4| Afsana

🪞 Shaayaron se lafz leke thode se udhaar,

Bolna ye chahtahu dilse tumko yaar 🪞

"Kavya, utho dekho subhe ho gayi hai." Kavya felt a hand on her face. The voice sounded familiar but she was way too sleepy to figure out.

Kavya, wake up, it's light outside.

"Hmm, bhai 2 min aur bas." Kavya assumed the manly voice belonged to her brother and gave a reply. She shrugged her shoulders in sleep and continued sleeping.

Hmm, brother just 2 more minutes.

"Kavya! Kya bol rahi ho. Utho!" She heard the voice almost scream in anger and groggily opened her eyes. Rubbing her eyes, she tried getting rid of the leftover sleep.

Kavya! What're you saying. Get up!

She saw Abhijeet's irritated face and immediately got up. She sat on the bed and rubbed her eyes to get rid of what little sleep she had left.

"S..sorry. Neend mei thi. Galti se bol diya." She realised what she just said and apologised for calling him 'bhai'.

I was sleepy. It slipped by mistake.

"Agli baar galti se bhi bhai bola toh mujhse bura koi nahi hoga." Abhijeet warned in his deep voice and involuntarily a shiver ran down her spine.

If you call me brother one more time, you'll see the worst of me.

She meekly nodded her head, looking down towards her clasped hands.

Millions of thoughts started racing through her mind as she took her surroundings. She was in someone's room, no idea who's. The last she could remember was going to the college party with Radhika. She did have a couple of drinks and danced with her college friends. Nothing after that is registered in her memory. How did she end up here?

A frown etched on her forehead as she tried her hardest to recall how she got here. Two fingers clasped her chin and she met her eyes with Abhijeet's.

"Pani aur coffee pi lo accha lagega and before you start overthinking, mai batata hun tum yaha tak kese pohchi." Abhijeet said in a voice, much softer than before.

Have some water and coffee, you'll feel good and before you start overthinking, I'll narrate how you got here.

He handed Kavya a glass of water and pointed towards the mug of coffee he placed on the bedside table for her earlier.

"Thank you. Mujhe chai zyada pasand hai." Kavya said as she took a couple sips of water and then picked up her cup of coffee.

I prefer tea though.

"Pata hai madam but jo hangover ka sardard hai aapko use kam karne ke liye coffee better hai." Abhijeet said with a small smile.

I know that madam but coffee helps with the hangover headache that you have.

Kavya absentmindedly nodded her head, taking a sip of her coffee but stopped midway. Her eyes widened as she realised her lie had been caught. Abhijeet knows about her partying and drinking yesterday. Before she could try to reason with him, he started narrating everything that happened yesterday. Step by step, all of the memories of the previous night came back to her. He promised her that Krishna or her parents won't know all that happened. This would stay between them and Radhika.

"Fresh ho jao. Radhika aati hi hogi tumhe pick karne ke liye." Abhijeet informed as he got up and started walking towards the door of the room.

Freshen up. Radhika must be on her way to pick you up.

"Jeet?" The nickname she had given him years ago, slipped from her mouth and so naturally that she didn't notice.

Abhijeet turned around in surprise and noticed how it didn't even register with her that she just called him 'jeet', as if she's habituated to call him that. He got rooted to his place wondering how long before had she given him that name and his been calling him that in her mind. A shy smile graced his lips and before his cheeks could be visibly pink, he stopped himself.

"Thank you." Kavya thanked him from the bottom of her heart and without waiting for a reply, walked towards the attached bathroom.

Kavya washed her face and felt a lot better now. Suddenly, the memories of her kiss with Abhijeet came rushing back to her.

She blushed incredibly at the thought of kissing her childhood crush, the man of her dreams. She couldn't stop the wide smile that came over her lips as all the memories started playing in her mind like some movie.

After getting a hold of herself, she started wondering why he left out that part while narrating everything that happened yesterday.

She quickly exited the room and found Abhijeet in the kitchen. He was busy taking out food boxes from a bag. He must've ordered some breakfast. She walked towards the kitchen and purposely took the high chair she was on, last night.

"Accha hua tum aa gayi. Breakfast is here." Abhijeet said as he noticed her in the kitchen.

Good, you're here.

"M-mujhe yaad aa gaya hai kal raat ko k-kya hua tha." Kavya stuttered at bit in nervousness.

I-I recollect all that happened y-yesterday night.

Now that she has all the memories of last night, she was feeling incredibly shy and nervous around Abhijeet. But at the same time she felt a rush of emotions through her. She finally confessed to her crush of years and not only that he shares her feelings too. This was such a special moment for her.

"Kya, kuch nahi hua tha." Abhijeet tried remaining neutral but the truth was, even he was nervous regarding the revelations of last night.

What, nothing happened.

She was his best friend's little sister. It was already so wrong in his mind to harbour feelings for her and on top of that, they had a full blown make out session last night.

Talk about adding fuel to the fire.

"Kyu nahi hua? Lagta hai aap bhul gaye hai." Kavya hopped down from the high chair and circled to his side of the counter.

What do you mean? It seems you've forgotten about it.

She stood next to him with both her hands on her waist, a scowl etched on her forehead.

"Kavya, abhi ye baat karni zaroori hai? Kuch khaa lo. Tumhe bhookh lagi hogi. Please don't right now." Abhijeet said, his control falling weak by the second.

