Chapter 12: IX

♪♫ Tenu takda ravaan

Baton pe teri hasda ravaan

Pagal main khud nu banaunda ravaan

Tu hasdi rave, main hasaanda ravaan

Tainu takda ravaan...♪♫

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was in his room getting ready when he heard his bedroom door being opened after two knocks but he didn't hear anyone's step so he turned to look.

He saw Ahana—ready in a white crop top under a black and white checker shirt, washed blue jeans that were ripped near the knee, and a pair of white sneakers—leaning on the doorframe with her hands folded before her chest.

"You take a lot of time to get ready." She stated, walking inside his room and taking a seat on the edge of his bed.

"I'm getting ready for you, so it would make me feel better if you won't complain."

"Shouldn't that be my line?"

"We both know that you won't say it ever." He stated as they locked eyes through the mirror.

"Get ready fast!"

She pulled out her phone from her jeans pocket and started scrolling through it.

He asked her out a few days ago and today is their date. He has planned it according to Ahana's liking but he still felt nervous about it.

When he was ready, she stood and started to make her way toward the door but he stopped her midway.

He stepped a little too close to her but they were still not touching.

"I have something for you." He said looking into her eyes.

"Kabir, I told you to not get anything for me."

"No, you told me to not get chocolates or flowers." He took out a small square box from his pocket and put it in her hands saying, "It's neither!"

Ahana looked at the box, then at him, and then sighed in defeat when he gestured for her to open it. She opened the box and stared at it in almost awe. "Is it a-"

"-Pheonix. Yes!" he completed with a smile.

The box had a gold phoenix necklace—its chain was attached to each wing. It looked like it has just resurrected.

She looked up at him. "Why a phoenix?"

"You told me that you don't like giving or taking flowers because they die, so, I got you a phoenix because even if it dies, it rises again from the ashes."

A soft smile made its way to her face. "That's very thoughtful of you."

"There is one more reason that I got it though."

"And what would that be?"

"You!" he answered in a beat.

Ahana furrowed her brows. "Me?"

"Yes, you! Whenever you have fallen down, you get back up and fight back with double power and determination." He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "You, Ahana, are my phoenix."

"People have called me a lot of things but a phoenix is a first."

"And I'm the only one who can call you that, okay?"

She snickered but nodded anyway. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Um... may I?" he asked while scratching the back of his neck.

When she nodded he turned her around and gently clasped the necklace around her neck.

She turned back to him. "So, what do you think?"

He looked at the necklace then her face and grinned. "You look absolutely lovely. It suits you."

They made their way toward the car when she asked. "Can I drive?"

"Do you know where are we going?"

"No, but you can tell me the destination and I can drive us there."

"Ahana, I know what you are trying to do."

"Is it working?" she raised a brow at him.

"No!"

"Damn it!" She stomped her foot once like she had lost a business deal.

▪◀▩▶▪

After forty minutes of driving, he parked the car in front of a building. Kabir got out, opened the door for her, and lead her toward the building.

He saw her looking at the building in confusion but she didn't say anything.

They stepped into the building and Ahana started roaming around the building in awe.

He had taken Ahana to a bookstore library. The whole place was divided into two parts—the first part was a bookstore where you can buy the books and the second part was a library where you can sit down and read the books if you can't buy them.

"This is the best place I've ever been in!" she exclaimed, a grin in place.

He knew she didn't like to go for dinners or movies—that beyond her exterior she was a simple girl who wanted simple things in life. She didn't get to dream about her fairy tale because the world had shown her a lot of pain at an early age.

Ahana dragged him by the hand she was holding, toward the back of the place where the tables were empty. They sat across each other as she put the books she picked on the table.

"Tell me about your favourite books and characters." He placed his hands on the table and leaned forward.

She looked a little surprised. "You want to listen to me talk about my favourite books?"

"Yes. Why not?"

She started talking and they didn't realize when two hours went by. She talked about books and characters with so much passion that he hoped for her to always remain like this. She looked happy—alive even and he loved that look on her. He also realized that she let herself free when she is talking about something she is passionate about.

▪◀▩▶▪

"Just know that if you try to kill me, I'll kill you first." She was threatening him. Her voice made a shiver run down his spine but he masked it. She could be a scary person when she wants to be.

"Where is this coming from?"

"You are driving into the woods. What else do you expect?"

He was indeed driving into the woods but it was because the next destination was through it.

"I know that your brain is alerting you for danger right now, but I won't harm you."

They finally reached their destination and before he knew it, Ahana was out of the car. He shook his head at her and turned to the backseat to grab the packets which had their dinner.

He took her to a cliff, the whole of Mumbai could be seen from there and the sky was clear so they could see a lot of stars too.

"This is so beautiful." He heard her whisper to herself but didn't comment.

"Are you hungry?"

"Famished!" she replied after turning back to him.

He had already put a blanket on the bonnet of the car while she was admiring the city.

After dinner, they were sitting and talking when Kabir saw a shooting star.

"Ahana, Shooting star! Make a wish."

"I don't believe in it."

"Just make a wish. Please?"

When she nodded he made a wish too.

I wish Ahana's wish comes true.

▪◀▩▶▪

They were walking on the beach together as she held onto his arm.

He had always loved it when she held his arm it felt like it has come to her naturally—without awkwardness or hesitation. It just felt better than holding hands.

"Kabir, can we stand here for a few minutes?"

"Sure."

They stood there, with only their feet touching the water.

Suddenly she splashed his face with water. He blinked, shocked, and looked at her as she laughed. She squealed and sprinted off when he bent down to do the same. He was chasing her—her laughter filled the silence around them. She laughed harder when he slid his arm around her stomach, lifting her off the ground and twirling her a few times.

"When did you become this carefree?" he asked after their laughter died down.

"I was always this carefree, I just didn't trust anyone enough to show them this side of me."

They both were staring at each other when she started leaning in. He watched her in anticipation. "You might want to know how you really feel before you act on it, Ahana. I don't want you to regret this."

She looked at his eyes, then his lips, and back to his eyes. "I know what I feel, Kabir. I've known it for a while now. I won't regret this."

He moved a step closer and put an arm around her waist, pulling her into him.

Her hand instinctively wrapped around his neck as he brushed his lips against her and pulled back instantly.

"You're so annoying!" she pulled him down, their lips colliding in a toe-curling kiss.

Their lips moved in sync as she slid her hand into his hair like she had been craving this for far too long. It was a soft kiss and he felt his heart pounding at an alarming rate. He pulled her more into him while leaning forward, tilting her chin up for better access.

They pulled back, and he saw that she still had her eyes close but there was a small smile on her face. She opened her eyes when he pressed a soft kiss on her forehead and then joined their foreheads.

"You kissed me." He whispered.

"I did."

"You like me?"

"Like is a weak word for what I feel for you, Kabir."