He then insisted me to sit in the car ...!
Before I could reach my hand to the handle , he immediately opened the car door !
" Awww cutest " I sat inside car ! And wore the seatbelt ! ( Last night I saw the seatbelt tutorial)
He started the car!
A kind of strange feeling were present between us in the moment which was unfamiliar but comfortable !
He broke the silence - How's your prep going??
I answered - Good ! Exams are on the way ! I hope everything goes well !
You'll surely be a doctor ! He grinned !
We reached to the cafe! It was very expensive cafe !
We both get out of the car and he opened the cafe door for me to enter !
Such a gentleman " I murmured !
We entered and sat together !
The cafe was so fancyy and the painting hanged over there depicts strange but powerful messages !
Beautiful art ! I admired
What ? He asked
The painting ! Just look at all the walls ! The artist must have deep thinking ! His paintings are screaming his thoughts loudly !! I gazed !
You like painting??? He asked !
I laughed out loudly and said - I'm very bad at this !!! You know once I made a diagram of flower,it was looking like a bowl ... Everyone started laughing at my drawing and i couldn't even defend it ! It was actually bad !
He started smiling and kept a soft gaze at me and said - Then ??? Tell me more about you ,Aaira ??? I wanna know !
What ??? He wants to know about me but whyy ??? I drowned in my own thought until he snapped at me !
I came into senses ! And then we talked like we actually talked !!! He told me about himself ! I shared too ! And everything was going well between us !
After Ishika, it was the 1st time somebody pays this much attention to my bakbakk !!! I was just yapping!
And he was calmy listening to me like every freaking thing ! I was just yapping but he suddenly interrupted,
- You look beautiful,AAIRA Lavender suits you !!! He gazed at me with so much warmth that actually reached out to my nerve !
I just stopped at that moment !
It felt like ----Every efforts of mine has got an approval from him !
I blushed !!
Again becoming tomatoes??? He teased !
You are sensitive to what AAIRA ??? FROM COMPLIMENT ??? He teased with a bit of flirtness !
I said...ahh...no !. I mean ! Yess! Wait ! It's nothing like this ok ! My whole face turned red !
Before I could defend myself -,
He said - "Now don't blame your blusher for this ! You turned like Tomatoes in the rain too !
And yeah , You look cute while turning into Tomatoes ! He added !
Is he reading my mind ??? For god's sake !
How did he know I was about to say this !
And he finds me cute ! A beam of joy rushed into me !
But I acted normal and composed !
Thankyou - I grinned
The waiter came with a loads of dishes ! And he was placing all on our table!
" Sorry we didn't order anything " !!! I said
" Ma'am it's pre ordered ! Kabir sir had already given a list of order last night !!!
I looked at kabir strangely - Did you??
He nodded !
I was amused for a moment! But then i noticed !
These all are my favourite dishes !!! I confusedly uttered!
I know ! That's why I ordered ! Kabir replied!
How did you know? I mean? I suspiciously asked !
He was embarassed and rubbed the back of his neck and said - I stalked your profile and yeah Ishi helped me too !!!
I blushed so hard and I wanted him to know that I'm blushing !
Initially I thought i was just exaggerating the situation but later he accepted that ! And it was enough for me to feel secure around him !
Well You know what ?." Lavender is my favourite colour " He shared
Yeah I know ! That's why I wore it ! I blurted out !
What ??? He asked!
Shit AAIRA !!! Can't you think before you speak !
"Nothing" I said to ease the embarassment!
The waiter came up with a file and handed it to kabir !
I was confused ! Kabir signed on the paper and gave it back to waiter !
I asked surprisingly - " What was the file about???
They needed some changes in the cafe.!.That was my approval ! He said normally
They needed your approval!!! Wait...??? Are you the owner of this cafe ??? I surprisingly asked
He nodded !
Fuxkk whatt ??? Such an expensive cafe it is ! You're Richie rich ! I teased him
He just smiled and insisted me to start !
We started the dinner ! And he asks about my interest !
I told him - Dance, writing , cooking !!!
I asked about his hobbies ,
Politics, History,sports, swimming, reading books ! He uttered !
Do you know about Rathore brothel ! I saw the news yesterday and i was disturbed by it ! I said !
He said - leave the trash !
No, listen to me na ! The audacity of rathore to keep their children out of the sin and what about those men who has family and still goes to the brothel??? I hate the whole freaking Rathore !!! Bloody hell ! Calling brothel a heaven !
Enough ! Kabir shouted !
I trembled ! What ???
There was anger in his eyes ! But whyy ??? Did I say anything wrong.!!!?? I questioned myself secretly
My face turned small ! And i got numbed
Looking at my face, i saw a change of emotions on his face ! His eyes became soft and delicate !
" Sorry !.Sorry !.i didn't mean to hurt you !
