When Meera got off the school bus and walked the little distance home, she felt really down. She just couldn't decide whether she should be happy or upset.

Like yes, she got selected for the semi finals at Dehradun by beating the entire school. She should be feeling at the top of the world right now. But she wasn't.

Why, you ask?

Because someone she liked was too busy being rude to her and ignoring her for god knows what reason.

Ughh.

She opened the door to her house without ringing the bell and got in. "I'm home!" she yelled.

"Meera," her dad called her, "come to the lobby please."

She walked into the living room and tossed the bag on the floor. Her mother followed the movement and looked at her reprovingly. Meera sighed and picked up the bag only to keep it on the chair. "Yes?" she asked.

"Aman got selected for the semi finals," her mother said proudly.

"Yes, i know," Meera smiled. "Even i have good news!"

"What is it?"

"Even i got selected for the semi finals!" Meera broke out into a huge grin.

"Really?" Her father asked.

"Yes, but you both have to sign the consent form," Meera said and took out the form and handed it over to her mother.

"So?" she looked expectantly at her parents, "when will you sign it."

"We have to discuss it first," her mother said.

"Why maa?"

"Because it isn't safe."

"What do you mean? You've already signed Aman's form, haven't you?" she questioned.

"He's a boy, he can take care of himself. How will you travel alone?"

"I'm not going alone. The teachers will be there, Alia will be there. Even Aman is going to be there."

"He's not going to be with you all the time. He will have to be with his own friends and prepare for his own presentation." Her mother said a little annoyed. "Stop arguing now, go to your room." she ordered.

Meera's shoulders drooped as she walked back up to her room. She took a shower and as she was walking down the hall, she noticed that her brother's room was open. She walked towards the door and knocked.

"Bhaiya?"

Aman looked up from the book in his hand, "come in." and he kept the book down and sat straighter.

"I wanted to talk to you about something," she mumbled nervously.

He pulled her and made her sit on the bed. He looked at her, confused "what happened?"

"You know i got selected for the semi finals just like you, right?"

He nodded, so she continued.

"I asked mummy and papa to sign the form but they didn't," Meera said sadly.

"But they did mine.." Aman was so naive. He just never realised how unfairly Meera was always treated and how Aman always got permissions for everything he ever wanted.

"That's because you're a boy. And an adult now. They think you can take care of yourself but I can't just because I'm a girl."

Aman's eyes widened slightly, as her words set in.

Meera continued, "You know i really worked hard for this project, i really wanted to do this."

"But maybe they're right since they are our parents and they just want to protect you?" Aman questioned.

"I know, I understand," Meera sighed and looked at her hands, "but Alia has also worked hard for this, right? She shouldn't have to suffer because of me."

"So... what do you want me to do?"

"Can you convince them to sign the form?" She pleaded. "Please please please."

Meera could sense the wheels in his mind turning, so she tried again.

"You can just tell them you'll keep an eye on me, but I swear I'll keep out of your way and you won't even have to see me, i promise."

"Fine," he grumbled, "you realise I'll be taking you on my confidence? So I don't want you to get into any problems."

"I promise!"

"And i will keep an eye on you."

"Yes, okay! I have no problem!" Meera said excitedly.

"Fine," Aman got up from the bed and walked to the door, "what all i have to do for you Meera," he shook his head and smiled.

"Thank you bhaiya, I owe you."

* * *

It was almost 4.30 and Meera knew that Alia had told Kabir to meet her at 5, so she rushed out of the house by giving the excuse of going to Alia's house.

As she walked, she thought about how Aman had taken her stand and said that she deserved to go because she had worked hard. She was scared that her parents still wouldn't allow her to go, but surprisingly just as their idol son said that he would take care of her, they agreed in a second.

They really did prefer their son over her, she thought bitterly.

But atleast something good had gotten out of it and Aman was able to convince their parents. She would always be thankful to him for that.

It was a long walk to the park so she bought a glass of juice from outside and walked to the bench. She waited for Kabir but he just wouldn't turn up. After every 2 minuted she would check the time but he was still not there.

It was almost 5.20 now.

Was he not going to come?

She felt sad. She didn't even know what she had done wrong. He was flirting with someone else, he was ignoring her, and now he also stood her up? Wow.

Tired of waiting around, she got up and decided she'd instead go to Alia's house.

She walked to the entrance and bumped into someone and was going to fall back if not for the strong hands that grabbed her arms to prevent her from falling.

"Oops." Meera mumbled, she pulled back from the stranger and pushed her hair behind her ears. She looked up to say thanks, but instead she met with warm eyes.

Kabir's eyes.

"Are you okay?" his voice rang out.

She looked down and nodded. "You're late," she whispered and looked at him.

"I know. I'm sorry." he apologised. When Meera didn't reply, he continued, "can we talk, please?"

