Chapter 15

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Vansh stood quietly at the window while the wind caressed his hair , closing his eyes he sighed. He told them , yes, he accept it's feels so light but he should not had. How can he drag them into it.

This world is not for them , they have never seen it , there world have only care and sympathy but far away from this there were wolves who would not leave you if you are so innocent, they'll suck out your blood and make you one like them.

They will hurt you , break you , kill you ; good hearts are the most bruised ones too. He closed his eyes , they are too innocent .

They trusted him even when he didn't trusted himself , he smiled in frustration , they are just impossible.

" Vansh.......... Vansh...........", Pihu came jumping in and as predicted stumbled on the door .

" Pihu ..........." , Riddhima held her.

" Ohhh..... Thank you .....". She backed and again jumped in.

Vansh looked as they came in fluttering .

Riddhima handed him his wrap,"You coat got tored so..... this .", She smiled.

A message popped and Pihu looked at her phone in disinterest.

" Riddhi..... I am going to collect the order from the store..... You want something for yourself or for....................... Him ", she smiled.

Riddhima turned to her , " Why it's evening no...... Go tommorow.".She walked up to Pihu.

" What's the problem...... You can spend sometime with him alone.... Like , I won't judge.....", She smiled and ran out.

Riddhima turned. Pihu and her lame jokes.

Walking back she sat in front of him .

"How is your back now.", Vansh was looking at her .

" Vansh...." , He blinked.," Hmm".

" Good.",

" Ok , have you taken the medicines.".

" It's already evening.....",

" Ohh.... Will you have some coffee..", Riddhima stood up.

As she turned , her hand felt a grip, this time she felt the same touch she experienced 1 week ago .... She turned in confusion.

" Let me make it.", Vansh stood up and left for the kitchen.

Riddhima stood still for a minute calculating the present from her moments of nostalgia , the winds quitened outside..... Snow alarm.

She opened the door and sat down on the entrance stairs.

Vansh came in the hall holding the cup and looked at the open door. He walked up and sat beside her.

Taking the cup Riddhima looked at the lawn gate which Miss.Pihu hadn't closed , when this girl would become little responsible.

She sipped the coffee and looked at him. He turned his eyes as if caught and turned back because offcourse caught.

" How is it.", He pointed to the coffee.

" Like you."

" Means........",

" Nothing......... It's good.", She sipped and held the cup to embrace some of it's warmth.

The settling sun and the pinkish sky had perfumed a soothing aroma and it felt aesthetically Serene.

Riddhima was deep in thought and this puzzled Vansh , all this is because of him , otherwise whose face never traced a bit of stress was looking disturbed.

" Don't think about it .", He said breaking the silence.

"I am not thinking about it .", She forced a smile.

" Then what are you stressed for...",

" I am not stressed , I am just thinking ......................", She stopped .

"About?",

"About family....",

Vansh looked at the setting sun at the horizon.

" Missing yours ? ...", He smiled.

Riddhima nodded.

"We take things for granted until we come to know , how there unavailability gives pain and sorrow.",

"Riddhima........ This sad face don't suit you .......", Vansh spoke cheering her up.

"I rarely call my mom ......... Even I am not different.", She closed her eyes in guilt.

Vansh kept his cup aside,

" Remember you only said , eyes don't lie.... Caring and calling are not related they can't be.....", Riddhima looked up to him .

"Calling may become formality overtime but caring is never one and please you don't say anything like that Mother Teresa , lie sounds truth from you .", He smiled.

Her lips too curled into smile.

literally who is saying...... The one whom they have to plot for, like 1000 times , a day to make him smile.

By the way , this is the golden trick. To make him smile and a little positive become sad yourself and then he tries to cheer you up. Riddhima eyes flashed as she got the final idea they can apply even without his knowledge.

" Yes...... Calling and caring are never related.", Riddhima smiled unknowingly at the farthest horizon.

Vansh took up his cup and looked at the lawn door which Pihu had left open.

"See Pihu she rarely calls someone but she is the one who can make anyone smile in any situation...", Vansh looked at Riddhima for her reply.

But she kept silent.

" She ..... Don't call because she is with her family every second.", Riddhima forced a smile.

Vansh was confused at this answer.

"Means...", He asked with a smile.

"I am her family...".

"Ohh but still......",

" I am her only family." , Riddhima broke his statement with a broken smile.

Vansh freezed at the spot for a moment. Wait a minute did he heard it correctly. No .... But...

How it can be true... It is not true.

"She lost her family in an avalanche four years back.", Riddhima heart was sinking , revealing that side of Pihu ,which even she forgets sometime ; but Pihu never let anyone remember that not even herself , probably.

"But she always smile like there is nothing in this world which could affect her." Vansh wispered in confusion.

How can he be so quick to judge her. Like how........... Her smiling face , her lame jokes , her never serious nature and her drama . Is all this a cover to the pain he tries to hide ; and she did , she did it. All these days there was not a single moment one could predict she has her struggle too. Why she can't handle one tear of Riddhima , how can she let her only family be in pain.

" She is an expert....", Riddhima winced," expert in making me smile but I feel how much that Smile has struggled how much courage she would have, to make us feel good .".

Vansh was still. His and Pihu situation were same but there perspective where just opposite.

Just a moment ago he thought they were to sweet to handle the world outside but now he thinks they are far more strong to face even the biggest setbacks and still smile.

He took a deep breathe , whenever he saw her he felt he would learn from her how to make any situation non-serious but now he had to learn , how to make even the darkest chapters of life not harm the future sun.

Riddhima had always said Pihu is her strength but today he understood why.

Her light brown eyes were never carefree ....

The stone rolled down the road as Pihu kicked in her hangover of music. Dancing she entered the lawn with the headphone on and a chocolate.

Riddhima and Vansh looked at her.

She stopped at there stare , she checked herself , why are they staring , did I did something wrong. She slided the headphone to her neck and forced a smile.

"Hi...... What.......", She looked at them but they didn't said anything.

" Ohh...... I am so sorry...", She closed the lawn gate.," It slipped out of my mind .......... 136th time.".

Giggling she walked up to them. But there looks where still the same ,

" What man....... If you both are looking at my chocolate....... I am in no mood to share.",

They both smiled.

" God ........ Whatever ........", She looked at the place between them.

" Is this for me.....", Saying she sat before an answer.

The two looked at her as she bit her chocolate.

"Why are you both staring at me like that ........", She looked at them one by one.

" Nothing.", Riddhima said hugging her.

Vansh looked at her. Pihu stood confused for a minute.

" If this is a conspiracy to have my chocolate , I am not gonna give you any.", She said in fear.

" You are impossible.", Vansh said smiling.

"I love you no ..... ", Riddhima said taking the chocolate from her hand.

"Me too....", Vansh took the other.

"Me three.......",she snatched them back in frustration.

And as the sun set , they stood sitting on the entrance with the empty house behind , empty streets in front and the universe in between , at those stairs...

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P.S.

If you were sitting on those stairs with an empty house behind and empty streets in front, choose the person , who would accompany you....