Life's challenging no?
For them,it was way more challenging. The things which Siddhant saw in these times were really difficult and different. For him, maintaining and keeping himself all self composed in these times too was very toilsome task for him.

"Hey..Kushal..
Your di is with you?"
Asked the worried Siddhant. It's been 9o'clock and she was not at home till now. In morning, she told him that she would be late as she had to go to her maternal house regarding some work and told, would come by herself. Though, he didn't want her to travel alone but keeping her freedom and her condition in mind, he gave her a nod.Similarly, Siddhant was late too by 1 hour but was sure that Avyakta might have reached home before him but as soon as he reached,she was nowhere. And instantly, thought to call her but she wasn't picking up. A frustrated sigh escaped his mouth.

"Hello..Siddhant ji!
Uh! Di..Yeah..Actually I came from my office a moment ago. She has gone half an hour ago.
But..Let me ask..."
Kushal on the other line told the tensed and furious Siddhant.
"Siddhant ji..
Avyakta di..has gone to meet her friend..Hey..what's the name?"
He whispered the latter as if asking someone. Siddhant frowned thinking whom might she has gone to meet at this time.
"Haan..she has gone to meet her friend...Rohan..and will come from there directly to home."
Kushal told everything which he heard. He was just known that Avyakta came to meet them
That's it. Siddhant on the other side, groaned in anger.

"Ok..Then..Bye."
With this Siddhant cut the line and turned around to go when his mother,working in kitchen offered him a glass of water.

"What happened?
Where's she?''
Asked an equally worried Savita.

"I don't know.
Let her come home by herself. I have not taken responsibility and neither she's small baby whom I have to cradle,always. She knows how to come and go. Let her do,everything herself. I don't care.''
Gulping down water,while his eyes spat furious stare at the wall as if he would dig a hole with his glare only, while murmering to himself,angrily.

"Bhaiyaa..What happened to you? What are you talking even?"
Ruchi asked while peeking down from her book, from the living room as she heard him say so.
Giving her a glare,he kept the glass with a thud,he rushed to his room.

"Arey..Maharaja! It's glass. No one's seeing your power here...
Listen..Where are you going??"
Savita asked her son and heard Ruchi and Priya's giggle from the living room as Siddhant went to his room.

After ten mins, he came out in his casual clothes with his phone in his hand as he walked towards the main gate of the house.

"Bhaiyaa..
Where are you going? Have the dinner first!"
Ruchi asked him coming out of the kitchen with Priya,behind her,both,stiffling their laugh at his furious state.

"None of your business."
He wore his slippers and was walking away when he heard her calling again.

"Bhaiyaa... Bhaiyaa..listen!"
And without hearing them,he walked away. He was angry on Avyakta, and thought to catch her outside only whenever she would come through the nearby park.

"Offoo! Maa..What did you eat when you were pregnant with Bhaiyaa?"
Priya asked her mother,Savita in kitchen.

"Why?"
She asked while a chuckle escaped her mouth.

"Because..He's angry young man."
Priya laughed.
"And Di..was stopping him to go out but he was...he was..reluctant to even listen her..and..hahah.."
Priya laughed holding her stomach.

"Will you tell? You can laugh afterwards."

"He wore two different slippers. One is his and the other is Papa's. Black and white... Haha!"
Ruchi spoke entering inside the kitchen. The moment they heard her ,the three women burst out laughing. Siddhant can be silly at times and they were laughing at him.

.
.
.
.
.

His nose was flaring, teeths were gritted, hands were having phone and furiously using it. The smell of wet brim air hit his nostrils and the air around touched his angry face,as he sat on the bench outside,near the park. The noises of car horns, moving past by him and the barking dogs, were heard by him. He was using his phone unaware of the surroundings.

''Let me..See..here..
It's 9:30 and she must be enjoying with her friend..what was his name? Haan..Rohan?
Enjoy Avyakta.. Enjoy..

