Imperfectly Perfect [FF, ThaHaan] - updated, pg.15!! - Page 7

Hello guys! 🤗

Next update is here! I even hurried a little extra and got it finished before the first part of the TS I am working on - simply because I won't be watching the show in the upcoming days and week(s) and might be less active on the forum than usual (religious responsibilities take precedence 😳)

So, I am leaving you with a longer chapter to enjoy! 😉

Lots of Love,

N. ❤️

______________________________________

03

Of storms, cuddles and mud

Bihaan was not ashamed of his actions. Not in the least.

Though, seeing the utter horror etched into Thapki's features made him beyond uncomfortable. Carefully, he rose to his feet and raised his hands in a peaceful gesture. When he tried to move forward, why he couldn't fathom himself, she flinched back, prompting him to freeze in his steps. "Look-"

"W-w-what did you d-d-d-do?" she asked quietly. Yet, there was a hint of hysteria in her voice, making the warning bells in his head ring wildly. "Where a-ar-are my c-c-clothes?"

Unintentionally, Bihaan glanced to the side where, not very far from the fire, a heap of half burnt clothes laid. The Kameez was missing a whole arm alongside a good portion of its upper part whereas the salwar... was unrecognizable. Thapki didn't miss it and followed his gaze, gasping in shock.

"Bihaan!"

He winced guiltily. "I... I can explain. Really!"

"A-a-and this?" She stared down at herself, unknotting her arms in the process. The shirt slipped from her left shoulder upon which Bihaan, instinctively, covered his eyes in embarrassment. Shit. Couldn't she be more careful? "You already u-un-undressed me, w-w-why are you h-hi-hiding, now? I c-c-ca-can't believe you d-d-did that!"

"Look," Bihaan tried to say and opened his lids. "I-"

"Are y-y-you not a-ash-asha-ashamed of yourself?" she ignored him. Or maybe she wasn't able to hear him? She was trembling like a leaf in the wind, hugging herself and muttering under her breath, tears streaming down her cheeks. What the... was she having a panic attack? "Un-unbe-unbelievable..."

Bihaan set his right foot forward, gauged her reaction which was not existent, and stepped forth, slowly. "Thapki? Calm down!"

"You-"

He grabbed her shoulders and shook her, more gently than he would have expected from himself. "Calm down and let me explain!"

Thapki just stared at him with teary eyes though, they seemed to clear of whatever bleary mist had covered them, showing him a glimmer of understanding. She closed her mouth and inhaled deeply before she stepped out of his grip and hugged herself, once again. Her knuckles were turning white as she dug her nails deeper into her forearms. At least, she's not panicking.

Silence fell over them and Bihaan took that as his cue to explain. "You almost drowned and I... look, I am not educated like you, okay?" He shrugged sheepishly. "I didn't know what to do. You were shivering and your skin was turning blue, it..." He shuddered at the memory- how cold Thapki had been no matter how much he rubbed her hands and feet. And the numbing fear that had wrapped itself around his mind when she had refused to wake up. "I thought you'd die." At that, Thapki glanced at him from behind her lashes. "I had to get you out of those wet clothes; on TV they always say to change wet clothes before one gets sick."

Not that he watched TV a lot but sometimes, Paan persuaded him to. And that might have saved them some trouble, now.

"Also, I needed to get us warm, so I..." He indicated towards the still sizzling fire. He would never mention what a pain it was to get that burning. "But when, uh, when I... well, I didn't notice when your clothes caught fire while I tried to dry them. I dried my shirt first!" he added hastily. "And put it on you after... yeah. But I didn't look, I swear!" He was thankful for the relative darkness which hid the heat in his cheeks. It was the truth, he had closed his eyes during the whole process. Dressing someone blindly and that, too, a woman... definitely not an experience he would like to repeat.

Though, he had underestimated the chillness of this night, and his shirt was too thin to offer proper warmness. And the fire not large enough. So, he had done we had to, offered body heat and rubbed her exposed skin. It had helped since she had stopped shivering though, he had still continued, wanting to be sure that Thapki would not feel cold, again.

"I had the keep you warm," he stressed. Then, pinching his throat, he added, "I swear on Maa, I didn't do anything inappropriate." Even considering that this might be the impression Thapki had, unsettled him. Her opinion of him couldn't be that low!

"U-un-undr-undressing a girl is b-be-beyond inappropriate," Thapki, finally, whispered.

A spike of irritation shot through Bihaan's veins. "You could have fallen sick! Or worse, died, for God's sake!"

