Chapter 26

"Chand" She looked back quickly and gasped. Standing there was Vikram.

He was not in a suit, nor in his usual casual wear. He was in a perfectly draped Manipuri dhoti, paired with a crisp white kurta. The traditional attire looked impossibly striking on him, highlighting his broad shoulders and commanding presence.

He gave her a slow, smug smirk.

"Hi" he whispered, loud enough for both of them to hear. His voice came out rough and deep.

Thabal whereas stood stunned. She couldn't believe her eyes. Vikram in Imphal? What in the world was even happening?

"A-aap. Idhar kya kar rahe ho. Matlab h-how when?" She managed, her voice a mix of disbelief and overwhelming joy.

"I am on a highly confidential mission," Vikram murmured, stepping closer.

"The mission says that I have to surprise a certain brilliant medical student because two days ago she confessed, quite emotionally that she missed her anchor." He smirked as he completed.

Thabal couldn't help but laugh at his words. A soft, genuine laugh. Oh this man. He would leave her crazy one day.

Without thinking much she rushed forward and hugged him fiercely, ignoring the silk phanek.

"Easy there, Chand" he chuckled, holding her tight. Thabal said nothing, just placed her head on his chest, hearing his rhythmic tune of heartbeat.

Vikram pulled her closer, and dipped his head in the hyponitising scent of her hair. He took a long relaxing sniff of her hair. After a moment, he pressed a deep kiss over her hairs.

"I miss you so much" he heard a tiny muffled voice. A smile immediately appeared on his face. He placed his chin over her head, resting it in a comforting manner.

"I miss you more" he whispered under his breath. Thabal pulled off from the hug and stared at him.

"Message ka reply isliye nahi kiya?" She asked him with a raised brow. To which he simply nodded. Not expecting to earn a punch on his chest in return.

A chuckle rumbled through him.

"Kitne gande ho aap. Idhar mein itna stress mein thi ki aapko kuch hogaya ki nahi. I- i don't even want to talk to you" she huffed and turn away. Just as she was about to walk, Vikram caught her wrist and pulled her to his chest. Making her soft frame collide against his hard one.

Thabal felt her breath hitched at the close proximity. She gulped a little. The air around them suddenly felt too hot. She looked at him but wasn't able to held the eye contact for too, resulting in her fluttering her eyes down.

"Tum hi baat nahi karogi toh aur kisse karunga" he muttered roughly, inching his face closer to her.

"B-but mein gussa hoon" she stuttered a little. Making him know that she was angry, but somehow failed due to how close he was standing with her. And the faint smell of his cologne occupied her senses.

"Maafi ke liye kya karu?" He asked, his breath fanning over her face. She slowly shook her head in return. Vikram smiled but didn't said anything.

He inched closer to her face and slowly lowered his face. Thabal felt her heart race at the closeness. She couldn't really predict his next move. Because the next moment.

He kissed her on her forehead. A slow lingering kiss. Next, he kissed her right cheekbone. Thabal closed her eyes at the feel of his lips over her skin.

He then lowered his head more and placed his lips on her left cheek. A deep kiss this time. As if silently claiming her to be his. Thabal clutched his kurta tightly in her fist. A tingling feeling dancing in her skin.

And then what he did next, visibly made her shudder. He inched closer to her lips, kept his finger under her chin making her face lift up.

And then placed a sensual kiss over her jaw, just near to her lips. For a second, Thabal wondered why not on her lips? As she was dwelling on her thought, she suddenly gasp as she felt his lips over her ear. Her second sensitive spot after her neck.

She immediately clutched his shoulder.

"B-bas. Hogaya. M-maaf kardiya" she stammered, trying to regain her breath. The ticklish feeling of his touch on her ear still tingling her.

Vikram pulled back, a triumph of smirk decorating his lips. He leaned closer to her again and brushed their nose against each other.

"Did i leave you breathless Miss future doctor?" He whispered teasingly, earning a slap on his chest. Making him laugh lightly.

"Why do you have to make fun of me everytime" she frowned at him playfully and twisted the skin of his arm. A sharp hiss left his lips. And she froze. Her hand still on his arm.

She felt a layer of cloth beneath her finger. Something she didn't notice earlier in her excitement.

"Vikram, what is that?" she demanded, her voice sharp. Unlike earlier. Vikram gulped at her tone. Weirdly he felt uncomfortable and nervous hearing the sterness and seriousness in her voice.

"Kuch nahi. Kya soch rahi ho tum bhi" he shook his head and tried to pull away his arm from her hold but before he could do it, she gently pulled his arm towards her.

"It doesn't seem kuch nahi" she deadpanned at him. And softly touched over the place, tracing the area with her fingerpad.