Means she has won the case and all..And will start thinking that she has won the whole universe,so she will roam at unusual hours with her so called friends..waah!"
Siddhant whispered to himself, his hand busied in using his phone. Basically, he was pretending to be angry ,the actual thing was he was getting jealous. Avyakta roaming with some boy,panged his heart. The name Rohan was unknown to him as he never heard Avyakta referring someone's name so,who tends to be her friend.
Some moments later, he heard an autorikshaw's horn and in its own accord,his face went towards the sight. There she came.
His eyebrows raised as he sighed,exasperated.

Avyakta,after giving the required money to the Autorikshaw driver,walked towards the night lane of Delhi. She was keeping the money,the driver gave,into her bag,when suddenly her gaze fell on him,as she looked up,who was watching her, glaring her.

She walked to him and stood infront of him.
"Siddhant.. You here?
Did everyone had dinner?"

He stood up infront of her towering over her.
"Hmm.
You enjoyed?"
His tone was quite sarcastic.

"Enjoyed?
I went for my important work! What's there to enjoy?"
Frowning,she questioned him.

"Aha! Don't lie Avyakta ji..
I know what important work you had. But..before that did you notice the time?"
She realized his tone and sighed. She knew he was angry on her,for being this late. But...

"Yeah...mm..sorry Siddhant..
I actually.. didn't realize the time! Sorry..
Ok..let's go home..then.''
She moved ahead but soon had to stop as she felt a tug on her wrist.

"Not before answering me..Mrs...
I'm sure.. you must have Enjoyed your meet with your 'friend'."
He spoke the latter with more force.

"Yes..I met my friend after a long time but How do you know?
I just went to my..house,after completing one long surgery. And you know that too.."
She looked at him with a scoffed face while Siddhant had a smirk plastered on his face.

"So,Kushal was Right!
You met. Well. I think then, your meet must have been beautiful. Right?
In this beautiful weather, night with complete silence with a handsome friend. It must have been beautiful?"
Avyakta was baffled at his statements. Beautiful weather? Handsome? Why was he even calling a girl,handsome?
He saw him having a rude expression.

"What are you speaking,even?
I don't get you?"

"Get me? Well, Don't make excuses Avyakta ji..
Clearly, say everything! You went with your friend,Rohan?"
He said while folding his hands upto his chest. Avyakta stared at him,dumbfound. Was he mad or What?

"Rohan?
Who's he,Bytheway?"
She asked nearly,getting a shock with that name.

"Oho! Avyakta.. Please, say everything.. don't shy!"

"Shut up!
What do you speak? Mind your words.Rohan?
Yeah..I went.."
Trailing,she looked at him,with an irritated face and then to the surroundings.
"Actually.. you know what..
Let's go home..then..will tell whom I met or with whom I spent my evening?"
She was about to go but his voice stopped her again.

"I don't know who is this Roha..WAIT..Wait..Don't tell me that you're talking about Rohini?"
Siddhant furrowed his brows and stared at Avyakta and latter shrugged. Meanwhile, Avyakta had a guessing face.
"Siddhant.. I'm asking something!
By the way who told you that I went with my so-called friend Rohan?"

"You were late. So, thought of calling Kushal and ask him only about you.
I never heard you calling some,'Rohan' as your friend,before."
He spoke the latter to himself.
Avyakta rolled her eyes at his words. So, Kushal was the one to create nuisance. She took out her phone and was dialing his number,when she heard his voice.

"And Ya,I even tried to call you but..You must be busy with your friend. Right?"
Siddhant had a taunting tone,with a furious face.
Avyakta stared at her phone and saw his and Kushal's many missed calls. She poked her tongue out and then dialed Kushal.

"Siddhant.. we can do this inside our house too..
Speak slow!"

"No! Clear everything.. here only."

"He..hello Kushal..yeah! Listen.."
Avyakta spoke.

"Helloo..di!! Where are you?
You reached home? Did you? Siddhantji was asking about you and..you were not..did-''

''Boy! Boy! Easy! Will you listen me first?"
Getting no response from his side, she thought he might have nodded.
"Listen..Tell me..Siddhant called you to ask about my whereabouts?"

"Yes.."

"What did you say?"

"I told him that I just knew you came here as you went before my arrival and that you have to meet your friend.."

"Haan.. friend..continue.."
Avyakta was impatient to hear his side of story.

