"Whatever Happens, Happens for a Reason" True or False...Ch 8

Abhishek found medicine from a couple who were sitting around the staircase. He got milk for Ayesha and tea or himself and Neha. He thought of Neha while he was buying biscuits for them. He had loved it when she had called him Abhi and he was happy that she was not fighting him anymore. But he also liked that stubborn part of her, he liked the flash of anger in her eyes. That showed she had passion which he craved, he also knew that if she thought she was wrong she apologized. Laughing alone he collected the biscuits and started walking back, the water was still logged there, it had lowered but a little. Cars were stuck on the entire road, there was water in the shops, and buses had been stuck. The damage would be too big, he knew that. He walked back and handed over the tea to Neha while sitting with her. He started telling her what he had seen outside. He liked this liberty of sharing details with her, she listened carefully and asked him a few questions.

They had few biscuits and remaining kept for Ayesha, Ravi and Ninaz. They both sat there looking at other people, the crowd had started moving to go out. Abhishek was also thinking about the same thing, they could not stay at the platform for much longer. Then he saw Ayesha waking up, she looked tired was Abhishek’s first thought. If not for himself but for Ayesha they had to move.

"Good Morning Ayesha, how are you?" Abhishek asked her, she looked at him with her blue eyes.

Ayesha looked confused Neha thought, and remembered her own reaction when she had gotten up. Thinking last evening was a dream. She went close to Ayesha, "Ayesha you remember yesterday you were stuck in the bus, me and Abhishek had come to take you"

Ayesha seemed to remember as she smiled, "Abhishek dada and Neha didi you brought me here"

Relieved Abhishek sat back and kept his hand on her forehead, she was still warm. He saw Neha standing and scooping Ayesha in her arms. It was a sight for him, Neha whispered something in Ayesha’s ear and she giggled.

"Dada we are to going to freshen up. You stay here coz you are a boy" Ayesha declared in her cute voice.

Abhishek sighed dramatically for Ayesha, "Go on I’ll stay and wait for you here"

He saw them going towards the washroom and sat there thinking about what to do. He then had an idea and called Ayesha’s dad again asking the situation around their house. He in return asked Abhishek if they were coming but Abhishek told him that he had to consult the others and he would inform them if they were coming. He saw that Ravi had gotten up and nodding at him as he went outside. Ravi came back within 5 minutes with tea, sat near to Abhishek. Abhishek offered him biscuits which he accepted.

"Where are Neha and Ayesha?" Ravi asked when he noticed that they were not there.

"Neha has taken Ayesha to freshen up" Ravi nodded to that, "Ravi, I think me and Neha have to leave"

"Why? You don’t know what might be the situation there? And traveling there with a small girl is a great risk" Ravi told Abhishek his doubts.

"I know that Ravi but Ayesha has slight fever, I found some medicine for her. But she would be better in her own home. She stays in Andheri seven bungalows which is good because we can start walking and it’s not too far. And that chance we’ll have to take for Ayesha." Ravi nodded to that and sat in silence.

"Have you told Ayesha’s parents that you are bringing her?" Ravi asked Abhishek while having his tea. He also was thinking about going home, but he had his pregnant wife to think about.

"No, I just asked them to find out the situation around their house. Before deciding on anything I need to talk to Neha first and I have asked Ayesha’s father to call me when he finds out about the water level."

"So you and Neha seem extremely cozy, known her for long?" Ravi asked Abhishek smiling, he also had noticed the way Abhishek and Neha were looking at each other.

Abhishek laughed at that, "Hell Ravi, I just met her when I went to look in the bus and found Ayesha. And we might be looking cozy but before we both irritated each other. I don’t know yaar" He raked his fingers through his hair "I like her a lot, but it all happened too fast and Neha is not one of those people to trust or give in easily"

Ravi nodded in understanding, "mmmmm so you have your work cut out. You don’t have a problem for things going too fast"

Abhishek laughed, "No, my granny always used to say that when a person irritates and arouses you at the same time. And also when you want to share all your details with that person you need to give it a chance. Which I am planning to, I know Neha had led a difficult life and for her to accept or understand would be difficult. So yes I have my work cut out" Abhishek sighed and saw Neha and Ayesha coming towards them.

Ayesha was still in her uniform but cleaned and with her combed and tied. She smiled at him and Ravi. Abhishek got up to scoop Ayesha in his arms, "Now you will be with me as your girls ritual is over" He also tickled her in the stomach and she started giggling.

