It was a very beautiful morning , the sun was shining like a sunflower coated with gold dust the breeze was like a blue cloud the sky was clear and the chatter around the mandir made it all very soul soothing moment.

Abhi's dadi (Grandmother)has forced him to come to the mandir with him that day because she has been sick of his temper and mood swing .

She was tired of the fights he used to have with his father and people outside. Abhi had stayed with her in his childhood and they shared a very deep bond that dadi was so longing to gain again after abhi being distant since the last 11 years , they stopped having that bond last when he was 10 years old.

He left home when he was 18 years old after having a big fight with his father. He used to barely come home, asked for anything or suggested or celebrated anything unless forced or very necessary to do so, like a birthday of any member. He had came to house to visit them and dadi stopped his car midway in front of mandir and wanted him to visit mandir with her before going home to let his soul get positive and not react with anger at home and make the new person uncomfortable.

Abhi was so not in the mood to visit the mandir(temple) hr did not believed in god or so whatever he thought it is just people being selfish and making god a way to gain and fulfill their wishes. Abhi had no idea,All this was going to change today. When he is going to see her he will believe in FOREVER , something he thought is just an assumed thought and thing achieved by sweet people like his parents and grandparents and nothing that he deserves or could tolerate or maintain.

Dadi ( grandmother) stopped just outside the mandir main door and told abhi that she is going to pour water to Surya Dev(;sun) meenal did not noticed all this because she was focused on god. Abhi entered the mandir and he rang the bell hung on the ceiling and joined his hands and then he saw her and their eyes met. Big innocent hazel eyes shining like stars. She was pouring the milk mixed water on the shivling( shivling is a stone emphasizing the great God) she looked in his direction a bit and then again while reciting mantra and continued the pouring. He was just starstuck by her he took a breath, his heartbeat quickened ,mouth a little agap, hand joined looking at her , wanting her to look at him again . She after finishing pouring, looked at him and their eyes met and she again looked away shying away . Her heartbeat also quickened but she focused on pouring the water and after finishing when she looked again she noticed he was still looking and she felt like heat rising in her cheeks .For a second she thought God has heard her wish and send the love she so wanted to have but her brain reminded her that her fate is not so Good she would not receive any love no matter what.

Her brain reminded her she was not so preety to achieve love from so beautiful person, she was not mentally stable to receive attention from someone so dreamy as him. She took chandan( sandalwood )out mixed with water applied to shivling and then to her forehead and got up joined her hand and decided to leave while looking down to avoid looking at him but her heart did not listened and when she again looked he was still looking at her. She again looked down she again looked up after crossing him to go to the gate she found dadi entering the temple who paused outside to pour water to Surya dev ( sun)before coming in and told dadi that she is going home . Dadi nodded with a smile and asked her to go carefully.

Abhi was watching all this after she passed beside him and after she left he asked dadi if she knew her.

Abhi do you know her?

Dadi yes

before dadi could say anything

Abhi then again looked at her and went after her and stopped her midway outside the temple main gate. People were going in and out

Abhi wait

She looked back and found him looking at her she got happy and wanted to shout from inside but still maintained her composure

Abhi do you live here

Her yes

Abhi which house

Her why

Abhi nothing just casually asking

She thought it was not safe to tell any of these what if he would come to her adopted parents house and cause a havoc there abhi sensed she was being protective like anyone would but he got a bit sad to seeing her protective

Her ok

she began to leave

Abhi stopped her again he did not wanted to miss this only chance he had no idea how to talk but could not resist the talking. He was afraid that if he let go he might not see her again what if she was a relative of someone living here and leaves tomorrow. He anxiously asked

Abhi a a are you um free?

She was dumbfounded she got bit offended God knows why she felt that he is saying if she does not cost anything as if like she costs something (author🤭)

Her brain was not functioning properly

Meenal excuse me what do you mean by free

She said in a angered time

Abhi sorry if you are not I I I just wanted um to ask you to go out with me for a coffee sometime

She just blinked her eyes 3 times in a bit uncomfortable way to hide her happiness

Abhi if you donot want it's ok

She asked why

Abhi because because you are very preety

He felt like cursing himself for telling her that her being pretty is the reason for it while he literally fell love at first site in such a way that he felt like his soul was pulled like a magnet towards her

Her really

Meenal said in a sassy tone

Abhi uh huh nhi I mean ha I I I mean that is not the only reason

Her what is the reason them she was being very cut and maintaining a coldness in her voice in her words

Meenal what else is the reason then

Him there are many reasons

He again cursed inside like what are you saying dude he felt like punching himself

Meenal I don't want to know

she said this and began to leave it was just her natural protective self guarding her heart from breaking because she felt like she deserves nothing. He again stopped her.