"What was his..name..yeah! Rohan!
That's what I told. Bytheway why do you ask? You reached home right?"
Avyakta could only smack her own head at his words while Siddhant stood there impatiently,tapping his foot.
"And who told you this whole story?
I mean you were not there na,So someone might have told you?"

"Haan..I asked from Aru. She was the person I could find at that moment."

"You know what! You should have asked a more smaller kid than her. She's just 4 years old. How she might have known about it? Okay..fine she might have heard me talking with maa..But.. uhh!
She misunderstood Rohini with Rohan. Ah!"
Avyakta sighed,exasperated.

"Oh! Sorry di..but you reached-"

"I'm fine..I reached home..bye.."
Avyakta with her few words dismissed Kushal and understood the whole matter. She looked at Siddhant who stood with a questioning face.
"You heard? Now clear?
That lil Girl,Aru,my niece told him Rohan instead of rohini.
I was late coming from hospital and from there I went to My house to take some stuffs of mine, plus I thought to meet my friend Rohini,since I wanted to meet her. My phone was on silent and meanwhile I couldn't attend the call and neither I could call and for that I'M SORRY!
Do I need to explain the things more or it's sufficient?"
Avyakta sighed while Siddhant had no words to speak. He misunderstood a name but he was not at fault, it was Kushal.

"But..you could! Leave..Okay..
Matter is clear. I'm Sorry for speaking with such tone with you."
Avyakta while maintaining a stern expression looked ahead,her hands folded upto her chest. The wind blew indicating that it may rain anytime soon.

"But..Siddhant.."
She gazed at him again, with a questioning yet suspicious eyes.
"Tell me..
A gush of relief washed over you when I told you that It was actually a girl friend of mine,named Rohini instead of Rohan?

Hmm..I Can smell Jealousy over here? Who's that?"
At the latter she looked at the surroundings,but not him,waving her hands over her nose. Siddhant was left tight spot and couldn't utter a single word. Avyakta played with him today.
"My colleagues tell truth..all men are same.. huh!"

With this Avyakta turned to move only to stop by his voice.
"What did you say?"

"I said you all men..are same. Possessive for your women."
Avyakta looked at him and stopped speaking furthermore as her eyes met with his along with raised brows.
"O..Okay..agreed..I was late and I've fault in this matter but..mm..the way you were angry at me when you heard,me roaming with a boy..and that too a boy..is not good. You are somewhere trying to take my..my..freedom."
He kept his palm on his mouth at her statement,gaping. Oh! This was taking a different turn.

"Did I say that you were roaming?
I just asked."

"Siddhant.. your words spoke everything..."

"N-No..You are getting me..wrong..
I was just worried for you..that's it."
Avyakta's gaze accidently went to his feet and she smirked.

"Hmm..that I can see. Very clearly. Like very!"
He followed his gaze down as her and smacked his forehead.

"Avyakta.. see..actually.."

"Hey..that's it..you please carry on..I don't want to listen anything..please.."
It was her turn to get furious on him. Her face had an irritant expression. How can he even doubt her that she would roam with a boy late at this time? Agreed it was a misunderstanding, this time again, but not from their side.
He was very easily, making his fun today,that too infront of Avyakta. He frustratedly sighed and realized he should have listened to his sister,who was calling him,some moments before. Embarrassed he was,as he clearly showed his jealousy for a hypothetically imagined person 'Rohan',having no existence. He was-

"Aa..Ouch!!"
His trail of thoughts were discontinued by a loud scream,probably of a woman. He looked up only to find a frowned and screaming Avyakta,lying down in a small pothole. Without wasting a single second,Siddhant reached to her and bent down to her height. Her bag was lying down a few meters away in a not so-good condition.

"Avyakta.. what are you..how did you fell?"
Avyakta was wiping the stains of brown mud from her hand,when she shot him a glare. Was this a question to ask at that moment?
She tried to get up ignoring him who was asking if she needs any help but later fell down on the road again.

"I'm giving you my hand for support..and you are spatting it away. Now, look, you are not even able to balance yourself..
Listen,I will help you..hold my hand..come get up.."
But Avyakta was reluctant and behaved like a child,smacking his hand away.

"I don't understand when and from where did that pothole came from..when did you actually fell down?"

