||Just One Breath Away-AN FF~VM pg 122|| - Page 18

*giggle* You reminded me...I had forgotten about it completely! 😲 😆

Hehe...yup...Abhi and that too shirtless....😍

Chalo thanks! 😃

@Honey...thanks! What short yaar? It was 8 pages...my normal update is around 6! 😛 Yeah it had nothing in it to make people blush...maybe giggle *winks at Sheena* Next part has more masala! 😳

A few weeks passed, and with all the therapy, Vishal was recovering fast. His slurred speech wasn't that prominent anymore, and he could concentrate better. Dr. Shashank remarked that he was improving very fast, and the symptoms of TBI were almost gone. Hearing this, Abhimanyu was extremely relieved and very happy as well.

Nikki was extremely glad that Vishal was recovering and Abhi was happy. It warmed her heart to see the smile on his face. Also, she and Vishal had developed a sort of friendship with all the time she spent with him helping Abhi.

His good mood was obvious, as the doctor, whose temper had become a sort of a legend in the hospital, stopped scolding people at the drop off a hat and appeared very relaxed.

Alongside that, he even went about his work with a smile on his face. This did not go unnoticed by the nurses and other female staff of the hospital, who were completely bowled over by his charming smile. They even spotted the existence of a cute dimple on his cheek, which showed itself when he smirked, and the dashing doctor looked even more handsome, causing them to giggle at times, and confusing him thoroughly while he tried to figure out the cause for it.

*****

Nikita was getting ready to leave for Sanjeevani in the morning when her land phone rang. She rushed to it, and hurriedly picked it up.

"Hello?" she said impatiently.

Listening to someone speaking on the other end, her eyes grew as big as saucers and she listened with a stricken look on her face.

"Oh no…" she mumbled softly, twisting the wire of the phone in her hand.

A few seconds later, the shocked expression changed to one of extreme sorrow, and she whispered in a heavy voice, "Dead?"

Receiving confirmation from the other end, she slowly set the phone down and sank into the couch. Putting her head in her hands, she sat there for some time, trying to blink away the tears that threatened to fall.

After a long while, she lifted her face and looked fondly at a framed picture hanging on the opposite wall, wishing the news she had heard was not true. Walking over to it, she touched it with the tip of her fingers, and a lone tear slid down her cheek and she sniffled.

Taking a deep breath, she composed herself and sadly dragged her feet out of the house, and drove to Sanjeevani.

She was just in time for duty, and the others were waiting for her. After Dr. Keerti gave them their duties, they hung around the nurse station for another five minutes before leaving.

Seeing the detached look on her face, Armaan was quick to ask, "What's wrong Nikki?"

But she remained silent, her mind elsewhere. The other interns too questioned her concernedly what had happened that made her so sad, but she didn't reply. A worried Armaan put a brotherly arm around her shoulder and asked her once more, but she retained her sardonic silence.

The look on her face was so sad that they didn't even want to push her into telling.

Akash came to the nurse station to join Nikki for duty, Shehnaz behind him. The first thing that caught his attention was Nikki's sorrowful expression. He gestured with his eyebrows at the others, asking them what was wrong with her. They merely shrugged to convey that they didn't know.

Deciding against forcing her to tell, he asked her to resume duty, and she followed silently.

Working with Nikita Malhotra had never been so uneventful. He had to look for her to even know that she was in the same room, she was so silent. By her expression, he could judge that she was holding something inside her that pained her immensely, but she was probably too stubborn to share it with anyone else.

He tried his best at small talk, but she didn't respond except with a "yes" or "no" and "right" wherever required. It was strange, to see her so quiet. He didn't poke her once, or ask her what had happened. He let her be, and tried to act as normal as possible, hoping to give her personal space.

At the lunch table, among all the chattering, Nikki wasn't talking. She picked at her food, not taking a bite. Not going unnoticed by Armaan, he tried to force her to eat but she wouldn't oblige. They all tried to talk as much about cheerful things, doing their very best to lift her mood, but to no avail.

