Next morning,
The four morning wakers woke up but our deep slumbers Mineil were still asleep.
They were covered in the sheet till Mini's shoulder and they could see Mini's head was on Neil's shoulder with her messed hair falling on her face and Neil's one arm was around her shoulder and his other hand on her hand resting on his torso.
The four of them adored them looking so cute and perfect together.
Neerja: Yaar... Dono kitne pyaare lag rahe hai na?
Abhay: Hmm... Just like made for each other types.
Bobby: Just like a perfect couple together.
Vaishnavi: May they stay the same forever.
They got up and cleaned the whole mess they created last night while enjoying, making sure they don't make a sound and disturb their sleep but almost a couple of hours later too, they didn't wake up. The weather was cloudy and there was no direct sunlight to disturb them so they were asleep.
They took the other mattresses and cushions to keep it on its place and that's when the clouds scattered a little by the wind and sunlight fell on Neil's face. Mini was still not disturbed as the hair strands covering her face. A sleepy grunt escaped his mouth in half sleep and he, frowning a little, raised the sheet till his face to prevent the sunlight coming on his face.
Others chuckled silently seeing this and left the terrace.
Neil sighed under the sheet relaxing as the sunlight didn't fell on his face but then remembered they were sleeping together on the terrace. He removed the sheet and blinked sometimes to adjust the light and turned his face but saw all others were already up and no one was there.
He then looked at Mini who was sleeping soundly, almost on him, undisturbed of the sunlight.
He let the sheet be on her face so that her sleep doesn't get disturbed and resting her head on the cushion, sat up.
He lifted her up and made her lie comfortably on the bed of the room and closed the dark curtains to let her sleep.
He then removed the sheet from her face and the hair strands from her face to see her peacefully smiling in sound sleep.
Neil smiled and then keeping inside the mattress and cushion on which they were sleeping, he went to freshen up.
Coming out the bathroom drying his hair, he got ready and came to the kitchen. He was making breakfast with a huge smile as he was relaxed today.
Neerja came to the kitchen and saw him.
Neerja: Woah... So Nee is back to life ha?
Neil: (forwarding a cup of tea to her) Yes.... Aaj na main bahot relaxed feel kar raha hu...
Neerja: (sat on the counter and sipped tea) To aaj ka kya plan hai?.... Kahan jaoge?
Neil: Maybe some tourist spots and some shopping areas I guess.
Neerja: Hmm... Nice... meri to meeting hai... Kal kaam pura nahi hua tha..... to main aur Abhay to kal hi join kar payengi tumhe.
Neil: No problem.... Btw Chubby wants to visit our school too.... So maybe we'll go there too either today aur tomorrow.
Neerja: Hmm.... School memories... Hostel memories... Bahot kuch yaad aa raha hoga na tujhe to...
Neil: Ha...
Their tea got over and Neil poured more it for all.
Neil: Le sabke liye breakfast lekar jaa... Main Mini ko utha deta hu.
Neerja: Ok.
She took the breakfast down and Neil was pouring tea for Mini but then she after getting up, came from the room and backhugged him in sleepiness.
Neil: You are fine na?
Mini: Hmm...
Neil: (turned behind and cupped her face) Aaram se soyi?
Mini: Bahot... Ekdum relaxed hokar soyi aaj to.
He smiled and pecked on her forehead as he used to do daily after asking these two questions. He lifted her up by her waist, making her sit on the counter.
They had tea together and then Mini wrapped her arms around his neck, got off the counter.
Mini: (pecking him softly like she used to do before) Main ready hokar aati hu...
Neil: Hmm.. Medicines bhi le lena.
Mini: Hmm.
She went and Neil was opening the curtain after organising his things when Mini came out of the bathroom.
Neil saw her walking with the support of the wall.
Neil: (holding her) Tum theek ho?
Mini: Hmm... Vo bas ointment lagaaya na injuries pe abhi to thodi weakness aa gayi thi...