Abhi please wait I am sorry for my behaviour I like you

abhi I I mean you are very pretty I want to say that you are very kind and beautiful I was hooked into you shit

he again cursed inside she raised her eyebrow she felt amused that he was so shy saying his feelings to her

ABHI I mean do you want to go out sometime I stay here only there is this very beautiful gareden cafe here if you want to go out

Her no

Him please stop

She clicked her mouth

She said "anything else"

Abhi huh

She turned and left

abhi was left dumbfounded he could not think straight that how can she jus5 cut him off and and ask him if he wanted to say anything else and acted like whatever he had said was so stupid

Dadi came out and asked if they can leave

Abhi wanted to go after her and did not listened to his dadi

he again asked while touching her arm

Abhi you know her

Dadi yes

Abhi who is she

Dadi come home I will tell you

Abhi tell me now

Dadi come na

Abhi I don't want to go home

Dadi come or else I will not tell

Abhi ok

They went to the house and abhi asked without even entering the house tell me now

Dadi suggested him to go inside

Dadi she lives in our house only

Abhi really

Then abhi mother came out and hugged him

Mom it has been such a long time you have gotten so thin

Abhi really ma I have gained weight 5 kg in 2 months literally

Ma then also if you would have stayed home you would have gained 10 kg now come inside

They all walked inside

Abhi does someone else also stay here does any of your old friend has come with their daughter that you wanted me to meet

Ma no there is no old friends but a new friend

Abhi really

Ma yes but why are you so suprised and excited

Dadi they met outside the mandir

Ma ohh ha she went mandir with you where is she

Dadi she came inside before us

Ma ok

Abhi who is she

Ma she is going to be the best friend you always wished for you always lacked because of shraddha passing away

Abhi huh

Ma yes and she is going to be the light of our house our precious little daughter

Abhi was confused but he thought that they are going to get me engaged to her he became somewhat happy but then her unimpressed expression from in front of mandir came in his mind

Abhi does she know me

Ma yes she does I have told her you are coming .I called you to meet her only

Abhi I can't get married this quickly I have told you I know she is beautiful but you can't do that

Ma and dadi both had shocked expression and immediately sais no to him

Ma NO NO NO she is not your fiance she is your sister

Abhi WHAT

MA yes she is your new adopted sister

Abhi stopped in his track beside the dining chair his ma asked him to sit but his world swept beneath his feet the world felt like collapsed

Abhi that girl in red suit is my WHAT-

Ma your sister younger sister younger sweet sister and our house new daughter her parents and sister got into a accident with your dad colleague car near the mountains and they died and after she woke up in the hospital she didn't wanted to go back to her relatives so she pretended to fall down the mountain and got eaten up by animals and came to stay somewhere separately independent but when your dad and I met her 3 months ago we decided to adopt her she was hesitant at first but later on said yes

Abhi was completely devastated he could not digest was his mother was saying about the girl he have literally fell in love seconds ago. On the way he was just calming his heart after meeting her but could not do it now after hearing this

Then she came to the dining hall and asked when will the breakfast be plated mom replied that it would take 20 minutes just let your dad and grandfather be ready or if you are hungry ask monika didi

now she looked at abhi their both eyes met she did not gave any response to abhi's pale face beacuse she had seen him in the photos mom had shown and she felt attracted to him and did not wanted him to be her brother but then her mind stopped her from daydreaming as because referred by his mother that he was a distant person so she thought he would not match her taste and she is also not so great to be with.

She it's okay let's all eat together only

She turned to leave again

Mom asked did you met before after seeing abhi expression

She yes outside the mandir today

Mom outside the mandir?

Dadi I stopped his car outside the mandir only to let him pray with us first

Mom ohh ok Abhi get fresh if you want do you want water or something I have made your favourite cutlet. You want to eat?

Abhi no I I will go to my room

Abhi went to his room and shut the door took a deep breath and could not shake the weird feeling after hering his mom call the girl his sister. He did not wanted to eat anything anymore and just wanted to leave from there he wanted to smoke

He took a deep breath and made up his mind to leave but her face was coming in front of him and he could not deny that he wanted to talk to her he wanted to ask her about her parents and wanted to comfort her, be there for her when she needed. he wanted to cook for her something he have stopped cooking since the past 4 years

mom called him for breakfast he went out he wanted to deny but she was there so he could not say no he could not leave just like that what will she think of him

They sat at the dining table dad and grandfather also came there after it immediately

Dad you came today after all this while you have now gotten the time to show your face

Abhi got offended by it even though they have had these fights before and a lot of times he was the one to start this fight but he did not like it now

Grandfather hugged abhi you came after such a long time abhi hugged him back

Abhi yes

Grandfather why are you so upset .you guys fight like this all the time don't take it to your heart