"I w-w-would have pre-pr-preferred falling sick." She raised her forefinger at him, expression tight, furious. "Than y-you touching me!"

Before Bihaan really realized what he was doing, he had wrapped his own hand around hers, tucking the raised forefinger against her palm. Thapki flinched the moment he touched her. "I told you, so many times," he said softly, and made sure to lock their gazes. "Don't raise your finger at me - but you never learn, do you?" He leaned in more. "You forget that three fingers will always point back at you."

Thapki turned her head away, ripped herself out of his iron grip and stumbled to the side, sliding down against a tree, away from the fire. She pulled up her knees, wrapped her arms around and pressed her forehead against them.

Just fine with me, Bihaan thought angrily as he stalked back towards the fire. They wouldn't come very far in this darkness, anyway, so it was better to wait here for the day to break. And if the Madame wanted to freeze to death, then so be it. Ungrateful witch.

He had hung his jacket on a thick branch close to the flames to dry, and picked it up, folded it and, when he laid down on the floor, placed it beneath his head. "I don't care," he whispered to himself and allowed his eyes to shut. Though, no matter how much he tried to convince his troubled conscience, he couldn't make it find any rest. Something could happen to Thapki...

Bihaan didn't remember falling asleep.

The more he was startled by the icy cold water hitting him viciously on his exposed skin. Jerking up, heart in his throat, he blinked several times to get rid of the sleep. "Wha...?" The patter of heavy rain reached his ears before his mind fully registered that it was raining. And badly so. The longer he sat, frozen to his spot, the stronger the rain got and the louder the wind howling around him turned. And colder.

His gaze snapped to the left. Of course, the fire was no more.

Out of the corner of his vision, he caught sight of a hunched figure leaning against a tree, shivering violently. Thapki. Grabbing his jacket in one hand and pushing himself up with the other, he rushed over to her. God, why is our luck so rotten?

"Thapki? Thapki!" He knelt down next to her and shook her. "Thapki!"

Her head rolled towards him, bleary eyes staring up. "Huh?"

Instinctively, Bihaan laid his palm against her forehead - and cursed inwardly. That idiot was burning! Couldn't she make his life easier instead of harder? Stupid!

Spreading out his jacket, Bihaan held it over them both. But it wasn't working as the cloth could not cover both of them fully and keep the rain away. Well, then... He slid his favorite jacket over Thapki's shoulders, stretched it around her knees and successfully covered her bare legs, before he leaned in closer and tucked her head beneath his arms.

Thapki stiffened. Her arms dug into his abdomen, protesting silently. "What are you d-d-doin'?"

"Keeping you alive," he murmured back. "Now, shut up. I don't like it, either, but I dislike you dying on me more."

It was true, he didn't like it. The feeling of holding someone was so strange... But Thapki trembling uncontrollably against him... the unnatural heat she was emanating... It stirred something deep inside of him; strung chords which sent waves of fear and worry flooding him.

Bihaan shifted a little so that his side was touching the trunk, and bend further over Thapki, turning into a human shield for her. He felt the rain whipping against his bare upper body and the wind chilling his bones, but his whole focus was on Thapki and protecting her from any further assault of Mother Nature.

He didn't fully grasp that sentiment. What was it that stirred the desire to keep that girl safe deep inside of him? The fact that she was already sick?

Of course, Thapki Madame couldn't just accept the offered help. She pushed away, as little as the trunk allowed her to, and unwrapped the jacket from around herself. "Stupid. If you c-c-can do that, we can a-a-also share. No n-ne-need to play the s-sac-sacri-sacrificial lamb."

The sole problem was that the jacket simply wasn't enough for two adults. It was an old one, a gift from Bauji from years ago, he had outgrown it somewhat and only carried it around out of habit. Mostly, when he was unrestful and wanted to feel Bauji's support in any way possible. But seeing the fierce determination burning in Thapki's eyes, he bit down on his tongue and instead, helped her by taking the article of clothing and spreading it over their heads. His lower arms rested against the tree for some halt.

"Happy?"

Thapki didn't reply, her attention focused on her own hands which were twisting into Bihaan's shirt where it covered her knees. He could practically sense the discomfort buzzing off her... Understandably. They were so close the he was able to hear her breathing and feel every tremble that rippled through her body. He could even count the red specks dusting her pale cheeks...

Bihaan looked away hastily. Speak about awkward.

