||Just One Breath Away-AN FF~VM pg 122|| - Page 8

She looked down at her hands clasped in his, and then raised her head to meet his caring gaze. Wait. Caring gaze? She blinked, but when his expression did not change, her heart warmed. He asked her again, "What's wrong Nikki?"

She shook her head silently in response, looking down at the floor. He lifted her face with his finger and her eyes closed automatically. She liked it when he touched her like that…so tenderly, so softly.

"You can trust me, Nikki," he told her softly, and her eyes opened. What met them took her breath away. Softness, care, and tenderness reflected back at her from his chocolate brown orbs, and she melted.

"Armaan?" he questioned her, his eyes narrowing when she nodded in response. "What did he say?"

She simply looked at him with hurt filled eyes, not wanting to narrate the incident, yearning for him to understand, to read her silence. He slowly realized that they had fought over him again. He heaved a tired sigh…he hated being the reason for her sorrow. Guilt started nagging at his insides again, and his mind scolded him for letting her do this to herself.

She's fighting with Armaan for you. One side of his mind reprimanded him.

Yes! That means she cares for me…she cares enough to fight with Armaan for me. Another side jumped in joy.

And she's so sad because of that. You should be ashamed of yourself! All you do is make her cry. And now you've even managed to be the sole cause of her warring with her best friend!

He looked back up from the floor where he'd been staring blankly, and met her pained gaze.

"Listen, Nikki…" he started softly. "You don't have to fight with Armaan for me. He's your friend, and-"

"He keeps on telling me that you've used me!" she cut him off hurtfully.

"Forget it Nikki…why are you so agitated about it?" he tried to reason with her, his heart protesting his every word, and his mind cheering him on.

"Agitated? I'm not-"

He sighed and cut her off in mid-outburst. "Listen, Nikki. I know this…thing between me and Armaan is bothering you…I promise I won't do anything this time. But please, stop being childish. Why are you two fighting over me? I-" his throat dried as he said this, "I don't have any importance in your life." He finished, his eyes suddenly stinging.

She looked at him incredulously, unable to believe his words. Why did it hurt so much? "You…what do you mean you've no importance in my life?" she asked him with a frown.

"I mean that…" he fumbled, his own pain making it difficult for him to speak. "…that Armaan is more important to you…he's your best friend, whereas I'm your…" he trailed away, looking at her unsurely.

"You're my?" she questioned, her heart beating fast.

They looked at each other, their hearts racing. What had that been? Did they know? It was a question that led them back to the path they had crossed this very morning. It led them back to the same question – "What changed between us, Nikki?" It was a path they both wanted to avoid…it upheld too many unanswered questions. The kiss flashed for a fleeting second in their minds, and they both shivered when suddenly they became aware of the fact that their hands were clasped…tightly…and it felt good.

Pacifying his heart, Abhi took a deep breath to get his mind off the feeling of his lips on hers. "Nikki…I want to tell you something." His voice had a hard edge to it, as if he was hiding something vulnerable under his shell.

She waited for him to speak, letting the subject drop.

"Nikki…I know you love Armaan…" he whispered quietly, and she looked back up at him, her eyes reflecting pain. It was a strange feeling…she had never felt like this before. She knew she hated Armaan, but when he said it, she felt like denying it. It wasn't right…something wasn't in its place.

When her eyes permitted him to go on, he continued, "But Nikki, you have to understand this…just because you love him so much doesn't mean that he will have to love you back." It was obvious that he didn't like saying it, but Nikki liked the way he put it. He made it sound so simple, without hurting her.

She looked at him sadly, at his eyes which were begging her not to misunderstand him. "I don't even know if I love him anymore." She told him quietly. If she wasn't mistaken, he looked at her with extreme confusion and…a suppressed joy, which she was unsure even he was aware of.

"What?" he asked her, his voice unbelieving, and his expression matching his tone.

She nodded, and continued sadly, "He always argues with me…never listens. He is hell-bent on protecting me from others and he keeps on getting in my way!" she complained, and Abhimanyu watched her astounded. Nikita Malhotra was complaining about the best friend who was more of a parent to her.

"But Nikki he's your friend", he tried to reason half-heartedly.