You're just 21 ! You don't need to see such things ! Especially when your exams are on the way
Theses stuffs are disturbing and you can't afford it now !
Ishi told me about you and i know how much college is important to you ! That's why i just shouted ! But I shouldn't have ! He started speaking continuously !
I was numbed but yeah he said it right !
I felt the guilt in his voice
I said -.its ok !!!
He kept on saying sorry ! I said - it's ok Kabir
But he kept on blaming himself !
I gently reached out and held his hand firmly, stopping the flow of his words.
"Shh… it's okay," I said softly. "I didn't feel bad. You said it for my good, I understand."
A small pause escaped me, then I added with a faint smile, trying to lighten the moment, "And hey… in friendship, no sorry and no thank you."
Kabir looked at me—really looked at me. Not distracted, not distant. Just present. His expression softened ! he didn't pull his hand away ,
Our hands stayed there, held in that unexpected moment of stillness. The warmth between our palms felt real, grounding, like the world had narrowed down to just that single point of contact.
We both denied to break the eye contact so the waiter came in action
Your dessert Sir " He placed on the table !
Eye contact broke !
Both blushed !
Both embarassed !
Kitkat Dessert ??? That's my favourite ! I beamed with joy.! Thankyou Kabir !
He was just smiling at me !
I was busy in enjoying the dessert!
The phone rang ! Enjoy your dessert, I'll be
right back ! He said !
Everything felt perfect to me ! I was enjoying the dessert but suddenly an ache hits my abdomen.!!!
Ahhh !.I screamed !!!
It felt like period cramp ! Wait !!!
What's the date now ??? 17th April !
My period day !
Did I get my period??? Shit !!!
I got up to check and saw the stain on the chair !
Kabir came towards me - Are you done ???
II quickly sat down, almost abruptly, trying to hide it before he could notice.
I adjusted myself, pulling the fabric of my dress slightly, making sure nothing awkward was visible, hoping he hadn't caught it.
Kabir didn't say anything right away.
But I could feel it—his attention had shifted, like he had noticed the change in my movement even if he wasn't commenting on it !
Kabir finally spoke, his voice calm as before.
"You okay?
"
Just that.
Simple. Controlled. But not distant.
I nodded quickly, still not looking directly at him, trying to act normal even though my thoughts were scattered.
Shit ! How embarassing it would be to see this side of me on our first official meet !!!
I quickly told Kabir, "Waiter is calling you."
He immediately replied, "Wait, I'll call him."
But I quickly insisted, almost rushing my words, "No, you go yourself… it must be something important."
Without saying much more, he nodded and walked away.
For a moment, I thought I would just leave quickly too.
But as I tried to move, a group of kids suddenly came in my way. They blocked the path without realizing it, and within seconds, I was surrounded by people from all sides. I froze slightly, feeling embarrassed and trapped, wondering what if they'll notice my stain !!!
My heart started beating faster
.
Before I could figure it out, Kabir came back.
He stepped in quietly behind me, placing himself slightly in front—subtly shielding me from the crowd.
"It's okay, Aaira, Don't be embarassed" he said in a calm voice.
"Don't panic. I'm here. Just stay normal. Come with me."
His tone wasn't loud, but it was steady—like an anchor.
He holded my hand tightly and was close enough that makes me feel secure !
He took me to the room in the cafe ! Obviously he's the owner !
Sit comfortably ! He insisted
I looked down, unable to meet his eyes.
I'm sorry Kabir," I said quietly.
My voice wavered slightly. "This must be so embarrassing for you. I didn't even realize… I forgot my date… and now I've caused trouble at your café. I even… I stained the chair. I'm really sorry."
I started crying as soon as I finished speaking—like I had been holding everything in for too long.
Before I could say anything more, Kabir stepped closer.
He didn't let the moment spiral.
He pulled me closer and hugged me warmly ! Not dramatic just protective and little bit romantically!
"Shh… Aaira," he said softly. "Calm down."
His voice stayed low and grounded.
"You haven't done anything wrong. Nothing."
I tried to speak again, but he stopped me gently with his tone, not force.
"It's okay. You're overthinking right now. Just breathe."
He paused, looked at me and cupped my cheeks gently ,making sure I was listening.
"And listen to me carefully—you don't need to apologize for this. Not to me. Not to anyone here."
It's just life ! You're not causing trouble you are just having mood swings !
Don't stress too much ! He added !
Go to bed ! I'll get all the required stuffs for you ! And
"I'll handle everything here.
A small pause followed.
i lie down on the bed as I usually get hard cramps on my first day !
He gently covered me with a blanket, tucking it softly around me.
His hand moved to my head, brushing my hair in a calm, soothing way.
"Rest," he said quietly. "I'll be back."
And just like that, his presence stayed… even after he stepped away.