Aayan's POV

'Good Morning, Aayan... ' someone's sweet voice called me

I groan and turn to the other side, I hear a soft chuckle and then a soft hand touched my shoulder, and I felt electricity running down my spine

'Wake Up na... It's already late... ' The girl whines and gently shakes me

I turn around and grab the hand on my shoulder and pull her towards me...

The girl falls on my chest, and I snake my arms around her waist...

'Aayan... Leave me.... ' She says trying to get out of my grip, but I hold her tightly

I open my eyes, and see a beautiful woman clad in a yellow saree, lying on my chest, her long hair reaching her waist and the bangs of her hairs covering her face

I brush my hands over her waist and she shivers

Who is this girl... And why am I holding her like this, moreover why isn't she protesting...

I liked holding her, she fits just right in my arms, I....I felt complete...

I use my other hand to brush the long bangs of her hair, behind her ear to see her face

Wwoooaaaahhhhhh...

I open my eyes and sprang up from my sleeping position...

Did I actually dream about her...??

What's wrong with me... !!

You've gone crazy Aayan...!!!

I look around and glance at the wall clock, it showed 7:30 am..

Damn I overslept....

I quickly get down the bed and hear the door of my room click open...

Ved enters inside, holding a tray, which had some medicines and a glass of water in it

'Hey you are already awake...! Good morning...  How do you feel...?' he smiles at me

I remembered my behavior with him last night, and immediately guilt filled inside me

I swiftly walk towards him and engulf him in a bear tight hug..

He gets startled I guess...
'Aayan... Are you okay....?' he asks patting my back

'I am so so sorry Man...  I didn't mean to hurt you... I didn't know what I was doing.... I am such a bad friend man, please forg... ' I say but he breaks the hug and asks me to shut up...

'I know you didn't do it purposely bro...  I am not angry at you... Stop apologizing.... ' he said wiping the tears formed in my eyes

'But what I did was unacceptable... I became a beast yesterday... I need to apologize to everyone... ' I sighed

'Your outburst was justified alright, don't feel bad for expressing yourself...' Ved said

'I really should take that anger management course you once suggested... ' I say scratching the back of my head

'I think you just need to live with people, you'll be fine... ' Ved smiled

'Thanks for bearing my tantrums yesterday man... ' I smiled apologetically

'You should thank Annie for it, she was the one who calmed you down... ' Ved said handing me the medicines

Look at me Aayan...
Think about the good times...
Everyone loves you Aayan...
Please calm down...

I remembered the glimpses of her calming me down, her dark brown orbs staring at me, as if they are staring at my soul..

I was wrong, she is not a brat...
She does posses some characteristics of being my Naina mom's daughter...

Last week and yesterday night, seem to change my pre notion about her being a brat,which I thought in my entire teenage and till now...

'Aayan...? Are you listening...?' Ved broke my chain of thoughts

'Yeah.... Actually no...  You were saying...?'

He narrowed his eyes at me
'I was saying let's go out today... You need some fresh air, I'll pick you from home after work...? What say...?' he asks

'You tell me the place bro, I'll be there... ' I say gulping down the tablets

'Fine... I'll text you the place... ' he said getting up 'Now freshen up, I'll see you at the breakfast table... ' he smiled and left my room

I sighed and opened my closet to find something to wear, when someone knocked my door again..

'Come in... ' I say taking out a white shirt and black trousers...

The door opened and Papa entered inside...

I stiffened seeing him...
He would be really embarrassed by my behavior last night...
I looked down, not really getting what to say to him

'Good morning son... ' he smiled

'Good morning Dad... ' I say not looking at him

'How are you feeling...?' he asked sitting on the chair

'Ved gave me the medicines, My headache will be fine...?'

He looked at me and then smiled

'Why don't you come and sit with me son ?' he said

Oh no...
He only says this when he wants to do serious talks...
This means he is pissed...

'Papa... I know my behavior yesterday was unacceptable and you are embarrassed....' I began

'I am not here to scold you son... Don't give me any explanation....' Papa held my arms

'But Papa.... '

'Your outburst yesterday was much needed son, now atleast I know what you want from me... ' he said caressing my face

'Papa... I am so.... ' I said but he cut me off in between...

'I know, I have always been hard on you Aayan... Didn't give you all the time and attention you needed... I regret the time, I ignored you when you needed me the most...  I am sorry for that son....' He said, caressing my hair

I looked down and sighed

'Your mother and I had some issues, right from the start of our marriage, which none of us tried to resolve and ultimately, we separated... But unknowingly we spoiled your and Nitaara's lives as well...  And trust me Aayan, I will die with this guilt, that I couldn't give my children, especially you the childhood that you rightfully deserved.... ' Papa said with tears in his eyes

I hold his arms and smile at him weakly

Do you think that he had any other option Aayan...?
How could he leave you with the man who destroyed his marriage...?