Avyakta groaned,infuriated.
"When you were busy checking out your,not so special,Slippers.."

"Oh! Then..Who is special?"
A mischevious smile adorned his handsome face that for a second Avyakta wanted to delight her eyes,with his look but no,she was exasperated. Avyakta looked away,and tried to get up.
But within a minute,she felt no pain in her twisted and sprained leg,no pain in her back but felt like flying in the air. Realization hit her as she saw herself. She was in his arms in a bridal style and her face was horror struck.
Soon,a loud scream hit his ears and saw Avyakta.
"Siddhant!!!
You crazy..Get me down..Now!!
What are you doin'?
People will see us..LET ME DOWN,NOW!"
She held his shirt and grabbing it,tugged it many times but he was in no mood to listen.
"Siddha-"

"Shut up!! I said Shut up!!"
Siddhant haulted in his steps and stared at her,who was lying in his arms like a baby. Avyakta glared at him.

"Will you please keep quiet?
Yourself,you were saying that speak low,otherwise people will get disturb and Now see..who's making noise like a kid? Hun?"
Avyakta gritted her teeth.

"Siddhant. Let. Me. Walk. By. Myself. Get me down,I said!"
Her anger was at peak and Siddhant raised his brows and started walking again,giving her no heed.

"You were not able to get up..So..I helped you..
Remember? I share many relationships with you..And among
them..one is..Husband!"
He spoke the latter with shy smile,which let down a current down her spine.
"By the way..A friend in need is a friend indeed...You might have heard it..Avyakta ji.. I did my duty.."
His teasing tone,was recognisable as her name came out was with ji.

"Siddhant..
Are you letting me down or not? Hun?"
Siddhant stopped again and sternly stared at her. In the dark lane of the city, that was only lighted with few streetlights, their noise reverbated. They had no care of the wind that was blowing hitting their faces,inviting the rains.

"Should I make you fall down? I will leave you here only? Mind it. I will do it!"
He warned her.

"Accha! Do it! I'll see. You can't."

"Underestimating me?" Siddhant asked and gradually loosened his hold around her which scared her but she remained composed giving him a challenging smirk.
A moment came when he loosened enough to petrify her,and grabbed him back,dugging her face on his chest and wrapping her hands around his torso.

A smile occupied his face and when Avyakta composed herself,she looked at him sternly. He continued to walk and she noticed her bag hanged on his shoulder. She could only sigh.

"See..I made you scare!"
But he got no response from her side. She was having a blank face staring at something straight towards his chest. She was tired and the leg was creating a chaos too. Having no mood to say anything,She kept quiet,in his embrace. While his hands,which were touching her bare portions through her saree were already,giving her unknown and tingling sensations.

"Want to have a good view?
Should I open my shirt buttons?"
Avyakta for a minute couldn't get him but soon her goggle eyes,stopped blinking as soon as she replayed his words again in her mind.
What happened to him? Why was he being so much flirty?

"Avyakta?"
His word again grabbed her ears.
She shaked her head sideways. He was confused, sometime ago she was very furious and now a complete silence. He felt her head on his chest,that grabbed a smile on his face. He guessed she must have been tired and saw her closed eyes and walked till they reached home.

.
.
.
.
.

"Maa..that..uh..I was asking him..to get me..down but..he being reluctant.. I..I couldn't do anything..
He threatened.. me to make me..fall down..even.."
Avyakta stuttered as she was been taken to the room as soon as they both entered the house. Stubborn Siddhant did his work to carry her and her mother,sisters and father stood gaping at their position.

"Maa..You go and..sleep..
Relax! She just fell down,spraining her feet in this process..I'll take care.."
He said haulting to his steps.

"But..let me..See.. her leg..na-"
Savita spoke while Priya and Ruchi giggled to each other for their comments on him.

"I feel Bhaiyaa is having mood swings today..."
It was heard by Siddhant,who glared at them.
"Abhay has gone back to Mumbai, Otherwise, he would enjoy this scene.. haha"
Ruchi spoke hi-fying with Priya.

