Darkhaast

~39~

After his kids, Mahi was the one Abhimanyu ran towards. Abhimanyu never thought he'd feel this way again. It was inexplicable how his heart called to her after a long day. His heart wouldn't settle down until he knew she was alright.

Zehnaseeb, zehnaseeb

Tujhe chaahoon betahasha zehnaseeb

Mere kareeb, mere habeeb

Tujhe chaahoon betahasha zehnaseeb

His heart was whole when he saw them together. Mahi criss-crossed on her living room floor with Ayra in her lap, his Angel braiding loose strands of Mahi's hair. They watched the teenagers quarrel loudly enough to tune out the Khichdi rerun in the background. Abhir, Ruhi, and Naaz were trying to decide which college to visit over their break. Naaz and Abhir wanted to visit the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) in Bangalore. Ruhi was hellbent on seeing the University of Delhi.

When did his kids become old enough to visit colleges? Abhimanyu had no idea.

When did you start thinking of my niece as your kid? Mahi would tease. He didn't know. In the two years they'd known each other, their lives became so intertwined that he didn't know where Mahi's world began and his world ended.

Tere sang beete har lamhe pe hum ko naaz hai

Tere sang jo na beete us pe aitraaz hai

Is kadar hum dono ka milna ek raaz hai

"Manyu?"

"Haan Mahi?" He responded instantly. Ayra's chuckle cut through her sibling's argument.

"Huh?"

"Manyuuuuuu," Ayra stretched his name until it clicked. His daughter uttered that disarming nickname he associated Mahi with.

"Poppy! Look at your face!" Ruhi giggled. Mahi rolled her eyes. She never fathomed that the stern and arrogant Dr. Birla, who tried to fire her, could be rendered to a blushing tomato because of her. His kids took advantage of it, teasing him mercilessly with Mahi's name. 

"I-uh.." He flicked his tongue, trying to subdue his expression. It suited him, Mahi thought, the cheeky grin and crimson-tinted cheeks. But in her eyes, everything suited him. It was annoying, actually, how sexy or charming he could look at any given time. 

"Come on," Mahi beckoned him over. Like clockwork, he kissed Ayra's forehead and wrapped an arm around Mahi's shoulder. She leaned into his touch, and he kissed the top of her head. 

Lena-dena nahi duniya se mera

Bas tujh se kaam hai

Teri ankhiyon ke shahar me

Yaara sab intezaam hai

They weren't married. Perhaps they'd never be. That was okay. It's more than okay if you ask them. But every so often, Abhimanyu would go down on one knee.  Like at Jai and Nayanthara's reception. 

Abhimanyu stood at the sidelines with Dr. Kabir and some of Mahi's former colleagues, watching her take the dance floor by storm. At first, it was choreographed numbers with the rest of the bridal party. Abhimanyu watched from the sidelines, with a glass of whiskey. He was taking it all in - her latka and jatkes, the nakhre-filled expressions. Her golden lehenga shimmered under the lights. 

As the party thinned in the wee hours of the night, it turned full-on barathi. He could see her yawning and tumbling, but she stuck her heels in every time he tried to get her down. He surrendered, returning to the cocktail bar. 

Someone poked Mahi's shoulder when she was dancing with Naaz. At first, she shrugged it off and moved closer to the centre. 

Poke. 

"Kaun hai?" 

No response. 

Another prod. She swatted it away. But it came again. 

"What's your problem?" Mahi turned around, ready to bite off the drunkard's head. She gasped. Abhimanyu was down on one knee and an unwavering gaze. 

"Abhimanyu." 

"Stop the music!" Naaz yelled at the DJ. The world around them stopped, everyone holding a bated breath. 

"I love you," there was something about that glint in his eyes that she couldn't place. It was surreal. He reached into his pocket, and Mahi's heart stopped. He pulled out an anklet. Mahi didn't know when it fell off or how he got ahold of it. Abhimanyu winked at her as he adorned her with the anklet. 

"Abhi!" "Dadda!" Abhimanyu was booed by everyone. 

"Music chalo kar lo, inn dono ka toh chalta rehta." 

The boy who cried wolf, his mother called him when he repeated the prank many times after. Mahi found it hilarious, though. When he got up, she pulled him by his collar and whispered in his ear, "I love you too." 

Not a complete epilogue but, a lot of readers were sweet and commented in the past few months so I thought I might deliver something cute. Thanks for reading 

Also, the propose thing an inside joke I read between Sidharth and Aditi and I thought it was adorable so I included it here.