Anuj sprung from his seat and walked over to the window. He needed to concentrate and get his head straight. Allowing negative thoughts to take reign of his rationale was not a choice becoming of him. He must keep his cool

He settled down on the setee then and closing his eyes, started deep breathing. And just when his temper had started to return to normal, he felt fingers sneak across his face and envelope his already closed eyes.

'This touch....'

Anuj shook his head then, his agitation rising once more.

"Stopit, Devika. I am not in the mood"

But the hand didn't move.

"Devika,move your hand!" Anuj warned but to no effect.

"Maine kaha na tu apna ha—

Aggravated,Anuj grabbed the hand on his eyes with his right, and yanked the arm forward.His eyes had flown open in irritation but as he spotted Devika grinning,standing in front of him, irritation changed into panic and his eyes widened as he quickly turned his upper half only to see Anupama stumbling towards him. His unsuspecting pull on her hand had led her sandal to get caught under the leg of setee and she staggered forward. Responding to the situation, Anuj wrapped his left arm around her waist for support and broke her fall as she landed on the setee right by his side.

Her one hand was in his, while the other had clutched his shoulder tightly for support.Eyes that had closed from fear flew open and made contact with his surprised ones.

Anuj couldn't make sense of the current situation. One moment he was brimming with negativity and in the next, all coherent thoughts had fled him. One second, he was reeling with the fear of losing her, and in the next, she was in his arms,closer than ever before; her fingers digging into his shoulder and their hands clasping each other tightly. His astonished eyes drifted to her exposed neck then and a curtain of desire dawned in his eyes. Gulping, his other hand shifted slightly and as his fingers brushed past her bare skin, his brain malfunctioned as all the blood rushed south and his mouth dried. Anuj snatched his fingers away swiftly, and jumped from the setee, massaging those fingers as if they had been electrocuted.

Their faces had been very close and she had felt a flare that she had never. The changing hues of his eyes from surprise to passion to realization, had held her prisoner for those seconds in the comfort of his arms. And then as his fingers had shifted, she had flinched slightly and had felt his breathing go shallow.In that moment, his heated gaze had scalded her worse than his touch had. And then he had moved away, giving her enough space to settle down.

Devika whistled, amused and equal parts thrilled by the turn of events. She fanned her face mischievously while her two friends looked anywhere but at each other.

She had requested Anu to surprise Anuj, when Anu had shared with her the debacle from morning, about how he had probably misconstrued her silence as acquiescence. And a few choice words had done the trick damn too well.

'Of course he will feel hurt. Hum aaj se dost hain, kehne se uska pyaar toh khatm nahi ho gaya na Anu. I'm sure he will be brooding in his cabin. Mujhe bas itna pata hai ki agar tujhe Anuj ki itni se bhi parvah hai na, toh lift his mood. Tu na usse peeche se aake surprise karegi, toh karegi. Aur fir notice kario, kese wo khil uthega".

Anuj massaged his neck, as he glanced at her. If he was overwhelmed by negativity then, he was bursting with positivity now.

"I-I am sorry..I thought ye Devika..wo..um....", he scratched his stubble and focused his gaze on the wall. "Vese A-Anu, tum yaha kese", He fumbled, still reeling from the effects of her proximity.

"Main wo—ye..wo..main—

Devika laughed then, interrupting her friend's stutter.

"Anu,tu ye kya bakri ki tarah main main kar rahi hai! Aur Anuj tu—

She caught his cheeks between her fingers and cooed, "Suraj dekha nahi ki surajmukhi khil uthi! So cute!!"

Anuj swatted her hand instantly, his face deepening into red. Anupama wasn't faring any different either.

Devika kind of did regret being in the same room with duo. Perhaps, if she would have been absent, they would have actually come even closer. Oh well! She shrugged. Koi nahi, I will create more chances.

"Anu,ab iske sawal ka jawab de hi de taaki iske face ki baaki soojan bhi utar jaae!"

"What soojan?" Anuj asked offended as Devika rolled her eyes.