Neha was smiling by looking at them, and then she spotted Ravi. "Good Morning Ravi" He replied to her with a smile. They saw that Abhishek made Ayesha sit next to Ravi and gave her milk along with the medicine. Ayesha made a face and started protesting but Abhishek had a way with kids so finally Ayesha took the medicine and started having the biscuits.

Neha was about to sit next to Ayeha but Abhishek tugged her hand and made her follow him, "Ayesha you finish your milk. We are just standing here" Ayesha nodded and replied Okay.

They both just went little further, the station was still packed but now it was not that dark and people had started moving around.

"What happened Abhi?" Neha had known that he had specifically dragged her outside to say something.

"Nothing’s happened yet. But I think we need to start moving towards Ayesha’s house. We can’t wait for this to go back to normal, she stays in Andheri only we should try and take her home" They both stood facing each other. Neha knew that they could not stay here forever, the situation was temporary and they had to go their separate ways as soon this over. Somehow that knowledge brought deep sadness and emptiness in her, she didn’t have time right now to understand it. She thought over what Abhi had said and knew that they had to move, she looked at him. "You are right Abhi, we’ll have to try and take Ayesha home. But it shouldn’t happen that we are stuck somewhere else"

"Don’t worry Neha, I had called Ayesha’s dad to find out the situation around their house as much as he can. We’ll not move unless we are certain, but I wanted to ask you before we made any decision" Neha nodded to that but she was afraid what they might find on the way, she was also afraid of reaching early and leaving Abhi. She looked up at him to found him staring at her intently. She started feeling hot just by his gaze, she started looking around to see if anyone had noticed him. To her utter horror he came closer to her, and before she could retreat he clasped her arm.

"Abhishek" Neha uttered in horror. "tsk tsk I asked you to call me Abhi remember?" Neha looked at him in confusion, Abhishek had no intention to scare her but hell it was amusing to watch her blush.

He had recognized the confusion and fear in her eyes and he had planned to reasure her that everything would be all right. But she looked at him as if he was going to do something private in public. Encouraged by her reaction he just kept her in place and kissed her cheek. A peck on her cheek and murmured "don’t worry I am with you and any problems coming would be faced by both of us and not alone. So don’t worry" He then straightened and took her hand to go back where Ravi and Ayesha were sitting.

Neha was still feeling hot in her cheeks, when he had come closer her mind had given her a very disturbing image and foolishly she had thought he would do something in public. But it had tingled her belly to seen him leaning and kissing her briefly very briefly on her cheek. She was also astonished to find that he had read her feelings so easily. They reached to their place, Ayesha had finished milk and was playing with Ravi. This meant that they must not have seen their small episode, Neha sighed in relief. But when Abhishek reached down to play with Ayesha Ravi winked at her and again she blushed furiously. So much for not noticing them she thought she also sat there and saw Abhi playing with Ayesha and also checking her temperature. He turned and mouthed that fever was okay now, Neha was happy that fever was coming in control.

She sat back and watched Abhi playing with Ayesha, he knew he was great with kids. He was great with everyone, and that’s what attracted people to him. In between he would glance in her direction and smile and just that smile pleased her a lot. She saw Ninaz waking up and saw Ravi going to her help, helping her getting up. They looked really cute together Neha thought and heard Abhi’s phone ringing. He picked it up and went away to speak on the phone, Ayesha came in front of her and Neha couldn’t resist holding her and making her sit on her lap.

When Abhi came back he again started playing with Ayesha, so he wanted to talk when Ayesha was not there. Neha understood that so they would wait for Ravia and Ninaz to come after freshening up. In the meanwhile she was asked to participate in the game when she refused, she was challenged which she couldn't resist. So she started playing with them forgetting her problems for a short while.

When Ravi and Ninaz came, Abhi and Ravi went away to talk. After a while she saw Ravi coming back who asked her to go to Abhi. She walked towards him and looked at him.

"Ayesha’s daddy called and he said what he could find was that there is water on the road but not much. And only one road is mainly logged heavily. I guess even Ravi is planning to come as they have a friend on the same route we are going. What do you think Neha, should we move?" Abhishek and Ravi had discussed the route and details and he wanted Neha with himself. He could not think about leaving without her, and if Ravi and Ninaz came with them it would certainly help. He waited for her answer and then Neha smiled at him, "When do we leave?"

Abhishek sighed inwardly in relief, he was not ready to let go of Neha when he had barely started knowing her. He wanted time with her and she had just given it to him.