It was early in the morning when Abhimaan woke up. Lazily opening his eyes he saw his Meera was missing from the bed. He got down from the bed looking for her, when he found her standing in the balcony.

Meera didn't even startle a bit when she felt two muscular arms clutching her from behind instead she leaned back relaxing in Abhimaan's arms.

"What are you doing here, early morning?" Abhimaan asked in his deep voice

"Sunrise dekh rahi thi, enjoying scenic beauty you know" Meera said flashing her dimples

(Beholding the sunrise, enjoying scenic beauty you know)

Abhimaan kissed her dimples and said "even I am enjoying my scenic beauty"

making Meera blush

"Shall I make you a cup of tea?" Meera asked

"Not required" Abhimaan said and took a sip from Meera's mug

Meera was looking at Abhimaan with open mouth when Abhimaan said "what ? sharing is caring" and left to get freshen up

'Achanak se kya ho gya inhe, pura 180° mein badal gye hain' Meera mumbled

(What happened to him, his demeanor has taken a sudden 180° turn)

DURING BREAKFAST

"Maan kya order karu apke liye?" Meera asked

(Maan what should I order for you?)

"Kuch bhi order kardo" Abhimaan replied

(Anything will do)

" Par inke menu mein esa 'kuch bhi' naam ka koi dish nhi hai" Meera said faking innocence

(But they don't have a dish named 'anything' in their menu)

"Playing dumb, are we?" Abhimaan mockingly smiled

"Then tell me na kya order karu....."

(Then tell me what should I order?)

" Toast, scrambled eggs, fruit salad and a glass of pineapple juice"

"Kahan ghumne jana chahti ho?" Abhimaan asked

(Where do you want to go today?)

"Kahin bhi"

(Anywhere)

"Delhi mein ese 'kahin bhi' naam ka koi place hi nhi hai, hum kese jayenge" Abhimaan asked in the same tone, Meera used while faking her innocence

(In Delhi there is no place know as 'anywhere', how can we go to that place then?)

"Playing dumb, are we?" Meera asked mocking at Abhimaan

And both chuckled. "We have only morning for ourselves, as we have to leave for home at night" Abhimaan informed Meera

"Okay!! How about historical monuments?"

After roaming the whole day on the streets of Delhi they returned back to their room and started packing.

"Meera" Abhimaan called to gain her attention

"Hmm"

"Are you upset that we didn't fly out of India?"

"No, why would I be?"

"You would have planned to visit places, go shopping and most people are excited to go on foreign visit rather than having a tour in home country" Abhimaan said

"Maan, places doesn't matter it's the company that matters........if you aren't happy with the one beside you, no matter where you go, you won't feel any happiness but if you love your companion then...... the places matters the least, it's their presence which will make you feel heaven on earth" Meera said with a smile

"You don't need to mention Meera, I know that I am a good companion" Abhimaan said with a smug look

"So am I" Meera replied back

"But I never said you are"

"You don't have to your mood says it all" Meera smirked at Abhimaan

"Whatever" Abhimaan said to change the topic

AT RATHORE HAVELI

Meera and Abhimaan reached home early in the morning so without disturbing anyone both went inside their bedroom.

During breakfast Meera came downstairs wishing good morning to everyone and was gossiping about her trip with the Rathore siblings.

When Abhimaan came downstairs wearing his formals, joining everyone on the breakfast table.

"Bhai, how was your trip?" Aviral asked wriggling his eyebrows but Abhimaan glared him

Aviral quickly modified his words "I mean business trip"

"It was much better than your vella vacations" Abhimaan taunted making his other two siblings laugh at Aviral who in return gave an 'am-tortured' look to Meera.

Their chattering came to an end when a servant came with an information "hukum kuch log apse milne aya hai"

(Master there are few people outside the palace gate, they want to meet you urgently)

"Kon?" Abhimaan asked

"Who all have come?)

"Kuch gaon wale hai hukum, bohot ghabaraye huye hai" servant informed

(Few villagers, master they are looking quite abashed)

"Unhe baithne boliye mein ata hu" Abhimaan said

(Ask them to sit, am coming in minutes)

"Khamma Ghani hukum" the villagers bowed down and greeted when they saw Abhimaan

(Many greetings master)

"Kahiye kese anna hua?" Abhimaan asked taking his seat

(What brought you people here?)

" Hukum, hum bohot dino se pareshan hai........Bijal naam ka ek gunda hume bohot pareshan karta hai..tod fod se lekar hafta vasuli tak toh seh lete thay........ par abhi woh kisi ke bhi ghar par ghus jata hai aur paise nhi dene par, ghar ki ladkiyon ko utha le jane ki dhamki deta hai" another villager narrated their problem

(Master, we are troubled since many days...........There is a goon named Bijal, he is tormenting us in every way possible , from ruining our business to forcefully collecting illegal taxes, still we bear his torture thinking it will end soon but now it has reached to extremeties.......he would forcefully enter into any of our house and will demand money, upon being denied he will threaten us to abduct women from our house)

"Hukum hume local police station mein bhi complain kara par inspector saheb ne ulta hume hi dant laga diya" another villager said

(Master we went to lodge complain at near by local police station but the inspector castigated us )

"Hukum aab aap hi humari akhri umeed hai" a villager told folding his hands

(Master now you are our last hope)

"Aap saab nischint rahiye, hum iss mamle paar gor karenge" Abhimaan said and left for his study dismissing the villagers

(You people don't worry, i will look into the matter)

Abhimaan was a man with few words yet a man of his words. And true to his words he ordered for investigation.

"Uday, I want complete information about Bijal and his nuisances also get me a report on the inspector of the local police station" Abhimaan ordered his investigator

After going through few other files Abhimaan moved towards his chamber.

"Sanyu ek baat puchu?" Meera asked while oiling Sanyukta's hair

(Sanyu shall I ask you something?)

"Ji bhabi ma"

(Yes bhabi ma)

"Meine pura haveli dekh liya, sabki tasveer hai par........sasu ma ki tasveer kahin bhi nahi hai" Meera questioned

(I have seen the entire palace, the palace walls have pictures of every family member expect mother in law's.........why so?)

" Bhabi ma woh........." Sanyukta was about to say something but her eyes were stucked to someone standing behind Meera

(Actually Bhabi ma........)

When Meera turned back, she saw Abhimaan standing there. He eyes had certain emotions which Meera couldn't decipher.

AT EVENING

Rathore siblings were sitting in the porch . Abhimaan was busy reading a book while Abhiraj, Aviral, Sanyukta and Meera were playing cards

Sanyukta nudged Meera, gesturing her towards Abhimaan while Meera nodded her head in No.

Aviral whispered to Meera saying "bhabi ma only you can do this, ek baari bhai ko bol ke toh dekho"

(Bhabi ma only you can do this, talk to him about it just once atleast)

Meera looked at Abhimaan then at Abhiraj who in return encouraged Meera by blinking his eyes.

Abhimaan's eyes were at the book but he could clearly see the mute gesture oriented conversation taking place between his wife and cousins.

Meera turned her face towards Abhimaan. Clearing her throat, she said "ji, woh mujhe kuch puchna tha"

(Actually i wanted to ask you something)

"Am all ears Meera" Abhimaan said still looking at the book