Opalescent ●Part Seven● 27/07

After an acid attack left half of Abir's body disfigured and scarred, he often spends his time picking fights with anyone that even looks at him the wrong way, but when he comes across Mishti who's adamant on finishing her bucket list before her next birthday so she can finally paint the last piece of her collection, he finds himself falling for the woman who in being unable to see him, actually sees him the best.

●~●~●

With the metallic clang of jail bars being pulled to one side came the sense of freedom that had been promised when twenty-four gruelling hours had passed. Time had no meaning when housed in a jail cell, seconds, minutes and hours would tick by in a manner that clung them together so the torture of loneliness would last that little bit longer.

Stepping out from between the white, chipping brick walls, he pulled his knitted black jumper over his head to cover the muscles adorned in fragments of creased scars and old burns that always looked new. His tanned skin coiled over one half of his body only to be met with a darker brown and a bloody red when it reached the middle. Flexing his arms as he stretched his back, he grimaced at the sharp click in his neck from yet another hand placed there that had no right.

At least once a week he was thrown into a cell because some good for nothing stranger made a harsh comment or gave him a scathing look that sent him into a wild frenzy of pursuit ending in bruised knuckles, torn ligaments, broken bones and the county jail becoming more of a home than the twelve-bed apartment he'd once worked so hard for.

Solitude suited him well, he hated people because with people came expectations that one of them would look past the remnants of acid and see him for who he really was, the man he'd always been even after the label of victim had been burned deep into his skin till it sunk to the depths of his soul.

"Bhai saab, please?" A feminine voice broke him from his thoughts. "Just five minutes in a cell" her hand raised, fingers waggling in desperation.

"Hm," Abir's lips curled into a smirk, what kind of woman begged to go to jail? Not one he'd ever met, that was for sure. But any desire to start up a conversation with her quashed itself the second he caught a glance of himself in the smashed mirror that showed him what he really was; burnt, broken and beaten down. Wandering over to the desk, he signed atop the dotted line "My stuff?"

"Madam, if jail is where you want to go so badly, hang with him, he's here every other night" the officer scowled at him, "Maybe we should start charging rent?"

Mishti turned her head ever so slightly just to make out the outline of a tall figure whose body warmth radiated heat to her shivering one. Her hand shot out, nails pricking his chest "Hi, I'm Mishti".

At first, he dropped his gaze to her hand, brows closing in at the excitement so clear in her tone and the fact she even wanted to touch him, did she not see what everyone else saw? Lifting his head slowly, he gulped at the milky whites of her eyes cloudy in smoke that hid a pale blue, from the corner of his eye he noted the long stick that had a strap around her left wrist. It all made sense now, she only did not care for his appearance because she could not see his appearance. "Abir" he murmured, ignoring her hand that was miles from his anyway as he collected his belongings.

"Officer Uncle tells me you can get me into a cell, can you?" She stared directly at him, nose scrunched up to inhale the sharp scent of spice and musk that surrounded him.

"You are aware if I frequent cells that makes me a criminal, I could be dangerous".

She shrugged "Yes, but if you were the dangerous type you'd be in a long time prison not a cell" she pointed out happily.

He almost laughed, she wasn't wrong, but wasn't quite right either, yes he wasn't the worst kind of criminal, but anyone in this town would tell her he was by far the most lethal individual living here. "Why do you even want to go in one anyway?"

"I'm a painter, I have an exhibition soon that will showcase all of my pieces, I have one piece left to make and in order to make it I need to explore different things, I have a bucket list of things to experience, since it's not like I can draw from memory" she laughed, "I've been blind since birth, well not fully at first, it just got worse, I see light and dark and I can make out some colours" tired of repeating her life story, she bit her lip, fell silent then clenched her stick. "So, will you help?"

He admired her very straight to the point attitude, but that didn't change the fact that if she could see, she wouldn't go near him. He wasn't the do gooder type either "You're in the right place to find people who can get you into a cell, but I'm not one of them, break a law, you'll get yourself in that way".

The second she heard his feet begin to move, her cane scratched the ground as she followed "Wait, wait".

Abir stopped, snapping loudly: "What?"

"You help me and I'll help you" she waddled a little closer.

He scoffed "How could you possibly help me? You're blind" instant regret coloured his face, he hadn't meant it how it sounded, but taking it back would mean he broke his one rule, Abir never apologised and he wasn't going to start now.

Though she didn't exactly seem to mind. "There's more to life than what we can or cannot see" she smiled sadly at his ignorance, "The day I lost my sight I realised how heavily people depend on theirs, there is more to me than what I don't have" her anklets tinkled as she turned the other way. "What you lose does not define you, what you find does" with a sprinkle of wisdom she headed off.

Side note- I will try to write Mishti's blindness as respectfully as I can, but I am not blind, so may mess up sometimes, so bare with me please!

The Winter's Widow has also been updated

●Part One●

With a hood over his head, Abir pushed through the hoard of shoppers to get to the alcohol, his hand had just wrapped around a bottle of whiskey when a melodic voice snatched his attention.