"I think i'd like that." she smiled sweetly at him. She just couldn't stay mad at him now, could she? He must have had a reason for behaving that way. Meera believed that everyone always had a reason. She just always liked to think the best for everyone.

They walked back silently to the bench and sat down. Both of them looked straight ahead, not making any eye contact. Meera offered him her juice, "do you want some?"

He took the juice she offered and gave a small smile, "thankyou."

"So..." Meera probed. "What happened?"

"I- I want to apologize, obviously. I'm sorry for ignoring you today at school."

"Well, do you have a reason?"

"I do, but i also know it's silly. You wouldn't understand, i guess."

"You can try me," Meera smiled assuringly.

"It's about my parents," he said and locked eyes with Meera. Just a small sentence and it made her realise it was a sensitive topic for him.

"You remember i told you about my parents getting divorced?" He continued when he saw Meera nodded, "Their divorce got finalised yesterday. Dad moved out of the house yesterday and before going, he literally yelled at my mom that she could never satisfy anyone, and even told us that he's going to live with his mistress now."

"Oh my god." Meera was shocked to the core. How could someone be so insensitive?

"Yeah, and you know what? She's the same mistress with whom he cheated on my mother. Apparently he loves her." Kabir let out an exasperated sigh and shook his head. He bent forward and held his face with both hands. "My mom was obviously upset and i was with her today, trying to comfort her. That's why i got late coming to the park," he explained.

"I'm sorry about that," Meera rubbed his back, "I hope she gets better. No one deserves so much hurt in their life."

Kabir straightened his back and Meera pulled back her hand. However, Kabir craved the comfort which he got when their skin touched. So he pulled her hand into his own huge one and stared at their entwined hands. He noticed Meera did the same so he squeezed her hands and she looked up at him, smiling.

"I know this excuse is only for me reaching here late but thank god i got here when i did, otherwise you would've left."

"Yeah, i thought you weren't coming. I thought you were still upset for whatever i did and that's why you're still ignoring me."

"About that," Kabir turned sideways and held both of her hands in his own and stared into her eyes, "I am genuinly very sorry for being a jerk. Everything that happened at home yesterday, the fight, it had got to me. I felt so-so worthless. I couldn't even keep my family together. I only have a father and a mother, but no family," he said sadly. "And then i thought about you and i realised I don't want to bring you into the mess that my family is. Because you might also get tired like my father and leave. And that would really really hurt Meera. Because i really care about you."

Meera looked at him with her brows furrowed, "you can't decide that for me Kabir. I don't care about the mess others have created in your life. But i want to help you go ahead cutting through all of it."

"I'm here and you're not losing me, if that's what you're worried about." She continued.

Doubt clouded his eyes and he groaned, "I haven't been entirely honest. I'm scared of losing you, but I'm more scared of losing Aman. He's my brother. When he finds out about us, he'll kill me. Or worse, i would really lose him. Like literally. I don't want to hurt him."

"Hey, listen to me," Meera tugged at his hand which made him look up at her. His eyes were full of guilt. "You don't have any motive to hurt me or him. Those are just your genuine feelings, atleast i hope." she gave a small laugh and tried to lighten the conversation. "If Aman can't accept it then that's his problem. You like me, don't you?"

"If it isn't clear already, i do. Of course i do."

"I know, and i do too. So please just stop thinking about others. It's hight time we should stop letting what others think about us dictate our life for us."

Kabir smiled at her and finally, sat back comfortably. It was like a burden lifted off his shoulders. "You're right Meera, thankyou." He gave her a cute dimpled smile.

"You don't have to thank me," she smiled back at him.

A thought struck Meera, "by the way..." she started.

Kabir looked at her and she continued. "Who was that girl?"

"Oh her," he nervously replied, "i know it sounds really wrong and looked really wrong as well, but she's just a friend. And the little flirting act i put up, that was only to make you upset so that you'd stay away from me."

Meera gave him a disappointed look. "I'm sorry for the harsh thinking, but at that moment that was the only good enough decision i could take that would save a lot of people from getting hurt in the end." He explained.

"I guess i get it. But please, from next time, promise me that before taking any such rash decisions regarding us, you'll talk to me first?"

"Okay," he promised.

"We're in this together."

"We're in this together," he repeated, as if to reassure himself. And he smiled again, that cute-boyish smile showing his dimpled.

Meera just couldn't help it, she leaned forward and gave a small kiss on his cheek.

Kabir looked over at her, shocked at her brave gesture. He saw Meera blushing a deep shade of red and realised the kind of effect he had on her.

He smiled. Life looked positive for them now.

A/N

So that was a super lengthy chapter with over 2,100 words!!!!!! The longest I've ever written.

This was actually very difficult for me as i wrote about two very difficult relations- one between Meera and Aman, as i wanted to show that Aman would actually be a good brother to her when the need arise.

And second- that of Kabir and his insecurities regarding his parents and his friendship.

So, well, that's that.