Suddenly, loud, warning thunder rushed over the sky- Thapki gasped in fright and jerked forward, fingers digging into Bihaan's shoulders. The unexpected weight hitting him made Bihaan lose his balance though, he caught himself with both his hands shooting out behind him, hissing lowly when piercing pain shot through his left wrist. The jacket landed on both their heads, absolute darkness engulfing them.

Thapki's erratic breaths were fanning over his collarbone.

"I... I h-h-hate-hate storms," she told him quietly, which was a surprise in and by itself. Thapki admitting a weakness to him? Must be the fever.

"It's just a little storm," he found himself saying awkwardly. Urgh, he was not good in this whole consoling business. "As soon as it passes, we'll find our way out of here."

She shifted a little, her knees pressed uncomfortably into his thighs in the process. Letting her forehead rest against his left shoulder, she sighed. "I want to g-g-go home. Everyone m-mu-must be worried." Her voice was becoming sluggish the more she spoke. "All... your... fault."

Bihaan couldn't suppress the urge to roll his eyes. Sick or not, that girl could never let go of her resentment for him, apparently. At least in terms of words - cuddling seemed to be alright! He moved them back up and maneuvered Thapki into her original position, her head rolling to the side against the tree trunk. She was half asleep.

"That," he murmured quietly, his voice drowned in the insistent patter of the rain, "is going to be l for a long night with l for little sleep."

***

The next time he woke up, it was due to the pain that shot through the back of his head and his spine. Of bloody course, there was no normal method to rise someone from sleep. Or, just him, really. And he was damn sure, judging from the constant throbbing in his temples, that he hadn't been sleeping for too long.

He groaned more in irritation than pain, as he sat up slowly and glared at Thapki. "Have you lost it completely?!"

A flicker of remorse rushed over her features but it was gone as soon as it appeared, making him wonder whether he had imagined it. "I was st-sta-startled. You sh-shou-should-shouldn't have been that c-close to me!"

"A for amazing," he huffed indignantly, "how you always find a reason to a for accuse me for everything!"

Thapki glared back at him. "Well, if n-not for you, I w-would-wouldn't be stuck in this s-sit-situation!"

"You mean, if not for your stubbornness not to accept my help," he corrected her haughtily.

"Look, I didn't n-nee-" The rest of her sentence was swallowed by a fit of coughs.

Just then, Bihaan noticed that her cheeks were burning red, a stark contrast to her unhealthy pale skin, and her body was trembling. The fever. Standing up, Bihaan took a step forward but stopped himself, hesitation filling him. Thapki's coughs sounded horrible, and the fever... Damn. What was he supposed to do?! He needed to do something!

"We need to get out of her," he said, thinking loudly without really realizing it.

Thapki glanced at him warily as she, supporting herself against the tree with one hand while the other was clutching his jacket, stood on shaky legs. "Then l-le-let's go."

"You want to walk?" he asked incredulously.

"No, you are c-ca-carrying me," Thapki retorted sarcastically. "Of c-cour-course, I am walking."

Bihaan watched her doubtfully. She was limping, something had to be wrong with her foot, and swaying slightly. Yet, he refrained from commenting. No need to hurt her ego and risk another verbal outlash.

"And where are we going?"

Thapki looked at him as if to ask Seriously? She pointed towards the river some distance in front of them, the one they had had the unfortunate pleasure to meet. "A-al-along the water. Where it st-sto-stops, we m-mi-might be able t-to climb up and be b-ba-back on street."

Bihaan observed the river though, due to the trees staying close and this and the darkness of the night, it was impossible to make out how far it ran. What if it never stopped? Alright, that was an exaggeration but still, it could take forever! On the other hand, they were surrounded by trees and had to go one way or another. Sitting around wouldn't do them any good especially not in their current situation- half clothed, drenched and ill.

"Are you c-co-coming?" Thapki shouted and turned a little to stare questioningly at him.

"Whether her tongue works haltingly," Bihaan muttered to himself as he trudged behind her, "her legs definitely don't."

The rain might have stopped but the wind was still blowing strongly and in turn, branches of trees rustled and swayed dangerously. More than once, Bihaan had to duck in order to avoid being hit straight in the face. Not that it was that big of a help since his skin was already burning from the scratched of vicious thorns, they were walking almost blindly through plants and bushes, after all.

There was no end in sight. And the silence was driving him crazy! He hated silence. The only sounds leaving his unwilling company were her occasional coughing fits.

After something hit him on his right temple, Bihaan had had enough. "Do you even see where you are walking?" he growled at the silhouette of Thapki. "It was a stupid idea to leave! We should have waited for the day to break!"

No reply.