"Excuse me, would you mind helping me find the waffles?" Her stick scanned the ground, hitting his heel as it did, "Sorry" she giggled, "I can never watch where I'm going". These kind of jokes weren't everybody's cup of tea, but the last thing she wanted to be treated as was incapable, so she joked hoping that others would treat her normally rather than act awkward around her- which they normally always did.

Running his eyes discreetly over her, he smirked at the silver bangles covering her wrists that did not match with her baby pink pyjamas "You do realise you're in your night clothes, right?"

"Yes" Mishti smiled, "I only live across the road, fancied waffles" she usually knew her way around this shop, but they'd lately changed everything around which of course was a big nuisance. "I recognise your voice, do I know you?" She reached out a hand to touch him only to drop it when he hissed.

"Abir " he barked, slamming the waffles into her hand. "Don't touch me" he cringed, shuffling past her.

"Sorry" she shouted, turning slowly so she wouldn't knock anything. "I don't have germs, you know".

"That wasn't why I-" he shook his head, "Never mind" paying for the bottle, he headed outside, hand skirting over his facial features in distress.

"Ooh, that must burn" a man laughed into his hand, nudging his friend to look beside the shop.

Clenching his fist, he took five calm breaths, they weren't worth it, all he wanted to do was go home, drink himself into oblivion and sleep, life was better that way. Swearing under his breath at the onslaught of rain pouring heavy onto his back, he shook the drops from his hair and turned the other way.

The man watched his reflection in the glass of the window "Don't stare too long, it may smash".

Before he could approach him and show him what a smashed mirror really looked like, Mishti spoke up "Hey, that's not very nice" her anklets tinkled as she moved forward, "Apologise" she ordered, upon hearing no response she lifted her stick to hit them around the head, "I said, apologise!"

"Jesus" the man rubbed his scalp, "Sorry, there, happy now?" He stormed off, dragging his friend beside him.

Abir spun on his heel, his face a picture of disbelief as he watched her brush dirt from her top from the puddle she'd just stepped in. Standing before her, he grabbed her upper arm causing her head to shoot up and brows to knit. Losing himself in the opaque of her eyes, he inhaled sharply, no one had ever stuck up for him that way, in fact, no one had stuck up for him at all! "Why?"

She frowned "Why what?"

"Why did you tell them off?"

"Oh" she smiled, finally understanding, "It's our duty to stick up for those who are bullied, no? Do you know who they said it to? I'd like to see if they're okay" Looking down at his hand still on her arm, she shrugged her shoulders, "Abir , is that you?"

"Yes," he moved his hand. "No, no I don't know who they said it to" he lied, for the first time someone had, had his back, he didn't want to ruin it now by allowing her to know why they'd said it to him.

"Aw," she pouted, "I was going to give them a waffle, do you want a waffle?" Pulling one out, she held it between her teeth and offered him the packet.

"No, thank you" he had to force himself to look away from her because in that moment he was finding it near impossible. Shielding her from someone walking past, he pulled her a little closer.

"Woah, where are we going?" She spoke while chewing, shivering when a drop of rain fell down the back of her top. Jiggling her body, she shuddered "Wow that was cold".

"What was?"

"Oh some water fell down my back, I- " she gasped loudly when his hand surfed beneath her top, pads of his fingers catching the splash of water and wiping it from her skin while fluffing her top. "Oh, uh thanks" she hid her face in his chest, rubbing at her now warm cheeks. "Anyway, I should um get going".

Looking down at his bottle, he sighed "I'll see you around, Mishti". Abir unscrewed the lid, gulping back a massive glug.

Scrunching her nose up, Mishti tapped her wet hair "Are you drinking alcohol? It's only the evening" she pointed out.

"Yeah, what's it to you?" He snapped, so tired of her goody two-shoes act.

"Oh, nothing, can I have some?" She held her hand out.

A hoarse chuckle shook at his chest "You want some?" Now, that was unexpected. Handing it to her, he hid his smile as she sipped some then proceeded to cough loudly.

"Bleh" she wiped her tongue, "Bitter".

He chuckled again "You asked for it" he took it back.

She smiled sweetly "I know, I just wanted to experience something new, like drinking on a street corner" she looked down, "I missed a lot growing up, turns out people don't want to befriend a blind girl" she laughed somewhat sadly. "Have a very happy, drunken evening, Abir " then she was gone.

Looking over the street as she approached the flat, he smiled "Crazy woman".

"Oh dear" she fell through the door, knees scraping the carpet. "I think I'm drunk" shaking her head, she flung her legs upwards, waving them from one direction to another "One leg, two legs, three legs, four" she jumped at the sharp bang, "Who's that knocking on the door?"

Abir looked down at her, a quizzical expression clear in his burgundy eyes "Mishti, are you drunk?"

"Noooo" she blew a raspberry, "Yes, yes I am" holding her arms out, she waved them too "Carry me".

Slinging her over his shoulder, he huffed "Which one is your apartment?"

"Oooh" she narrowed her eyes at what seemed like a dark red colour, "I like that door, there, I live there" she giggled again, whispering into his shoulder "I don't live there, but I will now, tee hee".

