Were we written in the sand

...

A few days passed with Abhijeet being recovering from the injury and Abhika's growing fondness towards Abhijeet. She spent her whole time with Abhijeet after returning from school. Abhijeet loved it but he's worried he had to break her heart while leaving just like he did to her mother.

One evening Abhijeet was standing by window looking at the sky when Tarika enterer into his room. Abhika was sleeping on his bed peacefully. The room was all haphazard with her toys being thrown everywhere. Tarika started to collect the toys.

"She's so unorganized. Always keeps her things literally everywhere." Tarika kept blabbing while collecting the toys.

"Let it be. I will organize them." Abhijeet said.

Tarika didn't listen. She sat down to collect the legos which were scattered under the window plane. The white curtains were flying across the room as there's strong wind started to build outside. Abhijeet's eyes got stuck on her.

Tu samne beitha rahe

tujhe dekha karu raat din

Her hair fell on her face and the curtain kept blocking her view. Its been a long time he felt this strong urge towards her. He'd been in this house for a long time now and this is the first time he felt a force attracting him towards her this way.

Dheere se phir tujhse kahu

Dil dharakta nahi tere bin.

He sat down automatically to help collecting the legos. But his eyes were fixed on her. Its a long time since he's seeing her this close. And with her attention being elsewhere its even more appealing to him. Otherwise he would have been intimidated by her intense gaze.

Tujhi Se Meri Saanson Ka Safar

Tujhi Se Mere Ishq Ka Asar

He could have seen his curls swirling over her exposed shoulder, or her bare arms. He could have seen her long neck or the way her white saree was draped over her chest neatly. But he just chose to look at her.

Na Jaane Tujhe Kab Lage Khabar

Main Kab Ka Hoon Mar Mita Tum Par

He wished to keep looking at her for a few more minutes. He wished her not to acknowledge his presence around her.

But his bad luck. Her hand stopped on one lego set as she realized his gaze on her. Slowly she looked at him and indeed found her staring. A shadow of grief passed her heart as she discovered the love in his eyes which he dwelled only for her. Both pair of eyes kept staring into each other but with different emotions. His eyes had nothing but love and her her eyes showed the grief she had for him in her heart masking the feelings she had once for him.

Main Tera Dil Na Todunga

Tum Bhi Na Aisa Karna

Main Tujhko Khud Se Jodunga

Tum Bhi Kuch Aisa Karna.

Touched by the love in his eyes she didn't dare to look away. It was Abhijeet who looked away first with a rueful smile on his face, laughing on his luck. Tarika looked away moments after that. They stood up slowly. Tarika kept the legos on table along with other toys.

"I am taking Abhika upstairs." Tarika said.

Abhijeet nodded

"Can I talk to you for a second?"

Tarika nodded. She moved towards him and stood in front of him facing the window.

"What is it?" She asked calmly.

"Its about Abhika." He spoke taking a deep breathe.

"What about her? Did she ask you to stay here? Or something stupid than this?"

"Its not about what she asks Tarika."

"Then?"

"Its her growing fondness towards me."

"Abhijeet," Tarika looked down for a moment, smiling, then looked at him again, "kids are always fond of you. There's nothing I can do about it."

"Keep her away from me Tarika." Abhijeet begged. "I won't be able to take the burden of breaking a heart again." There's tears in his eyes, threatening to roll down.

"You can try if you want. I don't have the power to make her do so. She's having the love and care she always wanted to. And though it feels wrong i cant help it. I have never seen her this happy before. I know she will be hurt when you are gone but she will make it." She explained and then whispered, "just like I did."

As if he weren't hurt enough, her words made the last strike. He wanted to scream 'you didn't have to make neither do Abhika have to make through it this time. Just hold on me. Just ask me to stay. Just come with me'. But his lips didn't speak. Tarika didn't expect him to speak anyway. Without looking at him she walked away with Abhika in her arms.

Tumhari Meri Ek Ho Umar

Lage na Humein Koi Bhi Nazar

Ki Darta Hu Main Yeh Soch Kar

Kya Hoga Jo Tu Kho Gaya Agar

.

.

NEXT EVENING:

Abhijeet had just returned from Bureau and after getting fresh he sat on bed. His works had progressed a lot. But somewhere he wanted to delay his work. He didn't feel like leaving shimla. Or to say the truth he didn't feel like leaving the family specially Abhika. He knew he would make it in Tarika's case specially after she had promised to keep in touch. He knew Tarika would make it too. But Abhika. She's a pure little innocent soul. She would miss him a lot and so did he.