When she got up to go to the washroom, a worried Riddhima followed her. As she came out, Riddhima grabbed her hand and took her into a relatively deserted corridor.

"Nikki, what is wrong?" she asked her in concern, with slight irritation lacing her tone.

When she didn't answer but looked at the floor dejectedly, she continued, "You're not talking at all, and you're looking so sad…what happened Nikki? You can tell us…at least tell me", she implored.

"Nothing, Riddhima." The soft sound of her voice relieved Riddhima. At least she spoke.

"No, there is something wrong Nikki…you haven't said a word, and you didn't even eat anything!"

"I'm telling you na, it's nothing. Don't worry about it." She said quietly, and tried to leave.

Blocking her way, Riddhima stood in front of her. "I'm your friend, Nikki. And it hurts me to see you like this. What happened? Did you fight with Dr. Modi?" she asked softly.

"No, it's not that…just…" she hesitated, looking elsewhere.

"What?"

"Nothing…I just need some time alone, Riddhima, please", she pleaded to her friend, hints of tears in her eyes.

Confused but still worried, she moved out of her way, letting her leave, wondering what it was that made the normally talkative and cheerful Nikki become so silent and sad.

On her way to Abhimanyu's office for duty, Nikki was stopped by Akash, who appeared very concerned.

"Nikki…what's wrong?" he asked her quietly, not wanting to intrude too much.

"Nothing", she said and tried to go, but he moved, blocking her way.

"You can tell me Nikki", he said.

"I don't want to, please go", she said through gritted teeth, scared that she might break down any moment.

Hurt by her reaction, he moved away and allowed her to go.

Literally running into Abhi's office, she banged to door behind her and settled herself on her usual chair.

Letting out a low whistle, he commented wryly, "Well, someone is in a bad mood…"

Not replying, she set the few files she had been carrying on his desk. Smirking, yet deciding not to prick her for she might explode, he took the files and examined them for a while before walking over to her side and sitting on the chair beside her.

"Okay, so we have to give a new presentation next week…" he started off, and she listened.

He couldn't help but notice that her attention was somewhere else as she stared blankly at the file in his hand. Irritated after observing her lack of attention for ten minutes, he lost his cool.

"Nikki?" he called her, only to receive no response.

"NIKITA!" he said, loudly, shaking her out of whatever she was thinking.

Extremely annoyed, he glared at her. "I've been talking non-stop for the past half hour, trying to explain things to you and here you are thinking about God-knows-what!"

Blinking furiously, she looked down stubbornly, not answering.

"What is wrong with you Nikita?" he scowled, grabbing her upper arm.

"Why is everyone asking me that? Can't you guys just leave me alone?" she burst out without warning, looking at him, and tears glistening in her eyes.

Cursing mentally for blowing up on her, he softened his tone. Her misty eyes sent pangs of hurt through him.

"Hey, I was just…I'm sorry…" he tried to apologise, but she cut him through, her voice shaking.

"What's your problem? Can't people stop interfering in everything?" she swallowed a painful lump that had formed in her throat, and tried to blink away the tears that threatened to fall.

"I'm sorry okay!" he snapped. "Why're you yelling at me? I didn't even do anything…you're not paying attention to a word I'm saying and I know that you're thinking something else!"

"Can't you just let it be?" she threw back at him.

"No! I don't like it when you don't pay attention to me…to what I'm speaking, I mean", he said haltingly.

"And anyway, I can't see you like this…you're just so…so…" he struggled for a suitable word. "…quiet", he managed. "I'm not used to it."

She looked at him for a few moments, her lower lip quivering. Suddenly, she burst into tears, startling him out of his wits. What did I do now? Oh no…

He took her hand and squeezed it, and with his other hand he tried to lift her face, but she refused to look up.

