AN:- I'm so sorry for being so late. I had so much going on in my life that I didn't get the time to write but no more excuses and ill try to update regularly now.

This update is specially dedicated to OldSchoolStories_ and Arpita who messaged me almost everyday to update.

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Leaving Aahnik behind in the living room, Khwaab came back into the room to eat the food because she was famished after the early morning journey.

Taking the rice and her favourite rajma, she was about to take a bite when she found a lost Aahnik entering the room.

Stopping near the table where Khwaab was eating, he looked at her silently. He said nothing but kept looking at her with lost eyes.

Khwaab was going crazy over his actions. She didn't know what to say or do but even before she could have thought about something, Aahnik spoke.

"You said you trust me?" Aahnik asked her with a lack of surety in his eyes and Khwaab could read that very clearly.

She knew he had issues, had a backstory for sure because of the way he was questioning her about TRUST.

"Yes of course. I do trust you even if you don't want me to." Khwaab replied to him in a gentle tone even though she was tired of answering him the same way.

Even if her brain was getting irritated and wanted to act impulsively yet her heart wasn't cooperating knowing that he was somewhat very miserable and broken.

He never said anything to her but his eyes spoke in lengths which he could never.

"You can trust me. I'm promising I will not break it." Aahnik finally let the words leave his mouth. It took him years to say this but he did now.

He didn't know how, why, or what for but he said those words. Maybe it's because of the new storm which entered his life recently or Ayaan Sir's advice which he gave before they were leaving for the trip.

"You can't keep yourself clasped in the shackles of past and let them torment you for all the forthcoming years, you might not feel to change the things right now or let your fear go away but you will surely find someone in your life one day who will change you for better, who will force you to break your shackles and set your heart free from the remorse, pain, and sorrow."

He spoke this to him suddenly when they were passing by the hallway. Aahnik knew it was for him but didn't know why he said this now and not months before when they met.

Maybe because he felt he wasn't ready to let go of his fears of maybe the time wasn't right. Whatever the reason was, he was glad that at least he advised this to him.

Aahnik did have a family which included his loving mother and his brother whom he loves from the bottom of his heart but he never let them come closer to him, let them peep inside his heart or mind.

His fear kept him in cages for years and even now but maybe this is the chance when his heart was taking small steps to meet the change, maybe he could start changing himself, maybe the light coming from the far end of the tunnel wasn't so far anymore.

"You're not serious," Khwaab spoke after coming back from the sudden shock. She never expected Aahnik to understand her words this early. Even if he looked soft and innocent yet she knew that he was a hard nut to crack.

Aahnik gave her a plain boring look and settled himself on the far corner of the bed beside her maintaining a decent distance.

"Where did Squadron Aahnik Singh Rathore vanish? What did you do with him?" Khwaab got up from the bed and instantly came by his side to check his temperature. Keeping her palm on his temple she looked at his face and Aahnik rolled his eyes.

Believing that he was willing to change was such a shock?

Removing her hand she stood in front of him with a confused face and spoke: "your temperature is fine, you're Aahnik only then what happened to you?"

Aahnik stood up and pulled Khwaab with her arms "okay enough Miss Malik. Believe in my words." Khwaab's breath got stuck in her throat with the sudden move by Aahnik.

They were standing just inches apart and their breaths were falling on one another.

Staring deeply into her big black eyes Aahnik spoke: "I know I'm hard to understand but whatever I said a few minutes back was true." Khwaab stared back deeply in his eyes and shivered as he spoke in that deep husky voice. His hot breath fell on her face as he spoke with some different kind of intensity.

Coming out of his hold, she nodded her head awkwardly making a signal that she understood it. Composing herself she was ready to throw a bunch of questions on him.

"Okay, now that you have told me all this so even I have a few things to say." Aahnik raised his eyebrows at her in suspicion. He knew that Khwaab could come up with anything and that too unpredictable ones so he was a little hesitant.

He didn't say anything but simply nodded.

"You'll have to behave like a normal human being during this whole trip. Normal in the sense that you can laugh, talk, and crack jokes with me. You can do whatever you feel like without thinking about anything and the second thing is that you will have to accept my hand of friendship." Khwaab listed out whatever she had in her mind whereas Aahnik was taken aback by her demands.

He knew he had to start somewhere but changing things suddenly isn't as easy as it sounds.

He doesn't remember cracking a joke in many years. He hardly laughed until she came into the picture but he knew he would have to do this for himself.

Somewhere he was doing these things for himself but not realizing that he was doing it for someone else too.

Khwaab looked at Aahnik silently with hope in her eyes. It was hard for her to believe in his words for real, even though she was playing around yet she was truly surprised.

If not for her Ayaan Papa then she would have never known a few things about Aahnik. She didn't know why he told her a few things about Aahnik but he did.

Her mind drifted back to the conversation that she had with him before leaving the base camp.

"I have to request you something Khwaab" Khwaab looked up from the phone to where Ayaan was sitting with hopeful eyes.

