AT NIGHT

After dinner the younger Rathores were sitting in the lawn chatting with Rajveer. Meera came with a servant serving a bowl of rasmalai to everyone.

"Meera come sit" Rajveer patted on the empty space beside him.

Meera came and settled in the mentioned place, tucking her hair strands behind her ear.

" we were planning to go on long drive" Rajveer said

"Long drive!" Meera said smilingly

"Haan bhabi ma, aur icecream ka plan bhi bana hai. Bohot maza ayega" Sanyukta said excitingly

(Yes bhabi ma, we have also decided to have icecream on our way. Its gonna be fun)

"Toh chalein?" Rajveer asked

(Shall we go?)

"Umm..... mein inhe bolti hun chalne" Meera said

(Umm.....let me ask him first, then we can)

"Kon Abhimaan? Woh nhi ayega. Woh toh apne study mein rehna pasand karega rather than humare sath long drive pe chalna" Rajveer remarked

(Who Abhimaan? He won't accompany us. He would rather love to spend time in his study than coming with us on a long drive)

"Phir bhi mein ek baar puch leti hu" Meera insisted

(Still let me ask him once)

"Futile! Woh nhi ayega Meera" Rajveer said

(Futile! He won't come Meera)

"Baas 5 minutes mein abhi ayee" Meera said running upstairs not paying heed to Rajveer's words.

(Just 5 minutes, i will be back soon)

AT ABHIMAAN'S BEDROOM

"Maan........Maan" Meera called for Abhimaan but in return got no response.

Searching for him in every chamber of their bedroom she found him sitting on the swing while reading a business file.

Meera's eyes were fixed at his face. Drinking every single facial feature of his. Damn she is in love with this arrogant Abhimaan. Feeling a constant gaze Abhimaan raised his eyes to meet that with Meera.

"Woh.....umm sab long drive pe jaa rahe hai. Aur icecream ka bhi plan banna hai" Meera informed.

(Actually......umm everyone is going on a long drive and have even planned to have icecream)

"Toh?"

(So?)

"Hum bhi chalein?"

(Can we join them?)

"Nhi, mera mann nhi hai"

(No, i don't have any mood to join)

"Mein jaa sakti hu?"

(Can I go with them?)

"Hmm"

(Hmm)

Meera nodded her head with happiness and was about to turn, when they heard a knock and Aviral entered.

"Bhabi ma, jaldi chaliye Rajveer bhaisa wait kar rahe hai" Aviral said

(Bhabi ma, come fast Rajveer bhai sa is waiting for us)

"Petrol ka cost malum hai? uss mein bhi long drive pe chalna hai. Roz jo apne apne kam se bahar jate ho, woh long drive mein ginti nhi hota? Tabhi adha ghanta travel hota nhi tum sab se aur aab 2-3 ghante ke long drive pe jana hai" Abhimaan chided while driving.

(Do you people have any idea regarding the petrol price? Still you guys have to go on a long drive. Everyday when you people go out on your work, doesn't that come under long drive? You people will be always complaining about the hectic half an hour ride but now all excited to go on a 2-3 hours long drive)

"Apko kisine force kia ane ko? Apko toh mann bhi nhi tha phir kyu aye?" Meera retorted back

(Did anyone force you to come? Just before few minutes you were not in a mood to join then exactly why did you come?)

But how can Abhimaan tell Meera that the moment he heard about Rajveer accompanying them in long drive, he couldn't keep his calm.

How can he let Meera go with Rajveer without his presence?

Naah.

Not done.

Not at all.

Never.

So now, Abhimaan is escorting his wife and cousins. He along with Meera is in one car while others are in another. Though all having same destination i.e icecream parlour.

"Why, aren't you happy with me accompanying you?" Abhimaan asked

"Sawal yeh nhi hai ki am happy or not but the thing is you aren't happy accompanying me in this drive" Meera said with a hint of distress.

(It is not about whether am happy or not, but the thing is you aren't happy accompanying me in this drive)

"Meeraaaa!!! With you am always happy" Abhimaan said

Shying Meera looked at Abhimaan and replied "mein hun hi esi. Sabko mera sath pasand ata hai"

(I am like this only. Everyone loves to be on my side)

"Drama" Abhimaan mumbled

All reached icecream parlour. Everyone is busy choosing their flavours to go with, except one i.e Abhimaan Singh Rathore the great.

"Can I please have a combo of Mississippi mud and chocolate chips cookie dough icecream" Meera please her order

"Sure ma'am" the salesman said. Turning towards Rajveer, he requested "sir, your order please"

"Same as her's" Rajveer replied

Meera looked at Rajveer sceptically .

"I prefer this combination as well" Rajveer smiled

Being served with desired flavours both Meera and Rajveer started devouring it. Meera was a proper eater but a zabardasti ka cliche took place.

"Oh Meera you have smudged your icecream" saying so Rajveer cleaned the already clean lips of Meera with his thumb.

"Done" Rajveer said and Meera smiled a thankyou smile.

Abhimaan was standing at a distance attaining a call but his entire focus was on Meera and Rajveer.

Meera was looking for Abhimaan but couldn't find him. Meera informed Aviral that she is going to find Abhimaan. Searching for him, she found him finally inside his car

"Maan, kya hua? Aap idhar car ke andar kyu baithe hain?" Meera asked

(Maan, what's wrong? Why are you sitting inside the car?)

"Get inside" Abhimaan ordered with a stoic face

"Par Maan sab andar hai"

(But Maan everyone is still inside the icecream parlour)

"Meera, stop questioning and get inside" Abhimaan said gritting his teeth.

Meera had no clue regarding this sudden change in Abhimaan's behaviour. Having no other options left she sat inside his car.

Abhimaan didn't wait for another second and drove his car at high speed. Where they are going or what happened? were the questions Meera was surrounded with.

Meera had confusion laced with fear in her eyes. She can clearly see Abhimaan's knuckles turning red due to tight grip on steering wheel. His jaw clenched. His face having a murderous look.

"Maan, what's wrong?" Meera asked

"Maan, please drive slow"

"Where are we going?"

Her questions went unanswered. Abhimaan increased his car's speed, driving furiously.

Meera's heart was thumping rapidly. Slowly tears made its way, cascading down from Meera's eyes.

Abhimaan suddenly pulled the breaks and shutting the door harshly, he went outside.

Meera was still sitting inside the car sobbing while Abhimaan went to a distance and started smoking to calm his anger. He was frustrated witnessing the gestures shared by Meera and Rajveer.

It's not like he don't trust Meera but the insecurities are high. Past memories are continuously flashing infront of his eyes.

Past lessons are repeating his mind. He don't want to repeat his father's mistake.

But the lady inside his car is like a sweet fire, to whom he is attracted like a moth. The thing is not 'either he will lose Meera or himself'. The actual thing is 'either he will choose Meera or will lose himself'.

He came out of his shell for Meera.

Teasing someone is not his thing but he loves teasing Meera.

He smokes, drinks, fucks as per his own wish but it is Meera whose command he follows.

Sweet words and Abhimaan is a big no yet he tries his best to pamper her.

Possessive is what he feels for every single thing that belongs to him but when it comes to Meera he feels possessive as well as protective.

Loving and caring wala concept is not there in Abhimaan's emotion dictionary but these two emotions popped out when Meera is with him.

'Love' is something he hates with his guts but when it comes to Meera, it was love at first glance for him.

Meera has slowly become his sanity. This sanity is also driving him insane. If life is tough then its choices are toughest.