Part IX
Nisha parked her scooter at a small distance from the shop. People hovered around the shop like bees over a honeycomb. Nisha looked at the crowd and shook her head. "You wait here Kabir I'll go get the colours" Kabir nodded. Nisha stood a few steps away from the shop, thinking how she would ever get past that crowd. People were almost falling over each other. She walked ahead and tried to push in her way no matter how much she struggled she could not get through. She decided to trick her way in but she felt someone get a grip on her hand. The touch felt familiar she spun around to confirm. Kabir was gripping her wrist standing behind her. He ignored her questioning eyes and walked ahead without loosening his grip on Nisha turning her around on the way. He gently pushed people aside and smoothly paved his way through the crowd. As they reached the counter of the shop Kabir released Nisha's hand. Nisha asked for a box of fabric colours absent mindedly. She took the packed box and they turned around to leave. Nisha found half a dozen eyes glare at them since they waited impatiently to reach the counter. Kabir grabbed Nisha's hand again and lead the way through the crowd once again. Nisha kept staring at him feeling light headed. Even amidst her progressive day dream she had not failed to notice that Kabir freed her hand only after they reached the scooter.
Not among the people who generally didn't mind being obliged, Nisha was quickly offended by Kabir's help. She politely conveyed her disapproval to Kabir "Thanks for that" she said cocking her head towards the crowd. "But I could have managed" "No doubt about that!" Kabir retorted with an austere look. Nisha felt restless at his impassive voice; within two days she had come to prefer the fun loving and mischievous Kabir over his solemn self. "Then why did you help me?" she asked him firmly. "Because I could not just keep watching you struggle and pretend as if nothing happened. I said I would be there with you always at the Saree shop, if you remember? I did not feign that, I meant it. Nisha felt her heart stopped beating for a fraction of a second to that statement. She swallowed hard as she was choked with emotions. She kept staring at him as if she was possessed. He snapped his fingers in front of her to bring her out of her trance.
"You were going to ask me something" he reminded her. Nisha bit her lower lip, while Kabir stood in front of her with folded hands. She noticed that they had subconsciously started adopting each others habbits. She started in a wary tone "Yesterday I asked you to tell my parents that you don't like me and you would not want to marry me. But you went down and said yes. You did it just to spite me right?" "No... No I didn't do it to spite you" Kabir's voice and eyes reflected honesty. "I am aware of the fact that you planned all the tricks with your cousins to send me running from your life, but I also believe that you are a good person and I like you." "Do you still have the same opinion about me after what I did today?"Nisha asked with a hint of anxiety. "Yes Nisha" he confirmed firmly. Nisha was pleasantly surprised at his admission. "Why?" she probed further. "You ask all the cousins to help you drive me out and they agree without worrying about the fact that they may have to bear the brunt if your parents learn about the plan. You must be so close to their heart that they are ready to do anything for you. I am sure your plan never included me getting hurt in the leg, but I did get hurt and you were not indifferent towards it. You regretted that, you felt responsible I could comprehend that from your eyes. How could i not be moved by your caring side which you so effortlessly tried to conceal? Today Raju just throws himself into your plan without thinking twice, oblivious of what may come upon him if Mr. Mehta came to know about your plan and that he was involved in it. The Pani Puriwala is with you even before I start eating the Puri" Kabir broke into a brief smile which disappeared quickly. "All these people are ready to do anything for you without thinking about the consequences. You must have definitely done some good to them that they are so giving towards you. You were frantic when my health deteriorated. You worry so much about your dad and he does the same for you, you feel other's pain as your own. Throughout the day you just kept proving my decision was right. I wanted a life partner just like you."
Nisha felt guilty with every sentence that Kabir spoke. She thought that she had only intended to get rid of Kabir, while Kabir had put in every effort to understand her better ignoring all the mischief that she had played with him. He had managed to see the mature and caring person that she was beyond her vivacious self. She kept staring at Kabir, suddenly adoring his gentle side. "This is what you were thinking while we were sitting in the park right? And you said it was nothing" "How did you know?" Nisha asked incrediously. "You were in such deep thought that you didn't realize I was waiting for you to look at me, which means you were definitely thinking on something important, now that your question is answered you appear to be so relieved. Please don't stare at me as if I have just invaded your mind its common sense anybody would know." She looked away embarrassed at the way she was staring at Kabir. "One more thing, you can ask me or share anything with me anytime, don't hesitate next time." He smiled at her warmly. Nisha smiled back her heart flipped at his words. She didn't expect herself to experience things like this. She would laugh off such things when Kirti would explain it to her. Nisha had slowly started to get accustomed to these feelings. "Let's go now I assume Dolly needs to be handed those colours at the earliest." Nisha nodded at him thankful to him to bring her out of her reverie. "Can I drive?" Kabir asked Nisha expectantly. He held out his hand for the keys. Nisha dropped the key in Kabir's hand which was hooked in a keychain. At the end of the keychain was a small red coloured crystal heart. He peered at the crystal heart and smiled. He closed his palm tight and sat on the scooter. Nisha sat behind him.
The road close to the Gangwal house was a difficult one. Nisha found herself bumping up and down the seat because of the pot holes. "You can hold me if you want? I am sure it must be your first sitting behind someone on your scooter. It's quiet uncomfortable behind." Nisha slowly raised her hand and placed it on his shoulder. She found him smiling at her through the mirror, she smiled at him sheepishly. It was indeed very uncomfortable behind. He was right she had never sat behind, it also dawned on her that she had ruthlessly made sure he didn't hold her this morning. Another round of guilt washed over her. For some strange reason she had this sudden surge of resting her had on his back, but she refrained from doing so. Lost in this mysterious feeling that she had started to develop she didn't realize when they reached home. Ramesh was amazed at what he saw. Nisha allowed someone to drive her scooter and she didn't appear to be annoyed.
He smiled at what he saw. He decided against meeting them and making it awkward for them. He knew Nisha would pull up the faade again in front of him and that would mean ruining the situation. He however decided to watch them from a distance. As they entered the house they found Dolly rush towards them. "Did you get them?" Dolly asked anxiously. "Yes Dolly Di" Dolly hugged Nisha impulsively. "I knew it Nishu. You can do anything" Dolly gushed entwining her fingers together and resting her chin over them for support. "Actually Kabir helped get them on time. It was so crowded I felt I would never reach the counter. But he helped me get there." Dolly now gaped at Nisha. She could not believe what she heard. Dolly was bemused at Nisha giving credit to someone and that to Kabir of all the people. Dolly shifted her gaze to Kabir. Kabir raised his palm at her and curled his fingers inwards pointing at himself assuring Dolly that he could explain. "Actually the thing was when we arrived at the shop it was overcrowded and Nisha asked me to wait for her near the scooter while she got the colours. She walked towards the shop and stood a few steps away from the shop, I am sure she was measuring her chances to get the colours on time. She walked upto the crowd and kept jumping like a frog to get past the crowd. So I decided to help her" Dolly and Kabir thundered with laughter, while Nisha glared at them. But she could not keep herself from laughing either and she joined them quickly.
Ramesh who was standing at the top of the staircase all this while tried hard to keep his voice low while laughing at Kabir's explanation. He walked away content at the fact that Nisha had started to open up to Kabir. He could not wait to share his happiness with Lakshmi. "Ok then I'll leave now. See you guys tomorrow with my mom." Nisha stiffened at the mention of his mom. "Thank you so much Kabir you really are very helpful. See you tomorrow." Dolly waved at him and left. "I think now its five down two to go would be wifey." He stepped closer to Nisha and whispered in her ear. He was gone before Nisha could utter a word.
Edited by picadally - 10 years ago