8| Mukhtalif

🤍 Hai nahi tha pata, ke tujhe maan lunga khuda,

Ki teri gaaliyon mein iss kadar, aaunga har peher 🤍

🤍 A year later 🤍

"Let's join our hands and welcome the lead actress of the film, who is also the producer, Kiara Malhotra." The host announced and the crowd broke into an applause.

Kiara stepped on the stage with a wide smile on her face. She waved at the crowd in front of her and gave them some flying kisses. She then turned towards the host, Malini and gave her a brief hug.

She was dressed in a pretty white and dark blue anarkali dress with minimal jewellery and subtle makeup. Wearing a pair of golden heels, she completed her look.

After exchanging some pleasantries, Malini offered a seat to Kiara. She thanked her and took her seat, followed by her doing the same.

"First of all, a big congratulations to you. You got married last month." Malini said and the crowd cheered and clapped at that.

"Yeah, I did. Thank you so much." Kiara thanked Malini and then the audience with a wide smile.

Kabir and Kiara got married last month, which was November. They had announced their marriage with lots of picture on their social media account resulting in some surprised questions and lots of congratulatory messages.

The marriage was everything the both of them had wanted it to be. They got married in Amalfi Coast, Italy. It was a private affair with just 150 guests in attendance which included immediate family members and only the closest of their friends. The wedding functions were pretty low-key and that was just how the couple wanted it to be.

They directly left for their honeymoon from there and after spending two blissful weeks in the south of France, they return to their country. The couple hosted a reception party once they got back home. Everyone from their personal and professional lives were invited. It turned into a lavish party with all the who's who of business and film industry attending it. The media coverage of the event was high, with people discussing the outfits, guest lists and decorations for the next upcoming weeks.

It was middle of December now and both of them were already back to their work. Both of them were currently in Mumbai with Kiara being busy, promoting her upcoming movie which she was also producing.

"You guys looked gorgeous, nothing less than a royal match. We saw the beautiful photos and couldn't help but gush over the venue, the decorations, your outfits. Everything was just perfect. Especially, this photo of yours." Malini said and pointed at the screen behind them. It displayed one of the photos from their wedding that they shared on their social media account.

The couple was already a fan favourite and hence they were hooting and cheering as the photo was displayed.

"Look at those happy faces. You guys for sure make for a power couple. Bhagwaan buri nazar se bachae." Malini said with a smile.

Maybe God protect you guys from evil eye.

"Touchwood." Kiara said and touched her head with her knuckle.

"So, if you don't mind, we are wanting to ask you a couple of questions about your personal life?" Malini said as both of them shifted their focus from the screen.

"Okay. Go ahead." Kiara said. She was sure not to give up too much information and answer questions as comprehensively as possible. She was still not willing to share a lot about her personal life to the public.

"Why Amalfi Coast? What made you choose that location?" She questioned.

"Well, it was me who chose this location. I always wanted to have a destination wedding and this place was beautiful so we thought why not." Kiara explained with a smile.

"You're a busy actress as such with a makeup brand of your own and now you're a successful producer in the making as well. How do you balance your personal and professional life so well?" Malini asked her next question.

"Ahh.. the age old question." Kiara said as she gave a smile to Malini.

"Well, you see Malini, my husband, Kabir is a super busy person himself and wears a lot of feathers to his hat. I simply think that if he can be everything to everyone at the same time, so can I." Kiara smartly replied the sort of misogynistic question.

The crowd really liked her reply and gave her a round of applause. She thanked her audience with a smile and turned towards Malini again, focusing on her next question.

"Talking about your husband, when and how did you meet him? You guys belong from two different professions so how did these two completely different worlds collide?" Malini asked.

"We met through a common friend almost 3 years ago. We do belong from two different working backgrounds but when you find someone you wanna keep for the rest of your life, you simply do it." Kiara replied.

"One last question about your personal life and then we'll manoeuvre towards the film, how did he propose?" Malini asked.

"Ahh that's a cute story. We were at his place, in Delhi and he actually wanted to surprise me with the proposal but I already had a feeling about it so he didn't quite catch me off guard but of course I was mildly surprised. Waise bhi biwion se kuch zyada chupa nahi rehta." Kiara chuckled as she said the last sentence.

Anyways, nothing is much hidden from wives.

"Ohh so you're that typical biwi type. Aapse kuch chupa nahi sakte." Malini joked and Kiara laughed at that.

Wife.

One cannot hide anything from you.

"Kuch aisa hi." She replied.

Something like that.

"Okay so no more personal questions, we'll talk about your film now." Malini said and Kiara nodded.

"What made you choose this script? Both as an actor and a producer." Malini asked.

