KaYa OS || All of Me || AU

Ananya was searching through a stack of files to find the one that she needed. Accidently she knocked over a photo frame. She picked it up and glanced at the picture longingly. The photograph had captured her with a good-looking man, him hugging her from behind, both smiling, both happy.

She sighed and kept the frame facedown. Don't Ananya, just don't... she ordered herself. She determinedly started looking for the file again and didn't stop even when she felt a shadow at her desk.

"Ananya?"

She went rigid as she heard that voice. Kabir moved forward and kept the latte he had brought for her on her desk. She turned to face him, severely berating herself for letting his presence affect her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked coldly.

"Well, I had to talk to you. And since you weren't returning any of my calls or replying to my messages, I figured that I had little choice than to come here." Kabir replied easily leaning against her desk.

"You know, usually when people ignore 37 incoming calls and not reply to 59 messages, it plainly means that they are not interested in talking." Ananya said scathingly.

"You counted," Kabir pointed out smugly. She gave him a contemptuous look. He sighed.

"C'mon Ananya, just hear me out." Kabir said, kneeling down in front of her chair and taking her hands in his.

"Kabir, please... Just let it go. Don't create a scene." Ananya said standing up.

"Ananya, no one's around." He said, standing up too. It was true; the whole floor was empty because it was the lunch break.

"I'm sorry Ananya... I know what happened should never have happened-"

"But it did and you did nothing to help it." She cut in.

"I didn't know how to react all right?" I am sorry-"

"No Kabir, I'm sorry but this is over. I can't take it anymore. Two months! Two months we've been together. You couldn't forget her in nearly a year and a half. And after yesterday I know you never will! I can't stand to see you thinking about how things were her. How you two were so perfect together! I just can't all right? I can't stand being compared to someone else. With you I'll never get a place of my own. I'll always be second. You tried and couldn't get over her. And I just can't stand it. I. Can't. Keep. Hurting."

Kabir stared at her.

"Ananya, you know Shreya and I are over! There is nothing left for us anymore!" Kabir said beseechingly.

"Yet, she is allowed to interfere in your life. Make your choices for you. You are hung up on her and she? She is ruthlessly controlling you. I don't know what it is, but she gets pleasure out of all of this. She can still dictate your life. She's not with you! She is already engaged for heaven's sake and still she can't stand to see you with someone else.

"What she did yesterday, I can almost forget, but what I can't forget is that you didn't stand up for me Kabir. It just proves what she said. I have no importance in your life. You just don't care about me the way you cared about her. And that's the most humiliating part because I started believing that you did. That I did matter. But no! We are not possible as long as you both have this thing going on."

"There is nothing going on!" Kabir exclaimed, "She is history! Even if I had a chance with her I wouldn't take it. I know what she's like. I've seen it. I never thought that she could stoop that low but now I know it."

Ananya scoffed. "Kabir save it for someone who cares, all right?" She said haughtily, folding her hands across her chest.

"Listen to me Ananya," he said, grabbing her arms, "She is not important. Not at all. This is my life and I will lead it the way I want it. I'll make my own decisions. She is nothing to me. Nothing! She can go hell for all I care. You understand me?" Kabir asked impassioned.

"You know what?" Ananya said, getting right into his face, refusing to be intimidated. "All this would have sounded much more impressive if you'd have had the guts to say this to her face. Then-"

But Ananya never got to finish what she wanted to say, cause apparently going on the defensive was a wrong tactic. Kabir moved his hands to cup her face and kissed her earnestly, and after the initial shock she found herself kissing him back, linking her arms around his back. When they both pulled away for air, Kabir grinned at her boyishly. She glared at him, pushing him back but he obstinately held on to her.

"Cut it out Ananya," he said. "I want you to give us another shot and I swear I'll give it my hundred percent. I'll give you my hundred percent. All of me for all of you, All I need is a chance."

She looked away from him pointedly.

Just don't listen to what he is saying, she thought to herself. She tried desperately not to believe him but realized she was failing.

"Why?" she breathed, turning to face him again.

"Because I love you." He said simply. As if it explained it all and actually it really did. Ananya caught her breath. That was the first time he ever said it.

"And I know you do too." Kabit continued. That caught her attention. Even though it was the truth, she would not let him do this. It was embarrassing in a weird way. She was the one in denial. She just couldn't back down. It was a matter of her pride.

"No, I don't." Ananya said, interrupting what he was saying.

Kabir stopped short and looked at her as if he had heard her wrong and then he smiled at her roguishly.

"No. You do." He stated matter-of-factly, holding her closer.

"Stop grinning like an idiot! I don't." she said pushing him back and failing yet again.

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't."

"You do."

"I don't," they were very nearly shouting.

"Okay you don't."

"No, I do!" she exclaimed. "Don't tell me what I feel, all right?"

"Aha!" Kabir exclaimed triumphantly, an impish grin spreading on his face.

"Wait, no..." Ananya started saying as she realized what happened. "You tricked me!" she cried out.

"I know." Kabir said, still grinning. "It always works."

"Humph!"

"You can humph, all you want, Hon, it's all out in the open and there is no taking it back. And now I'll sanction the half-day you will be applying for so that we can go out and spend the day together."

"You are awfully bossy." Ananya complained.

"I guess that's why the channel made me the boss!" Kabir ribbed.

They both walked out of the office hand in hand after Ananya straightened the photo frame on her desk.

Note: I am now going to get to work with the next instalment of my SS Figuring It Out. Hopefully it will be up in the next day or two.