"Where's your key?"

Hiding it, she shrugged "Dunno".

Rolling his eyes, Abir slammed his shoulder into it then placed her down, balancing her against the wall "Let's get you into bed".

"I'm more of a sleep together on a third date kinda girl, but okay" she wrapped her arms around him as she fell into him.

●Part Two●

Flopping onto the bed, Mishti lifted her arms so she could be tucked in "I like your house" she shuffled around to get comfortable, her hair splayed over both pillows.

"You haven't seen my house" he huffed, "This is your house" not that she would be able to see his house anyway, but he appreciated her manners even while she was drunk, most sober people wouldn't offer a man like him the same courtesy.

"Um, no it's not" she giggled childishly, rolling her lips, "I live upstairs".

"You what?" Abir's eyes widened, nostrils flaring, "But you said-".

"That's them" the elderly woman pointed at the duo, eyes narrowing as she placed her hand on her chest. "I came in and they were trying to use my bed for god knows what" she almost cried, jumping back in alarm.

"Oh, hey Miss Knowles" she slurred then pushed the covers away and stood up. "How's the cats?"

"Put your hands up where I can see them" Officer Ranjay walked forward, snapping cuffs on his wrists with a shake of his head, mostly every shift either started or ended with the arrest of this man and it had passed the point of tiring, now to see that he'd dragged the innocent yet strange girl into his mess made him more than disappointed. "When I said hang with him to get arrested, I was being sarcastic" he shook his head at her as a woman dragged her up and closed the silver around her wrists. "Take them to the car" he ordered, "I'll make sure there's no one else here".

"Not that I mind spending a night in a cell" he began as he sat in the car, "But-" he let out a hmph sound when she fell onto his lap.

Wiggling around, she leant back "This is an odd seat".

Closing his eyes in frustration, he steadied her by placing his hands on her hips "That's because" his teeth grit, "You're sat on my lap, not a seat".

"Ohhhh" she turned so her nose brushed against his cheek, "That's why it's bumpy" she stilled, hands resting on her knees.

"Are you going to move?" His brow raised.

"Nope".

Gripping her a little tighter so his fingers clenched around her skin, he growled: "Stop. Moving".

Mishti's hair whacked him in the face with how quickly she turned "Why?"

"Because I said so" he spoke gruffly, "And, you're making me uncomfortable" he wasn't about to go into detail at a time like this, especially since she wasn't in her senses- if she was, he was sure she wouldn't be this close to him.

Falling forward when the car came to a halt, she rubbed at her reddening forehead while being dragged inside. Pushing all her weight into her knees, she dragged her heels, head shaking from one side to another only stopping her dance when she felt jail bars. Pushing her face between two, she rolled her eyes around "Abir, where are you? I can't see you".

Abir jumped onto the mattress, hands resting on his stomach "You can never see me" he pointed out.

"Oh yeah," she cackled loudly, head banging into a bar, "Ouch" she pouted, "Abir, I hurt myself".

"Aw," he spoke dryly. Shutting his eyes, he allowed his head to lull to the side, if he didn't get some sleep soon he was sure he'd get a headache, that woman didn't half have a lot to say.

"Well, aren't you going to kiss it better?" Wrapping her fingers around the bar, she shook her elbows. "Abirrrrrrrrrr".

"What?" He snapped, "No I am not, go to sleep" turning to face the wall, he pulled the grey scratchy blanket over his head.

Sliding to the floor, she poked a hand through the slit "Only if you tell me a story".

"No".

"Aw, please? I promise I'll go to sleep after" her lashes fluttered.

"Urgh" he groaned, "Used to getting your way, aren't you?"

"Yep" Mishti swayed her head from right to left then back again, crossing her legs as if sat at school, she waited patiently.

"Once upon a time there was a young boy" he began, eyes falling over the wrinkled skin on his arms as he recalled the fateful day that took so much and gave him everything he'd never wanted all at once.

"How old was he?"

"Seven" he choked over the number, "It was his seventh birthday and he'd gone to buy the present he'd been begging for for months" tracing a scar, he exhaled loudly.

"What present was it? Was it food? I like food".

"No" he smiled, "It was a toy truck".

"Ohhh, vroom, vroom" Mishti revved her hands, "Weeee".

Shaking his head, Abir moved to lean against the wall "He was on his way home when his father told him that his mother wasn't very happy that they had bought the present because this boy's family was poor, but his dad wanted to gift him something that he'd wanted for the first time in years" rubbing his neck to try and rid the ache in his voice box, he gulped.

"You tell that little boy that I will buy him ten trucks" she held her fingers up, "And some waffles because waffles make everything better" she nodded to assure him.

"It didn't seem to matter how much his dad tried to calm the mum, she was so angry" lost in thought, he clenched his thigh at the memory. "She just kept saying how he put his son first, always his son and never her and then she grabbed his arm" if he closed his eyes tight enough he could still feel her nails digging into his skin till it bled.

As if sobering up, she slid forward "Where did she take him?"

