My heart was almost in my mouth seeing the three standing in front of me out of nowhere. Not sure about Samar Jij and Keshu but Soumya Di's expressions made me sweat, nervously and unreasonably. I could feel the heat radiating from both my cheeks as if she caught me and her brother-in-law in some inadequate situation.

Awkward as hell!

"Finally you guys decided to show up huh!" Di exclaimed with a glint of mischief hidden in her smile which probably no one noticed, except me. The look on her face rose my heartbeats extremely high.

"We-... Ac-actually while h-hidi-ng.. I was.. stuck." I stuttered like a broken record, not knowing how to begin. I looked at Mr Puri hoping he would speak up and save me.

Well, he did speak up but only to embarrass me even more, "I saved Doctor Psycho from the scariest and the deadliest creature on the planet— lizard!"

My jaw dropped and my eyes widened like a saucer when I heard what he said. I pouted angrily glaring at him with my hands folded over my chest while the others burst out laughing maniacally, including him.

"Oh my poor Aaru." Somu di managed to speak while stifling her laughter as she hugged me as if I was Amaya. I rolled my eyes at her and slapped her arm lightly which only made her giggle more.

"Kitne bure ho aap sab! Kisi ke darr ka aise mazak udana achhi baat hoti hai kya?" I whined and complained like a five-year-old with a puffy-pouty face.

"Accha baba sorry, ab nahi satayenge tumko." Di held her ears and tried to convince me, "Sanam bas karo, don't tease my sister now." Somu di ordered her brother-in-law in a typical motherly manner.

"Okay-okay.. Sorry." said Mr.Puri as he put both his hands up in surrender and chuckled silently.

Unknowingly, a smile crept up on my face. I felt a sudden rush of warmth filling up inside my heart as I watched these four beautiful humans smiling at me. These moments which we were living and sharing, gave me a sense of contentment and comfort. It was a kind of feeling I had been longing for a very long time.

And it just made me realise how unenthusiastic and the workaholic person I had become lately. If it was not for them, I would probably be in my cabin, either dealing with several types of psychological cases or working on some research papers.

It is definitely not like I don't enjoy my work. Of course, I love my job but even so, there are times when I want to be myself. Spend some time like any other girl of my age, sipping a cup of tea with my loved ones without thinking about other people's problems and solutions to them.

All I wish is to forget my life problems for a little while and enjoy life.

Ever since I entered this profession, this is the first time I'm doing something for myself apart from 'work' and having genuine fun. To be truthful, I have this terrible habit of reminiscing old memories and feel sad about them but not this time! I won't ruin my mood today and will seize every moment of joy that comes my way.

Somu Di snapped her fingers in front of my eyes catching my attention, "Kahan kho gyi mohtarma?"

I chuckled and shook my head mumbling 'nothing'. "Okay then, let's get inside the house. You should freshen up and then join us for lunch. Okay?" I nodded like an obedient student and went back in with Di leaving the trio behind.

Di told me that Amu and Mannu were too tired so they were already having their lunch which they had brought from home. "Second room on the first floor is yours." Di informed me as we reached the staircase, "Your bag is already there." She added.