"Uncle!" Abhika jumped into the bed beside him with a diary like notebook in her hand.

"Good evening princess. What's in your hand.?"

"Remember first time when I meet you I told you i have seen you somewhere?"

"I guess."

"Now I remember where I saw you?"

"Really?"

"See.." Abhika opened the diary and show him his pictures in the diary. Most of the pictures were from paper cuts and some where his camera pictures. Old ones.

"Who's diary is this?"

"Mama's. See.. you were so good looking."

"Hey! I am still good looking. And its a bad manner to go through other's diary."

"Sorry uncle. But I came upon this accidentally. And also today mom had left it on bed. I just wanted to show you. I am sorry " She pouted.

"Okay fine. Now don't be a drama queen."

"Hehe.. I love you soooo much uncle."

"Really? More than your mama?"

"A little bit less than mama... just a little bit." She tried to show that little amount with her fingers making Abhijeet laugh.

"I also love you a loooot princess."

"I know. Now come for dinner."

"Okay. I will keep this diary in your mother's room. Don't tell her you have shown this to me. Okay?"

"Okay. Come quick." Abhika ran away.

Abhijeet smiled and then opened the diary. Though he scolded Abhika for going through it he couldn't stop his curiosity. All the pages of the diary has his paper cut stuck on them. He remembered Tarika's words from their last meeting at airport that she would know if he's doing okay. He smiled. She missed him. She remembered him. Tears started flowing down his cheeks. It meant a lot to him. He didn't care if she had loved him all along, if she loved him now. He meant something to her. She kept remembering him. It's enough for him. It would always be enough for him.

After a few minutes he entered into Tarika room to return back the diary without her knowing. He didn't want her to know he read this and made her uncomfortable around him. He's sure she never wanted him to know about this. But as he turned to leave he came face to face with Tarika. He stood still. Tarika looked at him and then at the diary on bed which wasn't there a few minutes ago. She was searching for it. Abhijeet sighed looking at her face. He realized there's nothing to lie.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to go through this. Abhika showed me this. I'm really sorry."

Tarika was fuming in anger and embarrassment. She couldn't speak.

"I will never speak about it." Abhijeet said. He waited for her to speak but she didn't. So he proceeded to leave.

"Abhijeet."

He stopped.

"You always mattered to me. And you will always matter to me. This diary is not a prove of it. But without it you probably would never believe it."

"It's nothing like that Tarika. I never wanted to hold you back. When I let you go I always wanted the best for you. I know you. I know your values and morals. But I wouldn't lie this diary made me happy somewhere. My selfish part is happy to acknowledge that I resided in your heart all these years. But the real me knows how hard it was for you. And I am not happy about it."

"Its nothing like that." Tarika said looking down, sniffing.

"Whatever you say. Just one thing I want to know... were you happy with Abhinash?"

Tarika looked at him with a jerk.

"Abhijeet!" Tarika felt offended.

"Sorry. I didn't meant like that."

Tarika walked passed him so that their backs were facing each other.

"Abhinash was a wonderful life partner. He was supportive. I came here with him to give our life a chance but it wasn't possible without you giving another chance to your life. Then the news of your successful mission came out and I realized you have fulfilled your promise. Then it was my time to fulfill my promise to you. And also to do justice with Abhinash. It was hard to start a life with him which I always wanted to have with you. But I did it. I kept track with your success so that my journey became easy. I was happy with Abhinash. I probably didn't realize it untill he left me.

She turned and again walked to stand in front of him.

"But you know what Abhijeet, I was punished by nature for my deeds. My happiness were short lasted because it costed me your happiness."

"Stop saying this Tarika. You didn't do anything to me. I was the one who messed up. Please!"

"No Abhijeet. I never deserved you. Neither do I deserve you now."

"Tarika... Whatever we had, was beautiful. Those were the most beautiful moments of life. Those are the fuels to my life. Don't disrespect them. I am living on those memories. And I have to live on them for a long time. You at least have Abhika. I don't have anything, anyone... lets just not make those moments bitter with words."

Tarika nodded. He was right afterall.

"Let's have dinner. Maa and Abhika are waiting."

Abhijeet nodded with a smile.

.

KK: ohh... after so long! I really wanted to update on EID. But didn't had the vibe. I got tge vibe today and wrote the entire chapter in one go. IDK how's this. So let me know with reviews.