"Bathroom" he bit out, "Said he needed a shower, the water it was ice cold then it wasn't, then it was scalding hot and" he rose to his feet, lungs trapped beneath his ribs in a hold he couldn't get out off. "Turns out" he laughed, "It wasn't water" he held his face, whispering the words that had stained him forever now: "It was acid".

Her sniffle broke him from his thoughts "No, no that's horrible, his own mum? How could she? I" Mishti dropped her head, hot tears burning her skin in some warped symbolic sense that made her want nothing more than to wrap the poor boy up and take him away.

"Wasn't his mother, that's why she was jealous" he shrugged. "Get some sleep, Mishti".

"But I can't" she cried, "Not now, not after" she swallowed harshly.

"Oh for god's sake, if the boy learnt how to sleep then so can you" he bashed his fist into the wall, red marring his vision and sucking his soul that little bit more in the only comfort he knew how to gain.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that, I just" she blew out a large breath, "Some things in the world are felt before they are seen, I cannot see his pain, but I, I feel it and I just want him to know that, that I'm sure he's the most beautiful piece of art this world has ever created, we are all birthed from pain, he was birthed from so much more, but that doesn't mean he isn't a gift, that he isn't worth it, he's unique and beautiful, you know? I don't need to see him to know that, because, because".

"Because you feel it" Abir completed, tears rimming his irises as he stared through the bars at her. There really wasn't anyone like her, no one had ever seen him as something worth looking at or praising, yet somehow she had, even without seeing him she had seen him, really seen him.

●Part Three●

Abir woke to high pitched screeching, the kind of strangled cat sound that would forever torment him in his lonely hours.

"What do you mean it's a weapon?" Mishti stood straight with her hands on her hips and a very annoyed expression sculpted into the lines on her forehead. "It's a cane to help me walk, if it wasn't already obvious, I can't see" she huffed.

"Did you or did you not use it outside a shop to hit someone on the head?" As an officer of the law, he'd often ran into irritating people, but she really was on a different level.

Gasping loudly, her jaw dropped "How do you know that?" Slamming her fist on the desk, she bit back the yelp of pain "Are you stalking me?"

"No" his eyes rolled. "CCTV".

"Ah didn't see any cameras" wrapping an arm around her waist, she fell forward in laughter at her own joke. "Alright, tough crowd, I admit I am guilty, but I won't get home without it, so please?"

It was at that exact point that her partner in crime was freed from his cell, brown bags beneath his eyes from the lack of sleep and a grimace that was usually tattooed on his face due to his very clear hate of the world. "My stuff?"

"Oooh I have deja vu" she giggled again. "Morning Abir".

"Morning" he bit back, signing a form to collect his belongings, he nodded his head "See you around" though he doubted that would be the case, a small part of him wished it would be. People hated him and he hated people, but Mishti was... different somehow, at least she seemed different, he didn't know her well enough to make a decision yet.

"Wait" reaching out, her hand moved from side to side till it finally reached his toned arm. "Don't leave me here, I can't get home" fluttering her lashes, she could only hope that she was holding the right arm.

"And that's my problem how?" Both his brows raised in apprehension, a guttural growl escaping his lips as she fell to her knees and clung to his legs.

"Alcohol showed you my crazy side, no point acting normal now" she reasoned. "You can't leave me".

"I can" he argued stiffly, trying and failing to pull his leg from her hold.

"You can, but don't, I'll be homeless, someone may KIDNAP ME, how would you sleep? Wouldn't you miss me?" It hit her then that she could've made a fortune as an actress, she could imagine the amount of awards she'd gain and the accolades that came with it.

"Mishti, get off" Abir ordered, clicking his tongue as he moved away. "I'm used to not sleeping and no I wouldn't miss you, why would I care if someone took you?" He knew exactly why he would, afterall she was the only person other than his father who treated him as a person rather than dirt beneath their shoe.

Finally rising to her feet, she crossed her arms, a stern look on her face "Because we're friends" shoving him playfully, she jumped back at the sound of heels against the floor and a feminine squeal.

Brushing his arm, he turned to apologise to whoever he'd fell into only to freeze, his skin a pale white as his eyes ran over the figure of the woman who stood a little shorter than him. Her raven hair was pin straight over her shoulders matching the pencil lines beneath her eyes "Ma" he gulped, mouth suddenly dry.

The woman slammed a wad of cash onto the desk and slid it forward "The disgraced former detective finds himself with no one but the legally blind as his friend" turning so her hair whipped from her shoulders against paperwork, her lips curled into a vicious smirk, "A good headline for the paper, no? You spend more time here than you did when you worked here, makes me wonder if you ever really got over being fired?"

Clenching his fist, he exhaled loudly, nostrils flaring "Don't" Abir warned, "Don't talk about that".

"Why not? Surely your new friend would want to know why people deplore you so much?" Meenakshi tutted "Oh, Abir, don't scowl so much, it does nothing for your looks, don't ruin them any more than-".

"Than you already did, you mean?" Shaking his head, he looked down at Mishti then back over at his mother.

