Chapter 13: X

♪♫ Main baarish ki boli samajhta nahi tha

Hawaaon se main yun ulajhta nahi tha

Hai seene mein dil bhi

Kahaan thi mujhe yeh khabar

Kya haal ho gaya hai yeh mera

Aankhein meri har jagah

Dhundhe tujhe bewajah

Yeh main hoon ya,

Koi aur hai, meri jagah

Kaise hua, kaise hua

Tu itna zaruri kaise hua ...♪♫

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Ahana walked into Neela's room and saw her sitting on the bed.

"Ahana! Beta, are you alright? You needed something?" Neela looked shocked to see Ahana, maybe because it was after a long time that she went to her room.

It has been around three months since their date and during this month she understood and accepted her feelings for Kabir. But she couldn't say it to him.

"I just wanted to talk."

She lay down on the bed after Neela nodded and gently placed her head on Neela's lap. Neela caressed her hair lovingly.

"Is something bothering you, Beta?"

"It's about Kabir." She paused. "I think I love him."

"I already knew that."

She looked up at Neela's face. "How?"

"I saw it happening. The way he used to sneak glances at you since the very beginning and how you cared for him without letting him know."

"You did see everything, huh." She furrowed her brows. "Then why didn't you say anything?"

"Because you weren't ready, Ahana. You already had a lot on your plate. Besides, if anyone had pointed it out, you would have punched them in the face only because you didn't like their words."

"But I'm still scared, Neela Ma."

"Why?"

"Ma also loved my father but he turned out to be the worst monster of her life."

"You think Kabir would turn out to be like your father?"

"No, Kabir is a sweetheart. He wouldn't do such a thing, but what about me? I am more similar to my father than I want to admit. I have anger issues and I'm stubborn like him. What if I also turn out to be a monster like him? I don't want to hurt Kabir."

Neela sighed. "You have anger issues because this world has never given you a reason to smile. It is your stubbornness that you are one of the most influential people in the country. As for becoming a monster, you have saved Varsha from your father. You've fought for your family. A saviour can never be a monster."

"I don't want to end up like my mother."

"And you won't, because you are not naïve or timid like Varsha and Kabir is not inhuman or wicked like your father. They were two different people who weren't good for each other whereas you and Kabir are each other's biggest supporters. You won't end up like her, Ahana because you are not her."

Ahana looked at the woman who had always loved and cared for her as her own. "She was my mother and I loved her but you are my mother too, and I may not show it well but I hope you know that I love you too."

"I do, beta. And I am proud of the person you've become in all these years."

She chuckled humourlessly. "A lot of people would beg to differ."

"They don't know you as I do."

They talked some more and she didn't realize when sleep engulfed her.

▪◀▩▶▪

She woke up feeling a heavy weight on her. When she looked, she saw that she was in her room and Kabir was sleeping almost on her. He was cuddling her with his head in the crook of her neck and their legs tangled with each other.

"Kabir!" she patted his shoulder with her voice a little above the whisper. She knew Kabir was a light sleeper so it was enough to wake him up.

"Hmm.."

"Kabir, get off me. You're crushing me with all the weight."

"Sorry." He mumbled and rolled over on the bed with his hands still holding her close.

"What are you even doing here?"

"You slept in Badi Ma's room so I took you here. Then you had a nightmare so I came back here to calm you down. I was too tired and fell asleep without realizing it. Now, if your interrogation is over, then please let me sleep."

"Okay, sleep as much as you want just let me go. Go back to your room."

"No." he turned so his head was resting on her chest. "Mmm... you're warm. Please let me stay!"

She thought of getting up even if he wouldn't like it but she was feeling too lazy to do that. So she gave in and again slept with her arms around him after mumbling, "If anyone sees us like this, it's all on you."

▪◀▩▶▪

"What's brewing between you two?"

Ahana forced her eyes away from Kabir to look at Noor who had a shit eating-grin plastered on her face.

Ahana rolled her eyes. "You already know the answer, sunshine."

"Things are getting serious, huh?" Inaya smirked.

"You too?" she looked at her friends who were teasing her non-stop.

"Of course, it's not every day that we get the opportunity to see you blushing." Noor joked.

