Abhimaan greeted and Sakshi gave him too sweet a smile which indicated that she too didn’t like him much at the moment because he had hurt Meera.

“Hey Abhimaan! What brings you here?”

“What brings me here as in venue pr ya phir yaha tum dono ke paas?”

(What brings me here as in at the venue or before you two?)

He asked playfully and Sakshi rolled her eyes.

“I know why you’re at the venue, idiot. Yaha kya kr rhe ho?”

(What are you doing here?)

Abhimaan chuckled and said.

“Aaya toh mai Meera ke liye hu. But then I remembered that I didn’t get to congratulate you personally. So, congratulations, Sakshi!”

(I came here for Meera.)

This time she smiled genuinely.

“Thank you. Mera wedding gift kaha hai?”

(Where’s my wedding gift?)

Abhimaan frowned and stuttered.

“W-wedding gift? Wo-wo husband nhi deta?”

(Is it not given by the husband?)

Meera stifled a chuckle at his shy expressions and Sakshi gave him a deadpan look.

“Wo wedding night gift hota hai, bewakoof. Wedding gift guests bhi dete hai.”

(That is the wedding night gift idiot. Wedding gifts are given by guests too.)

“Oh!”

Abhimaan blinked in embarrassment and Meera bit her lip in amusement. 

“Mai waise toh nhi laaya. Tu bta de tujhe kya pasand hai.”

(I did not get anything. You tell me what you like.)

Sakshi looked at him for a moment and then at Meera as something struck her. Meera raised her eyebrow seeing the look in Sakshi’s eyes. Sakshi smiled at Meera and turned back to Abhimaan.

“Apologize to her!”

She said and Meera froze. Abhimaan did too. For a moment. But then he smiled and nodded.

“I’m sorry Meera-”

“Aise nhi mister! On your knees, at her feet!”

(Not like this mister!)

“Sakshi!”

Meera reprimanded but let out a surprised gasp when Abhimaan actually fell to her feet on his knees.

“You…you don’t have to do this.”

Sakshi gave Meera’s shoulder a soft pat and left the place giving the two the privacy they needed. Abhimaan’s head was hung low.

“Get up Abhimaan! Chali gyi wo. You don’t have to continue this drama-”

(She left.)

She stopped when he looked up at her. His eyes were filled with unshed tears. Pleading. Begging for forgiveness.

“I’m sorry, Meera! I’m so sorry! Give me one chance, just one more chance. Mai kaise jeeunga tere bina?”

(How will I live without you?)

“Jaise ab tak jeeta aaya hai.”

(Like you did till today.)

She whispered, her own throat clogging with emotions. He shook his head and said.

“Usse jeena nhi kehte. It was merely existing. I don’t just want to exist anymore. I want to live.”

(That wasn’t living.)

“Pehle tu uth! Get up!”

(Get up first!)

She held his shoulders and made him stand up. He immediately pulled her into his arms and she struggled. But when his hold didn’t loosen, she stopped and gave in. Melted right against him. Like she had wanted to.

Abhimaan kissed her head and held her securely. Meera finally let out her tears. The ones she had been hiding inside her for 10 years. She sobbed in his arms. For all the years they spent apart. For all the hurt and betrayal she had been feeling since then.

Abhimaan felt his knees get weak due to emotions but he remained steady. Maintained his balance. Not letting her fall. Not letting them fall.

“You hurt me so much, Abhimaan.”

She whispered and he shut his eyes and let his tears fall.

“I know. I’m sorry.”

She sniffed softly and held him tighter.

“Give me one chance, Meera. Give us one more chance. Please!”

“And what if you hurt me again?”

She asked and he shook his head. He pulled back and cupped her cheeks.

“Never! Never again!”

“Agar tumne mujhe dobara hurt kia toh…”

(And if hurt me again…)

She started and he shook his head. Promising never to do it again.

“...mai papa ko bata dungi ki tune mujhe hurt kia hai.”

(…I will tell papa that you’ve hurt me.)

Meera almost laughed at how quickly his expressions changed. Abhimaan was shit scared of her father.

“Un-uncle ko? Uncle ko kyu batana hai? Mai nhi krunga na ab tujhe hurt. Uncle kyu?”

(Un-uncle? Why tell uncle? I will not hurt you. Why uncle?)

Meera let out a small chuckle and wiped her tears.

“Tu aaj bhi darta hai papa se.”

(You’re still scared of papa.)

“Toh? Wo retired Army Colonel mujhe goli maar denge. You don’t know how scary he is when it comes to you. Mai experience kr chuka hu unki dhamki.”

(So? That retired Army Colonel will shoot me….I have experienced his threats.)

Meera frowned and asked.

“Dhamki? Papa ne tujhe kab dhamki di?”

(Threats? When did papa threaten you?)

“10 class mai the hum. Mujhe aise alag se bula kr puchha tha unhone saaf saaf. What are your intentions with my daughter? Bhaisahab kya phatti thi meri. Tu best friend thi tab sirf. Tab meri itni phatt gyi. Agar girlfriend hoti aur uncle ye puchh lete na mai rakhi bandhwa leta tujhse.”

(We were in 10^th. He asked me clearly….I was so scared. You were my best friend then. I was shit scared then also. Had you been my girlfriend I would made you tie a rakhi on me wrist.)

Meera laughed loudly and rested her forehead against his chest. Abhimaan felt the tension slowly release off his chest. He looked at her with soft admiration and said.

“I missed this laughter…this smile so much. I’m so so sorry, Meera. Please maaf krde.”

(Please forgive me.)

She stayed silent for a few moments and Abhimaan felt that she might still not forgive him when he heard her spoke.

“Okay.”

He looked at her in disbelief and asked.

“Okay?”

She nodded and smiled.

“Okay.”

He grinned and asked.

“Okay as in ‘okay you forgive me and will be my girlfriend’ okay, right?”

Meera scoffed and hit his chest lightly before correcting.

“Okay as in ‘okay I forgive you and will be your best friend’ okay.”

Abhimaan frowned and asked.

“Kyu? I love you, you love me. Toh girlfriend banne mai problem kya hai?”

(Why?...What is the problem in becoming my girlfriend?)

“Who told you that I love you? Crush tha. Bachpan mai. Ab nhi hai.”

(It was a crush. In childhood. Not now.)

Meera said and shrugged her shoulders. Abhimaan cupped her face and whispered naughtily.

“Kiss kardu?”

(Should I kiss you?)

“Huh!”

She looked at him shocked.

“Pata chal jaayega. Tu pyaar krti hai ya nhi.”

(We will know. Whether you love me or not.)

“K-kya?”

(W-what?)

Her mind was spiralling. What was he talking about? Kiss? Him? And not lose her mind? Her heart was about to come out of her chest only at the mention of the very act.

“Hmm. If you don’t kiss me back, mai samajh jaaunga ki tu pyaar nhi krti. But if you do kiss me back…”

(…I will understand that you don’t love me…)

He left his sentence hanging and started leaning. Meera looked at him wide eyed and kept a firm hand over his stomach to prevent him coming closer. He chuckled and kissed her forehead instead. 

She sighed in relief and content and melted against him.

“Will you please be my girlfriend, Meera?”