"How many more lies? I wonder what lies you've told to this poor girl, Mishti isn't it?" Turning to look at her, she smiled kindly "He's bad news, I'd be careful if I were you" about to leave, she stopped at the sound of sandals hitting the ground.

"It is days like this that I am thankful I'm not gifted with the ability to see you, but make no mistake" she leant toward her a little more, "I see you for exactly what you are" feeling the splash of air on her face as the woman turned back to face her, she looked straight forward. "You were right, my name is Mishti, but that's the only thing you were right about, my favourite book when I was younger was The Twits and my favourite quote was 'A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly; you can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely' so while you wasted no time trying to make comments about his looks, know that he is the handsomest man I know and you are the ugliest woman I have ever come across" stepping around her, she nodded her head "It was a pleasure to meet you, some doses are good only once, let's hope we never meet again".

By the time Abir managed to chase after her, she was gone. Falling forward so his shoulder bashed into a lampost, his eyes scanned the streets "Thank you, Papa" he looked up, only a man as good as him could send him an angel so pure, she was a gift, one he wouldn't take for granted.

Loved it. Do continue soon :)

Originally posted by: shalika

Loved it. Do continue soon :)

Thank you lovely, update should be up in the next 30 mins:)

●Part Four●

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".

●Part Five●

Abir had watched his mother stand in the midst of a tornado only to use the storm to spin other people's lives out of control throughout his entire life, but he never thought it would get to this. God, he knew she hated him, but to go to the extent of throwing someone so defenceless out of their own home just because they'd befriended him had to be a new low. "Mishti" he spoke sadly, unsure of what else he could say to bring the sunlight back to her eyes. He's always been so full of hate, but she was so opposingly full of love for the world, she didn't deserve this, but then again what had he expected? He brought pain to anyone near him, it wasn't going to be long until she burnt from the flames on his skin.

Exhaling loudly, her hands tucked beneath the shirt to pull it down then she cleared her throat loudly as if about to make a speech. "Ajeeb dastan hai yeh". Singing was something she did a bit too much, but it helped her stay calm when it became too hard, she wasn't an angry person and she knew that feelings filled with darkness only made the lights go out, so yes she was hurting and scared, but she wouldn't let it ruin her attitude, it would take a lot more than this- that was for sure!

"Oh no," he huffed, not again, why did she always do this? It really wasn't the time or the place. Sure she was funny, odd too, but she had just lost her house, shouldn't she be... crying or something?

"Kahan shuru? Kahan khatam?" She continued, ignoring his very clear concern.

"It started with my mother, but I'll finish it" he promised.

Scowling in his direction, her nose scrunched "I am trying to sing without distraction, I wasn't asking you a question". Honestly, she really couldn't catch a break, could she? There were many things that could be taken from her in this world, she wouldn't let her cheerful disposition be one of them.

His brows knitted "And why are you singing? Shouldn't you be packing?" The last thing he wanted to do was remind her of her impending doom, but still, someone had to because she was obviously ignoring it.

"YEH MANZILEIN HAI KAUN SI?" She shouted over him in annoyance. Couldn't he at least let her have this? A good ol' sing-song always made things better. "If you're not going to join in then shut up".

At that his eyes narrowed, usually, he'd say something back, but the crazy lady was clearly in shock. "I don't understand" and he really didn't. Had she gone mad?

Sighing, her eyes rolled back into her head "Na woh samajh sake na hum".

"MISHTI" he bellowed, hand clenched into a fist. He'd had enough now, she had to face the reality.

Jumping, her hand flew to her chest "Why are you shouting? I'm blind, not deaf" reaching for the pillow beside her, she flung it in his direction, pouting at the sound of it proceeding to smack into the door frame instead. It wasn't because she couldn't see, throwing just wasn't an ability she'd mastered.

"You kind of have a serious situation to deal with, is it really the time to be singing?" He was trying to be nice, he really was, but she made it extremely difficult.

"There is no specific time to sing, anytime is singing time". Mishti threw her hands up in despair, "Exactly what do you want me to do? This house is set out in a way that I can navigate, it took me ages to find my way around without my stick and actually feel comfortable and safe here without having to rely on someone else, I know the steps between each object in my head and most importantly" she ground her teeth in frustration, "This is MY home, I will struggle to stay anywhere else, but I have no choice now, so if I want to sing, I will sing because it helps me destress" pushing her hands into her hair, she grabbed at a couple of strands while pushing the butt of her palms into her forehead. When she heard no response, she slowly lifted her head "Abir?"

The door slamming loudly was the only reply to her mini-breakdown.

"Alright" she shrugged, "I'll pack myself then" she shouted, hoping he could still hear her. "Good for nothing!"

●~●~●

Mishti had been kidnapped.

That's right, blindfolded, gagged and stuffed in the back of a car. Why? She did not know. The blindfold felt a bit unnecessary, it wasn't like she could see her kidnapper anyway. Alright, so the second bit had been a lie, she hadn't actually been gagged, but it was her motto to always make the best of a situation and she so badly wanted to be a bit dramatic- yes she'd spent too much time listening to Ekta Kapoor shows, made her a bit dreamy.

