RESTART

chapter 11

It was a lazy afternoon at Abhiman's family home. Jeevika had just finished her chores and was sitting at the dining table with Veer and Riddhi, chatting and laughing. The atmosphere was light, and as usual, Veer and Riddhi couldn't resist teasing her.

"Arre bhabhi," Veer started with a mischievous grin, "aapke Abhiman bhaiya na bohot seedhe hai. Kabhi kuch romantic karte bhi hai aapke saath?"

Riddhi burst into laughter. "Haan bhabhi, humko toh lagta hai, Abhiman bhaiya ko romance karna aata hi nahi!"

Jeevika blushed a deep shade of red, trying to play it cool. She knew they were only teasing, but the topic always made her a bit self-conscious. "Kuch bhi mat bolo tum dono. Tumhara bhai aise bhi nahi hai," she replied, trying to defend Abhiman.

"Toh sach sach batao bhabhi," Veer leaned closer, his grin widening. "Abhiman bhaiya ne kabhi aapko surprise kiya? Aapko apni tareef bola ya phir kuch romantic kiya?"

Jeevika chuckled nervously. "Arre, tumhare bhai ko yeh sab karna aata thodi hai. Mujhe hi sab karna padta hai."

Riddhi’s eyes lit up as she joined in, "Matlab sab kuch bhabhi! Even romance?"

Jeevika, unable to resist the banter, nodded with a laugh, "Haan, sab kuch. Even romance!"

Just as the words left her mouth, she heard the sound of someone clearing their throat behind her. The teasing stopped abruptly as all three turned to see Abhiman standing in the doorway, arms crossed, an amused smirk on his face.

"Toh main kuch nahi kar sakta, hmm?" Abhiman said, raising an eyebrow.

Veer and Riddhi’s eyes widened in shock. They had no idea that Abhiman had been listening. "Hum… hum toh bas mazaak kar rahe the, bhai!" Veer stammered, quickly standing up and grabbing Riddhi's arm.

"Haan bhaiya, bas thoda mazaak tha!" Riddhi echoed, her voice slightly higher with nervousness.

"Ab hum chalte hain," Veer said hurriedly, and before anyone could stop them, both Veer and Riddhi bolted from the room, running towards their rooms as if they had just seen a ghost.

Jeevika, left alone with Abhiman, felt her cheeks flush as Abhiman slowly approached her. His expression was playful, but there was something else in his eyes—something that made her heart race.

"So… you think I can’t be romantic?" he asked, his voice low and teasing as he stood in front of her, hands resting on the back of her chair.

Jeevika bit her lip nervously, unsure of how to respond. She tried to laugh it off. "Woh toh bas mazaak tha. Tum toh romantic ho… kabhi kabhi."

Abhiman leaned in closer, his face now just inches away from hers. "Kabhi kabhi, huh?" he murmured. "Toh abhi dikhana padega, I suppose."

Jeevika’s breath hitched as she felt the heat of his gaze. She tried to keep her composure, but the closeness between them was making her heart beat faster.

Before she could say anything, Abhiman gently took her hand and pulled her to her feet. His hand slipped around her waist, pulling her even closer. "Main kuch bhi nahi karta? Tumhe sab kuch karna padta hai?" he whispered, his lips brushing her ear.

Jeevika felt a shiver run down her spine. She was suddenly aware of how close they were, and all her teasing confidence from earlier had vanished. "Main… main toh bas… Veer aur Riddhi ke saamne mazaak kar rahi thi," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

Abhiman chuckled softly, his breath warm against her skin. "Lekin ab mazaak nahi hai," he said, tilting her chin up so that their eyes met.

For a moment, neither of them said anything. The playful teasing from earlier was forgotten, replaced by a deeper, more intense connection. Jeevika could feel the warmth of Abhiman’s hand on her waist, his thumb gently tracing small circles on her back.

Without breaking eye contact, Abhiman leaned down, his lips gently grazing hers in a soft, tender kiss. Jeevika closed her eyes, melting into the moment, her heart racing as she wrapped her arms around his neck. The kiss deepened, slow and sweet, as if time itself had stopped for them.

When they finally pulled apart, Abhiman looked at her with a soft smile. "Aur ab? Lagta hai tumhe abhi bhi ki main kuch nahi kar sakta?"

Jeevika’s face was flushed, her mind still reeling from the kiss. She shook her head slowly, a shy smile playing on her lips. "Nahi… bilkul nahi."

Abhiman’s smile widened as he tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "Good," he said softly. "Kyunki ab main tumhe yeh sab kuch dikhane ke liye aur waqt lunga."

Jeevika couldn’t help but laugh, feeling a warmth spread through her. Abhiman may not have been the playboy she was once led to believe, but in this moment, she realized just how deeply he cared for her, and how well he understood her.

As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, Jeevika realized something else. This new life, this second chance, wasn’t just about revenge or making up for lost time. It was also about rediscovering love—and learning to trust again.

And with Abhiman by her side, she knew she was on the right path.

---