Ok, here's the next chapter. As promised, it's full of Rabir. Happy reading! 😊
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Chapter 3:
As Rachna tries to move her neighbor's head off of her shoulder, the blanket comes off and Rachna is stunned to find that her neighbor is none other than Kabir himself. She cannot help but lovingly touch his face, fondly remembering the wonderful times they had shared together.
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"Kabir! I'm home! Where are you?"
Rachna looks around the apartment, frantically looking for her beloved husband. She finally finds him in the balcony, sitting in a chair, peacefully sleeping. She smiles naughtily as she picks up the hose and sprays Kabir with cold water.
"Ahhh! Ouch! What the..." Kabir jumps out of the chair and starts to chase Rachna throughout the apartment.
"Rachna!! You just wait until I catch you! Rachna!"
Rachna is running around the apartment and laughing at Kabir. Finally, they both get tired and flop down onto the bed, facing each other.
Kabir rolls over and pins Rachna down under him. "Is that the way to wake someone up?"
Rachna innocently smiles at Kabir. "I couldn't help it. You were sleeping so peacefully and the hose was just calling out to me."
Seeing Rachna's mischievous reply with her innocent expression, Kabir just burst out laughing. "You're just too much. But I love you for that."
Gently stroking her face, Kabir whispers into her ear, "I really love you. I love you so much! You're the best thing to ever have happened to me."
Rachna smiles and nuzzles closer into Kabir's arms, whispering back into his ear, "Me too..."
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The shaking of the plane due to turbulence and the pilot's announcements to put on seatbelts brought Rachna out of her thoughts and Kabir out of his sleep. Kabir opened his eyes and found himself looking into a deep ocean of chocolate, his face just inches away from Rachna's. Kabir couldn't help but lean in closer until his lips were just barely touching Rachna's. He could feel her rapid breathing, her quickening heartbeat, her hesitancy. But she didn't move back; it seemed as though she was waiting for Kabir to make the next move. Kabir suddenly moved away from Rachna and turned his face towards the window.
Kabir could sense the awkwardness in the air between them. He cleared his throat and hesitantly touched Rachna's hand.
"Rach...Ra...Rachna. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have...I'm really sorry."
Rachna looked towards him expectantly. "Sorry for what? For not doing this?"
Rachna leaned in towards Kabir and pulled him towards herself. Putting her hand on his shoulder, she touched her lips with his. It wasn't a wildly passionate kiss; they had certainly shared more passionate ones in the past, fiery ones that had led them to do a lot more. But still, there was a sense of comfortable intimacy between them. They pulled away from each other at the same time; both content with what had just transposed between them.
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Kabir looked towards Rachna and comfortably held her hand this time.
"I really miss you Rachna."
"I miss you too." Rachna squeezed Kabir's hand lovingly.
"Oh, congratulations, by the way."
Rachna looked towards him, confused at his words. "Congratulations? For?"
"Your wedding."
Puzzled by his statement, Rachna responded with a blank expression. "My what?"
"I saw you in Delhi with your friend. You were shopping for a wedding."
Rachna remembered the day she had met Kabir in Delhi. "I was shopping for my friend's wedding, not mine. And besides Kabir, I'm already married."
Kabir removed Rachna's hand from his and turned towards the window, silently staring into the clouds.
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"Oh my gosh Kabir! I can't believe we're finally married!!"
Kabir picked Rachna up in his arms and twirled her around the room. The wedding had been a small affair of just a few close friends but Kabir had gone all out for an extravagant and romantic honeymoon. He had surprised his lady love by renting a private beach bungalow in Thailand for a week.
"Yes and now you're finally all mine. Mrs. Rachna Kabir Tripathi."
Kabir carried her into the bedroom, which had been specially decorated with red and pink roses, for the newly married couple. Rachna was mesmerized seeing the beautiful decorations and lights in the room.
"It's beautiful Kabir. Just beautiful."
Softly laying Rachna down on the bed of flowers, Kabir laid down next to her. "But not as beautiful as my gorgeous wife."
Blushing, Rachna turned towards her husband and playfully hit him on his chest. He enveloped her in a big bear hug, relishing the feel of finally having her in his arms as his legally wedded wife.
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The jolt of the airplane's wheels touching the runway brought Kabir out of his memories. When the plane had stopped moving, he quickly gathered his belongings and tried to exit the plane, ignoring Rachna's constant pleas to "just listen."
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So, how was it? Any thoughts or comments? Will be waiting for your responses! 😊