It was all a bit odd really. She'd been stood outside waiting for her taxi to take her to a hotel, next thing she knew she was being hauled over someone's uncomfortable shoulder and that was it.

She'd been taken.

Dragging her feet as she was led along a stony pathway, her feet crunched atop the pebbles "Not that you care, but I was waiting for a taxi, when you're done can you drop me off to the Bank Hotel? Would make my life easier".

"Shut up" the man growled.

"Alright" her hands rose to pacify him. "Someone got out the wrong side of bed this morning" she muttered under her breath. It should've been her in the bad mood, he was likely getting paid for this, she, on the other hand, was doing this out of force and for free! What had the world come to?

"What did you just say?" He snarled in her ear.

"I said" she coughed, "Someone got out the wrong side of bed this morning" her head shook, "We make a right old pair, I'm blind and you're deaf".

"I. Am. Not. Deaf" closing his eyes as he took deep breaths to reign in his temper, he pushed her through the door and ripped off the material around her eyes, "Ta-da" he spoke dryly.

"Yeahhh, I still can't see" what was he expecting, that her vision would come back? She really didn't have time for this, Wednesday would've been a better day to be kidnapped, her schedule was slightly more free then, but it seemed kidnappers really didn't time things on her schedule, selfish buggers.

"For goodness sake" his hand hit his head. "Look properly" he ordered gruffly, she always did make things more difficult than they needed to be.

Moving her eyes around the very bright coloured room, she reached out her hand to run across one of the cupboards "It's yellow, just like my" she fell silent when her gaze ran across the strips of colour on what seemed to be the edge of each step. Inhaling sharply, tears wet her eyes at the similarities she'd notice anywhere- this was her home, well the closest thing to it she'd ever seen.

Taking her hands, his eyes shut "Five steps between the bed and the wardrobe on the left when you lie down, right when you face it" he walked backwards with her, "The bathroom is seven point five steps from the edge of the bed, the steps are spiral and lead upwards to the kitchen which still needs things fitted, I was kind of short on time, but" he was cut off by her chest bashing into his as she squeezed him tightly. "Recognise me now, do you?" He smirked.

"Abir" she almost sobbed into his shirt. "Thank you, thank you so much, no one has ever done something so nice for me, ever" she looked up. "You really are the nicest man I have ever met".

Peeling her arms off of him, Abir tutted "Now, now, don't get carried away, it's just until you find somewhere more permanent". He really wasn't the emotional type, but since his mother had ruined her life, he knew he had to fix it. "I don't want you to have any misconceptions about the kind of man I am, I'm not nice and I'm certainly not good" it was better she learnt that sooner rather than later.

"Maybe not to you, but you are to me" she whispered, so overcome by what he'd done for her.

Choosing to change the subject, he stepped away. "The rest of your things will be here tomorrow, I placed you on the bottom floor for ease, I'm on the floor above, so be quiet in the kitchen if you get up early". Moving to the door, he didn't bother to face her "I'm sorry about my mother".

"Oh yeah, me too" her head shook, "I wouldn't want a mother like that, you have my deepest sympathies".

"That wasn't what I-" he left it, he couldn't deal with her voice any longer, she'd just irritate him. He was seconds from reaching the top of the stairs when he heard her voice at an alarming decibel:

"GOT ANY WAFFLES?"

●Part Six●

The clock had struck midnight and Mishtiella wasn't slightly worried about getting home in time to greet her evil stepmother because; first of all, she didn't have one and secondly, she was living with a man who claimed to be made of ice but radiated the warmest heat she'd ever had the pleasure of feeling. Sure, Cinderella had found her Prince Charming because of a foot fetish, but she'd stumbled into hers because something about her big mouth dragged him in and what could be better than that?

Nothing.

It had felt like hours feeling around her new home in search of Abir's room only to bang her head into a dizzying concussion that begged her to relinquish her aim to wake him and return to bed, but when had she ever been one to listen?

Never.

With her phone to her ear, her favourite takeaway on the line and her hair brushing his nose so he swatted at her, she giggled. "Psst, Abir" she called.

"Hm?" He blinked, one fist rubbing his left eye, "Tell the jailer five more minutes" groaning loudly, he turned away from her.

Feeling the sudden waft of air slam into her chest, her lips downturned into a pout "Um" her hand smacked what she hoped was his shoulder, "I'm not the jailer, I'm Mishti".

Growling loudly, Abir shot up, eyes bloodshot and wide as he scowled at her. "What. Do. You. Want?"

"Uh" her legs swayed, "I'm hungry, wanted to order a takeaway but I don't know your address". It probably seemed odd to a man, but she could've sworn she had pregnancy cravings when she wasn't even pregnant, waffles here, waffles there, waffles everywhere.

And guess what?

SHE WAS STILL HUNGRY.

Pinching the brim of his nose, he tossed his legs over the edge of the bed. "What time is it?" His arms lifted in a stretch that tightened his t-shirt against his muscular form.

Losing herself in the huskiness of his voice, she shook her head quickly. "Sometime after midnight, you want some waffles? Uncle does the bestttt waffles" blinking fast, her lips pursed to the left when his response was silence. "Don't mean to rush you, but I have someone on the phone so" she drifted off.