They were at 'Food Diaries' to catch up and she knew that her friends selected this restaurant only because it was Kabir's.

"On a serious note, what are you planning?" Inaya's eyes were sincere.

"I think I want to marry him."

"Really!?" came both her friends' voices.

"No." she snickered after looking at their faces. "I'm going to propose to him, tomorrow."

"You aren't kidding, are you?" Noor asked with an adorable pout.

She held out a finger as if saying to wait for a second and started rummaging through her handbag. When she finally found what she was looking for; she put it on the table for them to see. "No, I'm not."

It was a ring in white gold with multiple engraved diamonds. It was a simple but stylish band that Ahana loved at first sight.

After talking and joking around they decided to part ways as it was almost evening.

Ahana was ready to move out of the restaurant when Kabir's Assistant came and gave her a box. When she opened the box, it had a blueberry cupcake in it along with a note.

Once you promised to share your every sweet with me.

Will you share this cupcake too?

If yes, then I'll be waiting on the rooftop.

Your love,

Kabir

She smiled at the note and changed the route to go to the rooftop.

She saw him near the railing, his back toward her but he turned when he heard her footsteps. She noticed a makeshift white tent, with a mattress, pillows, and comforters. It was decorated with fairy lights and electric candles.

She smiled as Kabir came in front of her. "I didn't know we were having a date."

"I thought why not give you a surprise." He grinned and took her hand. "Come."

They removed their footwear to enter the tent. Kabir made her sit between his legs with her back against his chest, his arms secured around her stomach and his head rested on her shoulder.

She took out the cupcake, held it near his mouth for a bite and they shared it.

"I have one more thing for you." Kabir whispered.

She smiled and turned her head to the side to look at him. "I don't want gifts. I don't want anything, Kabir. You are enough for me."

"I know that but I love to give you gifts."

"Fine, whatever makes you happy." She smiled. "What is it?"

"I will give it to you but first you have to answer a question."

"Okay. Ask away!"

"You've shared a lot of things with me—sweets, problems, fears, and sometimes room too. Will you share your life with me?"

"This is not fair!" she exclaimed but didn't detach herself from Kabir.

"Why? What's unfair?"

"You always take the first step. That's not fair. I was going to ask you to marry me tomorrow and you beat me to it."

Kabir laughed. "I'm sorry, love. I didn't know that. But it's not too late you can propose to me now."

"What?"

"You were going to propose to me tomorrow, so why not now. I swear we will pretend that I didn't ask you anything."

She narrowed her eyes at him, analyzing if he was serious or just making fun of her. She smiled when she was sure that he was absolutely serious. "Okay."

She sat up straight and turned in her place to face him. "Kabir, will you marry me?"

He pretended to think. "No."

"Hey!" Ahana hit him lightly on the arm.

"Ask nicely, maybe I would change my mind." He threw her words at her.

She narrowed her eyes but complied nonetheless. "Kabir you are the person I want to come home to after a long day and tell you how my day went. I've shared a lot of things with you and I want to continue that for as long as we live because I love you. So, please marry me."

"I will marry you, love, because you are the only one for me." She grinned and slide the ring onto his ring finger.

"There are a lot of things that I could tell and promise you at this moment, Ahana, but I would say the only thing which would matter more than anything; I'm here for you, always. And I love you too. I love the light in you but I also love your darkness and all the grey parts between them."

She looked at the ring in awe after he slide it on her finger. It was a double band ring with a cushion-cut sapphire stone which was surrounded by small diamonds.

"Kabir," she hesitated. "You would want kids. I mean, I know you don't want them now but you would want them at some point, right?"

"Hey," he put his hand under her chin to make her look at him. "Where is this coming from?"

"I can't give you kids."

"It doesn't make any difference, Ahana. Kids or no kids I would always love you." she started to object when he cut her off. "We can always adopt one if you like. We would give him or her everything, that kid would be ours."

"It wouldn't be yours. It wouldn't be your flesh and blood."

"It doesn't bother me and you know that. I love you and I would love our kids when we adopt them."

She jumped and took him into a bear hug, grinning. "You are the perfect man I could've ever asked for."