|| Carefree For The Moment. ||

|| Part Sixteen - ||

"Abeer, think again. You need to go home & rest beta" Meenakshi spoke to him from the front passenger seat of Kunal's car
"I'll be fine" He told the two of them, his voice hollow as he reached for the door handle. "I'll see you both at home."
"Bhai," Kunal said & he stopped, looking up at his brother in the mirror "at least call me & I'll come get you" He said & Abeer nodded before opening the door & getting out.
"Carefully" Meenakshi told him as he got out of the car & closed the door behind him.

He hadn't been very talkative since they picked him up at the hospital. He had too much on his mind. He needed to filter it all out. It still didn't make sense to him. He stuffed his hands into his jean's pocket as the car drove off behind him, slowly making his way down the path, towards the lake. He looked up & saw her sat there, her back to him.

"No, Badi Maa" She said quietly. "He's not here yet. No, it's fine. I'll wait. As long it takes. Yeah, okay. No. I'm okay. Okay. Bye" She said & ended the call, sighing. She rested her forehead on her phone & waited.

Tere Bin Jeena Hai Aise,
Dil Dhadka Na Ho Jaise
Yeh Ishq Hai Kya Duniya Ko,
Hum Samjhaaye Kaise.

"Mishti." He managed & she spun around to see him stood there so she got up at once.
"Abeer!" She said, surprised to see him.

Did she really think he wouldn't turn up?

Aa Dilon Ki Raahon Mein,
Hum Kuch Aisa Kar Jaayein
Ek Dooje Se Bicchde Toh,
Saans Liye Bin Mar Jaayein.

He studied her features as she stood there, in silence. Her eyes were red & they looked sore underneath her glasses.

She had clearly gotten about as much sleep as he did the previous night. He couldn't stop tossing & turning, himself. Like someone had knocked the air out of him & left him on the ground.

"Sit" he told her & he joined her on the bench. He stared out onto the lake & sighed deeply. He had spent many moments of his childhood & adulthood here. Thinking about his baba. Waiting for his baba. Questioning himself or his baba why he hadn't returned. Having imaginary conversations with him. & hearing him answering those questions in his mind.

But when he came back, it was like all his questions had been answered. His baba came back to him. After all these years. He was back. & she was the one who brought his baba back to him.

He briefly glanced over to her & saw she was staring down at her hands, fumbling with her phone.

O Khuda, Bata De Kya Lakeeron Mein Likha
Humne Toh, Humne Toh Bas Ishq Hai Kiya.

He couldn't stop himself from taking her hand in his, causing her to look up at him as he sighed, turning to face the lake again. "Do you remember when you found me after Ketu's marriage broke?" He asked & she nodded, squeezing his hand gently in case he let her go.
"Yeah" she managed to speak, only just as her emotions began to take over her.
"Just before you came, I imagined baba in my mind." He told her & she tilted her head, her heart aching for him as she rested her mouth on his shoulder, hugging his arm.

"I imagined that I asked him why he left. & he said he'd come back" he said wistfully. "Then when you brought him back" he said looking down to see the guilt visible in her eyes before she looked away trying to blink away the tears that had formed in her eyes.

For all the promises she made to her Badi Maa about being strong & not breaking down. She was doing a pretty miserable job! She waited for him to continue.

"I was angry at you last night"
"I know" Was all she managed to reply. "I'm sorry"
"I can just about bear if Maa or Naanu lie to me, Mishti." He began. "I'm used to their lies. They've been lying to my face for years." He said & looked down at her. "I can't bear it if you lie to me too"
"I'm sorry Abeer. I promise you, I won't lie to you again. I promise." She rambled.
"Really?" He asked. "Will you be able to do that?" He asked her seriously. "What if something else happens & instead of coming to me, you take it upon yourself to protect me or anyone else? What then?"
"I won't do it!" She exclaimed. "I'll come to you first. I've learnt from my mistake, Abeer. I swear" she said & he sighed, facing the lake. "Abeer?" She pleaded.
"You're the only person I trust in this world Mishti. It's a heavy burden to bear." He said & looked down at her again. "You sure you won't step back?"
"I promise!" She said desperately, taking his face in her hands. "Abeer. I promise" she said & he nodded, kissing her hands as he felt himself tearing up.

Pyaar Ki Inn Raahon Main,
Milte Hai Kitne Dariya
Laakh Toofanon Main Bhi
Dil Ko Mil Jaata Hai Zariya.

"I'm sorry" she said & he shook his head, wiping her eyes of the tears that had fallen, unbeknownst to her.

They sat there in silence for a few moments until she was the first to speak. "What are you going to do now?" She asked & he sighed, resting his elbows on his knees & his head in his hands.

"I don't know" he said & she placed a reassuring hand on his back, rubbing it gently, comforting him before he sideways at her. "I need answers" he said simply & she nodded.

"Well, whatever you decide. I'm right by your side" she told him & he nodded before lying his head down on her lap. She sighed quietly, caressing his head as he lay there in silence.

Iss Dil Ke Iraadon Mein, Hai Itna Asar
Lehron Se Kinaaron Pe, Karta Hai Safar