A/N: This is the longest chapter Iâve written for this bookâfreaking 2.7k words!
I hope you guys enjoy it. Keep the comments coming, and donât forget to hit the â button if you liked it!
Just a heads-upâIâll be out for the rest of the week due to an impromptu work trip.
When Iâm back next week, I hope I will be able to drop some bulk updates for you all!
Stay tuned.
Happy Readingâ¤ï¸
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Abhira stepped into the living room, exhaustion weighing down her every step. She had just returned home after spending hours at the hospital, yet she was already packing a dinner to take back for Abhir.
Charu, watching from the side, frowned. "Bhabhi, you're worn out. I can take his dinner if you want."
Abhira barely spared her a glance as she placed the neatly packed box inside a bag. "It's fine, Charu. Anyway,Par Nanu is staying with him tonight. I was just going to feed him and come back."
Charu folded her arms, blocking Abhira's path. "You've been running back and forth all day. Take a break, I can go instead."
"Really, it's not a big-"
"It is," Charu cut in, her voice firm. "You're exhausted. He's stable now, and if you fall sick running around like this, he'll be even more stressed. So, I'll take the food. You stay."
Abhira hesitated.
"Di is right!" Kiara piped up, suddenly appearing next to them. "And anyway, we also want to see Abhir-"
Charu shot her a look.
Kiara cleared her throat, averting her gaze. "Uh... I just think he might feel better if we all visit. That's all."
Before Abhira could argue, Krish and Aryan walked in, nodding along.
"Yeah, Bhabhi, we'll go together," Krish said.
"And we promise to behave," Aryan added quickly, sensing Charu's sharp look. "We won't trouble him."
Abhira exhaled slowly, looking at the four of them.
She knew how much they all cared for Abhir-even Charu, despite her constant sarcasm. Maybe it really would be good for him to see them.
"Okay," she finally relented. "But Charu, make sure they don't stress him out. He was just shifted from the ICU."
"I will,"Charu assured, taking the tiffin from her hands. "Now go rest, Bhabhi. We've got this."
Abhira gave them all one last look before nodding, a small smile playing on her lips.
And with that, Charu led the Poddar Cousins Squad to the hospital, already regretting the amount of supervision this would require.
---
As soon as they reached the hospital, Charu turned to the group. "Listen up. He's still weak, so don't make him talk too much. No loud noises, no unnecessary drama, and definitely no Kiara-st-"
But before she could finish, Kiara had already barreled through the door.
"ABHIRRR!"
Charu groaned. "I give up."
Inside, Abhir flinched at the sudden intrusion. "What the-"
Kiara Poddar burst into the room like an emotional cyclone, her high-pitched scream loud enough to wake coma patients in the next wing.
Before Abhir could react, she launched herself at him.
"NO-OWWW!" Abhir barely dodged her attack, groaning as pain shot through his body.
"For God's sake, Kiddo, I just survived a near-death experience! Are you trying to finish the job?!"
Kiara gasped, dramatically "Sorry! Sorry I just got so relieved to see you. Your face! It's still perfect Abhir!"
She trailed off, eyes shamelessly scanning him. "Uh... better than I expected."
Abhir blinked, unimpressed. "Well I did not undergo plastic surgery"
Krish and Aryan snickered from the doorway.
"I mean, duh! What if the accident had ruined our gorgeous rockstar face? Millions of fans would have mourned!" Kiara wailed. "We can't afford that!"
Abhir's eye twitched.
"Kiara, calm down," Krish said, stepping in. "We just got here, and you're already making him regret surviving."
"Excuse me for being concerned!" Kiara huffed. "Unlike some people, I actually care."
"You care a little too much" Charu muttered under her breath.
Abhir raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Charu rolled her eyes and placed the tiffin on the bedside table. "Bhabhi sent dinner. Eat."
Abhir raised an eyebrow at the bag. "She didn't come?"
"She needed rest," Charu said, arms crossed. "Unlike you, she actually listens when people tell her to take care of herself."
Abhir huffed but didn't argue. Instead, he reached out to grab the tiffin, only to realize-
"Wait. How am I supposed to eat? My hand's plastered."
Kiara immediately perked up. "I'll feed you!"
Before she could grab a spoon, Charu snatched it from her hands. "Oh, no, you won't."
"Why not?!" Kiara whined.
"Your mom still feeds you at home. How exactly are you going to manage feeding him?" Charu retorted.
Abhir choked on a laugh. Kiara gasped in offense.
"That is so uncalled for,"Kiara huffed. "I could totally do it."
Charu said. "Let the patient suffer in peace."
Kiara pouted but obeyed, sulking in the chair next to the bed.
Abhir exchanged a knowing glance with Charu, the corner of his lips twitching. "You really enjoy bossing people around, don't you?"
"I wouldn't have to if they had common sense," Charu shot back. "Now shut up and eat."
Abhir huffed but obediently opened his mouth, letting Charu feed him a spoonful of dal and rice.
