Before starting the chapter, I just wanted to mention that I am not going to set targets anymore. 

I only want feedback on what you think is happening and what might happen next and what you felt. Just one sentence makes my day and I really appreciate those who always take the time to comment regularly and give such insightful comments helping me understand your POV about the chapter. Thank you so much for that. 

 I am very glad that you all love this book but I also want to improve my skills and story so please do take the time to give proper feedback for that. I hope you'll consider my request and once again, thank you for the love for this story. <3

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"My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my love to marry me" 
- Sir Winston Churchill

CHAPTER 28

Abir pushed open the library door and found her immediately in the dim light. She was sitting in a swivel chair, her legs in a sidesaddle position, her chin resting on her hand. She seemed to be looking at a photo of her parents on the wall. Her back facing him, he walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She stiffened.

Mishti : Abir?

Abir drew his hand back, surprised that she could sense his touch and watched as she spun her chair around to face him. Her face mirrored his expression as she told his name once more.

Mishti : What are you doing here? Naksh is still up. He might know you are here.

Abir : Woh.. I spoke to Naksh and then came here. I told him everything.

Mishti : You WHAT?

Abir watched her horror-struck face and he kneeled down and held her hands.

Abir : I had to.

Mishti : You told him....

Abir : Everything. And he is in on my side, I'm afraid.

Mishti : How could you do that, Abir?

Abir : You gave me little choice, my temptress. I tried to stay away. But there are some things I must say.

Mishti tried to remove her hands from his grasp and get up, but his hand cupped her face and she couldn't help lift her eyes to his.

Abir (softly) : You cannot make these kind of decisions alone, Mishti. You need to give me a chance to explain myself. You... You love me. You said you do and you did not give me a chance to acknowledge it or to react. You need to let me explain myself to you.

Mishti squeezed her eyes shut and groaned in embarrassment.

Mishti : I can't believe I told you that.

Abir : I won't let you take it back, you know.

Mishti smiled and opened her eyes and Abir was breathtaken by the look in them. She bent down and rested her forehead against his.

Mishti : I don't take it back.

Abir drew back and stood up.

Abir : Good. Now, Please, listen to what I have to say.

He didn't know where to begin.

Abir : I... I....

Mishti : Abir?

Abir : I don't know how to tell anything. I have never told my inner feelings to anyone. I don't... Mishti... How do I tell you?

Mishti : There doesn't have to be a beginning. Start anywhere. You know I will listen to you.

Abir looked at her encouraging expression and nodded. He opened his mouth and found that this time, the words were forthcoming.

Abir : When I was young, I could remember people telling me that I was so lucky to have such a beautiful mother. She was beautiful. Sharp features, brown, expressive eyes-- Just like Anya's you know. The first time I saw Anya, I was astounded by how similar she looked to our mother, Meenakshi Rajvansh. My father loved her so much. His life was only for her. My own memories of her are very vague but I know that she meant way more to my father than his kids.

He turned around and faced the window, his back facing Mishti. She stood up and waited for him to continue.

Abir : One night, I thought I heard someone shouting and I went downstairs to check what it was. The sounds seemed to be coming from the study and so, I peeped in to see what the matter was.

He stopped, and Mishti took a step back, a sense of dread coursing through her at the story, this critical memory. She waited for him to continue. She would have waited all night.

Abir : My mother was standing straight, like she always used to and she was looking down at my father, who was on his knees, folding his hands and begging her not to leave. He was telling her that he couldn't live without her, that her kids needed her but all she did was shout that she had had enough and she left. I think she even saw me while she was coming out but she didn't stop. She just kept on walking. I went inside the study to find my father holding her picture and crying that he would give up everything for her. Money, business, the city and even the kids. He didn't want us if he could not have her. That's what he said. I couldn't stay in that room anymore and I left.

He stopped, his mind stuck in the moment over twenty-five years earlier.

Abir : The next morning, I had lost both my parents. Her, in a physical way and him, in a mental way. He had no interest in anything. I swore two things that night. First, I would never eavesdrop again. And second, I would never become a victim of love. I started playing the piano that day... it was the only thing that could block out the sound of his sorrow.

He finally turned around to see Mishti watching him with tears in her eyes, and his gaze cleared instantly. He reached out and took her face in his hands, brushing away the errant teardrops with his thumbs.

Abir : Oh my Goddess, Please don't cry. I'm not worth it.

Mishti placed her palms against Abir's cheeks and kissed his forehead softly.

Mishti : It hurts, Abir. It hurts so much to think of that young boy losing his faith in love. It hurts to think of the same boy not having the chance to experience its light, its safety, its nourishing nature. What your father felt was never love. It couldn't have been love. Love creates, not destroys. It grows stronger and doesn't fade. It is life-altering and wonderful.

Abir sat Mishti down on the same swivel chair and got down to his knees and placed his head in her lap. He thought about her words on love. He thought about the expression in her eyes and the emotions in her words. He considered her vehement belief in the emotion that he had been avoiding for his entire adult life. And he told her the truth.