"Thanks. I'll be back soon." I said and ran upstairs to my room.

~~~~~~

With a smile on my face I watched Arpita going inside the house with Soumya. There's no doubt that she was enjoying this day-out with us. She seemed more comfortable around us now than she used to be. To be honest, this thought itself was very satisfying for me.

Tearing away my gaze from her after she left when I looked at my lads who were standing beside me I realised, I wasn't the only person who was admiring her.

Sanam's eyes were locked on the path she walked, even after she was gone. He too had a soft smile on his face. I don't know why but the look on his face felt weird to me. And for some reasons it made me feel.... insecure.

Does Sanam too have feelings for her?

No! No! It can't be. I had told him how I feel for her and I know my friend, he would never eye the girl his friend likes.

But.. could there be a single per cent of chance that he...?

Shut up Keshu! What are you even thinking?! He's Sanam! He's just being nice to her after all she's his therapist. I don't need to weave any net of misconceptions about him and her. Don't be ridiculous to doubt your friend!

The sound of Samar clearing his throat brought us back to reality.

"I.. I think I need to shower.. my clothes are all smeared with dirt in the storeroom."Sanam excused himself and ran inside the house as if a bull was chasing after him.

I stood there dumbfounded while Samar gave me short smile, "Come with me. Let's have a lil chat." He said before tagging me along with him.

We sat on the sofa under the shade, "What is it?" I asked.

"I know you have many questions in your mind right now. Regarding Sanam and Arpita" he spoke calmly.

My face turned pale and my throat felt drier Sahara.

He noticed my muddle. Just great!

I let out a soft-awkward chuckle, "What are you saying, Bro?"

"You know what I mean Keshu. There's no point in hiding it from me."

I huffed. He's right. He knows everything and he understands everything, well and better than anyone else around here.

Knowing the Mr Perceptive that he is, I knew I stand no chance of lying to him.

"I know you won't judge me so I can freely tell you what's on my mind." I began and he nodded with an assuring smile.

"I saw Sanam... Admiring her.. And.. it kinda made me-"

"Insecure. Right?" he finished it for me.

I nodded silently. It feels entirely wrong talking about your close friend secretly and that too with his brother. Although I know Samar is a very understanding person and won't judge me yet I can't help this feeling.

"Tell me one thing. What was it about her which made you feel this way for her?" Samar asked.

My gaze drew distant as I begin to think about it, recalling my first encounter with her.

What was it about her which pulled me towards her like a magnet?

"Her smile!", I spoke abruptly, grinning like a fool. "I loved her smile. It's so pleasing!"

"And?" he questioned plainly.

"And?" I repeated being confused.

"There should be more to it, right? You can't just call it love because you like her smile."

He gotta a point.

"What qualities of her made you admire her?"

I began to think about it and this time more deeply. But all of the sudden, my mind seemed to be clogged. I was unable to think of even a single quality of hers except for her appearance which truly made me admire her.

It's such a shame! I don't know what to answer Samar.

On the other hand, he seems to have noticed my dilemma, "Keshu, if appearance is all you had in your mind all this while then brother, you are going in the wrong direction." he kept his hand over my shoulder as he explained me.

"Looks are one thing but knowing the other person, understanding the kind of individual they are and accepting their individuality, is what real love is all about."

He's completely right.

"Man, where was my mind all this while? Why didn't I think about it earlier?" I felt so hopeless. How I wish to slap myself in the face or the ground to just gulp me down.

"On record, in the gym." he said jokingly pulling up an innocent-pretentious face.

I threw back my head, "Come on Sammy!" I whined chuckling softly.

He laughed saying, "You still got time bro, " he patted on my back, "better late than never and for your relief, it isn't too late."

I nodded at him with a short smile, "Right. You sure are my personal therapist."

"I know right." He smirked seemed proud of himself.

I shifted my body facing him and joined my palms like a devotee, "Bless me, Love Guru."

"All I can pray for you is that you don't embarrass yourself in front of the girl," he said pursing his lips in a thin line in an attempt to look sombre.

"Hey, that was rude!" I faked an angery look and we both ended up laughing.

"Okay, now let's get inside. I'm damn hungry!" he exclaimed grumpily holding his stomach which growled.

"Yeah, man. Me too." I heard my stomach growling too, "But wait!" I stopped him abruptly.

"What is it now?" he frowned.

"You didn't tell me. Do you think Sanam likes Arpita?" as I questioned him I could feel my heartbeats increasing extraordinarily high. I gulped a dry lump in my throat as I watched him.

He huffed before answering, "Honestly, I don't know."

I blinked in utter confusion, "But you are Mr Know-it-all. How come you don't have any idea about this?"

"We are talking about Sanam here, Keshav. For the last six months, he had been a completely different person. You have seen him yourself! But now, I have noticed a ray of hope. There is a possibility that my brother will find stability in his life, again. And indisputably the reason is Arpita and the sessions she had been doing with him so far.

I don't know if he has developed an emotional connection with her beyond friendship but there's one thing I have discovered in his eyes and that is respect for her. I still remember how much he hated her after their first clash with each other. But now, it has changed."

I listened to him attentively, as he spoke. It's very unusual when Samar speaks so much in one flow. To be honest, I am more than glad that he did open up to me.

