Swarnima expressed her worries to Maan.

"That can never happen. I have seen the efforts Abhey is trying to put towards strengthening your bond. The day he comes to know about the 'real' you! He will respect you even more. It will obviously be too much for him to digest, but I know he is strong and iron-willed. The expectations we have from him he will surpass them.
Just don't worry princess. Life has given you reasons to give up, from his birthday, life will give you reasons to live up!" Maan said comforting Swarnima.

"I hope so." Swarnima smiled between the worry lines.
Maan gave her the glass of milk and she drank. After a little more chit chat about Dehradun trip and Dushyant, they bid bye and slept.

Arya went to Abhedya's room and gave him a wrist band as a gift with a tag '16 days to your 21st!'
"Woaaa! Arya got me a gift? I am staggered!" Abhedya told him wearing it.

"Uh!! Just family pressure you know. Everyone has planned their gifts. I had to. Else you know, we are such good friends what's the necessity of gifts?" Arya covered up. Such were best friends. Not telling the other that they care, directly.

"Yeah! Totally. By the way, any clue why is it being celebrated like a festival?" Abhedya questioned him.

"No man!! Infact, I was totally against the idea. It's so silly. So childish." Arya actually found the idea very childish. "So, tell me how was Dehradun?"

"It was fun. We ruthlessly chopped the opponents." Abhedya also lie down on his bed.

"Uh! The fun part okay, whats up between you and Nim? I see, some sparks." Arya had the 'bring out the details' expression.

"Arya why are you so nosy? Fine! We are trying to you know... be friends again. So, those are the only sparks." Abhedya answered him though there was a smile on his face.

"Ofcourse, I believe you. Abhey! Till when are you going to deny what's obvious to see.  You both want or not, have that soul connection, I was always jealous of, when I was young but secretly loved your bond. I know it's hard to have those connections but give it a shot. It's worth every try." Arya put this thoughts forward.

"Arya! Goodnight. I am too tired." Abhedya turned the other side and closed his eyes.

Sleep was far far away from Abhedya's eyes. He was feeling empty. The other side of his bed was occupied but not with the person he wanted. He noticed Arya got a call and left his room. He sat up and let out a sigh!
'She is in the room next to mine. If, I go it will look too desperate. If, I don't go I will not be able to sleep. What do I do? Uh!! Nim!! You are messing my life.' Abhedya said ruffling his hair. It will be hard to sleep so he grabbed a beer can, which might help him sleep.

Following morning Abhedya got up with a smile. He was happy. It was an achievement he could sleep. Taking a long relaxing shower dressing up in comfort clothes Abhedya went out of his room. His stomach was shouting 'food'.

"Hello handsome. Did you miss me? Coz, I did." Gene pulled out a chair for Abhedya to sit.

"Oh! Yes I did. What's for breakfast? Where is everyone?" Abhedya asked Gene.

"Maan and Arya got urgent calls. Nivi, is in Nim's room. He had fever in the night. Arya has given him medicine nothing to worry." Gene said serving him breakfast.

"Nivi had fever? Why did no one inform me?" Abhedya ran to Swarnima's room and saw Nivi sleeping. Swarnima was sleeping with her legs folded on the chair next to him.
He quietly went and checked Nivi's forehead. He was still down with atleast 99 degrees Fahrenheit .
A bowl of water and towel was kept beside the bed. Probably he was treated with cold water strips to reduce his temperature. But, why wasn't he informed?
He woke up Swarnima and dragged her out of the room.

"What happened? Why are you dragging me like that?" Swarnima who was half sleepy was shocked to be pulled out like that.

"Why didn't you tell me Nivi was so ill. I was right... You just want to be the whole and sole. The best, the one who can handle everything. Oh! Nim is so great. You are so habitual of being the centre of attraction that you forgot it could be serious if Nivi was not treated properly. It could be dangerous. But, you just didn't bother to inform his own brother. Who is he to you? Remember if, anything or anyone harms my family I will not spare them." Abhedya was furious.

"Your family? Aren't you all my family too?" Swarnima questioned him.

"Probably not. Else, you would not have risked the life of 'my' brother." Abhedya spitted fire.

"Sorry! I shall never repeat it again." Swarnima lowered her head and left from there.

"Sorry? Is that it? It was risky. He was my responsibility here." Abhedya's anger was next level.

"You hear yourself? He was your responsibility." Swarnima finally answered him back.

Abhedya didn't have a come back. He remembered having himself drunk to sleep. But, that doesn't mean he should not be informed.

"But, was it not essential to inform me? Why didn't you call me?" Abhedya was not done shouting.

Swarnima rubbed her temples and said, "Firstly, please don't shout. Secondly, we did try to call you and knock your door. Infact, we used Gene to see what you were doing inside. She said you were sleeping and there were beer cans. So, even if we woke you up you wouldn't have been of any help. Nivi is fine now. Arya said it's general fever nothing worry."

Abhedya gulped his saliva. He knew what Swarnima said was right. He did drink. Why does he have to react so strongly? Always! always, he says something as an impulse and regrets later. What he said today was not even worthy of an apology. He told Swarnima it was his family and not her's. 'Abhey!! What have you done?'
He went to Swarnima's room and found Nivi was awake. He went and hugged him. "Hey little brother how are you now?"

"What's wrong with you? Why are you being so sweet? I just had fever. I am fine now." Nivi said breaking the hug.

