her hair and a drop over her lips as she wiped her hairs roughly.

He was still looking at her lost when she suddenly decided to look up at him and take his breath away.

Damn!! He was caught ogling at her. Where did his manners vanish? It was so wrong to look at a girl without her permission.

He quickly averted his eyes from her face and went ahead in the washroom leaving her behind with a confused face.

Closing the door he sighed with relief.

That was so wrong. What was he doing even? Getting lost in her is becoming a habit for him.

He'll try to not to repeat it from next time. He can't let his heart win over his mind. He can't allow any kind of THOSE feelings enter his heart and ruin it for both of them.

Khwaab dried her hair with the blow dryer that she got with herself when the food arrived.

She decided to wait for Aahnik so keeping so the food aside she went to the balcony after draping a shawl around herself. She had no plans to wear the sleeveless top but it was the most comfortable pair of clothes with her at that moment. 

It wasn't really very cold since it was just June but still being at a high altitude, the temperature was low.

She sat on one of the chairs kept at a side of the balcony and looked at the view outside.

After a few minutes, Aahnik came outside of the bathroom and the first thing he decided was to talk with her about the room issue.

He joined her at the balcony and whispered a "Hey" to which Khwaab nodded with a small smile.

"I am sorry about the room issue but please don't worry I'll be mostly in the living area whenever we are here and even at night I'll sleep there only on the sofa. I hope it's fine for you now." Khwaab smiled after hearing his words and shook her head.

Why was she even expecting that he'll share a room with her? Gosh, she was a fool to think that even.

Aahnik raised his eyebrows with a questioning look on his face.

Khwaab held his wrist and started to drag him without looking at Aahnik who was a little shook with her sudden hold on his hand.

He didn't protest but followed her. She dragged him to the living area and left his hand.

Looking at him she pointed him to look at the sofa and said "look at that sofa and now look at your size. You think I'll let you sleep there even after knowing how uncomfortable it would be for you." Aahnik looked at her with a little surprise.

Does she care? She does.

"Then what? You want me to sleep on the bed with you?" Aahnik asked her without giving seconds about his words. He didn't know but he was slowly getting comfortable with her.

"Well no. I meant that only you'll sleep on the bed and I'll sleep on the sofa." Khwaab suggested proudly as if she announced a mission to Mars.

"No" Aahnik instantly denied. He can't let her sleep on the sofa. The first thing the sofa was in the living area and second, it was closer to the door third he can't ignore her safety and sleep inside the bedroom.

"Yes" Khwaab was in no mood of listening and she folded her arms on her chest and stood firmly facing him.

"Believe me I'll be comfortable on the sofa." Aahnik tried to assure her but Khwaab wasn't budging.

"Okay, I have an option for you. You either let me sleep on the sofa or sleep on the bed with me." Khwaab stated her final decision and Aahnik was startled to find her saying this.

How can she say that? They just knew each other for two days and she was ready to share a bed with him?

"No Khwaab. How can you let a guy that you hardly know share a bed with you?" It was for the first time that he took her name and even he didn't realize that he did it.

It felt nice to hear her name from his mouth. It rolled out perfectly.

"I trust you Aahnik." Four words and Aahnik stopped breathing. Only four words and he felt so much in these four words.

TRUST? How can she trust him when he never trusted himself? He wasn't worthy of anyone trust. Didn't he break someone's trust in him years back?

He didn't deserve anyone's trust. Nobody should trust him because, in the end, he'll end up breaking it.

When Aahnik didn't speak anything for minutes and stayed silent then Khwaab broke it "I know you'll think I'm so naive to trust someone that I hardly know but believe me these two days were enough for me to know you and trust you. Whatever little I think I know about you has got my trust for you." Aahnik spoke nothing but just stared at her.

Did she know him? Well, he didn't know himself then how can someone claim to know him?

"I either take seconds to trust someone or it takes me years," Khwaab stated as a matter of fact.

She knew it sounded absurd. Trusting someone in seconds? Yes, she did it and all her life she was never wrong. Not a single person that she trusted on broke it.

Aahnik was the same. In fact, it wasn't just him but his eyes which made her believe more on him.

She didn't know if the man standing in front of her knew or not that his eyes spoke volumes. She didn't know if it was just her who could read them or anyone else too but for her, his eyes spoke more than he himself could ever.

"I don't know how to tell you but I really am not a person who should be trusted," Aahnik spoke and his voice was really low and cold. His eyes turned into a deeper shade of brown and it was as if something had changed in them.

Khwaab didn't like it. She didn't like how his eyes became sad and cold. Did he realise that his emotions were reflected in his eyes?

She didn't know why he said those words to her but one thing she knew was that her trust in him will never ever vanish even if she himself told her not to trust him.

"First thing Aahnik, I don't know why you think you should not be trusted because according to me you should be. I've never found someone as pure-hearted as you. Do you have any idea about it? You can't even hurt someone even after trying, you apologise for things that you don't do. You come ahead and cars for someone that you hardly know for days and you say you should not be trusted. Then tell me ego should be trusted? I'll always trust you regardless of anything you say. Also, we are sharing the bed because it's large enough and I don't take advantage of anyone." Khwaab poured out her heart because the guy in front of her really didn't know about himself.

He should not be trusted? What a joke.

She went into the bedroom to call her father leaving a lost Aahnik behind.

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Sorry that I'm late. Also, I want to say a THANK YOU. Thank you for all the love that you guys shower to this story. Even if four-five people comments, it means a LOT to me. Love you guys.

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