Abhedya walked the corridors of his college like a lost soul. His friends were jumping around, clicking selfies, making promises, taking chances and proposing to their crushes. Abhedya himself got proposals from majority of the girls in the college. Some told him they loved him since day one, some just wanted to be his friends and some told him they had a huge crush on him. His college life was about to end and he wanted to enjoy each and every moment of this day but it a was ruined. He was feeling restless, suffocated and angry.
What was Swarnima doing with him. She told him to move on but she herself was still holding on. Making him the guilty. Abhedya's chain of thoughts broke when his phone screen flashed 'Mom'. He inhaled deeply and answered the call.
"Hi mom!
Yes I stood first again.
Thankyou.
No mom not today I have a party.
Okay I will try.
Bye."
Nandini told Abhedya to come home soon. But, he refused saying he had plans but will try and come early. He just wanted to stay away from Swarnima and divert his mind.

It was around midnight when Abhedya finally reached the farm house. He was drunk but was still in his senses. The house was decorated with fairy lights along the path. A huge banner which read 'CONGRATULATIONS GENIUS' was put on the main door of the house. As he entered, Arya and Nivi popped the sparkles.
Tara and Aadya showered flowers on him.
Maan picked him up on his shoulder and brought him inside.
Nandini and Pri hugged him and Randeep gave him a pat on his back.
Everyone was happy and it was their little celebration for their beloved Abhey!
Abhedya felt happy too.

Rudra gave Abhedya a file and announced, "Abhey! You always asked me why I didn't involve you in any of my projects or let you intern with our company. The answer is because I knew your caliber was way above other interns and I wanted to give them a fair chance too. You see not everyone has genius genetics." Everyone laughed and Rudra continued, "so, Mr. ABHEDYA R. SINGH here is your first project. Details are in this file. You have to finish by tomorrow that's the challenge."

Abhedya's happiness knew no bounds. He hugged his father tight as it was not always you got appreciated by your father.
Swarnima came with a trolley which had a beautiful four tier cake, one for each year. Congratulations was written beautifully with red icing on it.
Everyone gathered and Abhedya cut the cake and fed everyone leaving Swarnima. No one noticed it because they were busy gulping down the yummylicious cake.
Swarnima was just thinking what had she done 'now!'.

"Abhey! You know what is so special today? It's twenty one day to your twenty first birthday. This project is your first present. From now on everyday will be special for you." Nandini kissed Abhedya's forehead and party was over.

Swarnima came to the terrace to calm down. Abhedya's behaviour was confusing her. He was a sugar candy at one moment and sour bites the other moment.
She was watching the stars without blinking her eyes and hummed
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"हम-तुम कितने पास हैं
कितने दूर हैं चाँद-सितारे
सच पूछो तो मन को झूठे लगते हैं ये सारे
मगर सच्चे लगते हैं
ये धरती, ये नदिया, ये रैना
और?"
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Translation:( not literal)
We both are so close and these stars and moon are so far.
To be honest, my heart feels all this is an illusion.
But, what appears absolutely true and magical is, this earth, this flowing river, this starlit night and...
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"तुम /you!!" Came a voice and Swarnima stopped singing.
"Why did you stop? That was a beautiful song." Abhedya appreciated her.

"I was just... Umm... What brings you here? Aren't you tired?" Swarnima questioned him.

"I am. But you don't let me sleep. You mess my brain." Abhedya stood next to her and made her face him. "Why do you do this Nim? What did you tell the first year juniors? Kanak and Heerak. I understand everything. It was like a reflection of our life. Just the positions reversed. What was that dialogue... yeah... that diamonds and gold should be together... something like that... Tell me something truthfully... what are you looking for? Are you still obsessed with me? Just like when we were kids. If yes, why did you say 'move on', forget any Aby and Sona existed. What's in your head? Please clarify Nim. No more twisting. I am fed up."

Swarnima turned her face and stared at the sky. "I just helped Heerak and Kanak realise their true feelings. I did not want one more love story to end. I like happy endings. Besides, don't you think they look cute and made for each other types. Their story may sound similar to ours, but each person is different and their circumstances are different. They don't have barriers of restrictions between them. They don't have a wall of secrets between them. We do.
Our little Aby and Sona are secure in our hearts. Let's not bring them to this world. This world is full of bad people. They are not meant to be here.
Abhey! I could not complete our story. But, I don't want any other story to die at the hands of fate which they don't decide."

Abhedya chuckled and said, "As always, you never have a clear answer. Goodnight! And thanks for messing up my life. I was happy until you came."

Swarnima saw Abhedya leaving but his words got stuck in her head. 'I was happy until you came.' She kept looking at sky above and requested the stars to 'kill her'. If that one person whose happiness was all that she wanted was saying she was the reason for his unhappiness then she better be dead soon. There were no tears in her eyes. They dried years before. But, only Abhedya could bring them back, either with his love or his hatred.
Swarnima knew what answer Abhedya expected. She couldn't just give him. Neither did she have the permission to confess nor did she have the guts to tell him that she loved him. Truly, madly, deeply.

The next day Swarnima stayed in her room on the pretext of pain and Abhedya was working on the project his father gave him with so much belief. The house was silent. She was happy with friend Abhedya too, but she lost him as a friend, last night.

