Chapter 20:- Entailed Conversations.

Khwaab filled in the Malik couple with Armaan's closure with his grandmother, which didn't prove to be much stressful as they had expected it to be.

While she left to freshen up and rest, Armaan had already gone to his friends after changing, to spend some time before leaving. He needed to talk to Amaya about Abhi and with Raghav too, maybe about Sia.

He entered Amaya's room only to find her sprawled over the bed while Raghav on the couch. Both were into their own world, oblivious to the surroundings.

He cleared his throat loudly and they both looked in his direction, to find him standing with two beer cans and a glass of juice.

"Can't believe they both got married and are off to their honeymoon. So in love." Amaya sighed loudly, sipping on her beer can. They were sitting in a circle on bean bags, having their respective drinks.

"I agree and look at him, hopelessly and irrevocably in love.  Not letting her out of his sight for a moment. When are you planning to propose her ?" Raghav asked with unbelievable expressions.

"That's my look out and I've lots of time in NY. You guys tell me your plans?" Armaan looked at both of them for an answer.

"Hmm... well now that you'll be away there isn't much work as music is concerned so I guess helping my father in business and disclosing him about 'V' as soon as possible." Raghav shared his next possible plan.

"I guess it's high time, before any other girl like Sia approaches you." Armaan agreed, indirectly asking what he wanted.

"How do you know? Nothing is hidden from your hawk eyes." Raghav asked surprised while the latter smirked.

"She proposed you, like for real and you told her that you are not interested in girls?" Amaya asked, baffled with the information.

"Yeah, I mean initially I just declined but then she implied that just because she doesn't belong to our group, I'm rejecting her without even trying. Then I'd to tell her that it's not her, I'll reject every girl because I'm not interested." Raghav explained shortly.

"How did she react then? Low or high voltage drama?" Armaan asked as she was Khwaab's friend and he didn't want anything out of line, atleast not now.

"Well she was visibly shocked and then she asked me one stupid question. That why haven't I mentioned it in my profile when it's legal and I'm so sure about it and that pissed me off for real. I was like, has she mentioned in her profile saying that she is straight. No right? Then why the fucking hell I should mention that I'm gay. It will be normal only when it's treated normal and then she went away. Good for her." Raghav rolled his eyes as he was habitual to all of these reactions.

"I absolutely agree with it." Amaya raised her beer can in agreement.

"Hmm... so now what's next? How will your father take it?"

"He'll be mad one day and forget the next day, like always. His only interest lies when and how I bring profits for his company and for that I'd decided to handle our Canada branch for few months and I'll be moving in with Veer."

Armaan was relaxed hearing this. Atleast Raghav is sorted.

"What? And you're telling me now? Raghav you can’t do this to me. Armaan would be away and now you too. Those two love birds won’t come out of their honeymoon phase for months and I’ll be stuck alone.” Amaya whined loudly and the boys laughed as her face was worth watching.

"Then why don't you enjoy your honeymoon with Abhi and relax for a while." Armaan stated, trying to initiate a different conversation.

"Well that's a nice idea. Accompany him in his outdoor shoots and enjoy." Raghav suggested unaware about their equation.

"Right now, he is on the different track altogether so enjoying..." Amaya nodded in negative with a sad face.

“Join him in that same track then. Everything will be sorted." Armaan suggested cautiously.

"Seriously Ammy! You know right what he wants , even after I've made it clear umpteenth number of times to him that I don't wanna marry. Not now, not ever." Amaya declared exasperatedly.

"So that means you're ready to make peace with the fact that Abhi is having different thoughts about your relationship with him? About your commitment and love?" Armaan still pushed her as he didn't expect any less aggressive reaction from her.

"What? So this is what he thinks? I can't believe this." Amaya said with gritted teeth, tugging her hair.

"One min, hold on. What's going on?" Raghav asked staring at both of them but Amaya was too annoyed to tell him anything. Armaan filled Raghav with what all they talked, not what Abhimanyu confided to Armaan after the girls left.

Getting no reaction from Amaya, Armaan again tried to make her understand.

"He hasn't said anything to me but this is what I see happening in near future, if you are not ready to discuss on this topic at all. It's been two years that you guys have moved in together and last year when you turned down his proposal, he understood you, didn't he? So atleast think why is he pressing on this topic again. It's not always about what you want in a relationship. He has an equal say."

"I guess you should talk to him Amaya. And is this the reason he didn't stay with you today?"

She looked up at her friends, waiting for her answer. She did concur from what Armaan said. Abhimanyu had always been understanding but what about her fear.

"Guys, y'all know I hate this marriage and all. We still live together right? What will change after marriage? Nothing."

"Marriage is a scar for Abhi too and you know that better than all of us. His mother wasn't married when she was carrying him and his father chose to leave her with an unborn child. Atleast you weren't labelled as illegitimate, all your life. It is a bigger scar for him. Just talk to him once ." Amaya acceded to Armaan's suggestion and gave a nervous smile.