He chewed slowly, his face contorting into a dramatic grimace.
Charu narrowed her eyes. "What?"
He scrunched his nose, his expression one of pure suffering. "This is so bland. No spice, no flavor? I think I'd rather starve"
Charu rolled her eyes, stabbing another spoonful into the rice. "You nearly got yourself killed, Abhir. Your life has been way too flavourful already."
She shot him a pointed look, clearly referencing his reckless driving and the accident. "So shut up and eat this until you heal and get back home."
Abhir smirked despite himself, the warmth in her teasing making the dull hospital food slightly more bearable. "Wow, so much care. I'm touched."
"Want me to call Bhabhi? She'll make you eat it without any drama." she threatened, lifting the spoon as if contemplating stuffing his mouth with an extra-large bite.
He chuckled, but the movement made him wince. Immediately, Charu's expression softened, a flicker of concern replacing her playful glare.
"Don't laugh too much, idiot," Charu warned. "Your stitches haven't healed completely."
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered. "Abhira sent you to supervise me, didn't she?"
"More like supervise them," Charu corrected, jerking her thumb toward Kiara and the boys. "You, I'm not worried about."
Krish scoffed. "Hey! We're not the problem here."
"Not us, Kiara is," Aryan added casually.
"Excuse me?!" Kiara shot up, glaring at both of them. "I am just showing concern for our poor, injured-"
"-Crush," Krish muttered under his breath, earning a death glare from Kiara.
The room buzzed with conversation between Krish, Aryan, and Kiara, but neither Charu nor Abhir really heard any of it.
The only sound that registered was the occasional scrape of the spoon against the bowl and the rustle of fabric when Charu adjusted her posture.
She continued feeding him, and as he chewed, her eyes instinctively traced the lines of his face-the sharp cut of his jaw, the light stubble shadowing his skin, the way his lips curled slightly even when he wasn't speaking.
She had spent so much time keeping her feelings at bay, masking them under sarcasm and indifference.
But right now, sitting beside him, watching him let his guard down in a way he rarely did, she felt her defenses slipping.
And Abhir-he wasn't oblivious.
He found himself watching her more than he should.
The way a stray strand of hair fell against her cheek, the way her brows furrowed in concentration as she made sure he ate properly, the way her lips pursed in exasperation whenever he whined-it was oddly endearing.
She wasn't just feeding him because it was her responsibility.
She cared.
He swallowed another bite, but a tiny smear lingered at the corner of his lips.
Charu sighed, picking up a tissue and leaning in. "Hold still," she muttered, gently wiping the spot.
The moment her fingers brushed against his lips, time seemed to stutter.
It was such a small, fleeting touch. Yet, a jolt of something sharp and electric shot through both of them.
Abhir stilled, his breath catching ever so slightly.
Charu froze, too, her fingers lingering longer than necessary.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Her heart pounded, and she hated how aware she was of the warmth of his skin beneath her touch. His lips-soft, slightly parted, utterly distracting-left her momentarily dazed.
Abhir's gaze flickered to hers, something unreadable swirling in his deep brown eyes.
He felt it too-the strange pull, the crackling awareness, the unspoken shift between them.
Charu was the first to break eye contact, quickly pulling back and clearing her throat.
He noticed the way she hesitated for just a second when her fingers brushed against his hand.
The way her usual sharp retorts lacked their typical bite.
The way her gaze softened when she thought he wasn't looking.
And damn, he liked it.
More than he should.
Her presence made the dull ache in his body easier to ignore.
For the first time since his accident, something other than pain occupied his mind.
Charu.
------------------------------------
A few days had passed since Abhir's accident he was recovering , and life had started regaining its rhythm.
Charu, however, found herself slipping into an unexpected routine-finding excuse to see Abhir every day.
It started subtly, just checking on his health, but now, she would actively plan her schedule around visiting him.
It annoyed her that she had become so predictable, but she couldn't stop herself either.
Every time she walked into his hospital room, she found herself looking at him for just a little longer than necessary.
Every time their conversations turned into their usual banter, she found herself holding back a smile.
And every time he asked her-half-serious, half-mocking-what had happened after he fainted at the concert, she found herself dodging the question.
Because how could she tell him?
How could she tell him that the world outside was turning against him? That while he was healing, a storm was brewing, one that threatened to take away the very thing he loved the most?
So, she did what she did best. She deflected.
"Stop acting like the world revolves around you, Abhir," she scoffed just the other day, crossing her arms.
"Nothing much happened. Just a singer fainting. People moved on."
But they hadn't.
And Charu was spending every waking moment making sure his dreams , his career wouldn't be harmed.
Mishra's influence was at play, and Charu was working tirelessly to negotiate a reasonable settlement, all while keeping Abhir oblivious to it.
The last thing he needed was more stress.
-------
One afternoon, Charu decided to drop by the hospital during her lunch time at the office.
As she stepped into Abhir's room, she halted abruptly.
Sira was there, sitting beside him, feeding him soup with an affectionate scolding.