"Why does this seems like a bandage? Are you hurt? How bad is the injury?" She suddenly fired questions over him. A sudden panic spreading over her chest. Vikram didn't know what to say for the first time. The DGP's interrogation seems easier than hers for once.

"It's nothing, Thabal. Just a scrape. Don't worry about it." He tried to console her gently. But failed.

"A scrape? You would put this thick bangade over a scrape? Aap abhi mujhse bhi jhuth bolne lage?" She frowned at him, disappointment clearly seen on her face. Vikram looked away not able to bear her expression. Her disappointment pierced through his heart.

Thabal sighed and cupped his face with her hands. She pulled his face to face her. Slowly she stroked his jaw, feeling his rough stubble on her fingers.

She didn't said anything nor asked. But her eyes were enough. Vikram looked at her, in the eye. Gulped and then answered.

"Got a bullet in Mumbai" was all he said. He waited for her to scold, to shout or even yell. But nothing came, absolutely nothing. And that seem to worsen his fear.

"Take off the kurta. Now." She demanded after a moment of silence. Vikram didn't said anything, knowing any defiance would be khud ke per pe kulhari marna. He slowly unbuttoned his kurta.

And then slid the fabric down towards his left arm. Underneath, a thick, crudely wrapped bandage was tied around his left arm. A red wound seeping out of it.

The fabric, though wrapped tightly, had dark patches where blood had seeped through. And beneath it, faint swelling, skin irritated. A wound that clearly needed care.

Thabal's hands hovered over the wounded area. She didn't press on it or move her hand, scared that it would hurt him. A shaky sigh released her lips.

"Are you... are you out of your mind?" Her voice was quiet. Too quiet. Vikram didn't answer. He simply watched her. His eyes softened in guilt.

Vikram swallowed hard.

"Chand. I didn't want to worry you. You came home after so many tests and exams. You were already tired. I was fine. I am fine. It's just-"

"You call this fine?" Her voice cut him off sharply. He looked down. Suddenly not having any words to return.

"Vikram" she softly called him. He hesitantly looked up to meet her eyes. It was filled with hurt and sadness. He couldn't maintain the eyecontact long.

"Yeh jo hamare bich jo bhi hai. Mujhe nahi pata kya hai. Par itna jarur malum hai ki it isn't normal. It isn't just anything considered as for the time being" she started, staring at his face.

"I care for you. A lot. Aap mein mera sukoon hai. You are the peace i never got. Lekin yahi sukoon bas aap hi chinn sakte hai mujhse" Vikram stared at her now, watching her. He took a slow step toward her.

"Aap ase chupawoge toh it will hurt me. I want to be involve in every happy and sad moment of yours. Bas aapka aacha side hi nahi chahiye mujhe" she made herself clear.

"Yesterday. It happened yesterday. I was chasing a criminal with my team. I guess I gave a chance for them and they took. Aim for my chest but got the bullet on my arm" he narrated finally, his voice low.

"Did you get it treated professionally?" She asked, scowling at him to which he nodded quickly in return.

"Aur aap iss halat pe plane pe aaye manipur tak?" She arched her brow at him.

"You said you missed me. Also itne din hogaye tumse mila nahi. Reh nahi paya" he reasoned weakly, his eyes fixed on her face. Thabal shook her head, groaning while palming her face.

"What do I do to you" she muttered to herself, feeling a mix of various emotion. Vikram looked at her for a moment, inhaling a breathe in he caught her jaw in between his fingers.

"I am sorry. Dobara dhyan rakhunga. Naraz mat ho" he whispered slowly to her. His voice almost sounding seducing. Thabal looked at him, her eyes shining with something, even she couldn't tell what.

She gulped a lump down. His eyes, they were so deeply brownish in colour. In the streetlight, they were glinting lightly. The way he was watching her, with a hint of desperation and a mixture of guilt.

How? How could she be angry at him when he was holding her chin so tenderly, watching her so intimately and begging to her with such a hoarse, soften voice.

She looked at him for a moment before throwing her self upon him. She hugged him close, placing her hands on his wide, broad back. Vikram stood still for a second before wrapping his arms around her small figure.

He felt her soft frame against his hard chest. Her head rested over his collarbone. She was close to hearing his heartbeat. They both were lost in their own moment. Feeling each other's warmth.

"Vikram" Thabal softly called him. To which he hummed in return. Thabal looked infront of her, as if thinking something. She then smiled slowly and closed her eyes.

"Kuch nahi" she mumbled underneath her breathe. Vikram felt his lips twitched at it.

"Yeh tumhara 'meine tumhe maaf kiya' bolne ka tarika hai kya ?" He asked amused to which she let out a melodious laugh. She slapped her palm over his chest to shut him up. But he laughed instead.

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