Snatching the phone, he grumbled the address into the mic then threw it carelessly onto the bed beside him. "Mishti" his head fell into his hands, "We're going to need some rules if you're staying here".

"Oh sure," she nodded, falling beside him messily so her shoulder bumped into his, "Like what?"

"How about not waking me up when I'm sleeping?" Abir really was trying to be a nice guy, especially as it was kind of his fault she'd lost her home in the first place, but she made it far more difficult than he believed even slightly necessary. He got it, she was like an annoying child with a million questions, but this was neither the time nor the place.

"But what if I have a bad dream?" Mishti leant her cheek on his shoulder. She was partly teasing him and partly not, she'd never had someone to 'lean on' before and now she couldn't help but wonder what it'd be like to fall into awaiting arms rather than crash into the cold, hard ground.

Standing up, his hand rested on the dresser "You aren't a baby" he grit out, hair scraping his sharp jaw as his head turned, "You coped before, you can cope now".

Clicking her tongue, she placed her hands on her lap. "But that was when I didn't know what it was like to have someone" sensing his glare soften, she sighed loudly, "You never know what you've been missing until you find it" shrugging it off as nothing, she rose too.

Abir's brows joined in the middle and with them, his feet moved so he met her halfway to the door. He couldn't figure her out even if he tried, simply because she was beyond his capability of understanding. Afterall, how could she always get it so right when the whole world got it so damn wrong? How could she see him when the eyes were the portal to the soul but she would never see his? "If you knew me" he began, entire body stiffening, "Really knew me, you'd know that it's better to have never had than to have yearned for when it comes to me".

"And if you knew me" she grinned, "Really knew me, you'd know that it's always better to have than to yearn for" she gestured to her eyes, "It took me a while to realise sight is more than what the eyes can see, perhaps it will take you a while to realise that you are more than you know?"

Before he could respond, a loud knock hit against his door. Shuffling past her, he yanked it open to a small man who almost fell back at the sight of a man so large and scary stood before a small woman with the widest smile.

They didn't fit, not at all, they were complete opposites, yet he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have her small hand in his as he walked down the streets focusing more on what she saw rather than what the rest did.

"Uncle" she squealed, throwing herself at him. "This is Abir, he's my new friend" turning to him, she winked, "Nice, isn't he?"

Clearing his throat, Ramon nodded slowly. He knew of this man, who didn't? And he wasn't good, especially not for someone so pure, in fact, he was darkness embodied and he wouldn't have anyone dimming her light. "Are you sure this arrangement is" he paused, voice a mere whisper, "Safe?"

"Well, who's going to hurt me with Abir here?" She shoved at his arm playfully.

"I believe he meant I'm the danger, Mishti" Abir shoved his tongue into his cheek, biting down onto it till metal washed over his tastebuds.

"What?" She exclaimed loudly. "No, he didn't mean that" she assured then turned back toward Ramon, "Did you, Uncle?" Her face was contorted into one of deep concern, she couldn't have someone thinking such horrid things about her one and only friend. Abir had done more for her than anyone else ever had and she wouldn't allow anyone to hurt him when he'd saved her from life on the streets. Upon getting no reply, her arms dropped to her sides "I think it's best you stick to judging a good waffle rather than judging a good person, mirrors reflect, people don't" shutting the door softly, she leant against it. Drumming her feet, Mishti raised her head uncomfortably "You wanna make homemade waffles instead?"

His jaw dropped, was that it? She stuck up for him when nothing pointed to him being good then moved on, was she really that innocent? Could anyone be? "You did hear what he said, right?" Scratching the back of his neck, he coughed uncomfortably.

"I did" her eyes watered. "Uncle doesn't know you as I do".

He chuckled roughly "You don't know me at all" turning away, he halted "You should never be that trusting" the warning brought the temperature in the room to minus degrees so his beating heart would continue to freeze and never thaw from the warmth she so badly wished to bring to him.

"The truster is not the issue, Abir, the deceiver is" gripping the chain around her neck, Mishti brought it to her lips so the cross dug into her chin when she released it. "God, may my waffles be as good as I believe this man here to be and if I have viewed this man as more than what he is then give me good waffles out of pity".

Swirling around fast, his eyes narrowed in on her "Mishti?"

"Yes?" She smiled sweetly.

"I like waffles with chocolate sauce".

Her eyes crinkled, hands smacking together in joy "Then allow me, kind Sir" holding out her hand, Mishti put a thumb up to the sky in thanks when he finally took it.

●Part Seven●

Keeping secrets wasn't exactly Mishti's forte, but this was one secret she could never tell another living soul. The shame she'd feel if it ever got out would absolutely be a driving force to end her life, it was just too much to even consider revealing to her new friend.

Crossing his arms, Abir raised a brow "What are you thinking about?" For the past fifteen minutes she'd stood in a daze of sorts, but that wasn't what worried him- her silence was. Sure, he hadn't known her long, but in the duration he had he'd quickly learnt that being quiet simply wasn't her thing. Nudging her shoulder with his gently, he rolled his eyes when she yelled out dramatically.

