1 1. Abhilasha

"You look damn gorgeous" he said while they were walking in the garden near the fountain.

She blushed she never thought there could be any guy who would compliment her. While fidgeting her fingers she whispered a small "Thank you".

They came here in a garden for a walk after their lunch date. It was a scenic place. It was her favourite since her school time. She used to come here with her friends after her tuition classes. The fresh air, the sounds of chirping of birds, the water fountain, the kids playing around and everything about this place makes her serene. The setting sun makes it more beautiful than it already was.

They just walked around for a few more minutes like this in silence enjoying their own company.

He suddenly came in front of her cupping her cheeks in his big hands making her gasp and eyes wide open.That's when she realised they have reached a secluded area of the garden.

She can feel the warmth of his hands in her body. How gently he was holding her. The way he was looking at her. The way he closes the remaining distance between them, makes her heartbeat more frantic. Like it was not beating at an unexpected rate earlier. She has never once felt like this. Then he started leaning more closely to kiss her.

Ohhh my goodness!!! He is going to kiss her. They will be kissing. She was feeling butterflies in her stomach. She closed her eyes and her hands turned into fists clutching the material of her dress like her life depended on it.

Just then she heard the sound of glass breaking. But how can a glass object break here, in this garden. Just when he was going to kiss her.

Groaning, she opened her eyes. Rubbing her eyes. She heard the voices from downstairs. These voices were now her daily alarm. This used to happen everyday.

Her brother Saransh Gupta had a habit of screaming if any of his things moved from here to there or when the things were not in accordance with him. She feared her brother. He used to scream a lot and she did not like it when she was on the receiving end of anybody's anger.

She had been dreaming these dreams for quite a long time. But never ever once there was a chance where she could see the man's face. Just some romantic moments of her with some faceless guy.

I should be reading these books less. Otherwise, in a few days I am actually going mad.

Sighing she got up from her bed, made her bed and then entered the bathroom to get ready for the day.

She wore a simple kurti and pants with a minimal makeup look. Ahhh!! So, here she is Abhilasha Gupta. She works as a manager in a bank. She looks like an average Indian girl, standing 5'1 tall, having long black hair with fair skin and light brown eyes.

After getting ready she moved downstairs towards the dining area for breakfast. Their family had a tradition of doing their breakfast together. Her family was already sitting on the dining table when she reached.

At the head of the table, was her father Mr.Vikas Kumar Gupta. He is looking all intimidating in his suit. He is the sweetest who loves his daughter fiercely. He is an adviser in his son's company.

Besides him, sits her mother Mrs.Meera Gupta. She is a typical Indian mother who loves all her children but Saransh has a special place in her heart.

She is the eldest of the three siblings. Her two younger brothers. Saransh Gupta is the CEO of the company and is 23 years old. He is a hot headed man who doesn't think much before speaking. Whatever is running in his mind is out of his mouth instantly. Everyone dreads him.

The youngest of the three is Akshiv Gupta. He is 15 years old and is currently studying in 9th grade. He is the apple of everyone's eyes. But he loves his sister, his didu the most of all.

"Good morning everyone" she wished looking at the table.

Everyone nodded and she took her seat beside Akshiv.

"What happened today? Why was Ansh shouting and most important on whom was he shouting?" She whispered taking aloo Paratha from the casserole.

"Areyyy kuch nahi didu (Nothing didu). Today Anita didi was 2 minutes late in getting his protein shake after he came back from the gym. So, you know he just screamed." He whispered earning a glance from his elder brother.

"Eat fast otherwise you will get late for the school." scolded his brother who was sitting across from him. "I will drop you off to school today." he said.

"No, it's okay Bhai didu is here. She will drop me. You don't worry about it otherwise you will be the one who will get late for the office." He joked but one look from him made him shut his mouth.

He nudged Abhilasha to help him.

"It's fine Ansh. I will drop Akshu to school waise bhi ye mere saath hi jata hai Roz."

("he goes with me regularly.")

"It's fine Ansh. Let Akshu go with Avi. In their words, it's their tradition to go together." her father said earning grin from the brother-sister duo.

"Fine do whatever you wanna do." Saransh got up from the table and took the blessings of his parents and left.

They all finished their breakfast while chattering with each other. Soon, they all left for their respective work places.

Abhilasha reached the Bank and met her one and only best friend Saiesha Kapoor. They have been working together in this bank for the past 2 years they clicked off almost immediately. She has a habit of sharing everything with her, whatever is running in mind or going on with her life. She is her confidant.

"You know, I again saw some faceless guy in my dreams." She told her bestfriend while typing.

"What were you guys doing?" She teased.

"He was going to kiss me but Ansh shouted at the same time and I woke up." She was upset.

"Your brother can't even bear you kissing in your dreams." She laughed at her fate.

Her day rolled off quickly, by 5 she was home, tired. She threw her handbag on the couch and sat down closing her eyes for a while but not for too long as her brother came running to her.

"Doraemon.. you came. I was waiting for you for so long chalo (come). You promised to help me in my science project. You know, I can't do anything without you." he said while giving her puppy eyes.

She melted instantly, how she could not when he looked at her like this.

"Akshu.. 5 minutes. You know all your projects are completed by me only. So, you don't worry I will do this as well. We will do it while watching something. Promise." she Said.

"So, which movie are we watching tonight then?" he asked.

"How about we watch our favourite doraemon? Its been a long time since we watched it." she asked.

"Sounds like a plan." he said. While running back to his room.

Akshiv and Abhilasha are the best of friends. All though they have a 10 year age gap but it does not affect their relationship. Their relationship has always been like this. Since, she was a kid she took care of Akshiv. He always has a habit of saying himself as her first baby. Abhilasha also considers him as her biggest blessing. The bond they both share is beyond anyone's reach. He also loves her more than anyone in the home. By doing little mischievous activites, pranking others, sharing their routines they are thick as thieves.

Dinner was a silent affair. Soon, all the members of the family retired to their respective rooms except for Abhilasha and Akshiv.

They both went to Abhilasha's room which was more of their room as they slept together, with all the snacks they could get there hands on and while watching Doraemon completing the science project, and lots of gossip, laughter and snacks they finally retired to sleep in her bed hugging.

It was their routine to catch up with each other while watching TV or walking on their terrace.