yun hi tu mere saath rehna

Chapter Four

“Hadh hoti hai, Armaan!” Madhav cried, exasperated. “Tu aise kaise kisi ko bhi chod aaya Abhira ke saath?”

“Papa, aap itni tension mat lijiye. Mishti Ma'am aur Abir Sir bohot achche hain. Abhira unke saath bilkul safe rahegi,” Armaan assured.

“Kitne bhi achche ho, beta,” Vidya said. “Hain toh ajnabee hi. Hum kaise unpe trust kar sakte hain? Abhira ka dhyaan toh humein hi rakhna padega na?”

“Pch… Aap log khud chaliye. Wahaan jaake dekh lena. Woh bilkul theek hogi. Aap dono toh aise behave kar rahe hain jaise mujhe uski koi chinta hi nahi hai,” Armaan argued.

“Haan, Madhav Ji… Hum bhi chalke dekhte hain,” Vidya agreed. The trio walked into the outhouse and immediately, Armaan called for Abhira. When she didn't reply, he got a little suspicious. He checked his watch and sure enough, it was almost 9am. Abhira was usually dressed and ready for the day by then. “Abhira,” he called once again, to be met with more silence. 

“Dekha… Main keh raha tha. Lekin tu toh meri sunta hi nahi hai!” Madhav taunted.

“Aap usse baad mein suna dena, Madhav Ji. Abhi pehle Abhira ko dekhte hain,” Vidya interrupted. Nodding, Armaan knocked on Abhira's door. When she didn't open it, he turned the knob to an empty room. Truly worried now, he turned to the guest room and opened the door, without bothering with any courtesies, and was greeted by a surprising sight. Madhav and Vidya entered behind him, just as shocked as he was. There, lying on the bed, was Abhira. Her head was pillowed on Mishti's lap, who was sitting against the headboard, her own head on Abir's shoulder. Abir was resting his head on Mishti's head, his fingers tangled carelessly into Abhira's hair. All three of them were sleeping soundly, unaware of the world around them. 

“Abhira!” Armaan called, but she didn't wake. Instead, she snuggled further into Mishti's lap, away from the noise. “Abhira!” Armaan called again, a little louder this time. “Utho. Iraaaaa!”

It was Abir who woke then. He was a little disoriented for a moment, rubbing sleep out of his eyes. “Kaun?” He asked out loud, before his gaze fell on Armaan and his parents. “Oh, Armaan,” he smiled. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, Sir,” Armaan replied. “All okay? Aap sab iss tarah…” He gestured to Mishti and Abhira who were still sleeping. Mishti's head was lolling to the side and she would have fallen on the bed, had it not been for Abir quickly putting his palm under her neck to support her. 

“It's all good,” Abir assured Armaan. “Better than good, actually. Just… One moment. Aap zara living room mein wait karenge? Main abhi aaya!” 

Vidya tried to argue, but Armaan pulled her outside along with Madhav. “Armaan! Kya kar raha hai? Wahaan se kyun le aaya humein?” Vidya questioned. 

“Maa, Sir ne kaha na woh aa rahe hain toh hum wahaan kya karte?” Armaan responded. “Udhar hi khade rehte kya? Kitna awkward feel ho raha tha waise hi!”

“Awkward feel ho raha tha toh kya hua?” Madhav asked. “Wahaan Abhira bhi toh thi na… Aur woh teeno aise… Kuch hua hoga kya? Abhira unke paas soyi hui thi. Uske paas toh baithna chahiye tha. Usse humaari zaroorat hoti toh?”

“I know, Papa… Ajeeb toh mujhe bhi laga,” Armaan agreed. “Lekin abhi Sir aayenge toh hum pooch lenge na.”

Just then, Abir walked out with both Mishti and Abhira in tow. “Sorry, sorry, sorry,” he apologized. “Kal raat ko baat karte karte kab aankh lag gayi pata hi nahi chala.”

Not paying any attention to Abir, Armaan reached out to Abhira, pulling her into his side. “Kya hua? Tum theek ho na?”

“Khadoosmaan, main theek nahi, main bilkul amazing hoon,” Abhira assured him, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. “Aaj ka din meri life ka sabse best din hai!”