Raising her head, she stepped sidewards then reached her hand upwards to find his shoulder "Wow".

"What?" He snapped.

"Ek uncha lamba kad" her jaw fell as she squeezed what she assumed to be his cheek between her finger and thumb, "Dooja soni vi tu had" smacking her face, she winked, "Teeja roop tera cham cham karda ni".

Ah, of course, her silence would only last so long, why he expected any different he didn't know. "Mishti" he pinched the brim of his nose, "Please?" He begged.

"Awww" she pouted, "Fine, you've got me, I thought irritating you would be a good enough distraction, but it seems you see right through me" huffing loudly, she blinked away tears. "Here's the truth, I don't-".

"Know how to make waffles" Abir nodded.

"Hawww, you knew? How? Can you read minds? Woahhhhh" she bounced on her heels.

"No" he sighed tiredly, "It was just obvious, you want waffles and if you knew how to make them then you wouldn't have taken so long to do so".

"Oh" her face fell, "There I was thinking I was hiding it like a needle in a haystack, ah well, what you wanna do instead? Go shopping? Watch a film? Go for a walk? Play a game? PLAY BLIND MAN'S BLUFF? For a blind woman I play that game better than anyone" she nodded fast to assure him.

"Mishti" Abir glanced at his watch, "It's three am, what I want is to go to bed".

"Awww, why?"

"Because it's three am".

"Yeah but why?"

"Because I'm tired" he bit out, teeth smashing together as he did. He really didn't have patience for this.

"Time is a social construct made to control you, how about we tell society they can stuff their control up their bum bums and instead we-".

Covering her mouth with his hand, Abir's eyes rolled back. "That's enough out of you, you're what, twenty something? Don't ever use the words bum bums again" he shuddered.

Grimacing, Mishti's shoulders slacked. "So I have to go to bed?"

"Yes" he really wasn't here to tell her what to do, but if he wanted sleep then she needed to sleep too or she'd only keep him up all night. Turning on his heel, he wandered up the spiral staircase quickly, jumped in bed and shut his eyes only to feel the opposite side of the bed coming down.

"You didn't say which bed, hehe" she giggled.

Leaning on his elbow, he glanced down at her. "Mishti" his eyes shut as if hiding everything he felt from a woman he knew could see him regardless if she couldn't see the world. "You can't be in my bed like this" pressing his finger atop her lips, his head shook, "Don't ask me why, you just can't, okay?"

Sensing the seriousness in his tone, she sat up. "Monsters tend to be beneath the bed, not on it, I choose to be here, you didn't force me".

Huffing loudly, he threw himself back. "You say that now, but when you realise who I am you won't feel the same, I am not the kind of man who can be your friend, I am not the kind of man who can keep you safe, perhaps from the world I can, but never from me".

"I don't need safeguarding from you, I believe you won't hurt me".

At that, he laughed painfully. "All I know is pain, I know how to hurt myself and how to hurt others, I don't know anything else".

"But yet you've showed me the complete opposite" crawling toward him, she grabbed his hand and placed it on her cheek. "We all hurt, we will all hurt others too, it's only dependent on if you mean to and I can't see a day where you mean to hurt me".

"I've meant to hurt others" he whispered harshly, hand clenched so as not to caress the face of the only woman who knew how to make it all go away.

"But you've never meant to hurt me".

Gulping, he looked away. "One day I might".

"But you might not, I chose to trust, allow me to".

"I don't know how to, Mishti, I" Abir's voice cracked.

"Then let me teach you" placing her hand on his chest, she led down so her ear was directly atop his thumping heart. Stretching her hand, she grabbed his and undid his fist so the blade within it slipped like nothing to the ground. "I worry more that you mean to hurt yourself than you meaning to hurt others".

Flinching when her hand held his, he released a shaky breath as the blood marred her porcelain like skin that would never be tainted if it wasn't for him. "How did you know?" His voice ached from the pressure of keeping it all inside.

Rolling up one of her sleeves, she ran a finger along the cuts "Because I know how to hurt myself too".

Holding her close, his grip on her tightened as he rocked her steadily. In a world where he'd been alone he'd finally found someone to relate to, someone to understand why it hurt so much if he didn't hurt himself. "My father always said the people who hurt the most know how to smile the best". Smiling to himself when he realised she'd fallen asleep, he brushed his lips against her hair and allowed himself to rest in peace beside someone who knew what it was to close your eyes but always be awake.

●~●~●

Meenakshi growled at the photo in her hands, screwing it up, she threw it to the side. She knew how misfortune could play on someone's psyche, how desperation could make even the kindest man become a monster before the night was up and that, was why she'd picked the most needy of them all to do a job no sane person ever could. "Gareebon kee madad karana bhagavaan ka kaam hai aur main bhagavaan se kam nahin hoon".

Pushing his glasses up carefully, the man looked down "If I do this then you'll help my wife with treatment?" He shook as he spoke.

"Agar eeshvar raajee hai toh" she smirked.