Ananya's words rang in my ears..

'Thank you for not giving up on us Papa... ' I said, tears forming in my eyes

'How can I let Prateek take away my most precious thing, which is dear to me more than my life... ' He smiled wiping my tears

'You are my pride Aayan... You have no idea, how much lucky I consider myself to have children like you and Nitaara... I agree that my methods were harsh, especially on you, I never listened to you, you felt abandoned... But this can not deny the fact that I love you and your sister more than anything in this world....' he continued and I held his hands

'I will answer all your questions son, whenever you want... I don't want to lose you again... Come back son, come back to your dying father....' He said tears rolling down his eyes

'Please don't say like this dad... You are not dying...  And I will think about it...  I promise... ' I said wiping his tears

'That is enough for me... Now you freshen up and come down for breakfast, and don't worry, no one is mad at you, Arjun and Naina will never judge you son... Neither Adi, Sash or anyone... They are our true family.... So don't worry.... ' He smiled getting up

'Yes Papa... I'll be there in a while....' I said and he left my room

My dad is not that bad, as I thought he was...
You were right Ananya...
Communication is the key....

30 minutes later...

I walked towards the breakfast table, Ved and Vansh were seated there...

They smiled at me and I smiled back taking the seat beside Ved

'You okay bro...?' Vansh asked

'I am completely fine bro... ' I replied

'And the headache...?' he asked further

'Long gone...' I grinned and he chuckled giving me a high five

'Ved let's take him to the ice cream parlor at CP,  where we always went when we were kids...!' he said

Nice idea...

'Good Idea bro... ' Ved said excitedly

Soon everyone joined us for the breakfast, except Ananya and Deepika

Where are they...?
Wait a minute, why do I care...! 

'Badi Maa, where is Annie di...?' Saanjh asked Mom

'She and Deepika had presentations in the college, so they left early... ' Mom said

Oh...
I feel disappointed...
But why...?

What's wrong with you Aayan, first that weird dream and now this...

You've lost your sanity...!

I looked at mom and Big dad

'I am really sorry for my behavior last night Big Dad... I... Had no idea what I was doing... Sorry to disappoint you mom... ' I say looking down

'Since when you started giving explanation to us son... Are you different than Ved, Vansh or any other kid in this house...?' Big dad asked

'Exactly beta, you are my son, why will you apologize for expressing yourself and We are not at all upset... Don't worry... ' Mom pulled my cheeks and I chuckled 

'Bhai I don't think Ved and Sameer should work together in this project...' Adi chachu said

'Yes Bhai, I'll call the investors and tell them that this cannot happen... ' Sash chachu said

'I think you are right... ' Big dad agreed

Ved looked uncomfortable with this decision...
I decided to speak up on his behalf

'Chachu, Big dad, I know I am not authorized to speak on E market's affairs, but I wanted to say that, Ved and Sameer worked really hard to get this project...  Just because there are some personal issues involved, I don't think you guys should take away this opportunity from them... I don't know about Prateek Singhal, but atleast we should behave professionally... ' I said to Chachu's and Big dad

They seem to think on what I said, And Ved smiled at me...

'Okay... We shall discuss this in the office... Now no more work talks... ' Big dad said and we all continued with the breakfast

Evening....
Narrator's POV

Aayan and Ved were waiting for Vansh out side the ice cream parlor...

Aayan was leaning against the pillar, while Ved was occasionally glancing at his watch

'This boy never comes on time... ' Ved sighed

'Relax man, I don't mind waiting....' Aayan said looking around
They talked about random stuff, when they saw Ananya wearing a pretty yellow summer dress walking towards them, holding 2 huge books in her hands...

She seemed to have difficulty in holding them, also her long hair was falling over her face, blocking her vision, her bag hanging down her shoulders, which was about to fall...
She looked beautiful, even in that messed up state

Just like Aayan saw her in his dream today...

Ananya didn't notice them, she continued to struggle with the books and hair, and walking to the ice cream parlor's direction...

When she was about to turn to the shop's direction, a young man who was in a hurry, collided with her and walked away, making Ananya lose her balance...

'Wooaahh.... ' She cried in panic

Both Ved and Aayan rushed towards her, Ved caught her books before falling on her legs and Aayan caught Ananya from falling, holding her by the waist

'Be careful Aayan... ' Ved said..

'Stupid man... ' Ananya muttered and then looked at her saviours

'Bhai...!' Ananya exclaimed looking at Ved and then got alarmed that if Ved is holding her books then may be Aayan is holding her right now...

She looked at the man holding her and her breathing hitched, it was Aayan staring at her, with his hazel eyes, his hands around her waist..