Neil made her sit on the bed.
She had made a bun of her wet, water dripping hair with a towel around them.
Neil opened the bun and rubbed her hair to dry them.
He went out and made a quick omelette for her to have a little energy.
After she had her breakfast, she could feel a little better and she got ready.
Both came down and till then Abhay and Neerja had left for the office.
The four went together to some tourist places and some street shopping areas too.
It was almost evening time when they reached Neil and Vaishnavi's school and they entered as alumni.
Neil and Vaishnavi were speaking to Bobby and Mini nostalgically about it and showing them their favourite hangout corners where they used to spend time with their friends.
Both met some teachers too whom they knew and had a great time.
They got to know that the hostel warden head faculty had been promoted to be the principal and they went to meet her too. There they got to know that tomorrow evening, there is a alumni gathering organised once again after 5 years.
After having a talk with her they came out of the school.
Vaishnavi: I can't believe this ki kal hi alumni gathering hai... what a coincidence na.
Neil: Yeah...
Mini: Tumhara kyu mood off ho gaya hai yeh baat sunke?
Neil: Main pichli baar bhi nahi aaya tha... Last time to mail bhi aayi thi mujhe... iss baar bhi aayi hogi.... par check nahi ki maine.
Mini: Tum reunion me nahi gaye?
Neil: Nahi...
Bobby: Kya Neil Bhai... Reunion me kaun nahi jaata hai?
Mini: Exactly.
Vaishnavi: Iss baar to chal.... pls...
Neil: Yaar..... tum log... Abhi... (to Mini) Tumhe pata to hai why I avoid parties.... To tum to at least mat bolo.
Mini: Are yaar... kya tum bhi choti choti baat ka tension lete ho... saath me honge na hum... aur vaise bhi tumhe yaad hai... what I said that evening?
"You know tumhare expressions dekhke sach me mujhe lagta hai... kaisa hota na agar abhi... matlab... exactly abhi nahi... but soon... we get to meet them... I so badly want to see their reaction yaar..."
"You won't understand these things ha.... Look at yourself... Considering your handsomeness I can bet your female classmates would still be thinking of you when they would be thinking about their school days..... Tumpe na koi bhi ladki flat ho sakti hai.... koi bhi!"
Neil: (squeezing his lips and then chuckling) Yeah.... So mean you are.
Mini: (tugged him closer and whispered in his ear) Aapke saare ilzaam sar aankhon pe... Mr Neil Oberoi!
Neil chuckled seeing her throwing back his words on him.
Neil: Tum nahi sudhrogi na.
Mini: Amm... hmmn.... Ab jiske paas tum jaisa nakhre uthaane waala ho usko bigadne se kaun rok paaya hai?
Neil: God... You slayed here.
Vaishnavi and Bobby patted on Neil's shoulder and he turned back.
Bonavi: Kaha khoye hue ho... Kya khusur phusur kar rahe ho?
Mineil looked at each other and chuckled.
Mini: Kuch nahi.... (looking at Neil) Neil kal chalega reunion me...
Vaishnavi: Really?
Neil: (nodded with a sigh) Hmm...
.
.
.
They reached the apartment and Vaishnavi excitedly told Abhija about their reunion happening.
Neerja: Cool... To kya pehen ke jaa rahe ho charo?
All four looked at each other and realised they hadn't thought that.
Four: Pata nahi.
Abhija: Let's go then.... Shopping time!
They together went to the shopping mall and first went to the male's section because obviously their shopping will be over in not much time.
Neerja: Tum log shopping karo... Mujhe bhook lag rahi hai... I'll be back.
Abhay: I will accompany you... Mujhe kabab me haddi nahi banna.
The four chuckled and Abhija went.
Neil was looking the options in shirts and took out a bright white one with small prints of gold spots.
Neil: (to Mini) How is this one?
Mini turned to him.
Mini: Nice.... (taking out a pearl white blazer with thin gold strips on it from the blazer section and a same shade pant) This will make a solid pair with it.