But what truly caught her off guard was her own brother, Krish Bansal, casually laughing along with them.
The three of them were completely at ease, giggling over something.
Then, Sira playfully smacked Krish, and he-without a second thought-hugged her close and called her "Mountain Mouse."
Charu's eyes widened.
What the hell?
Since when did Krish get so close to Sira?
She had assumed Sira had feelings for Abhir.
But now...
Then came the next shock.
"Lovebirds, go get a room," Abhir teased with a chuckle.
That was enough.
Charu barged in, making Krish and Sira jump apart like guilty teenagers.
"C-Charu? What are you doing here?" Krish stuttered, looking like a deer caught in headlights.
Charu crossed her arms. "Exactly my question, little brother. What are you doing?" She gestured between him and Sira.
Sira immediately excused herself and fled the room, leaving Krish even more flustered.
He ran a hand through his hair, visibly tense.
He took a hesitant step towards the door, then stopped and turned to Charu. "I'll explain later... Just please don't tell anyone at home," he pleaded before dashing out after Sira.
Charu stood there, stunned. "What the hell has he been up to?" she murmured under her breath.
A throat cleared behind her. She turned to find Abhir smirking at her, clearly enjoying the show.
"What's going on between these two? And you knew?" she demanded, pointing an accusing finger at him.
Abhir leaned back against his pillows. "They like each other. Isn't it obvious, dumbo?" He casually grabbed her pointing hand and tugged, making her stumble onto the stool beside his bed.
"I'm not dumbo, you idiot!" she snapped, pulling her hand away.
Abhir chuckled. "Just as I thought... You once assumed Sira liked me, didn't you?"
Charu scowled. "I just thought... she might have..." She trailed off, looking away.
Amused, Abhir teased, "Madam ji, aapka hangover utara nahi? Your theory was hilarious, by the way. Sira's been with me for a decade; we're more like siblings."
Charu frowned, trying to process everything. "But Krish and her? When? How? He's still struggling to build his career in dance. This isn't even the right time!" she ranted.
"My pragmatic, logical lawyer sahiba," Abhir said with a fond smile.
"Love doesn't follow a schedule. And trust me, Sira's a great girl. If anything, she'll help him grow."
Her heart fluttered at his words.
Then came another shock.
"Everyone in the chorus gang knew about them" Abhir added with a laugh.
"What?!" Charu stood up, indignant. "How could they hide this from me?"
Abhir sighed, reaching for her hand again. "Stop overreacting. I know you're just being protective. But Krish has the right to make his own life choices. Trust me, Sira will be good for him."
Charu narrowed her eyes at Abhir. "Youâre way too calm about all this. You sure youâre not running a secret matchmaking agency on the side?"
Abhir smirked, leaning back against his pillows. "Now thatâs an idea. Maybe I should start charging people for love advice."
She scoffed. "Right. Because clearly, youâre the love guru."
Abhir grinned, tilting his head. "Well, I do have experience of making people fall in love while I sing about it."
Charu rolled her eyes. "Oh please. You just stand there with a mic and make people swoon over your handsome face. That doesn't make you any expert."
Abhir questioned amused. "You think I'm handsome?"
Charu groaned "I don't want to talk to you"
Abhir smirked "And yet, here you are, taking my words seriously. Jokes apart pause over analyzing it and learn to accept."
Charu stared at him, emotions swirling in her eyes.
Then, in an unexpected move, she reached out and ruffled his hair. "Didn't know you could sound so mature," she mused.
Abhir blinked. His heart pounded erratically.
What was happening to him?
It had always been easier to bicker with her.
But now... this affection, this ease, the way she held his hand, ruffled his hair like it was the most natural thing-it was driving him crazy.
Trying to clear the air, he quipped, "I've been reading good fiction books while getting bored here, so I guess that's where the wisdom is coming from." Then, smirking, he added, "Anyway, try not to interrogate poor Krish too much."
Charu smirked. "I'll try. Can't promise."
Abhir chuckled, knowing she would handle it with far more maturity than she let on.
But just as she let herself relax, her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen, and her smirk vanished.
Mishra had given a public statement against Abhir.
#AbhirSharmaBanned was trending.
Her stomach twisted.
The industry was turning against him. Labels were pulling back, event organizers were hesitating, and online forums were filled with rumors that Abhir was a liability.
All of it orchestrated.
All of it meant to corner him.
And worst of all?
She gazed at Abhir 's smiling face
He had no idea.
A panic gripped into her.
She has to clean this mess somehow.
Her expression turned unreadable, but Abhir caught the way her fingers tightened around the device, her posture stiffening.
His brows furrowed. "What happened?"
Charu quickly locked the screen, forcing a neutral expression. "Nothing," she said too quickly, already rising from her seat. "I have a meeting. I need to go."
Abhir's frown deepened. "Charuâ"
"Abhi Iâll see you later" she cut him off, turning on her heel and walking away before he could press further.
He watched her leave, his mind churning.
Something was wrong.