Next morning Bela slowly rubbed her eyes opening them and looked around her observing the surroundings.

"Shit, am I kidnapped?", Bela shouted

"No one would dare to", she heard a voice and snapped her head finding Mahir standing next to her

"You?", Bela asked

"Yes me, you don't remember last night?", Mahir asked

"Huh.. what do you mean last night?", Bela frowned at his reply

"That you ruined my sleep..", Mahir said

"What the hell.. I din't do anything", Bela roared in fear

"Sure.. I was only imagining you to occupy my bed making me sleep on the couch in my room", Mahir taunted

"What did you say?", Bela asked

"Ofcourse, I had to sleep on the couch and now my neck is aching as well.. you not just ruined my sleep but my meeting in a few hours as well", Mahir said annoyed

"Oh that's the thing", Bela relaxed realising what happened

"Means?", Mahir asked

"Nothing", Bela answered quick

"Thanks.. and sorry also", Bela looked at Mahir

"Leave", Mahir said

"That was rude", Bela pouted

"Yeah, very rude that I let you sleep here instead of throwing you out that time itself", Mahir taunted

"Sorry", Bela looked down

Mahir looked at her and was confused seeing her expression change and sniffing.

"Wh.. are you crying?", Mahir asked

"I'm sorry, I can give you a massage if you want.. you will be fine by your meeting time", Bela sniffed

"Stop crying", Mahir said blankly

"You want a massage?", Bela asked again

"No, I'm good.. you first stop crying and leave", Mahir said

"Rude ass", Bela muttered moving towards the door

"I heard", Mahir said

"Good for you", Bela glared and left the place

As soon as Bela opened the room door she stumbled back and cursed underneath rubbing her forehead.

"What the..", Bela muttered looking up

"Good Morning Kuhu", Bela smiled wide seeing Kuhu at the doorstep

"Bela Di?", Kuhu asked almost questioning

Kuhu looked at Mahir with her predator eyes and Mahir din't know where to hide escaping from all the questions coming ahead.

"How was your night out at your friend's place?", Bela asked excited

"It was good.. but I guess your night out was far better", Kuhu stated smirking all set to tease even without knowing what happened

"Means?", Bela asked looking at most innocent

Mahir smacked his head not knowing if she's actually innocent and acting to be one.

"Kuhu you need anything?", Mahir asked diverting the topic

"Huh.. oh yeah, I want your laptop for a few minutes.. mine have no charge now and I gotta send a few notes to my friend", Kuhu informed

"Here take", Mahir said pointing towards his laptop on the couch

"And careful, they are some important files", Mahir said before going to his washroom

"Bhai wait", Kuhu shouted

Mahir turned around annoyed as he was just trying to run away before Kuhu starts popping any further questions..

"You din't tell what Bela di was doing at your room this early?", Kuhu asked softly

"Nothing, she needed something so..", Mahir said casually

"What? But I was here the whole night", Bela answering not knowing why Mahir was lying

"What?", They heard a voice in unison

Mahir cursed Bela seeing Yuvi and Sumi who probably heard what Bela just said.

"Maa you are getting it wrong", Mahir tried to explain

"What happened?", Bela asked looking at everyone

"You slept with Bhai the whole night?", Yuvi asked and Bela opened her mouth wide

"Chi Yuvi shutup.. I said I slept here in this room, that sounds so bad.. your brother is a gentleman", Bela shouted

While everyone relaxed, Mahir caught hold of one thing when Bela called him a gentleman. He wondered if she actually think such about him even after he behaved like a jerk with her so far.

"Oh cool then", Yuvi shrugged

"Idiot", Bela muttered frowning

"But Bela what happened? Is something wrong?", Sumi asked worried

Bela giving a sheepish smile and explained everything and Mahir gave an annoyed look seeing how Bela was telling everything point to point..

Sumi started to laugh after listening and Bela pouted looking at her.

"You atleast don't laugh aunty", Bela said softly

"Okay sorry beta", Sumi kept her finger on her lip dramatically to which Bela let out a laugh

Sumi looked at Mahir and a small smile formed her lips.. may be not others but Sumi for sure has observed Mahir's behaviour around Bela lately.

She wondered if Mahir atleast is noticing the change Bela is bringing unknowingly.. but she just wished for Mahir to move on from everything happened and prayed to give back her funny and bubbly Mahir even if it's in the form of Bela.