"Maa..You want to help me?"
He asked his mother who in response nodded.
"Then.. Take your daughters inside and sleep..everyone!"
He shot a glare at both his sisters and consoling his mother and asking them to relax,he thud open the door of his room.
Avyakta was wiggling in his arm and soon,she was made to feel the soft mattress but it was no more soft as he threw her down with fury.
A squiek escaped her mouth while both shot daggers to each other. Closing the door,he came to her.

"What?"
Siddhant asked her as he sat infront of her,on the bed.
And soon,his eyes fell on her face. She was sniffing,wiping her tear laced face with her palms. Her legs hurted her but something more that striked her heart at that moment created more chaos within her. The brimmed eyes,continued to make the salty water cascade down. She would lower her eyes, and would bit lips.
Siddhant with furrowed brows,stared at her and looked confused if he had hurted her,by any means.
She would cry more like a small baby,her actions spoke so.

Worried, he moved closer and held her face,cupping it with his palms
And brushed off the strands of hair that came infront of her already messed hair. He stared at her and found her red nose with puffy eyes,who even refuse to look at him.

"Avyakta?"
She was sitting still, when his soft voice hit her ears.
"Listen..
I'm sorry.."
She sniffed and turned her face away,her face, being in his palms only. He shifted more closer to get her attention but no budge from her side.
"What happened? Why are you crying? I made you hurt? I'm sorry! Please?"
The voice sweeter than the sweetest, came through his mouth. He was worried if she got hurt.A tear travelled down her eye which he wiped away from his thumb,pouting. He consoled her in a childish voice.
"A moment ago you were fine.. but now.. tell me who hurt you? Tell?"
He asked her,and she looked at him. Pointing to him with her index finger,poking into his chest.

"Me?"
She nodded like a kid and he smiled, frowning.

"Yes you..What was the need of bringing me here carrying in your arms? You made me embarrassed infront of them..
Plus..You doubted me for being with a boy late at this hour..This is not fair Siddhant.."
She whispered,sobbing. She herself wasn't aware how and why she was behaving like this,that too infront of him. Siddhant looked at her condition,her Saree was quite messed up.

"That's it? You cried for this?
I asked for forgiveness. I'm sorry?"
He stroke her left cheek with his thumb, while her eyes stared into his orbs. The remembrance of those days,whenever Avyakta would get angry or cried came infront of him. He didn't knew why he was doing so,knowing her comfort level too.
"By the way..Tit for Tat!
You doubted me having..an..huh..affair..with that uh.. girl..Arshi and Today..It was my...turn..
I realized..how you might have felt that night..Equal!"
He stuttered while Avyakta gazed him with her wide eyes at his statement. What was he speaking to her today?He was being so open to her today. Very much open,according to her.

"And..I know..You are doing the same..
Becoming a stubborn to forgive..
So,You did..many things to reconcile me....But....
I can.."
He paused with his husky voice and moved forward,slightly tilting his head down. He left his hot breathe on her face and in return she closed her eyes. Her mind was blank at that moment. The intensity of the moment, made their hearts thump with excitation, a budding unknown feeling and comfort. He slightly cupped her face and pressed his lips on her right cheek. He couldn't resist and kissed her on the left one too. He didn't know why he did so but her face melted him and provoked him to do so.
Maybe, the intensity of the night was the reason behind this. Her closed eyes touched his straight yet messy hair. His gaze went down towards her lips but..
He composed himself back and took his hand back to him. The touch of his hand was soon lost and Avyakta opened her moist eyes. The heartbeats were raging. He brought his face closer again to her level.
"I think..A kiss would be enough for forgiveness because I can't really do that much efforts unlike you?"

A smile drew on his face,whereas,she kept numb to react and stared at him only. She was unknown why she let him come closer to her but..somewhere..a feeling of comfort washed down upon her. But there was something else too that she felt behind this action.

"Avyakta?"
He wiped down a tear that still cascade down. This made him tensed.
"I feel that these tears have some other story..
Tell me? What's bothering you?"
After sometime,she gathered herself to speak something.

"I-I..don't.. know..
I..was..qu-quite.. tensed today..
This was..difficult for me..
Coping up with many..th-things.. I am still haunted by it.."
Her lips quivered.

"What haunts you?"