Swarnima's bags were packed for the quiz competition and she took a special bag full of homemade snacks. Abhedya gave the project file to his father, marked completed. Rudra was stunned because the task was extremely tough and he was only testing Abhedya but he proved his calibre by completing it on time.

Randeep who came to bid bye to the kids took Abhedya to a side and said, "Abhey, can I hand over a responsibility to you?" Abhedya was happy his phuphu considered him for a task and nodded his head positively.

"Abhey, Nim has aviophobia. Yes, she extremely scared to fly. Will you please be by her side and comfort her. Just divert her attention while take off, then she might settle. Could you do this for me? For our Nim?" Randeep asked with hopeful eyes.

"Definitely phuphu. You can trust me." Abhedya replied with full confidence. It was news for him that Nim suffered from fear for flying.

Nandini had a huge list of instructions for both 'kids'.
"Mom! Relax!! It's not the first time I am travelling." Abhedya told his mother.

"Nim. Sweetheart... what's wrong? Why do you look so low? Abhey will be there with you in the flight. He will take care. Don't worry." Randeep comforted Swarnima.
Little did he know, Swarnima's smile was lost forever. The trip she was excited for was no longer exciting for her. The motive to live was no longer available for her.

Arya's silly jokes could also not make her laugh. Abhedya thought she was indeed scared of flying and therefore looked so low.

At the airport, sweat beads made way on Swarnima's forehead. The students were all by themselves. No teachers. Just captain Abhedya leading them.

They were booked in first class but Swarnima gave her ticket to an elderly lady who was travelling alone.
"Now how will you sit alone? I am definitely not traveling in cattle class, my legs don't fit." Abhedya scolded her.

"It's okay! I will manage. That lady required comfort and all seats in first class were full." Swarnima was avoiding eye contact with Abhedya. He noticed it too but overlooked it.

"Fine! Then don't go and complain phuphu and others I didn't take care of you." Abhedya was a bit angry on Swarnima.

Boarding announcement was done and everyone proceeded to their gates. Swarnima sat on the seat which was in the old lady's name. Thankfully the adjoining two seats were empty and she had an entire row to herself.

To their surprise, Raina was in the flight with them. She quickly exchanged seat and sat next to Abhedya. She apologised to him for the night but Abhedya was half listening to her rant because his mind was drifted to Swarnima.
'Stubborn idiot!' He muttered under his breath then got up to check Swarnima. She was sitting with her eyes tightly shut, wiping her sweat and inhaling deeply.

"Just come and sit with me. I will shift Mayur here. Come on, get up. Look at yourself." Abhedya told her.

"I am fine. I am fine. I took medicine. I will sleep in a while and won't know when it takes off. You relax." Swarnima assured Abhedya but she was shivering and still not looking at him.

"Oh!! Hi Nim. Surprised to see me? I am going to Delhi. I have a shoot, you see. Couldn't you pay for the first class? Sad! Come Abhey. Let's sit. She is good here." Raina was smiling from within since she had 75 minutes with the hottie in the plane by her side with no one to disturbe.

The air hostess asked them to sit on their respective seats. Abhedya banged his hand on the toilet door in anger and sat on his seat.

The plane was on the runway and Swarnima opened her seat belt and ran to the bathroom.
"Ma'am please come back. You cannot be in the bathroom during take off. Ma'am please." The air hostess kept banging the door and when Swarnima didn't open the door, she asked Abhedya to convince her to come out.
Abhedya banged the toilet door and said, "Nim come out. Are you okay?"

Swarnima came out and apologised. She sat back on her seat but Abhedya scored her, "Are you mad?! Why did you not use the bag provided if you wanted to puke?"

"Abhey come lets sit. The plane is about to take off." Raina dragged Abhedya.

Abhedya was waiting for Swarnima to say something but she didn't. Abhedya turned to go when Swarnima held his hand and requested, "Stay!" Looking into his eyes, she said, "please."

Abhedya regretted his actions looking at the scared fac of Swarnima.

"Sir, please take your seats. The plane is about to take off."
Abhedya left Raina's hand and sat next to Swarnima. Raina stomped her foot and sat next to Abhedya.
She could forgo her comfort to be with Abhedya.

'I can't die! I can't die! Not now! Not now!' Swarnima kept repeating to herself softly but Abhedya heard her.

"You are not going to die. Listen, just look at me... Nim... Nim... just look at me." Abhedya held Swarnima's face between his palms and forcefully made her look into his eyes.
The spark and shine her eyes had were missing.
As the plane left the ground Swarnima's phobia/fear reached its peak and she wrapped her hands around Abhedya's neck. Abhedya was shocked. Swarnima tightened her grip which was difficult because of the seat belt but she tried her best to keep Abhedya as close as possible.
Abhedya put his hand around her back. MARKING THEIR FIRST HUG! (As adults) Not out of romance but out of circumstance.
He pulled her close. The warmth he felt with the hug he received after years was divine. His heart was home.
A hug from the right person could make you feel so special, so loved and so enthralled, hence proved.

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Dear Readers
Abhedya and Swarnima are still struggling with lack of communication. Swarnima does not want to admit her feelings to him and Abhedya, the genius fool is unable to understand what he wants.
Will the hug of necessity change their equation?
"A hug a day keeps the demons at bay." – German Proverb
Stay hooked!
Lots of love.