Prem Vivah

• Rakshabandhan •

Abhinav was surprised when he saw Naina sitting in front of him on the bed. He hardly remembered what transpired yesterday and the day before yesterday. He was in a deep slumber, and he was glad he didn't wake up, otherwise, the pain of Naina blocking his number wouldn't have let him live peacefully.

"Naina, tum yahan?" He asked her with a smile while sitting against the headrest.

"Haa, how are you feeling now?" Naina replied to him in a soft voice.

"Much better!" Abhinav answered her.

"Sorry for blocking you, you know it was a dare given by my friend." Naina lied to him as she knew if she would tell him the real reason he might start feeling enraged at her.

"Oh acha, wahi main sochu tumne mujhe suddenly block kyu kar diya," Abhinav spoke with a bright smile on his face and was partly delighted that his assumptions weren't right.

"Haha nahi yaar." Naina gently laughed.

"Tum yahan aayi mujhse milne I felt so happy, but tumhe bulaya kisne? Aur tumhe address kaise pata?" Abhinav asked her with an amusing smile while lifting a glass of Orange Juice kept on the table.

"Arey arey kitne sawal poochte ho tum, calm down." Naina lovingly chided him, and he couldn't believe she was talking to him so freely.

"Ok!" He tittered and slurped on the juice, his eyes pinned on hers.

"Tumhari behen ka call aaya tha mujhe...she told me about you, and said You're missing me, isliye main tumse milne aayi." Naina half lied and looked at him with a small smile, her gaze lowering on his hand which continuously was drawing the N letter on the plain bed sheet.

"Oh yeh didi bhi na." Abhinav chuckled, thankful to his sister for calling this girl at their bungalow.

"Tum jab mujhse itne pyaar se baat karti hona Naina toh mujhe bahut acha lagta hai, sachme." He added as silence prevailed between them, and Naina wished she could tell him right now to come out of his delusional world.

"Tum ho hi itne acche," Naina said in a gentle voice, her eyes fixated on his hand movements.

"Thank you!" Abhinav looked at her intensely and fathomed how stunning she looked in a light peach kurti with her waist-long hair giving a cascading effect to her petite frame.

"Acha ek baat puchu?" Naina looked at him with a hesitant smile, and he affirmatively nodded his head.

"Tum mujhe like karte ho, haina?" She asked him in a gentle voice, and Abhinav started to cough, juice spilling out of his mouth as he was rendered speechless by her conjecture.

"Aisa...aisa kyu laga tumhe?" He questioned her meekly while carefully placing the glass on the table.

"Please answer me. Am I wrong or right?" Naina asked him with patience in her voice, and Abhinav shyly rubbed his nape while saying - "Haa! I Like You, Naina."

"Kyun?" She posed a question.

"You are sweet, friendly, calm nature ki ho...sabse ache se pesh aati ho, dikhne me beautiful ho, tumhari smile bahut acchi lagti hai mujhe, you are kind, smart, and most importantly greedy nahi ho baki ladkiyon ki tarah. I like this thing in you very much." Abhinav described her character in his style while adoring her gentle expression, and Naina shifted uncomfortably in her place, her smile slowly dropping as she reckoned how hopelessly he was in love with her.

"Agar main greedy hoti toh tum mujhe pasand nahi karte?" Naina asked him with a raised eyebrow.

"I don't know. I felt an instant connection with you. That's all I know." Abhinav said with a light-hearted smile on his face, staring down at her skinny wrist on which she was wearing a beautiful blue evil eye bracelet with S & N letter beads shining profusely. He furiously gripped the sheet while tightening his jaw, and Naina noticed unusual activities made from his side. She quickly lowered her head where his fuming eyes were pinned on, and quickly deciphered why he started to grow aggressive once again.