"Hel-lo-ho! M for Miss I-know-it-all you were m for mistaken, this time. Big surprise!"

Still, nothing.

"Oy, chuk chuk gadhi, I am-"

Thapki stumbled, a loud, pained gasp escaping her. Bihaan was with her in a matter of seconds, grabbed her wrist and wound his arm around her waist. For a moment, Thapki seemed to be disoriented, she stared long at him as if to put a name to his face. Though, when she found her composure, she wriggled out of his hold.

"D-d-don't!"

Great. "What is your problem?!" he hissed angrily. "First, you ignore me. And now, this! I was helping you. Do you understand? Hel-ping."

"Look." Thapki was massaging her forehead, not even glancing at him. "I don't w-wa-want to fight. I d-do-don't need your h-h-hel-help, I need you to hu-hurry."

"But why?" he asked exasperatedly. "It's fruitless to walk blindly through a forest!"

"Because I want t-t-to go home!" she shouted, her voice hysteric and colored by tears. "My p-pa-par-parents will be worried s-sick, by now!"

Stunned by such a vehement reaction, Bihaan closed his mouth. Well, that was probably even true. His family was upset with him so, it was doubtful that anyone had noticed his absence, but Thapki's family was kind of over protective. Most likely, they were beyond worried.

Apparently taking his silence as agreement, Thapki resumed walking - only to slip the very next moment. Bihaan had reached out on instinct, gripping her hands, but stumbled on something hard himself and fell forward with a surprised shout.

Platsh.

Of course. He slumped slightly, letting his forehead rest on the wet earth. In his ear, Thapki's erratic pulse was echoing loudly and clearly. An accursed puddle. It just had to be.

Pushing himself up a little, he didn't plan on crushing Thapki, after all, he looked down at her beneath him - and couldn't contain the onslaught of sudden laughter. The sliver of moonlight, as slim as it was, was enough to see her face- half covered in mud, even her nose, giving the grimace she was pulling a very comical note. She looked like a child who had played in a puddle and was now pouting due to the dirt clinging to her.

Maybe the fact that she had acted so high and sure just moments ago and was now in such a situation, added to his amusement, as well.

"You don't n-nee-need to laugh!" she said, sounding miffed, and swept her fingers over his left temple, showing them to him afterward. Mud. "H-ha-have a look at yourself, first!"

"I don't mind." He shrugged. They already looked like wrecks, some more adding to their misery wouldn't make any difference. Bending his elbows, he leaned down, close enough that the tips of their noses almost brushed. He grinned cheekily. "But now, I, at least, understand what they mean with The higher you fly, the deeper you fall'."

Thapki glared at him and he wriggled his brows mischievously, in return. She wasn't saying anything, her eyes flying from right to left, a little unfocused, and he simply stared back. There was a hair strand glued to her muddied cheek, little puffs of breath left her lips. But her eyes were the most expressive features-

They both startled simultaneously when the cry of an owl cut through the night's silence. Their heads collided painfully, eliciting from both of them moans and hisses. Damn.

"Get off me!" Thapki demanded.

Bihaan was about to comply only too happily, but halted mid-motion. Staring back at Thapki, he hit his forehead against hers, again - a little too hard than intended. Shit, that hurt! It never looked this painful in the movies- Paan be damned!

"Ah! What are you d-d-doing?!"

He sat up straight, his left hand unconsciously brushing over Thapki's leg. "We already fight a lot, no need for more. What is this?" Confused, he examined her legs. He had felt something rough, something... like broken skin or a cut. And surely enough, there was a large, dark spot adorning the spot just beneath her left knee. He didn't need daylight to know that it was blood.

"I... I don't know," Thapki admitted quietly while moving into an upright position. "I h-hi-hit myself so m-many times..."

"That's it, we are not moving an inch from here! God knows what else could happen."

"But, Bihaan!" She gripped his arm, stopping him from turning away. "I ha-have to go home. We can't... please!"

Stubborn girl. And I am a fool because I can't say No. "Fine. But you are not walking. Not with that wound, not with your fever and definitely not with that ugly limp!"

She frowned. "Wha-?"

Without another word, he reached under her knees with one arm and around her shoulders with the other and stood up with Thapki in his hold, ignoring the pain shooting through his wrist.

"What are y-yo-you doing?" Thapki exclaimed in shock.

"Shut up," Bihaan grunted, and started to walk, focus firmly on the river. "You want to go home, I will bring you home. Just... let me, okay?"

He could sense the surprise Thapki felt, what for, he wasn't sure. But thankfully, she kept quite - though, her gaze burning on him.

