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Abhira stood outside her home, lost in thought, her bare feet a testament to her forgetfulness. She had left her broken heels in Armaan's car, but it didn't bother her now. Her mind was preoccupied with the memories of their encounter.
Suddenly, a hand on her shoulder broke the spell.
"Abhira... Bahar kyun khadi hai?? Or tere joote kaha hai??"
Abhira turned to face her cousin sister, Ruhi, who had returned earlier than expected.
"Tu... Tu kab wapas aayi?? Tu kal aane wali thi na??"
“Abhi thodi der pehle aayi. Kaam ho gaya tha. Lekin...”
Ruhi's questioning gaze prompted Abhira to look down at her feet. The absence of shoes struck her, and a smile spread across her face as she remembered Armaan's considerate gestures. He had suggested she remove her shoes to prevent further injury and had even held them for her.
Abhira's heart swelled with affection, recalling how Armaan had gone out of his way to make her comfortable. The blanket, the care, the kindness... it all came flooding back. She couldn't explain why, but her feelings for Armaan had shifted. She felt a connection, a sense of happiness whenever she thought of him.
Ruhi's voice brought her back to reality.
"Abhira, what's going on? You're standing here barefoot, lost in thought. What happened?"
Abhira's smile lingered, a secret she wasn't ready to share just yet.
Ruhi's eyes scanned Abhira's disheveled appearance, her gaze lingering on the wet hair, smudged kajal, and damp clothes.
"Abhira tu aise bheeg kaise gayi??" she asked, concern etched on her face.
Abhira's lips curled into a sheepish grin as memories of her near-fall and Armaan's rescue flooded her mind.
"Kya hua?? Kuch batayegi bhi?? Ya phir aise hi khi khi karne ka irada hai??"
Ruhi's questioning tone only added to Abhira's amusement.
Shaking her head, Abhira explained,
"Are main girne wali thi. Or bohot jyada barish ho rhi thi isiliye bheeg gayi."
Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she teased Ruhi,
"Ab tu maata bnke yahi sb sun legi ya phir Ghar mein mujhe entry bhi milega??"
Ruhi chuckled, face-palming herself.
"Sorry sorry. Main bhi na, kya sawal jawab mein lag gayi."
She opened the door wider, inviting Abhira in.
"Andar aa, main geyser on kar deti hoon. Naha le."
As Abhira followed Ruhi into the warm, cozy home they shared with Rohit and Krish, she felt a sense of comfort and belonging. She had been living with them for a year now, after Rohit suggested she move in to alleviate her boredom at home. The location was convenient for her workplace, and Abhimanyu and Akshara, had agreed to the arrangement as Ruhi will be there with her always and two of them will be happy to be close to each other.