Is it necessary to talk about this now? Have something. You must be hungry.

"What don't. I clearly remember confessing and you, you kissed me. You cannot expect me to act as if nothing happened. How can you be like this?" Kavya said and grabbed his arm, urging him to look at her.

"Bhul jao use Kavya." Abhijeet said, breaking her heart.

Forget about it Kavya.

"Bhul jaun? Yeh kya koi mazak ki baat hai jo mai bhul jaun? Aap ek baar meri taraf dekhein toh. Ankhon mei ankein daal k bolein." Kavya urged, trying to make him turn towards herself. She tugged at his arm again but he didn't budge.

Forget about it? Is this some kind of a joke for me to just forget? Look at me for a moment. Meet your eyes with mine.

He shook his head negative and continued playing the food on their dishes. He was trying his best to act nonchalant.

"Jeet!" Kavya shouted, a pitch of her voice he had never heard before.

Realising she just shouted at him, her hands flew to her mouth and it was then that Abhijeet turned towards her. With surprise filling in her actions, he noticed unshed tears in beautiful eyes, tearing his heart apart.

He didn't think twice before placing his hands on her waist and effortlessly picking her up, placing her on the counter. Her hands flew to his shoulder and gripped them tightly.

"Kya... kya kar rahein hai aap?" Kavya said and tried getting off the couch but Abhijeet tightened his hold.

What... what're you doing?

"Mujhepe taras khao Kavya. Tumhe rota nahi dekh sakta mai." He said, his voice huskier than before, clearly filled with warmth and love.

Please have mercy on me, Kavya. I cannot see you crying.

"Toh kyu rulaya mujhe?" Kavya timidly said as she wiped her tears away.

So why'd you make me cry?

"Maine rulaya?" Abhijeet said as he tucked her hair strands behind her ear and once again looked in her eyes.

I made you cry?

Kavya nodded as fresh tears rolled down her face.

"I feel like a fool right now, Abhijeet. Maine badi himmat karke itne saalon baad apko apni feelings batai aur aap keh rahe hai bhul jau sab." Kavya said looking anywhere else but his eyes.

I gather my courage and confessed my feelings to you after so many years and here you're asking me to forget everything.

"Toh maine bhi toh bola thana. Mujhe bhi toh pyaar hai tumse." Abhijeet said.

Well I confessed too. I love you too.

"Hain?" Kavya was confused by his words and looked into his eyes. Few moments ago he was asking her to forget everything and now he's confessing himself.

What?

Bipolar bish. She thought to herself.

"I love you Kavya. Jabse jana hai, tabse chaha hai maine tumhe. Tumhari har baat, har pasand, har ada. Tumhari choti se choti baat se mujhe pyaar hai. Woh baatein jo tumhe pasand nahi apne mei, mai toh un baton se bhi bepannah mohabbat karta hu. Tum mujhe mukamal taur per pasand ho." Abhijeet confessed.

I've loved you ever since I've known you. Your talks, your likings, your grace. I'm in love with every little thing about you. Things that you don't like about yourself, I even love those things endlessly. I'm utterly in love with you.

Kavya broke down in tears once again and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest. Abhijeet tightened his hold on her and caressed her hair, urging her to stop crying.

She suddenly pulled away and slapped his bicep.

"Toh bhul jane ko kyu kaha?" She said, wiping her tears.

So why'd you ask me to forget everything?

"Are baba mai uss kiss ko bhulne ko keh raha tha. You weren't in your sense and I shouldn't have kissed you in that state. Plus we don't have any strong relationship right now so it was wrong of me to kiss you like that." Abhijeet explained as he cupped her face and wiped away the rest of her tears.

Oh baby, I was asking you to forget about the kiss.

"What do you means 'we don't have any strong relationship'? This is the strongest relationship we'll ever have. We belong to each other and that will never change. Right?" Kavya whispered the last word.

"Absolutely." Abhijeet said and kept his forehead on hers. Both of them smiling at the precious moment that they just shared.

"Abhijeet!" Kavya slapped his chest and pulled away.

"Jeet bolo na. Aur hua kya?" He asked surprised at her sudden reaction.

Call me Jeet. And what happened?

"Ab kya?" Kavya questioned.

Now what?

"Kya kya? Agle weekend free ho?" Abhijeet questioned.

What what? Are you free next weekend?

"I think haa."

Yes, I think.

"Hmm. Nice. Parents ko leke ghar aa raha hu. Exams jaldi se khatam karo toh engagement ki date sochte hai." Abhijeet said, making Kavya blush profusely.

I'm visiting your place then with my parents. Finish up with your exams quickly so we can think of an engagement date.

"Jeet." Kavya looked down, biting her lower lip.

"Kya Jeet? 2 mahine dunga after graduation, uske baad shaadi. Mera ab toh ek din bhi tumse dur nahi guzrega." He said, tugging at her chin and making her look in his eyes.

What Jeet? I'll give you two months after graduation, then we'll get married. Now I cannot even spend a day without you.

"Sh-shaadi?" Kavya shyly asked.

M-married?

"Aur kya? Yeh dating-vating mujhse nahi hoti. I want to marry you as soon as possible." Abhijeet said and cupped her cheek.

Of course. I don't do the whole dating thing.

"I love you so much." Kavya said as her happiness knew no bound. She immediately connected her lips to his and kissed him passionately.

- x -

So they finally confessed.