"Abhi do minute pehle kese dhamkiyan de raha tha, bhool gaya?"

Anuj zipped his lips then, his eyes refusing to meet her. "I was just— anyway, why are you here Anupama? I mean-tum toh—baa ne vo vanr- I mean Mr. Shah ki dekhbhal—what I mean is—"

Anuj turned his face away. Brilliant!Stuttering like a fool!

Anupama looked at him from her position on the sette and smiled. "I refused to return".

His eyes widened in confusion as he turned to look at her smile. His heart somersaulted as she roused and walked towards him.

He couldn't believe her yet. What had she refused? To return or to serve or both?

It was like she could read his face as she spoke next, "Na hi main uss ghar main wapas jaoongi, na hi Mr. Shah ki zindagi main aur na hi unhe apni life ka hissa banaungi"

Anuj smiled then, his face gaining color and he made no attempt to hide it. Devika chuckled. "The spring is finally here!"

"But fir tum...." Anuj moved his hand animatedly before he paused, his lips parting and closing, mulling if he was being a bit too much.

"Main kya?" Anupama asked, her brows raised as Anuj mumbled the remaining part.

"Tum pehle kyu nahi aai mere paas?" He mumbled his complain with a pout, his voice but a breathy whisper but it carried with the wind and reached the ears of other two. Devika choked and coughed as she turned her face away while Anu flushed. As Anuj heard Devika wheezing, he peaked at Anupama from under his messed hair and as her stupefied expression greeted him back, he realized that he had been heard and cleared his throat, "I mean..kitna kaam hai office main", He exclaimed loudly walking over to his desk, pretending to read through papers.

At that, Devika ceased with her wheezing finally as she met Anupama's gaze.

Flashback

"Ye kaun hai?" Baa asked as a nurse appeared from behind Anupama as she stepped into Shah house

"Nurse hai baa!" Devika remarked sarcastically, leaning against the doorway.

Anupama glared at her friend before she gestured the nurse to come forward. "Baa, ye Ms Smita hain, Pass ke Mukherjee hospital se hain...aur jab tak Mr. Shah theek nahi ho jate poori tarah, yeh unki dawai aur baki cheezon ka khayal rakhengi. She will be here 9 AM to 9 pm. Auruske beech main, Toshu pakhi samar kinjal toh honge hi".

"Tu...wapas nhi aaegi?" Baa asked in disbelief.

Anupama shook her head, her words firm,"Nhi baa. I won't, either in this house or in Mr. Shah's life. Abhi, aapko basapne bête ki chinta hai aur wo sahi bhi hai. Par dekhbhal toh nurse bhi kar sakti hai, mujhse behtar kar sakti hai. Aur agar aap emotional support ki baat karne wali hain, toh mat kijiye. Pichle dino jo kuch hua hai, uske baad main Mr. Shah ke saath sirf insaniyat ka hi rishta nibha paungi."

Anupama folded her hands then, ready to take her leave "Chalti hu. Office bhi jaana hai", and she turned on her heels and walked away.

Anuj was beaming now, his eyes brimming with pride. And Devika had to pull her lovelorn idiot's legs.

"Dekho kitna chamak raha hai. Shaam ko aise hi chamkega, toh bijli ka kharcha bach jaega", She remarked and Anuj caught hold of her ears as she flailed, and complained.

Anupama laughed seeing the two bicker. This company surely was the sweetest. In between his banter with Devika, he glanced at Anupama and both smiled at each other.

He was happy. He was hopeful..

And Devika couldn't have been happier. Anu had been determined to decline baa but that determination had turned into resolution only because of Anuj. Anu would never acknowledge that but she knew better. Her smiles had reached her eyes only when he had found his.

Anupama was happy to see the life back on his face. Seeing him hurt had affected her. She didn't want to be the reason of his crestfallen face. She had promised him no commitment and yet even the thought of going back, had felt like a betrayal.She respected his feelings, but today she had prioritized them too.

Because he is her friend.

Yeah, that is all.

Right?