Neil: Hmm... Right.
Mini: Try karke aao.
Neil went to the trial room and came out after a few mins. He raised his eyebrows at her.
Mini gazed on him from head to toe and back again with her smile widening and her eyes twinkling. She leaned on the trial section entry panel with a deep sigh, keeping her hand on her chest.
Mini: Haaye... Kya dikh rahe ho Neil Oberoi... (giving him a flying kiss) Muah...
Neil let out a silent chuckle with a slight blush and nodded before going in again.
He came out in his usual Tshirt and jeans and they came to Bonavi.
Neil: Ho gayi Bobby teri shopping.
Bobby: Do me confused hu...
Mini: To try karna... Vaishnavi... Ja bata apne Bobby ko.... what suits more on him?... Hum Abhay aur Neerja ke saath food court me hai... You take your time.
Vaishnavi: Chalo...
Bonavi went. Mineil too went to the food court.
After almost 10-15 mins, Bonavi too came then they proceeded for female party outfit section.
Vaishnavi chose some 3-4 outfits and went to the trail section with Bobby.
Mini was looking in the options but was a little conscious about her scars, so she was a bit picky today.
Neil sensed it and let her explore even more.
Mini saw a blue bodycon shimmery dress with a turtle neck collar which would hide all her scars and look amazing too. A smile crept on her face but then seeing its length was till mid thighs thought to see something else.
Neil held her shoulder and turned her towards the glass panel of the section from where another section which was footwear section was visible.
Neil: Scars ka load mat lo... See... That footwear will suit on that dress.
Mini saw it was thigh high boots and smiled.
Mini: (hugging him) How do you solve every problem so efficiently?
Neil smiled and pecked on her forehead.
Neil: Go try that dress... Let me also see how beautiful can this dress look when my gorgeous Mini Madam wears it.
Mini smiled brightly and parted.
Bonavi came to them.
Vaishnavi: Kya hua?... Iss baar tu confused hai kya?
Mini: Nahi... Confusion solve ho gaya.... Aati hu...
Vaishnavi: Main jewellery section me hu.
Mini: Ok.
Mini took the dress and went to the trial room.
Neil was waiting for her but she took a lot of time.
Neil: (knocking on the trial room) Mini... Are you fine?
Mini: (sighing) Huh... Ha...
Neil: Any problem?
Mini: Mera haath mid back tak nahi pahoch raha... Stretch kar rahi hu to pain ho raha hai stitches ki wajah se.
Neil: Are aise mat karo... nahi to problem ho jayegi... Main help kardu?
Mini: Ha.... par yeh trial room chota hai... do log khade bhi nahi ho payenge.
Neil: Tum door ke paas aa jao... main bahar se zip kar lunga... idhar koi nahi hai...
Mini: Ok.
She opened the latch and stood facing other side. Neil slightly opened the door and zipped up the dress.
Mini: Thanks.
Neil: Anytime.
She opened the door fully and came out.
Mini: Kaisi lag rahi hu?
Neil: (moved his gaze from her head to toe and back) Woah.... (keeping his hand on his heart) Did I just skipped a beat?
Mini: (hitting on his torso) So cheesy.
Neil: (teasingly tapped on her nose) Yet you blush!
Neil chuckled while Mini blushed harder.
Mini went to the trail room again and came out in her usual clothes.
They went to the footwear section and bought the thigh high boots after Mini tried it to be comfortable.
Then they went to the jewellery section.
Vaishnavi: Kitna time lagaate ho yaar... Kab se wait kar rahe hai hum dono tumhara.
Mini: Ha to isme kya ho gaya?... Aaram se.
Vaishnavi: Dekh le..... Kya jewellery final karni hai teri dress ke liye?
Mini took out a set of metal loop earrings and kept it near her ears.
Mini: This is good... It will do.
Vaishnavi: Ok then.. Ab chalein?
Mini: Hmm....