"I was worried okay!" Abhedya cleared checking Nivi's temperature.

Swarnima came with a breakfast tray. "Nivi finish your breakfast quickly because you have to take medicine after that."
Nivi smiled seeing the breakfast. His butter toast was decorated with a smiley and his milk with a thumbs up sign. Abhedya loved the little efforts Swarnima put.

Swarnima went out of her room. She needed fresh air so, she came to the beautiful enormous garden. It had some rare varieties of flowers and plants. Swarnima took the watering can from Gene and started watering the plants herself. She was humming something while watering.
"Nim, plants have life inside them. If we talk and sing for them they will grow fast." Swarnima remembered what her father told her when she was young.

Nivi was enjoying his breakfast and Abhedya was feeling extremely uneasy. His words must have hurt Swarnima deeply. He did say mean, rude and untrue words to her.

"Shall I call mom?" Abhey asked Nivi.

"Mom! No! Nim is there. She is no less than mom. She was awake the whole night for me. She kept putting cold strips on my forehead. Arya and Maan told her Gene could do it. But, she insisted on doing it. Only when my temperature was normal, she breathed.
You know Abhey, she told Maan and Arya to go and sleep since they had early morning calls. She was by my side all the time." Nivi narrated his experience.

"I am sorry I wasn't there. I...Umm... no excuses. Sorry bro." Abhedya set Nivi's hair.

"It's okay. I thought you must be tired. And, everyone knows you sleep like a log." Nivi winked at Abhedya.

'Screw you! Abhey!' Abhedya cursed himself. The number of times he had hurt Swarnima, mostly for unjustified reasons was increasing.
Abhedya gave Nivi his medicine, put him to bed again and came out. The house was empty. He could not see Swarnima anywhere. His pulse rose. Did she leave? He will be dead if she goes. Like a fanatic he was searching for her in every room. She was no where. He sat with a thud and buried his head in his palms.
Sulking over his deeds Abhedya heard a sound. He ran out.

"You don't want this? Are you hungry? What do you eat? I eat everything you should also eat everything. Mumma says..." Swarnima sealed her lips. Her mother was no more to say anything.
A tear rolled down Abhedya's eyes. He was thankful to god Swarnima didn't leave. She was here. Even after the hurtful words he said. Animals bring out the child in her. He observed in the resort where she was running behind rabbits and now she found a puppy. Such a small girl she was, loaded and burdened with responsibilities. Abhedya took a deep breath and went to where Swarnima was. Standing between the flower bed in a black top and culottes she looked super cute.

"Hey! Who is this?" Abhedya started the conversation.

Swarnima took the little puppy in her hand and said,  "He hurt his leg, so, I got him here. Once he's, alright I will leave him from where it came."

"Do you want to keep it?" Abhedya asked.

Swarnima saw the puppy with adoration. The answer was obvious. "Give him a name." Abhedya said patting the pup's head.

"KAZU? It means happy." Swarnima replied.

"Perfect! Short and sweet. Have you eaten breakfast?" Abhedya asked her. Other things aside hungry Abhedya was a waste. His capacity to think and act ceased.

"You have not yet had your breakfast? Why? You will also fall ill? You drank last night and it's not healthy to be hungry till so late. Go. Have your breakfast." Swarnima had worry written all over her face.

Abhedya saw her for a couple of seconds then pulled her in a hug. "How do you do this Nim? I was so mean to you, like always. An A class jerk. Don't you feel hurt? Don't you want to slap me, shout at me? You know there is a rule of friendship in which you correct your friend if they do something wrong. Either you have forgotten it or do not consider me your 'friend' still."

What Abhedya said was just a bouncer for Swarnima. She was in embrace of her 'Aby' between the flowers with a cute puppy as a witness.
Abhedya was right, did anything affect her? Any one would have reacted to what Abhedya said. She was absolutely at no fault. She should have slapped him or atleast be angry at him. No! All she was doing was lost in the 'friendly hug'. She obviously didn't have the courage to hug him back and it was against the rules.

As, the rule book came in her mind, she distanced herself and said, "You were worried for Nivi I could see that. Therefore, whatever you said was because of your love for your brother. If you realise what you said you shouldn't have then try to control your anger so, that there are no regrets later on."

"I am trying Nim. I am trying hard. I guess, I will have to try harder." Abhedya said taking Swarnima's hand in his.

Swarnima first released her hand from his and wished him, "good luck!"

Short answers again? No!! She cannot go back to becoming the reserved Swarnima. She barely started to open up with him.
They both proceeded inside for breakfast. Little Kazu was in Swarnima's hand. She made him sit on the floor and got some biscuits and milk in a bowl. The puppy gobbled it up. Gene then took the puppy for cleaning up.

Swarnima washed her hands and Abhedya set the table for them. Swarnima served herself oats and milk and both had their breakfast in silence. So, to break the silence Abhedya took a spoon of her oats and ate.

"Not bad. I thought oats were bland. But this is good. What? Sharing is caring. I just learned the other night." Abhedya told Swarnima who was looking at him with questioning eyes.

"Abhey, please share your family with me not just the food. I need them. Please, I promise I won't hurt them."

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Dear Readers
Abhedya  is at the top most level of impulsive attitude and taking decisions in haste.
Swarnima is someone who finds reasons in impulsive actions and hurtful words.
Extreme opposites.
Who will rub off on who?
Let's find out.
Stay hooked!
Lots of love