Akansha felt herself fall more in love with him after she heard their conversation. The sincerity in his eyes when he promised her brother made her want to hug him tight and never let him go.

She was in the corridor in front of their apartments waiting for Aarav to come out for their morning jog. He did and stopped short seeing her.

The conversation he had with her brother and the promise he made didn't let him sleep the whole night.

"Hi!"

Akansha called excitedly pretending as if nothing was wrong and Aarav smiled. She made him forget everything and want to live without any conditions. She made everything look effortless and easy.

They were slumped on the grass after their jog as usual. Aarav had noticed that Akansha was too silent today.

"Tabiyat thik hai tumhari? Aaj kuch bolne ko nhi hai kya?"

She smiled at him and kept her head on his shoulder taking him off guard. He sat up straight. Every cell of his body aware of her touch.

"A-Akansha?"

His voice came out as a whisper. She made him nervous.

"I heard your conversation with bhaiya."

She said and he gulped.

"I promised him Akansha."

"I know. And you're not initiating anything. It's me. I-"

What was she about to do? Will things change between them if she confesses? But she didn't want to keep it in her heart anymore. Anyway, her actions couldn't be more clearer.

"I love you Aarav."

She whispered and he froze. He closed his eyes and cursed his fate. Just last night he had promised her brother that he'd not do anything with her. And today she was confessing her love for him.

"I-I can' t Akansha. I promised bhaiya."

He whispered in a painful voice. She held his hand and said.

"Bhaiya is worried because he thinks you won't have good intentions towards me. But you do! I just want to know what you feel for me Aarav? Do you atleast like me?"

He didn't say anything. Like? His feelings were far beyond that stage. He was deeply and irrevocably in love with her.

"Hey! Please say something. Tum-tum mana bhi kr doge toh mai bura nhi maanungi. Just-we'll be friends right. It won't change anything. I-I understand you might not feel anything like that for me and-"

"I do."

He whispered in a small voice and she would have missed it if wasn't paying attention to him.

"You-you what?"

He looked at her with a pained expression and said with love and tears shining in his eyes.

"I do have feelings for you. I'm in love with you Akansha. But I don't want to hurt your brother by breaking the promise I made to him. Toh jab tak wo accept nhi krte I can't do this. Please! I'm sorry."

She smiled and nodded with tears pooled in her eyes too. How much more does this man want her to fall for him?

Agam was confused as to why his sister was glaring at him early in the morning.

"Kya hai? Jabse khisyani billi (crazy cat) ki tarah ghure (stare) jaa rhi hai."

"Aap sapno mai bhi mere pyaar ke dushman bane baitho ho. Waha bhi jeene mat do mujhe."

She scowled making him frown in confusion. He looked at his wife who shrugged not understanding anything.

"Kaunsa pyaar? Kaunsa sapna?"

"Arre bataya tha na. Mujhe sapne aa rhe hai uss book ke character ke saath. Pyaar krte hai hum lekin aapne beech mai taang adha rakhi hai."

Agam looked ready to hit his head somewhere. His sister had finally lost her mind. She was angry at him for meddling in her dream love story. With someone who didn't even exist in real.

"What is this dream guy's name by the way? Jiske saath maine panga daal rkha hai?"

He asked making her glare.

"Mai nhi bataungi. Dur raho aap mere potential boyfriend se."

She said and left the room making the two chuckle at her craziness.

It had been almost 3 weeks since the promise and confession. Akansha and Aarav had been stealing intense glances at each other when the other wasn't looking.

Akansha was surprised because Aarav had started holding eye contacts with her. And damn! Those intense eye locks. The emotions in his eyes. As if he wanted to worship the floor she walks on and kiss her senseless at the same time.

Her brother was still resolute on not accepting their relationship. Akansha had tried explaining that she loves the man and he loves her back. That he was a good man and that he doesn't hold any bad intentions towards her. But all in vain.

It was Agam's birthday and she and her bhabhi were waiting for the birthday boy to come back from work.

Akansha heard the doorbell and got off her bed. She opened her room's door knowing it must be her brother but closed it back when she saw her brother and bhabhi indulged in a passionate liplock.

Why did she miss Aarav whenever she saw her bhaiya and bhabhi together.

When she was sure that the two must have gotten decent she moved out of her room to see her brother already changed in normal clothes.

"Happy Birthday bhaiya."

She said and hugged him. He kissed her forehead and thanked her.

The doorbell rang again and Agam opened the door to see Aarav standing there with a bouquet of flowers.

"Umm-happy birthday bhaiya."

He wished with a polite smile. Agam raised his eyebrow and took the bouquet.

"Thank you but how did you know it's my birthday?"

Aarav looked at Akansha for a brief movement and Agam understood it must be her who would have told him.

"Impress kr rhe ho?"

He asked in a stern tone making Aarav look at him wide eyed and shake his head.

"Nhi! Mai sach mai bas wish hi krne aaya tha."

Agam smiled and patted his back.

"Relax! Mazak kr rha tha. Andar aao. Dinner krke jaana."

He looked at Akansha who looked happy at the idea but he steeled himself. He didn't want Agam to think he was jumping at the opportunity to get close to her.

"Umm-its ok. Mai bas wish krne aaya tha. Aap waise bhi family ke saath-"

"Arre its ok. Aao andar. Formality kis baat ki."

Sanjana meddled knowing her husband would have agreed and let the boy leave.

"Bhabhi its fine-"

"Tum andar aa rhe ho? Ya mai kheench kr laau?"

Aarav smiled politely and entered in when Agam made space for him to enter.

He looked at Akansha and they had an eye contact. None of them wanted to look away. They heard a throat clearing and the eye contact broke.

"Birthday mera hai. You can stop looking at her."

Aarav looked embarrassed and nodded while muttering sorry but Akansha felt enraged. He didn't have to embarrass Aarav like that.

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