"You..sh-should know..Siddhant..
If..if you...are thinking.. that..I'll..come..back to my..normal..self soon..
I'm trying..I'm trying....Siddhant.. Trying..But...will take time..
I've..lost many things..in this process..and you know..one of them..were some precious me..memories.. too..
I'm trying.. trying.. to move on.."
She looked at him. Siddhant listened to her with a smile plastered on his face.

"Did I ever force you to accept me,our life?
I will wait. If you want...Forever,for you."
Some words but they were magic.Didn't know why but his words,made a small smile on her face and shyly she gazed down. He knew that in these times,though,they might have defeated their adversary,they might have started living like before but a small pain of past would remain which they need to fill with present.

"Madam..Avyakta ji.. Now get up!
You are muddling the bed with your dirty clothes..
Get up now!"
To make the situation normalize,he spoke. Avyakta wiped her face and furrowed her eyebrows. She looked at her condition and got up. She marched ahead and haulted in her steps. Her leg pain was soon lost. She moved her leg in air but the pain was nowhere except quite pain on her back. Baffled she looked at him.
"I did what you told. Dr.
Remember? The way you did when I fell down while wiping off the dust from the fan."

He didn't let her realize when he twisted her leg to get it normal since she was so drowned in his talks. Murmering a small 'thanks' she walked to the bathroom,taking her fresh clothes in her hands.

"Ah! Let..let.me..help you!"
He crossed her path and entered into the washroom.

"Why? I'll do myself."

"Arey..No..Today..I'll help you..Wait!
I just turn on the geyser for you!"

"Hmm...things for reconciliation.
I see."
He went near the geyser while Avyakta leaned her back against the wall and looked at him juggling with it. She saw his hands movement and with a thud the knob fell down from it. In horror,he poked his tongue out while she could only chuckle at him. He took it and stared at him for few mins.

"Avyakta.. Please.. Don't tell it to Papa..
He'll kill me..
Last month only I got it repaired,costing a huge amount.
I'll try to repair it myself.."

"If I tell.. then?
what will you do?"
She crossed her arms infront of her chest.

"Are you having mood swings?
A moment ago,I saw a fuming Avyakta, a Crying Avyakta, a silent Avyakta and now..A challenging Avyakta..
Oh! Shades Of Avyakta.. good name Right?"
He looked at her and she shrugged at him.

"Maybe..You are right?"

"Why?"

"Everything is not important to tell.
You are repairing it or not? Please do it..fast! It's not the time to joke around here''
She didn't want to tell him that she was on her days. She was filled with irritation and now he was doing more.
Nodding to her,he got back to work again. He realized that it was 11 at night .
"Done!" He adjusted the knob with some tools,meanwhile Avyakta stood in the corner watching him and his movements. He turned on the tap and could feel the warm water down through it.

"Siddhant.."
He hummed while checking the geyser again. His back faced her.
"You are handsome!"

He stopped whatever he was doing. He was quiet. He blinked. Once,Twice,thrice. He blushed and soon turned to find Avyakta staring at him from sometime,with a smile. Quite surprised he was, after finishing his work he walked to her, telling her that he fitted everything.
She stood leaning on the wall.

He came closer towering her again. And stared at her. He cupped her face again with his right palm and pressed his lips on her forehead.
"Thank you for the complement.
You can use the washroom now."

With this he walked away,living her all numb to react,smiling. Why was showering kisses to her,suddenly? She didn't want him to show this much love to her because she was scared..
What if she would fall in love with him?
She was scared what if they had to go through something unfortunate again?
With several thoughts,rushing in her mind and a smile which drew upon on her lips,she closed the door and went to take shower. Siddhant on the other side was delighted to know that she didn't even pushed him,when he kissed her. Maybe,an acceptance for him,a change of mind was gradually taking place inside her,unknown to her.
Avyakta gradually took her palm towards her cheek where he pecked her,feeling his touch. What is it,which is making him do so with her and she didn't budge even for once? Trust was there for him from her side,she was sure of,but still...
Did she open the door of the walls she created for him?
Accepted him?

If he's such affectionate towards her, now,What he would have been before?

◆◆◆◆◆

While, someone changed his title from bachelor to Engaged.
Congratulations to Dearest Rana and His Girl!

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