It seemed Ananya lost her voice at that moment, she wanted to ask him to leave her, but nothing came out

Aayan however was lost in her beauty, he wanted to hold her like this for eternity...

'Ahemmm... ' Ved coughed breaking their reverie...

Aayan immediately let go of her, and she composed herself, putting her hair behind her ear..

'What are you doing here Annie...?!' Ved asked not looking at her but Aayan

And Aayan looked away, feeling embarrassed...

'I wanted to have an ice cream... Me and Deeps were going to meet here.... ' Ananya said pointing at the parlor

'Nice.. You can join us.. Even we are waiting for Vansh... ' Ved said

'Oh wow... Okay... ' Ananya smiled

'These books look so heavy... How do you study them... ' Aayan said pointing at the books, to avoid the awkwardness...

'Law books... ' Ananya sighed and they chuckled

'Where is Deepika....?' Ved asked

'She had some work of the photography club... She'll be here any moment... ' Ananya said glancing at her watch

Just then they saw Deepika and Vansh walking towards them, Deepika didn't notice them as she was informing Vansh about the photography event, which was to be organized in her college and he was giving her the ideas, Vansh spotted Ved and Aayan...

He immediately caught Deepika's hand and stood in front of her, half blocking her path further in such a way that Ved can see them

'Vansh what are you doing...?' Deepika asked

'Act calm Deepika... Now... I want you to blush...' He said and Deepika looks at him confused

'What....!! Blush...! Why will I blush...?' she said

'Why... It's not difficult... Girls do that all the time... Isn't it easy, look down and smile like an idiot... ' Vansh said in a 'duh' tone

Ved was seeing all this from a distance, he could not hear what they were talking, but could only see Deepika's confused expression..

Aayan and Ananya smirked at each other

'Vansh I am not an actress, with whom you are used to work with alright...! I should have a reason to blush... ' Deepika argues

Vansh facepalms himself and then takes a deep breath...

'Okay... Just think that Ved just kissed you on the cheeks... ' He said

Deepika's eyes widened and her cheeks turned red, she looked down smiling..

Ved saw Deepika blushing and he clenched his hands into a fist

'Better....' Vansh grinned, 'Now look straight, 12 o'clock... ' he instructed

Deepika followed his instructions, and saw Ved looking pissed and Ananya - Aayan grinning at them...

She was shocked to see Ved there, she looked at Ved then at Vansh..

'Oh my god..  Ved is here... What if he saw seeing me blushing....? Why didn't you tell me before... ' She panicked

'And ruin all the natural acting you did just now... Never... He'll be so jelly... Wow Vansh you are a genius... ' He patted himself

'Let's go inside... They'll join us... ' Ved said going inside the parlor and Ananya - Aayan gave them a thumbs up

'God this is so embarrassing... ' Deepika covered her face as they approached Aayan - Ananya..

'Good work Deepika... That blush was almost real... ' Aayan comments

'Yeah Deeps I didn't know, that you can act so well... ' Ananya patted Deepika's back

'Well... What can I say, I am a great director you see... ' Vansh said proudly, wearing his ray ban glares and they all laughed

They all went inside the parlor, where Ved was waiting for them

'Wassup Bro... ' Vansh said cheerfully, at which Ved just gave him a bored look

'What a weirdo... ' He said

'Hey Ved... ' Deepika smiled

'Hey....' Ved greeted her coldly and she frowned

'Is the plan backfiring...?' Ananya whispered to Vansh and Aayan

'Shut up... Stay positive... ' They scold her and she frowns at them

They take their seats and the attendant comes to take their orders

Just then Aayan receives a text from Lalit, and he gets busy in reading it, while other's give their orders

'What can I get for you sir...?' The attendant asked Aayan, but Aayan doesn't reply

'Sir...?' he asks again, and Ananya absentmindedly intervenes in between..

'Cookie and Cream flavor please... ' she says and others look at her shocked 

Deepika gives her a warning look and even Aayan looks up from his phone...

Ananya realised what she just do and looks at Deeps who is equally scared like her

'For me... ' She continued 

Aayan and Ved look at her suspiciously, and she avoids their gazes

'When did you switch from Cotton candy to Cookie and Cream...?' Vansh asked

'Long back... ' Deepika says on Ananya's behalf and she sighs

'That's Aayan's favourite too... ' Ved said

'That's a funny coincidence... ' Ananya said without looking at her brother...

Both of them look at her suspiciously and then Aayan turned to the attendant and said 'Same... ' and dismissed him from there

They talked about the random things, where Ved was avoiding Deepika and Ananya was avoiding Aayan

This man must leave ASAP...
Or I am in a huge trouble...
Ananya thought..

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