"Nikki…" he said her name softly, and lifted her chin, but she closed her eyes. Yet the tears still flowed and she pressed her lips together.

"Nikki…" he sighed and pulled her onto his lap, enclosing her in a hug.

She continued to cry, and soon sobs started to wrack her whole body. Holding her shaking body in his arms, his shoulder getting wet with her tears, his heart convulsed in pain for her. He hated it when she cried…he hated anything that made the smile disappear from her face, actually.

Rubbing his hand soothingly on her back as she vented her sorrow, he let her cry. Somehow he felt that she needed to get it all out before she was ready to talk. And he knew, how - he had no idea, that she would talk to him.

After a long while, her sobs quietened, but her face was still buried in his shoulder. He held her tightly, liking the feeling, while his mind scolded him for being so tactless in such a sensitive situation.

When she went completely still excepting her slow breathing, he slowly moved his hand to her head, and tried to make her look at him.

"Nikki…" he bent his neck at an awkward angle and tried to see her, but all he saw was her hair.

"Nikki…" he called her again, and this time she moved to face him, eyes cast down.

Lifting his hands, he put a finger on her chin and made her look up. He gently cupped her face and wiped the signs of tears from her face. She sniffed.

"Why're you crying Nikki?" he rephrased the question, since she didn't like being asked what was wrong.

She shook her head, not saying a word.

Sighing, he said, "You can tell me Nikki."

Vehemently shaking her head once more in the negative, she bent forward, grabbed his collar and wiped her nose on it.

His eyes widened incredulously, but he decided that this wasn't the time to complain, and so he turned his face sideways and grimaced, cursing himself for not offering her his handkerchief.

When she was done using his shirt as her personal handkerchief, she moved away, but still held on to his collar. Fearing a repeat, he quickly took out his hanky and handed it to her, and she muttered a thanks.

Sighing, he cupped her face with one hand and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear with the other.

"Something is definitely wrong, Nikki…please tell me", he implored softly, looking into her eyes.

"No", she mumbled.

"You trust me na?" he asked her, eyebrows raised.

She nodded, and he coaxed again, "Then tell me sweetie."

"No", she insisted.

"But why not? You've told me so many things, Nikki…I won't tell anyone promise", he assured her.

"No, you'll laugh."

Taken aback by her logic, he repeated, "laugh?"

Receiving affirmation from her, he furrowed his brow, wondering what it could be that would make her so sad yet make him laugh. Letting it drop, he said, "No, I won't laugh Nikki…I promise. Tell me", he requested.

Sighing softly, she proceeded to tell him. "I used to live in Delhi before I came here…" she started hesitatingly, and he nodded at her to continue.

"Well, I had a dog, called Pingo. When I came here, I left him with my aunt with whom I used to live", she sniffed slightly.

"Okay, go on", he said gently.

"And…and today…" she hiccupped.

"Yes…" he encouraged her, squeezing her hand.

"Today my aunt called and said that he…he…" she sniffed.

"He?" Abhi implored.

"He died", she sobbed, looking down at her lap.

His mouth fell open slightly, and he stared at her blankly for some time, before it hit him. Pressing his lips together, he tried to suppress a laugh, but was unsuccessful.

She looked up at him incredulously when he snorted with laughter, and watched him angrily as his whole body rumbled with laughter.

"A dog…" he tried to control himself. "And you were crying so much…" he broke into laughter again.

"You!" she glared at him and delivered a punch on his chest, which made him sober up immediately.

"You said you wouldn't laugh!" she accused.

"Sorry…I didn't mean to…sorry", he apologised, still with a smile on your face.

"I told you that you will laugh", she told him offended.

"No…I…I was insensitive, sorry…" he looked down, fearing she might see the twinkle in his eyes.

Assuming he was genuinely sorry, she went on, "Everyone will laugh…they never understand…they've no idea how special he was to me…he was part of the family, and now he's gone…" she sniffed.