"I'm hungry", Bela said after a pause

"Wasn't it enough eating my brain?", Mahir asked glaring at her

"It wasn't tasty you see.. I mean what more can I expect from someone who drinks that bitter coffee", Bela rolled her eyes

"That's healthy", Mahir said

"It's healthy when you have once a day.. or may be twice.. you should know that too much caffeine is also not good for health", Bela added

"Whatever", Mahir said moving ahead

"Whatever!! Huh, whenever you won't have an answer just move away right?", Bela asked

"You better stop", Mahir pointed his finger at Bela

"And you better be nice to me.. remember I'm your guest", Bela answered pushing his hand back

Mahir closed his eyes getting pissed with her back answers and closed his fists to control his annoyance.

"Ok ok chill.. you get angry if I speak only. Such a pathetic life, I can't even speak", Bela said dramatically

"Oh stop your melodrama", Mahir rolled his eyes

"If you say so", Bela shrugged her shoulder and turned towards Sumi

"Aunty what's for breakfast today? I'll come in just thirty minutes.. I can't wait to eat", Bela said and ran to her room without waiting for any reply

"She's nice", Kuhu said smiling

"Yeah, she's fun around.. I like her", Yuvi said looking at a running Bela

"What?", Mahir shouted

"What?", Yuvi asked confused

"What did you say?", Mahir asked

"I said I like her", Yuvi said

"You like Bela?", Mahir asked

"Ofcourse why not, Kuhu also likes her.. in fact mom loves her", Yuvi answered casually

"As in a friend?", Mahir asked

And that's when Yuvi understood what Mahir meant about it and chose to play along being curious to know what and how Mahir would react to it.

"Why Bhai, you wanna get me married so soon or what?", Yuvi joked

Kuhu already understood what Yuvi was doing whereas Sumi was confused of what Yuvi was speaking.

"You wanna marry?", Mahir's eyes popped out

"May be not now.. but ofcourse someday Bhai", Yuvi said and left the place before Mahir could ask anything further followed by Sumi and Kuhu

"What the hell", Mahir mumbled ruffling his hair

***

"Aunty all done", Bela said looking at the decorations

"Perfect Bela, thank you", Sumi smiled

"Offo Aunty, you say thank you to your kids?", Bela raised her eyebrow

"I take it back", Sumi laughed seeing her naughtiness

"That's good.. you sit, I'll see if the sweets are ready and then we can start the pooja", Bela said going to the kitchen

It was Janmastami and Bela's one of the favourite festival.

"Bela, everything is done expect that you should still get ready", Sumi said

"I won't take too long Aunty, I only have to change my dress.. I'll come in a few", Bela said going upstairs

"Ahh", Bela shouted rubbing her forehead

She looked up to find Mahir and gave a knowing look.

"Idiot", Bela muttered

"You don't have to call yourself", Mahir smirked

"Ofcourse, that's why I called you", Bela gave tid smile

"Is this how you are gonna attend the pooja?", Mahir asked diverting the topic

"No, but only if you give me way", Bela said

Mahir huffed at how she answered and not looking at her again, he moved past her and Bela stood there fuming.

"Idiot stupid, how can he just walk away like that?", Bela stomped her feet and went to her room

She gets ready in a simple yet elegant white sharara and looks at herself in the mirror. Muttering a small "Perfect" to herself she came down all set for the pooja to begin.

"Bela, you look so beautiful", Sumi complimented as soon as she saw Bela coming down

"Thank you Aunty", Bela smiled happily

"Yes Bela Di, I never knew white suits you so much.. you are looking so pretty", Kuhu hugged Bela

"Aww Kuhu, even you look so cute", Bela pulled her cheeks

"I'm 24 Bela Di.. you all treat me like a kid", Kuhu gave a plain look

"You are a kid to all of us though", Bela laughed to which Kuhu pouted

"I never knew you look this hot Bela.. else I would have stayed single for you", Yuvi teased

"Sure sure.. did you forget you had a breakup last week?", Kuhu glared

"Oh yes, well and good.. I'm single then", Yuvi laughed

"Enough Yuvi, better behave seriously in life", Sumi scolded Yuvi on a serious note

"I know mom, don't worry.. I know my limits and wouldn't do anything wrong", Yuvi assured to which Sumi smiled

Mahir who was listening to all there conversation so far resisted himself from turning around to look at Bela after everyone were praising her.

"Calm down Mahir, there's nothing you should look around.. she's just another guest of yours who would go back in a few days okay? So hold your horns", Mahir mummbled to himself and subconsciously turned around

And that's it....

He felt his breath hitch the moment his eyes lied on Bela who was looking breathtaking in white.

He knew she always looking pretty, but today something felt different making him experience a new feeling all over.

That feeling of being lost and something happening in the pit of his stomach which he's experiencing after years together gave him chills down his spine.

