"Miss Kashyap? Where is she?" Kabir acted as if he didn't hear Richa and Ronnie's conversation.
"As if you don't know, Sir." Richa muttered beaneath her breath.
"Did you say something there, Richa?"
"No, Sir. Ronnie, it's quite late. Will you drop me home?" Richa eyed Kabir one last time before walking off with Ronnie. Ronnie had looked back to Kabir and shrugged, telling him that neither did he have an idea where Ananya had gone.
"Where are you, Ananya?" Kabir sighed.
"Tinu, you know what? This was the best idea that ever crossed your mind. I mean, why don't people try this? You're not only my stinger, Tinu, you're the only person who cares about me right now. Unlike the person I love so much." Ananya said as she gobbled down yet another bottle. Tinu looked at her with a horrified look.
"Madam, you should not drink so much." Said Tinu.
"You don't tell me, Tinu, how much I shall drink. And that Kabir Sharma, what does he think of himself? One day, he's all sweet and lovely, the other, he's angry with me. And that Malvika, what if she's KL's daughter? She stole my chip like any other mindless spoilt brat. She doesn't know what being professional is. Here she is, involving matters in between that make absolutely no sense. I mean, yeah, according to the clause, Kabir and I can't be together. But-" She snatched another bottle from Tinu-"Some decorum needs to be maintained."
"Ananya?" Kabir said, totally surprised. Ananya sat with her feet on either sides of a stool and Tinu sat opposite to her on the floor, holding his head between his hands.
"Ooh, look who's here, Mr. Kabir Sharma." She got up and clapped her hands, then picked up the bottle and gulps down another large sip, "What can I help you with, Mr. Sharma?"
"Tumne pi hai?" He said taking the bottle away from her.
"Haan. Haan meine pi hai. Kyunki na-"Another mood swing hit her-"Peena hi mere liye sabse aasan hai ab. Aap ne mujhe kal itna daata-"starts crying"-Ab mei kya kru?"
"I am sorry, Ananya. Bahaut hogya, ghar chalo."
"Hehehe, ghar? Maa aur Armaan toh chale gye Mumbai. And I don't have keys. I think I left them in.. in... in my room."She giggles,"Mei ghar nahi jaa skti."
"Toh mere ghar chalo! Par Ananya, please chalo." Kabir pleaded, getting hold of her waist. She smiled and wrapped her arms around him. Resting her head on his chest, she spoke, "Aap mera itna khayal rkhte hai na, Kabir Sir? Ki mei kabhi kabahar darr jaati hu. Ki aap toh meri aadatein bigaad denge, phir jab meri zindagi se chale-"
"Ananya! Chalo! Abhi!" She pouted. Turning into Tinu's way, she waved him goodbye, and then tightened her hold on Kabir as they together walked out.
"Kabir?" Ananya said, staring out of the window of his car, "Tumne kabhi socha hai? Ki agar hum apni puri zindagi aise hi jee skte. Like the night. Silent, poise, comforting. Kisi baat ka koi asar nahi. It would have been so great."
"Akhir mei subah honi hi hoti hai, Ananya, bas kuch pal ki khushi hoti hai."
"Par Sir-" She turns around and looks at Kabir, "Chahe kuch pal ki hi sahi, khushi toh khushi hoti hai na. Aur aap ke saath, mei humesha khush rhti hu. You're my night, Kabir."
"You're mine, too, Ananya." She hugged him tightly and rested her head on his shoulder. He lightly kissed her head and drove away.
"Tum mere kamre mei so jao. Mei guest room mei so jaunga. Good night-" He was about to walk off from the room, making Ananya lie down on his bed, when Ananya grabbed his hand.
"Please mere saath rahiye na Kabir sir. Please." She smiled. Kabir looked shocked, but didn't say anything. He lay down beside her and stared into her eyes.
"I love you, Ananya, and I am sorry to have behaved with you that way. It's just that, the chip was important for me. And so was the bulletin. And you had risked your life to get the infomation, and it's all in waste now."
"I love you too, Kabir. And I know who stole the chip."
"You do?" He got up from the bed. Ananya smiled and pulled him back down.
"Malvika." Was all she needed to say and Kabir needed to understand. She knew, Malvika would get investigated, searched, frisked, by Kabir. He will find the chip. And for now, all she needed was him and his heart. She lay her head on his chest and she closed her eyes. Driffting into the night. Silent, poise and comforting. Kabir's heartbeat was her lulaby. His presence the sole reason of her existence.