"Yes, papa" Khwaab closed the phone and kept it in her pocket.

"It's about Aahnik and I've something to request you." On hearing Aahnik's name, Khwaab became serious.

Did he go and complain against her? Is he a kid or what? She got angry at this thought and was about to burst out when Ayaan spoke something unexpected.

"I want you to befriend him." Khwaab was quite surprised on hearing Ayaan's request.

"What?" Khwaan could not suppress the sudden reaction.

"Khwaab that boy has gone through a lot in his life but I really can't tell you that because it's not my place to tell you beta. All I want is that you please add some colours of happiness and joy in his life. I don't know till what extent you have noticed him but his whole team knows him as a cold-hearted person who never smiles, never enjoys, doesn't know the meaning of happiness." Khwaab listened to Ayaan silently. She had an idea about him going through things in the past because she did notice hollow feelings in his eyes, she did notice that tinge of painters mixed with something like guilt flashing through his eyes at certain moments.

"I know only you can do this and nobody else. You're my sack of happiness who sprinkles a bit of it wherever she goes. I believe you will surely add some to his life as well." Ayaan smiled at Khwaab with hope in his eyes and Khwaab blinked in assurance.

Coming back from her chain of thoughts she looked at Aahnik who was still gawking at her.

"Will you even reply?" Khwaab raised her voice a bit and rolled her eyes in irritation.

"Okay fine." Khwaab could not believe in her ears.

Did he say a yes?

"Are you sure about this?" Aahnik nodded in assurance and Khwaab forwarded her hand to him.

Aahnik raised his eyes in confusion and looked at her while she rolled her in irritation. Taking his hand she held it and shook vigorously.

"Now we are friends" Aahnik who was yet trying to register her actions started laughing at her kiddish antics.

"Why are they laughing even? I didn't crack any joke." Khwaab hissed in irritation and stared at him angrily.

"Do you realise that we are not five?" Aahnik replied, controlling his laugh, to which Khwaab made a face.

"Mr Rathore age is just a number and we don't need to be of a certain age to do anything that we wish for." Khwaab went back to her food leaving Aahink who had stopped laughing on hearing her words and felt bad of laughing at her.

"By the way, I'm glad that I could be the reason for your laugh" saying this Khwaab started eating like she never said this and whereas Aahnik was just staring at her after realising that she wasn't angry.

After eating, they both got ready for an outing. They were late so they could not go for trekking hence sightseeing was the only option left for them. Sonmarg was absolute heaven surrounded by huge glaciers, mountains covered with snow and greenery from everywhere. The beauty that it had was surreal and spellbinding.

They planned to first visit the Nilgard river. It's a famous river in Sonmarg. The water of the Nilgard river has healing power because the water of the river is high on nature and medicinal benefits.

Aahnik didn't have to worry much about anything because they had their jeep so they easily reached the river.

There wasn't much crowd on the back because of the happenings even though many people were staying in Sonmarg due to the curfew.

Aahnik and Khwaab getting out the jeep walked towards the river bank. As an instance, when Aahnik looked at Khwaab he could not move away from his face because of the childlike happiness that was adorning Khwaab's face. Her eyes were shining brighter than the stars and the smile on the face was so enchanting that even Aahnik could not stop the curve that was forming on his lips.

"Tell me something about this place Mr Rathore" Aahnik snapped out from his gazing session and focused on her question which he had no answer for.

Even though he came to Ladakh 3-4 times in the last few months yet he wasn't interested in travelling to these places because his heart never allowed.

No matter where you go, with whom you stay, sometimes the condition of your mind and heart won't let you stay in peace even for seconds but surprisingly the scenario has changed for Aahnik since the time Khwaab entered.

He never got the time to go into his past and start feeling guilty over the things that he was held responsible for. Even though he was glad and has now started to accept the changes that came with her yet he was afraid because happiness was just a myth in his life. He knows that this happiness will stay till the time she's with him and he will be back to his older self the moment she will go from his life.

The only thing that would be left will be the few moments of happiness that he felt with her. He was glad to have her as his friend but he will never tell her this.

He was glad that she asked him to be her friend because he would have never done that. All he was doing was to follow Ayaan's words and let his heart rule over his mind. He didn't know what would happen in the end but he knew it wouldn't be as bad as the things that happened before.

"Where do you get lost after every 5 minutes? You have to start to behave like a teenager who can't stop thinking about her crush after every 5 minutes." Khwaab looked at him with her hands folded on her chest and he just rubbed his nape in embarrassment.

"Err...well sorry" Khwaab rolled her eyes.

"Will you tell me about this river or should I ask the river to tell me about herself." Khwaab teased Aahnik and Aahnik who was trying to find a way for the answer saw a board which had all kinds of information about the place.

"Well, so this is one scientific river. The water of this river is red and said to have the healing power." Aahnik sighed in relief after giving her this information without letting her know that he just read what was written just at her back.

"Healing power......interesting" Khwaab mumbled to herself and went near the river. Bending on her knees she collected some water in her palm and threw on Aahnik.