"Bhai.. back from dreamland", Yuvi snapped laughing

Mahir realised he was literally gawing at Bela and felt embarrassed being caught.

"It's okay, no one noticed.. your secret is safe with me", Yuvi winked

"What?", Mahir asked

"You staring at..", Mahir interrupted Yuvi

"Shutup", Mahir said bluntly

"She's beautiful right?", Yuvi asked after a pause

"Hmm", Mahir hummed lost somewhere

"Huh.. no", Mahir said realising what he just said and left the place before Yuvi could ask anything further

And here Yuvi smirked looking at Mahir, Bela was the first person after years who made Mahir feel this way which Yuvi notified.

Despite Sumi asking Mahir to marry and Mahir denying it all the time, Yuvi always believed one day he would find someone who could make him feel all those emotions again and today seeing him look at Bela with a complete different emotion reflecting through his eyes gave him a hope for his brother's life.

"What are you thinking Bhai?", Kuhu asked

"Nothing kiddo, come", Yuvi said smiling

"Stop calling me that", Kuhu frowned going away

***

"This is so tasty Bela, you made it right?", Andy asked eating the sweet

"Enough Andy, you have diabetes.. remember?", Sumi glared

"Ofcourse sweetheart, if my wife is this sweet then it is bound to be", Andy winked at Sumi

"Shameless", Sumi muttered

"Gosh.. you both are so cute", Bela said in aww

"Like you two", Yuvi mummbled

"You said something?", Bela asked

"Um.. no", Yuvi smiled sheepishly

Yuvi looked at Mahir and found him already glaring at him.. he cursed himself underneath for being loud and was sure that Mahir heard it.

"Won't you eat the sweet?", Bela asked looking at Mahir

"I don't like them", Mahir answered not looking at her

"But you can give a try atleast", Bela asked

"I don't want to", Mahir said and completing his lunch went back to his room

Bela gave a knowing look as it was obvious Mahir would say the same.. after what she knew of him, this was expected by her but still she couldn't resist herself from asking him once.

Time passed and Mahir was walking to and fro in his room while his mind kept thinking how his family members kept moaning eating the sweet which Bela made.

"Was it that tasty by the way?", Mahir wondered

He decided to put a stop to his thoughts and went downstairs to taste it and mentally noted to just taste and come back.

Taking the box in his hand he kept a spoonful in his mouth and his eyes shut as a reflex feeling the taste of it.

"Mhmmm..", Mahir moaned eating and a small smile adored his lips

"She sure has a magic in her hands", Mahir smiled eating another spoon

And that continued till he completed the box..

"Was it all she made? Isn't it too less.. also when it's a festival?", Mahir wondered

"You eat such a big bowl of sweet at a time and you blame on me saying I din't prepare enough?", Bela frowned standing near the kitchen entrance folding her hands to her chest

"You?", Mahir asked surprised finding her there

"Ofcourse me sir", Bela smirked knowing what's running in his mind

"What are you doing here?", Mahir asked

"It's not your room, kitchen is open for all", Bela said smiling

"When did you come?", Mahir asked hoping she haven't seen him eat

"When you were doing Mhmm Mhmm sounds", Bela said imitating Mahir

"I.. I was just hungry", Mahir said looking aside

"I din't ask you any", Bela smiled

She smiled walking towards Mahir and stood infront him.

"This is what I said. Don't be a secret box Mahir, why don't you express yourself.. atleast one person in your life? Even the smallest of things you want to keep it within you only?

Anyways, now if I say something you get offended and say something back.. I don't wanna spoil my mood on a festival day.. here you can have this", Bela said picking another box

Mahir although paused for a while analysing her words, he felt bad that he was rude to her before that even now Bela hesitant to speak infront Mahir.

He looked at the box Bela was holding and raised his eyebrows asking her the same.

"The same sweet you just ate.. I made two big boxes of it coz its my favourite as well but seems like even you liked it a lot. You can have this also whenever you wish to and if you need more also I can prepare for you", Bela said genuinely

"No, I.. I don't want", Mahir said

"I know you would say the same.. but anyways it's up to you, I'm keeping it here", Bela said placing the box aside

"And thanks", Bela smirked

"For?", Mahir asked

"For your unsaid complement's", Bela smirked

"Unsaid?", Mahir frowned

"For starting at me in the morning letting me know that I was looking beautiful then.. and now the way you enjoyed while eating telling how much you liked what I prepared.. so thank you", Bela smiled and left the place before Mahir could utter a word

"Such a tease she is.. Mahir you gotta be more careful with her", Mahir mummbled before having another spoon from the box

____________________