"Exactly! He's my friend, not my father!" she ranted on hotly, picking up steam. Abhimanyu sat back on his chair, letting go of her hands, and made himself comfortable. This wasn't a scene he was going to get to watch every day…he'd better make full use of it.

"He doesn't own me!" she continued hurtfully. "He has no right to rule my life…at most he might voice an opinion, but the power to decide lies with me…he's being so unreasonable and unfair! He never listens…" her voice trailed away, tears glinting in her eyes, which she tried to furiously blink away.

Abhimanyu sat up when he saw her eyes moisten with tears. Armaan did a good job of making her, and indirectly him, feel terrible.

"Nikki…" he called her name softly, feeling very guilty for having brought the subject up and having made her cry once again.

She sniffled slightly, looking down at the floor, adamant not to break down again, even though she was losing her resolve as the tears threatened to break free.

"He just never listens…always thinks he's right…" she spoke again, her voice quivering. He took her hands in his again, and squeezed them. As if not noticing his caring gesture, she went on. "I know it was partly my fault…I should have spoken up, but still…when I'm telling him that nothing went wrong, he refuses to see sense. Why does he do this to me always…I don't understand!"

He gathered her in his arms without thinking and she went willingly. It felt so safe in his arms…he held her protectively, and her resolve not to cry slowly melt away. A few tears trickled down her cheeks, and he wiped them away with his thumb.

"Nikki…"

"I don't know why he has changed so much suddenly", she sniffed.

"Nikki…you need to stop thinking about it", he told her. "He's your best friend, he'll come around."

His assuring voice gave her a feeling of support. "You think so?" she asked of him, childlike innocence in her voice, as if asking for confirmation of his words, which, if she got, would make everything okay.

"Yes. He cares for you," he explained half-heartedly. "That's why he's behaving like this. Even though I must say, he is a bit too overprotective of you." He spoke distastefully, scrunching up his nose as he did so.

She laughed at his expression, and he bent his head towards her, blinking in confusion.

"What're you laughing at?" he asked her, and she laughed even more.

"You still don't like Armaan," she stated smilingly. He liked that smile. It suited her far more than the tears.

"I probably never will…" he told her honestly, and she rolled her eyes at him and laughed.

He watched her fondly, wishing to trace that beautiful smile with his thumb.

"You two na…you'll never change," she shook her head at him.

"Well," he reasoned with her. "All Armaan does is argue with you these days…at least I can make you laugh." He pointed out a difference, smiling at her softly.

She looked at him, observing his smile. He had dimples…very cute ones. He looked years younger when he smiled like that.

"You should smile more often…it suits you." She informed him in a whisper.

He stared back at her, his eyes feasting on her. A small lock of hair had fallen on her eyes. He brushed it away and tucked it behind her ear, and she closed her eyes, leaning into her touch. The small smile still played on her lips. He had a sudden urge to place his on hers, to taste her once more…

Immediately suppressing that highly disturbing, yet equally tempting thought, he became aware of the fact that she was in his arms…actually, she was sitting on his lap. He had pulled her in his arms when he couldn't bear to see her cry, and now she was sitting comfortably in his lap, enclosed in his arms, her eyes closed and her cheek resting on his palm. It felt so nice to hold her like this.

He moved her hand away, and she opened her eyes. Her eyes searched his…for something he didn't know if he could provide. He silently looked at her, not knowing what to say.

She looked so beautiful, looking up at him innocently, question in her eyes. You should smile more often…it suits you… She had told him to smile. The very statement made him want to grin like a schoolboy at her. Why was he so happy?

He looked down at her, his dark eyes smoldering with undisguised desire...at least I can make you laugh… Those words were so true. It felt so good to be held so securely…she loved the feeling. She didn't want him to let go, but to her disappointment, he slowly released her waist.

She sighed and went and sat back on her chair. "Something has changed…" she whispered, not looking at him. What changed between us….the words echoed in her ears, and she closed her eyes to block it out.

"Is it for the better?" his voice sounded hopeful. She still did not dare to look at him, fearing she would lose all her control and jump back into his arms again.

"I think so…" her voice was barely audible.

She could feel him smiling at her response.