Abir : I don't know if I can love, Mishti. I'm 34 years old and I'm hard and cynical. I don't know if that part of me has withered away and left me in darkness. All I know is that you are my light. I will make sure that I will be the best husband ever. I will never let you down. I... I cannot promise you love but I will do my damned best to make sure you never doubt my care for you.

He lifted his head and looked at her, and couldn't help but notice the parallels between tonight and that fated night. Both men trying to keep their women from leaving.

Abir : Mishti Rhea Singhania, I have, in entirety, begun to think of you as my wife. I want you in my life. I want to be yours. I want you to be mine. I want you to be Mrs Mishti Abir Rajvansh. I... I want to be the one who brings a smile on your face. I want to fill your world with happiness and light. I want everything for you, my temptress, my Goddess. Please... Will you please do me the very great honor of becoming my wife?

The words came on a fervent, poignant whisper, and Mishti was lost. How could she deny him after all he had confessed? How could she deny herself?

Abir had been honest with her about his feelings. He had not forced her hand. He had not shown anger. He had been truthful, and she had to be too. She wanted Abir, more than life itself. She loved him and he cared for her. Her doubt vanished in that moment and she knew that she had to take this chance. She would accept Abir without love. That would grow once they were married.

Mishti : Yes.

Abir looked at her unblinking.

Abir : What did you say?

Mishti : Yes.

One side of his mouth kicked up.

Abir : Say it again.

Mishti bent down until her cheek grazed his and her lips touched his ears.

Mishti : Yes, Abir Rajvansh. I'll marry you.

Abir burst into a wide smile as he lifted Mishti into his arms and spun her around until she began laughing. He stopped and looked at her with shining eyes, unwilling to let her down.

Mishti : Planning to let me on the floor anytime soon?

Abir : Not in the near future.

He strode to the door and peeped outside to see if anyone was about. Seeing no one there, He took her to her room, the same room where he had kissed her with such glowing passion.

Mishti : Abir? What are you doing?

Abir : We are going to stay up all night and talk. We are going to kiss until time stops for us. We... We are going to be together this entire night.

Mishti : Oh!

Really, what could she say after that? She smiled as he set her down and sat down on the bed just looking at her.

Mishti : What are you staring at?

Abir : Just wondering whether tonight is real or is it just my imagination.

Mishti chuckled and pushed Abir down so that his head hit the bed. She bent down and kissed his right cheek and then his left. She pressed her lips to his lightly before drawing back.

Mishti : For a person who doesn't believe in love, you sure know the right words to say, Mr Rajvansh.

He pulled her towards him and kissed her once more. A long, deep, soul stirring kiss that seemed to scorch the entire room. It felt like ages when they finally drew up for air.

Abir : Now I know it's true.

They chuckled and Mishti went to get some chips and juice from the mini fridge in the corner.

Abir : You have a mini fridge?

Mishti gave a sheepish smile and shrugged.

Mishti : I usually get up terribly hungry first thing in the morning. So, I brush my teeth and immediately have something to eat. Then I go downstairs to have breakfast.

Abir laughed and walked around the room while he waited for Mishti to emerge from the fridge.

Abir : Are you planning to live there?

He heard Mishti give some sort of response but he didn't hear the words as his eyes registered a piece of paper on the desk.

Abir : Mishti? This is your list, Isn't it?

Mishti looked up in alarm to see him holding that paper curiously.

Mishti : Abir! Give it back.

She lunged forward to get it but Abir caught her hand easily and twisted it behind her so that she couldn't escape easily from his clutches. She scowled.

Mishti : Is this how one treats their future wife?

Abir laughed and kissed her forehead softly.

Abir : It's how one treats their future wife so that they can read the list she's made.

Mishti : You shouldn't look.

Abir : Why not?

Mishti : Because... Because...

Abir gave such a charming roguish expression that made Mishti stop and wonder if she would ever win any arguments in the future.

Abir : Please?

Not seeing any other way out, Mishti sighed, then smiled and nodded her head. Abir released her hand and slowly perused the paper. Then he looked up at her.

Abir : Which one did you complete first?

And she wanted to die of embarrassment. She shook her head.

Abir : Mishti. Which one came first?

Mishti moved forward until she could hide her face in his chest and then she said the word.

Mishti : Kissing.

Abir's breath caught as he stared at her hair, the only portion visible to him.

Abir : The night you came to Rajvansh Mansion?

Mishti looked up and nodded.

Abir : Why me?

He'd asked the question in his bedroom that night, and she'd answered with a half-truth. But tonight, the day they were beginning their new life together, Mishti found that she did not want to lie. She wanted him to know her. Even if it risked everything.

Mishti : Because I wanted it to be you. From the beginning. I wanted my first kiss to be with you. You're 34 now and I'm 26. But I wanted you ever since you were 26 and I, 18. I've always wanted you, Abir.

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Happy times are here :) 

Whatcha think? Will Ajeeb Rajvansh ever realise he loves her?