"Here. Have some water. You look exhausted.", Mihika held out a bottle of water to him.
"Thanks but I think this can wait. There are still people who need help.", Abhishek pushed the bottle away and tried to leave but he felt a delicate hand on his arm stopping him.
"The family are there helping out as many people as they can. You need to drink some water sir. You've been running around in the dust and soot and you need to drink some water.", Mihika opened the bottle of water and handed it to Abhishek.
He gazed at her for a moment before taking the bottle from her outstretched hand.
"Why are you looking at me that way?", Mihika asked when she spotted Abhishek's questioning gaze.
"I should be the one comforting you because of the tragedy that happened to Ishita but here you are being concerned about my well-being. How are you coping?", Abhishek kept his eyes on her slim form as he gulped down the cool water.
Mihika sighed and rubbed her eyes exhaustively. Dark circles had formed around her large eyes and she was covered with soot and dust just as Abhishek was. Her bloodshot eyes were proof of the countless tears she had shed ever since she heard that her Akka and her little Ruhi and Adi were caught in the earthquake's aftermath.
"I'm fine.", she answered tiredly and Abhishek shook his head in disbelief.
"You're not fine Mihika. I did tell you to be strong but you don't have to hold everything in. Come with me.", Abhishek gestured towards the medics who were tending to the injured in makeshift tents.
"No.. I need to go back to be with the family.", Mihika tried to turn away but Abhishek caught hold of her arm.
"You need to learn how to take your own advice Miss Mihika Iyer.", he gave her a wry smile and led her towards the direction of the tents.
"Here. Wrap this around yourself.", Abhishek opened up a blanket and placed it around Mihika's shoulders. She smiled slightly and pulled the thick woolly material around herself. Her thin nightshirt and leggings didn't provide much protection from the chilly midnight breeze floating through the dust and smog emanating from the broken building parts.
"Thank you sir.", she thanked him when he walked over with two cups of hot coffee that were being handed out by volunteers setting up food and water kiosks around the area for the people helping out in clearing the debris.
"Drink. You need it. Mihika you need to go home and rest. Take Adi, Ruhi and the rest of the family home. I'll head over to the hospital to check up on Raman and Ishita in a while.", Abhishek sipped his small cup of coffee thoughtfully.
Mihika shook her head vehemently. "No I want to go to the hospital with you. I want to know how Akka is and Jiju.. he's in a bad state. I need to be there.." she protested her hands shaking in such a way that she almost spilled the hot coffee onto herself.
"Careful!", Abhishek instantly reached out and steadied her hand before she could cause any more damage to herself.
"See! Exactly what state are you in that you're volunteering for such things?", Abhishek narrowed his eyes at Mihika who had the decency to blush at her blunder.
"I just want to help.", she sighed closing her eyes and enjoying the peace of the quiet tent for a few moments. When she opened her eyes after a while she found Abhishek staring at her over his cup of coffee.
"What?". she asked wondering how terrible she must look for him to give her such a look.
"I wonder how you do it.", Abhishek finally spoke and turned his eyes back into the scenes occuring in the distance.
"Do what?", Mihika raised her brows. Sometimes she just couldn't figure out what was going on in ACP's mind when he looked at her that way.
"Being strong. Hold yourself together in such a manner despite the hurdles. There aren't many women with your drive or at least I haven't met anyone like you before.", Abhishek turned to look at Mihika who was staring at him curiously.
"Is this about your sister sir?", Mihika recalled the time when Abhishek had spoken about his sister. He had looked so dejected, the first time Mihika had ever seen him that way was when he had spoken about her.
Abishek gave a tiny nod and heaved a deep sigh. "Never mind about that.. How do you do it?", he questioned again.
"I had to be strong. I didn't have much of a choice. My appa wasn't there for me when I was growing up. Amma and I struggled a lot to get through life. We thank God that we had Periyamma, Periyappa, Ishita Akka, Vandu Akka and later on Bala Jiju to help us through. After I came to Chennai the things that happened with Mihir and Ashok.. I..", Mihika froze as she realized that she had just said everything out aloud to Abhishek who looked just as shocked as she felt.
"Mihir? Mihir Arora? And Ashok? Are you talking about Shagun Arora's brother and her partner?", Abhishek stared at her.
Mihika bit her bottom lip. She really needed to stop letting her mouth run away with her.
Sensing her discomfort Abhishek patted her arm comfortingly. "You don't have to say anything if you don't want to.", he smiled at her gently.
Mihika returned his smile with a geniune smile of her own. She was grateful that Abhishek was not being pushy about her personal matters. She had spent countless days trying to get over the accusations and stares levelled at her sometimes even by those people she called family. It was going to take her more time to open herself up regarding those matters especially towards someone she only had gotten to know recently.
"I'm actually feeling exhausted. I wonder if there is a place to just get some sleep for ten minutes before I go back to join the others.", Mihika sat her coffee cup down yawning widely.
"Here. Use this.", Abhishek patted his shoulder with a slight smile. Mihika's brows rose a few millimeters at his suggestion.
"I told you I'm always waiting to help you out.", Abhishek patted his shoulder once again.
Though the situation was grave Mihika couldn't help but give him a geniune smile at his expression. She was exhausted and Abhishek had been a good friend to her in recent times, Mihika decided to put aside her reservations and accept his help.
"It's just for ten minutes. I'll buy you golgappe to pay you back for this sir.", Mihika tentatively put her head on his shoulder.
"As long as you don't get me arrested for eve teasing.", Abhishek smirked causing Mihika to blush and smack him on his arm.
"Thank you.", Mihika smiled at him one more time before closing her eyes and drifting off into slumber.
Abhishek sat still till he heard a gentle snore emanating from the woman on his shoulder and held in his smile. He shouldn't be so happy at that moment despite all the tragedy but a part of him was glad that his relationship with Mihika was progressing. They were not friends nor lovers, Abhishek couldn't think of an accurate word to describe their relationship.
All he knew was that the moment Mihika had marched up to him on the road and started lecturing him his life had changed. He had begun to enjoy her presence in his life. Her impulsiveness, her courage, her honesty, her forthrightness and not to mention her beauty were qualities that Abhishek found rather alluring.
Abhishek was not the type of person who felt comfortable opening up about his past or his pain to just anyone but with Mihika he felt he could. Perhaps that moment in time wasn't perfect for them to confide in each other that deeply but maybe.. maybe sometime soon he'd be able to find the courage to show her his own pain and issues.
"And maybe then you'll be ready to share your pain with me as well.", Abhishek glanced down at Mihika who was comfortably asleep on his shoulder. Adjusting her head so that it wouldn't slip off his shoulder Abhishek watched the sleeping woman who had by chance become one of the reasons for his happiness recently.
Anupamaa
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