Abir had spent numerous minutes knocking on doors of the apartment complex to find the woman who'd given him more in minutes than anyone else had in years. His hand was wrapped firmly around her white stick as he knocked upon another door, his hand dropped the second she finally opened it. Inadvertently running his gaze across her body, he stopped where her baggy shirt did- on her thighs that were covered in paint- her once white shirt had seen better days and by the looks of it so had her face which was lined with streaks of paint from the back of her hand she'd made a palette upon and then used to brush strands of hair back into her messy bun.

Running the back of her hand on her cheek, she scrunched her nose up at the sensation of paint now colouring the side of her nose. Pulling at her shirt, her ankles crossed "May I help you?"

Smirking, he cleared his throat "I brought your cane".

"Oh," Mishti held a hand out, "Thank you, Officer".

His smile dropped "No it's-".

"Abir" she nodded, "I know, but unfortunately ex-officer doesn't have quite the same ring to it" huffing, she pulled the door back a little more, "Would you like to come in or have you just come here to tell me off for what I said to your Ma? If that's so, then know I'm not sorry and she deserved everything she got" she warned, hoping her smart mouth wouldn't break up a friendship that had barely begun.

Running a hand from the back of his hair down to his neck, his lips pursed, he did want to come in, but the closer he got to her the more likely he'd be hurt when she let him down just like everybody else. "I just wanted to give you your stick" he shrugged.

"Okayyy" she bit her lip, "Well, I want you to come in, so" grabbing his wrist, she yanked him toward her, used his back to slam the door then grinned up at him as he made a hmph sound. "You wanna see what I've done? Come on" not allowing him to respond, she dragged him over to her canvas in the living room, stepped over a black sheet and swayed as she awaited him to comment.

"It's-".

"Good? Bad?" She shouted near his ear in impatience. "You can tell me honestly, I won't be offended" picking up a doughnut from the desk she'd placed it on, she chewed loudly "Bleh, think I ate some paint, not nice, should've washed my hands" her giggle echoed across the bare walls.

Turning to face her, his eyes narrowed "Mishti, it's beautiful" taking a sharp inhale, he looked back at the painting quickly. "The colour is very vivid, I like the hues of green".

"You do?" Her hands smacked her cheeks, realizing what she'd done, a pout filled her lips "Whoops, I've made a bit of a mess".

"A bit" he guffawed, "That's an understatement".

"Well, you can always help me clean up?" Her eyes widened as she looked up at him much like a child would their teacher before they got told off.

"Excuse me?" Abir stepped back.

"The mess, help me clean the mess, not, not clean me" she shrieked, "Unless um".

"Unless?" His brow hitched as he stepped toward her.

"Uh, unless" her chest rose with each breath, stepping back, she turned her head to look down.

"Unless?" Dropping his tone to a lower baritone, he stepped a little closer.

"Unless you um" she stepped back, screeching when she nearly toppled over the sofa, staring back up at him, she gulped.

"Unless I um?" A coy smile twisted the edges of his lips. He couldn't deny the fact that he was really beginning to enjoy being around her.

"Want to" Mishti yelled, forcing her neck back as far from him as she could.

"And if I say yes?"

"Hawww" her hand smacked his arm, "Naughty" hoping the paint marks hid her blush, she hummed loudly then began to break out into song "Who's the hottest girl in the world" she sung quietly, foot tapping on the ground, "My desi girl, my desi girl" jumping when he moved his face in front of hers, she cackled loudly. "Sorry, I sing when nervous" her grin was odd as she tried to move away from him.

Abir opened his mouth to speak, thought better of it and shut it again. Leaning against the wall, he watched as she moved to the speakers, pressed something on her iPod then moved back to him. "Desi girl, again, really?"

"Why not?" Mishti held out a hand, "Will you dance with me, kind sir?"

"I don't think that's- woah" he fell into her as she began to spin beneath his arm. "Mishti, stop, Mishti, woah" after being spun out, he nearly tripped when she pulled him into her again and climbed atop his feet. Breathing in sharply when her cheek rested against his chest, his body froze "Mishti" he admonished, "What are you doing?"

"Dancing with you" she shrugged haphazardly.

Getting this close wasn't a good idea, he knew that, yet somehow he couldn't make himself step away. For so long he'd longed for just one friend, could that be her? Could she be the person to see him differently or would she see him the same as he saw himself? As the thoughts collided within him, his hands reached her hips and he moved her away "I should be going".

"Was my dancing that bad?" Her nose scrunched up.

"No it's" he blew his cheeks out, "I just have to go".

"But when will I see you again?" Mishti stopped him in his steps. "We can't always rely on chance" rolling her lips, her smile dropped when she heard silence. "Abir?"

"I don't think that's a good idea" dropping his shoulders, he headed to the door. Stopping as if about to turn around, he shook his head "Take care". Pulling open the door, his lips fixed into a frown "What are you doing here?" He spat viciously.

Mukesh ignored him "Miss Mishti Agarwal?"

"Yes," she crept closer.

"I have orders from the Landlord to escort you out of the building, you have an hour to collect essentials, you can book a date in to collect the rest of your belongings in the next fourteen days" he spoke glumly.

"What?" Abir grabbed the letter from his hand. "For what reason? Exactly who is the Landlord?"

"Disturbance" he looked away. "I'm not at liberty to disclose-" he choked the second he was knocked back onto the ground and his old best friend's foot pushed down into the middle of his chest.

"I didn't ask for excuses" his eyes rolled back, "Give. Me. The. Name." He leant down.

"Meenakshi" he coughed to the side, "Meenakshi, it's Meenakshi Rajvansh" the blue blemish atop his skin faded as he rolled away from him and sat in the opposing corner against the wall.

Abir's face turned into a menacing scowl, darkness lingering in each crevice when his fist clenched and lifted.

"Abir" her small voice called out to him, knocking away his efforts of vengeance.

Turning, he faced her sadly "Mishti I'm so-".

"Don't" her hand lifted, "Just don't".

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