Aahnik as a reflex covered his face but it was too late for he was already wet with the water. Thankfully her palms were small and very little water could fit there.

Jerking the water away from his face he looked at Khwaab with irritation visible in his eyes "what was this?" Khwaab grinned back at his question.

You can't expect anyone to be happy after they get wet with the icy cold water from the river.

"I was just trying to heal you." Aahnik's irritation vanished into thin air.

"What?" Aahnik asked back softly.

"Uff, you only said that the water of this river heals. So just sprinkled some on you to heal your heart and make you a human from the robot that you're." Khwaab laughed at her own words whereas Aahnik smiled a little with her.

He didn't show but he was deeply touched with her actions, nobody else of his mother, brother or Ayaan sir ever tried to think for him even though he always pushed them away. Now he had one more person who even though was a crazy thought about him and cared too.

"Thank you, Miss Malik, but the river water heals the sink and not hearts " Aahnik shook his head and took out the camera from the Jeep leaving Khwaab behind to be embarrassed by her actions.

After spending an hour near the river and clicking all kinds of pictures, they thought of taking a break and visiting the local market of the city as Khwaan wanted to buy a few things.

The river was away from the city and it took some time to go and come back from there so it was already afternoon. Khwaab bought a few things from the market that she liked and then they settled down in a cafe as Khwaab had this sudden urge to drink coffee.

Ordering a cappuccino and black coffee for both of them Aahnik settled beside Aahnik who was listening to the songs that a group of youngsters were singing and playing just a table after them. The whole cafe was enjoying and so Khwaab.

Suddenly an idea popped inside Khwaab's head and she went to the group. Aahnik was looking at everything curiously while sipping his black coffee. After a few minutes, one of the boys from the group stood up and announced something that Aahnik was least expecting.

"Hello everyone, now that we have sung enough, we have someone new to for all of us. He's nobody but Aahnik who is sitting there." The boy pointed his finger at Aahnik and Aahnik looked at his back trying to find someone similar to his name.

"Aahnik he's talking about you only," Khwaab shouted and Aahnik glared at her. He got up from his seat because he had no other choice. His name was announced and he could not say no.

He has not done it since year's and he wasn't sure if he could but the excitement on Khwaab's face didn't allow him to say a no.

Reaching to the front of, he took the guitar from the group and settled himself on a chair.

Khwaab was sure that he didn't know singing and he would say no because she was just playing a little but she least expected him to take the guitar and get ready to sing.

Closing his eyes, he started strumming the guitar softly and slowly the band joined him with their instruments.

Anjaane ho tum, jo begaane ho tum

Jo pehchaane lagte ho kyun

Tum gehri neendon me jab soye soye ho

Toh mujhme jagte ho kyun

Few lines and Khwaab was already mesmerized with the beauty and emotions that his voice held while he sang effortlessly.

Jab tujhko pata hai

Dil muskurata hai

Kya tujh se hai waasta

Kya tujh me dhoondu main

Kya tujh se chahu main

Kya kya hai tujhme mera

Aahnik opened his eyes and looked directly into her eyes. Something happened within their hearts as he sang those lines starting deep into her eyes. He didn't know why he chose this song but he knew that every single word that he sang was for her.

Jaanu na main tujhme mera hissa hai kya

Par ajnabi apna mujhe tu lagaa

Jaanu na main tujhse mera rishta hai kya

Par ajnabi apna mujhe tu laga

Every word that came out of his lips went directly into her heart. It was as if he was selecting her emotions through his song. She had no idea that he was going through the same hurricane of emotions that she wasn't

Tujhse taluk jo nahi kuch mera

Kyun tu lage hai apana saa

Dekhu jo tujhko ik nazar

Jaaye bhar mujhme hai mera jo khala

It was so true that she was becoming a reason for his happiness without even trying. She did what her heart said and if that made him smile more then she was ready to do it.

Zindagi me khushi tere aane se hai

Warna jeene mein gham, har bahane se hai

Hai yeh alag baat hai hum mile aaj hain

Dil tujhe jaana ek zamane se hai

They just met but it felt like they knew each other since ages. Khwaab never believed in these "love at first" or "connection with heart" stuff but now feeling it herself made her believe in these things. No it wasn't love and neither she knew what to call this yet it felt surreal and warming like the warmth coming from the fire on an icy night.

Jaanu na main tujhme mera hissa hai kya

Par ajnabi apna mujhe tu laga

Jaanu na main tujhse mera rishta hai kya

Par ajnabi apna mujhe tu laga

He finished the song and not even for once he moved his eyes away from her, neither did she. Many things were said, many things were felt yet it was all between the heart while the lips stayed close.

Aahnik stood up from the chair and thanked everyone because the pin-drop silence in the coffee broke down with cheering, hooting and the thunder of clapping that people showered Aahnik with.

Khwaab didn't say anything and neither her face depicted the emotions that her heart was going through. All Aahnik wished for was that she won't ask him for the answers that he himself didn't know.

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