I saw Veer running towards the door in a hurry.

What is wrong with him?

"Veer!" I called him but kept running forwards.

Maybe some important work came up.

I went towards the lawn where everyone was playing holi.

I saw Ruhi playing around with everyone.

I am sure going to miss them!

Mihir came towards me and drenched with water.

"Mihir!" I yelled and he ran away.

I was going to run behind him when suddenly Ruhi came and hugged my legs.

"What's wrong, Ruhi?" I asked seperating her from my legs and bending at her level.

"You are going to leave me?" She asked pouting.

"I have to. But I am going to miss you a lot!" I said pinching her cheeks.

Please, don't make me cry!

"Why? I don't want you to leave!" She said stomping her foot and running inside.

"Ruhi!" I called her but heard Aunty's voice

"It is not only Ruhi. Everyone of us is got used to you. No body wants you to leave Avni." She said approaching me.

"You guys will miss me for a week or a month maybe then you'll forget about it." I said with a sad smile.

"But I don't think, I can risk staying here any long. It is the truth. This family, this home, these do not belong to me. Maybe someday i would get too attached and then what if I will have to leave this?

It is going to be difficult then. The sooner the better!" I said and walked inside with tears in my eyes.

I don't think I have it in me to stay here knowing that I can never belong to a happy home, a happy family.

Not because I am jealous.

But because when I see them together, I want to belong there right between them as a part of them.

On the top of it, the more I stay with Veer the more my feelings are getting stronger.

I Can't!

I just Can't!

I freshened up. The holi party was done. We were all having a leisure time sitting in the living room but Veer has not returned yet.

Where could he be?

He is not even answering his calls. I tried a numerous times.

Just then the door bell rang and I said

"I'll take it."

I opened the door and there stood Veer fit & fine.

I heaved a sigh of relief.

But something seemed wrong.

He was standing there in a very disheveled state.

He looked at me and at that very moment I knew something is wrong.

"Veer! Where were you all day? You were not even answering my calls." I asked him worried.

He got inside without replying to what I asked and walked towards his room.

"V...!" Ruhi called him but Veer did not stop and kept walking upstairs.

What's wrong with him?

"Maybe he is tired, Ruhi. Let him rest." Aunty said to Ruhi.

No he is not tired. I can make it out!

He is stressed about something.

What can it be?

May be I am thinking too much into it!

Soon it was dinner time and everyone was on the dining table to have dinner except Veer.

"Avni.. Can you call Veer?" Aunty asked me.

"Mom... I called him. He said he is tired and has ate already." Tanu said sitting on a chair.

"I think he is under some work stress, mom. He'll be fine . Don't worry." Tanu said and mom sighed.

"This boy I tell you! Only knows how to work, work, work & work!" She said disappointed.

"You know him mom. He is wanted this since he was a child. Now that he has his empire he will do everything in his power to keep it this way." Tanu said sighing.

Yeah! Ofcourse.

He is dreamt of making a succesful empire ever since he is been a child and now he goes off limits to protect it.

Everyone had dinner and after everyone retired to their rooms I took a few brownies in a dish amd walked towards Veer's room.

Well! He can't refuse to this!

I knocked on his door once, twice but there was no reponse.

Maybe he is asleep.

I was going to turn around to leave when he said "it is open."

I entered his room and saw that he was sitting there on the bed with his head resting on the backrest of the bed with eyes closed and all the lights were dim.

"I can smell brownies." He said opening his eyes and chuckled.

But it was not his usual enthusiastic tone.

"You decided to skip your dinner. So I bought them for you." I said with a soft smile and went forwards to sit on the edge of the bed.

He just shook his head. "I am not hungry. I just need to be alone right now." He said again closing his eyes and leaning on the headrest.

I sat beside him cross legged and poked his cheek.

He opened his eyes and looked at me irritated.

"Open your mouth." I said again poking his cheek.

"For God's sake.. Just leave me alone! Don't irritate — I did not let him finish his sentence as I shoved a piece of brownie in his mouth.

He moaned at the taste of it and I giggled.

"When will you stop irritating me?" He asked with a very small smile.

"Never!" I said grinning.

He shook his head and gave me Why-do-I-even-tolerate-you-look.

I picked up another brownie from the plate and forwarded it towards him.

He opened his mouth gesturing me to feed him. And I rolled my eyes at him.

Such a baby!

"Who would believe their stone hearted boss can behave like a baby too!" I said laughing.

He just glared at me.

"I am not stone hearted, Okay!" He said offended.

"Ofcourse you're not. But the way you behave with your employees they think you can never ever get married beacuse no one would put up with your mood swings!" I said laughing more.

He just scowled looking at me.

Suddenly out of the blue he took the plate of brownies and kept them aside then hugged me, really really tight.

I was shocked at first but then I wrapped my arms around him and rubbed his back soothingly.

I know something is definitely troubling him.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"Nothing." He said tightening his hold on me.

"Veer! I know something is definitely up with you. Don't lie to me." I said still rubbing his back.

"I am confused. The decision is very crucial for my own life. I don't know what to do." He said in a muffled voice.

"You know what is right for you. Choose what is right." I said now stroking his hair.

"What if I don't know what is right?" He asked seperating himself from me.

"Then find out what is right for you." I said to him smiling.

"It's not that easy." He said sighing.

"Nothing is, we can only try and make it a little less difficult." I said.

He shook his head smiling and said

"What would I do without you?"

Just stop talking like that!

I can't control my heart!

I just gave him a weak smile and said

"Go to sleep now. Don't stress yourself too much about it. I know you are capable of handling whatever comes your way but I am always there with you !" I said holding his hand.

He smiled and kissed my forehead.

I whined again.

"I know. And I am not stopping that." He said chuckling referring to the forehead kiss.

I scowled at him and left his room stomping.

If you keep going at this pace, I am very sure I am going to fall for you again that too harder & deeper.