Looking up at her agonised voice, he felt guilty to see the love and pain in her eyes…it seemed as if she was lost in a fond memory. He mentally kicked himself for laughing.

"I'm sorry", he apologised from the heart. Since he had never had a pet before, he had no idea how it felt to lose one.

"You promised you wouldn't laugh", she admonished him.

"I really am sorry…" he said, and she looked at him. "But now I understand, and I pray that Pingo's soul rests in peace!" he straightened up and made a solemn face, folding his hands in front of his chest.

Unable to hold back a slight giggle at his expression, she poked his ribs and said, "You're only saying it to make me laugh."

"You guessed it right", he grinned. "And I see that I've succeeded", he winked, his grin turning into a fond smile.

She stuck out her tongue at him, and then embarrassedly said, "Thanks."

Bewildered, he asked, "For what?"

"For listening to me…" she explained. "I couldn't have told anyone else, and…thanks for understanding…or at least trying to…" she finished with a blush.

"And also…" she stopped, for he wasn't paying attention to what she was saying anymore. He was observing her with a mixed look of sweetness and wantonness, which was making her melt and her blush deepen.

The light blush on her cheeks had caught his attention. And the words which had accompanied it made him swell with happiness and another feeling which he couldn't quite place.

He loved it when she blushed, and the way she was looking at him with a mixture of shyness and gratefulness made her look all the more beautiful.

He became aware of the fact that she was sitting on his lap, her one hand holding on to his collar and the other resting on his chest. His own arms were encircling her waist and holding him against his chest.

Awareness began to creep into her eyes as well, her blush deepening further and extending to the very roots of her hair. He didn't know when he had moved closer to her, and how their lips seemed to be just a breath away from each other's.

It was a familiar feeling, but one he never got used to, one which never failed to make his heart beat faster, which made him lose all his senses.

Slowly, he moved closer till the distance between them vanished, and their lips met in a passionate kiss. He deepened it and her arms snaked around his neck, and he pulled her closer to him till she was pressed against his chest.

Enjoying the feeling of kissing her after such a long while, he lost all his control and couldn't break the kiss even when his mind started ringing alarm bells in his head.

She seemed to be in no mood to let go, either. They hungrily kissed each other, loving every moment of it.

Finally resurfacing for air, he rested his forehead on hers, cupping her face with one hand and the other still holding her around the waist. They sat there, gasping for air, in Abhimanyu's office, Nikki sitting on Abhi's lap, looking into each other's eyes with burning intensity.

Unable to resist, he planted another soft kiss on her already swollen lips. Before he could break it, however, she deepened it with hungry need, tangling her fingers in her hair and pulling his face closer. Losing his self-control entirely, he gave in once more.

It was scary to lose themselves in each other like this. It was scary to feel that they needed each other like this, and not knowing exactly how much they could suppress this feeling. The desire that burned within them, the spark they felt when they touched, the disappointment they felt when they couldn't meet or talk to each other, the limitless pleasure that flowed through them when they were with each other…it scared them.

It was scary to want to feel her like this, to want her like this when she loved someone else…or when she thought she loved someone else.

It was scary to believe in him so much, to trust him so much. It was scary to be able to lose herself in him so completely without any inhibitions, without ever wanting to let go.

Slowly, they broke the kiss and let go.

Her fingers untangled themselves from his hair, her arm left his neck.

He removed his arms from her waist and looked in the other direction, not wanting to look her in the eye.

She got up from his lap and walked straight out the door. When she got out, she leant against the wall, resting her head on it. Her head was reeling…she couldn't believe what was happening. It hurt to leave him like this…but she didn't know what was between them, and the very thought scared her out of her wits.

He didn't protest as he watched her leave. All he wanted to do was to take her back in his arms, hold her tight and never let go. Frustrated, he ran his hand through his hair and grimaced. This was not happening…he could not be falling for Nikki.