Abhi yes ok

Dad meet meenal she is our family now your sister

she was sitting on the opposite chair

She hi

she had a slight smile

Abhi just stared at her and nodded he wanted to know if the smile was just a polite smile or it's the happiness of founding a new family he got a bit confused that if it is due to family then the chance of even going out beyond this adopted relationship is not high

Dad you also greet her

She it's ok

Abhi hi sorry I did not said it before

Mom was smiling and everyone was a bit shocket because they know their son has manners but he has just gotten lazy in his conversation and quiet in his approach with people thet it was rare for him to apologise

She it's ok

The maid and mom was serving big bowls to everyone while standing while dad was serving on their plates

She mom you sit down I will help

Mom no need

Abhi I will mom please sit down

Abhi held his maa hand lightly and made her sit and he stood up and started serving everyone was shocked that he is coming back to his old real self who was so polite and sweet they saw it as him again believing that this is our new family after coming back of meenal

They thought now they have gotten their family complete which was deficient when their daughter died and they also lost their son during that tragedy due to his mental health issues because of that incident

Abhi started serving he was serving everything to everyone and also too her but was asking her if she wants this or want that he was serving more quantity then she ate and she was asking him to serve less

Abhi are you sick why are you eating so less then

Her no it's nothing like that I just like to eat less I will eat again later on if I will be hungry

She felt embarrassed on this because she is very thin and is malnutritioned because of developing health issues due to stress and now when he had pointed her less eating habit she felt even more less eating now

Abhi ok

Abhi server everyone

he sat to eat

Everyone started eating they all had conversation about this and that she also participated in the talks but abhi was not very talkative then like usual but atleast he was paying attention to the conversation and giving small replies he was looking at her and observing her he wanted to talk to her without the family present therel he almost lost his breath while looking at her laughing and smiling her eyes shined when she did that it felt even more heartwarming then before at the mandir

They sometimes made eye contact she was avoiding it but couldn't resist the attraction the bond between them

They all ended eating and maid came and took their plates

Mom so what is the plan where do we go to what do you say meenal where do you wanna go and abhi you also and this time you need to come their is no option like a no it is not allowed to leave

Meenal wherever dadi(grandmother )and dadu (grandfather )would be fine I am ok with it

Dadi you decide we will go anywhere there is no special

Meenal movie?

Dad what is the latest movie

Abhi no idea but if she is saying then let's go

Meenal I also don't know any specific movie we can go somewhere else also

Mom let's go for picnic

Dad picnic after lunch we e should have went picnic during lunch and ate outside

Meenal let's go to mandir

Mom yes that would be great and we can go to a park before it and then dinner and if you want we can see a late night movie you can decide it later

Meenal ok

They all got up and went to take rest because as disscus they will go around 4 o clock seeing the weather it would be perfect

Abhi wanted to ask her about many things he stopped her on her way to her room

Abhi I did not knew you were um like I'm sorry for my behaviour

Meenal it's ok now that you know we are। Family so all that matters is happiness of everyone

Abhi you want to be a part of our family you love it all so much he asked curiously

Meenal yes your parents are so nice and also grandparents are so sweet so now I m familiar

Abhi and me?

Meenal uh

Meenal felt like joking to him

Meenal no you are not nice

Abhi I m sorry about before

Meenal I was joking she gave him a smile

Meenal don't worry it's ok we sorted out the misunderstanding but I hope you never bring it back we never have this conversation again forget about what happened at the mandir and also your coffee.b if it meant something more than a friend

Abhi we can still go for a coffee and I didn't know that you are my um like family I mean just someone so close

Meenal I don't like coffee and let's just get along for your parents now let's s not disappoint them

Abhi uh ok I was thinking we don't have to be like siblings

Meenal yes ok

She left and went to her room abhi kept standing thinking what to do

Abhi felt so many emotions he neede to relax his mind he went to his room and tried to sleep but her conversation was coming infront of him continuously he wanted to clearly know her mind and tell her his feelings. he wished that she was not his family that he should have came home before in these 3 monthts maybe things would be different .he had heard about her from her mother and grandmother sometimes but he just neglect it and felt more relaxed that at least now his parents won't bother him because of being single child after his sister death like they have used to be

But now he is not relaxed he feels restless due to the condition they have out him in he can't express to anyone how he feels he can't tell or explain anything

Meenal went to her room she could not think clearly what to do and what not to do she felt confused that why was he talking like that and if he is interested in her then why would he be and what if he is a player is he just interested or did he also felt that that connection to him? .did he liked he। Truly?or was he not serious for her and she was like just a fling

meenal was very confused she could not think of anything she felt like digging a hole she was trying to calm herself down because she had been। So high on stress hormones the past few months due to her parents death that she could not take even a bit of stress now

Meenal tried to erase memory and relax for the time being

Time passed they all got ready to go then sat at the table for having tea and then leaving

Mom which mandir

Meenal no idea

Mom abhi you?

Dadi let's go to moti dungri( the white temple )