Aryan was glad that for the return journey at least they were inside the bus. It was doing wonders for his back. It was not perfect, but it was certainly better than the top of the bus.
He missed his car.
"Aaj humka tohar Mrs. Lambi Gaadi ki badi yaad aavat hai.(I really miss your Mrs. Lambi Gaadi today.)", lmlie exclaimed, and he looked at her in shock, freaked out at her as she voiced his thoughts.
She looked back at him with her eyebrows raised, mischief present in her eyes even after what had happened, and she continued, "Uuha ki raftaar, humka adhe time maa ghar pahuncha devat rahe. Aur humka tohar itna pareshan naahi dekhat padat rahe.(I mean, It's speed, we could've easily reached home in half time. And I wouldn't have to see you so worried and uncomfortable.)"
He understood then, that she could probably see the predicament he was in. He smiled, glad that she worried about him. Then he stopped. No, he shouldn't smile. This was not a thing to smile about.
He just could not understand why he was incapable of stopping himself from smiling at every single thing she did that he liked.
But he could try. And try he did.
And she saw right through him.
As he was answering her that she should mind her own business, she interrupted him, "Haan! Haan! Humka malum hai ki humka tohar liye pareshan hone ki konu zaroorat naahi hai. Ki ab jab Atank pakda aur maara gaya hai aur tohar log bhi surakshit hai tab humar aur tohar 50-50 partnership ka bhi 'The End' howat rahe. Hum sab jaanat hai.(Yes! Yes! I know that I do not need to be worried about you. Now that Atank has been caught and is dead and your people are safe, it means our 50-50 partnership has also come to an end. I know all this.)"
And as she finished her diatribe, he looked away from her, relieved that she hadn't read his mind, at least what he really thought. She did, however, predict the shit he was about to spew to perfection. It was really something.
"Par humka bhi... humka bhi tohar fikr hai. Aur sirf eeha naahi ke tum humre Boss Babu rahe, par iss wajah se bhi ki tum humre dost rahe.( But I too... I too care about you. And not only because you are my Boss Babu, but also because you are my friend.)", she continued looking straight ahead, not even a glance in his direction.
He felt glad that she was embarrassed to look at him while saying it, because as difficult as it was for him to accept and name the relationship between them, it felt great that she too, was having trouble for the same.
He knew that she knew that their relationship could not be as easy as friends, but she was not ready for him to be anything else.
And he wasn't ready to be even friends.
And as he opened his mouth to clear it, she interrupted him, again, "Haan! Haan! Hum jaanat hai hum dost naahi hai. Tum humre dost naahi ho. Par hum maanat hai tumka dost.(Yes! Yes! I know, we are not friends. You do not consider me a friend. But I do, consider you my friend.)"
Aryan looked ahead as she admitted this, because he cannot possibly deny her of what she thinks of him. No one can.
And he ain't about to start something that would make him confess the reason he did not want Imlie as a friend. Because if there is one thing Aryan Singh Rathore realised on this trip was that Imlie was more for him. More than an employee. More than an inspiration. More than someone he cared about. More than a friend.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