"Judging their relationship based on this would be very unfair. Although there's something I want to tell you and that is, no matter who holds feelings for whom because if two people are meant to be together then no matter what happens, the universe always finds its way to bring them together." he shrugged as he finished.

I smiled heartily at him, "Thanks for being so transparent, brother. I truly feel light after talking to you." I patted his shoulder.

I got all the answers to my questions after this conversation. Yet for some anonymous reason I was getting this unshakable feeling in my gut that: someone's going to be heartbroken and whoever that person be, it will eventually break everyone's heart.

I was standing near the sliding glass windows facing the balcony while drying my hair with the towel. I changed into simple and comfortable baby blue chikankari Kurti and white palazzo as my clothes were smudged in the dirt when we hid in the storeroom.

Admiring the scenarios from my room, I was zoned out. I could see a beach nearby, the other sides of the villa were covered with greenery. The house was full of positive vibes and also, it was an absolute delight for one's eyes. I stopped rubbing the towel on my head and was lost appreciating the lovely ambience.

Being so lost in admiring the surroundings of the villa that I lost the track of time until someone screamed "Chipkali" from just behind me making me scream the life out of me as I leapt backwards, away from the window and mistakenly stepped on someone's foot making that person cry in pain.

As soon as I realized it I quickly stepped aside and saw that the one who played this silly prank on me was none other than,

"Sanam sir?!"

"Owww-oww-oww!!.." he cried in pain, holding his foot in his hands and jumping on his spot.

Watching his clumsy actions I couldn't hold myself from giggling as he kept groaning.

"Karama is a boomerang, what do you think?" I pulled up an innocent face suppressing my laughter and battling my eyelashes. He glared at me as he sat on the bed, still holding his leg, "You will pay for this, Doctor Princess."

I blinked, "Sorry, I didn't bring cash with me. Do you accept credit cards?"

He got up and walked towards me with the same expressions. He stopped in front of me and said, "This isn't funny Doctor Princess. My foot hurts."

"I didn't tell you to stand just behind me and scream the name of the only creature I fear 'The' most," I replied sarcastically stressing on the word 'The'.

"And yeah, stop calling me Princess." I added.

"You don't like being called 'princess' so certainly, I won't stop calling you that." He smiled widely, sarcasm spooned in his tone. I faked a glare at him with a pout to show my annoyance but in the end, he just laughed at my face making me frown.

"What?!" I whined in a complaining manner.

"You are so weird. Most of the girls love being called Princess and being pampered like one but here you are! Getting annoyed by that nickname.", he explained while chuckling softly.

I scoffed, "That's because I'm not a Princess. I am a Queen." I replied with grace as I flipped my wet hair off my shoulder which accidentally drizzled some water droplets on Sanam sir's face. Oops.

Wiping off the water drops with his palm, amusement was clear on his face. "Woah" he chuckled softly, "I thought you were an innocent-delicate-doll kinda girl. Tum toh Jhansi ki Rani nikli."

I laughed at his statement, "You know.. My dad used to call me Jhansi ki Rani."

"Really? Why so?"

"Because when I was a kid, I was always ready to pull a fight with anyone who tried to bully me and also I couldn't tolerate injustice around me. I had a bad temper back then, so such things used to get on my nerves easily."

I walked towards the dressing mirror while conversing with him, "Everyone in my family used to think that I'll become a lawyer in future for the way I used to debate and question literally about everything." I laughed while recollecting my childhood memories as I dabbed the towel on my damped hair while my gaze was at my reflection in the mirror.

Mr. Puri chuckled after listening to my childhood stories, "There's a drastic change I can see."

I looked at him through the mirror tilting my head in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, it's hard to believe that you were such a dangerous girl in your childhood."

I turned, "Are you trying to make fun of me?" Raising a brow I questioned.

"What?.. No-no! I mean, the way you are now.. So sensible and so understanding.. It's hard for me to imagine you the way you described yourself." he struggled to clarify the actual meaning of his words.

I chuckled softly at his innocence as I already knew what he meant, "Relax Mr. Puri. I know what you meant I was just trying to pull your leg."

"Gosh! You sure are scary, Ms. Jhansi ki Rani." he said with exhaling in relief.

"What did you just say?!" I gasped.

"I called you scary. And also Jhansi ki Rani." he laughed loudly.

"Mr. Puri!" I threw the towel on chair as I ran after him. "I'm scary na, now I'll show you what real horror is." He ran out of my room, giggling while I was chasing him. "You are too slow Jhansi ki Rani!" he scurried down the stairs and I rushed after him.

Reaching the last step my leg slipped on the edge of the stair, causing me to lose balance. In reflex, my hand tried to grab the stair rail but missed it with few inches. I was totally ready to kiss the back stairs with my head and the fear inflicted me to close my eyes and accept the bone-crashing pain. But what I expected, never happened. A strong hand had gripped my right wrist tightly, stopping my body just in time from hitting the stairs behind.

Slowly, I opened my eyes to see my Saviour's face.

Sanam sir.

He pulled me forward with a jerk. My hands pressed hard against his chest to prevent myself from slamming into him. My eyes widened and my mouth hung down in utter terror as I looked at him in the eyes.

He looked so furious that I began to feel sweat forming on my forehead. He looked so dangerous that I felt like running away. Just a few minutes ago we were laughing and smiling and now? How can the circumstances change so quick?

The volcano of his anger erupted and it was going to submerge me inside its lava.

"Are you stupid!"

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