"I agree. Talk it out and he's Abhi, the most understanding and calm person I've known and now Khwaab too. I mean they should be applauded for bearing two hulks of our group.” Raghav said, not liking the tense environment and he was gifted with two cushions thrown at his face.

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Khwaab closed her novel as Armaan plopped over the bed, next to her. "What are you doing in my room? Spent time with your friends?"

Armaan simply bobbed his head with his face buried into the pillow.

"What happened ? Did you take your medicines?" Khwaab asked roaming her fingers in his hair.

"Tsk Talwar yar... always medicines medicines." Armaan grumbled peering at her, sticking his cheek to the pillow.

"Just because you hate them it doesn't mean I'll let you skip them. How many times had aunty reminded you but you don't listen." She said stepping out of the bed.

Armaan hid his face in the pillow again and punched on the bed hearing her footsteps fading away. He hated medicines to the core.

Coming back she shook him gently but he acted to be asleep. “Stop acting and get up.”

He sat squarely on the bed with annoyed expressions and snatched the glass of milk along with medicines. “I hate milk.”

Turning deaf ears to his complains she came back on her place and frowned, "Mouth organ? Is it yours?"

"My grandparents gave me when I came first in my school music competition." Armaan muttered rotating the glass in his hand.

After a long silence Armaan whispered poignantly, "I wish she hadn't done that. Forcing my parents to pressurize me and when they gave up she threatened you."

"What's done is done Armaan. You can't change it and see God wanted us to be together that is why we are here. Hmm?" Khwaab consoled him, scooting closer to her and rubbing his back.

"Can I sleep here? Please. I'll maintain distance. No hanky panky."

Khwaab sighed and bobbed in yes seeing his dejected face. "You can."

They both settled at the corners lying straight and staring at the ceiling. "You still remember Ms. Gabriel? No hanky panky."

Khwaab asked giggling and Armaan chuckled. "Ofcourse it was in class tenth when trekking was organised and we were asked to sleep in camps. Many boys and girls were in the same camp and Ms. Gabriel warned us saying ' no hanky panky kids'. She was one classic piece."

"Yeah, I even didn’t even know what did that mean at that time." Armaan rolled his eyes and mumbled under his breathe, "You still don't know anything."

"What did you say?" She turned towards him seeing his lips moving.

“That we are grown up and you are still small. I mean...” Armaan’s lips twitched mischievously and she glared at him.

"Don't cover up okay. I heard what you said and now I know everything." She turned showing her back to him and covered herself.

"Really?? Please enlighten me what do you know under 'everything'?" Armaan quizzed, supporting his head with his right hand.

"Say nah! I'm genuinely curious." He poked her on not receiving any response.

She changed her side and turned a darker shade of red seeing a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Urghh." She mithered covering her face with the blanket and he laughed out loudly.

“You monkey!” She hit him with the pillow and he clambered out of the bed to save himself.

“Hey Khwaab stop!” He held her hands and finally seized her in his hold, throwing the pillow on the bed. He clasped her hands on her back, pulling her closer, her body flushed against his. “Armaan, what are you doing?” She whispered, trying to control her bated breathe and praying her galloping heart beats to not reach his ear drums.

“What did I do?” He murmured, playing innocent but Khwaab knew otherwise. “You said no hanky panky!” She warned him, trying to be firm but failing miserably. “I love breaking rules.” He mumbled back, his cool breathe falling on her forehead. He grazed his finger on her forehead, tucking her hair strand behind the ear and staring at her intently with all the love.

“Fireflies? You still have that jar with you?” Khwaab asked genuinely surprised as her eyes fell on the jar full of glowing fireflies kept on the window sill. He nodded with a smile and left her as she jogged to hold it.

It was the same jar she gifted him.

These fireflies appeared when they were trekking and he was in awe of them. He followed them feeling attracted and a sudden gush of happiness surged in him. Looking at his reaction, Khwaab couldn’t find anything better than these to gift him on his birthday.

“Obviously! You gave them to me and they remind me of you, so tiny, so beautiful, so brave- fighting the darkness, just like you.” He said hugging her small frame from the back. She smiled brightly hearing his words and leaned back, her head resting on the place she resides- his heart. He kissed her chubby cheek and smiled back at her.

“They are glowing.” She said, tracing her finger tip on the jar as the six fireflies danced.

“Hmm... always glowing.” He agreed, adoring his personal firefly as nothing enraptured his attention more than her bewitching face glowing in the moon light.

Caressing her cheek with the tip of his pointed nose, he dived his lips into the crook of her neck, peppering kisses up to the ear tip. Khwaab kept the jar back and held his hands that were resting on her petite waist. Understanding her emotions, he intertwined their fingers and placed a soft kiss behind her ear that instantly calmed her down.

“Relax! I won’t be breaking any rules until you want me to.” He assured her, restoring the easy vibe between them. He stepped back giving her space while her cheeks adorned the beet root shade as she understood his meanings.

“I want you to break all the rules tonight.” She confessed stepping forward and holding his hands. Stunned would be the euphemism to describe his expressions. He was beyond shocked.