*

The hardest part, after reaching the end of the river, was climbing up the hill with added weight in his arms. For a split second, he had even been tempted to take a short break before taking on this elephant task - but he knew if he were to do that, the adrenaline pumping through his veins would cease. He needed to get up, now.

To her credit, Thapki wound her arms around his neck so that one of his hands was free to support them. And there were stones and bumps he could find some footing on.

Still, it felt like an eternity.

The very moment he had reached his destination, he crumpled down, breathing heavily. His muscles were aching with exhaustion, his wrist burning painfully and his heart was pounding so loudly against his chest that he was sure Thapki could hear it. The throbbing in his temples had reached unbearable heights but he resisted the ache, not allowing it to wrap itself around his mind and numb it.

Thapki's head rolled against his shoulder. She, too, was trying to catch her breath, and her eyes were half-lidded. Considering her fever, it was a wonder that she hadn't already fallen unconscious.

Bihaan looked around. He recognized the area as he used this specific street occasionally, it was perfect for long, thoughtful drives. Thapki's home, if he wasn't mistaken, wasn't that far from here - at least not as far as his bike. If he went down to get his bike, it would take quite long and he would risk wasting time that could be spent on getting Thapki some much needed treatment.

The girl was burning like an oven in his arms, for God's sake!

Gritting his teeth in determination, Bihaan dragged himself to his feet with Thapki still in his arms. His limbs ached in protest but he ignored it. Focus, Bihaan, focus.

"B...Bihaan?" Thapki slurred lowly. Her voice was hoarse from all the coughing. "Le'me walk. C-c-can walk."

"I'm sure you can," he huffed half in amusement and half in frustration. "Just be c for content that I am willing to play your c for carriage, Your Nagginess."

"'m sherious!" She dug her left forefinger into his chest, lips pursed in displeasure. "D-do-don't wan' to be m-more of an n-nui-nuishance."

Bihaan faltered in his steps, caught off guard by her honest confession. She was bothered because she thought she was a nuisance to him and not because it was him who was carrying her? That was... He shook his head. "Don't be stupid. You are sick and hurt, it's my responsibility to keep you safe." After everything I caused you.

Thapki's finger glided over his chest to his right shoulder, and he hissed in surprise when she brushed a lager scratch there. "You... hurt, as w-w-well. And w-warm."

"I'm not," he denied, knowing fully well how stupid it was. It wouldn't be too shocking if he, too, came down with a fever- but his determination made him go on, either way.

Thapki clicked her tongue in distaste. "I d-don't like l-l-lies."

"I'm aware." The corners of his mouth pulled up into a little smile. "But sometimes, they are necessary."

By the times he had finished talking, Thapki was already asleep. He chuckled at the sight, both brows raised high. So much about I can walk'.

*

"Thapki!"

Dhruv?

Bihaan blinked through the exhausted haze that had made him move in a trance like state these past... actually, he had no idea how long he had been walking. He lifted his head, recognizing Thapki's home immediately, and frowned in confusion. Aditi was just rising from the bench on the terrace and Dhruv was next to her, looking equally confused as he, himself.

"Bihaan?"

Behind Aditi and Dhruv, Thapki's parents and brother rushed out of the door. They exchanged stunned looks amongst each other- as Thapki had predicted, her parents had been worried. They looked horrible. Ragged and tired, pale. Tensed.

"You know," he said as he climbed up those few steps. "I might be s for strong but definitely not s for superman. Thapki is no-" He missed a step, impossibly enough, and gasped in surprise when he lost his balance - Dhruv and Varun caught him. The latter took his sister from his arms, faltering only slightly when Thapki's right hand still kept clutching Bihaan's shoulder. Bihaan removed it gently.

Was it strange, this feelings of sudden loss that hit him?

"What... what happened?" Thapki's mother asked worriedly as she rushed towards her daughter. "Why is she in such a state?"

"And what are you doing with her?!" Aditi added angrily, glaring at him.

Bihaan shrugged sluggishly before he leant sideways against his brother. "Long story, Princess."

"You look horrible," he heard Dhruv exclaim. "Both of you. What in God's name... we all have been so worried for Thapki!"

"Dhruv." Bihaan stared at him through hooded eyes before he let his gaze roam over the Chaturvedis, finally resting at Thapki's father. "She needs a doctor."

The man nodded hastily. "Of course! Bring them both in."

Bihaan barely noticed what happened afterwards - blissful darkness was creeping up on him and he let it engulf him happily.