Naisha couldn't sleep. It was her sister's wedding tomorrow and instead of her di she was getting the pre-wedding jitters.

Maybe because after her di's marriage tomorrow, she will have to move into a hostel.

She had insisted on staying with her sister and even pleaded to take her as dowry but her di had explained that it didn't happen like that.

And she didn't want to be a burden on her sister when she was starting a new phase of her life.

When she couldn't sleep even after hours of tossing and turning around, she sat up with a huff.

She looked at her sister with a pout and saw her sleeping peacefully. She had no heart to wake her up. Tomorrow will be tiring for her as it is.

Her stomach grumbled and she quietly moved out of the room. Maybe she could sneak in some snack from the kitchen.

Her jiju wouldn't mind right? No, he wouldn't. He was a sweetheart. He did all the arrangements just like she wanted.

Naisha and her di were staying the night at her jiju's place itself. He was adamant of them moving in because the place where she and her sister lived wasn't safe at all.

And after their marriage announcement, the chances of media or other breaks in were increased. Her jiju was a bigshot.

She opened the drawers of the kitchen as quietly as possible. She saw packets of maggi but they were kept on the shelf where she couldn't reach.

Obviously only males lived in this place before and they placed it according to them.

Naisha tried jumping but she couldn't reach. She huffed and looked around for a small stool.

Neel was late. It was past midnight when he reached home. He heard sounds from the kitchen and saw someone jumping ans trying to grab something.

Neel frowned. Did they have a break in? How? And on top of that, the thief looked like a female. How did she manage to break in with such security?

His senses got alert when the thief came out of the kitchen and started snooping around as if looking for something.

He sneaked behind her and when he was just a breath away from her, he saw her senses get alert because she stood up straight. Before she could turn around and attack, he placed his palm over her mouth and an arm around her body caging her arms and her in place.

He started walking towards the staircase with her legs dangling in air as she wiggled in his hold and pushed her against the wall. She looked at him wide eyed and tears sprung her eyes.

"Stop moving! One sound out of your mouth and I'll kill you and nobody will even be able to find your body."

Naisha's eyes widened in fear and tears fell down her eyes. Was he one of the men who came home to threaten and extort money? She thought they were free from them. Her di gave them the money they owed those men. Then who was he?

Neel removed his palm from her mouth and she sobbed.

"Please leave me! Take whatever you want but let me go. Please!"

Something pricked in his heart seeing her cry. Was she not a thief?

"Who are you and what are you doing at my place?"

He asked and she looked at him with a frown.

"Y-your place? This is not your place. This is my jij-"

She stopped realising something and the tears magically disappeared and an angry expression formed on her face.

"You're jiju's brother?"

Neel frowned and then realisation dawned upon him.

"You're bhabhi's sister?"

She scowled and pushed him away making him stumble because of the sudden move.

"How dare you touch me? Jiju ko batau mai ki mujhe jaan se maarne ki dhamki de rhe the tum?"

Neel raised his eyebrows at her. Was she not sobbing and begging just a few minutes back?

"Weren't you begging me to let you go just now?"

"That's because I thought you were one of those men who came home to threaten us."

She spoke without realising and he frowned. What men? But he let it go. It didn't matter to him. Shouldn't matter to him.

"What are you doing here at this time?"

"None of your business."

His eyes darkened at her tone and she said.

"You're roaming around my place, snooping around at 1 in the night. I think it is my business."

She looked away feeling shivers at his husky voice and dangerous look he had in his eyes.

"I couldn't sleep. Phir mujhe bhool lag gyi so I was looking for something to eat."

She spoke and he raised his eyebrows again.

"Looking for something to eat? By snooping around the living room?"

"Stool dhund rhi thi mai. I couldn't reach the cabinet where the maggi packets are kept."

He chuckled and she glared at him.

"Don't laugh!"

"Come on shorty! Let's get you those maggi packets."

She huffed at the nickname he gave her but silently followed him because she was actually hungry.

He took out two packets and she made maggi for both of them.

"Keep it less spicy."

He said when he saw her adding spices but she ignored him and added it nonetheless. How can someone eat bland maggi? Maggi is supposed to be spicy.

Neel had his maggi with gutso. He too was really hungry. The maggi was slightly spicy for his liking but he'll make do.

He saw her bhabhi's sister, whose name he still didn't know, lost in her thoughts.

"You okay?"

She looked at him and nodded. She looked away again but was still lost.

"Kya hua hai?"

"I just-I was thinking about di. Puri life unhone sirf mere liye jee hai. We were very young when maa papa died in an accident. Tabse wo meri maa papa ban gyi. But she never had anyone to take care of her like maa papa."

Neel got quiet and just heard her. He didn't know his bhabhi at all.

"Wo peeyakad nashedi jo unfortunately hamara mama tha, he took us in only for him to treat us like his servants. Di didn't let me do anything and just asked me to focus on my studies. Merd liye phir apni padhai aur career sacrificw kr dia unhone. And not only this. When that drunkard left us with a huge sum of money to owe to his gambling group, di managed it all alone. Hamare ghar ke rent, mere college ki fees aur loan ke installments ke saath. Aur kabhi mujhe ye realise nhi hone dia ki koi problem hai."

Neel was surprised. His bhabhi had gone through a lot. And he wasn't liking his brother at all at the moment. He was ruining her life more than it already was for his benefit.

"I won't say I've had a difficult childhood. I have not. Thanks to di mera childhood bhut hi normal tha. A few problems here and there but I never felt troubled or burdened because of anything. But di ne bhut saha hai. And now she is starting a new phase of her life. I just want her to be happy."

He heard her sniffle and saw that she was crying silently. He was conflicted. He had never consoled someone crying. Let alone a woman.

"I promise. Mere hoye huye atleast, bhabhi will never feel alone. And she'll be happy."

He said earnestly and she smiled through her tears. She sniffled and wiped her tears smiling at him.

"Thank you."

"No need. She is family. Besides you'll also be here, so wo akeli toh kabhi waise bhi nhi hongi."

Naisha looked at him and smiled sadly.

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