"The script was very fresh and off track. It was inspired by a true story and hence brings an important message to the audience along with entertainment. We've added a lot of comic elements and dramatic scenes to it but at the same time are trying to deliver a lesson. That's the kind of scripts I want to work on, both as an actor and a producer." Kiara answered with a smile.

.

.

.

"Kabir, where are you?" Kiara asked as soon as she stepped inside their penthouse.

They part their time between their two houses. Whenever Kiara's career demands her presence in Mumbai, both of them live here and when they get some down time, they live in Delhi with Kabir's parents. Kiara's parents don't live in the same place as her but they do visit the couple whenever they want to. Both the families get constrained time with them so they try to make the most of it.

All of them even took a family vacation in Diwali when all of them spent some quality time in London. It further strengthened their relationship. Both Kabir and Kiara were single child, so they were all that their parents had. The couple respects their emotions and stays with them for as much time as their careers allow them to. They do come from the same family background and have similar family values which strengthens their bond.

"Idhar, meri jaan." Kabir replied as he peeked out from the kitchen.

Here, my love.

Kiara dropped her purse on the dining table and walked into the kitchen. It was a tiring day as she was busy promoting her movie. She was dressed up the whole day and was answering questions continuously. She just couldn't wait to come back home to Kabir.

He was wearing an apron without a shirt on and just a pair of sweatpants. She stood by the kitchen door frame and leaned on it, admiring her husband.

"Kya hua?" He asked as he turned off the stove and looked at his wife.

What happened?

"Kuch nahi. Apne pati ko nihar rahi hu." She said and walked towards him.

Nothing much. I'm just admiring my husband.

"Accha? Okay, continue." Kabir casually said as he pulled a pitcher of lemonade from the fridge and poured it into a glass filled with ice.

Really?

"Itni pareshaan kyu ho? Bahot thak gayi ho kya?" Kabir asked while doing his task.

Why are you bothered? Are you exhausted?

"Aaj promotions ke liye bahot jaga jana tha. Thaak toh gayi hi hu." She replied.

I had to go to multiple places for promotions. Of course I'm tired.

"Tumhe koi idea nahi mujhe aaj kitne sawal puche logon ne hamari shaadi ke bare mein." Kiara thanked him and took the glass from his hand. She continued talking about her day.

You have no idea how many questioned I've been asked today regarding our wedding.

"Mere liye tha woh." Kabir said with puppy eyes.

That was for me.

"Jo tera hai woh mera hai." Kiara teasingly said in a sing-song voice and took another sip of the lemonade.

Whatever is yours, is mine.

"Of course it is, baby." He said and kissed her forehead.

"Can you believe, ek mahina ho bhi gaya?" Kiara asked as she peeked at what Kabir was cooking.

It's already been a month.

"Tabhi subhe se congratulations ke messages kuch zyada hi aa rahein hai." Kabir said taking a sip from Kiara's glass. He purposely drank from the same place where Kiara's lips previously were.

That's why I'm receiving so many congratulatory messages since this morning.

Kiara smiled a bit at his tactics. 3 years of a solid relationship and this man still tries to flirt with her everyday as if they had just begun their relationship.

"Kya matlab? Tum already bhul gaye hamari shaadi ki taarikh?" Kiara said as she lightly slapped his chest.

What do you mean? You already forgot the date of our wedding?

"Nahi bhula, baby." Kabir said with a chuckle.

I haven't forgotten it

"Suna woh to mane." She sarcastically said and folded her hands across her chest. She was totally giving the typical wife look to him.

I just heard that.

"Fridge dekho." He said and gave her a sly smile.

Check the fridge.

"Kyun?" Kiara questioned with scrunched eyebrows.

Why?

"Dekho naa bas." He said and she did. There was a small cake, neatly kept in the fridge.

Just do it.

"I'm not very big on such things but I guess, happy one-month anniversary, wifey." Kabir said as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

"Happy one-month anniversary husband." Kiara said as she tilted her head and placed a sweet kiss on his cheek.

Kiara turned in his arms and buried her face in the hollow of his chest. He tightened his grip on her and raked his fingers in her hair. She lightly swayed their bodies and took a deep breath of his smell.

"You know, whenever I have a long tiring day, I just want to come home to you and do this." Kiara mumbled in his chest but he got what she was saying.

"Well isn't it a good thing that you'll get to do that for the rest of your life?" Kabir said and she nodded with a big smile.

"It's the best." Kiara said as she looked up from his chest, into his eyes.

"I cannot express in words how much I love you. You, Kabir Malhotra, are my home." Kiara said and placed a small kiss on his lips.

"I love you way more than you can ever imagine, Kiara Malhotra." Kabir said and connected their lips again.

- x -

That's it for Kabir and Kiara's story. Let me know how did you find it. Thank you for all the support. Lots of love to all of you.