âªâ« Chhup ke se aake tune,
Dil mein samaa ke tune,
Chhed diya kaisa yeh fasanaa
Oo.. muskurana bhi tujhi se seekha hai,
Dil lagane ka tu hi tareeka hai,
Aitbaar bhi tujhi se hota hai,
Aaun na hosh mein main kabhi,
Baahonmein hai teri zindagi, haaye!...âªâ«
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's been a week since the gala in Delhi and they have been in New York for the last 2 days as the second gala Ahana was invited to was yesterday. They are staying at Mallik's place as Inaya told her to because it was better and more convenient for them. Mallik's had moved back to India a few years ago, so the place was empty for them to use.
As they are leaving tomorrow, Kabir demanded, she goes for an outing with him as he wants to show her a place.
She agreed and now they are walking on a path beside a park. She was wearing a white turtle neck with black jeans and a caramel-coloured jacket and paired it with black ankle boots. Kabir had a black hoodie under his faded blue denim jacket and paired it with black jeans and boots. He has some things in his hands but he refused to tell or show her what they are.
They reached a bench and Kabir changed direction as he walked into the garden, dragging her along with him.
Ahana rolled her eyes at him but fell into steps beside him nonetheless.
"Why aren't you asking where we are going?" Kabir asked.
"Will you give me an answer if I ask you?" she turned her head to the side to look at him.
"No."
"Then what is the use of asking? I would rather conserve my energy for what's coming than waste it asking unnecessary questions."
"You are one intelligent woman, Ahana."
"Yeah! I know that." She gave him a sugary smile.
They walked in silence for a few minutes before he came to a halt.
"What?" she looked at him.
He looked at her with a smile. "Look ahead and you'll have your answer."
She looked ahead only to get amazed by what she saw. There was an artificial pond with a big cherry blossom tree on one side.
"Come 'on, or someone will take our spot!" he almost ran toward the tree while she followed him.
She didn't bother to run, so by the time she reached there, Kabir was already done with spreading a blanket under the cherry blossom tree.
"We are having a picnic?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes, we are having a picnic!" he looked more excited than a child.
"And what about our food?"
He showed her a basket. "It's all in here."
"Okayyy!" she dragged it, a little uncertain.
"Are you going to sit or what?"
She sat down on the blanket beside Kabir. She looked around the place, it was so beautiful, and it almost felt like a place out of one of the books she reads.
"How did you even find this place?" she asked, still soaking in the view.
She saw him smile, as if he was reliving a memory. "When I was in college, I came here for a student exchange program. Initially, I was feeling homesick so I used to take long walks. During one of those walks, I came across this place and from then it has become my safe haven. Now, whenever I come to New York, I visit this place at least once."
"This place is peaceful."
"It is!"
They sat there, talking, eating, and having the time of their lives. Ahana felt herself being more open in his presence. She joked, teased, talked, and laughed more and she loved all of it. She felt like she had forgotten her old self who used to find happiness in small things. With Kabir, it came naturally to herâwith him she again felt alive.
"Oh god! I'm tired of sitting."
She chuckled while looking at him over the book she was reading. "Then lie down!"
He took her by surprise when he lay down beside her with his head in her lap. "Wha-"
"Shh... let me be, Ahana!" he took the book from her hand. "I'll read it for you."
She shrugged and leaned back on one hand as he started reading. Involuntarily, she started running her hand through his hair while listening to him.
When she realized what she was doing, she stopped and took her hand back but Kabir didn't seem to like it. He held her hand and again placed it in his hair, encouraging her to go on.
She smiled and again started to run her hand through his silky hair as he started reading.
âªââ©â¶âª
It was almost evening when they decided to go back to Mallik's place by walking as it wasn't too far from the garden. As they walked down the path, she naturally held onto Kabir's arm without realizing it.
They reached the place and decided to get changed and then meet in the kitchen for dinner.
She changed into a light grey crop cami top, sweatpants, and a robe set and went downstairs.
When she entered the kitchen, she saw Kabir's back towards her as he put the container into the microwave which probably had the food they picked on their way back.
He turned around and looked at her for a second too long. He cleared his throat. "Do you want to watch a movie while eating?"
"Umm... No." she saw his smile falter a little so she added, "But we can watch it after dinner."
"But we have a flight to catch tomorrow."
"Our flight is in the afternoon so it would be fine."
He agreed and they had their dinner while talking some more. After dinner, they settled down on the sofa in the living room and put on a movie to watch.
They were sitting on each end of the sofa with legs sprawled across itâhe played the movie, sat up straight, and out of nowhere tugged her legs towards him.
"Wha-" She laughed.
He moved forward and sat, almost straddling her. She looked at him, wide-eyed, when he exclaimed, "Tickle Monster!"
"Kab... ha ha... Kabir... plea... please... ahh ha ha... please!" He tickled her mercilessly stopping only when he was satisfied and got back to his side, and sat with his back against the arm of the sofa.
"Come here!" he opened his arm for her while putting one leg on the floor, she settled herself between his legs, with her back against his chest without a word.
"You smell nice!" Kabir whispered against her bare shoulder as the robe slid to her arm when he was tickling her.
She felt butterflies in her stomach but didn't reply and tried to focus on the movie. Halfway through the movie, she tried to get up when he put his arm around her stomach and pulled her back into him.
"No, you can't get up! You're my prisoner for now." He whispered into her ear.
She glanced at him over her shoulder and they stared at each other for a minute as heat crawled up her neck. He grinned and lowered his head, hiding in her shoulder. When she moved her head to the other side to again focus on the movie he pressed a whisper of a kiss on her neck.
His stubble grazed her skin as he rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Kabir?" she whispered, she leaned her head back and rested it on his shoulder when he hummed. "What are we doing?"
He was silent for a few seconds. "I don't know, Ahana, but this feels right! You feel right!"
"We should sleep now. It's late!" She whispered and again tried to get up and again failed because of his hold on her.
"Please, Ahana! Just stay for a little while. Please?"
She turned in her place and rested her head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat under the palm of her hand, which was beating as if he had just run a marathon.
He placed his arms around her, kissed the crown of her head, and rested his chin on her head.