He chose & she stayed

Budding proximity

*At Abhimanyu's room*

Abhirohi was slow dancing to the soothing 90's melody, song after song filled in their headsets. The sun has finally set and chilly winds filled in the dark room. Abhimanyu did not want to break the moment, but Aarohi did.

Aarohi: *checking her watch* Abhimanyu?

Abhimanyu: *pauses the song* Aarohi.

Aarohi: *letting his hands go* We've been dancing for two hours, it's 6.30 p.m. now, don't you think I should.. uh leave now?

Before Abhimanyu could say anything, his mother knocked on his door, asking him to open the door. Aarohi took the headsets from Abhimanyu and went to return it to it's place, while Abhimanyu opened the door.

Manjari: *chirping* Abhimanyu! Come and have this Prasad. *Puzzled* Why have you not turned on the lights till now? Is this another one of your exposure therapy?

Abhimanyu can't really say to this mother that he forget himself while dancing with Aarohi. So he simply nodded. Meanwhile, Aarohi who earlier saw Abhimanyu taking the headset from the bottom shelf of the music collection was kneeling down on the floor, away from Manjari's line of sight.

Abhimanyu: *accepting prasad* How was your journey, Maa?

Manjari: *smiling* It was good, beta. As this pooja was for you, Panditji has asked me to give you prasad first then to the eldest of our family. So I'm going to find your tauji.

After Manjari left, Abhimanyu was about to close the door, but Shefali and Parth who were given a short summary of earlier mishap by the elder Birlas and were asked to be behave normally, walked past Abhimanyu's room . But in the name of acting normal, Parth went ahead and teased his little cousin.

Parth: *joking* Abhimanyu, Neil said that Chachaji came to drink tea with you.

At this point, Aarohi has gotten up and went near the door, but Shefali elbowed her husband in the ribs to stop him from speaking further. Well what is the point of behaving normal, if teasing about an abnormal incident done because of the earlier mishap. Parth let out a painful "ouch" and Shefali glared at her husband, who glared back. They both failed to see Aarohi standing a couple of feets behind Abhimanyu and as they were busy glaring at each other. Abhimanyu could clearly understand his bhabhi's action but he was amused at his cousin's cost.

Shefali: *turning and speed walking towards her shared room with Parth* Abhimanyu, what Parth wanted to say is that he wants to take the tea cups to the kitchen, as he's okay with me taking shower first.

Parth: *following her* Abhimanyu, you can leave the dishes outside the room, I'll take it downstairs. But Shefali I'll take shower first.

Parth's statement only earned a laughter from his wife. A smiling Abhimanyu shook his head at their attics.

Shefali: In your dreams, Parth.

A still smiling Abhimanyu turned around to look at an equally smiling Aarohi.

Aarohi: *clears throat* Are they usually like this?

Abhimanyu: *hums* Most of the times.

Aarohi: *looks at the tea cups and flask* How about we spare your cousin and take them downstairs, ourselves. *Going towards it* I'll do it.

Aarohi took them in her hand, that's the exact moment her phone rang. So Abhimanyu went near her, to get the dishes and saw Aarohi attending Rohan's call. Curiosity peaked in Abhimanyu. So took the dishes from Aarohi's hand and decided to follow his bhabhi's orders. Then he closed the door. Aarohi went near the window and was conversing with Rohan. Abhimanyu had half a mind to switch on the lights, but he was admiring Aarohi in the dim lightning just after sunset and before the moonlight. After Aarohi was done with Rohan. She turned towards Abhimanyu.